The Script Is Completely Flipped

All of us have experienced it, a time when what we thought would happen didn’t happen, but something completely different did occur. Perhaps, a solemn occassion turned into a celebration with some unexpected news. Or maybe, a routine event turned into a newsworthy set of circumstances and effects.

Jeremiah 31:13-14 says, “I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.” God’s people will certainly have times of sorrow and sadness, but God promises to bring us through those times and replace them with joy and gladness. God’s goodness will prove to be enough for us.

Road Signs

Road signs are meant to direct us and to warn us of potential dangers ahead. Roadside advertising intends to entice us to partake of services and products. But wouldn’t it be nice if roadside signs were developed to encourage and point us to awesome and meaningful adventures ahead?

Revelation 7:9-10 says, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'” Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will one day be gathered together before God’s throne in perfect love, unity, and worship. God’s Word points us toward the promises of God.

Use It or Lose It

I have lost the ability to do some physical skills over time. Some loss is due to an aging body that simply cannot do the things that it used to do. But some skill loss is due to the fact that I haven’t done these things in a long time and am not quite sure how to do them now. I need to reignite the ability to do these forgotten abilities. The same thing is true in relationships. If we ignore a relationship for long periods of time, the flame of the relationship dies out.

II Timothy 1:6 says, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Flames need fuel in order to keep burning. We must continually add fuel to the burning flames of our faith through reading God’s Word, praying, and trusting in Him through works of faith. Complacency extinguishes the flames of faith.

Lies and Truth

Jesus said that Satan was a liar and the father of lies. Our minds are filled with these lies. The world and the evil one constantly tell us that we are unloved. The truth is that our Father in heaven has loved us since before the foundation of the world. We may think that we are unworthy of love. But the truth is that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son that we may be saved and received eternal life. We may hear that there is no hope for us. But God tells us that His plan is that we receive His goodness and grace for eternity in His precence. Lies discourage us. God’s truth renews hope in us with the certainty of His mercy and love.

I Peter 1:1 says, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Believe the truth of God’s Word and His promises, thereby, renewing hope in your mind and heart.

Impacting Lives

Most of us desire to have a positive impact upon the lives of others. We try to do good for others and hope that our kindnesses make a difference for the people we impact, but even further to others through the paying forward of kindness.

II Corinthians 9:10 says, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” It is God who supplies the things we need. Furthermore, it is God who will supply what we need to walk in righteousness and as we do this, He will increase the fruit of this righteousness as it impacts our lives and the lives of others.