Reign

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

When Jesus was crucified, he destroyed the bondage of The Law. He allowed believers to live a free life in Christ. Paul is expressing that worldly things have no power over him because The Holy Spirit lives within him. What a beautiful reminder. Who or what are you allowing to reign over you? Also, Chip Ingram has started a series on The Holy Spirit which you can find of the iPhone Podcast app or on his website. It's great teaching. Happy Tuesday! 

Grow in Grace

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

To grow in grace means to become more spiritually mature. You cannot grow spiritually solely by your works, but the work that God does within you. Simply reading scripture as a routine, and not for clarity and insight, will not make you more mature. Check your heart and motives and allow the word of God to dwell richly within you (Colossians 3:16) Happy Monday! :) 

Fill Me Up

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 

If something is full, when more is added the original contents overflow.  Say you start off your day with prayer, meditation, and worship; you are allowing the Holy Spirit to pour into you the peace and patience you need for the day. If something goes wrong, you'll reflect on your morning devotional and move on. If you start your day off rushing, stressed, watch/listen to media that doesn't glorify God, you may be more liable to pop off at the first sign of trouble. What's in your heart will manifest itself in your life. 

Obviously, I'm still on my Tye Tribbett concert high, because I've been obsessing over this song called "Fill Me Up". Caution:worship will ensue. Happy Friday!

This is actual footage from the concert on Tuesday :)

Satisfied

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

I saw The Walls Group and Tye Tribbett in concert a few days ago and amazing isn't a strong enough word to use. It was 3.5 hours of straight worship! If Tye ever comes to a city near you, GO! Anywho, The Walls sang this song called "Satisfied" and the lyrics are so on point. Basically, they're asking if they never got the job, material things, or the dreams that they prayed for didn't come true, would they be satisfied simply by the relationship they have with Jesus. Think about it. If NOTHING about your life changed, you would still have more than enough because of God's grace and provision. Look up that song on YouTube or Spotify and meditate on the lyrics. Are you satisfied...or nah? :) Happy Thursday! 

Actually, the entire EP is the bomb. It's only $5 on iTunes. Get you some hehe

The Past

"Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls..." Jeremiah 6:16

Do you ever look back at your life and consider how much grace has been extended to you? Or think, "if only I had listened to the Holy Spirit in that situation..."? Jeremiah was urged to reminisce about his former life, in order to move forward with confidence that he was making the correct decisions. Hind sight is always 20/20. If you aren't seeing major differences in yourself, you may be stagnant. Consider some ways that your life can reflect a life changing encounter with Christ. I read a quote that said "God's guidance in the past gives encouragement for the future". His was is much better than our own. Happy Tuesday! :) 

Laughter

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

Morning! I pray that you enjoyed your holiday weekend as much as I did! I love how Psalm 126 equates joy in The Lord to our outward actions. When we smile, laugh, and enjoy ourselves, outsiders observe that there's something a little different about us. Our demeanor should reflect the contentment and joy that a relationship with Christ provides. Sometimes, it's easy to feel less than joyous, but the fact that you woke up today and are able to serve The Lord just one more day is a blessing! Happy Monday! 

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh." Luke 6:21

Uninhibited Grace

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Grace is the reason that we can enter into a covenant relationship with God. We will never deserve the grace, favor, and love that comes uninhibited by Christ. In the same way, we should practice extending grace to people that we encounter daily. No, that lazy waiter doesn't deserve a tip, but grace allows you to tip the minimum to bless them anyway. Can you imagine if God kept track of our shortcomings and only gave partial blessings?! Happy Wednesday!

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8