Day By Day

Day by Day

There are times when we mess up and don't live, act or talk right. I've seen a lot of people that claim to know Jesus that don't live up to what He's called them to be. They claim to love God with all their heart but don't allow Him to work in their lives. I've also seen people who love God with all their heart. They make mistakes, but have a repentant heart and really want to do right. They work  out their salvation day by day, trying to be all that God's created then to be. That's how we all should live.

I know if I didn't have the love of God working in my life, I might look at their mistakes and pass judgement on them. I'd be wrong to do that. I've found it's better to encourage somebody then to tear them down. If I would just guide them with with words filled with love and compassion and give them time to think about it and apply it to their lives they would grow on their own. We all have a free will of choice to make.

Jesus came that we would have life and have it more abundantly. He came to restore us back to God. God's plan of salvation shows us the love of God. Sin will always take you further than you wan to go, but God's love will keep you secure and complete.

Do you love Jesus more than your own desires? People use to tell me how long they've prayed. They've told me they want to stay right with God, but don't show it when other friends come around. I've seen them indulge in conversations that glorify the devil and what he's doing in their lives. They don't even realize what they're saying. Why? Because their minds haven't been renewed to the word of God. There has to come a time when you love Jesus more than sin. When you love God with all your heart and keep Him first place in every area of your life. When you love God you will believe in Him, when you believe in Him, miracles will happen.

When I rededicated my life to God I was a heavy alcoholic and drug user that nobody wanted to be around. Family and friends didn't know what to expect from me. But God promised me that if I loved Him, He would honor me. He would show me how to live and He would bless me.

God never told me to stop living the way I was. I made a decision to do that myself. He never told me to quit drinking or using drugs either. I did that myself. When I committed my life to serve Christ, I didn't need to get high anymore. I wanted to see clearly and know the love of God myself. He opened my eyes to the deception of Satan so that I could live free.

When someone you know, someone who may be close to you is falling into sin and you know about it, don't treat them like they have some type of disease. Don't think you're better than they are. In situations like these we should reach out to people, not avoid them. Whenever someone close to you, someone you love is missing it in a certain area don't avoid them, it only pushes them farther away from God. It's what the devil wants - to get them alone so he can continue to wage war on his or her mind.

Being around encouraging people is what they need, I know I did! Don't try to corner them and heap a bunch of condemnation on them for what you think they're doing wrong. You may not agree and can't stand the fact that the devil is stealing God's best for them. Never argue and never act like you're better than they are because you don't do the things they do. This is the time to show them the love of Christ. Never kick a person when they're down. It never helps anything.

If you're someone who has fallen into sin, you have to realize, even if you've repented in your heart, it may take time for others to re-establish trust in you. There is a time that you have to prove yourself by your actions that you have really turned from those old ways and gone God's way.

If you're in the habit of going back in forth between living for God and living the old life, you can't expect the whole world to believe you when you say, "I've rededicated my life to God again and I'm never going back to that old life!"

God forgives you instantly and those around you may forgive you, too. But if you've burned them in the past with flip-flopping, you'll have to realize that they may be on guard. They don't know what you're going to do. So, this is the time to put some actions behind those words. It's your job to show yourself changed. Don't just talk it; DO IT! Produce something that's in line with your repentance, and don't expect everybody to give you every ounce of trust back. You may have changed but without the fruit, it's just some line of bull you're giving. Fruit is what makes it a real testimony that brings Glory to God.

It's what you do over time that is going to gain others trust. So don't let the devil deceive you into thinking that people are "holding your past over your head" or "not forgiving" you. They need to just see some change in your life. It wont happen overnight and at times it can get frustrating. Let patience have it's perfect work in your life and the lives of others.

Remember... God was patient with you, use patience with others. Don't let your proving time become a source of irritation. Take it one day at a time. It takes time for your actions to be recognized. No one plants a garden then goes out the next day to pick a harvest. Over time, people will see that you're serious about living for God. That you've truly repented and turned from those old ways.