Power to Change » character

Because of His Mercy

Sun, 29 May 2011 08:00:22 +0000

Do you struggle with self-worth and feelings of inadequacy? Talk to a mentor today.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy” (Titus 3:4, 5).
I do a lot of things.

Errands, baking, making meals, driving kids to activities, writing, volunteering, cleaning, balancing the books, getting the oil changed. That reminds me, I need to get the tires rotated on the van.

Add to that list praying, reading my Bible, going to church, leading a Bible study.

But it’s not enough. It is never enough. There is always one more thing that needs to be done or one more area that I could improve.

That is why it is wonderful to be reminded that God didn’t save me because I have done a lot of righteous stuff. He didn’t save me because of my hard work or my willing sacrifice or my exemplary character.

God saved me because of His mercy.

Because of His great love for me, He offered Himself – Jesus – to pay the price for my sin. And He did it for you.

Stop and think about that today. Turn it over and over in your brain. Say it out loud.

“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”

Be reminded of God’s grace, His great love for you, His forgiveness and His mercy.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this amazing reminder of Your goodness to me. Help me to meditate on its truth all day long. Use these words to transform my heart and mind.

Questions: How does this truth change your perspective? Who can you share this good news with today?

Ambassadors for Christ

Wed, 04 May 2011 08:00:20 +0000

Become more comfortable and confident in sharing your faith: Read Dr Bill Bright’s series “How You Can Introduce Others to Christ”

Please open your Bible and read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

When Paul says that “we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20a, NLT), that’s a scary thought, isn’t it? I don’t want people looking at ME! Can’t we just point to Jesus and leave me out of this?

One of my professors remarked that he once received an “Alumni of the Year” award from his alma mater. On one hand he was happy to receive such a prestigious award, but on the other hand, he couldn’t help but think: “Me? They think I’m a great guy? Maybe they should talk to my wife, she’d let them know that maybe I’m not as great as they think!”

Thankfully, the beauty of God’s grace is that we DON’T always get what we deserve!

Paul continues in his letter by saying “We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”" (2 Corinthians 5:20b, NLT). Many people have never opened a Bible, know almost nothing about Jesus, and have never heard the Gospel. All they know about Christianity is what they observe about us Christians. Therefore, we must become effective ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador is an authorized representative, and we are called to be Christ’s representatives on Earth.

To be effective witnesses, and proper ambassadors for Christ, we must possess three qualities (among others): knowledge, wisdom and character. Knowledge is WHAT we know, wisdom is HOW to present that knowledge in a winsome fashion, and character is the way we live our lives. Let’s recommit today to work towards becoming effective ambassadors for God; a tall order, but one we will achieve with diligence and trust in a God who will accomplish many great things through us if we are open to His great works.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6)

Question: What are the three main qualities needed to be God’s ambassador? Which of the three are you being called to focus on today?

Bank on God’s Character

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 09:00:25 +0000

Are you experiencing financial concerns? We are here to listen.

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15).

Sometimes life does not make sense. God had promised David that he would be king of Israel; instead, he found himself hiding in a cave in the wilderness. “The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life –men without regard for you, he cried” (Psalm 86:14).

David shows us what to do when life doesn’t make sense. First, he expressed his feelings honestly: “Hear my cry, O LORD…Have mercy on me…save me” he wrote in Psalm 86. Then he recounted a trait of God’s character: “you will answer me… for you are kind and forgiving, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

When life did not make sense, David stood on the character of God. David knew that God’s character of love and faithfulness does not change. He is the same on bad days as He is on good days.

Are you going through a difficult and confusing time right now? Express your feelings honestly to God. You might want to pray, “God, I don’t understand what’s happening. I don’t like what’s happening. But I want to trust You with this. You are a compassionate and gracious God, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Everything around you might be caving in. But when you stand on the character of God, you have a center, a firm foundation, a hope for the future. David did eventually become king of Israel. Because he’d gone through a difficult testing time, He could now sing of God’s faithfulness in an authentic way.

Father God, I want to trust You even when life doesn’t make sense. Amen.

Questions: Are you going through a difficult and confusing time right now? What is the one sure thing that you know about God that can help you through these difficult times?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Discover the Character of God

About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid

Finding Your Identity

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:46:46 +0000

You hear it all the time in our every day language, the way sport influences the meaning and implications of our words. If someone told you that you are a winner are they declaring and celebrating the fact that you won or are they defining your character? If they called you a loser are they just reminding you that you came in second place or are they actually trying to tell you who you are? Can you or should you derive your identity from your sport? What role has sport played in defining you?

I Trust God, but I’m Wiped Out

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:00:22 +0000

Feeling wiped out? Worn down? Stressed to the max? If you feel like you really need prayer and someone to pray with, contact us and we will pray with you.

“I believed, so I said, ‘I am completely ruined!’” Psalm 116:10 (NCV)

Did you know that admitting your hopelessness to God can be a statement of faith? Trusting God but feeling despair at the same time, David wrote, “I believed, so I said, ‘I am completely ruined!’” (Psalm 116:10, NCV)

This sounds like a contradiction: I trust God, but I’m wiped out! David’s frankness actually reveals deep faith: First, he believed in God. Second, he believed God would listen to his prayer. Third, he believed God would let him say what he felt and still love him.

Focus on who God is—his unchanging nature. Regardless of circumstances and how you feel, hang on to God’s unchanging character. Remind yourself what you know to be eternally true about God: He is good, he loves me, he is with me, he knows what I’m going through, he cares, and he has a good plan for my life. Raymond Edman said, “Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.”

When Job’s life fell apart, and God was silent, Job still found reasons to praise God:

- That he is good and loving. (Job 10:12)
- That he is all-powerful. (Job 42:2; 37:5, 23)
- That he notices every detail of my life. (Job 23:10; 31:4)
- That he is in control. (Job 34:13)
- That he has a plan for my life. (Job 23:14)
- That he will save me. (Job 19:25)

Trust God to keep his promises. During times of spiritual dryness you must patiently rely on the promises of God, not your emotions, and realize that he is taking you to a deeper level of maturity. A friendship based on emotion is shallow indeed.

So don’t be troubled by trouble. Circumstances cannot change the character of God. God’s grace is still in full force; he is still for you, even when you don’t feel it. In the absence of confirming circumstances, Job held on to God’s Word. He said, “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12, NIV)

This trust in God’s Word caused Job to remain faithful even though nothing made sense. His faith was strong in the midst of pain: “God may kill me, but still I will trust him.” (Job 13:15, CEV)

Question: Can any circumstances change God’s character or negate His promises?

About this Author: Rick Warren

Cooperating with the Holy Spirit

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:00:55 +0000

Talk with others online about spiritual issues or whatever’s on your mind in our online chat rooms. Daily live chats happen nearly every day.

Let the Spirit change your way of thinking. Ephesians 4:23 (CEV)

Throughout the Bible we see an important truth illustrated over and over: the Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take a step of faith.

When Joshua was faced with an impassible barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordan River receded only after the leaders stepped into the rushing current in obedience and faith. Obedience unlocks God’s power.

God waits for you to act first. Don’t wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.

The Bible compares spiritual growth to a seed, a building, and a child growing up. Each metaphor requires active participation: seeds must be planted and cultivated, buildings must be built – they don’t just appear – and children must eat and exercise to grow.

While effort has nothing to do with your salvation, it has much to do with your spiritual growth. At least eight times in the New Testament we are told to “make every effort” in our growth toward becoming like Jesus. (Luke 13:24 NIV; Romans 14:19 NIV; Ephesians 4:3 NIV; 2 Timothy 2:15 NCV; Hebrews 4:11 NIV; Hebrews 12:14 NIV; 2 Peter 3:14 NIV)

You don’t just sit around and wait for it to happen.

Paul explains in Ephesians 4:22-24 our three responsibilities in becoming like Christ.

First, we must choose to let go of old ways of acting. “Everything . . . connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it!” (Ephesians 4:22 MSG)

Second, we must change the way we think. “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.” (Ephesians 4:23 CEV) The Bible says we are “transformed” by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) The Greek word for transformed, metamorphosis (used in Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18), is used today to describe the amazing change a caterpillar goes through in becoming a butterfly. It is a beautiful picture of what happens to us spiritually when we allow God to direct our thoughts: we are changed from the inside out, we become more beautiful, and we are set free to soar to new heights.

Third, we must put on the character of Christ by developing new, godly habits. Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act. The Bible says, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV)

Question: How do we often compete with, rather than cooperate with, God’s Spirit in our lives?

About the Author: Rick Warren

The Character of God

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:10:49 +0000

Section One

Section Two

Section 3

What’s in Your Bag

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:07:56 +0000

What’s in Your Bag?

Portraits of the Christ

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:00:34 +0000

Many photographers enjoy doing photo shoots for high school seniors. They often capture the student in several different poses. Perhaps one portrait is of the student relaxing against a tree, and another relates to a favorite hobby. There may be a pensive shot with the student overlooking the bridge railing into the river, and another captures a far-away gaze into the clouds. Parents have difficulty in choosing a favorite because each portrays a different facet of their child’s life and personality.

Although the camera had not yet been invented, the Bible gives us a number of word pictures to portray Jesus, the Christ. Each captures a different facet of His character, His life and His mission. Join this study as we focus our gaze on these portraits and attend to what God teaches us about Himself and our relationship to Him.

No Shortcuts to Christian Maturity

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:00:08 +0000

Prayer is no shortcut, but it is an essential part of your relationship with God. Whenever you need prayer, or need help praying, contact an online mentor.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6, NLT)

It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time.

When you try to ripen fruit quickly, it loses its flavor. In America, tomatoes are usually picked unripened so they won’t bruise during shipping to the stores. Then, before they are sold, these green tomatoes are sprayed with CO2 gas to turn them red instantly. Gassed tomatoes are edible, but they are no match to the flavor of a vine-ripened tomato that is allowed to mature slowly.

While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow. God views our lives from and for eternity, so he is never in a hurry.

Billy Graham associate Lane Adams once compared the process of spiritual growth to the strategy the Allies used in World War II to liberate islands in the South Pacific. First they would “soften up” an island, weakening the resistance by shelling the enemy strongholds with bombs from offshore ships.

Next, a small group of Marines would invade the island and establish a “beachhead”—a tiny fragment of the island that they could control. Once the beachhead was secured, they would begin the long process of liberating the rest of the island, one bit of territory at a time.

Eventually the entire island would be brought under control, but not without some costly battles.

Adams drew this parallel: Before Christ invades our lives at conversion, he sometimes has to “soften us up” by allowing problems we can’t handle. While some open their lives to Christ the first time he knocks on the door, most of us are resistant and defensive. Our pre-conversion experience is Jesus saying, “Behold I stand at the door and bomb!”

The moment you open yourself to Christ, God gets a “beachhead” in your life. You may think you have surrendered all your life to him, but the truth is, there is a lot to your life that you aren’t even aware of. You can only give God as much of you as you understand at that moment. That’s okay.

Once Christ is given a beachhead, he begins the campaign to take over more and more territory until all of your life is completely his. There will be struggles and battles, but the outcome will never be in doubt. God has promised that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” (Philippians 1:6)

Question: How would you define “Christian maturity”?

About this Author: Rick Warren