Words of Encouragement

God offers to us his good fruit, but what good is it to us, until we take the first bite? (sketch done by Joselyn L. Williams)


Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. - Psalm 25:8-10

What Changes Us? Humbling ourselves. It is amazing to think about the goodness of God and how he will guide any that come to seek what is right from him. God wants all to have from his abundance, but it is our own pride that keeps us from coming and receiving what God has for us.



There is a exchange that must happen if you and I are to be changed from a sinful condition to one called the righteousness of God. That exchange cannot happen until we make the first step of humbling ourselves. Oh, yes the ultimate first step was made by God, which was the avenue of salvation. Yet we cannot receive until we come and humble ourselves and ask for it.



It is as a thirsty man seeking water and coming to a clear spring of pure water. You would think the man would gladly take of the water he so desperately needs to live, yet he sits down at the bank of the water and crosses his hands and will not drink. And to your amazement he simply sits there until his need for water overtakes him and he dies of thirst. Why didn't he drink when the water was right there? Many would not believe this could be possible because we would say, at some point he would have become so thirsty that he would drink.



As silly as this story may seem, do you know men and women are dying daily sitting at the bank of what will revive them and bring them new life? There are many that come to seek what will fill the thirst in them, the hunger and when you give them the answer of Jesus, they cross their arms and refuse to accept it. The refuse the thought that they must humble themselves and accept that they are not capable of doing things themselves. So instead they sit down by the side of the bank and die of thirst.



We cannot change anything in our lives no matter how much we think we can. True change does not come until we humble ourselves before God and allow him to show us and equip us to live by his standards and by his way.



I pray today that we would humble ourselves before our awesome God so that we can be changed to reflect him more and more. Lord, you are a faithful God and you will help us to become more faithful to your ways.

Words of Encouragement

The title of this work is "Ask Me". It was done by one of my daughters, Jamie. The details of the picture is that each line represents a direction or path, but you won't know which one is correct, until you ask the one that made the map. Isn't it interesting that is the same way it is with us. We can take many paths, but they are not all the correct one. To find out if we are on the correct path, we have to ask the "map maker", God.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. - Genesis 17:1-5

What Changes us? Walking with God. Abram had received a promise from God when he was 75 years old. Here it is 24 years later and his promise still has not come to pass. Yet, something significant is about to happen, let's step into the scene to examine what happens.God talks to Abram and tells him to walk before him blameless and he will fulfill in him what has been promised. Abram falls down before God and God gives him something else, he gives him a new name. Abram's name was changed to Abraham (which means father of many nations).

Abram had walked with God sometime and now the change is coming and something wonderfully is about to happen.There is much we can learn from this exchange. The first thing is, God has a promise, a purpose placed on each of our lives even if we have not seen it yet. It took 25 years before the promises was fulfilled in Abraham's life, but it was done. We must not grow weary as we wait for our change to come.

The second point is his name changed. He went from being "the old" name to the "new" name. We go from being the "old" man to the "new" man. We were once sinners to being a child of the most high King. Not only has our name been changed, but our nature and who we are, we have put off the old and have become new.This is what happens when you decide to walk with God. He will equip you to walk blameless before him so that you can exhibit the "newness" of who you are.

What changes us, our walk with God will do that. As we grow in Christ, we are sanctified (perfected daily) so that we don't look the same as we did yesterday, or the year before.Lord today I pray that you will help us to walk closely with you so that we can hear you speaking to us your purpose, your mission and that we will allow you to change us. Remove all of the "old" and replace it with the "new". Make us over so that we look more like you each day.

Words of Encouragement

Just as we would love to get away to enjoy a beautiful surrounding, so should we feel like this when we have the chance to get away with God to spend time in his presence.

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. - Luke 9:28-31



What Changes us? Prayer changes us. Jesus had gone away from the crowds and the other disciples, but he took 3 of them with him. He went up on a mountain to pray. The first thing that jumps out at me from this scripture is that Jesus took himself away from the everyday, busy things to pray. He removed himself even from those that he spent time with, his disciples. It is a reminder for us today, that if we want to see somethings change, we are going to have to remove ourselves from some things and set ourselves aside to pray.



The second thing is Jesus went up on the mountain. While this may be only the telling of a location, it gives us some spiritual insight. Jesus moved upward to pray. You and I must move ourselves in an "upward" position before we can begin to pray. That means my mind, my actions, my focus must all move closer to God, upward. Then it states, he prayed.This point reminds us that we cannot begin to pray until we make some adjustments in our thinking if we want to see a change. I must make an adjustment in what I am seeking if I want to receive from God.

When Jesus was praying, it says the appearance of his face changed. This part of scripture is know as the transfiguration. Jesus was changed and Moses and Elijah appeared speaking with Jesus.The spiritual significance of this scripture is important for us to grasp. You and I can expect to see a change in our "faces" when we draw closer to God in prayer. Prayer takes us into the presence of God. There is no way for us to be in his presence, without reflecting his glory.





The question is what changes us? Prayer has a way of changing us. We move from "us" focus to "God" focus.We must take this steps as set out in scripture, we draw away for a time with God, we then move upward in our thinking and our actions which means we have to make a shifting in what we do. Then when we pray, it draws us into the presence of God.Today, Lord change us through prayer. Help us in our time of talking to you, to reflect more of your glory.