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Christian
Education Pre-K-12
Richmond Academy
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Be Strong
Where God is concerned, there is so much that we can think
upon every day. When thinking about any member of the Holy Trinity, there is
more than enough to remain amazed about and excited with. That may seem a bit
different to many people, because most of the time people concentrate upon God
as to how He can meet their needs. But God is so much more than a
need-satisfier.
Matt 6:7-8 (KJV) “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen
[do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8) Be
not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have
need of, before ye ask him.”
Oh, yes, we must still ask many things of God, but that will come so much easier
and be accompanied with so much greater faith if we are consciously meditating
daily upon the greatness, and the goodness, and the awesomeness, and the
holiness, and the faithfulness, and the presence of our great God. In contrast,
we need to realize how much we try to do in our own strength when we take God
for granted and take our eyes off Him.
Deut 11:7-9 (KJV) “But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD
which he did. (8) Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command
you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye
go to possess it; (9) And that ye may prolong [your] days in the land, which the
LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that
floweth with milk and honey.”
What we do cannot stop at the prayer stage. We don’t have to pray this kind of
prayer: “God, I want to be enamored with You.” Instead, we need to do it. Be
enamored with God. Try this: Smile. Now look up and think about the Lord. Think
about how strong He is. Think about how incomprehensible His power is. Think
about how great His love and desire is toward you through Jesus Christ His Son.
Think about how small of a sacrifice it actually is for you to do what He has
asked you to do. Then show forth an attitude that says, “God, thank you for
being my God, I will follow and obey you.” Then walk it out.
Matt 6:31-34 (KJV) “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or,
What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all
these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye
have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take
therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the
things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.”
What a waste it is when we sit around worrying about and striving over the
things we do and don’t have. It really is our choice; we could be enjoying an
edifying reflection and admiration of our creator. After all, we cannot add one
inch to our stature by fretting. But we can take courage, and we can demonstrate
our faith, and we can be determined not to let our hearts be overtaken with base
and natural affections.
Heb 10:35-36 (KJV) “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompense of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have
done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
Hallelujah! Don’t pray for patience, demonstrate it! That is a mindset that we
must have, and then we can call upon the Lord for strength and direction through
the trials. In the day that we live in we cannot be lazy; we must be strong
because we truly have a lot to lose if we are not.
Rom 1:28-32 (KJV) “And even as they did not like to retain God in [their]
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are
not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without
understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such
things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that
do them.”
-Kurt Thurston
May Newsletter
2008 | Warring For Breakthrough |
Pastor's
Journal 2007 | Be Strong |
Wanted
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Biblical
Counseling for Leaders
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