How to forgive.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Eph 4:32 NKJV

In 1982, John Hinckley Jr. attempted to take the life of President Ronald Reagan by shooting him with a handgun. Reagan's daughter, Patti, later recounted what she learned from her father when he was in hospital: "My father said he knew his physical healing was directly dependent on his ability to forgive John Hinckley...It showed me that forgiveness is the key to everything...He gave me an example of Christ-like thinking."

Sometimes the wounds that others inflict on us are unintentional, and other times they are deliberate. But in both cases the Scriptures give us a clear standard concerning the wrongs we experience. You are to forgive those who hurt you, "even as God in Christ forgave you."

That's a high standard, but it's one that brings healing for our deepest wounds. Sometimes we dispense forgiveness like a soft drink from a vending machine— mechanically, and with no feelings attached. But the Bible says two attitudes should accompany forgiveness:

• kindness, which is expressed in our actions, and
• tenderheartedness, which is expressed in our attitudes.

Why? Because that's the way God forgives us. Throughout Scripture we find emotions or characteristics such as kindness, gentleness, compassion, and tenderness-in word or by action-ascribed to God. We also find examples of it in the lives of those God used to fulfill His plans and purposes.

Joseph was one of them, when he forgave his brothers who betrayed him. And He calls on us to do the same. This kind of forgiveness is as much an act of the heart as it is an act of the will.

How to forgive Forgive those who hurt you.
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How to get what you want.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Mt 6:33 NIV

The first step to getting what you want in life is knowing what you want. Jesus said, in essence, "The key to getting what you want out of life is to focus on what I want for your life." Note the words "seek first."

This word "seek" means

• "to strive for diligently" or
• "to desire strongly."

The action is continuous. It says,

• "Keep on striving for,
• keep on seeking,
• keep on desiring daily."

When Jesus says,"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness," it means you don't have to pray about what your top priority in life ought to be; everything you do will be ordered by those two things.

• Where you work,
• how you spend your time,
• the person you marry,
• how you manage your money,
• the relationships you form,
• the pastimes you enjoy,
• the purchases you make—

all of these will be sifted and sorted through one filter: "Is this for His kingdom? Does it relate to His righteousness?" Can't you see how living this way would

• transform your marriage,
• your work,
• your family,
• your finances,
• and every other area of your life?

But in order to pursue the priorities of the kingdom, you must first have a relationship with the King. You won't even know where the kingdom is, or what it looks like, until you know the King. And you can know Him. How? As you open the pages of His Word and open your heart, there He will reveal Himself to you. And as you spend time with Him in prayer, He will respond to you.

How to get what you want Keep striving-keep seeking-keep desiring daily.

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JAN. 15, 2025

Know your purpose, know your partners

"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Jn 20:21 NIV

In order to identify God's will for your life, you must be clear about two things:

(1) Your purpose. Facing the cross, Jesus said, "For this cause came I into the world" (Jn 18:37). Your passion is that area of your life that fires you up.

• It might be world hunger, or
• neglected veterans, or education.
• You see little kids growing up in under resourced school districts, and they're never going to have a chance to learn, and it just kills you.
• Or unwed moms, or
• the gospel being proclaimed unclearly.

Instead of finding your passion in the area of your opportunities and your skills, sometimes you will find it in the area of your hurts and scars. From people who struggle with addictions, to those who have spent time in prison, to those who contend with emotional disorders-there are so many areas. God won't waste a hurt.

(2) Your partners. Jesus called twelve disciples, then He dispatched them on a brief mission two at a time so they could go together. So along with your passions and strengths and scars, you need people in your life who will encourage you, applaud you, and take part in what you are doing. Paul spells out his passion: "The longing of my heart...is for the people of Israel to be saved" (Ro 10:1 NLT). Paul also knew his partners: "Every time I think of you, I give thanks...for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ" (Php 1:3, 5 NLT). So, the word for you today is-know your purpose, know your partners.

Know your purpose, know your partners God won't waste a hurt.

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JAN. 14, 2025

Have you talked to God about it?.

"So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." Ex 33:11
NKJV

Moses had a special place where he met with God. It was called "the tabernacle of meeting" (v. 7 NKJV). What did they talk about? "Then Moses said to the Lord, 'See, You say to me, "Bring up this people." But You have not let me know whom You will send with me... Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight...' And He said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest'" (vv. 12-14 NKJV). Note the three things Moses asked God about:

(1) "Let me know whom You will send with me." That was wise, because people either add to you or take from you, build you up or tear you down. You need to know who belongs in your life and who doesn't, and God is the only one who can tell you that.

(2) "Show me now Your way." God's will, done God's way, according to God's timetable, always brings success. But your will, done your way, according to your timetable, can bring you trouble and heartache.

(3) "That I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight." Here the word

"grace" means "divine enablement." By yourself you are not equal to the challenge, but through the power of God's indwelling Spirit, you can accomplish great things. What God promised to Moses, He also promises to you: "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Have you talked to God about it? "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

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JAN. 13, 2025

The link between disobedience and stress.

"Walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you." Jer 7:23 NKJV

A leading Christian psychologist says there is a direct correlation between the stress we experience and disobeying God's Word. Could that be true? Could there be a link between the stress you are feeling and the level of your obedience to God? Yes. Think about it. As a redeemed child of God, when you knowingly disobey Him, your conscience bothers you and you feel conflicted and condemned.

By knowingly violating His Word, you get uncomfortable in your own skin. Plus, when you need to pray and ask God for something, it can feel like you're addressing a creditor with your unpaid bills. "If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1Jn 3:21-22 NKJV).

Sometimes we cannot pinpoint the exact source of the stress we're feeling; it just feels like all is not well. What should you do? Stop and take inventory! The twelve-step program of recovery refers to this as "a searching and fearless moral inventory." It must be taken in order for a suffering alcoholic or addict to break free of what keeps driving them back to their habit. Would you like to de-stress? Read this Scripture prayerfully and carefully: "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you'" (Jer 7:23 NKJV)

The link between disobedience and stress A searching and fearless moral inventory

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See yourself as valuable (2)

"You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." Isa 43:4 NLT

If you want to be a 10 but your self-esteem is a 5, you will never achieve at the level of a 10.

You will achieve a 5 or lower. Why? Because you cannot surpass the image you have of yourself. Low self-esteem puts a cap on your potential. So where does our low self-esteem come from? Other people. When the most important people in your life repeatedly tell you that they expect you to go nowhere and achieve nothing of worth, that's what you eventually start believing about yourself. And it's like downloading a virus into your computer; it destroys your God-given potential.

What's the answer? Instead of believing what others say about you, find out what God says about you. After all, who knows the value and potential of a product better than the manufacturer who made it? When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nation of Israel, Jeremiah said, "I can't speak for you! I'm too young!" (Jer 1:6 NLT). Perhaps you can identify with Jeremiah:

• "I'm too young, or too old,
• or not the right nationality, or not educated enough, or not rich enough."

Note what God said to Jeremiah next: "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you" (vv. 7-8 NLT). Changing your self-image begins with changing your self-talk. In order to see yourself as valuable, begin to see yourself as God sees you.

See yourself as valuable Low self-esteem puts a cap on your potential.

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See yourself as valuable (1)

"I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency." Php 4:13 AMPC

When God made the first man, He saw that his creation was "very good." That means every person that has ever been born, including you, has seeds of success within them. All you need to do is water them and feed them, and they will grow. So why do many people fail to reach their God-given potential in life?

One of the key reasons is low self-esteem; they don't believe in themselves.

They possess hundreds of possibilities, but they never nurture them because they have persuaded themselves that they're incapable of learning and growing into something amazing.

If you don't believe you're valuable and worth investing in, you will never spend the time and effort necessary to develop into what God made you to be. Zig Ziglar said, "It's impossible to consistently behave in a manner inconsistent with how we see ourselves. We can do very few things in a positive way if we feel negative about ourselves."

Paul was humble. He was aware of his total dependence on God. But He also had a healthy sense of self-worth. Here is what he wrote to those who believed in him and supported his ministry: "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me" (vv. 13-14 AMPC).

So, the word for you today is-see yourself as valuable, because God does. See yourself as valuable!

Overcoming low self-esteem

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JAN. 8, 2025

Just sow the seed

“We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News." 1Co 3:5 NLT

One day when Charles Colson was scheduled to preach to three hundred inmates at San Quentin prison, a lockdown was called and most of the prisoners were confined to their cells. To the few who were allowed to attend, Colson decided to go ahead and give the complete message he had prepared. Later when he expressed disappointment that the three hundred were unable to attend, he was told, "We videotaped your message and will be showing it numerous times to all twenty-two hundred prisoners."

What if Colson had given way to disappointment and just delivered a short devotional instead of the full evangelistic message he had prepared? More than two thousand prisoners would not have heard the gospel. An occasion may arise when you are the only person available to speak for God. Will you be faithful in such a moment? You are the most important person in the world to God when you are the one He has called to do something for Him. And the message is more important than the messenger.

Paul writes: "We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work" (vv. 5-8 NLT).

Just sow the seed

Will you be faithful?

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