Dr Charles Stanley

One of my favorite bible teachers is Dr Charles Stanley. He explains the bible and uses illustrations that are the most concise and easy to understand that I have ever heard.

He has come up with 30 Life Principles to live by as outlined in the bible.

For the last few days Life Principle #2 has been speaking to me: Obey God and Leave all the Consequences to Him.

Here is a good article by Dr Stanley about Obedience I love this excerpt from Dr Stanley's six point message on this topic:

At some point in life, we must make a deliberate decision to obey God in every circumstance, no matter how difficult it may seem to us at the time. Many people would rather look at all the options, then decide whether obedience to God is convenient. The truth is that partial obedience is disobedience. We need to pray and find out just what He wants us to do in a difficult situation, but we should have our hearts set on the commitment that whatever God desires, we will do it without question.

-Dr Charles Stanley

Partial obedience is disobedience. That sums it up right there...! The Word of God makes it simple and plain for each one of us. We cannot lose by being obedient, and we cannot win by being disobedient.

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord I want to honor You. I want to be obedient to your Word. Thank You for the discernment to filter out situations that are not honoring to You. Help me to deal with these situations in love and be Your voice and Your witness to those within my sphere of influence.

Lord I love You. I am seeking You, my King. I want to be involved in endeavors that are one hundred percent worthy of Your endorsement and blessing. Father God I will trust in You.

As for me and my house, We will serve You, my King. Thank You for Your blessings, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Unforgiveness

It's interesting how the Holy Spirit works. I've really had a burden on my heart lately to go to the challenging relationships in my life and make them right. Today, Dr Charles Stanley's devotional topic was the subject of 'unforgiveness'. -How appropriate for me...

Dr Stanley summed it all up so eloquently. Here's a link to his post. But I'd also like to summarize his article for my own reinforcement.

Unforgiveness is Bad Because...

-It harms family interactions...

-It hinders prayer life...

-It damages one's personal witness...

-It thwarts spiritual growth....

Hmmm... -Harms, Hinders, Damages, Thwarts... Looks like nothing good can be said about unforgiveness...

I feel that the damage to one's personal witness is the most significant by-product of unforgiveness.

The highlight of your testimony is salvation, which centers around the truth that the Lord has forgiven all your sins. How can you stress the importance of this if your listener can’t see even a hint of forgiveness in your own life? -Dr Charles Stanley

I wish I had realized all this a long time ago. I've wasted YEARS of my life in unforgiveness...!

Well, realization of the problem doesn't mean I've overcome it completely. I'm still working through a lot of baggage. But I'm definitely headed in the right direction.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord thank You for the reinforcement of the importance of forgiving others. Father God I pray that all the bitterness of unforgiveness that has been built up in me over the years through challenging relationships just melt away.

Lord I am sad for all the negative energy I've spent over issues that I should have just let go of. I am so grateful that You are a God of Forgiveness. If You died for all of our sins how can I hold someone accountable for a perceived wrong to me...?

If I do not forgive others then You will not forgive me. Father God I pray this morning that You would bless my efforts to right the challenging relationships in my life.

Lord I confess that one of my biggest challenges ever is with my stepson, Connor. Father God, I truly want to impact Him for You. I know he has trouble seeing You in me. Help me do better with Connor. Help me to be exactly what he needs in the way of a step dad, mentor, and friend. I pray for a well spring of patience with Connor.

I pray that even in times of correction that my words are gentle and encouraging. Lord I believe that I can help Connor change by changing my own mode of operation. But I realize that nothing I do will be effective without giving it first to You.

Lord the good that has come out of this negative situation is my realization that You are in charge here, not me. Help me to forgive like You forgive, love like You love, and bless this family with peace.

That is the greatest gift I can give You, my family, and the world this Christmas.

Lord I'm lifting up Connor this morning. I'm lifting up this family unit, my King. Forgive us Lord and help us to forgive and love each other so the whole world can see what a life filled with the love of Christ looks like.

I love You, Lord. And I pray these things in Jesus' Name, Amen.

1 Peter 4:10-11

Wow... What a difference a few days make. I'm a little more rested now and I feel completely different than I did 48 hours ago. -I'm ready to 'serve' again.

This morning Dr Stanley's devotional used 1 Peter 4:10-11 as a basis for today's message. I have to say that I believe that God has definitely answered my prayers for strength and courage and I'm ready to once again be HIS hands and feet.

Monica is feeling better, too. Oh Praise God...!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord I am humbled by Your grace and mercy. Thank You for the improved health of my precious wife. Thank You for Elijah sleeping through the night. Thank You for just allowing me to rest and awake refreshed for the first time in days...!

Father God I Love You. I thank You and praise You. I lift Your name up on high...! Father I remember my sweet sister Becky this morning and lift her and her family up to You. I lift up my brothers Stanley and John as well. I don't know what all is going in their lives right now but You do, and You are in control.

Lord I lift up Connor as he travels home today. Keep him safe and grant him traveling mercy. Bring him home to us, my King.

Father I give this day to you. I give it for Your glory and honor, for ever and ever, Amen.

2 Timothy 1:7

God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but one of power, love, and discipline.

I like this verse of encouragement. The context is a message Paul sent to Timothy. We are not to be shy when it comes to speaking to others about God.

I came across this verse in Dr Charles Stanley's Morning Devotional. In it Dr Stanley gives a six question checklist to ask yourself if you are drifting away from God. It's a quick study and definitely work the click...! I didn't need the checklist to know that I have been 'drifting', but reading that article was good affirmation for me and helped me to pinpoint some problem areas.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord thank You for Your Word. Help me to stay in it daily. Lord thank You for the opportunities to witness daily. Help me to not miss a single one. Father, help me to not be timid, but bold in speaking about You.

Lord the powers of darkness are trying to wrestle me down. I pray that You would send Your Holy Spirit to hold me up, lift me up. Set my feet upon Your solid ground.

Father God, I love You. I want to serve You and be an effective witness for You. I offer my life as a willing sacrifice, Lord. I am Yours.

I thank You for my precious wife and children Lord. I have been blessed beyond measure with an awesome family and I am forever grateful. Father God I pray You protect them and keep them safe from the snares of the enemy. I especially lift up Monica's health to You, Lord. I pray for a peaceful, restful, healing day for her, my King.

Lord I commit this day to You. I give it all for You Glory, and I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.