Mar 07 2022

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

In Paul's Epistle to Titus, he explains the new character that should be seen in a person's life when they accept Christ. Before we were saved, our sin kept us from enjoying a relationship with God. When we gave our hearts to Him, the transformation in our lives began.

God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but change should take place. This change isn't something that we can bring about on our own. We need God's help; otherwise, the change won't be permanent.

Many people feel the need to change themselves and clean up their lives before they come to Christ. They may actually succeed in producing some amount of change in themselves, but they are incapable of changing their heart to become more like Christ—only He can do that for them.

God doesn't save us because we can change ourselves. He also doesn't redeem us because of our good deeds. Without His guidance, our efforts to do good and be good are in vain. Nothing we could ever do qualifies us to receive salvation; it isn't based on us at all. Salvation is a gift of grace from God.

When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit works in our lives to show us our sin and help us change. This gentle nudging enables us to see our weaknesses and sinful nature as we allow God to correct us and make us more like Him.

While we are on Earth, God will continue to transform us into His image through the renewing of the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful gift!

Dear Lord, Only you can see the real intent of every word I speak and the motivation of my actions. I desire to honor you. I know that no matter how good I try to be, I cannot save myself. I am redeemed by what you accomplished when you died and rose from the grave. As I live to honor you, let my motivation be my love for you. I will be eternally grateful for the sacrifice you made for me, and I will show my appreciation by how I live. In Jesus' name, amen.

Mar 06 2022

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.:

Research has shown that the average inheritance in the United States is between $68,000 and $183,000. Research has shown that this inheritance is typically depleted in five years. With the money they inherit, people pay off their debts, plan for their future, and splurge on something for themselves.

When Jesus resurrected and returned to Heaven, He left an inheritance for his followers that many have not claimed.

John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you" Peace is our inheritance that Jesus left for us. It cannot be taken away from us, but we must accept it in order to enjoy its benefits. Yet even when we experience peace, our problems and difficulties don't disappear.

This authentic peace is entirely different from what the world considers to be peace. We don't have to live upset and worried—we can live in a place of rest. Whenever we feel overwhelmed or stressed out, we can ask God to calm our spirit and help us trust in Him.

Sometimes things happen that are scary and fill us with fear, but we can choose to live in God's peace and rebuke fear from having a place in our lives. He can bless us in the middle of every storm, and we can know that God will never leave us.

Often, we keep ourselves from experiencing God's peace because we haven't taken the time to present our burdens to Him. When we cast our cares upon Him, He will speak to our hearts and remind us in our spirit, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Heavenly Father, please be my strength today. Fill my mind with your peace and comfort even during the stormiest seasons of life. Help me learn to rest in you. I know you can use my obedience to draw others to you. Remove the fear that tries to invade my mind and soul. Push it out and replace it with your perfect peace. Thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.
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