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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Protecting Our Future

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Charles Stanley

Genesis 25:23-34

We live in a pleasure-oriented culture that focuses on the present. God does not want us to sacrifice future blessings for short-term enjoyments. Let’s take a look at Esau’s story and learn from his mistakes.

As Isaac’s elder son, Esau was facing a secure future in the role of spiritual leader and head of the family. Yet he was blind to whatwas valuable in life an casually sold his birthright. He apparently cared nothing about his rights as firstborn or his impact on future generations and gave it all up for a bowl of stew.

Some of us are similarly shortsighted. We spend much of our time working or engaging in pleasurable pursuits of our own choosing. However, God wants our priorities to reflect His purposes—namely, to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love others through a life of service and sacrifice (Matt. 22:37-40).

Esau was ruled by his appetite and emotions. When he returned from hunting, his thoughts centered on his hunger and the quickest way to satisfy an empty stomach. He agreed to Jacob’s offer without weighing the cost. Giving in to our feelings can be a first step toward trouble and regret. Emotions that prompt us to act quickly or put ourselves first can lead us astray. Also, overindulgence can bring poor health, financial pressures, and even addiction.

We can protect our future by yielding to the Spirit’s control and living out what Scripture considers most valuable: knowing God and obediently serving Him. Make sure that you put Him in charge of your mind, will, emotions, and appetite.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Lesson of Brokenness

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Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 4:7-10

No one enjoys the feeling of broken-ness, but we can’t ignore its benefits to spiritual growth. Being broken gives us an entirely new perspective on the Lord’s plan for our lives. You see, enjoying a steady, uninterrupted stream of blessings has an interesting effect on most people: It distorts our view of the Father, often leaving us to assume He exists for us.

We ask the Lord for healing, success, and financial security. We ask Him to bless our family and our relationships. We ask and ask and ask. And the truth is, much of the time we aren’t really talking to God at all. In our mind, we’ve replaced Him with some sort of cosmic errand boy—we tell Him what we want and then send Him off to get it for us.

In all of this, who is actually at the center of our prayers? It certainly isn’t almighty God, our eternal Savior and Creator of the universe. No, instead we find ourselves at the center of these prayers. Therefore, the end result is the subtle belief that God exists for our benefit—a far cry from the reality of His divinity. This distortion breaks the Lord’s heart and leads us far away from truly knowing Him for who He is.

The antidote for this self-centered idolatry is brokenness. When God says “No,” when He takes away instead of adding more, when He divinely manages what we have, how much we have, and how long we have it, He is helping us keep our eyes on Him. Do not despise these moments. Instead, recognize them as the voice of your Father calling you back into His loving arms.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Path of Brokenness

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 51:17

John 12:24 gives a beautiful illustration of brokenness: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” That is, only by falling and breaking can a single grain produce a rich crop. If it remains isolated and protected, it will never produce anything.

That’s how the Lord works to mature His children. He breaks us in order to bring spiritual growth and supernatural ministry into our lives. And the process is always the same:

  1. God targets the areas in which we are not submissive to Him.
  2. He arranges circumstances and selects the tools with which to break our self-sufficiency.
  3. He controls the pressure and timing of those circumstances to bring us back into His will.

If we refuse to be re-formed through brokenness and instead cling to the things God wants us to release, He will put us on the shelf. Just like an unbroken grain of wheat, we’ll be fruitless and alone.

Yet we resist brokenness at every turn. We want to hang on to the things we think bring joy. We want to persist in relationships that stunt our spiritual growth. We want to take the path of least resistance and hope that God will bless our laziness. My friend, that isn’t the road to maturity. Our Father has a better way.

Brokenness hurts. The Word, however, proclaims that it hurts far more not to be broken. Don’t be distracted by short-term happiness. Look where your Father is leading you, and let Him do whatever it takes to get you there.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Growing in Servanthood

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Charles Stanley

Kids love to show off their height. They eagerly anticipate being tall enough to do all the things their short stature currently prevents. Many parents record and celebrate their children’s growth. They follow the tradition of marking heights on a doorframe.

God the Father also measures His children’s growth. He delights in seeing us reach new levels of spiritual maturity so we can accept greater responsibility. Because a new believer is like a little child in faith, his or her kingdom tasks are, at first, light. God is beginning the transformation process that will grow a saved human being into the image of Christ.

The call to servanthood requires us to do as the Lord Jesus did: act humbly on behalf of our fellow man. When we successfully minister where we are called, new opportunities will open up and offer fresh challenges.

Every opportunity to bless others honors the Lord and increases a believer’s wisdom and stature before Him. Much of God’s work goes on where only He can see it. But our heavenly Father is always measuring His children for future service. He’s gauging how much closer we are to His goal for us and what new task will draw us even closer.

God calls each believer to a life of service, just as He called Paul, Peter and James. This should be an exciting prospect. But too many people get hung up believing they can’t be “as good” as the apostles of old or the preachers and missionaries of today. A popular idea in the church is that the Lord’s servants are only those doing full-time ministry. Everyone else is simply trying to live well. Nothing could be further from the truth. From God’s perspective, you and I are the same as Paul, Peter, and James: servants with important kingdom work to do.

Some kingdom jobs look more important than others. But that’s only because we evaluate them with human eyes. Every work that advances the Gospel or serves a need is valuable—from cleaning the church or preaching to evangelizing or recording a praise album.

Everyone can’t be on a foreign mission field. But we can all share the gospel with a neighbor. Some people can sing in the choir. Others can put a dollar in the hand of homeless man. God invites us to do His work in the world, whether the task is great or small. We accomplish it by serving our fellow man. Ask Him what He would have you do.

Whatever your calling, remember… spiritual growth impacts our fruitfulness. The longer we’ve been believers, the greater our service should be. That does not mean tasks will be highly visible. Satan tries to convince people that some jobs are trivial. But the moment a believer falls for that lie, growth is stunted. God will promote those who put forth the best effort, no matter what the task is.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Impact of Prayer

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Charles Stanley

John 17:20-26

God has total authority over all people and events. He knows the hearts of men, how each person will act, and what steps are needed to achieve His purposes. At the same time, He calls us to pray.

Colossians 4:2 says we are to devote ourselves to prayer. Communication with God is so vital, in fact, that we are told to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Our lives should be characterized by continuous listening, talking, and relating to our heavenly Father. The Scriptures explain why this is so important:

Prayer changes us. As we seek God’s face and spend time in His Word, we will be transformed. Our desires will be replaced by His, and our thinking will align more closely with His thoughts. As our understanding of His character grows, we will have a better idea of how to pray in accordance with His will.

The Lord answers prayer (James 5:16). God has promised to listen and respond to the prayers of His children (Isa. 65:24). He assures us that He will act when our petitions are in Jesus’ name—which is to say, when they match His will and His timing (John 14:13).

Prayer invites God to act. Praying doesn’t alter God’s purposes or plans, nor does it cause Him to change His mind. What He has decided will occur, and His decisions will be exactly the right ones to accomplish what He wants to achieve. Our prayers are powerful when, without reservation, we invite God to do His work in our lives and the lives of others.

What impact, then, does prayer have? It allows people, who are inadequate, to connect with an all-sufficient God. Hallelujah!

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Praying to Our Sovereign God

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Charles Stanley

John 17:1-12

Prayer is essential to the believer’s walk with God. But we sometimes wonder what kind of influence praying really has. We ask:

  1. If the Lord controls all things, why does He want us to pray? God desires to involve His children in the work He is doing; through prayer, we can be part of His plans and purposes. Praying regularly also helps us maintain a sense of dependence upon our Father and leads to a deepening intimacy with Him. Furthermore, God desires to bring us into agreement with His will. The more our plans line up with His, the more He is able to accomplish in and through our life. In addition, He knows that answered prayer will grow our faith.
  2. Would God’s plans fail if we chose not to pray? God is not subservient to us, so His plans are contingent only upon Himself. He works all things after the counsel of His will, not according to our prayers. However, He prompts us to communicate in order to include us in His eternal purposes.
  3. Does my failure to pray affect my life or anyone else’s? According to Scripture, some things that God has planned to give will be received only if we ask Him (James 4:2). For example, Jesus did not perform many miracles in His hometown because so few people had the faith to ask (Matt. 13:57-58).

Jesus’ actions illustrate the place prayer ought to have in the believer’s life. Knowing that God was in perfect control of all things, He consistently went to the heavenly Father in prayer. Will you seek to follow Jesus’ example?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Peter: Sifted for Service

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Charles Stanley

Luke 22:31-34

Have you ever experienced a situation that seemed impossible to endure? Years later, as you looked back, did you realize how that trial prepared you for things to come?

The Scriptures tell us that the Lord will sometimes allow us to be “sifted” for greater service. In other words, He may give Satan permission to affect an area of our lives. God does this to strengthen our faith and transform us into stronger witnesses for Him.

In today’s passage from the gospel of Luke, Jesus explains this process to Peter: “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

Christ knew what was about to happen over the next few days—He would die on the cross, return to life, and then ascend to heaven. He expected Peter to be the leader of His disciples and to accomplish great things for the kingdom. But Peter wasn’t ready.

So the Lord allowed Satan to “sift” Peter. In so doing, God separated the “wheat” from the “chaff”—the righteous areas of the disciple’s life from the ungodly areas. Ultimately, Peter grew stronger from the experience, went on to play a key role in spreading the gospel following Christ’s death, and in the end died because of His bold faith.

Had God not allowed this time of sifting, Peter would not have been ready for the events to come. As you look back on your life, how has God prepared you for difficult times?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Wisdom for the Trials of Life

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Charles Stanley

James 1:5-8

At first glance, today’s passage on wisdom doesn’t seem related to the subject of trials, but James is actually continuing His thoughts from the previous three verses. We need wisdom to know how to respond to suffering. This means we should see trials from God’s viewpoint and understand His purposes in allowing them in our lives.

If you want to profit from struggles, be sustained in them, and come through with joy and victory, you must understand the following truths:

  1. God’s in full control of the timing and intensity of your trial, and He won’t let it go beyond the boundaries He has set.
  2. He has a specific purpose for your suffering, which you may not understand until it is over.
  3. This trial will be profitable if you submit to God and trust Him through it.
  4. A trying situation is a chance for faith to prove genuine and grow stronger.
  5. When you endure extreme pressure with unexplainable peace and joy, the Lord will demonstrate His sustaining power to a watching world.
  6. The Father will use your difficulties to produce Christ-like character.
  7. God will walk with you through trials.
  8. The Holy Spirit will enable you to survive this and to come out a conqueror.

If you believe these principles, they will shape how you respond to difficulties in your life. This perspective eliminates the negative reactions normally elicited by trials and makes supernatural responses possible. Instead of feeling miserable and hopeless, you’ll experience amazing peace and joy.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Trials and Joy

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Charles Stanley
James 1:2-4,12
“Consider it all joy . . . when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2)—what a preposterous statement! How can that make sense when joy and trials don’t fit together? But James is presenting a divine vantage point, not a human one. There are some surprising benefits in suffering, which aren’t easy to discern.
First of all, we need to understand that these verses are not telling us to be happy in our pain, but rather to rejoice in the blessings that accompany suffering. The word consider is an accounting term that means “to evaluate.” When we look at hardships from God’s perspective and place the proper value on them, we can rejoice in the beneficial outcome, even while experiencing pain. Humanly speaking, trials hurt; but from the Lord’s point of view, they help.
The only way to rejoice during trials is to understand what God wants them to accomplish. Regardless of the difficulty’s source, we can know that the Lord wants to use it to test our faith and thereby produce endurance and spiritual maturity. In every trial, He has hidden a precious character gem, but whether we receive it depends upon our response. Those who want to be transformed into the image of Christ can rejoice in the many benefits that accompany suffering.
How about you? Does your hunger to know the Lord and be transformed by Him exceed your dread of suffering? None of us want to experience pain, but since it’s an unavoidable reality in this fallen world, why not respond in a way that produces eternal benefit? Let’s not waste our suffering.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Caring for Your Conscience

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Charles Stanley
1 Timothy 1:5
All of us at times face decisions that test our character. When a choice conflicts with our value system, the “first responder” is our conscience. However, even this divine gift has been exposed to the world’s programming, which means we must not only reorient but also fortify our “inner compass.”
The strength of our conscience depends on both truth and tradition, and these, in turn, are impacted by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
• Truth. Since Jesus declared that He is the truth, then maintaining a close relationship with Him through prayer and obedience strengthens our conscience. Both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God play vital roles in this growth process. The Spirit of Truth, as Jesus identified the third Person of the Trinity, is also known as “the Helper.” The Spirit doesn’t just assist us in distinguishing righteousness from sin; He also teaches us and guides us into all truth (John 14:17, 26; 16:8, 13).
• Tradition. Joseph and David both set godly examples for us to follow when we face temptation—they let their conscience guide them in honoring God. At great personal cost, Joseph rejected the advances of Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39). And David, though presented with an opportunity to kill or humiliate Saul, chose instead to leave the matter in the Lord’s hands (1 Sam. 24:5-7).
We can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us develop a better conscience. He has given us everything we need for the task, which is essential if we are to live a godly life.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – A Barometer for Our Spiritual Growth

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Charles Stanley

2 Pet. 3:18

So you’re a Christian, but time has quickly ticked by since those first weeks following your initial fervent commitment to Christ. Do you ever wonder if you’re growing spiritually? Work demands your attention more than ever. Your old habits fight to break into your new life in Christ. Temptation continues. How can you tell if your faith is continuing to grow?

KNOW GOD

One of the first indicators that you are maturing in your Christian walk is an increasing hunger to know God. Do you cherish the time you spend alone with Him? Do you linger at the close of your prayer time, wanting to hear just a little more from the Father? Do you seek out opportunities to commune with the Lord and learn more about Him? If you answered “yes” to any or all of these questions, be encouraged—you are experiencing growth in your spiritual life.

KNOW HIS WORD

Another indicator of spiritual growth is an increasing desire to know God’s Word. Do you find yourself meditating on Scripture, hoping to glean more truth? Have you considered joining a Bible study or enrolling in seminary because you genuinely want to know more about the Bible? If so, God has given you a longing to understand the truths found in His Word.

KNOW HIS GRACE

Besides longing for God’s fellowship and wisdom, a true mark of spiritual development is an awareness of your sinfulness and the extent of God’s grace in your life. The more you learn about God’s nature, the more you will be able to identify His grace. The immensity of the Father’s redeeming grace is humbling. It makes you aware of your own weakness and folly. Only then, when you have become humble, can you fully accept God’s will for your life.

 

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A Barometer for Our Spiritual Growth

If we are maturing in our Christian walk, then we will certainly have a growing hunger to know God. We will not be satisfied with how much we know Him or understand His ways; instead, we will yearn to know Him more and more. (Listen to A Barometer for Our Spiritual Growth now.)

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Avoiding Shipwreck

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Charles Stanley
1 Timothy 1:18-20
The apostle Paul wanted his young charge Timothy to grasp the basics of keeping the faith. So he wrote about two men who ignored their conscience at great peril. Their example shows that without an understanding of what this gift from God is, we run the risk of capsizing our faith.
Many people mistakenly think of the conscience as God’s voice instead of God’s gift. We were created with an “inner monitor” that acts as a moral compass for life; it points to a standard of right and wrong that can guide our decisions. But the conscience, like everything else in us, is fallen and in need of redemption. Depending on how it has been programmed, our conscience can nudge us in the wrong direction.
Paul himself is an illustration of this. His formal education as a Pharisee had taught him that Christians were a threat to God and the Jewish faith. His conscience had been programmed to see killing them as service to the Lord. So he passionately hunted down believers without tripping an alarm on his moral compass. Only after the risen Christ met him on the way to Damascus was his conscience transformed and his life altered.
Unless we let the Lord redeem us fully, our decisions can prove as destructive as if we ignored our “monitoring system” altogether. By understanding the divine gift of conscience, we stand a better chance of staying on course and away from trouble. What’s more, if we submit our conscience to the Holy Spirit, we will find safe harbor when storms threaten our faith or future.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Jesus—God’s Perfect Gift

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Charles Stanley

Romans 5:6-21

Jesus is God’s precious and perfect gift to us. Heaven sent, the present was willingly given at great cost because we were in desperate need. This remarkable gift from God is . . .

Universal and Personal. Through Jesus, the Father offers salvation to the entire world, one person at a time (John 3:16). Whoever receives the Son discovers His unlimited worth.

Preventive. When Jesus becomes our personal Savior, we are granted forgiveness and are set free from condemnation for our sin (Rom. 8:1). This divine gift prevents us from having to face eternal death, which would mean permanent separation from God.

Eternal. What Jesus brings us lasts forever. From the day of salvation, Christ’s Spirit indwells us and remains with us. As permanent members of God’s family, we have an inheritance in heaven that can neither spoil nor perish (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

Full of Love. Unconditional love is what motivated the Father to sacrifice His Son in our place. None of us deserved it. At some point, we’ve all sinned (Rom. 3:10)—we have turned away from God to follow our own desires. In spite of who we are, God set His affection on us and proved it through the life and death of His Son. By His love, we’ve been rescued from bondage to sin and are being transformed into the people He designed us to be.

If you haven’t accepted God’s offer of salvation, today can become your spiritual birthday. If you already belong to God’s family, you know the value of the gift. Won’t you tell someone today about this marvelous present.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Jesus Christ: A Gift from the Father

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Charles Stanley

Matthew 7:11

We try to give presents that are meaningful but we aren’t always successful. However, God’s gift—His Son Jesus—is always the right one for everybody. This gift is:

Heaven sent. Jesus was sent to earth from the heavenlies in order to fulfill God’s plan (John 6:38). Every aspect of His life—from His birth as a little baby to His death on the cross—was part of the Father’s gift to us.

Needed. God gave His Son to us because of our desperate need for rescue. Sin ruined the human race (Rom. 3:23) and placed us all under divine condemnation (5:18). Since we are unable to pay the price justly demanded by God for our sin, our greatest need has always been for a Savior who could pay our sin debt for us (6:23). Only Jesus qualified because He was without sin. He became our Redeemer, reconciling us to God (5:10).

Sacrificial. God sent Jesus to die in our place so that we might become part of His family. The Son deliberately sacrificed His life to accomplish the Father’s plan.

Perfect. Jesus was God in human flesh, walking among mankind. His character and will are flawless, and He works perfectly on our behalf (8:28-29).

Precious. Jesus Christ can do for us what no material thing or other person can. In Him, we become new creations belonging to God (2 Cor. 5:17).

God wrapped His special present to us in human flesh so we might know Him and identify with Him. How closely intertwined is Jesus’ life with yours?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – On Eagle’s Wings

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Charles Stanley

Isaiah 40:28-31

When I witnessed an eagle in flight, I understood why God used this bird to describe a relationship with Him. The eagle—which simply opens its wings and soars—is wholly dependent upon air currents to keep it aloft.

In contrast, we oftentimes beat our wings trying to be better Christians. We resolve to read the Bible more or to improve at keeping our temper. We strive to escape old habits and temptations. But instead of flying to the mountaintops, we remain on the valley floor with tired wings. This is because we sometimes get confused about what makes a person spiritually mature. The godly believer isn’t someone who tries and tries to do well. I’ve been a believer long enough to know that I can’t live the Christian life. This flesh of mine isn’t any better today than it was the day I was saved.

Spiritual maturity means recognizing that we do not change ourselves. The flesh is corrupt, and it cannot be suppressed by any human means. But our omnipotent Father subdues our imperfect impulses through His Spirit. For example, God’s indwelling Spirit can calm anger and wield His strength to weaken the lure of temptations. While others tire from trying to be good, the mature believer relies on the Lord and will “mount up with wings like eagles” (Isa. 40:31).

Isaiah reminds us that even young men stumble and grow weak. Anyone trying to change himself will burn out beating his wings against the world system and his own flesh. God did not make our human bodies, minds, or spirits to fly solo. He created us to soar on His strength.

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Blessings of Inadequacy

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Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

Life is filled with struggles that reveal our human inadequacy: Physical problems leave us weak and unable to cope; relational troubles bring confusion and stress; continual battles with bad habits and addictions make us feel defeated; and financial pressures damage our self-worth. No one likes the fear and frustration of dealing with challenges that are too big to handle, but God can use them for our good.

Maybe you have never considered inadequacy a blessing. After all, it stirs up all sorts of uncomfortable emotions that make us feel insignificant and weak. But God can turn the negatives into blessings if we acknowledge our helplessness, depend on His strength, and step into our challenges with confidence in Him.

Inadequacy can be a blessing since it:

  • Drives us to God as we recognize our helplessness.
  • Relieves us of the burden of trying to do God’s will in our own strength.
  • Motivates us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Provides an opportunity for the Lord to demonstrate what He can do.
  • Increases our usefulness to God by replacing pride with humility.
  • Allows Christ to receive all the glory.
  • Gives us peace as we rely on Him.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers have the ability to endure difficulty and accomplish whatever the Lord calls them to do. By claiming the adequacy of Christ, we can face every circumstance with a sense of confidence—not in ourselves but in God, who is capable.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Peace With Ourselves

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Charles Stanley

Romans 12:1-8

In the 12th chapter of Romans, Paul indicates that some people tend to think more highly of themselves than they should. It is also true that others are tempted to think more lowly of themselves than is appropriate. What thoughts should we have about ourselves?

A godly sense of self-worth offers a valuable solution here. It lies at the heart of a peaceful life and provides the solid middle ground between the ditch of self-disparagement on the one hand and the precipice of self-exaltation on the other. This resting place in Jesus stems from simply seeing yourself the way the Lord sees you.

When you are born again, God sees you as His beloved child and the owner of a new identity. Because your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), you can say that you are complete in Christ. And because of His Spirit within, it is possible for you to live a righteous life.

At the same time, you retain old patterns of sin, which are still capable of expressing themselves. It is all right, therefore, to be grieved by some things you do while rejoicing over progress. That is how God feels. Keep in mind, however, that His delight or displeasure with your conduct in no way alters either His love for you or your identity as His. The Lord always sees you as His own and as a person of infinite worth.

Ultimately, you’ll reach full spiritual maturity in Christ. But in the meantime, never forget that you are not what you do. You are what you are: a child of God (John 1:12).

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How do I accept Jesus as my Savior?

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Charles Stanley

 

Do you want to know God?

Do you yearn to experience the Lord’s comforting presence, power, and wisdom? That’s good, because God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you forever.

The problem is . . .

. . . one thing separates you from a relationship with God—sin. You and I sin whenever we fail to live by the Lord’s holy standard. In fact, Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Furthermore, Romans 6:23 explains that the penalty for sin is death—separation from God in hell forever. No matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves or get rid of our sins. We can’t earn our way to heaven by being good, going to church, or being baptized (Eph. 2:8-9).

Understanding how helpless we are because of our sins, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to save us.

Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life, and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (Rom. 5:8). Three days later, He rose from the dead—showing that He had triumphed over sin and death once and for all.

So how can you know God?

It all starts with accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ provides a relationship with the Father and eternal life through His death on the cross and resurrection (Rom. 5:10).

Romans 10:9 promises, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you have not yet begun your personal relationship with God, understand that the One who created you loves you no matter who you are or what you’ve done. He wants you to experience the profound depth of His care.

Therefore, tell God that you are willing to trust Him for salvation. You can tell Him in your own words or use this simple prayer:

Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive my sins and save me from eternal separation from God. By faith, I accept Your work and death on the cross as sufficient payment for my sins. Thank You for providing the way for me to know You and to have a relationship with my heavenly Father. Through faith in You, I have eternal life. Thank You also for hearing my prayers and loving me unconditionally. Please give me the strength, wisdom, and determination to walk in the center of Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have just prayed this prayer, congratulations!

You have received Christ as your Savior and have made the best decision you will ever make—one that will change your life forever! Please let us know by emailing us at decision@intouch.org so we can rejoice with you.We know you will have questions about your new relationship with Jesus, and we want to help. Begin your new journey with God by clicking here to learn more about your new relationship with Him.

 

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How to accept Jesus as your Savior

How do you accept Jesus as your savior? Romans 10:9 promises, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you have not yet begun your personal relationship with God, understand that the One who created you and loves you no matter who you are or what you’ve done. (Watch How to accept Jesus as your Savior.)

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Strength to Stand

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Charles Stanley

Ephesians 3:14-21

We know who our enemy is, and we may even be dressed for battle (Eph. 6:11). But we don’t feel ready. Our weaknesses seem large and our strength small.

To stand firm in this life, we need the power of our living Lord operating within us. To have God’s divine power released in us requires serious, sustained prayer (v. 18). When we communicate with the Father, His Holy Spirit will give us discernment so that we can recognize truths about spiritual warfare and gain insight into the adversary’s tactics (1 Cor. 2:14). Starting each morning with the Lord lets Him strengthen us to stand steadfastly for Christ, no matter what is in store for us that day.

Prayer is an essential element in our protection against the devil. If we are prayerless—that is, if we fail to seek God’s guidance and neglect to put on His armor by faith every day—then we will be defeated. Our understanding and vision apart from the Lord are too limited and the enemy is too powerful for us to stand alone. However, Romans 8:37 tells us that with God, we will be more than conquerors. He will make us ready if we draw close to Him through prayer, listen to His instructions, and follow through with obedience.

The enemy despises prayers that are offered through faith in Jesus Christ, because he has no defense against them. Persevering prayer strengthens you. It also crushes Satan’s might and sends him running (James 4:7). Drop to your knees in prayer to the Lord and watch what happens.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God’s Principle of Reaping and Sowing

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Charles Stanley

Proverbs 12:14

Galatians 6:7-10 states, “Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life . . . [So] let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

This passage contains an important scriptural truth: Our positive actions will ultimately benefit us, whereas our negative deeds will eventually bring harmful repercussions. This principle goes hand in hand with the Golden Rule, which says we are to treat others the way we want to be treated. The Lord calls us to be kind and respectful toward other people, even when they aren’t easy to love. Admittedly, this can be difficult when an individual wrongs us continually. But if we give in to our flesh and retaliate, we are sowing seeds of corruption, and in due time, we will reap accordingly.

On the other hand, treating someone well—even after he has been unkind— will profit us. According to Scripture, we are “sow[ing] to the Spirit” and will reap rewards. Some benefits may be supernatural and unknown to us at the time. Yet we know that obedience in this situation will facilitate forgiveness, build character, and develop endurance. No matter what the other person does, we always win when we walk in obedience with the Lord.

Think of relationship challenges as a chance for others to witness God’s love in action. With His help, you can sow seeds of love, joy, and peace that will yield a rich harvest for your own life as well as for the other person.