Tag Archives: fleshly desires

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – We Can Make a Difference

Leave a comment

Joyce meyer

The Lord turned from the evil which He had thought to do to His people. —Exodus 32:14

Do you know that prayer can change God’s mind? As a result of someone who will simply take time to talk to Him and listen to Him, God can actually reconsider something He had planned to do.

When Moses went up Mount Sinai to get the Ten Commandments, he was gone longer than the people wanted him to be. In the absence of their leader, they forgot the Lord, gave in to their fleshly desires and decided to melt all their jewelry, make a golden calf, and worship it. God spoke to Moses on the mountain and said, essentially, “You better get back down there, because the people have really gotten themselves in a mess. And I’m angry about it.” (Thank God, Psalm 30:5 says that His anger lasts only a moment, but His mercy is forever!)

Moses began to intercede for the people because he cared so much about them. God had already said to him, “Leave Me alone, for these people are stiff-necked and stubborn” (see Exodus 32:9–10). But Moses refused to give up because the issue was not settled in his heart. He loved the people, he knew the nature of God, and he knew the character of God. On top of that, he knew that God really loved the people and did not really want to leave them stranded.

Moses asked God to change His mind (see Exodus 32:12) and according to today’s verse, God did. We can make a difference when we pray!

God’s word for you today: When you pray, God hears and answers!

Uncategorized

Charles Stanley – God Can Use Our Frustration

2 Comments

 

Mark 11:15-17

Yesterday we saw that when fleshly desires and godly freedom collide, the result can be frustration, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with our circumstances. Unless we’re careful, that inner turmoil can lead to sin.

There is another form of frustration, however. It’s used by God to motivate His children to make a positive difference in the world around them. This emotion is derived from witnessing acts of evil, feeling a great need to deliver the gospel to the lost, or becoming discontent with the moral deterioration of our culture. It comes from being burdened by the same things that weigh on God’s heart.

Ephesians 4:30 says the Holy Spirit within us can become “grieved,” or saddened, by the rampant evil all around. When this happens, we experience the sensation of godly frustration. Perhaps this is what Jesus felt when He witnessed the money changers selling their wares in God’s holy temple (Mark 11:15).

If we are not cautious, though, acting upon impulsive urges can cause needless damage to others and to ourselves. So, to bring about positive change, we must properly direct any feelings of spiritual frustration. That’s why it is important to establish a practice of submitting all our emotions to the Lord. When our hearts are pure, He will reveal to us what He would have us do.

The next time you experience godly frustration, lift up your feelings to the Lord, and wait patiently until you receive clear guidance about how to proceed. He may ask you to take action, or He may call you to intercede quickly in prayer.

Uncategorized

Charles Stanley – Identifying the Voice of God

1 Comment

 

Matthew 16:21-25

At a very young age, a baby begins to identify his parents’ voices. Even after hearing them speak for just a few weeks, the child starts to distinguish that they sound different from other people. Similarly, God has supplied us—His children—with the capacity to recognize His voice. Over time we can learn to distinguish Him speaking to us through His Word, His responses to our prayers, and godly people.

To help identify God’s voice, ask:

• Is the message consistent with the Word of God? By examining Scripture, we will know to reject the voice that tells us we are under condemnation (Rom. 8:1) and accept the truth that the Lord forgives us.

• Does what we hear conflict with human reasoning? If so, it could be from the Lord—He tells us to turn the other cheek and love our enemies, plus other unexpected things like, “The last shall be first.”

• Do God’s words clash with our fleshly desires? He wants us to have godly enjoyment but objects to our gratifying earthly desires outside His plan.

• Are His words a challenge to our faith? He wants to build our faith to deepen the relationship with Him.

• Is courage required to obey God? When He speaks, a decision requiring sacrifice or change of direction is often necessary.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), and He promises that we will be able to distinguish His voice so we can follow Him. He doesn’t want us listening to “strangers,” because then it would be easy for us to be led astray (vv. 4-5). Won’t you spend time in God’s Word so you will know His voice?