When the Egyptians pursued the children of Israel as they began their exodus to the promised land the Lord spoke to them through Moses. He told them not to fear but to stand still and see how God would save them (Ex 14:13). In verse 14 Moses said: "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (KJV). In Deuteronomy we are told that God goes before us and fights for us (Deut 1:30).

I love the story of King Jehoshaphat and his defeat of the Ammonites. Jehoshaphat was a good king who loved God. He acknowledged his inability to defeat Ammon but he looked to God in prayer and fasting (2 Chron 20:12). God replied through His prophets: "the battle is not yours but God's" (v 15). Again, Israel did not have to fight; as they went out in praise and worship God defeated the enemy.

God never changes (Mal 3:6). In Isaiah 41:10 it says: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." As we trust God and rest in him he fights our battles for us. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom 8:37).

The Holy Spirit that dwells in us as Christians is mightier than any human or evil spiritual opposition that can come against us (1 John 4:4). We are victorious in Christ (1 Cor 15:57). If you face battles today look to God; He will show you the way out (1 Cor 10:13).

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Our whole walk with God requires faith. If we book a ticket to fly from Saskatoon to Manchester, with our innate human faith, we don’t give another thought to the fact that our flight will land at Manchester, but yet many Christians often struggle with believing God’s word (having faith in God). As an example, when God says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”, do his people believe (Phil 4:19; KJV)?

You know, all Christians were given a measure of faith in God when they were born again (Rom 12:3). But the bible says we need to grow our faith just like a baby needs to grow to adulthood. How do we grow our faith? In Romans 10:17 we see that: “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. In other words, we need to be in the word, reading it to ourselves, meditating it (thinking about it, rolling it around in our mind) and getting good solid bible-based teaching. Faith also comes by praying in the Holy Spirit; either in our native tongue, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or by praying in tongues (Jude 20).

In the Amplified Bible it has a wonderful explanation of strong faith: “through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness” (2 Tim 3:15; Amp). Now that’s faith and it can be ours.

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".......so that I might finish my course with joy...." (Acts 20:24; KJV), I don't believe God wants us to be boring stodgy Christians. If we could enjoy life rather than rushing from one busy thing to another, then we would have a better witness to the world.

God: “giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim 6:17; KJV) and in John 10:10 Jesus said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. The writer of Ecclesiastes told us to find ENJOYMENT in everything we do and even adds that this is from God (Eccl 2:24; 5:18).

The apostle Peter taught that if we want to: "love life and see good days", there are 3 things we should do: 1. Watch what we say. 2. Do what is right. 3. Search for peace (1 Peter 3:10-11). I would like to add one more scripture to that advice which is found in Acts 20:35, here we are told: “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. Once you make your aim in life to be a giver (and that doesn't just mean money), then you cannot fail to enjoy life, because you will be putting others first and that is a great prescription for joy. 

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

The story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet always impacts me each time I read it (John 13:1-14). It is an example of selfless humility and love. When reading that story the other day it struck me that in washing the disciples' feet Jesus would have done that act of love to Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

Jesus then exhorted us to wash one another’s feet and even those of our enemies: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14; KJV).

On the cross Jesus asked his Father to forgive those who crucified him: “Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus taught that we should love our enemies, do them good and pray for them (Matt 5:44). We are told that we should never repay evil for evil and should be at peace with people (Rom 12:17-18).

Paul went on to say that God will deal with those who may choose to cause us harm (v 19). Our role is to overcome evil with good (love) and seek to be a blessing to those who are against us (v 20-21).

Isn't it amazing that we have a God who carries our burdens (Matt 11:28-30), protects us and fights our battles for us (2 Chron 20:15). We just need to trust (Prov 3:506), walk in love (Eph 5:2), and cast our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7).

Please recommend our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training” to others. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. ASK US FOR A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, using the contact us page on our website; click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

The Apostle Peter denied Jesus 3 times at Jesus' greatest time of need (John 18:15-27). After his resurrection Jesus took time to specifically let Peter know that he loved him and forgave him (John 21:15-17). It is interesting that Jesus told Peter, who would become a leader in the early church, to feed his lambs, tend his sheep and feed his sheep.

Feed means to feed or keep, while tend can also mean to feed but also to shepherd or pastor. Peter exhorted the elders (shepherds) of the church to oversee, care for, shepherd and feed the flock, or church (1 Peter 5:2). The shepherd leads, protects, feeds and pastures his flock (Ps 23, John 10:1-30).

We have shepherds, our pastors and elders, who provide spiritual food from the Bible. When Jesus charged Peter there was such a clear emphasis on feeding the flock. We should heed this emphasis in our own lives.

God's word is truth (John 17:17) and this truth sets us free (John 8:32). God's word is life (Psalm 119:50); it is vibrant, alive and full of power (Heb 4:12). This power will change us (Rom 12:2), make us all God wants us to be, bring God's blessings and grow our faith (Rom 10:17).

No wonder the psalmist said "thy word have I hid in mine heart" (Psalm 119:11; KJV). We would do well to heed this advice.

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Please recommend our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training” to others. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. ASK US FOR A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, using the contact us page on our website; click here: www.onthewayinlove.com