When God was ready to take his people Israel into the promised land (Num 13-14), he told Moses to send twelve spy’s first to check things out. Two spies, Caleb and Joshua, brought back a good report and insisted that Israel was more than capable of taking the land. These two men trusted God. Ten spies came back and discouraged the people by describing the fortified cities, giants and the strength of the people. Israel would spend 40 years in the wilderness because of fear and their refusal to enter the promised land (Num 14:34).

If you are feeling overwhelmed by something you have to do today, say to someone or if God is taking you way out of your comfort zone, then remember the following verses. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Rom 8:37; KJV). "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us". (Phil 4:13). “Ye might be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power" (Col 1:11). “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” (Isa 41:10).   

All these and many more verses talk about the special strength and ability that God gives us as Christians. You may already be familiar with these verses but remind yourself of them and then; do what you have to do, in God's ability.

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Are you a peacemaker or dose strife characterize your relationship with others? Peace in relationships is a state of freedom from strife; a presence of harmony and tranquility; sound good? In Matthew chapter 5, verse 9 it says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God”. The Psalmist King David exhorted us to; “seek peace and pursue it” (Ps 34:14) and the apostle Paul instructed that, if at all possible, we should live at peace with others (Rom 12:18).

Wow, God must put a high value on peace and those who propagate it. To be blessed is to walk in the fullness and assurance of salvation despite what maybe going on around us. James tells us that: “peacemakers, who sow in peace, raise a harvest of righteousness”. Righteousness is simply right standing with God.

Our God is a God of peace and he causes it to grow in us by the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22). Strife is not fun, seek peace with all people and aim to live at peace (Rom 12:17-18; James 3:18). Not everyone will accept your peacemaking (James 3:18; Rom 12:18) but that is their issue. You cooperate with God and let him make you a peacemaker. Walk in Gods peace and blessedness.

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In Exodus 16:4 (KJV) God told Moses that he would: "rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day" Obviously, this was referring to the manna for physical food that God provided for the children of Israel. However, this also reminds us that we need the daily spiritual sustenance that God can provides for us. This verse reminds me of the line in the Lord's prayer (Matt 6:11) that says: "give us this day our daily bread”; this most certainly refers to our physical and spiritual needs.

Notice that the children of Israel had to go and collect manna each new day. Likewise, we need to devote the first part of our new day to spending time with God and getting the manna for our day. Spending time with God first thing will build us up and prepare us for the day.

Taking one day at a time makes life seem less onerous; no wonder God said in Matthew 6:34: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: ........Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof". If we just focus on one day at a time, we will be less likely to worry about what may be looming on the horizon.

Remind yourself each new day that God’s: “compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulnes” (Lam 3:22-23) and he: “daily loadeth us with benefits” (Ps 68:19), and you will be off to a good start.

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In Philippians 4:6 Paul tells us that whenever we pray it should be mixed with thanksgiving to God. In Psalm 100:4 the people were exhorted to enter his gates, or presence, with thanksgiving. We can sing with grateful hearts to our God (Col 3:16). We are also exhorted to abound in thanksgiving (Col 2:7). The psalms are replete with thanksgiving to our heavenly father.

It is God's will for us to have thankful hearts (1 Thess 5:18); we don't need to think for too long to be able to prepare a long list of the blessings of God that we experience daily. We are recipients of his indescribable gift in Jesus our savior (2 Cor 9:15). We are forgiven (Eph 1:7), saved (Rom 10:9), healed (1 Peter 2:24) and walk in victory and authority (Col 2:15) over all the works of satan.  

To give thanks is to glorify God (Psalm 50:23). Like praise, thanksgiving pleases God and draws us up into his presence (1 Thess 5:18). Paul urged us to give thanks (1 Tim 2:1). Take some time today to be thankful, to thank God and see how he will lift you up into his spiritual realm, his presence: "In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right-hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11; KJV).

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I am always struck by the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). There we see the stark contrast between the cold, cunning of the unforgiving, Pharisees and Jesus consummate wisdom, compassion and forgiveness. However, Jesus did not overlook the woman’s sin but told her to sin no more.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus paid the price for our sins through his sacrifice on the cross (Rom 5:8). As Christians we are forgiven (Col 1:14), given new life (2 Cor 5:17) and righteousness in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). As Christians we do still sin (1 John 1:8) as our spirit (spiritual heart or conscience) is made new but not our body or soul (1 Thess 5:23). However, we should not habitually or willfully sin (1 John 3:6) as God has made us new spiritual creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). Our spirits are to govern our souls and bodies.

When we gave our lives to Christ we were born again spiritually (John 3:1-6); our spirits were made new (Ez 11:19). However, when we allow our souls to get the upper hand, we do slip and sin.  But the apostle John taught us that: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanses us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9; KJV).

What an advantage we have over the woman caught in adultery; how God loves us, in that he has placed his Holy Spirit on the inside of us to enable us to change us and help us not to sin (John 14:16-17). All we have to do is cooperate and walk in obedience.

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