by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 13, 2025 | Christian Living, Life
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV)
The Bible exhorts us to examine our walk with God. So how is your walk going? These questions will help you gauge where you’re at:
- Have you been spending time with Jesus?
- What are you doing during your time with Him?
- Do you regularly talk with Jesus?
- Have you been reading His Word?
- Are you making changes when you learn you should or shouldn’t do something?
- Are you serving others?
- How’s your attitude?
The answers to these questions will help you determine if you’ve been walking by faith with God or mostly doing your own thing.
Yet, another important question will help you assess where you’re at spiritually: Are you doing those things out of love or duty? In other words, are you doing them because you want to or because you feel like you have to?
In a letter to the church of Ephesus, Jesus told them, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4 NKJV). Ouch! That must have been hard for them to hear. If you’re doing things for Jesus out of duty instead of love, Jesus might be saying that to you.
When you love someone, you want to spend time with them. You desire to do things for them. You enjoy the time you spend with them – not dread it.
If that’s you, Jesus gave the church of Ephesus a remedy. And it’s one that you can use too. He told them, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works . . . .” (Revelation 2:5a NKJV). So, if you’ve left your first love, Jesus: remember, repent, and repeat.
1. Remember
Think about how God saved you. Write down your testimony – all of the amazing things God did to bring you to Him. And then praise Him for it. Thank Him for everything He’s done for you.
2. Repent
Acknowledge that you’ve left Jesus – that you’ve been doing things your way and in your strength. Admit that you have been doing things out of a sense of duty instead of love. Ask God to forgive you. He has promised that “[i]f we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV).
3. Repeat
Do the first things you did when you were first saved.
- Meditate on your favorite part of the Bible.
- Thank God for His amazing creation.
- Sing along with your favorite worship song.
- Tell others how God is working in your life.
So, examine yourself to ensure you are walking by faith with God. And if you’re not – remember, repent, and repeat the first works as you return to walking by faith with your first love.
Photo by Ugne Vasyliute on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 30, 2024 | Christian Living, Life
Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves . . . . (Psalm 100:3 NKJV).
The Source of Identity
There’s a lot of talk about identity these days. People ask, “How do you self-identify?” In other words: Who do you want to be today? But regardless of what you think your identity should be, the truth remains: our identity comes from God. He’s the One who made us.
How God Made You
So, who did God make you to be? Here are a few key things that the Bible teaches us.
- He made you male or female, based on your biological sex.
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4 NKJV).
- He made you in His image; you’re an image-bearer.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27 NKJV).
- He made you a steward of the things He’s entrusted to you.
“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV).
Your Identity in Christ
And when you’ve been born again, your identity is rooted in Christ. Among other things:
“But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12 NKJV).
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).
- You’re adorned in His robe of righteousness.
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10 KNJV).
- You’re an heir of God through Christ.
“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 NKJV).
Walking in Your God-given Identity
How often have you been hindered by going against your God-given identity? Doing so causes confusion, depression, and insecurity. But God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
On the other hand, walking in the identity God gave you results in a sense of belonging, confidence, and security. We can start each day knowing who we are and that God loves us. How different 2025 could be if you regularly remind yourself of these truths!
For example, you could pray something like this.
Dear God. I praise You for how You’ve made me: a woman, a bearer of Your image, a steward of all You’ve entrusted to me, and a daughter of the most-high King who is adorned in Your robe of righteousness. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
So, praise God for how He’s made you. Thank Him for who you are in Christ. Then walk in your God-given identity each day by faith with Him.
Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 9, 2024 | Christian Living, Life
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works (Psalm 9:1 NKJV).
With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas approaching, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season and forget about God. Ironic, isn’t it? The whole reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Jesus and all He has done for us. Yet, we tend to make it about everything but Him.
If that sounds like you, I challenge you to make this year different. Instead of rushing through the season for the sake of getting things done, try approaching it with a worshipful heart. How? Here are three steps you can take.
1. Read
There are many examples of people who had a worshipful heart in the Bible. Each one praised God with his or her whole heart. And their actions were prompted by their worshipful hearts.
- Mary washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped His feet with her hair, kissed His feet, and anointed His feet with oil (Luke 7:37–38, 44–47).
- David danced before the Lord with all His might – leaping and whirling before Him (2 Samuel 6:14, 16).
- Mary sat at Jesus’ feet hearing His word (Luke 10:39).
- The widow gave out of her poverty all that she had into the temple’s treasury (Mark 12:41–44).
Read through these passages of Scripture and search for others. Learn what a worshipful heart looks like.
2. Pray
Ask God to search your heart and show you where you’re at (Psalm 139:23). It’s easy to go through your day, thinking you’re okay. But the Bible tells us that the “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV).
When you ask, God will reveal what’s in your heart. For example, the Holy Spirit might remind you of how you’ve been complaining to your coworkers or your friends instead of remembering how good God has been to you. (The struggle is real.)
3. Act
If God shows you something that’s getting in the way of praising Him with your whole heart, repent. Thank God for His forgiveness. Then purposefully focus on the good things He’s done.
- Meditate on the reason we celebrate Christmas: Jesus was born so He could live a perfect life and pay the price for all our sins. He did that for you. And now Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for you (Romans 8:34).
- Remember how God saved you. Write out your testimony. How did God work in your life to bring you into a relationship with Him?
- Recall the amazing things God has done in and through your life. How has He changed you since you came to Him? How has He provided for you? What opportunities has He given you to share His love with others?
Let’s be mindful this Christmas season to keep our hearts in a state of worship. Fix your mind on our beautiful Lord and Savior. As you read about examples in the Bible of those with worshipful hearts, pray, and act on what God shows you, gratitude will well up in your heart. Then you’ll be able to praise Him with your whole heart and tell others about the marvelous things He has done as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 18, 2024 | Christian Living, Life
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT).
God wants us to be thankful in all circumstances. The Greek word translated in this verse as all means “any, every, the whole.” That covers everything – the good, the bad, the easy, and the difficult. You get the picture.
Yet, it can be hard to be thankful when we’re going through a challenging season. In those times, we need to remember that God’s commands are always good, even when we can’t see the why.
It’s good to be thankful because God has been gracious to us. He has saved us, and He works through the hard things to bring us closer to Him. Not only that, the act of gratitude benefits us physically. The more we’re focused on what’s good in our lives, the less we’re thinking about what’s wrong.
As Thanksgiving draws near, here are three steps you can take to fulfill God’s command to be thankful.
1. Remember God’s faithfulness.
Set aside time to recall all that God has done for you and your family this year. “He has made His wonderful works to be remembered” (Psalm 111:4 NKJV). If you need some guidance, my book, Ebenezer Stones, is all about the ways God is faithful in our lives.
Sit down with paper and a pen. Then, pray and ask God to remind you of what He’s done in your life. As you remember God’s faithfulness, write it down. Keep the list so you can pull it out when things feel bleak. Remembering God’s past faithfulness will help you to trust Him with whatever you’re going through in the present.
2. Pray.
Spend some time going through the list you made. Meditate on the specifics of how God came through for you. Follow the psalmist’s example to not just “remember the works of the Lord,” but also to “meditate” on them (Psalm 77:11–12 NKJV).
Thank God for everything He has done. As the psalmist declared, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:11 NKJV). Verbalize your gratefulness to Him.
3. Publicly Proclaim God’s faithfulness.
The psalmist committed to be thankful to God “in the great assembly” and to praise God “among many people” (Psalm 35:18 NKJV). Each year, our church has a Thanksgiving banner service. It’s a sweet time of publicly professing God’s goodness.
Tell others about God’s faithfulness. Take time during your Thanksgiving dinner to recount to your family and friends how God has worked in your life. Give God the glory. It all belongs to Him (Revelation 4:11).
So, be thankful. Remember God’s faithfulness. Thank Him for all He’s done for you. Then, publicly proclaim His goodness this Thanksgiving season as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 4, 2024 | Christian Living, Life
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 NKJV)
Last time, we looked at 26 ways God works in your life. Now, we’re going to shift from what God does to what He asks us to do. So, here are 26 things the Bible says you should do – again from A to Z.
A: Abide in Jesus.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4 NKJV)
B: Be still.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10 NKJV)
C: Commit your way to God.
Commit your way to the Lord . . . . (Psalm 37:5 NKJV)
D: Deny yourself.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 NKJV)
E: Exalt His name.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:3 NKJV)
F: Forgive others.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3:12–13 NKJV)
G: Give thanks.
[I]n everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV)
H: Humble yourself.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV)
I: Be immovable.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV)
J: Be joyful.
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. (Psalm 5:11 NKJV)
K: Keep God’s commandments.
If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15 NKJV)
L: Love God and others.
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37–39 NKJV)
M: Make disciples.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . . (Matthew 28:19a NKJV)
N: Draw near to God.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8 NKJV)
O: Offer praise to God.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV)
P: Pray all the time.
[P]ray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV)
Q: Clothe yourself with a quiet spirit.
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:3–4 NLT)
R: Rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NKJV)
S: Sing.
Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! (Psalm 47:6 NKJV)
T: Trust God.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV)
U: Keep unity.
Endeavor[] to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3 NKJV)
V: Add to your faith virtue.
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (2 Peter 1:5–7 NKJV)
W: Watch for Jesus’ return.
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (Matthew 24:42 NKJV)
X: X-amine yourself.
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV)
Y: Let your yes be yes.
But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No.” (Matthew 5:37a NKJV)
Z: Be zealous for good.
But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always . . . . (Galatians 4:18a NKJV)
I challenge you to take one of these each day: meditate on it and then do it. Be a doer and not just a hearer of God’s Word as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov on Unsplash
by Joanna K. Harris (Guest Post) | Oct 7, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
In the movie The Ultimate Gift, a wealthy man dies and leaves his grandson a series of strange gifts. The grandson only wants to know how much money he inherits. However, he can’t find out until he receives each unusual gift, such as work, problems, giving, etc.
Too often I’m like the grandson – waiting for God to give me the “good stuff” while being frustrated with the strange gifts He has bestowed. Philippians 1:29 (NIV) says, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” It’s taken a long time, but I’ve finally learned to see suffering as one of God’s unusual gifts.
God’s Word has a lot to say about suffering. Suffering isn’t just part of living on earth; it’s also part of God’s plan. He uses it for our good.
I know it doesn’t feel that way. Suffering feels painful, depressing, hopeless, devastating . . . I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to live with broken health. I’ve experienced the agony of losing loved ones. I’ve been misunderstood and mistreated. I’ve experienced all this and more. Suffering hurts. Yet, Jesus promised His followers we would suffer, and He filled His Word with encouragement for those who are suffering.
Suffering produces character, maturity, and hope (Romans 5:3–4; James 1:2-4). Those who suffer for what is right are blessed (1 Peter 3:14). Suffering allows us to receive God’s comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). God uses hardship and suffering to train us for holiness (Hebrews 12:7–11). Still, even with these encouraging verses, sometimes it’s hard to see suffering as a gift.
There are three specific benefits of suffering I’ve experienced that help me accept this strange gift with gratitude.
1. Suffering has given me a desperate dependence on God’s Word.
When my life was mostly problem-free, it was easy to think I was spiritually mature and had all the answers. Once suffering hit, nothing made sense, and I realized how desperately I needed truth. Psalm 119:92 (NIV) says, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” Only God’s Word gives the understanding about God and life that I need to endure trials and hardship.
There have been days when, desperate for answers, I opened my Bible and read, and read, and read . . . until finally, I found the answers or encouragement I needed. The psalmist wrote, “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life” (Psalm 119:50 NIV). Not only does God’s Word provide needed answers, it also holds precious promises that bring great comfort. Through suffering, I’ve discovered more of the riches of God’s Word, sufficient for every day and every need.
2. Suffering has produced deeper fellowship with Jesus.
In Philippians 3:10 (NIV), Paul said, “I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings . . . .” Through suffering, I’ve learned more about who Jesus is, what He’s like, and how He works. Everything I’ve suffered, Jesus also experienced.
I’ve encountered Jesus’ presence and grace in every situation, and I’ve found that He is enough. When every source of happiness this world offers was stripped away, I discovered the “inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8 NIV) of simply knowing my Savior. Paradoxically, sometimes it’s only through pain that Jesus can open our eyes to the joy He alone offers.
3. Suffering has taught me to keep an eternal perspective.
It’s easy to be comfortable and at home in this world – until we experience suffering. Then everything changes. Suffering has made me ask questions like: Why am I here? What is my purpose? What am I living for? I understand now that God created me and put me on this earth for Himself and His glory – not just for my comfort or happiness.
In 1 Peter 4:1–2 (NIV), Peter says that one who has suffered doesn’t live for himself anymore “but rather for the will of God.” I only get one life. I’m thankful that suffering changes my perspective and keeps me from wasting my life on selfish pursuits. Suffering reminds me that right now is just the “warm-up” while eternity is the “main event.” Paul said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NIV). Understanding this has changed the way I think, what I desire, and how I live. Suffering helps me keep my eyes on heaven, my true home.
I don’t like it, I often complain about it, but I don’t doubt that suffering is a special gift from my loving heavenly Father. At the end of The Ultimate Gift, the purpose of all the strange gifts is revealed. They prepared the grandson to receive his inheritance. God has a purpose too. He knows what we need. Sometimes suffering is the most precious gift we could receive. In the end, we too will understand how God used it to prepare us for our eternal inheritance.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV).
Joanna K. Harris grew up as a missionary kid and then served as a missionary for two years. During that time, she felt called to write. However, she then suffered through more than a decade of chronic illness. In her trials, Jesus taught her more about His grace. She writes to encourage others with God’s grace – always greater than our need. Joanna has authored more than ten books for children and adults. You can sign up for her newsletter and receive two bonus chapters of her devotional memoir on her website: gracepossible.com.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Sep 23, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NKJV))
There aren’t many things we can control. You can’t control
- other people,
- the decisions your kids make,
- how someone will react to something you say, or
- if traffic will be busy during your morning commute.
If we could, our children would always choose to do the right thing, people would always respond with kind words, and our commutes would always be easy.
But one thing you can control is your thoughts.
Now, I can almost hear some of your thinking, No, you can’t. Random thoughts come into my head all the time.
I agree. We are bombarded every minute of every day with seemingly random thoughts. Thoughts like:
- You’re so stupid. Why did you say that?
- You’re ugly.
- You can’t do it. You’ll never amount to anything.
- No one really likes you.
The thoughts will come. Yet, you can decide what you’ll do with them when they do. You can let them roll around in your head. You can agree with them (e.g., Yeah, I am stupid.). Or you can handle them Biblically.
As we saw in our verse, the Bible instructs us to take every thought captive. Arrest that thought. Stop it. Don’t give it free rein.
Pay attention to your thoughts. When you think something like, You’re done for. No one cares about you. Pause. Pay attention to the thought. Then ask yourself, Is it true?
And remember the standard of truth. The truth is what the Bible says about something. It’s not necessarily what the world says about it or how you feel.
Jesus is truth (John 14:6). That’s why the Bible says you need to make your thoughts obedient to Him. If your thought doesn’t line up with what Jesus says is true, then it’s false; it’s a lie. And if it’s a lie, you need to discard it and replace it with what Jesus says is true.
So, is it true that no one cares about you? You may feel like it’s true. But is it? What does the Bible say?
The Bible says that Jesus loves you.
- He loves you so much that He died on the cross for your sins (Romans 5:8).
- He loves you so much that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
- He loves you so much that you will then get to spend eternity with Him (John 3:16).
- He loves you so much that He’s preparing a place for you so you can be with Him (John 14:2–3).
- He loves you so much that He wants you to cast all your care on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
These are just a few of the verses that show how much Jesus loves you. So, the thought that no one cares about you is false. It’s not true no matter how you feel.
Because that thought is false, discard it. Replace the lie with the truth that God’s revealed to you (that Jesus loves you). Pray and ask God to help you believe His truth. Then meditate on the truth as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 26, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV))
Do you know what’s in your heart? Probably not. As we see from the verse in Jeremiah, our hearts are deceitful. That means you can think your heart is fine even when it isn’t. Yet, the contents of your heart can be revealed by your words.
As Jesus said,
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 (NKJV))
That may seem harsh. But it’s true. Whatever’s in your heart – good or evil – will come out.
The contents of your heart can be revealed at the most inopportune moments – like when you stub your toe on the corner of the coffee table or when someone cuts you off in traffic. The curse words that come out of your mouth may surprise you. But the circumstances didn’t cause them. They were the result of what was already in your heart.
The Bible has many examples of people who were unaware of the contents of their hearts. In one, Jesus revealed what was in the scribes and Pharisees’ hearts.
Remember how Jesus healed the man with the withered hand? When Jesus healed him, “his hand was restored as whole as the other” (Luke 6:10 (NKJV)).
Wouldn’t that have been amazing to see – to watch with your own eyes as a man’s withered hand was regenerated into wholeness? It was a miracle.
But when the scribes and the Pharisees saw it, the Bible says that “they were filled with rage” (Luke 6:11 (NKJV)). A man’s hand had been fully restored, and they were moved to a madness that was expressed in anger. Why? Their hearts were wrong. They were laser-focused on a rule – a man-made interpretation of God’s law.
God had commanded, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work . . . .” (Exodus 20:8–10a (NKJV)). Over time, they twisted God’s law to mean that supernaturally healing someone constituted work.
Their hearts were so focused on their interpretation that they missed the miraculous. In fact, they had watched Jesus closely to see if He would heal the man. They wanted to find something they could use to bring charges against Him (Luke 6:7).
So, how do you know what’s in your heart? Ask God to show you. Pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV)).
When God reveals something in your heart that shouldn’t be there, repent. Admit that you’re wrong and that God is right. Ask God for forgiveness. And then walk by faith with God in the freedom that only He can give.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 12, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9 (NKJV))
God’s ways are better. The Hebrew word translated as higher in Isaiah 55:9 means exalted, above. God’s ways are exalted because they are better.
And God’s ways have always been better. Right after Adam and Eve first sinned, they realized they were naked and tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. The Bible says that “they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (Genesis 3:7 (NKJV)).
Have you ever seen a fig leaf? It’s scratchy. The top of the leaf is rough and sandpaper-like, and the bottom has small stiff hairs. Ouch! Not to mention that it’s a leaf. How secure could their “clothing” have been?
But God. He “made tunics of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21 (NKJV)). God’s way was better. For one, the “tunics of skin” were softer than the fig leaves. And they were more durable and flexible.
Moreover, those tunics of skin showed Adam and Eve how to cover (atone for) their sin so they could still be in a relationship with God. For sin to be covered, innocent blood must be shed. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22). And the sacrifice of that animal pointed to the ultimate sacrifice God would make for us by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins – once and for all (Hebrews 7:26–27, 10:10).
So, spend some time meditating on how God’s ways are better than yours this week. Thank Him for revealing His ways in the Bible so you can know Him. Then be willing to yield your ways to His as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 15, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 (NKJV))
God won’t force you to walk in the Spirit. But if you do, it will help you avoid temptation and live a life that’s pleasing to Him. With that in mind, here are 10 ways to walk in the Spirit.
1. Read your Bible
If you want to find out how God wants you to live, you need to read your Bible. Your ways and thoughts are not like God’s (Isaiah 55:8). God’s ways and thoughts are higher (Isaiah 55:9). And He’s revealed them to us in the Bible. So, if you want to know what they are, read it.
2. Memorize Scripture
Memorizing Bible verses helps you to think about God’s Word – His ways – throughout your day. And when we meditate on God’s ways, we’re less likely to give in to temptation. As the psalmist prayed, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)).
3. Pray
Jesus gave us a great example to follow. He regularly got away to spend time with God the Father and talk to Him (see, e.g., Mark 1:35). As Jesus told Peter, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38 (NKJV)). Pray every day, all throughout your day.
4. Sing
God likes it when we sing to Him. And He has told us to sing. In Psalm 47:6 (NKJV), it says, “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” Why? “For God is the King of all the earth . . .” (Psalm 47:7 (NKJV)). Singing is a form of worship. And worship reminds us of our proper position before God. Not only that, there’s joy in worship. So, play your favorite worship song and sing it to the Lord.
5. Gather
The Bible tells us to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another” (Hebrews 10:24–25 (NKJV)). Regularly coming together to worship God, learn from your pastor, and pray with each other will nudge you in the direction of doing good works instead of fulfilling the lusts of your flesh.
6. Fellowship
As it says in Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV), “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” When you fellowship – spend time with other believers, talking about the things of God – you naturally encourage and exhort each other in your walk with God.
7. Tithe
This one might seem odd to have on the list. But it’s not. God loves it when you cheerfully give back to Him a portion of what He’s given to you (2 Corinthians 9:7). And the way you treat money reveals what’s in your heart. As Jesus taught us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)).
8. Avoid temptation
Galatians 5:19–21 lists some of the works of the flesh. If any of them are a temptation for you, set up boundaries, and then don’t cross them. For example, if you have a problem with drinking alcohol and getting drunk, don’t go to a bar with friends, telling yourself that you’ll only drink soda. Don’t set yourself up for failure.
9. Discover your spiritual gift
God has given each of us at least one spiritual gift. Romans 12:4–8 tells us those gifts are prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. Pray and ask God which one(s) He’s given to you. Pastor Ed Taylor has taught a great series on spiritual gifts. Here’s a link: Teaching on Spiritual Gifts.
10. Serve
Pray and ask God where He wants you to serve with the gift(s) He’s given you. When you hear about a need in your church, step out in faith to find out if that’s where the Lord wants you to serve. Use your spiritual gift(s) to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Even Jesus (God Himself) came to earth not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28).
Of course, there are more than 10 ways to walk in the Spirit. The more you focus on spiritual things, the more you’ll be attentive to God’s Holy Spirit. So, commit to looking to the Holy Spirit for guidance, reading your Bible, and praying every day. Then, you’ll grow spiritually and stay close to God as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 1, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. (Habakkuk 2:1 (NKJV))
Are you willing to be corrected? That’s kind of a loaded question. On the one hand, many of us would say yes. Yet, on the other hand, we don’t think we’re wrong. So, maybe you wouldn’t be willing – at least not right away.
But maybe we should be – especially when we come to God. After all, God is the source of truth. He knows all things. If it’s between our word and God’s, God is right 100% of the time.
And that’s the attitude Habakkuk had. Habakkuk came to God and told God how he saw things. But then he waited for God’s correction. Notice that Habakkuk didn’t say if he would be corrected but when.
Habakkuk knew his perspective probably didn’t line up with God’s truth. Why? Because God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. As God said:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9 (NKJV))
Simply put, God is God, and we are not.
Unlike Habakkuk, we sometimes come to God to try to impose our will on Him. We tell God all about a situation – what we think and how we feel. Then, instead of waiting for God’s correction, we ask God to follow our plan. After all, we think we know the best way to fix it. We pray something like: Dear Lord, This is what’s wrong with that person and that situation. And here’s what I want You to do about it. Everything would be great if You would just . . . .
But what if we were more like Habakkuk? What if we poured our hearts out to God – how we see things and what we think about a situation – and then waited for God’s correction? Instead of coming up with how you think God should solve your problem, wait on Him by praying and reading His Word. Ask God what He wants to show you. Then wait for His response – and His correction.
As you pray and read the Bible, God will align your thoughts with His. He will correct you and make you more and more like Jesus. And that’s the end goal – to be molded into His image and not the other way around. How beautiful it is when we finally come to the point of being willing to receive God’s correction like Habakkuk.
So, are you willing to be corrected? Let’s remember that God’s correction is making us more like Jesus, submitting our will to His, as we walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 17, 2024 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Ministry
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45 (NKJV))
Jesus is the One we should look to when we want to know how we should serve. He served perfectly and gave us an example to follow. Although there are many others, here are three things you can learn about serving from Jesus.
Jesus Had an Attitude of Service
As we see in Mark 10:45, Jesus didn’t come to the earth for others to serve Him. Although He is God, He didn’t exempt Himself from serving. Instead, He came to serve others and to literally give His life for us.
If God Himself came to serve, we should use our lives to serve others too. Jesus told us that to follow Him we need to deny ourselves (Mark 8:34). When you go somewhere – to work, a friend’s house, church, or even the grocery store – do you go with an expectation of being served? Or do you go looking for ways to serve others, both practically and spiritually?
Jesus Served with Compassion
At one point in His ministry, Jesus and His disciples sailed to a deserted place to rest. They needed rest because “there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31 (NKJV)). The people saw them depart, so they followed them on foot and caught up to them (Mark 6:33).
Instead of being annoyed (I likely would have been annoyed), Jesus was “moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd” (Mark 6:34 (NKJV)). Despite being tired, Jesus was compassionate toward the people who came to Him.
The Greek word translated as compassion means to have an emotional response so strong that you’re moved to action. Jesus was moved with love for them in a deep way.
That kind of care for others can only come from God. Only with His Holy Spirit can we serve others with compassion like Jesus. Pray and ask God to help you to be moved with compassion for the people you serve.
Jesus Made Time for Prayer
Jesus often got up early to pray to the Father. For example, Mark 1:35 (NKJV), tells us, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He [Jesus] went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Jesus got up before the sun rose to spend some alone time with His Father.
And if you go back a few verses, you’ll see that Jesus didn’t go to bed early the night before. Instead, after the sun had set, He spent the evening healing the sick and casting out demons from the people who were brought to Him (Mark 1:32–34).
You can pray anytime, anywhere as you go throughout your day. But there is something special in that time you set aside to spend with God the Father. When you are completely focused on Him, waiting on Him, praising Him, thanking Him, you’re more apt to hear what He wants to tell you. Make an appointment – like you would any other appointment – to spend time alone with God in prayer.
So, let’s learn these three lessons from Jesus about how to serve.
- Go to places with an expectation of being there to serve others.
- Ask God to see people through His eyes with compassion.
- Set aside alone time with God the Father in prayer.
Follow Jesus’ example in serving this week as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 3, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4 (NKJV))
Social Connection
Are you connected? In this world of social media, we’re more connected than ever before. We have Facebook “friends” and followers on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter). We scroll and scroll and scroll through pithy quotes and videos posted by our “connections.”
Despite these connections, we’re more isolated than ever before. Studies have shown that increased social media use results in a higher rate of depression. We feel disconnected and lonely. Why? The connections aren’t as connected as we’d like – or even need – them to be.
So, are you connected? True connection comes from one-on-one time with someone, sharing life, and getting to know them face-to-face. And the same is true for your relationship with Jesus.
Spiritual Connection
Are you connected to your Savior? Reading a quick devotional or the Bible quote of the day won’t necessarily connect you to Jesus. To be connected, you need to spend time with Him.
- Talk to Jesus about what’s on your heart.
- Open your Bible and ask Him to speak to you.
- Slow down as you read His Word and hear what He wants to say.
- Sing a song to Him.
- Thank Him for who He is and all He’s done.
The Results of Connection
As you do, your connection to Jesus will grow stronger. You’ll be a branch that’s in constant contact with your Lord. Then based on your connection with Jesus, you’ll bear fruit. You’ll have more of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life.
That fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)). What great things to have in your life! Do you want more joy? Spend more time with Jesus. Do you need patience and peace? Stay connected to your Savior.
As you go through your week, intentionally think about Jesus and set aside time to just be with Him. As you stay connected, you’ll have the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Then that love, that joy, that kindness – and all the rest of the Spirit’s fruit – will bless you and overflow from you to bless others as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | May 20, 2024 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4 (NKJV))
How do you prepare your heart for worship? In Psalm 100, the psalmist instructs the reader to start with thanksgiving and then transition into praise.
And that makes a lot of sense. Praise is the overflow of thanksgiving. When your heart is full of gratitude for what God has done for you, you naturally start to praise Him.
Gates and Courts
What does the psalmist mean when he refers to entering God’s gates and courts? What are they?
To enter the area of God’s temple in Jerusalem, a person had to pass through one of its gates. For example, Acts 3:2 tells us about a man begging at the temple’s gate called Beautiful.
After you entered through one of the gates, there were different courts where the people would go to worship God and where the priests would perform the sacrifices.
So, if you followed the psalmist’s instructions, you would start thanking God for who He is and all He had done when you went through one of the gates to go to the temple. Then by the time you entered the courts, your heart would be prepared to praise God for those things.
Modern Gates and Courts
How can we follow the psalmist’s instructions? We don’t have gates and courts like they did at the time Psalm 100 was written. But we can treat the parking lot of the church building like a gate and the door to the church like entering the courts of the Lord.
Try it the next time you go to church. As you enter the parking lot, start thanking God for who God is and all He has done for you since the last time you were there. For example, you can thank Him for
- getting you to church safely;
- His continued provision in your life;
- a special time you had with a family member or friend;
- your ability to think, breathe, and talk; and
- the fact that He is more than able to help you with any problem you have.
Then when you go through the doors of God’s house, praise Him for who He is and all He’s done. Share with others about God’s goodness in your life. Sing to Him during worship.
The psalmist goes on to give us reasons for thanking and praising God. He reminds us that God is “good”; God’s “mercy is everlasting”; and God’s “truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5 (NKJV)). Amen to that!
So, how do you prepare your heart to worship? Make it a habit to thank and praise God. As you do, you’ll cultivate a heart of gratitude and praise as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Apr 22, 2024 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Spiritual Growth
There are six things the Lord hates – no, seven things he detests . . . . (Proverbs 6:16 (NLT))
Did you know there are things that God hates? Well, there are. And in just one passage, the Bible gives us a list of seven of them.
The word detests means something disgusting or abhorrent. The New King James Version uses the word abomination. That’s pretty strong language. I know I don’t want to do something that God thinks is disgusting or abhorrent. And I’m guessing that you don’t either.
So, let’s take a few minutes to learn about seven of the things that God hates.
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“A proud look” (Proverbs 6:17 (NKJV))
The first thing on the list in Proverbs 6 is a “proud look.” The word proud means “to exalt oneself, magnify oneself.” I like how the New Living Translation (NLT) says “haughty eyes.” It’s the opposite of humility.
We’ve all seen others with this kind of look. In the 80s we’d say they were “stuck up.” (Yes, I’m old.) It’s not a pretty look. It’s a look that says, “I’m better than you.” In essence, they have exalted their wants above what God wants for them.
Be careful. It’s easy to see this sin in someone else and not in ourselves. Ask God to reveal if you’ve had a proud look recently. If He reveals something to you, repent from it and ask Him for His help to change.
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“A lying tongue” (Proverbs 6:17 (NKJV))
This one is pretty self-explanatory. A lying tongue speaks lies and deceives others with words.
And there is no small or little, white lie. Any untruth is a lie no matter how insignificant you think it is. God doesn’t like it so we shouldn’t do it. It’s that simple.
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“Hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17 (NKJV))
I’ll keep this one brief. I think most already agree with God that it’s abhorrent when someone kills an innocent person. Murder is something we should hate. Taking someone’s life without cause is wrong.
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“A heart that devises wicked plans” (Proverbs 6:18 (NKJV))
The fourth thing that God detests is when a person devises wicked plans or as the NLT puts it, “plots evil.” When you first read this, you might have thought, I don’t devise wicked plans. I’m good on this one.
But the Hebrew word for wicked means trouble, things that are unjust or unrighteous. So, if you’re planning on doing something contrary to God’s will – that is, intentionally thinking about what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it – it’s unrighteous. And it’s something that God hates.
For example, if you’re planning on partying this weekend (which means getting drunk) or sleeping with your boyfriend, those are things God has said we shouldn’t do (see Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:18). Examine yourself and make sure you haven’t been devising wicked plans.
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“Feet that are swift in running to evil” (Proverbs 6:18 (NKJV))
Are you quick to join in when friends ask you to do something you know God doesn’t want you to do? The NLT phrases it as “feet that race to do wrong.” Be careful that you’re not giving in for fear of missing out. Prioritize God so you don’t have feet that move quickly into sin.
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“A false witness who speaks lies” (Proverbs 6:19 (NKJV))
This one is similar to number two, but it’s more specific. Being a false witness who speaks lies means someone who gives false testimony about someone else. God hates it when we don’t tell the truth about what someone said or did.
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“And one who sows discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:19 (NKJV))
Finally, God hates it when someone brings division into a family – and that includes His family. If you’re trying to get your point of view heard to bring people to your side, you’re causing division.
Instead of being divisive, we should seek unity among our brothers and sisters in Christ. As the psalmist declared, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 (NKJV)).
If God hates these things, we should too. Examine your heart and make sure that none of them are a part of your life. If God reveals anything to you, turn from it and ask Him for forgiveness. Then put God first and decide to do things His way.
And remember, God hates these behaviors, but He loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins (John 3:16). In response to His love, let’s avoid doing the things He hates as we walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Apr 8, 2024 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 (NKJV))
What is God’s will for you? If you want to find out, the best place to learn about His will for your life is by reading the Bible. The Bible expressly says that certain things are God’s will. To get you started, here are seven things that are God’s will for you.
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“Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NKJV))
God’s will is for you to be cheerful at all times. How can you do that? By meditating on God’s faithfulness – who He is and all He has done for you.
When you’re focused on yourself, it can be hard to be full of joy. But when your focus is on God, you can rejoice every time.
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“pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV))
God wants you to be in constant communication with Him. Make a daily appointment with Jesus to spend time with Him one-on-one. Use that time to praise Him for who He is and all He’s done, thank Him for the blessings in your life, bring your concerns to Him, and intercede for others.
But then also talk to Him throughout your day. Ask Him for guidance in making a decision. Thank Him for an easy commute. Pray for strength to love someone with His love. Praise Him for providing food for you to eat. Pray for healing when your kid falls on the playground. Talk to Him about everything. Nothing is too small or too big. Take it all to Him.
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“in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV))
No matter what’s going on in your life, you can be grateful for all God has done for you. God wants you to give thanks “in” everything.
Despite your circumstances, God has forgiven all your sins. At the very least, you can thank Him for that. You can also thank Him that, one day, you will get to be with Him where there will be no more death, sorrow, pain, or crying (Revelation 21:4).
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“respect all human authority” (1 Peter 2:13 (NLT))
It’s God’s will for us to respect all of the people who are in authority over our lives. That includes the pastors at your church, a boss who doesn’t lead well, and those who don’t align with your political ideology. Why? So, your honorable life will “silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you” (1 Peter 2:15 (NLT)). People will compare any allegations with what they see in your life.
Besides, it’s God who “puts down one, and exalts another” (Psalm 75:7 (NKJV)). Ultimately, it’s God who puts people into positions of authority to accomplish His perfect will. We don’t always understand why. But we can trust that God knows what He’s doing.
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“abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV))
God wants you to be pure: to abstain from sexual immorality. As the New Living Translation phrases it, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.” As that passage goes on to explain, “God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NKJV)).
And be vigilant, not only about what you do, but about what you watch, read, and let yourself think about. Pray for God to help you to be pure and holy. Ask Him to reveal if you’re doing anything that He doesn’t want you to do. If He shows you something, stop doing it.
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“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 (NKJV))
I’ve included this one and the next because, even though they don’t expressly say, “This is the will of God,” they were spoken by Jesus (who is God). Jesus said, “You shall,” which means it’s mandatory. God wants you to love Him. And how much? Not just a little bit but with all your heart, soul, and mind.
God wants us to give Him everything we are and everything we have. If you hold back an area of your life, you’re not loving Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.
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“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 (NKJV))
God also wants you to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Who is your neighbor? It’s not limited to the person who lives next door to you. Instead, the Greek word for neighbor, plesion, means any other person that you chance to meet. In short, everyone is your neighbor. If someone crosses your path, you are to love them as you love yourself.
So, those are seven things that the Bible says are God’s will for you. Take God at His word. Start applying those truths to your life. As you do, you will draw closer to Jesus. Then, God will reveal more of His will for your life as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 22, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV))
Everyone Should Be on Mission with Jesus
As a born-again believer, you are part of what’s been called, “The Great Commission.” Jesus wants all of us to tell others about Him and to teach them His commands. He wants us to be His hands and feet.
To do that, you don’t have to be a pastor or transition into full-time ministry. You don’t have to travel to a foreign country. And you don’t need to get a degree in theology. Of course, Jesus may call you to do those things. But not having them doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook.
In any event, the mission starts right where you are – right where Jesus already has you. It’s no coincidence that certain people are in your life. Your coworkers, acquaintances, and family are your mission field.
Yet, although you don’t have to be anything special, you do need Jesus. Jesus will guide you and equip you to do whatever He asks you to do when you go on mission with Him.
A Successful Mission Requires Abiding
We can’t do God’s work on our own. Jesus said that we can’t do anything without Him; we need to abide in Him to bear much fruit (John 15:5).
Abiding in Jesus is not a difficult concept. Like many Bible principles, it’s pretty easy to understand. The Greek word for abide is meno, which means to stay put or remain. So, abiding in Jesus means to stay put in Jesus, to remain in Him.
As a born-again believer, His Spirit lives inside you (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus is with you all the time. But you still have free will. Your focus can be on Jesus. Or it can be on other things. Even though Jesus is with you, you can be a million miles away in your mind, thinking about something else.
Abiding in Jesus is a conscious decision on your part to be present with Him: to keep your mind focused on Him and remember that He’s right there with you every step of the way. When you make that decision, it’s an act of abiding. It may be a choice to spend time with Jesus by
- reading or listening to His Word;
- asking Him for advice or direction;
- thanking Him for something good that happened;
- singing to Him;
- obeying when His Spirit prompts you to do something; or
- choosing not to do something because you know He doesn’t want you to do it.
Unfortunately, if we’re honest with ourselves, these abiding acts may only last a few seconds or minutes before we return to our own thoughts – to whatever we want to do.
When another person is with you, it’s easy to remember that he’s there. And everything is different because of his presence. You alter the way you talk, what you say, what you do, and how you do it. You pay attention to him.
For example, when I go downstairs in the morning and my husband is there, I don’t ignore him. I say good morning, hug him, and make conversation. My behavior and actions change because he’s there.
When he’s not there, I don’t talk to him. Instead, I get a glass of water, eat breakfast, and go about my day. But when he’s present, I slow down and spend time with him.
Like I already said, Jesus is with us all the time. Yet, how often do we acknowledge His presence in our lives? We often go about our day like He’s not there – without talking to Him or spending time with Him.
Going on Mission with Jesus
You can’t go on mission with Jesus unless you’re abiding in Him. Without paying attention to Him, you won’t know what He wants you to do or how He wants you to do it. And you won’t have the strength to do it. Abiding in Jesus is mandatory.
So, I decided to do an experiment. I’m going to set aside a day to be super intentional about abiding in Jesus to see how my life is different and to record what happens along the way.
Stay tuned for the next blog post to find out how it goes. In the meantime, I challenge you to abide in Jesus. Find out what happens when you intentionally walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 8, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14 (NKJV))
As we start a new year, let’s take a moment to consider the brevity of life. Bottom line: it’s short.
Sure, when you were a kid, the days seemed to drag on forever. I have a distinct memory of watching the clock in eleventh-grade English class. The minutes ticked by ever so slowly. Each time I looked up, I expected it to be close to the end. Yet, only a few minutes had gone by.
As you get older though, the days, months, and years start to zoom by, barely waiting for you to catch your breath. Before you know it, decades have slipped past.
This life is short. And it’s even shorter if you look at it in comparison to eternity. Even if you live a long life and make it to be over 100 years old, 100 years compared to forever is really, really brief. “Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor” (Psalm 39:5 (NKJV)).
So, let’s remind ourselves that we only have a limited time here on Earth. Let’s be like the psalmist who asked God to “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)).
And as we realize that life is short, let’s commit to using our time wisely. It’s so easy to waste our lives on frivolous things. We get sidetracked by things that won’t last into eternity. When we’re focused on ourselves, we tend to prioritize entertainment and comfort. We need wisdom to know how we should be spending our time so we can glorify God.
The Bible compares the things we do to gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw (1 Corinthians 3:12). One day our works will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). The fire will reveal what kind of works they were.
If they were works you did for yourself – wood, hay, or straw – the fire will consume them. But if the works were done for Jesus – gold, silver, and precious stones – they will survive the testing (1 Corinthians 3:14–15). As they say, only what’s done for Christ will last.
So, as we enter into 2024, take time to ask God what He wants you to do with your life. He’s prepared good works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Seek God first this year (Matthew 6:33) and abide in Jesus every day (John 15:4). Don’t waste your short life. Purpose in your heart to glorify God as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 11, 2023 | Christian Living, Life
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . . (John 1:14 (NKJV))
I’ve heard it said that entertainment is a reflection of culture or where culture is headed. And it’s true, isn’t it? When you watch a movie, you somehow become a part of it. You want the encounter to be heartwarming, exciting, encouraging, or empowering. As you live out the story with the characters, that experience wouldn’t be those things if it didn’t fit into your worldview.
Christmas movies are no exception. And, unfortunately, a closer look at the most popular ones reveals that they have little, if anything, to do with Christ Jesus.
Instead, the scores of Hallmark Christmas romance movies and holiday favorites like
- It’s a Wonderful Life,
- A Christmas Carol,
- A Christmas Story,
- Elf,
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas,
and others abound with themes of family, belonging, loving, giving, Santa Claus, and poking fun at the difficulties of family gatherings. They’re centered around man-made traditions. And they are often light-hearted and give us that warm, fuzzy holiday feeling.
Those that include angels and ideas about the meaning of life often contain beliefs that are contrary to a Biblical worldview (e.g., humans don’t become angels or come back to warn others about their destiny). And other than a random Christmas carol, the name of Jesus or the reason we celebrate His birth is rarely mentioned.
I’m not saying that the movies are bad, in and of themselves. Nor am I saying you shouldn’t watch them. (I confess, I watch Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life just about every year.) But we should be aware of what’s missing from them. And we should recognize that Christ Jesus isn’t a part of many people’s lives – they don’t give Him a single thought during this time.
When we realize what’s missing, we’ll be more likely to share why we celebrate Christmas. The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Christ Jesus left His glory in heaven to be born as a baby – a baby who grew up to be a man. He lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15) and died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven (Colossians 1:13–14). We celebrate His birth and the hope that He brought to a hopeless world.
So as Christmas draws near, be intentional about sharing the hope that only exists because of Christ Jesus. Make sure that Christ is at the center of your Christmas celebration. And praise God for the amazing sacrifice He made for you as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 27, 2023 | Ministry, Thoughts
Serve the Lord with gladness . . . . (Psalm 100:2 (NKJV))
Let’s face it. Serving others can be hard. Difficult. Tiring. And even exhausting.
You may have started with the right mindset – joy and even excitement at being given the chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Then over time, that delight may have fizzled into showing up out of a sense of obligation. Instead of serving because you get to, you may have begun serving because you feel like you have to.
Yet, God wants us to serve with gladness. The Hebrew word (simcha) that is translated in English as gladness means joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, and rejoicing – and not just a little bit of those things. Simcha suggests an exceeding joyfulness, mirth, pleasure, and rejoicing.
Serving shouldn’t be a chore. It’s not a duty or a “have to.” Serving the Lord is a privilege – it’s, I can’t believe I get to be a part of this amazing opportunity! Because remember: when you’re serving others, you’re really serving Jesus (Matthew 25:34–40).
So, practically, how do you serve the Lord with gladness? Here are three tips to consider as you examine yourself:
1. Check your heart motivation.
Who are you serving? Are you really serving the Lord? Or are you serving yourself?
In your mind, are you doing it because you’re worried about what others will think about you if you don’t? Or are you doing it out of an overflow of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you?
As a born-again believer, you have much to be thankful for. Because Jesus died on the cross, your sins have been forgiven (Colossians 1:13–14). You are free (John 8:36). You’re a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). And you have the promise of eternal life with Him (1 John 2:25).
Cultivate gratitude in your heart by remembering all that Jesus has done and continues to do for you. Meditate on His goodness and His love. Praise Him for who He is.
2. Check your fuel tank.
Have you been spending time with Jesus? If you’ve only been spending a few minutes here or there – if you haven’t been abiding in Him – your spiritual fuel tank may be empty.
As Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 (NKJV)). Spending time with Jesus isn’t optional if you want to serve Him. You can do nothing for Jesus in your own strength.
Be with Jesus daily. Think about Him as you go through your day. Read His Word. Talk to Him. Worship Him. When you do, your spiritual tank will be full, and you’ll be ready to bless the people God puts in your path.
3. Don’t skip weekly rest.
After God created everything in six days, He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). He blessed that day (Genesis 2:3) and set it apart as a day of rest for men (Exodus 23:12). As Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 (NKJV)).
After Jesus came and died for our sins, we are no longer judged by whether we keep the Sabbath (Colossians 2:16). We don’t have to rest every Saturday. It’s not a legal obligation.
But the principle still stands. God knew we would need rest. He’s our Maker, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. If you don’t set aside a day to rest in the Lord, you will eventually end up frazzled, weary, and wondering why you’re doing what God’s called you to do.
So, make sure you’re serving with the right heart motivation, abiding in Jesus, and taking time to rest in Him. When you do, there will be a natural flow of His love through you as you serve others. Then you’ll be able to serve the Lord with gladness as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash
