Category: Daily Thought

Satan is a liar, a cheat, a thief, and a murderer. That’s old news. Jesus beat him once and for all. That’s good news!

The term “the reason for the season” is normally applied to the Christmas holiday to help people refocus on Jesus and look past the holiday fuss. That same phrase has taken on a new and very important meaning as our world appears to be crumbling around us, when in reality, it is moving headlong right into the plans of God. It’s very crucial for us as believers to make sure we don’t miss God’s reason for this season. He’s calling His people to discard the loves and sirens of this world and focus on the wonderful deep things He’s providing for us and doing in us.  He’s giving us ample opportunity to repent of our selfish ways, and He’s rebuilding His life and character in each of us as we surrender to His will. These are powerful reasons for us to embrace this season in time.

Each one of us has markers, those pivotal times that determine direction for us. Usually we don’t understand how important they are until after the fact. One day we wake up, wondering how we got where we are and recall a specific time or decision that proved to be a turning point in our lives.

I’m convinced we’re facing very important markers almost every day, and they will lead us in a direction. If we are led by the Lord during these challenging times, one day we’ll look back and be very thankful we listened to Him. If we ignore Him and go about our business our own way, the markers we look back on will tell us very clearly of our ignorance.

They may not come in the form you would like, but everything God gives is a blessing. Somehow, some way—maybe in an unexpected manner—they are for your best interest and will eventually help form your character to resemble Jesus. Challenges, surprises, relationships, and things most of us face each day usually have the loving fingerprints of God on them to help refine you and build you up. When they come, the best way to approach them is to ask what the Lord may have in mind for your spiritual growth. Your submission to His ways of helping you makes things far less worrisome as you walk through them hand in hand with Jesus.

We, as believers, can find wondrous truth in the fall feasts that the Jewish people celebrate every year. These feasts remind them to examine their lives and become aware of things that call for repentance. Once that repentance takes place, they celebrate and rejoice.

I believe our Lord is truly calling His people to stop and readdress their relationship with Him. We are to see what may be hindering us from the true, intimate relationship He desires with us. Second, as our sins are revealed, our course of action should be to repent of whatever the Holy Spirit exposes in us. After repentance, we can rejoice because of the freedom that comes with repentance and forgiveness. Stop – Repent – Rejoice. A God-ordained, unbeatable formula!