Author: Stephen Trammell

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Freedom Lazarus Life Changing Experience

Freedom in Christ

“When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’“ John 11:43-44 (ESV) Death could not prevent Jesus from bringing forth life even to Lazarus, who had been dead four days. As the stench of death permeated the graveyard, Jesus called Lazarus by name to come forth from the dead. As Lazarus came out of the tomb, Jesus commanded them to take the graves clothes off and to let him go. What is keeping you from walking in the freedom Christ provides? What kind of grave clothes have kept you bound? Release those things which prevent you from walking in the fullness of God’s provision. Let go of those thoughts and attitudes that inhibit the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. Jesus has paid full price for your freedom. Jesus has called you forth from the dead. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” Eph. 2:1-2 (ESV) Jesus left heaven and came to earth to dwell among us and ultimately give His life in death upon the cross so that we could know and experience true life. Jesus has removed the obstacles and provided the only way to salvation. Jesus is the way. Take the grave clothes off and walk in the grace God provides. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Leadership Leading for the Lord Work

Influence

Leadership is influence with integrity. Everyone is a leader at some level. Everyone has a God-given sphere of influence. You may not fully comprehend the parameters of your sphere, but God has placed you on this planet to be an irresistible influence for His Glory. What are you doing with the influence God has given you? What are you doing to maximize the moments God has orchestrated for you? The ultimate servant leader, Jesus, reminds us, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:48 ESV). Your life is a stewardship of the influence God has entrusted to your care. Every moment of your life matters to God so make every moment count for God. Don’t waste your life, invest your life in what matters most. Think of what will matter ten months from now and then consider what will matter ten years from now. Let’s go deeper! What’s going to matter in eternity when you stand before God to give an account for your one and only life? Leverage your influence for God’s glory. You are placed on this broken planet to make an eternal difference. Live each day with an eternal perspective. There’s more to life than you can see, so plan your life for eternity. Learn to say NO in order to say YES to God’s best. You will be bombarded by endless options to diffuse your impact. Be selective and learn the value of saying NO! Reserve your YES for God’s best! Make wise decisions to reduce potential regrets. It takes knowledge to take something apart; it takes wisdom to put it back together. Walk in wisdom. Consider reading one chapter of the Book of Proverbs each day and you will read through the entire book of Proverbs each month. Your influence has the capacity to inspire others and to lead them into an eternity shaping relationship with Jesus Christ. Be a leader for the Lord by allowing Him to live His life in you and through you! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Delays Jesus Lazarus

Dealing with Delays

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was..” John 11:5-6 (ESV) Delays are painful. We understand that God is all-knowing and that God is love, but we just don’t always fully understand God’s timing. When God doesn’t respond in the time frame that we have established, we wonder if God really cares. Delays intensify our fears and magnify the reality of our meager faith. Have you ever been between a rock and hard place and wondered if God would come through for you? Have your circumstances ever taken you to a place you never thought you would go? God allows us to go through those seasons and experience those places in order to come to know the depth of His love. God is for us. God always has our best interest in mind. Nothing happens to a child of God without His permission. If God permits it, then God will use it for your good and for His glory. Martha and Mary experienced the full impact of a delay. Their brother, Lazarus, was sick and died before Jesus got there. They knew firsthand the trauma of unmet expectations. They had seen Jesus speak life into the dead. They had seen Jesus restore sight to the blind, speech to the mute, mobility to the lame, and hearing to the deaf. Yet, Jesus did not operate according to their personal time preference. Jesus delayed. Why doesn’t God show up to resolve your dilemmas sooner? Why does God seem to delay His response to your need for divine intervention? God’s timing is perfect. He is never late. God, in His sovereignty, takes the confetti of our lives and produces a portrait of His grace. Do you trust God? Are you entrusting your life and your circumstances to His care? Are you willing to obey God in the midst of a perceived delay? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Influence Jesus Zacchaeus

Making an Eternal Difference

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.” Luke 19:5-6 (ESV) You have a choice. You can be a thermostat and set the environment or you can be a thermometer and reflect the environment. Jesus chose to be a thermostat. Jesus leveraged His influence to transform Zacchaeus and his family. Jesus was intentional about bringing life-change to this chief tax collector and his family. The people criticized Jesus for His actions. We are introduced to this concept of muttering and grumbling in the Old Testament as the children of Israel grumbled against God, Moses, and Aaron (Exod. 16:6-8). Jesus was willing to be misunderstood and criticized in order to bring eternal life to Zacchaeus and his family. Jesus was willing to endure opposition to present this family with the opportunity to be transformed by His love. Will you influence your environment or be influenced by your environment? Will you become like those around you or will they become like you? It depends upon your decision to be a thermostat or a thermometer. God has placed you here to be salt and light to influence this decaying and dark world with the purity and the light of His love (Matt. 5:13-16). God has planted you right where you are so that you can bloom for His glory and bring others into the kingdom of light. Are you willing to be criticized for loving the unlovable? Are you willing to be misunderstood for extending grace to the despised and forgotten? Be a thermostat for the glory of God! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Good Shepherd I am sayings Value

Be Valued

Because He is the Good Shepherd, I am valued. “‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’” John 10:11 (ESV) Your value is not determined by your portfolio. Your value is not determined by your performance. Your value is not determined by your personality. Your value is determined by what God has done on your behalf. Before you could do anything with God or for God, in His mercy and grace, God decided what to do with you and for you. “‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’” Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) Your value was established before you were born. Then, God provided a tangible demonstration and validation of your value when He allowed Jesus to die in your place. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV). You are valued because God made you valuable! Is the Lord your shepherd? Have you allowed Him to be the shepherd and overseer of your soul? Now think about your value in God’s economy. You are His treasure. Look around! Do you see other people in your daily routine? Guess what? God values them, too. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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I am sayings Salvation Security

Be Secure

Because He is the door, I am secure. “So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.‘” John 10:7 (ESV) My security in Christ is not based on my feelings. There are days when my emotional security may be threatened. There are days when I just don’t feel safe and secure. Fortunately, my security is not anchored to my feelings. My eternal security is found in Jesus completely. “‘I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’“ John 10:9-10 (ESV) Because He is the door, you are secure. After placing your trust in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, you are completely saved. Your eternal security is not based on your daily performance, but on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. You didn’t earn salvation and you cannot lose your salvation. The same One who saved you is the One who keeps you. As a believer, if you choose to sin, you will face consequences. You don’t lose your salvation, but your fellowship with Jesus will be strained and your ability to bear the fruit of the Spirit will be inhibited. Confess your sin now. Specifically agree with God concerning your sin. Remember what you were saved from! Now walk with Jesus and He will help you find pasture. Jesus will help you develop authentic relationships with other believers and He will help you develop spiritual disciplines to nurture His life in you. Jesus will help you build intentional relationships with unsaved people so that you can shine His light and share His love with them. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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I am sayings Influence Light of the World

Be Illuminated

Because He is the light of the world, I am illuminated. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’“ John 8:12 (ESV) Everything changed on March 28, 1979, when I received God’s gift of eternal life. Jesus, the light of the world, took up residence in my heart and has illuminated my life both inwardly and outwardly. My ambitions, my desires, and my outlook took on a new perspective. The character of Christ has been daily formed in me. Throughout the years, His light has informed me of areas that need to be brought under His Lordship. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:8 (ESV) “‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’“ Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) Jesus wants to not only shine in you but also to shine through you. His light through your life alters the world around you. Every interaction becomes intentional. Each conversation becomes an opportunity to allow Jesus to shine His light through you. Just as light influences darkness, Jesus has saved you and set you apart to influence others. Because He is the light of the world, you are illuminated. Now, illuminate the environments that God places you in. Allow the light of Jesus to shine brightly through your life today. Eternity is at stake! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell 

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Bread of Life I am sayings Nourishment

Be Nourished

Because He is the bread of life, I am nourished. “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” John 6:35 (ESV) Jesus had fed the multitudes with a boy’s lunch consisting of two small fish and fives loaves of bread. As S.M. Lockridge used to say, “God is the only One who can multiply two times five and get five-thousand.” The people were fixated on the miracle of multiplication and bypassed the miracle worker, Jesus. Instead of believing in the One who provided the bread, they were content to have their appetites fulfilled with earthly bread. “Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’” John 6:32-33 (ESV) Jesus is the true bread from heaven. He has come to give life to the world. Jesus is the bread of life. Because He is the bread of life, I am nourished. My soul is satisfied. The hole in my heart has been filled. My life is now complete. My life now makes sense. As John Piper says, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” Have you come to that place of recognizing Jesus as the bread of life? Has Jesus become your Source for life? Are you most satisfied in Him? Because Jesus is the bread of life, you are nourished. By placing your faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross, you become a child of God. Your new identity includes that of Jesus becoming the bread of your life. Jesus is now your nourishment. He is now your reason for living. Jesus is your Source! Are you daily nurturing the life of Christ in you? Close your eyes and spend some unhurried time alone with God in prayer. Thank Him for being your provider, your peace, and your protector. Allow Jesus to nourish your soul. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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God's Way Potter's Wheel Significance

Shaped for Eternal Significance

“So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” Jeremiah 18:3-4 (ESV) The safest place for you to be is in the center of God’s will. The most dangerous place for you to be is in the center of God’s will. When you are living in the center of God’s will, you experience His provision and protection. However, you are the greatest threat to Satan when you are living in the center of God’s will. When you think about it, being on Satan’s radar is an indication of being a threat to his kingdom. You cannot walk in the center of God’s will unopposed. When I was a teenager, a teacher at my home church who flew A-10 fighter jets in the Air Force often said, “The closer you get to the enemy, the greater the conflict.” Motion causes friction. When you are living to please God, be ready for that spiritual motion to cause friction and spiritual warfare. Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, experienced the painful reality of being on the potter’s wheel. God placed Jeremiah on the potter’s wheel to demonstrate His loving and corrective touch. God demonstrated the value He places on purity, holiness, and full surrender. God expects that of every generation and every nation. Don’t resist those seasons of being placed on the potter’s wheel. Remember that God is the Potter and you are the clay. God tenderly and lovingly molds you and shapes you for His glory. God removes the impediments in your life that restrict His flow through you. Be still! Rest! Give God access to every area of your life. Allow God to shape you for His eternal significance. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Anxiety Peace Prayer

Receive God’s Peace

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (ESV) Choose to replace your anxious thoughts with intentional prayer. Your focus will shift from the gravity of your circumstances to the enormity of God’s power. You will gain God’s perspective on the obstacles you face and you will be fortified by God’s peace. The peace of God is not the absence of adversity, but the presence of Divinity. God’s peace transcends understanding in that it is difficult to fathom. How can a believer have such peace in the midst of a raging storm? The peace of God is not subdued by the intensity of your circumstances. God dispenses His peace in proportion to your need. The stronger the waves of resistance you encounter, the greater the allotment of God’s peace you experience. God’s peace will guard your heart. The enemy knows that if he can rob you of your passion for God in the midst of your adversity, he will have stolen a piece of your heart. The peace of God will guard your heart from the toxic assaults unleashed by the enemy. You have given your heart to Christ and His peace will reign in you. During seasons of adversity, the enemy seeks to pollute your mind with thoughts of fear, timidity, and doubt. God’s peace will guard your mind. As you replace your thoughts with intentional prayer, the peace of God will shield your mind. Fear will be replaced by faith, timidity will be replaced with courage, and doubt will be replaced with assurance. How’s your heart? How’s your mind? Are you experiencing the peace that transcends all understanding? Let the peace of God provide relief to your soul. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Anxiety Peace Prayer

Anxiety and Perspective

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 (ESV) Anxiety is the great distraction. All of your emotional energy is diverted to fuel the vast demands anxiety produces. Incessant worry evaporates the tranquil waters of peace and contentment. Instead of living to benefit and bless others, you marshal strength to combat the gravitational pull of self-absorption. During these seasons, the small things of life that would usually not phase you appear as giants. Anxiety has a way of distorting your perspective. What is the antidote to anxiety? How do you recapture God’s perspective on your circumstances? The first step is to replace your anxious thoughts with intentional prayer. You have the precious gift of unhindered and uninterrupted access to your Heavenly Father through the avenue of prayer. The more specific you are in your prayer life, the more dynamic your experience of God’s peace will be. Be prayerful. Be specific. Be thankful in the midst of your circumstances as you cast your cares upon the Lord. Consider writing or typing the items in your life right now that are generating anxious thoughts and feelings. Cry out to God in prayer over each item and express your desperation for God’s perspective and God’s provision. God wants you to seek Him and to long for Him. Your abiding relationship with Him is the most important relationship. Draw near to God. Begin to anticipate God’s response as you specifically present your requests to God in prayer. Watch to see how God brings clarity to your confusion. Take note of the renewed strength God provides to help you navigate the troubled waters. God may eliminate the obstacles or empower you to overcome the obstacles. Either way, you will come to know God by experience! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Anxiety God's Provision Prayer

Unload Your Anxiety

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) Anxiety has the potential to cause us to lose perspective. When we are anxious, butterflies become helicopters. When we are anxious, grasshoppers become giants. Anxiety demands emotional fuel that depletes our passion and distorts our vision. The confetti of anxiety is applied with the spray paint of unrealistic expectations, overcommitment, and lack of margin. Where do you go when you are drowning in the liquid of anxiety? Our tendency is to subdue our anxiety by covering up our pain with a cascade of calories or sprinting into the fast lane of excessive busyness. We seek to divert the pain by suppressing our current reality with the blanket of escape. There is a much better option! God’s way is always the best way! God did not create you to be a wagon of worry. Unload your anxiety. Choose to run to God in prayer. Decide to unpack the heavy load you are bearing. Release your regrets. Dump your doubts and disappointments. Cry out to God in prayer in brokenness and humility and acknowledge your desperate need to cast all your anxiety on Him. God cares for you and cares about every intricate detail of your life. He intimately knows the burdens you are bearing and the concerns you are carrying. Write on a sheet of paper or type on your computer or cell phone a list of the specific items consuming your emotional energy. It helps me to see in print what is generating anxiety in my life. Once I bring these items into the light, they lose their bite. Then I unload each item out of the cargo area of my life and place them at the feet of Jesus in prayer. What do you need to unload? What do you need to release? As Dr. Johnny Hunt says, “Anything over your head is beneath His feet.” Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Compassion Forgiveness God's Nature

God’s Compassion

“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” Jonah 3:10 (ESV) God blesses your obedience. God gave Jonah a second chance. In response, Jonah obeyed God and went to the great city of Nineveh and preached against it. God honored the preaching of His Word. The Ninevites believed God and declared a fast. The King repented and issued a proclamation. This domino effect took place because God was willing to give Jonah a second chance and Jonah was willing to obey God. God not only blessed Jonah’s obedience, but He also rewarded the people’s repentance. God witnessed their change of direction and unleashed His compassion. “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.” (Ps. 116:5 ESV). God responded to the response of the people. Notice how God withheld His wrath. What a tremendous demonstration of God’s compassion! Trace your past for a few moments. Contemplate the pivotal moments in your life when God unleashed His compassion. Where would you be today had God not lavished you with His grace, mercy, and compassion? Think about the opportunities that God has provided you with over your lifetime in light of His compassion. God’s forgiveness enables you to join Him in His redemptive activity. Once you have personally experienced God’s compassion, you will be able to extend compassion to others at a deeper level. “’Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.’” (Luke 7:47 ESV). Your capacity to love others and to be compassionate towards others will be proportionate to the compassion you have received from God. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Grace Jonah Mercy

Second Chances

“And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.” Jonah 2:10 (ESV) Where would you be if God were not the God of second chances? You would be without hope and without a future. God will not only pursue you with His redeeming love, but He also gives you a second chance to obey His will. The fish obeyed God in the midst of Jonah’s rebellion. God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry ground. Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time (Jonah 3:1). After a three day aquatic experience of prayer in the belly of the fish, Jonah was now hurled onto the beach for a second chance to obey God’s way. The wonderful news is that Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh (Jonah 3:3). Jonah responded to God the first time by saying, “Lord, here I am, send someone else!” The second time, Jonah responded by saying, “Lord, here I am, send me!” On the Ship Jonah was singing, “I did it my way!” Inside the Fish Jonah was singing, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord!” Jonah came to know God as the God of second chances. Jonah learned a valuable lesson about obeying God. Ponder the grace of God in your own life. Think through the decisions you have made over your lifetime to choose to go your own way. Do you remember how God pursued you with His redeeming love? God is so patient, so tender, and so persistent. He wants you to come to know Him by experience as the God of second chances. Don’t give up. God has not given up on you. What God has begun in your life, He will bring to completion (Php 1:6). God always finishes what He starts. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Jonah Miracle Prayer

Pray Through the Seaweed

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish.” Jonah 2:1 (ESV) If you spent three days and three nights inside a great fish that God provided, you would probably place that in the category of a life changing experience. Your entire life would be marked by that one experience with God. You would never be the same. Your view of God and your reverence for God would be catapulted to a new level. “The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head.” Jonah 2:5 (ESV) “At the roots of the mountains, I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.” Jonah 2:6 (ESV) Can you imagine Jonah, with seaweed wrapped around his head, praying to God from inside this large fish that God provided? I wonder if Jonah was kneeling, standing, floating, or treading water while he was praying. It clearly illustrates that God is willing to go to extreme measures to rescue us from ourselves and from our sin. You don’t have to wait for God to bring you to a place of desperation to call out to Him in prayer. You have the perpetual invitation to nurture your love relationship with God in moment-by-moment prayer and surrender. Remove the seaweed that tends to cling to your mind and embrace the opportunity to commune with the Creator of the universe. Your life changing experience can continue as you faithfully seek God’s face in prayer. Whether you are in the tumultuous waters within the large fish called life or on the tranquil dry ground of daily life, pray to our Living God. God loves you and His heart beats for you. You are the apple of His eye! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Consequences Disciple Jonah

Choose or Refuse

“But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.” Jonah 1:4 (ESV) God gives you the freedom to choose to obey His will or to reject His will. You can run from God or you can run to God. If you choose to disobey God’s will and embrace your own direction, God will allow you to go your own way. Thankfully, God will pursue you with His redeeming love. Running from God activates the disciplinary process that can ultimately produce restoration. Running from God generates a natural flow of consequences that God will use to bring you back into fellowship with Himself (Prov. 3:11-12). Sometimes God will allow pain to come into your life to signal that something is out of balance. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Pain is an effective tool that God may choose to use in order to pursue you. Jonah was not a storm-chaser, but God used a storm to chase Jonah. Notice the progression of God’s pursuit of Jonah: “God sent a great wind (v.4), a violent storm (v.4b), the sea was getting rougher and rougher (v.11), the sea grew even wilder than before (v.13), and the raging sea (v.15).” Sometimes God has to turn up the volume in your life to get your undivided attention. How is God pursuing you with His redeeming love? Is there anything out of balance in your life that dishonors God? God loves you and will pursue you to reconcile you and restore you. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Disobedience Jonah Running

Running from God

“But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3 (ESV) Our natural proclivity is to do life our own way. We value independence and we like to make decisions that benefit us personally. Often we bypass God’s way and face the natural consequences of our selfishness. Instead of running to God, Jonah sought to run from God in order to avoid obeying God’s will. God told Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it. Jonah refused to embrace God’s way and chose to go the opposite direction. Running from God generates consequences that affect innocent people. Jonah’s disobedience put the sailors on the ship at risk. Their journey was interrupted by the consequences inflicted upon Jonah. Jonah’s rebellion against God eroded his peace and stifled his fellowship with God. When you choose to run from God, your relationship with God will be negatively impacted. You cannot enjoy peace with God and unbroken fellowship with God while running from God. Satan will provide the transportation for disobedience. The enemy gladly accommodates your decision to run from God. You are created by God not to be robotic, but to be relational. Thus, you have the freedom to obey God or the freedom to disobey God. You can choose to submit to His will or refuse to obey Him. God will let you go your own way. However, God will pursue you with His redeeming love. Decide today to follow God’s will. Surrender your life completely to the Lord and keep your “yes” on the altar. God’s way is always the best option! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Afterlife Death Eternity Legacy Trust

Trusting God

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) Trust God with the remainder of your days. He knows when you will take your final breath of earthly air. God is all-knowing and God is eternal. He sees the entirety of your life. He already knows every decision you will make and every path that you will take. In His foreknowledge, God already knows what the final chapter of your earthly existence looks like. Are you willing to trust God with your life? Are you willing to place your life completely in His hands? Live your remaining days with the focus and tenacity of a passionate follower of Christ. Don’t rely on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Live with the awareness of God’s purity, power, and perspective. God is for you. He demonstrated His love for you before you had a chance to weigh in on the transaction (Romans 5:8). God took the initiative to bring you into a love relationship with Himself. Place God first in your life (Matt. 6:33) and He will make your paths straight. Give Him the proper place of allegiance and loyalty. God deserves your devotion and your worship. Make no room for apathy or lethargy. With the time you have left on this earth, trust God with all of your heart. Allow your love relationship with Him to demonstrate who you are and whose you are! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Clarity Personal Mission Statement Priorities

Clarity

Have you ever written a mission statement for your own life? Let me share a few personal mission statements I have seen. I exist to love God and to love others. I exist to know Jesus and to make Jesus known. I exist to leave the world a better place than I found it. I exist to take as many people with me to heaven as possible. God re-created you in Christ to reorient your life from selfish ambition to selfless ambition. Instead of living to benefit yourself, God empowers you to live to benefit others. When pride seeps in, your ability to serve others erodes. In humility, you consider others better than yourself. In humility, you esteem others above yourself. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV) Are you looking to the interests of others? Have you considered how you can invest in others? God has blessed you in Christ to be a blessing to others. You have been planted right where you are by God so that you can bloom for His glory and for the benefit of those in your sphere of influence. In humility, serve them. In humility, love them the way Jesus loves you. What if you adopted the following mission statement? I exist to bring glory to God by living to benefit others. How would that impact your relationships? How would that affect your attitude about waking up each day? You would be living on purpose and on mission with God. You would begin to see your home, your neighborhood, your campus, your place of employment, and your sphere of influence as your mission field. Now that’s leadership! Start today! Bring glory to God by living to benefit others! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Listening to God Most Holy Place Prayer Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer: Most Holy Place

“Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.” Hebrews 9:3-4 (ESV) Being “in Christ” changes everything. Your position in Christ gives you direct access to God. In the Old Testament Tabernacle, only the High Priest was granted access into the Most Holy Place which contained the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:10-11, 22). Now every child of God has the privilege of approaching God with freedom and confidence. What makes that possible? Our position in Christ is a result of God’s initiative to come to our rescue. His unconditional love paved the way for our faith in Christ to become a reality. Now, in Christ, we have direct access to our Heavenly Father. When I pray through the Tabernacle each morning I choose to stop speaking to God at this point and simply wait before Him as I enter the Most Holy Place. I often quote Samuel by saying, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.” It is at this time that God begins to place people on my heart that He wants me to intercede for. Also, this is the specific time that God will bring truths from His Word to my attention that He wants me to focus on for the day. Carve out some time to spend unhurried time alone with God. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to simply be still before God and wait for Him to speak. How long should you wait before the Lord? Wait long enough for Him to reveal His thoughts to you. Walk in the light God gives you and enjoy daily intimacy with Him. As you obey, God will show you the way. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Access Curtain Prayer Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer: Accept God’s Invitation

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.” Exodus 26:31-33 (ESV) In the Old Testament Tabernacle, only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place. He would enter through the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. The High Priest was granted access. Station 6:      The Curtain Praise God for the Access He Has Granted In Christ, you have been given access into the presence of God. You have immediate and continual access to God in prayer as you draw near to Him (Heb. 10:19-22). When Jesus died on the cross to satisfy the justice of God for our sin, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51). The curtain was not torn from bottom to top, but from top to bottom to symbolize God’s initiative to bring us into a right relationship with Himself. God took the initiative to reconcile us to Himself. Because of the completed work of Jesus on the cross, you approach the throne of grace with confidence. Jesus has opened a new and living way through the curtain so that you can draw near to God. Draw near with a true heart full of faith. Praise God for the access He has granted. You are privileged to be a child of the King. There is no greater honor. There is no greater privilege than that of having direct access to the Creator of the universe. God has granted you access. How have you responded to God’s invitation? You have been granted access to enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. You can enjoy unhurried time alone with the Lord. Maximize the opportunity God has given you. Invest the rest of your life bringing others into the privilege you now enjoy. Join God in His redemptive activity by shining His light and sharing His love so that others can come into a saving relationship with Jesus. Ask God to elevate your soul-consciousness and to give you the boldness and courage to share your faith with those who don’t know Christ. How will you respond to God’s provision? What will be different about your daily pursuit? Establish a standing meeting with God each day and grow in your daily intimacy with Him. Invite others into the journey! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Altar of Burning Incense Prayer Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer: Make Yourself Available

“‘You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it.’” Exodus 30:1-3 (ESV) Invest a few moments of time in taking inventory of your life. What are you offering up to God? How are you allocating your time and your energy? Are you living to bring glory to God in all things? The Table of the Bread of the Presence, the Golden Lampstand, and Altar of Burning Incense were located in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. As you come to this feature in praying through the Tabernacle, continue to worship God and make yourself available for His use. Station 5:      The Altar of Burning Incense Make Yourself Available for God’s Use What are you giving your life to? What do you value? You will make room for what you value. As you come to this station in praying through the Tabernacle, offer your life up to God. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1 ESV). Make yourself completely available for His use. Place your “yes” on the altar and say, “Lord, I’m Yours! Use me!” As you pray, your prayer rises like burning incense. “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2 ESV). As you live out your faith in Christ, your life becomes an aroma pleasing to God. As you offer your body to God for His glory, you are expressing worship to God. Spread the fragrance of Christ by living a life of instant obedience. Spend some time worshiping God and expressing your dependency upon Him and your availability to Him. Relinquish control of your life over to the Lord. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Embrace the posture of Jesus and pray, “Father, not my will, but Your will be done.” During this portion of your prayer time, you may want to consider lifting your hands in worship to God as you pray. You may want to kneel before the Lord and lift up your hands and begin singing praises to His Name. Close your eyes and begin praise the Lord for who He is and continue by thanking Him for what He has done. Obedience to God demonstrates your passion to please Him and to honor Him with your life and your lips. Let your private worship be focused, passionate, and authentic. Open your heart as you open your mouth to declare His glory. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Golden Lampstand Prayer Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer: Fellowship with the Holy Spirit

“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.…You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent of pure gold. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.” Exodus 25:31, 37-40 (ESV)  Have you ever driven through a neighborhood in December to behold the captivating path of luminaries? It is so moving to capture the sight of the streets outlined with paper bags illuminated with candles flickering in the night. The Golden Lampstand illuminated the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. It provided light to the table of the Bread of the Presence and the Altar of Burning Incense. The lampstand had seven oil lamps that provided light for the priest to serve.  A candle consumes itself whereas an oil lamp consumes the oil. Jesus has positioned us to be His light in this dark world. The Holy Spirit is the oil that fuels our gracious illumination.  Station 4:      The Golden Lampstand  Fellowship with the Holy Spirit When I get to this station of praying through the Tabernacle, I address the Holy Spirit personally in prayer. He is the third Person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit. As you pray, be mindful that you are the walking tabernacle of His Presence. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you (1 Cor. 6:19-20). He is your constant Companion. Learn to fellowship with the Holy Spirit and commune with Him as you pray. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV). He will guide you into truth and He will illuminate God’s Word as you read the Bible (John 14:16-17). As you pray, surrender to the full control of the Holy Spirit. Give Him access to every fiber of your being. Do not grieve Him. Do not quench Him. Do not put out His fire. Submit to His dominion in your life. Invite the Holy Spirit to make His Presence known in you and through you. Depend upon His power to mobilize you to be on mission with God and to seize the opportunities God gives you to make Jesus known. The moment you became a follower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit moved in to become a permanent resident. He does not move in and then move out. Thank Him for His habitation. Ask the Holy Spirit to exhibit His fruit through your life to bless and benefit others. You have been saved by the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a luminary for the Lord. Is your neighborhood a brighter place because of your influence? Is your school or workplace different as a result of the light of Jesus shining through your life?  Jesus has made you the light of the world. Don’t hide His light. Allow His light to shine through you today in the interactions you embrace as well as the interruptions you face. Is the light of Jesus shining through you? You are a luminary for the Lord.  Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Bread of Life Prayer Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer: Intercede for Others

“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it.…And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.” Exodus 25:23-24, 30 (ESV) Where do you go for nourishment? How do you refuel your soul after you have depleted your emotional love tank? Is there a place to receive nourishment? As we tour the Old Testament Tabernacle, we find the place for nourishment is the Table of the Bread of the Presence. It speaks of communion, fellowship, and nourishment. As clarified in the New Testament, we don’t go to a place for nourishment. Instead, we go to a person. Jesus! He is our Manna from Heaven! He is our daily bread! “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst’” (John 6:35 ESV). Jesus is our source! Station 3:      The Table of the Bread of the Presence  Intercede for Others First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV). As you continue your communion with the Lord in prayer, be mindful that Jesus is Manna from heaven, the Bread of Life, and your daily bread. He will nourish your soul and complete your life. Experience personal renewal and refreshing as you approach Him in prayer. You are not praying alone. As you pray, be reminded that the Holy Spirit is also praying and interceding (Romans 8:26-27). There are times when you will not know what to pray. So what do you do when you don’t know what to do? Be comforted by the Comforter as He intercedes for you according to the will of God. Victory is found in prayer as you recognize the awesome reality that not only is the Holy Spirit living in you and interceding for you, but Jesus is at the right hand of our Heavenly Father interceding for you as well (Romans 8:34). You can draw near to God since Jesus lives to intercede for you. As you pray, the Holy Spirit is praying and Jesus is praying. You have the privilege of joining in the sacred inter-Trinitarian communication that is taking place. Maximize your prayer time by specifically interceding for others. You may want to develop a prayer list and choose to pray for others by name. Write down the exact date by their name on which you began praying for them. If you have something specific to pray about, then list the specific need next to their name. As you pray, the more specific the more dynamic! You can spend an extended time in prayer at station three as you pray for people whom God places on your heart. You will be prompted to pray for people specifically whom you have not even thought of in a very long time. That’s why it is so important to be sensitive to God’s prompting as you pray. In a moment, close your eyes and begin visualizing Jesus as the bread of life. Begin acknowledging His daily provision in your life. Think about seasons when you did not know how you would make it another day and Jesus showed up with abundant resources. Reflect on the transitions in your life where Jesus provided a way for you when there seemed to be no way. Jesus is the ultimate way-maker! He is all you need! Surrender to His tender care. He will see you through. He has already been where you are going. Spend some time in prayer acknowledging your dependency upon Jesus as the bread of your life. He is your “daily” bread. Present your fears and your frustrations to the Lord in prayer and receive nourishment for your soul. Jesus is your life! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Confession Prayer Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer: Confess Known Sin

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.’” Exodus 30:17-18 (ESV) The second step to intimacy with God involves “the basin of water” found in the Old Testament Tabernacle. We are touring the furnishings within the Tabernacle. After acknowledging God’s gift of salvation through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross as symbolized by the altar of burnt offering, we now move to the basin of water. The basin of water represents our cleansing provided by the shed blood of Jesus. In our prayer time, we move from praising God for His salvation gift to confessing sin and receiving His forgiveness. Station 2:      The Basin of Water  Confess Known Sin Look realistically at yourself in light of God’s holiness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9 ESV).  You may embrace Isaiah’s response and say, “Woe is me!” Invite the Lord to search your heart and to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life. Be sensitive to His prompting. Don’t seek to hide your sin or to try to convince God that sin doesn’t exist in your life. God is all-knowing and He is all-seeing and nothing escapes His attention. Confession of sin is not to bring God up on your sin, but to enable you to say the same thing about your sin that God says about it. Confessing sin allows you to get honest and transparent before God. As Dr. Johnny Hunt would say, “Whatever you cover, God will uncover. Whatever you uncover, God will cover.” Choose to uncover your sin by confessing your sin specifically and instantly. Name your sin before God and claim His forgiveness and receive His cleansing. Submit your body to the Lord by giving Him your hands, eyes, and tongue. Submit your mind to the Lord by releasing pride, greed, and lust. Submit your spirit by praying through the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Satan will seek to distract you by reminding you of your past failures and mistakes. Satan uses your memory to neutralize your power and to pollute your passion for the Prince of Peace. God uses your memory to remind you where you were when He rescued you. God has the capacity to remember our sin no more, but He allows us to retain memory so we will never forget our desperation for His dispensing of grace. Confess your sin specifically and receive God’s forgiveness completely.  Don’t give the devil a club to hit you with. Choose to stay close and clean by practicing instant confession of sin. Don’t allow sin to linger. Receive God’s forgiveness and walk victoriously in the strength Christ provides. You are a new creation! Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Intimacy Prayer Tabernacle

Tabernacle Prayer: Come to the Cross

“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.” Exodus 27:1-2 (ESV) When you think about relationships, there are different levels of intimacy. Some relationships are emotionally distant and surfaced whereas some relationships have the capacity to be more consistent and feature an element of closeness. Then there are those relationships where the interaction is meaningful, transparent, and magnetic. The Encarta Dictionary defines the word intimacy as a close personal relationship; a detailed knowledge resulting from a close or long association. One of my favorite definitions of intimacy is: “in to me you see.” God desires intimacy with you. In the Old Testament, the portrait of intimacy was the formation and utilization of the Tabernacle. God made a way for His people to experience intimacy with Him through a religious relationship. As you pray through the Tabernacle, the first item you encounter is the altar of burnt offering where sacrifices were made. The New Testament equivalent is the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for your sin. As you pray through the Tabernacle, spend some time at the “altar of burnt offering” to praise God for His ultimate love gift and for Jesus being willing to pay the penalty for your sin. Station 1:      The Altar of Burnt Offering  Acknowledge the Sacrificial Death of Christ As you begin your prayer time, go to the altar of burnt offering and make the connection to the cross. Verbalize in prayer to God your acknowledgement of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV).  Begin to thank God for demonstrating His unconditional love by offering His One and Only Son on the cross to pay the penalty of your sin. Acknowledge God’s initiative in building the ultimate love bridge to rescue you. In prayer, express your deep abiding appreciation for God’s persistent pursuit of you with His redeeming love. Express gratitude to Jesus for being willing to submit to the Father’s will and for being willing to take on the full wrath of God for your sin. Thank the Lord for each wound in His body and what it redeemed you from. Express your appreciation to the Lord for His willingness to be obedient to death on the cross. Worship the Lord and adore Him for His generosity in removing your sin and imputing His righteousness. Ascribe worth to Jesus for your new identity and for the eternal security that He purchased for you. Cry out to God by using the most intimate term, Abba. That’s just like saying “Daddy” to your Heavenly Father. God loves you so much and He made it possible through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross for you to come into an intimate relationship with Him. Consecrate yourself before the cross and acknowledge the sacrificial death of Christ that changed your current and future reality. You determine the level of intimacy with God. As you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). God took the initiative to provide the way for you to enjoy an intimate love relationship with Him through faith in Jesus. What are you doing with the relationship God has made available to you? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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God's Presence Moses Tabernacle

Being God’s Tabernacle

“‘And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.’” Exodus 25:8-9 (ESV) God revealed to Moses the architectural dimensions, interior design, and precise function of the Tabernacle. Picture over two million Jews encamped in an area that would take about twelve square miles. If you lived on the outskirts of the encampment, then you would have to walk nearly six miles to bring your sacrifice to the Tabernacle. From the distance, you would be able to view God’s glory cloud descending from the sky down into the Most Holy Place. The Tabernacle was mobile. It was designed in such a way that when God’s glory moved, the Tabernacle could be moved to accommodate God’s presence. Did you know that you are “the walking Tabernacle” of God’s presence? “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19-20 ESV). God demonstrated in the Old Testament through the Tabernacle that His desire is to dwell with His people. As His Tabernacle, God has chosen to dwell in you permanently. He indwells you by the Holy Spirit. You are His priceless treasure. What kind of Tabernacle are you being for His presence to dwell? Have you allowed Him to move into every area of your life? Have you given Him full control of your life, your desires, your ambitions, and your fears? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Obedience Perseverance Receptivity

Your Heart Condition

“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15 ESV How well do you receive God’s Word? Your level of receptivity is a direct reflection of the condition of your heart. Your heart is the soil upon which the seed, God’s Word, is sown. As you hear, read, and feed on God’s Word, the seed is sown in your heart. If you have a noble and good heart, then the seed will take root in your life and produce a harvest. It starts with your heart. Be willing to ask God to search your heart (Ps. 139:23). The light of His holiness will reveal the true condition of your heart. Does your heart resemble the hard path, or the rocky ground, or the thorn infused ground? You can become calloused toward the things of God. You can become distracted by the magnetic pull of worldliness and materialism. It is possible to choke out the Word of God by the worries of this life. Purify your heart before the Lord. Remove the impurities that constrict the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV). Take the initiative to purify your body, the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Keep your heart honest and good. Consistently intake God’s Word through hearing, reading, and feeding on God’s Word each day. Your level of receptivity will be evidenced through the level of productivity in the harvest. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Finding Help God's Provision Prayer

Your Help Is Here

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 God never intended for you to walk through adversity alone. Maybe you have heard someone say that God will never put more on you than you can handle. That’s not true. God will not put more on you than you can handle with His help. The Christian life is not a solo flight. God does not launch you out into the world and expect you to live the Christian life on your own. God provides refuge when you need to retreat, strength when you need to endure, and help when you need relief. Your Heavenly Father knows exactly what you need and the exact moment you need it. God gives you His Holy Spirit at the moment of your conversion. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 ESV). You are inhabited by the Counselor who is the Spirit of truth. You are the walking tabernacle of God’s Presence. Your body is His temple. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter. Are you in need of help? Are you hurting, lonely, or discouraged? Share your heart with God in prayer and anticipate His response. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Adversity Perseverance Spiritual Maturity

Adversity and Spiritual Maturity

“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4 (ESV) Spiritual maturity may involve adversity. The child of God is not exempt from adversity. Often, God will allow adversity to enter our journey in order to move us toward spiritual maturity. God expects us to grow spiritually. Mediocrity, lethargy, and apathy are foreign to the maturation process. God enables us to grow through seasons of uncertainty and through seasons of drought. We are reminded of our inadequacy and our total dependency upon God. God’s desire is for us to not lack anything. Trials produce the canvas upon which the providence of God is painted for our personal engagement. “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:13 (ESV) “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.” Col. 4:12 (ESV) Our response to adversity demonstrates our level of spiritual maturity. Our response to difficult circumstances can also propel our spiritual maturity to the next level. Here’s the bottom line: Are you becoming more like Jesus in the midst of the trials you face? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell