word – Brian Friedl https://brianfriedl.com Making Your Life's Mission Possible Tue, 10 Oct 2017 10:10:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.17 64732294 Walking In Truth https://brianfriedl.com/walking-in-truth/ Tue, 10 Oct 2017 10:10:42 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/walking-in-truth/ What a beautiful, simple, and powerful verse and prayer request!  What impact would we have  if every step we took was in line with God’s word?  Each one a simple act of obedience to our Heavenly Father giving Him glory. How sweet that would be!  When we walk on the foundation of the Word, our steps are sure and confident.  We do not stumble but instead have wisdom and knowledge beyond our years. 

When we humbly submit to the dominion of Adonai, we experience life free of iniquity. This is not a one-time decision, but instead a battle of many decisions for Him day in and day out. We cry out to Him asking That He May keep us from sin, that He would guard our minds that we would desire Him only on the throne of our lives. For He is faithful and has the power to grant that request.  

Reflection

Are you actively praying for a hunger for His Word?

Are you diving deep into that Word equipping your feet to walk in it?

Are you petitioning our Heavenly Father to prevent any iniquity from having dominion over you?

Prayer

Father, You search and know our hearts. Give us a hunger for Your Word that is everlasting.  May our footsteps be established in it moment by moment.  Guard our minds to know the truth and keep our hearts under Your dominion.  Let no sin overtake us.  May our eyes be fixed on Christ now and forever more. Amen!

]]> 1469 How To Restore Your Hope https://brianfriedl.com/how-to-retore-your-hope/ Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:40:30 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/how-to-retore-your-hope/ I have depended on God’s word for so long now, it’s hard for me to understand how people can go without it. This passage reminds us that His word is for our instruction. We must persevere and press on in faith and His word will encourage us and give us a hope. 

There have been times when everything seemed to be crumbling around me. The only thing stable and unchanging was the Word. I clung to it with everything I had and the encouragement rained down on me and my hope was renewed and restored.

Perhaps the reason you’re struggling with persevering today just because you’re out of encouragement and hope. I believe with all my heart that the answer to this problem is found in His word.

Reflection

Are you intentionally filling your head with God’s instructions?

Are you delighting in that instruction?

Get a reading plan today and let the encouragement and hope abound in you!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path.  For it is complete, inerrant, inspired by You; profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.  He is sufficient in all things and is our rock and our fortress.  By Your Word we are both held together and encouraged. For in Him lies the secret of contentment and hope. Give us a desire to commune with Him (Your Word) daily.  Amen!

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NASB‬‬

http://bible.com/100/2ti.3.16.nasb

]]> 1448 Preacher Within https://brianfriedl.com/preacher-within/ https://brianfriedl.com/preacher-within/#comments Fri, 22 Sep 2017 09:32:28 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/preacher-within/ There have been times in my life where I have felt all alone.  Most of the time I wasn’t really alone but instead was deceived by the enemy, but the aloneness felt so real. In those moments, especially, my spirit hungered for truth while my flesh was in anguish.  

Where was my comfort?  Where was my strength when my bones ached with sorrow?  The deception and darkness was so great that I couldn’t see the light and refused to seek counsel. Who would rescue my from my despair?

We know the Holy Spirit has many roles including being a helper, comforter and teacher reminding us of God’s instruction:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  ~ ‭‭John‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭NASB‬‬

But what do we do when even He seems far off?There are times where the only thing we have to cling to is God’s word and His promises so we must preach to, and comfort ourselves with His word. 

Reflection

Brothers and sisters, we must be ready for these times!   We know not when these times of drought will happen.  His word must be implanted in our memory so as to be ready for preaching to ourselves in any occasion. 

Get a reading plan today and begin storing up the treasures of His word.  For it is this powerful truth that will comfort us in the time of trial. 

Prayer

Gracious Father, You have given us everything we need to walk according to Your way.  Fill us with Your word that we may be revived according to Your lovingkindness.  In those times of deception, May we preach Your word to ourselves that our countenance and vision would be restored.  We love You LORD, in Jesus, Amen

]]> https://brianfriedl.com/preacher-within/feed/ 2 1435 Signs Of A Healthy Church https://brianfriedl.com/signs-of-a-healthy-church/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 12:35:00 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/signs-of-a-healthy-church/ What’s the atmosphere of your church like?  How would you describe it in one sentence?  What’s your favorite part?  People have asked me what Sunday morning worship is like.  This verse is one of the ones that come to mind when I attempt to answer these questions. 

The word of Christ.  One of the reason I love to go to church is that our Pastor teaches directly from scripture. He’s not seeking to tickle our ears with a nice uplifting message. Instead, he spends hours during the week working to understand the original author’s message and then listening to God for how to share with all of us.  He preaches the full word of God.  He doesn’t skip over the tough parts or hop from topic to topic.  We must desire and allow the word of Christ to dwell richly in us; for it is the source of our wisdom. 

Teaching and Admonishing. None of us have attained a place of complete knowledge of God. Every step we take toward knowing Him opens our eyes to a new depth of how much of Him we have yet to understand. We forget, lose focus, and even willfully disregard our Father in heaven.  We need to be taught and reminded who God really is, what He has done, and what He is capable of. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ to do so.   To receive this we must open ourselves to relationship with them.  Finding a local body of mature believers and seeking Christ together is critical to your walk with God. 

Singing with Thankfulness. There’s something about a song that can burn in your brain and teach you for many years going forward.  Our hearts were designed for praise and song.  Our lips long to sing of His great mercies and shout of His excellence.  Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs have the power to refocus our eyes where they belong.  Singing with thankfulness together is a powerful medicine that is meant to be taken daily. 

So what is a Sunday morning like?   It is a body of believers that seeks hard after Jesus, that He (the living Word) would dwell richly in them.  Through the wisdom of His word, they teach and admonish one another through Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  It is a place of love and powerful worship and I am blessed!

Reflection

What is your church like?

Is God’s word the rudder that steers your church?

Is it a place of teaching and admonishing?

Do you thankfully sing His praises?

Prayer

Father, we thank You that You have given us a body of believers to worship with even if we haven’t found them yet.  Lord I ask that Your people would see their need for one another and that You would provide a place for all those that are worshipping You from afar; apart from the body. Draw them together that they may grow and carry out Your great mission.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

]]> 1429 What More Do We Need? https://brianfriedl.com/what-more-do-we-need/ Sat, 18 Mar 2017 10:00:17 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/what-more-do-we-need/ Often times when I’m at my lows in life, I turn to the Psalms.  They repeatedly paint a picture of struggle, persecution, crying out to God Almighty, Him answering, or a combination of all of the above. Psalm 18 is one of those Psalms.  Time after time David finds himself in need and cries out to his Heavenly Father and He answers by His word.  

As I digested this beautiful meal of heavenly bread, I landed on verse 30 and was reminded of my feeble efforts and energy wasted battling my enemies.  Three things are mentioned here about God’s plan to overcome our enemy:

     His way is blameless

     His word is tried

     He is a shield 

These three not only give hope but are a solid and logical strategy against our enemy. 

The older I’ve gotten, the less I waste time trying to figure things out on my own.  I’m less concerned about being smart and capable and more concerned about completing things right the first time and spending less time.  When I Google or YouTube to find a resolution for everyday needs, I look at the number of views and the comments to see if this method is tried and others have found success.  I listen closely to determine if the person is looking for me to succeed and warning me of anything that might go wrong. 

Better than Google or YouTube, is God’s provision for us to solve everything that ails us. 

His way is blameless. We need not worry that He will every lead us to a place of dishonor or destruction.  He forever desires us to walk blamelessly in Him. The same cannot be said about our plans.  

His word is tried. The Bible was written over the span of about 1500 years by around forty authors inspired by God.  It has outlasted trends and fads of every generation and remains solid in its instruction and power. 

He is a shield.  The victory Christ won at the cross is our shield from every arrow the devil can fire.  For we can surely take refuge behind this mighty shield that defends us 

Reflection

Can you say your plan to succeed in the face of your enemies has these three components?

Perhaps it’s time to lay down your plans and pride in exchange for our Father’s perfect way through salvation and start living in joy as you were designed to.  Get in His word daily and meditate on it as you go about your day. It will prove itself tried and true. 

Prayer

Gracious God, you have given us all that we need in Christ.  For His way is blameless. He became sin on our behalf that we might become Your righteousness.  Your word is tried and true and has blessed us beyond measure.  Teach us to delight in it and apply it diligently to every area of our lives.    Let us run to You, our great shield of protection, and take refuge.  You are the one true Living God and You alone have overcome death and sin forever.  We sing praises to you in the name of Jesus, Amen!

]]> 1212 Word 👍🏻 https://brianfriedl.com/word-%f0%9f%91%8d%f0%9f%8f%bb/ Sat, 31 Dec 2016 12:32:03 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/word-%f0%9f%91%8d%f0%9f%8f%bb/ I have been reading God’s word for almost 30yrs now.  There is no writing that has impacted my life more.  Being a skeptic by nature, I have tested every sentence I’ve ever read against life and I have found all of these things to be true. The more I test it the more it’s validity is revealed.  

This book is like no other. Listen to some of the words used to describe it:

Living

Active

Sharp

Piercing

Able to judge

You will not experience anything from it unless you submit yourself to the Word and spend time meditating on it.  The transformation that the Bible has the power to deliver is just one of the reasons this book is the bestseller of all times.  If you want an amazing, adventure-filled life, with great hope, get in this book!

Challenge for today:

Pick one of the 66 books in God’s word (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, proverbs, Psalms, etc) and then begin reading today. Take time away to organize your life by its truths. 
It will shape every aspect of your life; prayer, worldview, and mission. 

L

]]> 983 Acts Bible Study 19:11-20 https://brianfriedl.com/acts-bible-study-1911-20/ Mon, 24 Oct 2016 13:10:11 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/acts-bible-study-1911-20/  
What a great time of revival and revelation of God’s power. Notice it was God who was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.  All this that the Word of the LORD may grow mightily and prevail.  There is power in the name of Jesus!

Read Acts 19:11-20

1) What did you see in the text?

2) What things don’t make sense and requires more study/answers?

3) What’s the main theme?

4) How were the original readers to apply this passage?

5) How does this passage apply to you?

May zgod’s word have its way in your heart as you study and meditate on it today!

]]> 865 Let Your Heart Be Written On https://brianfriedl.com/826-2/ Mon, 15 Aug 2016 11:35:02 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/?p=826   
As I read these verses, my heart was filled with gratitude that I can spend time in God’s word just about any time I want to.  I, like you, have access to multiple translations physical and digital and even audio. 

No excuses! We have access!  I love the plan of our Father that He wants to write His word on our heart. I so desperately want His word so much a part of me that it is who I am.  I want it to have its way in all that I think and do!

Personal Reflection

Have you opened the notebook of your heart to the most amazing writer this world has ever known?  The One who spoke all of the world into being desires to be that close to you. He has adopted us as His children and not only are we made in His image we also carry His word branded on our hearts!  We are His!

What can you do today to diligently teach others God’s word?  What are some ways you can know, live, and speak the truth to them?

Set a schedule to be in His word daily.  You can do this!

Prayer Focus

LORD, we praise you for saving us and writing Your words upon our hearts.  May we sing of Your love forever.  May we diligently and intentionally teach Your Word to others for Your glory, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!

]]> 826 Where Is Truth?  https://brianfriedl.com/where-is-truth/ Mon, 25 Jul 2016 12:42:38 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/where-is-truth/   
My mind has always been curious and wanting to understand how everything works. Yes I was that annoying student in class that occupied the teacher as she answered all my questions.  When I first read the Bible in between my freshmen and sophomore year, I couldn’t get enough!

The more I read the more I understood myself, others around me, and who God is.   I was finally getting answers to my questions that others seemed to have a hard time answering.  Questions like what is my purpose in this world?  Why is there so much suffering?  How do I have hope in the midst of my struggle?  I’m not the only one who has discovered this

You want the ultimate answer book to life’s biggest questions?   You probably already own 2-3 copies.  It’s time to read it and start getting some answers.  

Personal Reflection

Warning: direct questions forthcoming

If you compare your hours in scripture this week to hours in front of the TV, how does it line up?

Do you believe with all your heart that The Bible is the ultimate place of truth? 

Do you have a genuine desire for God’s Word?

This is not the time to spend the rest of the day feeling guilty.  It the time to fix your priorities and start knowing, living, and speaking the truth!  There is is so much life waiting for you in there.  Take it in and let it shape you like you do with your TV.  

Prayer Focus
Father we have all prioritized other things above Your word. For this we confess that we have been distracted.  Fill our hearts with a desire for Your word that is unwavering. May our minds be filled with truth that blesses those around us and shows them who You are.  All this by the power of Jesus, Amen!

#trutalk4life

@brianfriedl

]]> 791 How To Have Peace In The Storm https://brianfriedl.com/how-to-have-peace-in-the-storm/ Thu, 26 May 2016 10:47:58 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/how-to-have-peace-in-the-storm/   

How quickly our emotions can shift. An anxious thought is like lighting a whole pack of firecrackers on the Fourth of July.  The overwhelming noise can consume us. 

Anxiety; however,  is no match for the peace and joy God has for us in Christ.  In the midst of the greatest turmoil, thoughts of Him delight straight through to our soul and turn chaos to a sea of tranquility.  

Personal Reflection

You may be thinking: So how do I get some of that or I’ve tried doing that but I’m still anxious.  Here are a few tips that have helped me in times of difficulty. 

You are not alone – God has promised that He will not leave you nor forsake His inheritance.  Sometimes anxiety is driven by the lie that we have to do it all by ourselves.  Here’s an experiment. Request to join our Journey In Prayer Facebook group and post a prayer request.   You will quickly see you’re not alone!

Cling to His Word – His Word has the power to transform our hearts in an amazing way. To give hope where there is none.  It is the truth that has stood the test of time. It brings life into any situation.  As quickly as our emotions can overwhelm us in anxiety so God’s Word can settle us into a place of peace. 

Worship & Praise – Notice when the Psalmist has trouble seeing God, he returns to the truth of His Word and gives Him praise.  Worshipping God for all He has done is medicine for your soul.  Feeling anxious?  Sing to the LORD and thank Him for all He has done in your life and praise Him for what He will do.  The greatest songs of praise are not on the radio, but the ones that burst forth from your heart to your Father in heaven.  Praise Him as He deserves; with your whole heart!

Prayer Focus

Father in heaven, help us when we look at the waves instead of looking into your eyes filled with love. Help us to fix our eyes on you and to remember all of what you’ve done.  For you are mighty and hear our cries. Nothing is impossible with you.  Remind us that you are with us, may your Spirit that lives in us Bring all things into rememberance from Your Word, and may we praise you today in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

]]> 693