The first truth we need to understand is that justice doesn’t always happen immediately.  Instead, it happens in the timing and context of God’s perfect will.  Justice can be served quickly, but often we might feel that it is delayed longer than we think it should be.  This could be because God is not willing that any should perish and His grace draws even our accusers and abusers to Himself.

Secondly, where we would seek punishment, He desires repentance. Being rich in mercy, He has offered the most miserable of sinners the greatest gift of grace.  Would we really want God to operate as we do?  Where would we be ourselves, if God only sought punishment? Not in a good place for sure!

Lastly, vengeance is not ours but god’s.  Our focus needs to be on Him, which in turn, brings forth Thanksgiving, testimony, and praise.  These three are well within your grasp and authority.  When we trust God is the perfect balance of Grace and justice, we are truly free to worship Him as He deserves!

Reflection

What injustice is distracting your worship of God?

What would happen if you let go of that injustice and clung tightly to our Father in heaven?

Rather than vengeance make your life about thanksgiving, testimony, and praise. For the problem of injustice is that it distracts us from our worship and enjoyment of our Father in heaven.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are all knowing. For only You can judge rightly.  By Your Spirit, we ask the You would empower us to trust in Your justice and perfect will.  You will bring down the stronghold of our enemies in Your time.  You will break the greatest of enemies to pieces and all will one day know you as LORD; whether as an enemy or Your child.   Use our perceived injustice to demonstrate Your grace, teach us who You are, and carry out your mission.  Let us be focused on You and our worship be unhindered. Fill us with thankfulness, testimony, and praise, in the power of Christ, Amen!

The post The Problem Of Injustice first appeared on Brian Friedl.

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!

The post How To Have Peace In The Storm first appeared on Brian Friedl.

Personal Reflection

Our nation’s healing will be a byproduct of  us knowing, living, and speaking the truth. This includes seeking after the LORD above all else, loving and obeying Him.  Have you noticed how quickly this country has taken a downturn in the last 4 years?  It seems to be decelerating at an increasing rate.  This is more than some political agenda.  It is a problem with sin.  Read Romans 1 for more details. I believe God is giving us over to our desires. 

What if I told you that I believe all of this could change in the matter of less than a year.  If we as Christians would sincerely confess to God the sins that we are struggling with, and pursue Him with all our passion and might, change would be inevitable and wides spread.  If we all, in love and unity, spent our time seeking ways to repair and restore communities, prayed for one another, and funded one another’s efforts, we could change the world!  For all would know we are Christians by our love!  Find one person to invest deeply in and commit to investing for one year.  Listen to them, pray for them, pour hope into them.  WARNING: this may require less time in front of the  TV.  Let’s ditch the comfort and make a difference. Let’s live again!

Prayer Focus

LORD God, we humbly come before you confessing that we have not worshipped you from the deepest depths of our heart.  That on the outside we are rock star believers yet on the inside we are desperately paralyzed waiting for you to do some miracle.  Father, rekindle the passion and fire that you started in us that we may not walk past the hand in need with a clear conscience.  Let our love be yours for all those in need.  Give us endless energy to fight hunger, loneliness, depression, abuse and all the other ailments of this fallen world.  Equip us with the hope of your truth. May we Know, Live, and Speak it boldly for your glory now and forevermore, in the power of Jesus’ Name, Amen!

#thepoweroflove #changeiscloserthanyouthink. #truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

The post How To Change The World first appeared on Brian Friedl.

Brothers and sisters, we are deceived if we believe that we can live with a little darkness. Scripture tells us the following about God:

1. For God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5b)
2. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24)

If we love God, let us run from darkness into the light.  For today’s passage clearly states that anyone who does evil (darkness) hates the light (God)  and does not come into the light, that his darkness may be exposed.  Friends there is no fence riding with God. We must abandon the idea that we can manage our sin.  For sin cannot be managed and results in hatred toward God.  Participating in darkness causes us to question our identity as a child of God and produces a desire to hide, just as it did with Adam in Eve in the garden.  Praise God for our advocate in Jesus Christ as the depths of this truth penetrates us and transforms us to lovers of light.

I love the contrast found in verse 21.  “But he who practices the truth comes into the light that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God”.  Notice the focus is not on self, but glorifying God.  We don’t walk in the light so that other see that we are doing so.  Instead we care about the very name of God and bringing Him glory and honor, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice that others may see how amazing our God is. Obedience is an extension of love and worship.  When we choose to rightly take our eyes off of ourselves, focus on Christ, worship Him, and practice truth, two things happen

• We realize all we need has already been given to us in Jesus.  Darkness cannot draw anyone in who believes they have everything they need in the light.

• We are not afraid of the light, but instead rejoice in it as we know that it brings honor and glory to God.  1 John 1:7  reminds us that if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin.

So where are you at this morning?  Are you trying to manage a little darkness in your life? Have you been trying to hide from the light because of one area of your life?  Are you feeling disqualified as an ambassador of Christ? What is holding you back from believing that what God provided in Christ was everything you needed?

Lord God, we pray this morning that you would help us in our unbelief.  Remind us of the countless times that you have provided for your people.  Specifically, help us to grasp the magnitude of your complete provision in Christ for us.  Transform our hearts to worship and glorify you.  Give us a desire to LIVE(practice) the Truth in the light. Remove any obstacles that we have allowed to hold us back from trusting in your complete provision, in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

The post Practice Truth, Live In The Light first appeared on Brian Friedl.