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Today is Saturday July 24, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Proverbs, chapters 16-19. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-july-24

Today's Message: Get Back Up

As a Christian, it is truly amazing to look back and see just how much you have changed through the years or even weeks as you grow in your walk with Christ. Those who truly allow Christ to be at the center of their lives literally become a new person, even the people they hang around are no longer the same. This can be both exciting and nerve racking at the same time, especially since it seems as though the more you try to walk with Him the more difficult the walk becomes. We are going to stumble, but the great thing is that Jesus is still walking with us and as long as we keep pressing on with our faith in Him we will get past the hurdles and to the finish line. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10. As we walk with Christ we become what God created us to be, so, no matter how many times we fall, Jesus will pick us back up and get us moving again. Praise God!

Satan loves to get us feeling as though we are failures and can never be forgiven when we fall. He is a fool and no one is a failure to God when they do their best to follow His will. Do you think He does not know when we are going to fall? Of course He does. He knows everything about us, what we are doing, and what we will do in the future. Nothing is surprising to God, but as we walk with Him we learn to remove sinful behavior. “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” - Proverbs 16:1-6. Our pride is what keeps us from going before God and seeking forgiveness. Pride does not want to let things go, but the more we walk with Christ, the more we let go of that pride and want to let go of the sinful things in our lives. Do you know what the great thing is? God has Alzheimer when we seek forgiveness of our sins. He forgives and forgets all about the sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9. Praise God!

It is natural to think of ourselves as humble, at least more humble than others. But humility, or a lack of it, is apparent by our attitude when we are with someone who irritates us. If our replies are expressed in an unkind way, either outwardly in our words or actions or inwardly in our thoughts, then our "humility" is not real; it is merely a mask. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” - Proverbs 18:10-12. To be humble means to be meek, modest, inconspicuous, and submissive (obedient), in other words, it means to not draw attention to ourselves, not to think of one self as better than another's, and to be obedient. If we truly want to be forgiven for our sins we need to humbly seek it from God. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:8-10. Humbling ourselves before God brings new life and joy to our hearts. Knowing the destructive power of pride, let us look upon people who seem difficult to love as those chosen by God to provide us with the opportunity to rid ourselves of self-righteousness and to express Christlike humility and the love of God.

Those who have fallen away from God or never really let Him come in rarely see a change in their lives and often become angry and bitter at those who find happiness, peace, and joy with Christ leading the way. There is a song that I have been listening to a lot called, “I Found A Treasure”, there is a line in the chorus that says, “Although I'm a beggar, I'm rich beyond measure, I found a treasure, when I found the Lord.” Christians, do not have to worry about earthly riches, we may not have all the money the world has to offer, but our treasure is in the Lord and He alone gives us riches the world can never give. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:19-21,33. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.

P. S. Forgive me for getting this out so late in the day, sorry for the inconvenience.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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