God didn’t promise days without pain, just victory through it.

Suffering. It might not mean what you think.

Romans 5:3-5 reveals that a changed life starts with suffering, which comes from the word used in Matthew 7:14 translated a narrow path that leads to life, which is Jesus.

This suffering is not necessarily physical. Suffering can also mean an overcrowding caused by too many or conflicting thoughts bouncing around inside our heads.

Thus, an overcrowded mind with too many paths to choose rather than just the One, can lead to internal suffering or a battle for the mind. And, if we are honest, we’ve all felt this type of suffering.

In order to let suffering lead to life change, we need to do one of two things.

One, if we’re facing suffering caused by a truth already stored in our head, which is now being attacked by thoughts coming from outside us (i.e. our adversary), we need to persevere by continuing to stay focused and act on the truth that eventually leads to life change and hope.

If, on the other hand, the suffering we face is caused by truthful thoughts entering our brain from the outside (the Word and Spirit of God) that are challenging the ones inside our head, we need to continue to think and act on the new thought, which over time (perseverance) will replace the lie stored in our head, which leads to Christlike character and hope.

This type of suffering should not only be expected, but should also be the norm for the growing believer in Jesus!

If we expect life to be easy, this suffering could send us into a downward spiral of loses. Yet, if we expect it, we can have a warrior mentality to fight back with the truth of God through asking for the power of the Spirit of God for victory.

Suffering is normal and will come to those who love Jesus. Therefore, have the expectations of a warrior, which leads to victory.

“I give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak so they can soar like eagles and walk and run with as they put their hope in Me.” The LORD (Isaiah 40:29-31)

“I can’t” is a good place to start. When we come to the realization that we can’t change ourselves – no matter how many motivational speeches we hear or great messages we listen to – we can rely on the only power that can change us – Jesus.

How often do we use the pronoun “I”? Put another way, how often do we talk about ourselves – good or bad? Or, switch between the beat me stick and the praise me brush?

A changed life can only come in the name of Jesus, literally. The phrase, “in the name of Jesus” is repeatedly used where we are told that we are given life, forgiveness, freedom and made whole only in Jesus’ name.

Even those who didn’t believe in Jesus recognized it’s power and commanded believers to stop speaking in Jesus’ name! Seriously, there is power in the name of Jesus – in what He did, is doing and in what only He can do.

So examine your thoughts. Who do you think about most often throughout your day – the power of the Person who is present with you in the present or “I”? How often do you connect into His power to change your thinking, which changes your feelings, which changes your choices?

Will it be “I” or Jesus? Both are strong words, but only one has the power to change your life on earth and ultimately for eternity when you leave it behind.

In your walk-talk with your LORD today, remember to focus on the strong words Jesus gives you in His name. They make all the difference between today’s victory or defeat.

And when victory comes, you’ll be able to praise the Father in Jesus’ name. As the Spirit writes, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17)

Let your faith grow beyond yesterday.

God doesn’t change. He can, though, change the way He gets our attention.

When He created male and female on Day 6 He said, “Let Us make man in our image.” Both pronouns are plural. God is in relationship when He created a relationship with humanity. And, men and women could only be fulfilled if they lived in relationship with Him.

God further emphasized that point when He wrote that only day six was very good. It was a very good day to be in relationship with God in order to fulfill what the He created them to do.

Humanity didn’t quite get it. By the time we get to Genesis 6, every human being, save Noah, did whatever they wanted to do without involving God. This was a recipe for failure as it was for Adam and Eve.

When Eve was listening to a snake, did she ever consult God? Nope. Failure. When Adam choose to eat the fruit, did He consult with God? Nope. Failure. Humans think that just because they are special they can do as they please. Nope, that’s a tactic of failure.

When God re-started the human race with Noah, He said, “Yes, you are made in My image. Yes, you are special. But, I’m going to tell you three times that I’m creating My covenant with you where you can only be fulfilled while being in relationship to Me.”

Both times, He said the same thing, but differently. You can only be all that He created you to be by being in relationship with Him – a walk-talk if you will. As you walk with Him, you can talk with Him throughout your day and thus follow Him to fulfillment, which is a very good day!

May we all listen to and follow Jesus every day to have a very good day.

Every morning has a fresh new set of choices.

The Spirit had Jeremiah use the name LORD Almighty repeatedly throughout the book that carries his name. The LORD Almighty had fought their battles in the past as they listened to and followed the LORD.

Now, in the midst of disciplining Judah, the Spirit had Jeremiah pen the book of Lamentations repeatedly using only the name LORD.

Why the change? It’s in the midst of failure that can lead to discipline that we often feel God abandons or doesn’t want to be with us because we stunk up yesterday so bad.

It is in the midst of discipline that the following refreshing words from the LORD are written (3:21-26):  

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

We don’t want to fail, but the truths haven’t sunk in deep enough yet. If we are honest with ourselves, though, we sometimes want to stay stuck in the safety of what we know rather than step out on faith with Him into the unknown. Why? It feels better…in the short-term.

Yet, the LORD – the one who is present in the present – is always with us in the moment, even the moments when our choices wreak havoc. This truth is based in a type of love that never stops – good or bad choices – because His mercy holds back what we deserve (shown at the cross) so His faithfulness to His promises give us hope to start afresh today.

“Wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD” as He will complete the job He started. He is LORD. It’s a new day. Praise Him this morning. It’s a new day with a new set of choices.

Never forget your choices matter.

I recently closed down for the season the 1910 Mammoth cabin we use during the summer. While doing this, I got to enjoy this awesome view – the long view of life – today’s choices matter in light of eternity.

We see these choices through the aspen leaves. Aspen trees sprout green leaves in the spring that provide shade throughout the warm summer months. Then change from green to yellow to orange to red to brown in the fall before the wind blows them loose to free float to the ground. Why? To be alive to sprout green leaves in the spring.

Change is a natural process of life, not the exception, especially for Jesus believers. He came to save us from our pasts and todays to give us a bright future, which is seen in the mountains at the end of this road.

I was talking with my Father as I walked down this path. I said, “These mountains will be around long after I die.” Then I heard Him say, “True, but you will be around long after they die.”

From a human perspective, we see rolling hills to sky reaching mountains that will continue to be around for millennium. Not true. These mountains will one day be released from their groaning caused by Adam’s choice (Rom. 8:20-22; Rev. 21:1).

Change is uncomfortable and sometimes very painful. But it is as temporary as the mountains. Though we groan like the mountains today, we have been given the hope that we will be completely transformed (Rom. 8:23-25). We often feel, think, believe that it is just “little ol’ me”. What difference do my choices matter in the grand scheme of life? Much! Our little choices to follow Jesus today will pay huge dividends well into eternity for both ourselves and those watching our lives