Promise Keepers

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels
or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus Our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Has someone ever broken his/her promise to you? If you can
remember such an instance, that is a clear indicator that this
failure made a negative impact on your heart. Promises bring
great security, and when promises are not kept, the insecurity
and devaluation that result are hurtful. It takes time for
trust to be built again between you and the promise-breaker.
God is the ultimate Promise-Keeper. He is truth, so every
word He utters is absolute truth. When God tells you in
Romans 8:38-39 that nothing will separate you from the love of
Christ, He means it. No tragedy or devastation or deprivation
can alter your relationship with Him one bit. Can you think
of any promise more reassuring?

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"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;
make known among the nations what He has done.
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His
wonderful acts. Glory in His name; let the hearts
of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ...
Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles,
and the judgments He pronounced."

1 Chronicles 16:8-10 & 12

Never, never give up !

"For the Lord God will help me; therefore I will not be disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be
ashamed." Isaiah 50:7
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England was in the thick of World War II. The Germans had attacked
with a vengeance and kept on attacking. However, Sir Winston Churchill's
relentless spirit kept his country from giving up. Never give up!, he
called out. No, never give up! England suffered numerous defeats, but
he was certain if they kept their hearts steadfast and set on the
thought of victory then in the end it would be theirs.
When trial and suffering come to stay, refuse to give up. Set your
heart like a flint before God. Stand firm in your faith. With the
winds of war assailing him, Churchill told the House of Commons:
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however
long and hard the road may be: for without victory there is no
survival."
What are you facing that is jeopardizing your sense of peace and
well-being? No matter how hard the battle becomes, REMEMBER Jesus has
already won the war! (Hallelujah!)
Therefore, never give up! The victory is yours when you are steadfast
in
your trust in God.
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"God will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee,
because he trusts in Thee." Isaiah 26:3

Addicted...

"If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"
1 Corinthians 10:12

Almost anyone who as ever been physically addicted to something
will tell you that it all began with some small, innocent step -
just one taste or one little moment of exposure. Then the experience
gradually took over their minds and desires and bodies, until the
addiction absorbed their attention day and night without relenting.

Maybe this was your experience or perhaps still is. And physical
addiction isn't the only kind of consuming entrapment; any kind of
sin or wrong desire can lead to emotional and spiritual enslavement.
What is so devastating about bondage to sin is that it progresses
slowly at first, allowing you the luxury to rationalize and justify
your growing "needs". By the time you understand what is occurring,
your problem has progressed into a serious condition.

King David experienced this process in his own life in his sin
with Bathsheba, a transgression that began when he first saw her
bathing on her rooftop.(2 Samuel 11) When he realized how far he
had gone, he immediately repented, confessed his sin to God, and
experienced God's grace anew. David had an advanced understanding of
how sin operates.

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Let us pray: "O Lord, Direct my footsteps according to Your word;
let no sin rule over me. Redeem me from the oppression of men, that
I may obey Your precepts." Psalm 119:133-134