Meet God in the morning

Psalm 143:8 ‘Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.’ The day goes much better if I have read the Bible in the morning and found encouragement in God’s unfailing love. Without this time with God, it feels to me like going out without a coat on – something rather important is missing.

Our prayers in heaven

Revelation 5:8b ‘Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.’ I love the fact that the bowls are made of gold. It shows that our prayers are precious. And, all our prayers – even mine – go in.

Holiness

Be authentic Holiness does not mean being perfect. It means living a life of integrity. It’s the opposite of hypocrisy. It means being real, honest and authentic.

Hope

Joyce Meyer writes, ‘Real hope is a constant positive attitude that no matter what is happening currently, things will change for the better.’

Search me

‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’

Faith and love

Faith is made visible by love. Love is practical.

Tests of a Christian 1 John 5

three tests of a true Christian: Faith ‘Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God... This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God’ (vv.1a,4–5). A Christian is a person who puts their faith in Jesus. In doing so, you become a child of God. Love ‘Everyone who loves the father loves his child as well’ (v.1b). The evidence of true faith is love – love for God, love for Jesus, love for others. Faith expresses itself in love. Obedience ‘This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands’ (vv.2–3). This love is not just a feeling. It involves action – obedience to God’s commands.