The main principle of our walk with the Lord is to trust Him. Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” When we are amid circumstances, or we desire something specific to happen, we often find ourselves stressed and anxious. Perhaps a single person would like to meet someone and marry. There can be all kinds of situations where we struggle to trust the Lord. We get impatient waiting for what we expect the Lord to do.
We need to realize that all though we might not see something happening in the natural the Lord God is always working on our behalf. He is even working when we are not trusting Him or wavering in trusting Him. Trust is believing He is working in your life amid circumstances. The Lord God always has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Psalm 40:5 (NKJV) “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.” We need to always remember what the Lord has done for us. If He has worked on behalf before He will continue to work on our behalf.
Copyright @November 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Each day that we live, we should be thankful and grateful to God. Are we truly grateful and thankful? How do we display our gratefulness? Gratefulness includes being satisfied, gratified, and appreciative. When we are satisfied, it means we are content, fulfilled, pleased and happy. When we appreciate something, we receive enjoyment and pleasure from it. Grateful implies being indebted or beholden. We should ask ourselves are we grateful and thankful for where we are? Are we grateful and thankful for what we have? Too often, we do not recognize the many blessings that we do have. Every day we are blessed even when we do not think that we are blessed. We would all benefit from taking time to thank God for every blessing and all that He does on our behalf. I Chronicles 16:8 “Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.”
We usually think of blessings as things and neglect to realize that God’s peace, joy, grace, and mercy are wonderful blessings. Another blessing as believers is the enabling ability of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is with us to guide us through life. He gives direction and wisdom. The Holy Spirit teaches us and leads into all truth. The Holy Spirit helps us to walk in the ways and methods of God, to live by God’s principles and standards. These blessings are worth more than things.
Too many believers live or walk in depression, gloominess, and despair. They are not recognizing all that God has blessed them with and are not living in a grateful state. If we do not express our thankfulness, we will instead moan, complain, gripe and never be satisfied. Frequently people live believing others and God owe them for their misfortunate and circumstances. We need to thank the Lord that He bestows mercy and does not give us what we deserve. I Chronicles 16:34 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Thankfulness and gratefulness are not just words that we give lip service to but is an attitude of our heart and is conveyed by our actions and the way we live. We should be overwhelmed and stand in awe at all that the Lord does on our behalf and benefit. Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Giving thanks and being grateful is a way of life. Being grateful is not just giving testimony occasionally but it is the condition or position, we live in.
Copyright @November 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
How do you handle circumstances when they arise? Often, we think we can figure it out in our wisdom. Other times, we worry and fret. Sometimes, we have fits of carnality. We might ask, why me, Lord? We even try to ignore things, thinking they will go away. We need to immediately go to the Lord in prayer for direction and a Word from Him to stand on during the situation.
We all have circumstances in life where no one is immune, but how we handle them matters. Do we stay positive with trust that the Lord has everything under control? Do we realize that He has the answer? II Cor 1:3-4a (NKJV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, ……” Comfort comes from the ancient Greek word paraklesis. The idea behind this word for comfort in the New Testament is always more than soothing sympathy. It has the idea of strengthening, of helping, of making strong, which is what the Holy Spirit comes to do. The Holy Spirit is our comforter. He gives us strength and grace (God’s enabling ability) in every circumstance.
Copyright @October 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
It is easy to take our focus off the Lord amid circumstances. Many things in life try to draw us away from trusting the Lord. We know circumstances often speak loudly and seem to demand our immediate attention. We often try to figure out what we should do and how we will fix the situation instead of seeking the Lord. We might think we know what to do but we need to remember the Lord is all-knowing and all wise. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” In circumstances most of the time we are relying on our insight we are not looking to the Lord or asking for His wisdom.
In every situation, we need God’s wisdom. Verse 7 of Proverbs 3 says do not be wise in your own eyes. Trusting the Lord involves total surrender to Him. We need to rely on the Lord in every aspect of our life. So the next time circumstances arise, seek the Lord first.
Copyright @October 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Many people have goals today, but they do not have to do with God. Oh, some think that they have goals that are God-focused. For example, “I want to be in the ministry.” We need to get our eyes off position and recognition and just yearn to serve. As we yearn for more of God and to be the best servants that we can be and allow the nature of Christ, who was the ultimate servant, to rise again in us “the church” we would be surprised how many needs of this hurting generation would be met.
What should our goal be? The goal that we should have is unbroken fellowship with God. How do we reach the goal of unbroken fellowship with God? We need first to change our emphasis. We have tried to seek God through learning, knowledge, or reasoning. We need to start by seeking God by His Spirit. We need to be hungry and thirsty for God and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. The Holy Spirit is calling you today to spend more time with Him and less time doing other things. What other things does He want to stop? They are different for everyone. For some it might be watching TV, it may be playing video games, daydreaming, or being involved in sports constantly.
How do we spend time with the Holy Spirit, we fellowship with Him? In other words, we talk to Him and allow Him to talk to us, through prayer and in the Word of God. We read the Word of God, not through our understanding. Some people think that they must read the Word and know Greek and Hebrew. The best way to read the Bible is by the Holy Spirit. He is the one who authored the Bible and He is the best one to interpret what He inspired. When the Holy Spirit reveals something to us then we should meditate on it. We spend time with the Holy Spirit through worship. We should treasure these times more than anything. Most people do not think of this as a treasure but as an interruption or a chore. Many people feel that is worthless that spending time with God is a waste of time. Until they have a change of attitude and press in, they will never have the power of the Holy Spirit in operation in their lives. They will never have deep intimate fellowship. We can have all of God that we want. The question is how much we want. Are we willing to press in for more? Are we willing to pay the price? Are we staying constantly hungry and thirsty for God? Do we ever get enough? Are we continually yielding?
Psalm 63:1 & 2 " Oh, God, you are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for you, my flesh longs and is faint for you, in a dry and weary land where no water is. So, I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory." Amplified Bible
Copyright @October 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
When we get born-again and accept what Jesus Christ did for us, we are no longer alienated from God. Our minds are no longer darkened, and our heart is no longer hardened. We are ready for the Spirit to work in us and cause us to be made into the image of Christ progressively. We begin a journey of being a work in progress.
Ephesians 4:22-24 "Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness."
Jesus calls us to a whole new way of living. We must live according to God's standards, principles, methods, and ways. The transforming work of the Holy Spirit is part of salvation. The Holy Spirit enables us to change by His power. We need to live according to the Lord God's ways. When we are born again, our nature is to be changed. We must renew our minds to the Word of God. Change begins on the inside and then appears in our conduct and speech. The Holy Spirit is bringing us to a place where God's character is reproduced in us.
We must cease our old ways of selfishness and learn to do things in God's ways: giving, loving, and forgiving. We are renovated in character. We are transformed by the power of God and the renewing of our minds.
Copyright @October 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Ephesians 6:10 encourages us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might or strength. The source of strength in our life as believers is the Lord. It is through Him that we have the enabling ability to live our lives, face challenges and circumstances, meet the demands of our job, raise our children in an ever-darkening world, and maintain and meet our daily obligations and responsibilities. Philippians 4:13: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].”
The Amplified Bible states Ephesians 6:10 this way, “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].” Whatever we face, we have the resources of the Lord God available to us. His grace (His enabling ability) is sufficient. II Timothy 2:1: “Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.” No other strength but the Lords can fortify us. When we do things with our willpower, we find ourselves frustrated, irritated, annoyed, exasperated, and even discouraged. If we see any of these evident in our lives, we know we are not relying on the Lord and drawing strength from Him. We need to stop and pray when we find ourselves frustrated, etc. We must ask the Lord for His strength to help us accomplish what needs to be done and His grace (His enabling ability). It does not matter what is going on; the strength of the Lord is more than enough.
Copyright @ September 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
First, let us state what a church is. A church is a group of believers. Is attending church important? Consistently attending church is of great value in our lives as we avoid discouragement. Many believers today attend irregularly and do not see the significance of coming together weekly as believers. Other things take priority over church, too numerous to name them all. Many believers have no dedication or faithfulness to joining other believers to worship the Lord.
So, what is the significance of attending church (gathering with other believers), and how can it aid and benefit our lives? Attending church, of course, is to worship the Lord, hear the Word of God, pray, and fellowship with one another. What else happens as we come together? We can receive encouragement, exhortation, uplift, and support when we come together as believers. Consistently gathering brings stability, and it is how we grow. Hebrews 10:25 (AMP) “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” We assemble to stir each other in love and encourage one another in faith.
Copyright @ September 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Do you remember the Bible narrative of when the disciples thought they would perish in the storm at sea? They woke up Jesus so He would save them. It seems that Jesus was their final resort in their panic. We find in the narrative that it was not until the boat was nearly flooded, that it was evident they believed they were in great peril and decided to wake up Jesus. Is this how we respond?
If we are honest, we are usually slow to call the Lord when we need help. We need to realize that we are not as capable as we think when we deal with the challenges and situations of life. When we try to manage our lives based on wisdom, etc., we usually get into a mess.
I like how Hebrews 4:16 encourages us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” We can be confident that He understands our predicaments and is ready to help us in our time of need. He gives us grace, His enabling ability. He helps us endure and gives mercy, wisdom, and His power to overcome. He guides us. He gives us peace and brings His calming presence amid the raving storms.
When we are overwhelmed with circumstance and unsure what to do, call on the Lord. Do not make Him your last resort but the first person we call upon. Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Copyright @ September 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Trust in the Lord! Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” We are to trust God on all occasions. Each day, we should look to the Lord. Our confidence in God should be habitual. Trusting in the Lord should be the normal way of the Lord for us. We should consistently trust the Lord.
The Lord is sufficient and ample to supply all our needs. He can take care of our emotional needs. He can care for our physical needs. The Lord has laid down His life and given us His precious Holy Spirit to lead us and teach and so we know is more than enough for our spiritual requirements. In addition, He can take care of our relational needs. The Lord is sufficient. He is El Shaddai more than enough. We cannot look to people to take care of our needs we must look to the Lord. The Lord is unlimited. People are limited in everything. People are insignificant when compared to God. We need to pour out our hearts to the Lord in continual trust. Depend upon God to perform all things for you.
Psalm 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” The Lord is our only hope. If we realize that everything we need comes from the Lord, then we will trust Him. Our expectation must be in the Lord and nothing else. If God saves our souls, why should we be concerned about Him not taking care of everything else? The Lord is our only prospect of what we need. He is the only possibility for help. He should be our only choice. The Lord is the only plan we need. We do not need plans A, B, and C. When we fix our hearts on the Lord, we trust Him. The Lord is our source. He is the source of safety, deliverance, and security. God is the source of all the power that is called for in each situation we find ourselves. Let me exhort you to wait upon the Lord and trust Him. There is enough in God for all of us.
Copyright @ August 2023 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
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