We should allow the Holy Spirit to give us a check-up daily. He should examine our thinking, attitudes, behavior, and speech. Our thoughts can be incorrect. Attitudes can be right or wrong. Both our thinking and attitudes affect our behavior and speech. We should be allowing The Holy Spirit to keep tabs on us. When someone keeps tabs on us, they know everything about us. Psalms 139:23-24 (AMP) “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” We are not always mindful and conscious of our ways and if they are genuinely in line with God’s methods, standards, and principles.
When we drive an automobile, there are gages to tell us if the vehicle needs service. For example, our tires need air, or oil needs changing. There also is a gage to let us know how much gasoline we have left. There is a check engine light. We have these gages to our automobile operates appropriately. The Holy Spirit is our gauge of how we are really doing if we ask Him. We do not have to guess or decide ourselves on how well we are acting. The Holy Spirit can discern our hearts and keep us in tune.
We do not want the Holy Spirit to examine us because we know that we have wrong attitudes and thinking. If so, we need to repent and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
People often put their trust in the economy, employer, bank account, or even government. These things change just like the weather. I have been in a place where it rained, snowed, and was sunny and warm all in one day. The economy, employer, the government may be okay one minute and then change in the next minute; their stability is not assured.
As believers our trust can be in the Lord God for, He is always faithful. We can trust Him to supply what we need; it does not matter what financial crisis or who is our government's leader. If we lose our job or do not receive a raise, the stock market fails, there is no stimulus package the Lord God still supplies our need. Philippians 4:19 (AMP) "And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." There is no lack in God. The believers had given Paul's support for the ministry, and now Paul is saying God will supply their needs. They gave willingly, even though they had needs. When we give, we put ourselves into God's financial system and into His hands. We can never out-give God.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Forgiveness is an area that we need to evaluate continually. As individuals, we might overlook that we are resentful, holding on to a hurt, have a grudge, upset with a person and the list goes on and on. It easy to think we are right with the Lord although, we have faulty thoughts, wrong attitudes, inappropriate behavior, and speech. Psalm 139:23 (AMP) “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” David is saying to the Lord, see if there is any offensive way in me.
There are times in our life when we know for sure that we have unforgiveness. We all desire to have an effective prayer life. Mark 11:25-26 (AMP) And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.” When begin to pray, we should exam our heart and make sure we are right. Perhaps we think the only obstacle to effective prayer is lack of faith, but this verse is stating refusing to forgive or holding on to bitterness can hinder our prayers. We need to get our hearts right before the Lord in prayer.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
We witness a lot of anger, wrath, and rage in our world today. It appears that many people are angry about something. Why do people become angry? Anger is an emotion that can arise from some disappointment, stress, or frustration about some event. Anger can occur because someone feels they have been treated unfairly or are powerless in their circumstances of life. Anger can cause depression. It seems to have different levels of perhaps just being annoyed to rage. Whatever the cause or the level of anger, it has a negative impact on our lives. Do not be a volcano waiting to erupt. Some people use yelling to control others, another form of rage.
Colossians 3:8 (AMP) “But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!” As believers, we are being called to obedience and leaving worldly behavior behind. We should not overlook these sinful behaviors. Rid means to put off like dirty clothes. How many of us would continually walk around in filthy, muddy clothes? Being angry grieves the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30-31 (AMP) “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). “ When we hold on to anger in heart, we are allowing the devil to control us, not the Holy Spirit. Be a light to the world by being different than the world.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
People are searching for peace in all kinds of places. Everyone usually wants peace. They hope for peace from the government, politicians, drugs, alcohol, and other things. The world perhaps can give temporary peace. People use escapism to find peace in entertainment or daydreams. These things will never produce peace if we leave out Jesus. Peace only comes from one source Jesus Christ. No one else can give peace as Christ gives it. Peace is a gift that cannot be bought. Jesus is the key to peace of mind and peace with God. When Jesus left, He gave us the Holy Spirit, His presence in our life is the presence of peace.
To receive the gift of peace by grace comes from accepting Jesus. The peace that Jesus gives is not like the world offers. The world cannot provide permanent peace, but Jesus can. John 14:27 (AMP) Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” Fear of the future should be removed when we trust the Lord. We do not have to be troubled by what is going on in the world because we have the power and peace to weather any storm.
Copyright @January 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
The Lord has called us to be an encouragement to others. I Thessalonians 5:11 (AMP) “Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.” The Lord has not called us to sit idly by but to be active, caring for others. We are to encourage continually. Our calling is not to put one another down or make judgments.
Romans 15:2 (AMP) “Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually].” We need to be concerned for others. We should build up, not tear others down. We should treat others how we would like to be treated. The Lord has not called us to be self-centered.
We need to encourage people, so they have hope. Many people today have no hope. Too many people are discouraged. They are discouraged with what is happening in our nation, with their jobs, relationships, and the list continues. Let’s motivate, instead of hindering. Let’s be a support to those that the Lord brings across our path. Be a light.
Copyright @January 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
God’s Word does not fail. Do we believe it? The Word of God is powerful to accomplish all that the Lord God has set out to do. Isaiah 55:11 (AMP) “So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” In Genesis, we see that by His Word, He spoke the world into existence. By the prophetic Word given to Ezekiel by God, life was brought back into the lifeless bones. In Luke, when the angel told Mary that she would have the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary said, “Let it be according to Your Word.” Perhaps, we need to be saying, “Let it be according to Your Word.”
We need to realize nothing is impossible with the Lord God. We should take God at His Word. What the Lord says, He will do. Jeremiah 1:12 says the Lord watches over His Word to perform it. The Bible is full of what the Lord will do for us, so it is time to believe it.
Copyright @January 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
There are our ways of doing things in life, and then there is God’s way. We should follow God’s plan; it is always better. Psalm 1:1-3 (AMP) “BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans, and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. 2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. 3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither, and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. “This is God’s plan. Another word for blessed is contentment. We have joy when we follow God’s plan.
The man following God’s plan does not do certain things. People in the world think and behave differently. We cannot follow the world’s purposes or objectives. We also need to release the sin is a progression. If we act by bad influence or counsel, it may soon lead us to do wrong actions. We always need to consider is this godly or ungodly influence. Sometimes if we are not continually seeking the Lord, studying His Word, and praying, our thoughts may be ungodly. We must ask ourselves does this line up with the Word of God. What is the Holy Spirit saying?
The direction of the ungodly is not the same direction that we are headed. The Holy Spirit will show us the path of life and in God’s presence is fullness of joy. As we follow the Holy Spirit, we will be blessed and have contentment.
Copyright @January 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
What do we envision for 2021? Often, what we expect or do not expect is what happens. Are we positive or negative? Do we expect the best for ourselves and others? What is it that we would like the Lord to do in our lives? Do we envision using our talents for the Lord? Do we imagine ourselves being able to give more? Are we expecting the Lord to change us?
Are we expecting family and friends to return to the Lord or come to know the Lord? Are we sharing the truth with them? Are we telling them what the Lord has done for us? Are we sharing His goodness, blessings, and the peace we have?
Are we expecting to see miracles, signs, and wonders? Are we expecting a revival? Philippians 1:19-20 (NKJV) “19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” Paul was in prison, had adverse circumstances, yet he had expectations and hope. Having expectations and hope reveals faith or trust in the Lord God. Let us have great expectations for 2021!
Copyright @January 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
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