The Key to Having the Life You Really Want

 I recently spent some time thinking about what bad attitude bothers God the most. I believe it’s an ungrateful attitude.

If you’re a parent, you can probably relate to that. You work hard to do all you can for your kids and you’d jump at the chance to do it all over again if they’d just say, “Thanks, Mom” or “Thanks, Dad. I sure do appreciate the things you do for me.” But not all children display that kind of maturity.

Many times they’ll come home murmuring and complaining, “I want this” and “I want that” and “Why won’t you do this one thing for me?” That’s pretty aggravating, isn't it?

Scriptures For A Sound Mind

 As you begin to claim your mind back from the enemy, he will not want to give up the place that he has had. You will have to do battle with his lies and confusion.

Your first step is to declare out loud that you will not allow any outside force to do your thinking–no man and no spirit. There are spiritual laws that demons must obey. They cannot stay where a man wills them not to stay. Your power is in the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, and the Word of God. Ask God to give you discernment of the lies of the devil.

Biblical Illustrations: Living After Jesus - Our Perfect Example.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should walk in his steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was guile found in His mouth (1 Pet. 2:21,22).

Living After Jesus - Our Perfect Example

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should walk in his steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was guile found in His mouth (1 Pet. 2:21,22).

The word here used for "ex-ample" comes from Greek elementary education. It describes the way Greek boys learned to write. The exercise tablet was usually a shallow box filled with soft wax. A student wrote with a sharp stylus that was flat on the opposite end for erasing so the wax could be repeatedly used. The writing master prepared the student's tablet by writing a line at the top to be reproduced by the student and by drawing parallel lines to keep the student's work straight. The master's line at the top was the "pattern" the boy must copy in his own hand in learning to write. Mature skill in handwriting required practice. Peter's words show that Jesus' suffering is not only redemptive. It is also an example that even slaves could imitate in suffering unjust treatment. Jesus as our example suggests four simple facts.

Purposeful Acts of Kindness - Joyce Meyer

Have you ever talked about ways you can be a blessing to others? I would venture to say that many have never done this, and until a few years, I hadn’t either. Now, I get excited when I purposely think and talk about ways to help someone else. There won’t be a Love Revolution if we don’t do things on purpose to help others. We must have goals and press toward meeting them.

Once I became determined to make loving others the theme of my life, I hungered for a variety of ways to show love. Love is not a theory or merely talk; it is action (1 John 3:18). We can certainly love people with words that encourage and express how valuable we think they are, but we also need to use our resources of time, energy, possessions, and finances to love others.

You may be convinced you don’t have anything to give. Maybe you are in debt, doing your best to pay your bills, and the thought of giving to others is almost irritating or makes you sad because you want to give but don’t see how you can. However, there are literally thousands of ways you can give and spread love if you will search for them aggressively.

“ Love is not a theory or merely talk; it is action. ”

I’ve read books, searched the Internet, and been very aggressive on my own journey to find creative ways to incorporate this theme of loving people into my everyday life. I want to share some of the things I’ve learned, but I also want to encourage you to be creative and then share your ideas with others.

Practical Ways to Love on Purpose

1. When it’s obvious that someone else wants the same parking space you want, let them have it and do it with a smile.
2. Mow an elderly neighbor’s lawn or shovel snow for them.
3. Clean an elderly person’s house or offer to do the grocery shopping.
4. Give someone without transportation a ride to church or another event, even if it’s out of your way.
5. Truly listen to someone without interrupting.
6. Be a polite driver.
7. Hold a door open for a stranger and let them go ahead of you.

I frequently watch for people who seem to be discouraged and give them something monetary with the simple message: “God loves you.” Many times, I don’t even say anything about God; I simply show His character!

Once I saw a young girl on her break at the store where she worked. She was sitting alone at a table, looking very tired. I handed her fifty dollars and said, “I just want to bless you. I bet you work really hard and I want you to know I appreciate it.” She looked shocked and then said, “That is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

I don’t think we realize how many people walk among us every day who feel lonely or insignificant and have had little or no experience with unconditional love. They are not accustomed to getting anything “free” or receiving anything they have not earned or deserved. I think doing things for people just to be a blessing and for no other reason is an amazing way to show God’s love!

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This article is taken from Joyce's hardcover book, The Love Revolution.

(Get more practical ideas in Joyce’s book The Love Revolution.)

The Workings Of Grace

 THE LOVE OF GOD. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). Love is manifested because of Grace; “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh -" and "In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9),  And "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation [substitutionary sacrifice, ransom] for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Grace brings to light how and why we love God with the words “he first loved us”.

The Purpose Of Grace

Defining Grace:
Grace is unmerited favor that God has made available for all who will accept it. It is an extension of the pure and perfect love He (God) has for us. It is kindness we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, are doing, or will ever do to earn or return this favor. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to us human beings for our regeneration (rebirth/becoming born-again) or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.

Grace can be explained with this acronym:
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense

A Father's Love -Joyce Meyer

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe]. For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.—Psalm 103:12-14

The Devil's Mind Games: The Real Problem & Imagined Problems

 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. —Hebrews 13:5

Six Ways to Find Unforgiveness and Remove It -by Joyce Meyer

Most all of us like getting promoted, and there's nothing wrong with that. But sometimes we fail tests in certain areas that keep us from getting promoted.

Areas like forgiveness.

If someone has hurt you, don't spend the next 10 years of your life hurting yourself by hanging on to that offense. Most likely, that other person isn't even thinking about you, while you dwell on the incident for years. That only hurts one person—you.

Fight Doubt and Unbelief

[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, so [numberless] shall your descendants be. . . . No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. —Romans 4:18,20

God had promised Abraham an heir from his own body. Despite his advanced years Abraham was still standing in faith, believing what God had said would come to pass. He kept praising and giving glory to God. As he did so, he grew strong in faith.

It would be ridiculous for God to expect you to do something and not give you the ability to do it. Satan knows how dangerous you are with a heart full of faith, so he attacks you with doubt and unbelief.
Keep praising God and give Him glory. Faith will rise in your heart and you will overcome.