Living a Holy Life..The Way God Wants Us To Live....

Romans Chapter 8


Life Through the Spirit
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Ro 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Ro 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
Ro 8:4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Ro 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Ro 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
Ro 8:7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
Ro 8:8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
Ro 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Ro 8:10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Ro 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Ro 8:12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
Ro 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
Ro 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Ro 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.”
Ro 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Ro 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ

Dear God,

As a Christian, it's hard trying to live a holy life where you feel like sin is always knocking on your door all day and all night. Some people may think that just because they follow God's rules and regulations they are somehow more righteous then everyone else. That they can measure people's level of faith according to their good works. But as I type this to you, ready to read your word (bible,) I am reminded of the reason why I choose to obey your (God's) commands.

I am not doing it beause I want to get to heaven as my reward or becuase I want to avoid going to hell. I do it because God, you loved me so very much that you sent your own son Jesus to die for my sins. The punishment that was met for the sins that I have commited, you in turn placed that punishment upon your blameless beloved son. That type of Love you can't find anywhere on this earth. That type of sacrafice is selfless and has so much compassion. It's beyond words...It's amazing.

So I obey and follow your commands of holy living. I avoid living my life like a sinner because I love YOU Heavenly Father. When you love someone and they tell you to do something you want to do it to please them. You don't hesitate...You don't bat an eyelash..You do it because the person loves you. God you loved me first and that is gracious. It's something that we all don't deserve because we all fall short of your glory.

God you were also gracious enough to not only save us but you sent us your Spirit to dwell within us. By your Holy Spirit we know that we are apart of your family (Romans 8:15) That we can call you Father. He the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak, whenever we don't have the words to pray He intercedes for us who believe in you Lord Jesus. Most importantly He (Holy Spirit) helps me beyond measure to obey Jesus' commands. Without your Holy Spirit ministering to me on Your will oh Lord I wouldn't know what to do. If left to my own devices, I'd be giving into sin left and right. I would also be confused and lost.

God I am so grateful for your unfailing love, that you promised to give us Your Spirit to guide my heart to your will along everything in my life. Your Holy Spirit dwelling within me teaches me, reminds me of your promises, and gives me peace that only comes from you. I thank you...In Jesus Name..Amen


Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command.
Jn 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—
Jn 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Jn 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Jn 14:19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
Jn 14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Jn 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Jn 14:22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
Jn 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Jn 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Jn 14:25 “All this I have spoken while still with you.
Jn 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Jn 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

How to Pray?

Hello Everyone,

I wrote this email about 2 years ago. However, I thought it would make a wonderful post for this page so here it is..Enjoy the Read!

I've been a Christian for 11 years. Now I'll be completely honest with you. There are some periods when I don't read the Bible consistenly and there are times when I wake up and start reading! lol When I read the Bible in the past, I needed to read it so that I could learn about who God was...So I read the New Testament a few times over like when you read a novel..This is all over the 11 yrs... I was scared to read the Old Testament cause I found it boring and confusing so I'd start and rush along to the New Testament as my escape lol Then my pastor like 2yrs ago did a review of each book in the Old Testament and we had to read it before he preached on it. So I read! And it wasn't boring! He made things clear! And I understood more and became less distressed about reading it.So a couple of months ago I was talking to a friend and we were talking about prayer... He said "I pray once and let it go" I told him "I pray over and over again without ceasing and it seems to work for me all these years" So then I was like, which way is the right way to pray...So I wokeup on morning and I not only read but it was my 1st time studying...writing notes and writing down what I learned.... It was FUN! I realized that although you hear the Word at church its your job as a christian to read the Bible on your own for all its worth. Find out the answers to your questions! Dont walk around confused about your life! Go Find the Answers in the Word of God!

So I've decided (Like a couple of days ago) to get a journal of my own where I would read the Bible and write my thoughts and ask God my questions. I encourage you to do the same. Its helping me to make connections and I'm learning about who God wants me to be. I know it wont be easy but I pray that I will make an effort to read/study as often as I can. Below you will find what I found out about prayer. You don't have to believe it but it's a little look at how it may feel to study the Bible. Like I said don't take my word for it Read on your own! I don't know everything..I'm still a baby..lol...I just pray and ask God to help me understand what I'm reading and let me tell you IT WORKS!! (I figured that out along the 11yrs which helped me to read to begin with) So try it out and tell me what you find.Now for those people who just became a Christian I suggest that you read about Jesus through the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I'd start with the Gospel of John. They are all the same story...written from a different angle! Also read 1 John which affirms that Jesus is Christ and explains the basic truths about the Christian life. Get a study bible at a christian book store or log onto http://www.christianbook.com/ Talk to other Christians about what you found and see their prespective on it. I'm on my journey with the rest of you. But wanted to encourage you also! Below you will find my very first individual bible study. Remember to pray each and every time before reading asking God to reveal himself and his truths to you. The following is an email that I sent to a friend after speaking to him about PRAYER.

Yesterday when we were talking about prayer it really got me thinking about how I pray and ask God for help. I was thinking Hmmm do I just ask once or do I really bug God until I get an answer. To be really honest with you I think I do a combination of both. There have been times that I’ve prayed about something for a long long period of time and I never stopped praying because I knew that some things happen over time.. But the key to praying is having faith. (Hebrews 11 v 1 says Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see)

I looked through the Bible searching for the verses that alluded to the notion of praying without ceasing but I couldn’t find anything at first. I wondered to myself why do I feel that in some situations you do keep praying (e.g. when someone is sick) So I gave up looking for a specific verse and as I was searching I realized that in most of the letters that Paul wrote to Christians he always began by telling them how he often thanked God and how he prays for them. I noticed that he keeps praying and praying for them. Why not say one prayer for everyone and call it a day! Lol So I read all of the parts and realized… well you take a look first and I’ll tell you what I came up with….

1- Eph 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, Eph 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Eph 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Eph 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, Eph 1:19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

2- Phil 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
Phil 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
Phil 1:5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Phil 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

3- Col 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Col 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Col 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

4- 1Th 1:2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
1Th 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Th 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 1Th 1:5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake

5- 2Th 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 2Th 1:12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

6- Phm 1:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
Phm 1:5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. Phm 1:6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
Phm 1:7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

So here’s what I learned.. Paul was always PRAYING! Lol Man Oh Man he prayed and prayed a lot. But he prayed for believers so that they could continue to do God’s work, spread the gospel, to build their faith, to thank God for their faithfulness, but most importantly that they grow in God through wisdom endurance, faith, work and knowledge. He kept “asking continually” “always praying” and “never stopping” when it came to getting Christians to live in the Love of God. This above everything is when you pray over and over and over and over again. I think another big thing is giving God a Thank You continually. But that’s another bible study lol

I learned that prayer helps to build your faith because your asking God to do something for you and when he does it you wanna keep going back to Him knowing that the Lord will hear you and answer you. Now I’m not talking about getting a new pair of shoes (unless is something that you are in need of instead of in "want of" lol), but I think that your character and the work he calls you to do is important because you are representing God. That’s what non-believers will see above everything else.

When you keep praying it shows God that you need Him and that His role in your life is SUPER important to Him. Isn’t that how you feel when people consistently ask you for help whether its fixing something, doing someone's hair, helping someone learn to write or do a math problem because you're gifted in that area. The more they ask, the more you feel that what you do is special, and unique and people BELIEVE that you will save them of their issues!

God wants us to know that as our Heavenly Father HE LOVES US and is hear to listen. To provide for us. Let's Face it he is FABULOUS and all POWERFUL

Matthew 7:7 says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Mt 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.Mt 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

So if you want to change/develop your character, and to become the person that God wants you to be...You have to ask him over and over and over again and never stop……I feel that is why I’ve become the woman I am today. I asked God to help me in everything and prayed for wisdom and developed my faith. The key word is to pray continually…..

1Thesselonians 5:16 says "Be joyful always; 1Th 5:17 pray continually; 1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

I hope all this made sense to you. I hope and pray that you’ll try out this new way at looking at prayer. SO BUG GOD lol He's always there to listen if you believe and have faith that he will help you. Pray by simply taking a moment to get alone with him and talking to him as you would your bestfriend. Start by giving him thanks, praising him for what he has done and then present your requests asking everything in Jesus' name!

Be Bless As You Pray Without Ceasing!

The Love Letter

Have you ever been in a position when you found an old envelope and in it was a letter from someone who loved you. It could have been an old crush or a best friend who moved away or a relative. You may have read it a couple of times and gave it gave you fond memories of your relationship with them. But somehow the letter got lost in the mix and although you cherished the relationship in your heart, you never picked up that letter again to refresh your memory. Well I’ve had a love letter that someone wrote to me that was always accessible, yet it was tucked under a pile of other stuff. Every time I opened this letter it would remind me of my first love. The other day someone asked me about that love letter, what it meant to me and about the person who wrote it. This is what I wrote about my first love his name is God.

Twelve years ago I was introduced to my first love. I remember when he asked me out I wasn’t sure if I believe everything he had to offer. So he wrote me a love letter and as time progressed I would read it over and over and spend time with him and I realized that his Love Letter wasn’t just for me. That love letter was the Bible. The Bible from my personal perspective is God’s love letter to humanity. Why a Love Letter you ask? Well because when you write a love letter to someone you truly care about, you take the time to formulate something that expresses what is truly is in your heart. It’s not random, it’s not empty, and it’s not careless. Rather it is filled with purpose, it’s filled with love and compassion which is straight from the heart. It’s real, almost jarring Jer 23:29 to hear just how much someone really cares for you even when they are trying to reach out to you or they are apart from you. It also has a beginning and an end. And when you finish reading that love letter, you know just where you stand with regards with how that person feels about you. Sometimes you find out things you never knew before. There’s nothing left for you to worry about because you have a sense of confidence, a sense of revelation that you never felt before. You really truly know your place in that person’s heart.

So the creator, all Mighty God, of this universe, heaven, the earth, and humanity had to find a way to help us get to know about who He is, why He created everything, and just how much he cares about us. The Bible is the source of all information about life in the past, present and future. It is our way of becoming acquainted with God. It is not just a book, it’s not a story, and it’s not just history. It’s real to those who believe in God and know that the words on the pages are His words (Ps 119:89)

When you get a love letter do you ever notice how much it reveals about the person who wrote it and how you’d like to read it over and over and over again so that the words can remain in your heart. Ps 119:11 Well that’s another purpose of the Bible. God gave His word to mankind so that we would turn the pages and read about his character, learn about his plan to rescue us (because when you’re loved by someone they are saving you from being alone, uncared for, or suffering Jn 8:51 ) for the things he knows that will hurt the ones he truly loves. That letter also expresses the role you play in that person’s life. So the Bible is a means of finding out how God wants mankind to live, how to interact with him and how His love will be extended to others (because lets be real…after you read a love letter you feel so happy and you’d want to share that love with others around you)

Lastly, a love letter keeps your eyes and heart fixed on it’s author Ps 119:105 It inspires, it’s filled with promises from the past, present, and for the future (e.g. Baby I loved you since the day I saw you, the love I have for you will never die, and I hope to love you till the end of my days.. I promise to always be there for you, to take care of you lol) God does a fabulous job of doing all that I just described and much more so that we can develop a wonderful and close relationship with Him. Isa 55:11

References to some of the scriptures I added:

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

John 8:51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Isaiah 55:11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Welcome

Hi!

Welcome to my blog!! I am so glad that you took the time to visit. I will be highlighing anything and everything that deals with God on this page. The best place to start is to highlight God's Love Letter to us, which is the Bible! I used to think the Bible was hard to understand and very boring growing up. However, I'm happy I grew up and learned what it really means to have a geniune relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So above you will find a wonderful video of a book I have recently read. It's an awesome book that helps you understand the bible clearly!!! Its the best book I've read since I became a Christian.

I hope to use this blog as a means to share things I have learned by reading God's word!

May God Bless You,

GodisMy1st Love