The Make It Happen Moment ® Use Your Mind

November 14, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede The Make It Happen Moment ® , , , Leave a comment

Quote: “Learn to use your mind or your mind will use you!” – Gary Mack with David Casstevens

I’ve heard it said once that the average American watches nearly 6 hours of TV each day.  If this is true, and unfortunately I believe the source to be credible, especially if you include internet surfing hours, then there is no wonder why advertisers spend millions of dollars to promote their goods and services on television and computer screens.  The pictures and images that daily bombard our minds through digital media sources have a powerful impact on the markets and greatly influence our daily lives.  For better or worse, the pictures, images, and thoughts that we put into our minds have a way of becoming reality in our life.  Proverbs 23:7 states that “as a person thinks in their heart, so are they.”  This truth means that the things people think about manifest in their character and the person they become on the inside.

So let me ask you – do the things you think about each day help you to build character and to become a person of excellence or do they bring you down and cause you to live a mediocre life of subpar potential?  While the TV and internet dupes people into living a vicarious life of fantasy and adventure through other people on the screen, the reality is that we are allowing our minds to use us as we settle for a boring life at best in the “easy chair”.  Don’t let this happen to you because your potential is far greater than what you might think and your own real life adventure awaits an active pursuit of your God-given destiny!

Learning to effectively use the mind God gave you instead of allowing it to use you as a “couch potato” or “surf junkie” is an important key to becoming all that the Lord created you to be and living the life of excellence He has destined for you.  Therefore, turn off the TV, step away from the monitor, and start feeding your mind with thoughts, images, and information that can help you learn, grow, and develop into a person of excellence.  Paul states in Philippians 4:8, “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”  As you and I begin to do this with a spirit of commitment and excellence, the peace of God will rule in our hearts and lead us on an adventurous journey with God to become everything He created us to be and to do all that He purposed for us to do in His Righteousness and His Glory!

The Make It Happen Training And Development Value: “Make It Happen” People Invest And Participate In Training And Development!

Have a blessed “Make It Happen” day!

Edited by The Make It Happen Moment ® Editorial Team

The Make It Happen Moment ® Use Your Mind Copyright 2007, The Make It Happen Learning Institute.  You have permission to reprint The Make It Happen Moment ® Use Your Mind, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

The Make It Happen Moment ® Serving Life

November 2, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede The Make It Happen Moment ® , , , 2 Comments

Two men looked out from prison bars...

Two men looked out from prison bars, one saw mud, the other...stars.

Quote: “Life is so much fuller and more significant when we spend it engaging others around us!” – Dino Rizzo

Years ago when I first started serving in the prison ministry of our church, I attended a bible study at the Rayburn Correctional Institute in Bogalusa, Louisiana.  At the end of the study, several inmates gave personal testimonies about their life and their relationship with the Lord.  I will never forget the story that one of the men shared that day.  He started by saying he had been in prison for more than 14 years of a 20-year sentence and that he spent his first several years depressed, angry, bitter, and miserable.  All he did each day was murmur and complain about his 20-year sentence as he constantly told everyone how unfair it was and that he didn’t do anything to deserve it.  He said that his misery continued day in and day out until one day when a more tenured fellow inmate had the courage to confront him with the simple truth in love.

His friend said, “George, I’ve been listening and watching you be miserable in this prison every day since you came here.  If you have any hope at all to make it, there are a couple of things you need to do.  The first thing is that you need to accept responsibility for your actions and admit that you did do something deserving of your judgment.  And the second thing you need to do is stop focusing on yourself and complaining about your 20-year sentence because there are other guys who have it much worse…30 years, 50 years, and even life.  If you can do these two things George, then the time will stop doing you and you will start doing the time.”

After George shared what his fellow inmate told him, he said that he took the advice to heart with the help of the Lord and his whole life changed.  He concluded by saying that doing time in prison is not easy by any means and that being on the down side of a sentence term [14 yrs of 20] is so much better than being on the upside; however, regardless of how many years that were left, he said his choice to take responsibility for his actions before God and focus on others rather than himself made all the difference.

As I reflect on this true story, I have wondered just how many of us can myopically live inside the same kind of prison walls as George was living, even though we don’t actually live in a brick and mortar prison.  I’m talking about a narrow internal walled-in place of depression, bitterness, anger, etc. – blaming everything and everyone for the results of our own poor life choices without any regard for the Lord or other hurting people.  I know firsthand that if we would heed the advice given to George and apply it to our own lives, we will discover by the grace of God that life will stop doing us and we will start doing life.  In fact, this is exactly the way the Lord intends for us to do life – focused on others and serving them rather than ourselves.  The Bible states in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man [Jesus] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Just imagine how life would be if we really did give our lives to genuinely love and serve others as Jesus did.  I’ve read that Thomas Jefferson observed, “A candle loses nothing when it lights another candle.”  With a spirit of commitment and generosity, may we brightly serve our life to others with the love of Christ poured out from our hearts so that we can brighten a hurting and broken world around us!

The Make It Happen Service Enthusiasm Value: “Make It Happen” People Are Five Star Service Enthusiasts!

Have a blessed “Make It Happen” day!

Edited by The Make It Happen Moment ® Editorial Team

The Make It Happen Moment ® Serving Life Copyright 2009, The Make It Happen Learning Institute.  You have permission to reprint The Make It Happen Moment ® Serving Life, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Related articles

The Promises Of God

October 29, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Scripture

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

Observation

In this verse, the Apostle Paul makes an extraordinary statement that all of God’s promises are Yes in Him, and in Him Amen, to His glory through us.  Wow! This means that God says Yes to every one of His promises to us that He has made to us in His Word.  Furthermore, Webster defines Amen as a solemn ratification which means that God solemnly ratifies each of His promises to us by His Word. Simply put, God will do what He promises to do in His Word because He is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19) and He is faithful (1 Corinthian 1:9).

Application

Regardless of my circumstances in life, I know that God is good, He is faithful, His Word is true, and He will fulfill His promises to me when I place my trust in Him!  In fact, in 2 Timothy 2:13, the Apostle Paul says that “if we are faithless, He (the Lord) remains faithful, because He cannot deny Himself.” I am grateful that even in the times of my life when I’ve been faithless, God has remained faithful to fulfill the promises of His Word in my life because He is faithful and He cannot deny Himself.  Because the Lord’s faithfulness reaches to the clouds (Psalms 36:5) and His mercy endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34), I have hope in Him that He will solemnly ratify His promises in my life to His glory through us. Amen!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are El Elyon, God Most High, Creator and Possessor of Heaven and Earth!  Thank You for the truth of Your Word that brings comfort and peace to my life and my soul! In You alone I place my trust to fulfill Your promises in my life, work all things together for my good, and complete the good work that You have begun in me. I love You Jesus! Amen!

The Promises Of God Copyright 2011, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, The Promises Of God, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

The Make It Happen Moment ® Faith In Action

October 24, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede The Make It Happen Moment ® , , , , Leave a comment

Care Bear Portrait

Care Bears

Quote: “I couldn’t care more!” – John Maxwell

Have you ever observed someone who cares so much that they live life full of energy and passion to serve others and solve problems that make a difference in life?  Perhaps some additional qualities come to mind when thinking of people whom possess such enthusiasm for life:

  • An infectious positive attitude
  • A compassionate heart willing to meet the needs of others
  • A flexible nature able to embrace, accept, and create change for the better
  • An unexplainable optimism in the midst of uncertainty
  • A teachable spirit full of curiosity and desire to discover the unknown

Unfortunately, I think many people find it difficult to naturally demonstrate this kind of enthusiasm for life on a consistent basis because this kind of enthusiasm isn’t found naturally, but rather supernaturally through faith.  A writer named Henry Chester stated that “enthusiasm is…no more or less than faith in action.”  So then what is “faith in action”? Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  The Apostle James encourages us to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.”  Therefore, faith in action – enthusiasm – simply means hearing the Word of God and doing it in real life terms. When someone has this kind of faith operating in their lives, it becomes easy to be enthusiastic about doing things that make a difference in the lives of others because the Lord tells us in Matthew 25:40 that when we take care of the needs of others, we actually take care of Him.  As you ponder this reality, the compassion of the Lord will stir your faith into action and move you to enthusiastically serve others with the heart of God.  Giving glory and honor to the Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith, enthusiastically serve others and solve problems that make a difference in life!

The Make It Happen Service Enthusiasm Value: “Make It Happen” People Are Service Enthusiasts!

Have a blessed “Make It Happen” day!

Edited by The Make It Happen Moment ® Editorial Team

The Make It Happen Moment ® Faith In Action Copyright 2005, The Make It Happen Learning Institute.  You have permission to reprint The Make It Happen Moment ® Faith In Action, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Never Forsaken

October 22, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , 1 Comment

Scripture

Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”

Observation

In this verse, King David is simply declaring the faithfulness of God to His people. From the time David was a young man to the time he grew as an old man, he never witnessed any person with faith in the Lord forsaken by Him. And furthermore, he had never seen their descendents left on the street to beg for bread.  This is a testament of God’s faithfulness to those who believe Him and place their trust in His Sovereign provision and will for their lives.

Application

God promises to be my very present help in time of need and to never leave me nor forsake me. I know that I can trust Him because He says I can trust Him and His faithfulness reaches to the heavens. Even when life seems hard and the storms of trial are blowing strong against me, Jesus says that the person of faith who builds their house on the rock of His Word will stand and not crumble.  I believe this because the Lord is good, He is faithful, and His Word is true!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is There!  Thank You for always being there with me and for me in every trial and tribulation of life.  You alone know every hair on my head and You alone are faithful to fulfill Your Word and Your promises in my life and in my family!  I love You Jesus! Amen!

Never Forsaken Copyright 2011, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Never Forsaken, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Doing Life And Leadership With Others

October 19, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede Leadership Insights , , , 1 Comment

Long-journey

John Maxwell teaches the Leadership Gold lesson that people who start with you, seldom finish with you and I have found this to be true.  In fact, as a leader building teams and doing life with people for more than 20 years, I have learned that there are at least 3 types of people we will likely encounter on the journey of life and leadership. 

1)      People Who Are Going To Leave You No Matter What

The first type of person is someone who will start the journey with you, but decide to leave you and never return. Often times, when such a person decides to depart from us, we can feel rejected and hurt, especially if we have genuinely invested ourselves in the relationship.   In studying this type of relational dynamic within my own leadership, I have discovered that there are going to be some people who for whatever reason do not have the same vision and values that I have for building a team and doing life together. This means that their head (vision) and their heart (values) are not with me and there is nothing I can do that will be able to change that fact.  Therefore, even though their departure may hurt deeply, it is inevitable, so I must embrace it and move forward on the journey of life and leadership. For this reason, I have learned to never chase people who do not care to do life and leadership with me.  Instead, I simply trust the Lord to bring the right life partners into my life and leadership.

Among the Lord’s disciples, Judas was an example of this type of person on the journey of life and leadership with Jesus.  In John 6:64-67 the Bible records, “’But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, ‘Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.’ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

2)      People Who Will Leave You But Decide To Come Back No Matter What

This second type of person is someone who starts the journey with you, but somewhere along the way, they become weak in their convictions and make the decision to leave you.  However, once they have departed for greener grasses and realize that the grass is not greener in their new place, they are willing to do whatever it takes to come back and complete the journey with you. When this situation happens, I believe it is a function of the person’s head (vision) for building a team and doing life together being aligned with you, but for some reason, their heart (values) are weakly aligned with you until they experience the fruit of weak values in a different place.  Once someone like this type of person realizes that they made a poor decision in leaving, they become humbled by their circumstance and are willing to do whatever it takes to build a team and do life together based on a strong foundation of aligned values with you.  Through their experience, their head and their heart become fully aligned with you; therefore, their hands will be able to build with you for the long journey.  As leaders, we would be wise to make room for people who have left us to come back with a change of heart because they could potentially come back as one of your most loyal, dedicated, life building partners. 

Among the Lord’s disciples, Peter was an example of this type of person on the journey of life and leadership with Jesus.  In John 21:17 the Bible records, “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’”

3)      People Who Will Never Leave You And Will Remain With You No Matter What

This third type of person starts the journey with you and remains with you to the end. A person such as this fully believes in where you are going and is wholly convicted to go there with you.  Because their head (vision) and their heart (values) are completely aligned with yours from the beginning, they will faithfully build alongside you and always be there with you during the ups and downs of life. When you have people like this to build and do life together, they are like a friend that sticks closer than a brother and you can trust them with the most intimate aspects of your life.

Among the Lord’s disciples, John was an example of this type of person on the journey of life and leadership with Jesus.  In John 19:25-27 the Bible records, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved [John] standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

As I build teams and do life with others, my personal prayer is that I will build and do life with people just like Jesus did – as a friend that sticks closer than a brother – with my head and my heart fully aligned with other brothers and sisters in Christ for the kingdom mission at hand. May it be the same for all people who are called disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ because in John 13:35, the Lord says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” By the grace, strength, and love of Christ in each of us, we can do it!

Thank you and have a blessed make-it-happen day!

Question:  Can you identify and describe a 4th type of person on the journey of life and leadership NOT mentioned in this post?

Doing Life And Leadership Copyright 2011, The Make It Happen Learning Institute.  You have permission to reprint the leadership article, Doing Life And Leadership With Others, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

The Make It Happen Moment ® Born Significance

October 12, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede The Make It Happen Moment ® , , Leave a comment

Lion Face

Lion Face

Quote: “Life is not something that happens to us; it is something we, together with God, make happen!” – Brian Houston

Not too long ago I traveled to South Africa with my Executive Pastor and a missionary team of nine business men.  Our mission was to share the love of Christ with young aspiring South African entrepreneurs and teach them faith based business principles of the kingdom of God.  While we were there, we had the opportunity to visit a lion farm where wild lions were bred, nurtured, and then released into the animal kingdom upon maturity.  In fact, I have an awesome picture of the majestic leader of the lion pride as a screen saver on my computer because it reminds me of the kingly majesty of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as affirmed in Revelation 5:5.

As a business man continually seeking to learn and grow as a leader, I have learned from John Maxwell that there are distinct differences between leaders that lead followers and leaders that lead leaders.  The first type of leader is like a lion leading a herd of sheep.   Such a leader can be an effective leader; however, the effectiveness of the organization he or she leads is limited to the leadership influence of that one leader.  On the other hand, a leader who leads leaders is like a lion leading a pride of lions.  Such a leader seeks to exponentially multiply the effectiveness and influence of his or her organization by breeding, nurturing, and releasing many other strong leaders to be all that God created them to be.  In fact, there is no greater freedom for leaders than to be truly free in Christ to lead in the destiny for which they were born.  John 8:36 states, “Therefore if the Son [Jesus – the Ultimate Leader of leaders] makes you free [free from the law of sin and death by His shed blood on the cross], you shall be free indeed [free to be everything He created you to be in Christ].” 

For business leaders, the Official Credo of the American Entrepreneurs Association eloquently captures the heart of being free to lead in business.  It states: “I do not choose to be a common person.  It is my right to be uncommon – if I can.  I seek opportunity – not security.  I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.  I want to take the calculated risk, to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.  I refuse to barter incentive for a dole; I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.  I will not trade my freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout.  I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.  It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid; to think and act for myself, to enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say: ‘This, with God’s help, I have done.’  All this is what it means to be an entrepreneur.”  With a spirit of excellence and humility, be bold as a lion and gentle as a dove, leading leaders and unleashing their extraordinary God-given potential to make life happen with the King of kings and Lord of lords, Yeshua HaMashiach!

The Make It Happen Risk Taking Value: “Make It Happen” People Take Calculated Risks In The Pursuit Of Excellence!

Have a blessed “Make It Happen” day!

Edited by The Make It Happen Moment ® Editorial Team

The Make It Happen Moment ® Born Significance Copyright 2009, The Make It Happen Learning Institute.  You have permission to reprint The Make It Happen Moment ® Born Significance, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Believe That You Receive

October 9, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , Leave a comment

Scripture

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I [Jesus] say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Observation

In this verse, Jesus teaches His disciples to have faith in God when they pray because with God all things are possible.  In this teaching situation with Jesus, the disciples were astonished that a fig tree which Jesus had cursed the day before actually had withered away and died by His Word.  In response to their astonishment, the Lord makes an even more astonishing declaration to His disciples – if we have faith to believe what we say when we pray, it will be done. Wow, what a tremendous promise from our Lord!

Application

As I pray about having overcoming victory in the trials and challenges that I experience in life, I can take great comfort in knowing that the Lord hears my prayers and by faith I will have what I say when I believe in Christ to receive the answer to my prayers.  This means that even if my faith is as small as a mustard seed, there is no mountain or trial in life too big for the Lord to remove when I respond in prayerful faith, boldly speaking to the mountain, and believing to receive the promises of God regarding my situation. The mountains in my life may be big; however, the Maker of mountains – my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – is simply bigger and His faithfulness reaches to the heavens!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are El Shaddai, my All Powerful and All Sufficient Heavenly Father!  Thank You for the authority given to me to come boldly before Your throne of grace and ask for the seemingly impossible situations in my life to be made possible by Your faithfulness to respond to my faith – even if my faith may be as small as a mustard seed.  When I pray, in faith, I believe that I receive what I say because all of Your promises are Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus to Your glory through us! Thank You for hearing my specific prayers and answering them in Jesus Name!  I love You Jesus! Amen!

Believe That You Receive Copyright 2011, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Believe That You Receive, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

The Make It Happen Moment ® Simplified Life

October 4, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede The Make It Happen Moment ® , , , , , , 1 Comment

sparrow

Sparrow

Quote: “If you want a simpler life, you must learn to develop a more trusting life!” – Joyce Meyer

Several years ago I was traveling on a commuter express jet with some colleagues to visit the corporate headquarters of one of our company’s corporate business partners when all of a sudden our plane encountered some very turbulent weather.  In a matter of seconds the plane dropped about a thousand feet and then began to violently shake, rattle, and toss around in every forward direction.  Our drinks flew into the air, people began crying, praying, and thinking that we were going to die in a fiery crash.  After about five minutes of magnificent maneuvering through the troubled weather, the pilot was fortunately able to regain a normal and steady flight pattern.  Relieved that we were going to be fine, one of my colleagues turned to a young boy around twelve years of age whom was traveling alone and had been in the bathroom during the mayhem and said, “Boy, I bet this is the worst plane ride you’ve ever been on, huh?”  The young boy looked at him somewhat bewildered and responded, “No man, this is the coolest plane ride I’ve ever been on…I was in the bathroom and flew up so high that my head hit the ceiling…” ☺  So I guess the moral of this true story is that life is not that much about what you experience, but rather how you simply view and respond to what you experience! 

Why is it that different people can experience the same exact bitter lemons of life, but yet some find a way to turn them into a sweet taste of lemonade while others can only taste the bitterness of lemons?  What’s the difference?  Personally, I have found the difference to be in the ability to trust that God is good and that He is in complete control of everything in our lives.  In Romans 8:28, the Bible states, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  If we really believe this promise from God, then no matter what, we can find peace knowing that God has us in the palm of His hands and will not allow us to suffer any circumstance that He cannot turn for our good.  In fact, Matthew 10:29-31 states, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” 

When we learn to trust God to take care of us the same way that He takes care of the sparrows, we will begin to live a more peaceful and simplified life with an eager expectation of what God will do for us and through us each new day.  The apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:7 of the New Living Translation, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”  Imagine that the Maker of the Universe cares so much about you and I that He invites us to cast our burdens on Him.  If we actually learn to do this, there is no reason that we should not wake up each morning saying, “Good morning, Lord!” rather than barely rolling out the bed with a groan and a moan, saying, “Oh Lord, it’s morning!”  With a spirit of wisdom and faith, let us trust Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, for He cares for us and will never fail us!

The Make It Happen People Value: “Make It Happen” People Possess A Positive Attitude!

Have a blessed “Make It Happen” day!

Edited by The Make It Happen Moment ® Editorial Team

The Make It Happen Moment ® Simplified Life Copyright 2009, The Make It Happen Learning Institute.  You have permission to reprint The Make It Happen Moment ® Simplified Life, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Related articles

Affirmed To Be Alive

October 2, 2011

Gary J. Borgstede Faith And Family , , , , , , Leave a comment

Scripture

Acts 25:18-19 “When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him [Paul] of such things as I supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”

Observation

In these verses, Paul is being brought before King Agrippa accused by the Jews as “a plague and a creator of dissension among all the Jews around the world” because of his fervent testimony about Jesus.  In the face of such accusation, Paul stood firm in faith with courage before the king and eloquently expressed the good news of the gospel and the hope that was in him through Christ.

Application

To be a light in the present darkness of this world, I must be willing to risk the approval of people by sharing the good news of the gospel to those who are perishing.  In doing so, some people may bring false accusation against me because of their pride and offense with the name of Jesus and the good news of His kingdom.  However, like Paul, I can stand firm in the face of such accusation with the courage of Christ knowing that Jesus is with me and will be faithful to be my very present help in time of need. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for You are Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord my Righteousness!  Thank You for giving me the courage to stand firm in faith as I affirm to others through my testimony that You are alive and Your kingdom reigns. Give me boldness in Christ to share the good news of the gospel with others and the wisdom to build Your kingdom in my sphere of influence. I love You Jesus! Amen!

Affirmed To Be Alive Copyright 2011, Gary J. Borgstede.  You have permission to reprint the personal devotion, Affirmed To Be Alive, in its entirety only, and forward to your colleagues and friends, provided the copyright notice remains part of the reprint and transmission.  All other rights reserved.

Older Entries Newer Entries