As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation — a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth - (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Salvation is connected to two central realities — first, we trust the truth about Jesus, and second, the Spirit of God comes into our lives, making us holy and making his home inside us. Paul uses it as confirmation to the Thessalonians to help remind them of their salvation.

Jesus talks about these two central realities with Nicodemus as he explains the new birth (John 3:1-21). Those who responded to the first message after Jesus’ resurrection experienced these two realities (Acts 2:33-41). When these two realities are part of a person’s life, there is reason to rejoice and give thanks!

Prayer : O Father, my heart is pulled two different directions as I think about these two realities. First, I rejoice and give thanks for those I know who have confessed Christ, been baptized, and have received the Holy Spirit. Second, my heart aches for several that I love deeply that need to experience these realities. O dear Father, please use me to encourage the first group and to lead the others to know Jesus more completely. It is in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, that I pray. Amen.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. - (Romans 8:14)

Parents lead their children till they are ready for life on their own. As we cry out to God as our Abba Father (Rom. 8:15), God leads us. We are his young children and he leads and guides us through the influence and work of the Holy Spirit.

This is why Jesus told his closest followers that he would not leave them as orphans when he went back to the Father. Instead, he would send them the Comforter — the Counselor, the Intercessor, the Advocate – whom we know as the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18). So as God’s dearly loved children, we can choose to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, or we can rebel and live on our own.

But life and peace are found in living in step with the Spirit’s lead (Rom. 8:6), while rebellion and death are the result of living on our own without the Father’s help (Rom. 6:23; 8:6-7). Because the Father has demonstrated his love for us through the gift of his Son, let’s listen for our Father’s voice and follow our Father’s heart by responding to the lead of the Holy Spirit!

Prayer : O Father, you are righteous and holy, gracious and merciful. Thank you for claiming me as your child. Thank you for not leaving me alone, left only to my own power, as I try to live for you. I intentionally submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, knowing that the Spirit’s presence in my life is a gift from your love to help me live as your beloved child. I thank you, in the name of Jesus my Lord. Amen.

“…God chose the foolish things of the world….weak things of the world…lowly things of this world…despised things…the things that are not…” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28 NIV)

Many times I stand amazed at God’s choices especially when it comes to ministers of God’s Kingdom. They may not have bright talents or abilities. Yet they minister so powerfully.

You may have asked this question yourself - “How am I here in this place? Am I really qualified to do this?”

We read the answer in today’s Bible passage quoted above. Paul encourages his disciples to know this great truth: God prefers the ‘not so wise’, ‘not so influential’ and ‘not of noble birth’ type of individuals (v.26). Why does God prefer them? Here’s the reason: He selects the ‘foolish’ people to shame the wise; He selects the ‘weak’ people to shame the strong (v.27). He selects the lowly and despised people to cancel out what the world considers important so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God (v.28).

Beloved, if you are struggling to do things properly or if you are pressurized to perform in your carrier, remember that God knows you completely more than anyone else. He has chosen you to function as He has created you to be. Don’t compare yourself with others. As a disciple of Christ, you will always see the hand of God protecting you.

In the following verse (1 Corinthians 1:30), Paul says that God alone made it possible for us to be in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the one who made us acceptable to God the Father. He made us pure and holy and He gave Himself up on the cross to purchase our freedom.

Remember: don’t struggle to be perfect in every thing that you do. You may make thousands of mistakes in your day-to-day affairs; but get up and do the right thing once again! Commit your life, carrier and dreams into God’s hands. Let Him make it superb, brighter and shining before others. You are called to be a winner through Christ Jesus!

John Mason gives a beautiful insight: “Be an answer. Get in the way of someone you know is on the way down. Walk in on someone you can help when others are walking out. There are no unimportant jobs, no unimportant people and no unimportant acts of kindness.”

Be a blessing to others. Relax and enjoy your life that God has given you. He is with you. And He will guide you through.

- – - written by Ancy Joe from www.gloriousliving.net