Get Back Up!

As humans, we are oh so good at falling, and oh so bad at getting back up. When we do give into temptation we tend to feel so guilty, even after repenting. We tend to accept our guilt and go on with a loss of joy. But I am going to show you some verses to help you. Even though you fall, get back up quickly! Micah 7:8 says, "Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." Micah says himself that even though he falls, in front of his enemies, he will get back up and not be defeated by his sin. God has great plans for you despite how you may feel that you are a failure, Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." and 1 Corinthians 2:9, "That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” that means YOU! Do not become complacent with sin, saying, "Its okay because so-and-so does worse than me." Sin is sin and others doing it does not permit it. Paul says, "That you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again." 1 Timothy 6:14. When you repent, put that sin behind you and NEVER return to it, forget about it, and when you are reminded of it, remember that God has forgiven you of it, so why would you even want to think about it anymore? After you fall and repent, ask God like David did, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you." Psalm 51:12 also Philippians 4:4. Have an accountability partner, someone that will keep you straight without judging you. The Bible says, "The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18, the hard truth is we can not do this alone, we need each other, so forgive each other of all that has been wronged, and ask forgiveness for what you have wronged. When the enemy comes back to try to tempt you where you are weak quote this verse, "So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19. And remember, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. Finally, come to God as who you are. God sees, hears, and knows everything so why do we try to dress up or give Him excuses for our sin? Tell Him that you are having a tough time with ____ and ask Him to help you with it, tell Him everything! Finally I will end with some lyrics.
"You're beautiful
You were meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful"
 "Beautiful" by MercyMe
 God bless you,
Matt

Your Glass

I am just about fed up with all the negativity an pessimism that surrounds me. We as Christians have no reason to be pessimistic, or have any kind of negative approach to anything. God said Himself, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5, also in Deuteronomy 31:6,8. Then what do we have to fear? Worry about? Be disappointed for? Be pessimistic about? If something does not work out for you, and you love the Lord, do you not believe that something better is coming? "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. My pastor says all the time, "If the enemy has our joy, then he has everything." The devil has already lost the battle for your soul, so what is left for him to attack? Your family? Your job? He will try to make you backslide, tempt you, keep you down so you can not do God's Will. But if you have a heart for God, and are following Him, the devil will attack your joy. You will see pictures that are devastating, be surrounded by totally negative people, or much worse... you might be tempted to watch the news. We as Christians need to keep our chin up! Stay optimistic, for if nothing else, Jesus died for you, so what do you need to be negative for? God has a plan for each and every one of us, and how can we do that plan if all we speak is doom and gloom? So I return to my title, how full is your glass? Are you a glass hall full person? Or a glass half empty person? David, a man after God's own heart, said, "My cup runneth over." Below are some inspirational verses, I pray that you read them and seek after God, for living the Christian life is a joy!
May God bless you all,
Matt
Psalm 31:24 "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."
Psalm 42:11 "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again my Savior and my God!"
Psalm 71:14 "But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more."
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 P.S. If this helped you at all, or if I made any mistakes, please let me know and comment

Sorry for the Absence

I would like to sincerely apologize for my lack of posting. This past week we had Revival at my church and it was a truly moving and inspiring time. I took that week to really step back and evaluate things, thus the lack of activity on here. BUT! I am back now and Revival is over, unfortunately, but it left me rekindled and re-energized for more blogging. My deepest thanks to those of you who might have checked on here while I was gone.
May God richly bless you all,
Matt

"God be with you. Grace be with you."
2 Timothy 4:22

Warrior

Dr. Shelia Isom spoke at our Church's Revival last night. She is hosting her crusade here again, last year when she hosted it here and when Ron Webb spoke is when I really got serious about my walk with God. She said something that really spoke to me last night, she said the word Warrior. I have read two books thus far that call us, all of us to be Warriors. The last book, which I have just finished reading was, Fathered by God by John Eldridge. It was an amazing book, which displayed the stages of a man's life and I recommend it for everyone. The stage he said I am coming into, my twenties, is the Warrior stage. He said, "Our God is a Warrior because there are things in life worth fighting for." He talks about how men have become passive, and the only cure is to become aggresive, go on the offensive rather than just resisting the devil, to take back the things which the enemy has stolen from us. The Bible is filled with Warriors, my favorite story being of David's Mighty Men (1 Chronicles 11-12), not only the great works they did, but how loyal they were to their king. They show how we should love God and fight for the souls of men, and our families. I pray that after you read this you will start praying harder, for the end days are here and time is almost out! Go pick up a book on spiritual warfare, read your Bible, some verses I have highlighted are Zepheniah 3:15,17, Psalm 45:3, Exodus 15:3NIV, Isaiah 42:13NIV, Jeremiah 20:11, Psalm 24:7-8, Judges 15:9-16, 1 Samuel 16:13NASB, Matthew 28:18. Read these and pass this on, and may God bless you!

My First Post

This past week, God has really done a miraculous work in me. I am a freshman in college, at a community college, and during the last two years of high-school I sort of figured out for my own that Engineering was the will for my life, without asking God. So I go to community college and it is horrible, I am passing the classes, but I don't feel my heart in it. It brought me to give it to God, my future, my plans, and when I did I did not feel lost or hopeless, in fact.... I felt peace. Suddenly all the walls and barriers in my spiritual life began to come down and my walk with God has been revived, and all the Glory is to Him. My current plan is to attend Liberty University in the fall, to study more of God's Word and set myself in a godly environment. This was just an introduction to who I am, the next posts will be different, but hope you enjoyed!

"...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst." 1 Timothy 1:15