Category Archives: Testimony

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RIGHTEOUS PRAYERS

1 PETER 3:12

“’FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.’”

There has never been a more misunderstood truth. So many people believe that whomever prays to God will have their prayers answered. That simply isn’t true. Now, hear me out. God will always respond to the prayer of anyone who is repenting and coming to surrender to Him. But if that same lost person is begging God for relief without surrendering to Him…well…today’s verse answers that question.

God longs to answer our prayers. He wants to work in our lives. But we must come to Him with repentant hearts. We must acknowledge our need for a Savior. He is not going to look on our sin and just look past them. He demands and deserves our allegiance in order for Him to work as He desires in our lives. This may sound harsh, but it is meant to drive us all to our knees.

APPLICATION

Teaching our kids this truth is so important. We want them to understand how to pray. I use the acrostic A-C-T-S to pray. A stands for Adoration. I praise Him for who He is and acknowledge His supremacy in my life. C stands for confession. I confess my sins each time I pray. I long to be sinless, but I haven’t arrived yet. T stands for thanksgiving. I thank Him for His blessings in my life. And S stands for supplication. Here is where I come to him on behalf of loved ones and myself, asking for His will to be done.

If our children will learn to pray this way, they will not go wrong. Our children need to understand that our righteousness depends on the blood of Christ, which we claim every time we confess our sins to Him. We, the righteous in Christ, have an open portal to the very throne of God.

Are you praying as a righteous child of God? Or do you pray because you are doing good deeds? Righteousness is not yours to earn. It is given freely through Christ to those who call Him Savior. And because we are righteous, we desire to live righteously. God is waiting to answer your prayers. Pray in righteousness.

I know the only thing good about me is You, Lord. It is Your righteousness that gives me the freedom to call on You daily for my needs and the needs of others.

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Deceit, Encouragement, Evil, Godliness, Gossip, Inspirational, Lies, Mentoring, Modeling, Parenting, Speech, Testimony

NASTY MOUTH

1 PETER 3:10

“For, ‘THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.’”

This verse and the next two verses come from Psalm 34:12-16. Peter isn’t just giving his opinion. He gives us truth from God’s Word. Shouldn’t we all do that? And this truth is one worth sharing. Let’s just look at this verse.

The Psalmist says if you desire life watch your mouth. The word “evil” there refers to an inner evil, one that is really foul. And the word “deceit” means luring others into a trap. Get the picture? You must keep your tongue and mouth from evil if you want life. You can’t talk like this and see good days.

APPLICATION

This is a no brainer for our kids. Aren’t we always correcting their speech, especially when it’s not nice? We don’t let our children talk that way. But where do they learn it? Most of the time from us. That’s not always the case, but it is most of the time. We have to watch our lips because little ears are listening.

Sometimes they learn this speech from their friends. So, ask yourself if you want your kids around these other children. You may have to limit their contact with people who are negatively influencing them. That’s tough, but necessary.

How’s your mouth? Are you talking out of both sides of your mouth? Our words should be consistent no matter where we are. Why? Because the One who matters is always listening. If we submit our tongues and lips to Him, only the right words will proceed from us. Will you do that today?

O Father, I desire for my words to be pleasing to Your ear. Speak through me Lord.

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Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Death, Encouragement, Evangelism, Following, Inspirational, Life, Mentoring, Parenting, Resurrection, Scripture, Surrender, Testimony, Witnessing

ARISE

ACTS 9:40

“But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.” 

Acts 9:36-43 tells the story of Peter raising Tabitha (Dorcas in the Greek language) from the dead. What a wonderful story. Isn’t it? There were many friends of Tabitha there when this happened, so the word spread quickly throughout Joppa. What do you think happened?

Verse 42 tells us. “It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.” This is the reason the Lord worked through Peter to raise Tabitha. It really wasn’t about her. It was about all those who would be led to the Lord. Bringing the spiritually dead to life is much more important than bringing the physically dead to life.

APPLICATIONS

Did you know your children are dead before they come to Christ? They are spiritually dead waiting to arise. As parents we pray for our children’s salvation and rejoice greatly when they surrender to the call of our Lord. You may be parents of unsaved children. Don’t stop praying. God is still raising dead people.

Once your children are saved and walking with the Lord, your job is to keep them “alive.” What do I mean by that? Walking in newness requires daily dying to self. Wnhe you die to self, you have to get up and walk with Christ through His life. You die and then arise. You surrender to Jesus daily and allow Him to direct your steps. Your children need to know this truth.

Are you dead or alive? Are you the dead Tabitha or the alive Tabitha? Your risen life in Christ can be used, like Tabitha’s, to draw many others to Jesus. Wouldn’t that be awesome? By your daily surrender to Him, others can see Jesus in you. Arise!

I want to walk in newness of life with You today. I lay my life before You to use however You desire. I want to draw others to You through my surrendered life. 

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MAKE YOUR BED

ACTS 9:32-35

“32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.”

When I read this passage my eye was drawn to that phrase, “make your bed.” I literally laughed out loud. Here’s a guy who has been in his bed for eight years, and the first thing he’s told to do when he gets healed and stands up is to make his bed. Wow! I know a lot of folks who are completely healthy and never make their bed, lol.

I wonder why Peter told him that. Do you think it was a symbolic move? That bed hadn’t been made in eight years. Aeneas lived in it. Making that bed symbolized a finish to the bedridden state. He no longer was confined to that bed. I bet Aeneas did not mind at all making that bed. In fact, I bet he enjoyed standing and seeing it made. He was out of it!

APPLICATION

When our kids come to Christ, they need to be taught that their former life is DONE. They have a new life in Christ. They are no longer paralyzed by sin. They are no longer bedridden by guilt and shame. They are free to walk and stand with Jesus. They can make that bed. Well, don’t tell them that, lol.

Seriously, making our bed sends a signal to the brain. We are no longer sleeping or slumbering. We are awake and about our Father’s business. Teach your kids to make their beds but tell them why they are doing it. It’s not just about making their room look neat. There’s a purpose behind it. It ends one thing and begins another.

Are you a bed maker? I like my bed made each day. Do I do that? Well…to be honest, there are days when my wife and I just pull up the sheet and go about our day. But when the bed is made it looks so nice. I want to begin each day afresh, ready to serve my Master. How about you? Then get up and make your bed.

I am ready to serve You, Lord. I want a fresh start today. I don’t want yesterday’s troubles to follow me into the new day.

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Advice, Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Commands, Encouragement, Harmony, Inspirational, Mentoring, Modeling, Obedience, Parenting, Scripture, Surrender, Testimony

HAVE THE SAME MIND

1 PETER 3:8

“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;” 

I really like this verse. Actually, it’s one of the memory verses in a discipleship study I have led for years. If we could all live this verse every day, we would not have any problems with people. Peter starts out, I think, with the most important thing first – be harmonious. This Greek word is only used right here in this verse. It literally means divinely inspired unity, to think alike, to have the same mind.

Now the rest of these things listed (sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble) make it possible to be harmonious. If you are doing all those things, there will be no problem in having the same mind. Are these easy? They are impossible outside of Christ. But with Him guiding you, they are a snap.

APPLICATION

Just try making your children be harmonious. Ha! It can’t be done. You can’t make anyone have the same mind. They have to want to do that. Our children are independent thinkers. If you don’t think so, spend some time with a toddler. That’ll teach you independent thinking. But we can’t live our lives that way. We have to learn to live in harmony.

We have to teach our children the value of harmonious living. You can practice this in your home. Learning to agree and think alike about things can only come through our mutual surrender to Christ in our lives. Apart from that, our flesh will reign supreme. Teaching our children the surrendered life is key to them learning how to live in harmony with anyone.

Are you a harmonious person? Or do you insist on your own way? Too many of us, myself included, can do that. Independent thinking is not a sin. We need to have ambition and drive. But we also have to consider others, especially those we do life with. Ask yourself today if the decisions you are making today will affect someone else. If so, talk to them first. Make your minds one.

I am guilty, Lord, of thinking too much about what I want. Direct my thoughts today towards others. Let me live in harmony today.

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UNHINDERED PRAYERS

1 PETER 3:7

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”

A lot of people will read this verse and think it is women bashing. Calling them weaker! That is NOT the purpose of this verse. God made men to lead and protect their wives. Their role is a protector, not a basher. And He warns the men in this verse. He says, “so that your prayers will not be hindered.”

In other words, God is telling the husbands if they mistreat their wives and don’t show them honor, their prayers will not reach Him. That’s what “hindered” means. It means blocked. Men, have you ever felt that your prayers weren’t getting past the ceiling? How are you treating your wives? Hmmm!

APPLICATION

This is another modeling verse. Husbands and dads, it’s your turn. How you treat your wife, the mother of your children, is so important. You are not just mistreating her. You are mistreating your children. Your daughters are endangered by believing that’s how women are meant to be treated. And your sons grow up believing that’s how they are supposed to treat their wives.

But…when you show honor to her, that gives your children a role model to follow. The word “show” is only used right here in this verse. It means to give what is due. God is telling you that your wife deserves honor, no matter what you think. And if you want an open line of communication with the Lord, this is required.

Are you guilty of not showing honor to someone? Let’s apply this verse to all of us, not just husbands, for a second. Is there someone you belittle and persecute? We should show honor to all of God’s people. God cannot look on sin and ignore it. And that kind of behavior is sin, dear friends.

Lord God, give me Your eyes for others. Let me show honor to all. And hear my prayers.

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GOD OR MAN

ACTS 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

This verse is part of the story in Acts when Peter and the apostles had been arrested by the High Priest and thrown into prison for preaching about Jesus. They had been warned earlier about it but kept on preaching. God sent an angel who released them and where did they go? Right back to preaching.

In this verse Peter is before the High Priest again. He doesn’t back down. You don’t see Peter and the apostles wringing their hands. They stayed committed to their calling and kept preaching the Gospel. When it came down to whom to obey, they didn’t blink. They would obey God.

APPLICATION

Teaching our children to obey God is probably one of the most important tasks we have. We can’t make them obey, of course. But as we correct behaviors, we point them to the Word of God, which is God speaking to us. Our corrections are not what we think are best. They are we know God says is best.

Obeying God can be costly. Our kids need to know that. The world will, at some point, present a situation to your kids when they must choose. When that time comes, you as Mom and Dad must be there to support their decision to obey God, even if it costs them dearly.

Will you obey God or man? If presented a situation that will cost you dearly if you chose to obey God, would you do it? Standing up for God is the safest place you can be. When you stand up for Him, He will immediately be there. Will it be hard? Sure. But knowing the Master of all is there with you brings you comfort.

I will obey You, O God. Obedience to You is more important than anything else in my day.

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PRECIOUS IN GOD’S EYES

1 PETER 3:4

“but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

Have you ever wondered what God sees in us? He has created us in His image after all. Does He see Himself? Only if we are reflecting Him. Peter tells us that a gentle and quiet spirit is the key. But what does that mean?

The word “gentle” means exercising God’s strength under His control. And the word “quiet” means a divinely inspired inner calmness. Did you catch what’s included in both of those definitions? God! It’s His strength and His calmness. When we exhibit that gentle and quiet spirit, God can indeed see Himself in us.

APPLICATION

The only way to teach our children the importance of a gentle and quiet spirit is to exhibit it ourselves. If we are always yelling and screaming, they won’t see it. If we are pushy and demanding of others, they won’t see it. We have to die to ourselves and allow the Spirit of God live in and through us in order to show that kind of spirit.

As our children see us living that way, they will learn to surrender their little, selfish selves to the Master. They can experience the joy of a gentle and quiet spirit. They can be seen as precious in the sight of God. God loves them and wants them to live for Him. We must model it so they can learn.

Are you precious in His sight? You see what’s required. Are you willing to surrender to His will for your life? His divine strength and inner calmness is waiting for you. I don’t know about you, but I want to be seen as precious in His sight.

I know You are watching me and love me dearly. I desire Your gentle and quiet Spirit to live in and through me daily.

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JUDGE IF YOU HAVE TO

Acts 4:19

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;”

Obeying God can have consequences. Peter and John faced this dilemma when the Jewish authorities ordered them to stop preaching about Jesus. People were coming to Christ due to the miracles they were performing and their message about repentance. The Jewish leaders didn’t want that.

But Peter and John knew they had to answer to a higher authority. They weren’t trying to be ugly or hard to get along with. They just knew the Lord had told them to preach the Gospel, so they had to. They were willing to accept the consequences that could have come from the authorities.

APPLICATION

Years ago, I served as Chaplain at a Children’s Home. Occasionally, former residents of the home would want the Chaplain to marry them in the Chapel on campus. When I could, I was honored to do so. On one occasion, however, I was asked to marry two former residents who both had multiple former marriages. I couldn’t do that and remain true to my calling. I was questioned by the Superintendent why I refused. Fortunately, he understood and supported my decision. But I was prepared to leave my job if necessary.

Your children may face a decision between standing up for Christ and their beliefs or giving in to pressures from others. You have to prepare them now for those times. They have to know why they believe what they believe. They need to know that God will be with them to support them. Share with them how you have handled similar situations.

Are you willing to stand up for Christ? There may be a day when you are faced with that decision. Are you ready? He is. He will stand beside you. Then you can say as Peter said, “you be the judge.”

I am ready to follow You, Lord, wherever You lead me. If that means I am judged by others, so be it. I will be proud to be named as Your follower.

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WITH THEIR OWN EYES

1 PETER 3:2

“as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.” 

It’s one thing to hear about someone’s reputation. It’s another to see it with your own eyes. Peter is telling the wives that their husbands will be won to Christ by what they see in them. The way they behave towards their husbands could be the difference between heaven and hell for their husbands.

I have known people who act one way at home and a whole different way at church. Our behavior as believers is a twenty-four hour, seven days a week responsibility. We don’t get to take off days and live like we want to. Too many people are being influenced, especially family.

APPLICATION

Have you ever had your child’s Sunday School teacher tell you what a joy it is to have your child in their class? I am sure you are glad to hear that. But what if you heard that after a morning of screaming and yelling to get them dressed and out the door for church. I am sure you might think how nice it would be to see that kind of behavior at home.

Teaching our children to live consistent lives for Christ is hard. It’s hard for us to do that. Maybe that’s the problem with our children. They see us live one way at home and another at church. We have to model what we expect from them. Our lives are being observed by little ones every day. We can’t afford to “take a day off.”

How about you? Are you consistent in your walk? Don’t let your inconsistency influence someone to walk away from Jesus. You may not even be aware that someone is watching you to see if they want to respond to His call. You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.

I want to reflect Your life through my actions and behavior. Help me walk with You daily to influence those around me to follow You.

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