Tag Archives: Christian writing

God’s Gym is Now Open

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality

Below is a guest blog post from my father, Jim Anthony. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 😉

Believers in the United States and around the world have always been invited into God’s Gymnasium for faith training. Some, but not enough, know that our personal trainer is the Holy Spirit. We get to choose to join the gym or not, or meet our trainer or not. The obvious fact is that we as a people have been mortally out of shape. God sees it and now is His appointed Time for transformation, and an intensive spiritual fitness challenge is calling to us. 

Blissfully fat on false faith, empty hope, lustful love, fanned fear, and misplaced trust in the world and its idols, we desperately need the severe exercises of God-sourced faith, hope, and love, all placed squarely on the one and only truly healthy object: God Himself.

We have been reliant on our eyes and what they see, mesmerized by materialism, deceived by our hope in human authorities, and malnourished by the junk food of earth. We need the Bread and treasure of Heaven, the Reign of our King, and the real Faith that leads us through fear and darkness.

Exercising our spiritual muscles actually strengthens our physical, emotional, and intellectual muscles. We can and will live victoriously rather than as slaves once we get ourselves back in shape, and “In shape” is Biblically defined as “In Him.”

Here’s a few of the exercise routines presented to us daily:
        1.      Pray for our enemies. That prayer can and must include their defeat and destruction.  
        2.      Recognize we are not fighting flesh and blood, but powers of darkness. 
        3.      Use supernatural discernment. See the lost souls God loves behind the monster masks. 
        4.      Learn how to wage spiritual warfare, using all the spiritual gifts, such as worship and the Word of God as both a shield and weaponry. 
        5.      Trust that God’s plan will prevail. Choose faith over fear. 
        6.      Learn to see, hear, think and speak with His eyes, ears, mind and mouth. 
        7.      Find your strength in His Holy Spirit, not in your body or self. 

So we must go to the God’s Gym every moment of every day to get instruction and personal training. Ask Him for the training you need, and He will train you. Listen to Him, and act accordingly. “How can I hear him,” you might ask? In the deep quiet of your soul/mind/heart, you will hear his Revelatory voice. Look for God-incidences and divine appointments on a daily basis. Listen for His voice through others. Read the signs of the times and events in your life and those around you. Ask Him to explain it all to you and He will. Make sure that you make time to listen, internalize, and then act. 

As we do this, Heaven will manifest itself on earth, His Kingdom will come, and His will shall be done, in your world as it is being done in heaven. 

His workouts are worth it. 

You can read more of his work over on his blog – Waking Up the Walking Dead.

The Calm Within the Storm

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality, Daily Inspiration

I received this message in my email recently and was quite touched by it. Wanted to share it here in hopes that it might touch some of you as well.

The Psalmist wrote, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” PS 55:6

dove

Have you ever felt that way? Sorry, there’s no escape! Wherever you go — there you are!

Peace is “an inside job.”

Oceanographers tell us that even the worst ocean storms rarely extend more than twenty-five feet below the surface. Gales can rip the ocean, causing tidal waves one hundred feet high, but just twenty-five feet below the surface the water is as calm as a pond.

storm

The point is this: The only place you’ll ever find peace in the midst of life’s storms, is through an in-depth experience with God.

Korean Christians have a saying: “We’re just like nails. The harder you hit us, the deeper you drive us; and the deeper you drive us, the more peaceful it becomes!”

hammer nail

Part of God’s purpose in allowing the storms of life to blow, is to drive us deeper. Deeper into dependence on Him and deeper into relationship with Him.

Someone said, “God takes life’s broken pieces and gives us unbroken peace.” When you focus on the God who never meets a problem He can’t solve, instead of focusing on the problem you can’t solve, you’ll experience in-depth peace. And you’ll carry that peace with you wherever you go. Others will notice it and seek your advice when they too face trouble.

You see, when you know that the God within you reigns above you, you won’t succumb to what’s around you.

God Can Only Fill Empty Hands

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality, Daily Inspiration

Anything you hold in your own hands, you lose.

In order to use you, God must be the One to fill you. And God can only fill empty hands.

empty hands

Therefore when God gives you things in life, be it wealth, prosperity, material goods, relationships, ect., don’t waste it, don’t grasp it, don’t trust in it for security, and don’t expect it to satisfy you.

Place all that you love in God’s hands, so that He, and He alone, may be your security and satisfaction.

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality

Never let your fears redefine your faith.

Conversation with God – Numbers 6:24-26

Posted on by under Conversations with God

It is written, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26) Child, it is no coincidence that you are hearing this blessing today. There are no coincidences in My kingdom. Because you knelt before Me, and humbly offered yourself to Me today, My peace will be with you.

You’ve come into My presence, a resting place from the chaos that surrounds you, and you will reap the rewards. Stay here, Child. Do not be distracted. The entire world serves to distract you. Abide in me. I am not far from you, as you often feel.

Perhaps could your feelings actually be a reflection of your distance to me? When you feel that I am distant, despondent, or silent, come closer. In my presence, you will see that I’m offering to you peace. My face is shining upon you. Abide and bask in the light of My presence. Then go, and share this light with the world.

Conversation with God – James 1:2-3

Posted on by under Conversations with God

It is written, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2-3) Child, I meet you where you are. Because I am always here. Have you forgotten how close I am to you? We are inseparable. Take comfort in this. Relinquish your attempts to control your day’s direction. Let Me lead you. This will not only relieve your frustration, but it will also increase your faith.

Trials are an opportunity; a blessing. A chance for My power to be on display. A chance for My will to be done. When things don’t go as you imagined, hoped, or planned, consider this: My thoughts and plans are higher than yours. And I turn ALL things to good for you. This is your joy, My promise to you, which has already been fulfilled through My Son, Jesus Christ. It is finished.

Conversation with God – Jeremiah 29:11

Posted on by under Conversations with God

It is written, “‘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.'” (Jeremiah 29:11). My child, you are my sheep, and I am your Shepherd. You depend on me, the way a sheep depends on his shepherd; for survival. It is that serious. A matter of life and death. But you are in good hands, little one. The best Hands.

Fear not, for I am Your God. Fear is what the devils uses to get to you. Do not allow it to seep into your being. Remember my promises. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Use them as a shield against your Adversary.

My promises are not like your promises. My promises are always upheld. Until the end of time. My Word is true. It is the only Truth. So cling to my promises, as they are your life and your armor against fear.

 

Discipline

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality

Discipline is not God trying to pay you back, it’s God trying to bring you back.

Conversation with God – John 15:5

Posted on by under Conversations with God

It is written, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) What does it mean to abide in me? I want you to look up the word, “abide”.

Abide: “To have one’s abode; dwell; reside.”

Consider this. I am your Home. Dwell in me. In my presence, you feel me most strongly, but even when you are distracted, you can still be in your Home.

Home: “the place where one lives permanately.”

Notice, I am not your house, but your Home. I am calling you to live in Me every day, all the days of your life, and even after your death. When you invited me into you life, I became a part of you, dwelling inside of you. The old you is no longer here. I am your Home.

You are in better shape than you often think and closer to me than you often feel. We are one. I in you and you in Me. You cannot exist apart from me and you cannot bear good fruit on your own.

Take comfort in your Home. It is your place of rest, security, where you always come back to, your foundation; it is Me. Now go, live like this is true, because I have said it and it is so.

Conversation with God – Isaiah 55:8-9

Posted on by under Conversations with God

It is written, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) My lamb, it pleases me to see you needy for me. I know that this world can be hard on you but fear not! I am your God and I love you.

It is a great place to be; in dependence, desperately surrendering to me. For in your weakness, my power is made known. My power is able to work through the cracks in your life that you perceive as trials. I can assure you, child, trials are not what you presume them to be.

Continue to abide in me, little one, so that I may direct your path. So that my power may shine through your life, both in times of trial and times of joy.