Stack the odds in you favor

 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Do you want to know how to remain strong in your faith? Stack the odds in your favor.

Rejoice in Hope, only Christians have true hope. We have an eternal hope. Non-christians place their hope in things that are temporary. Things that fail. Our hope is in Christ, He never fails.

Be patient in tribulation, all trials and tribulations are temporary. God's love for us is eternal. Whatever we may be facing in this life is just temporary, it will pass.

Be constant in prayer, because that is where we find our strength to go on. That is where we find our hope. That is where we find the patience to endure whatever we are going through.

When we do these three things we will be able to stay strong and resist the devil.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 ESV

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

Serve the Lord

 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Romans 12:11 ESV

In this verse Paul says not to be lazy in our desire to serve, but we should have a passionate spirit in our service to the Lord.

I think Paul says this for good reason. Because, I think we all have a tendency to get lazy in our desire to serve at times. Paul reminds his readers to not let this slothful attitude to take over in their lives. Every relationship requires work from the parties involved in it. The Lord always does His part in the relationship, it is we that tend to trail off in our zeal to serve.

In His letter to the church at Ephesus the Lord said this; “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” Revelation 2:4 ESV The Lord wanted the church at Ephesus to know that He was aware that they as a body had lost the passion, the love they once had for Him. The Lord is aware of our level of passion for Him and service to Him.

Paul says have a passionate spirit. He wants us to remember the passion we had at first and rekindle that passion. Obviously maintaining ones passion for service to the Lord has its ebb and flow. We have to be aware of that and where we are in that and act. If you feel your passion ebbing away turn the tide, remember the passion for service you had when you began your walk with the Lord and rekindle that fire.

Reread one of the Gospel accounts and see the passion that the Lord has for us in the ministry of Jesus. Ask the Lord to build you up in your faith. Begin serving anew. Find a new way to serve within the body and serve the Lord with a passionate spirit.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman