Ed Christian's World

To Nullify What Is…

1 Corinthians 1:28 says, “God has chosen that which is not, that he might nullify the things that are.” How can you choose things that are not? If they aren’t they don’t exist. But God does, and that’s where salvation is – a contrary reality.

That which isn’t nullifies that which is. The things that are not yet, at least not yet on earth, are more powerful than that which is. We have to learn to use the things that are not to nullify what is. Faith is the channel by which we connect to the realm that isn’t yet.

Don’t be limited simply by what is. If that’s the case, then you’re stuck with your problems, your sins, your failings, your shortcomings, your limitations. Forget that. Learn to live in the realm of that which isn’t. Just like Abraham, who by faith in God’s Word, had Isaac.

Stop living by what is. Believe the reality of what isn’t yet. What is seen is temporary. What is unseen is forever. Be free, don’t live by sight, but by the power of faith that transforms what is, into what is not.

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Romans 4:17-18

Exercise your faith in areas where you feel stuck today. See those areas subject to change according to what God’s Word says. Speak that which is not and nullify that which is.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

A Worry Free Life…

Rest and quietness are rare in today’s world. Think through your past day, week, and month. What percentage of it would you categorize as restful and calm? Unfortunately, these concepts feel further out of reach all of the time. Yet we find in the peace of God these critical, life-giving gifts.

The words “rest” and “quietness” are at the root word of “peace” in Philippians 4:6-7 where it says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

The Good News: If you use prayer as a means for comfort, God will provide you with peace of mind. Be sure to thank Him once your worries subside.

Quiet, rest, and the peace of God are not fanciful wishes, nor are they unrealistic for the world we live in. God graciously provides us in the Scripture above an invitation, paired with simple instructions, for how we can live a life marked by His peace. Taking a deeper look at Philippians 4:6-7, we discover a formula for a life dramatically influenced by His peace.

At this, many of us take a mental step away. We feel it is too unattainable — a life free from worry. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “… where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” This freedom subdues fears and anxiety! God understands we are prone to fear. He is the One who created our minds and knows precisely how they work.

God understands each of the connections and tendencies in our minds and how they affect our everyday feelings. Where He is, there is freedom, and as we daily practice inviting Him into our minds and hearts, we will experience the liberating power and peace of God.

When God calls us to something — like a life free from worry — He always equips us with what we will need. Communicating with our heavenly Father is a powerful way to practice living by God’s peace. Not only do we shift burdens and worry from our shoulders to His capable hands, but the act of spending time talking with Him is peace-giving in itself.

When Jesus was on earth, He faced overwhelming opposition, distracting temptation, difficult situations with friends and followers, sorrow, and grief. He did not lead an easy life, nor a laid-back one. During His ministry, Jesus was constantly on the go and regularly surrounded by large crowds of people expecting great things from Him. Yet He regularly retreated in solitude to be with His Father.

He needed the strength, endurance, and peace that only comes from being in God’s presence. We can practice laying every burden in God’s hands, whether by praying aloud, silently throughout the day. Each of these practices creates habits of shedding worry and inviting the peace of God into our homes and hearts.

While this world’s perception of quiet and rest becomes foggier, our view of God’s peace can grow clearer. And yet, we will never know the full extent of it. His peace is beyond understanding, which means we can spend our entire lives discovering and experiencing more of it! His peace is greater than mere emotion. It is multi-faceted, reflecting God’s glory and affecting every area of our lives.

As we hide His Word in our hearts and practice trading our worries for His presence, His peace will lend consistency to our souls. Our spirits will be calmed and composed. Life’s circumstances will send out wakes like a giant ship stirring up serene waters. Still, God will faithfully bring our thoughts back to Himself, assuring us of His faithfulness and love, which far exceed anything this life offers.

Laying down our worries, coming to God with requests and thanksgiving, and practicing a life marked by His peace can be summed up in one word: abide. In John 15:5, Jesus explained, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

This verse can seem at first glance daunting, yet more than a command, it is an invitation. Jesus is offering us His power! Living by the peace of God isn’t only beneficial to us. It extends farther than our composed thoughts and balanced emotions. As we abide in God and experience greater reaches of His peace, we are stripped of barriers that once held us back from God’s work. He has liberated us and empowered us to make a difference for His kingdom!

The word for “abide” in this verse means to “continue,” “remain,” and “dwell.” We don’t do this perfectly — however, our unfaithfulness never affects God’s faithfulness. He is patient with our wandering, drawing us back to Himself, and He remains, continues, and dwells with us. As He does, He guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

An old proverb of Grandfather’s says God creates a solution before he creates a problem. Understanding this can help take some of the stress out of our problems. Isn’t it awesome to know we are never alone and that God is always right there beside us?

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

God’s Eternity Tent…

“Thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity.” Who inhabits eternity? The word ‘inhabits’ in Hebrew is shakan – to lodge, stay, or dwell, to camp out in a tent – God sets up His tent in eternity.

God inhabits eternity. When we set up a tent we do it all at once, but God’s tent spans eternity. In God all eternity, past present and future are as one. All our time is covered by God’s presence. Are you haunted by your past or chained by it? Do you have a shadow over your life? God is there to set you free.

He is greater than your past. He is part of your past. God is also in your present situations. He is greater than your present; greater than your future. You don’t have to fear the future; He is already there. His grace is there.

What an awesome God we serve. He holds all eternity in His tent. Rest in Him my friend, the One who inhabits time, past, present and future. He will set up His tent over your eternity.

In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:21-22

Today, take shelter with your Father, knowing that He is part of your entire life… past, present and future. Dwell with Him, in His presence, covered by His tent, and rest in His grace, love and provision.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Turning To The Golden Calf…

There’s been a movement to remove the Ten Commandments, the basic cornerstone of morality, from school, government, courts and the public square. It’s amazing that we live in a culture where the Ten Commandments could become controversial.

When the Ten Commandments were given, the Hebrews turned away and turned toward worshipping an idol. When Moses saw the golden calf, he smashed the Commandments. So too, the removal of the Ten Commandments in our day reveals that we’re in a culture that’s turning to the worship of other gods.

It’s a culture that wants to remove the biblical standard concerning adultery, because it’s moving to an adulterous culture. Whether it’s removed or not from the public square doesn’t matter.

In the New Covenant, He writes the Law on our hearts. If it’s removed from the public square, we’re left as the markers of this civilization, the testimony. So live all the more holy, righteous, pure to God. They might be able to take out God’s standard of righteousness from the public square, but they can never remove it from your heart or your life.

I desire to do your will, my God: your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8

Today, ask the Lord if there is any area of your life contrary to His Word, any idol or golden calf. Repent and ask Him to write His Truth on your heart.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

What Exactly You’ll Find…

Luke 11:10 says, “He who seeks finds.” Many believers take that as meaning whatever we seek for, we are going to get. The problem is we may seek for something and then not find the exact thing we sought.

Notice what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say, “Whatever you seek you are going to find.” It says, “If you seek, you will find.” But seek what? Find what? It doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same thing you think you wanted or needed to have, but it is going to be what you need from God.

It will be better. It’s going to meet the real need. He’ll give you His best. It may not be the “it” that you sought to find, but you’re going to find something good, because it’s from God.

Be open to what God has for your life–not necessarily what you think you require, but something better, because He will give you His best in all things. You will find, but do one thing – seek.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Today, give all your needs and desires to God. Seek His best. Trust that God hears your prayers and will provide for you according to His good plan.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Cornerstone…

When the Hebrews built the temple, they started with one stone. In Hebrew it was called the Rosh Pinah – the cornerstone – the head of the corner. The cornerstone was the first stone. Once laid down, the rest of the temple would go up.

In scripture, Jesus is called the Rosh Pinah. Why? He gives you the power to begin something new in your life. You can’t change your entire life overnight, but you can begin the change of your entire life right now.

New life begins with the first step, laying down the cornerstone of a new beginning. He’ll give you the power to do that, because He’s the cornerstone and He gives the power of new beginnings.

You don’t have to build a whole new life overnight, but you need to take the first step. Without it, the rest won’t happen. Lay down that cornerstone to a new work, a new habit, a new action, a new life.

God will bless you, because everything new begins with the cornerstone. Jesus is the Rosh Pinah. He’s the cornerstone and that’s the secret for you to have a new life.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

Today make any decisions you have to make, with Jesus as the Cornerstone; the beginning of new thoughts, new actions, and a new course.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Following Your Joshua…

Do you know where the name Jesus came from? Moses, by the power of the Spirit, changed the name of his apprentice to Yehoshua. Yehoshua became Yeshua. In English it became Joshua, and in Greek, Iesus. In Greek/English, Jesus.

So who was Joshua? He was the one appointed to take the children of Israel across the Jordan into the promised land. Then the Messiah was born. The angel told his parents to name Him Yeshua, Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.

Yeshua means salvation. He’s the one who will lead His people into the promised land. If Jesus is your Lord, He’s your Joshua, your Yeshua. He is your Salvation. He will lead you. You will be following Him where you’ve never been before, crossing from an old life into a new life.

He takes you into the land of promises, the promised land. That’s His ministry. He knows how to get you there. Follow Him. Leave the old behind and move forward with Him into the newness of His promises. Move forward because He is your Joshua, and He’s only going to take you into the promised-land.

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26

Follow the leading of Yeshua, completely trust that His path is perfect. Leave the old behind and walk into a new place with Him today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Secret Of A Heavenly Life…

The Feast of Sukkot-Tabernacles is a unique feast. During the festival, according to Scripture, Jewish people build a Sukkah, tent or tabernacle. They leave their houses and camp out. The Hebrews camped out in the wilderness.

But why do it again when they’re already in the promised land? God was saying, join the two realms together – the wilderness and the promised land, the journey and the destination. Right now we’re in a type of wilderness and we’re heading home.

Heaven is the promised land, but the two realms are joined together. That’s what Tabernacles says. We are to live our lives now as if seated in heavenly places. We’re to live now in the finished work as if we were walking on the streets of gold. As if He were here all the time, because He is!

That’s the secret of heavenly life. Our journey here is joined to heaven. Rejoice, celebrate – live the heavenly life on earth now because heaven is too good to be contained by the hereafter. In Jesus it overflows into the here and now.

From that time on Jesus began to preach,  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” Matthew 4:17

Today, ask the Lord to make you more aware of His constant presence. See yourself raised up and seated with Him in the heavenlies. Join your heaven to earthly life right now!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Stop Dwelling On The Saints…

There are denominations that focus on saints: praying to saints, looking to saints, dwelling on the saints. We tend to take pride in the fact that we don’t get caught up in the saints. Are you looking at your brothers and sisters in the Lord?

The Bible says they’re saints. Sometimes believers lose sight of God because of the saints. Do you have your eyes on the saints, what they’ve done or haven’t done? Expecting from them what you should be expecting from God?

It’s no better than the people who bow down to statues. It’s time to get your eyes off of the saints, time to release and forgive. It is time to stop obsessing about other saints, trying to get your needs met from anyone other than God.

Start looking to God and receive from Him. He will provide what you need. Let the saints be saints, and let God be God. You too, are a saint. Make your focus the Lord of the saints. Trust in Him with all your heart. He will never let you down.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:22-25

Ask the Lord to show you if there is a brother or sister you need to forgive or release. Then confess it to Him, let it go and pray for them to be blessed.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

God Almost Killed Moses…

Moses, in the wilderness, comes to the burning bush. The voice of God tells him, “Take off your shoes, Moses.” God is talking to him and he is receiving a revelation and His high calling.

The God of his fathers is choosing him to know God and be the instrument of God, to redeem the entire nation of Israel. The deliverer, liberator, Moses the law-giver. But something strange happens.

As he is heading out to Egypt, God is waiting on the way and is about to kill him. His wife quickly grabs a rock and circumcises his children. Why was God about to kill Moses? He was to be the law-giver, but now he was a breaker of the law, by not circumcising his children.

Greater entrustment means a greater responsibility. You have great entrustment, but you have to live with a great responsibility, greater sacrifice, greater accountability, greater purity, greater holiness. Do you want to do greater things in God? Live a greater life with greater obedience before God. For to whom much is given, much is required.

If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15

God has entrusted you with a high calling and with the responsibility to obey His Word. Is there anything in your life that is not in God’s will, out of His perfect calling? Get it out. Then fulfill your calling.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed