I've heard this statement before in my Christian walk, but it never came more clear to me than when I went on my first mission trip this year.  There were times that yes, I was uncomfortable. I was almost ashamed at the way I was dressed (nice t-shirt and pants that were clean) and not dingy from the muddy river water that most villagers wash their clothes in.  I was not comfortable enough (at the time) to tell my testimony and there were other times that I should have spoke up more when I didn't.


We get so used to our conveniences of life, like 'running water, air conditioning, refrigerators, etc.'  Could we handle living in the conditions that they live in, day in and day out?  


We must be ready to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.


It's time to get uncomfortable.  Step out of the box.  Do for others just like Jesus did.  Don't worry about your own inconvenience, but step out and help others.  You'll be amazed at how much you're blessed through it.


James 1:22 - "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

I'm guilty of it.  Thinking that I desperately need something, but in reality, I want it, and don't really need it.  


The devil walks around like a lion, seeking to destroy your mind and your thinking.  He will make you think that you really need something, when in reality you don't need it at all.


Have we lost the desire to please God?  I hope not.  It's important to recognize that there are only two paths in which we can direct our lives as believers.  One is the path that makes us more like Jesus.  The other is the one that makes us less like Him.


You want to know what true love is?  True love is that Jesus died for you knowing that you might never love Him back.  That's true love.


Don't be selfish with your time, money or love.  After all, God gave us all that we have.  He trusts that we will be good stewards of everything He gives us.


Don't be selfish.  Aren't you glad Jesus wasn't selfish when He died on the cross?


1 Corinthians 10:24 - "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor."

It's been an obvious trend since the fall of man that we all have trouble staying focused and live in an age of unprecedented distraction.  The main problem is that we're becoming conditioned to distraction.  This is harming our ability to listen and think carefully.  We are losing the will to meditate, pray or to just be still.  This is a dangerous place to be spiritually.


When we begin to become distracted with other things and take our focus off God, the Bible calls this idolatry.


We need to ask God and He will deliver us from evil, whatever the cause.  He uses these powerful foes to our advantage, helping us see what our hearts love and moving us by His grace into greater levels of humble faith, and hopefully self-control.


Distraction often humbles us and forces us to ask God for the help we so desperately need.


Are you distracted today?  Ask God for help and to be still and focus on God, not your problems.


1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

We all do it.  We are so blessed, yet day after day, we're caught complaining or grumbling about something.  Grumbling directly or indirectly means that God is not sufficiently good, faithful or even competent.  Faithless complaining is sinful.  It is telling God that He's doing it all wrong.


Take a day or an evening and read the Psalms.  They are expressions of God's compassion for us.  God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him.  The Psalms are treasures for the saints.  They are also expressions of God's merciful care for us.  God does understand our pain.  So go ahead, complain to God, but don't grumble.  


Be a faithful complainer, knowing that God works all things for our good.


Stop grumbling!


Philippians 2:16 - "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. "

Just like in the days of Noah, people are wicked, selfish and getting worse every day.  We all know what happened in the days of Noah.  God removed all those who would not follow Him, from the face of the earth.  And, it will happen again.  It's just a matter of time.


So many people think that somehow, some way, they will be able to escape judgment.  Sorry to tell those people, but God stands on His promises.  He judged that time, He will do it again.


Sin always has its consequences.  Repent today, because none of us are promised tomorrow, or even the next hour.


The only people excluded from the horrible judgment of hell, is those who have surrendered their life to God, who walk with Him daily, and have a relationship with the King of Kings.


The only thing you should dread when that day comes is for God to say to you "Depart from me; I never knew you."


Get in the Ark.  Give your life to Jesus today!


Hebrews 9:27 - "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,"

God longs to walk with us every day.  But do we stop and wait on Him?  Or, are we too busy with our own lives that we forget to even think about Him throughout the day?  Are we rushing ahead with our own agenda?


As we start walking with God, daily, He will open the Scriptures to us through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and reveal to us the glory of God that is to be found in Him.  What does this look like?  


God first wants to walk with us, before He starts His work in us.  God will use the person that walks with Him.  God will test our fidelity and when we prove ourselves even through the greatest calamities of life, we qualify as useful vessels that God can use to reach others.


Keep on the path with God. He will never lead you off the path and will keep you on the straight and narrow.


Psalm 23:3 - "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

I have to admit it.  I've been guilty of putting God on my schedule, along with my long list of  'to-do' items.  This is a dangerous place to be.


All relationships take time to evolve.  Our relationship with God, unlike other relationships in many ways, still follows the rules of other relationships.  Spending time alone with a loved one provides the opportunity to truly come to know that person.  This should be no different with God.  In order to fully know and understand God, we MUST spend time alone with Him.


So, instead of adding God to your to-do list, make Him your first priority each and every day; before you do anything else.  Without time alone with God, we will find needs unmet; we will not truly know the abundant life He gives.


Take time today to get alone with God.  Be still and feel His presence.  Ask Him to help you with this request.  Remove Him from your 'to-do' list and make Him your DO list.


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

The first thing we need to do to be free from our stress and our worry is to accept Jesus into our lives.  Without Him, our life has no real purpose; we simply run from one activity to another.  We seek to fulfill our lives with purpose and peace, but we're looking for this fulfillment in all the wrong places.  We work ourselves to the bone for the things we desire, only to crave more.


God has a purpose for each one of us.  Yes, we'll be under trials in this life, but we don't have to be ringing our hands in worry over our burdens.  Give these burdens to God, each morning.  He has broader shoulders and has been through the same thing.  He can handle it.


Get out from the fire today.  Trust that God will take care of all your worries and problems.  Persevere to the end.  He will complete us in His time.


James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."