Friendship Baptist Church

Today's Thoughts: Fight the Good Fight "Fight the good fight of the faith." - 1Timothy 6:12 Timothy was a young preacher, mentored by Paul and used in a mighty way to spread the Gospel of Christ. Paul knew how much Timothy's faith would be, and was being, tested. He would have to "fight" to keep going or his faith would be shaken. In our world, the word "fight" is heard so often. We hear of fighting actual wars in numerous areas of the world and we fight battles in our own li...ves every day. As Christians, we may not always be aware of the battles that we are fighting. Sometimes they are manifested in arguments, disputes and areas of stress in our homes. Sometimes they are internalized battles that rage in our minds, frustrating our thoughts and emotions. Ephesians 6 speaks of the battle as a spiritual war, one that tries and tests our faith to the limit, and to the end of our lives. We must learn how to fight to stay in the faith or we will find ourselves desperately weak and shaken. So, how do we "fight" this "good fight of the faith?" Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). If we are not in the Word on a daily basis, then deceiving thoughts and feelings have more opportunity to take root within us. The enemy roams about seeking whom he may devour and we are more easily devoured when we are not standing on the promises of God. But not only do we need to read God's word everyday; but also we need to learn how to use it. We must learn how to fight with it. I challenge you today to read the Bible with a different perspective. Take certain verses and keep them in your thoughts. Speak them against the enemy forces that may attack you. For example, if a thought comes to you like, "God really doesn't care about what I am going throughwhere is He?" Read Psalm 139 and speak out the verses. Verses 7 & 8 speak about how God never leaves us; no matter where we go, He is there. Verse 17 tells us how much God thinks about us everyday. Take these verses and fight back. Let the Lord strengthen your faith through His word. You will gain strength spiritually, even when the battles rage. Ultimately you will win in the end. Our Lord and Savior Jesus has already won the war for us and He will be with us in every battle we fight. Just remember to take Him with you.

A Prayer for the Overwhelmed By Jennifer Rothschild From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety. Psalm 61:2 (NLT)... Sometimes we can’t change all the stuff in our lives that feels bigger than we can handle. But, whatever feels bigger than you is still puny compared to the Rock that is higher than you! When I feel flat-out overwhelmed and under-qualified and out-of-sorts, I’m learning not to run away from my stress. I am also learning not to run to a bag of chocolate! Instead, I’m learning to run to God to His Word in the overwhelming middle of my stress! When I run to God’s Word, even just one verse, I find that God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1, NIV). When I run to Him, I find that my refuge isn’t an escape from my stress. God is my refuge. I’m reminded once again that my strength doesn’t come from me and my stamina or drive. My strength comes from the Lord. He is the rock that is higher than I am. When I run to His Word, I discover that His law is my delight and it protects me and keeps me from totally freaking out or giving up or falling apart. (Psalm 119:92) He really is the Rock that is stronger and higher than anything you and I face. If you feel the need to run away, lace up your cutest running shoes, and go for it! Run into the strong arms of Jesus. He is Your strength. He is your Rock. He is your refuge. And, when you find yourself sheltered in the truth of His Word and in the sanctuary of His presence, all the stress that overwhelmed you and felt bigger than you suddenly shrinks down to the pebble size it really is! God’s Word gives you the perspective you need. God’s presence gives you the peace you need, so run away run to the Rock who’s waiting to shelter and settle you. Lord, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your Word which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run to lesser things. Draw me to run to You first. Help me get into the habit of taking my overwhelmed and placing it under your will. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer for Righteous Speech By John North Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29 ... God hates gossip! Look at the list of sins he puts gossip into. It is there alongside haters of God and inventors of evil and malice. Gossip is immensely destructive. When you talk about someone to someone else, in a negative wayeven if what you are saying is trueyou are sinning against God, and you are hurting the person you are talking about, and you are hurting yourself. Gossiping about others damages your own credibility. It also damages the relationship between them and the person you are talking to, and it hurts the person you are talking about. Gossip may make you feel better about something that irritates you about someone, but in the long run gossip hurts everyone. God wants you to know that he is offended when you gossip about someone. Heavenly Lord, may the words of our mouth and the actions of our heart reflect only the grace you have demonstrated to all mankind. Our words have the power to harm and to heal. Whenever we speak, let us demonstrate the gentleness and charity you showed to all. Amen.

A Prayer for Sovereign Mercy By Alistair Begg You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Psalms 86:5... Here is sovereign mercy -- "I will send down the showers in their season." Is it not sovereign, divine mercy? For who can say, "I will send down showers" except God? There is only one voice that can speak to the clouds and bid them send the rain. "Who sends down the rain upon the earth? Who scatters the showers upon the green herb? Do not I, the Lord?" So grace is the gift of God and is not to be created by man. It is also needed grace. What would the ground do without showers? You may break the clods, you may sow your seeds, but what can you do without the rain? Just as absolutely needful is the divine blessing; you work in vain until God then bestows the shower and sends salvation down. Then, it is plenteous grace. "I will send down the showers." It does not say, "I will send down drops," but "showers." So it is with grace. If God gives a blessing, He usually gives it in such a measure that there is not room enough to receive it. Plenteous grace! We need plenteous grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful, to make us holy; plenteous grace to make us zealous, to preserve us through this life, and at last to land us in heaven. We cannot do without saturating showers of grace. Again, it is seasonable grace. "I will cause the shower to come down in their season." What is your season this morning? Is it the season of drought? Then that is the season for showers. Is it a season of great heaviness and black clouds? Then that is the season for showers. "As your days, so shall your strength be." Lord, we praise you for your grace. By you we are raise out of the muck and mire to find a new home in your Kingdom. There will come moments in our lives when all we can do is call on you. We thirst for your mercy Lord, please hear our prayer. Amen.

A Prayer for Trust to Step Out in Faith By Debbie Przybylski Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6... We all want God to answer our prayers. We believe in the power of prayer, but when it comes down to our own individual lives and problems, we often don’t have the faith to believe that God will answer. Unbelief and independence trap us. But God wants to enlarge our territory and bless us with increase, because His nature is to bless. Our lack of faith and our fear of stepping out in dependence on Him are what get in the way. The truth is that the things we do for God should be outside of our own abilities; they should be evidence that we are trusting in His supernatural ability. When we back away from dependence, we are not living by faith. We need to be willing to attempt things big enough that unless God steps in, we are sure to fail. Faith is like jumping out of an airplane at fifteen thousand feet. If God doesn’t catch you, you will fall and crash. But how do you know unless you jump? This is the kind of faith and dependence He is looking for in our lives. Remember the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10: "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request. Jabez cried out to God to enlarge his territory and bless him. He cried out for God’s hand to be with him. Jabez was greatly blessed by God because he didn’t let obstacles become larger than his faith. He knew the character of God and that He loved to bless. We, too, are made for destiny. We have a God-inspired desire to impact our world. Created for something bigger than ourselves, we are designed to touch a lost world. We long to make an impact on our land for eternity, whether it is where we work, live or minister. But in reality most of us are afraid to step out by faith. What step of faith is God asking you to take today? Will you put everything into His almighty hands, adjust your life to what you are praying for, and step out by faith in whatever way He leads? When you do this, you become dependent in His dependable hands. He is waiting for your invitation to enlarge your faith. Gracious Father, as we begin a new day, help us to engage your will with a reckless faith. Teach us to trust in you, and help us grow in righteousness. Heavenly Lord, give us the courage to step out in faith this day. Fill our hearts with your spirit, and let us speak your words with pride.