Steve Simms's Blog, page 8

Waking Up on Encouragement Time

Daily writing promptWhat time do you go to bed and wake up currently?View all responses

Discouragement seems to be the central standard time of life in the 21st century. It’s so widespread that it has turned into a growing mental health crisis around the world. Can discouragement be replaced with hope-filled encouragement? Yes, but it’s hard to do it by yourself. It greatly helps to have other people take the time to personally share hope and encouragement with us.

Here’s a key to encouragement. The Bible directs Christians to meet together and encourage one another something like a support group — like an AA or NA meeting. Read it for yourself:

“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.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Christians need to meet together to:
1) Wake up each other to hope,
2) Always refuse to mope,
3) Throw each other a rope,
4) Help each other to cope,
5) Together climb life’s slope.

That’s not just a rhyme.
It’s how we need to
Wisely spend our time.

For a group of Christ-followers to intentionally meet together with the objective of encouraging one another is extremely powerful. That’s because it is biblical. As Christians, we need each other. We need to gather together to both give and receive encouragement in small groups like an AA or NA meeting.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43938" />Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Comfort’s Not What It’s Cracked Up to Be

Comfort isn’t as important as it seems. It’s often a trap commonly called a comfort zone. Comfort zones often lead us to look at life from a distorted point of view. They frequently cause us to cozy into a formal institutionalized approach to life.

Institutionalized eyes often have difficulty seeing beyond institutionalized Christianity. They tend to overlook looking directly into the eyes of Christ, (Hebrews 12:2) beholding the Lamb of God, (John 1:29) and seeing things from His perspective. (1 Samuel 16:17) Institutional eyes tend to take a rational approach to faith, relying on what makes sense to them instead of looking at the things that are unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18) and relying on and surrendering to the presence, power, and direct inner revelation of the invisible Jesus. (Colossians 1:27)

Meanwhile Jesus calls for us to deny self, to carry our cross, and to follow and obey Him. (Luke 9:23) Looking beyond institutional eyes to be led by the Spirit by setting your affections on things above and not on things on the earth, (Colossians 3:2) requires radical self-denial, persistent cross bearing, and Jesus-first obedience. (Matthew 6:33)

Begin to look beyond routine institutionalized religion. Open your heart-eyes to look unto Jesus and allow Him to continually be the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

Once a church (or a Christian organization) drifts (or turns away) from the direct, open, and personal leading of the Holy Spirit it is almost impossible to get it back on a Spirit-led track. I’ve seen this happen many times and it’s always very sad to me.

Church history is full of such examples. Many denominations, independent churches, and parachurch organizations started out as Spirit-led movements. Eventually they shifted to human leadership, wisdom, and control, and away from God the Holy Spirit. Today they function as human-led religious
organizations instead of freely flowing in obedience to the direct personal leadership of the Spirit. (John 7:37-39)

Frequently gather with other sold-out Christ-followers (Hebrews 10:25) to worship, to seek the Lord together, and to be directly led by the Spirit. Institutionalized Christianity shouldn’t limit your spontaneous expressions of faith and your willingness to obey the inner promptings of God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14) Step beyond mere institutionalism and learn to directly contemplate and obey the presence of the risen Jesus day and night. (Google: Beyond Church Ekklesia.)

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43932" />Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’m Excited About Hope Beyond Humanity

I’ve lost my hope in humanity. Looking back through human history up to the present I see that people have produced crisis after crisis. Today because of our technology, communication, and travel many crises (the official plural of crisis) have become global. That doesn’t give me much hope for the future.

My hope comes from the supernatural — from a miraculous relationship with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Christ in you the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27) and I experience His inner glory throughout each day as I seek to follow and obey His Spirit.

I’ve discovered that the way to grow in deep, long-lasting hope is to promptly go when God the Holy Spirit say go. (John 14:15-17) Christians don’t grow more because we don’t step out in bolder obedience. Thus, we are hardened by the deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13) of the sin of quenching the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

Take the Holy Spirit plunge. Let go of your control and self-reliance (Matthew 16:24) and instead fully rely on His presence. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Tune up your ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. (Revelation 3:22) Then courageously follow His promptings and His leadings. (Romans 8:14) You’ll be amazed at the outcome when you notice what God has done in response to your obedience in faith. (Exodus 14:13) Step into God’s supernatural hope!

A token, a tad, or
A touch once a week
Isn’t what Jesus meant
When He said to seek
First the kingdom of God.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43924" />Photo by Yelena from Pexels on Pexels.com

The Joy of Inner Harmony

Daily writing promptWhat could you let go of, for the sake of harmony?View all responses

The only way for Christians to live in harmony with the kingdom of God is to let go of anything that hinders them from listening to, following, and obeying the promptings of God the Holy Spirit throughout each day. King Jesus wants to set you free from the captivity of being controlled by your desires.

Contemporary culture crowns desires as Lord and tries to coerce and compel people to abandon self-control and conform to their cravings. However, the more people surrender to their desires the greater their craving grows and the more it controls them.

Your desires are not your identity. Your lusts don’t have to define your life. You’re not required to surrender to your cravings. Follow Jesus instead.

Your urgings are not urgent. You don’t have to say yes to your yearnings or to go along with your longings. Self-control is always an option. Always put Jesus first.

Just because you
Have a desire
That doesn’t mean
You need to try
To make that desire
Transpire.

Here’s the good news.
You get to choose
Whether you want
To obey a desire
Or resist it.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43913" />Photo by M Venter on Pexels.com

Music That Overflows from the Heart

Daily writing promptWhat is your favorite genre of music?View all responses

I love music that overflows from the heart. When people passionately put their whole heart into a song it inspires and touches me deeply, especially when they are openly, freely, and spontaneously expressing deep love and adoration directly to the living God. That kind of music lifts me up and helps keep my heart intimately connected to the risen Jesus. It often brings me to tender tears and surges of joy. I search it out and listen to it often.

That kind of music is much more than religious lyrics and professionally played instruments arranged and produced in a recording studio. It flows from deep within the singer as God the Holy Spirit’s rivers of living water. (John 7:38-39) Some of the music that most powerfully flows that way is by Andre Crouch, The Maranatha Singers, Rick Pino, and Jesus Culture. It’s odd, but I don’t remember ever hearing any songs by those folks on Christian radio, so I listen to them on Alexa.

When I find a song anointed by the Holy Spirit it stirs my soul. I listen to it often and over and over again. It helps transport me into the glorious awareness of the presence of Jesus.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43904" />Photo by Van3ssa ud83dudd4aufe0fpeace ud83dudc95 loveud83dudd4aufe0f on Pexels.com

Life’s Most Memorable Moments

Listen. Here and now, you can hear God the Holy Spirit speaking in your heart and telling you His will, calling, and assignments for the present moment of your life. Listen. Then at the Lord’s command say and do what He tells you to. That’s what it means to be led by the Spirit. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:4-5) Then you will experience life’s most memorable moments, not just at special times or on special trips, but throughout each day.

Go and have fun and you will make some memories. Go have faith and you can make every moment meaningful. Make each moment of your life a treasure. Train your heart to listen to and obey God, day and night.

Your phone enables you to capture life moments in pictures. God the Holy Spirit wants to empower you to capture life’s moments in your heart.

Every moment in your life matters. Now is the time to appreciate the magnificence of each moment.

This magnificent moment, quickly slipping by, is a gift from God. Treasure each moment as long as they keep on coming. Let the risen Jesus Christ live in all the moments of your life.

The best things in life aren’t things. They are the moments that you deeply appreciate being alive and overflow with gratitude to God. Make every moment a grateful moment.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43888" />Photo by Riccardo on Pexels.com

I’m an “Authority” on a Special Kind of Gold Rush

Several times in history tens of thousands of fortune seekers have left their comfort zone and their homes. With gold fever — a burning passion to find gold — they poured into an area where gold deposits had recently been discovered. They made great sacrifices, often risking their health and their life in their efforts to strike it rich.

Some of the most famous gold rushes were the California Gold Rush that attracted about 300,000 “49ers” from around the world, the Comstock Gold Rush in Nevada that Mark Twain wrote about in his book “Roughing It” and the Klondike Gold Rush in Northern Canada that drew about 100,000 “Stampeders” from around the world to brave the weather where many died hiking to Dawson City in the Yukon Territory. Jack London wrote about their sacrifices in his book, “The Call of the Wild.”

However, all my adult life I’ve been part of another kind of gold rush. I have found something more precious than gold. (Psalm 19:10) It’s much better than a physical gold rush. It is a spiritual awakening that attacks thousands of people who are hungry to know God. They leave their comfort zone and make great sacrifices to draw near to God.

When I was in college, I was a part of a spiritual gold rush. I was part of a movement of hundreds of thousands of people who encountered the risen Jesus and began to give their all to follow Him. It was called the Jesus Movement. It gave me a burning desire to follow and obey the risen Jesus that still is aflame in my heart. Instead of 49ers or Stampeders, we were called Jesus Freaks.

There have been numerous Jesus movements around the world. They are called revivals or great awakenings. For decades I have read and learned about all of them that I can find. I guess I have become an expert on spiritual awakening. The desire of my heart is to help bring about another one so that people can encounter the golden glory of God as an ongoing experience and not just settle for a little bit of religion.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43882" />Photo by Lucia Barreiros Silva on Pexels.com

Divine Romance — Trumpets and Torches

A man named Gideon encountered the supernatural God. He listened and obeyed and changed history with trumpets and torches. You can read his story in Judges chapter 7. Here’s what Gideon’s bold and courageous example says to me.

Break out of the jar of routine religion. (2 Timothy 3:5) Smash the dark shell of guilt (Matthew 3:2) that hides and quenches (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the bright torch of Christ’s light burning inside you. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) Blow the trumpet of repentance by confessing your sins to one another, (James 5:16) forgiving one another, (Ephesians 4:32) and openly praying laying hands (Mark 16:18) on and praying over one another. (Ephesians 6:18) Literally “Shout unto God with a voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1)

Discontinue guilt-producing thoughts and behaviors. (John 8:11) Consistently resist them (James 4:7) until you learn to stop them in their tracks. (John 5:14) Replace them with the joy (Philippians 4:4) and profound inner peace (Philippians 4:7) of being forgiven. (Luke 7:48) Continually contemplate, cultivate, and embrace uplifting ideas, words, and behaviors. (Colossians 3:2) Grow them until they fill your life with beauty inside and out. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43873" />Photo by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels.com

Thank You!

Daily writing promptHow do you express your gratitude?View all responses

The best way to express gratitude is to directly and verbally communicate gratitude with an open humble heart to the one you are grateful to. Saying “I am grateful (or thankful) to you for reading my blog,” is a rather weak expression of gratitude. It’s much more powerful to say from my heart directly to you, “Thank you each one for taking your time to read what I write. I sincerely appreciate your time and interest.”

I use the same approach to express my gratitude to God. I don’t just tell other people that I am thankful to God. I say directly to God, many times every day, “Thank you, Jesus for . . .” Then I express specific things that I am grateful to Him for.

Here’s an example: “Thank You, Jesus, for creating a passionate yearning in my heart for more and more of Your presence and for helping me to cultivate and maintain that longing day after day.”

The assurance of God’s presence in your life comes from hungering and thirsting for a closer relationship with Christ. Spiritual hunger is a gift from God. (John 6:44) You don’t need more information about Jesus. You need to yearn for more of His presence. (Matthew 5:6)

Ask God to make you hungry for more of Jesus in your life. Go beyond mental analysis of the Bible. Read it, ponder it, and absorb it with your heart wide open to God the Holy Spirit, and soon you will begin to experience a deep desire and longing for more and more of Jesus in your life.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43868" />Photo by Peggy Anke on Pexels.com

An Invitation to Live Beyond Worry

Here’s your invitation to live beyond worry. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

Few people are eager to venture into a life full of God adventures by unceasingly focusing on what the Holy Spirit is saying and doing in every situation. (Colossians 3:2) It’s easy to dive face down into our own desires and let them distract us (Mark 4:18-19) from the Spirit’s inner promptings, (Romans 8:14) but if we don’t keep our eyes fixed on “Christ in you the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27) we’ll not experience much of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Cup your hands, (1 Timothy 2:8) open wide your heart, (Psalm 51:10) and drink the Spirit’s living water. (John 7:38) “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

Worry’s painful, but God’s peace is priceless! Choose inner peace. (Philippians 4:7)

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-43861" />Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com