If you’ve ever been a parent or guardian of children, you know that if something is troubling your child, you want to know about it. You care and want to help.

This is the way God is with His children. If we’re worried or concerned about a situation, He wants us to come to Him and ask for help.

If your child got in trouble at school, but didn’t tell you about it, and you found out from someone else, it would feel like he/she didn’t trust you; afraid that you’d be disappointed in them.

If you’re a Christian, you understand and are aware that when something comes into your life that you don’t understand, you tell God about it. Just as you would talk to your best friend, except you go to God in prayer, in confidence that He already knows the situation. This pleases God, just as it would any parent whose child comes to them in their time of need.

Cast your cares to God. He’s waiting to help. He wants to see if you trust Him.

1 Peter 5:7 - “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

The blood alcohol content limit is 0.08% or higher. If a cop pulls you over and tests your alcohol level, and it is above the limit, you go to jail. It’s called a DUI - driving under the influence.

As a Christian, we should be walking under the influence of God. Our daily goal should be, to be more and more like Him.

When Jesus walked the earth, He had many followers, along with His disciples. Jesus was a great influential teacher and leader. Those who followed Him, then and now, are considered to be Under the Influence of Christ. Our life should be so consumed with His love and compassion, that we are intoxicated by His holy spirit.

The God I serve is a jealous God. He doesn’t want to share me with anyone or anything.

Just as Jesus had a great following in the New Testament, we, as Christians should be a Christ-like influence to others.

In order to have a Christ-like influence, we must be under the influence of Christ.

Show the world how to live the best life in Christ. While the world may be drowning in its own vomit, Christians can stand with Christ, confident in our positive influence to others.

Be under God’s influence, not the world’s.

Hebrews 12:28-29 - “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

If you saw a hungry child, would you give them something to eat? What about a neighbor or homeless person, that didn’t have anywhere to spend Thanksgiving dinner, would you invite them into your home?

I’ll admit, it would be challenging for me to invite a complete stranger into my home, but it has crossed my mind.

You see, this is what Jesus did when He was living on earth. He fed the hungry; He gave water to the thirsty, but best of all, He gave all a chance (and still does) for eternal life.

God wants and commands us to love one another. That doesn’t mean just your friends and family. It means everyone.

God loves it when He sees His children giving to and loving on others. We are supposed to model Christ in everything we do.

When we treat others with love and respect, we’re loving and respecting God. On the contrary, if we disrespect and are unloving and uncaring to others, we are hurting God.

Love one another as Christ first loved you.

Matthew 25:35-40 - “ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

A pastor once said, “there are three enemies to Christians.” The world, our flesh, and the devil.

We were all born into sin. It’s not something we could choose not to do.

It all started in the Garden of Eden. God designed us with a free will; meaning, we can make our own choices. Then, satan shows up and mixes things up a bit.

Satan convinces the first and only woman, that she doesn’t have to do Everything God says. The devil tells Eve that if she eats from this one tree, she can be her own god, smarter and more powerful than the God of creation.

Hence, our first enemy wins over Eve, and it all went down hill from there.

Our flesh, since it is sinful in nature, is our own worst enemy.

And, then you have the world, made up of people convincing other people that the only way to live this life and to be happy, is to do whatever you want to do; buy whatever you desire.

There’s only one way to win this war of life. It’s to get on the winning team, God’s team.

Give your life to Christ today and watch your enemies flee.

Oh, satan will always be around, but you’ll have God to help fight your battles.

God has already defeated death. Why not join the victor of life.

There are times where you, yourself, can be your own worst enemy. The bible says to love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. I’ve done this, and it works. The enemy is no longer your enemy when they realize they can’t hurt you.

Matthew 4:43-45 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

God takes what satan means for evil and recycles it for something good.

In the past ten years, I’ve always tried to be diligent about recycling. I find it amazing that they can take used plastic, glass, and other materials and turn them into something useable.

Recycling didn’t just start ten years ago. Generations, long before this one, man has been recycling. They had to. They didn’t have the means or the ingenuity to recycle their own products. They just re-used what they had.

I think of myself as a recycled Christian. There have been many times in my life where things happen, that I didn’t understand. How could this happen to me, I’m a Christian, after all? But, hindsight is our best teacher.

Two years ago, when my life was just cruising along, satan threw a road block in my path. I was devastated, to the point of brokenness.

But, I stayed close to God, trusting Him to bring me to the other side of this adversity.

And, thank God, He did just that. He recycled the tragedy into something wonderful today.

God never gives up on His children.

Let God take care of the recycling. He’s been doing it since the beginning of time.

God will take what satan means for evil, and turn it for good.

Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Have you ever been so distracted that you couldn’t get your thoughts back on to what you were doing?

As I was intently reading one morning, I happen to look up and out of the corner of my eye, a small mouse scampered across the room. It was like someone, all of a sudden invaded my space.

The problem now was, that was all I could think about. I can relate this to my own Christian walk. There are times when one small distraction, like having a bad day, when my mind will drift from God, to my problem.

It’s not easy, to avoid or overlook distractions. This world is full of interruptions in life. Satan would love for you to watch that reality show, rather than spending time with your spouse or kids.

Be careful what you’re putting before God. You might think it’s just a distraction, but it could lead to idolatry.

I read this today, “God is not nearly as interested in our efficiency as He is in our faith.”

We’re becoming conditioned to distractions. It’s harming our ability to think clearly, to pray. Start focusing our attention on what’s right in front of us. Jesus is asking us to look to Him, when our world is suddenly upside down.

When someone or something takes our attention off of God, know that it’s just a distraction. You have the will, the confidence in Christ, to decide not to accept the distraction. Look away and look to God for guidance.

Distraction humbles us, and makes us realize that we need God.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Love shouldn’t be conditional. Love needs to come from the heart, with no expectations.

I recently watched my grandkids receiving their yellow belts in Martial Arts. Most of the kids were already excited and jumping around when I got there.

But, I noticed something from the instructor that really impressed me. He was very intentional and direct with each student, along with a smile and words of encouragement, each kid walked away with a visible face of confidence.

It just shows you that if you encourage kids, even if they’re not your own, it will give them the assurance and courage they need to do that next thing.

In the world we live in, there’s so much hate and competition, that there’s little room left for inspiration.

If you have a child in your life, or an adult, give them a few words of encouragement; smile and tell them they’re doing a good job.

Encouragement makes it easier to live in a fallen world. Discouragement stunts lives.

Encourage someone today, and breath life into their day.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

When you truly love someone, you take the time needed to get to know them. You intentionally seek out time so that they get to know you too.

Someone wrote, “The gospel brings man to God; devotions keep him close to God.”

After you give your life to Christ, a believer will naturally want to walk with God; spend time with Him.

Devotion is defined as love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause. We are fortunate to have access to all types of daily devotions that we can read or listen to, specifically pointing to God.

I’ve found that in addition to reading the Bible daily, adding a daily devotional helps me enhance my walk with God.

I’m currently reading an online devotional, called “First 5.” The devotion contains a relatable story, backed up with Biblical scripture.

Devotions allow me to widen my knowledge of the Bible, and usually has something related to my everyday life.

Try a daily devotional, even if you don’t read the Bible. It can give you a daily boost to your mood and enhance your day.

Psalm 73:28 - “But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.”