Posts by Matthew Shorack (Page 2)
Negative Thoughts Leave Us Vulnerable to Satan’s Attacks
Ephesians 4:26-27 In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. What temptations consistently create a foothold for Satan in your life? What negative emotions set you on a darker path? Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling…
Twelve Minor Prophets With Major Life Lessons (Series)
We are starting a new series on the major prophets. We will spend the next twelve weeks going through each of these twelve powerful and challenging books. Most people don’t spend much time in most of these books because they can be a little difficult to track because they consist of so much poetry and refer to many different times in Israel’s history. I’m excited to see these books come alive as we start with overviews of each book, and…
The Power To Keep Going
2 Corinthians 4:7-9: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. How can faith help you endure when life gets brutal? When we pray, God doesn’t usually change our situation, but He does change us, during our struggles. Often our…
The Beast Within
Colossians 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. How are the relationships with your family, friends, and coworkers? Is there anyone who has experienced your beast within, and is still wounded? The problem with this misuse of emotion is broken relationships usually with the people closest to us. Do you love the power that evolves with your rage, more than blessing those close…
Deleting The Dark Clouds
Deleting The Dark Clouds We are all familiar with the question, is your glass half full or half empty? What do you do if your glass is desert dry? Can that person be freed from condemning thoughts and feelings so that their anxiety and fear can be replaced with peace and joy? Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,…
Coming Back Together
Coming Back Together Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. It’s been two years since we stopped mandated social distancing because of Covid.…
The Struggle Is The Blessing
The Struggle Is The Blessing 1 Peter 2:20-24 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they…
The Power of Choice
The Power of ChoiceWhat negative thoughts have you been focusing on? Romans 8:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who lovehim, who have been called according to his purpose. Genesis 1:26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so thatthey may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over thelivestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that movealong…
Fiendishly Finding Footholds
Fiendishly Finding Footholds Ephesians 4:22-27 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of…
Invest In The Future
Invest In The Future How we live matters. When we teach by how we live, instead of by what we say, we earn the right to be heard and followed. Joshua 4:21-22 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ Don’t allow your legacy to be destroyed by a hostile spirit. What we reap, we sow. Often the crop will be harvested…
The Fog Of War
2 Timothy 2:22-26Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love andpeace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’thave anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you knowthey produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsomebut must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponentsmust be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentanceleading them to a knowledge of…
Joy In All Situations
Joy In All Situations Is God more concerned with our comfort or our character? We worry and are concerned about how to make our lives more comfortable, while God is focused on our character. We think that comfort will bring peace of mind, but we see example after example of those with more than they could ever want, living lives of depression and shame. There is only one thing that can bring eternal hope which leads to joy and that’s…
Don’t Focus On Yourself
Don’t Focus On YourselfLuke 22:24-2724 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered tobe greatest.Only a few days after Palm Sunday, these disciples who have beenfollowing Jesus, watching Him heal and teach so many, were oblivious towhat was truly important during their last meal together. They were sofocused on themselves and their own importance that were arguing witheach other over who was the greatest. It wasn’t the food that left a badtaste that night. Not…
Don’t Be Ruled By Anxiety And Fear
Don’t Be Ruled By Anxiety And Fear Is fear or anxiety keeping you from stepping forward in faith? Fear and doubt cause us to shut down emotionally, physically, and relationally. Either we give into our fears and become a bump on a log, or we live in fear and doubt with restless worry and nervous concern. If we want to stop being spectators and get into the game of life with purpose and passion, then we need God’s truth, healing,…
When God Is Silent
When God Is Silent Ephesians 6:18 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Why should we keep on praying when God doesn’t seem to respond? One of the greatest gifts of prayers is being dependent on God more than we are on ourselves. God doesn’t need me to remind Him of anything, but committed prayer reminds me of my dependence on Him. When I’m…
Be Grateful
Be Grateful The other day I was complaining in my mind as I sat at a stop light. It had gone through the cycle twice already, but my turn lane never turned green. You see an ambulance had passed through the intersection and caused me to have to wait. I felt the frustration building when a firetruck went through the intersection. Great, now I had to wait for another two cycles before my light turned green. I didn’t stop…
