for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29 ESV)

This is a great reminder that through Jesus we are all made one, brought together and counted as righteous to the God of the universe. Take a moment today to think how powerful it is that God brought the people He created across this entire world together in love from the sacrifice of His only son. Our God truly is love and let us challenge ourselves to see others in the world the same as ourselves because in Christ we are all made new and in His likeness no one better, no one worse, we are all ONE.

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 9:20-27 ESV)

Today I beg you believe Jesus for the impossible. The healing you need, the strength you need, the love you need, he has it all just BELIEVE.

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. (2 Corinthians 1:9, 10 ESV)

This is how we are to face trials. To take it as a reminder to trust in God and not ourselves when life becomes overwhelming. We can take what we are dealt as a death sentence and wade around aimlessly in despair or we can find hope in trusting the God of the universe an growing our relationship, faith, and strength in Him.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

This is a pretty famous excerpt from 1 Corinthians and rightfully so. This is what love is. This is what we must strive for every day to everyone around us to represent the love given to us.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV)

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19 ESV)

We must stand on Gods word and promise. As the prophet Balaam who speaks this passage to Balak who wants him to curse Israel, Balaam stands on the word he heard from God to bless Israel rather than curse them even when a mighty king offers him lavish gifts. We need to take this approach with everyday life no matter what the world offers God has given us true life in Jesus that goes beyond this world and lifetime. God has given us righteousness through the grace of Jesus Christ;let us stand on that truth, that word, no matter the riches offered or the threats laid against us. God has promised more and He will fulfill it.

While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:35, 36 ESV)

“Do not fear believe.” A powerful commandment from the mouth of Jesus. It makes me think about how many times our first reaction to a struggle is fear. What if we changed that? What if we obeyed Jesus in that moment and believed in His strength, in His greater plan, than the devils lie of fear and freaking out? The answer is that we will find peace and resurrection from that struggle.

Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. (Mark 5:41, 42 ESV)