Rules To Live By.....Rule#4

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

~ Jeremiah 29:11

God’s the one who has the best plans for us, it’s God’s job to get us there….whatever it takes.

Jesus said:

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” ~ Matthew 6:34 

Rules to Live By.....Rule #3

Rule # 3 - Letting Go Is Your Decision!

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

~Ephesians 4:31-32

If we are to truly let go of what weighs us down:

· “Get rid of all…” - Decide whether clinging to the burden is worth it. If not, dump it.

· “Be Kind” - Being angry and hurt is easy. Change that by deciding to be kind.

· “Forgiving” - Ask yourself, ‘what all has God through Christ forgiven in me?’ Forgiveness IS possible. It isn’t easy. But having that weight lifted will greatly help the healing process. 

If a truck parks on your foot, can your foot heal with the truck still on your foot? Yet we want to keep the very thing(s) that are hurting us keep right on hurting us.  Let them go and begin to heal!

Rules For Living.....Rule #2

Rule # 2 - BIBOMO

"But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you."

~Isaiah 42:1-2

God tells us:

· “Do not be afraid” - God is bigger than whatever we are dealing with.

· “I have called you by name” - God loves you enough to know your name!

· “You are mine” - God loves you so much that He claims you as His own.

· “I will be with you” - no matter what we may have done, experienced, endured...God is with us. Whatever we are facing, God is with us.  Whatever we will face, God is with us.

Rules for Living....Rule #1

Over the next few days we'll be looking at 4 rules to live by.

Rule #1 - You Can’t Run A Race Looking Backward

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.  ~ Philippians 3:13-14

Three things stick out in this verse:

· “Forgetting the past” - learn from it and let it stay in the past!

· “Looking forward to what lies ahead” - Hope lies forward!

· “Press On” - Keep going! Don’t Give Up!

²⁵ Look straight ahead,
    and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
²⁶ Mark out a straight path for your feet;
    stay on the safe path.
²⁷ Don’t get sidetracked;
    keep your feet from following evil.

~ Proverbs 4:25-27