A MARK OF A TRUE BELIEVER
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
—James 1:22
Obedience to the Word of God is the most basic requirement of Scripture for those who profess faith in Christ. “Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). The English word “abide”, translated from the Greek word “meno”, means to "stay, continue, dwell, endure, or remain." In other words, obedience to Christ is not a one-time event, but a steady, continual walk in the direction of holiness. No, this is not perfection in living, but striving for godly obedience is certainly the direction of the believer’s life. Those who obey God’s Word with a thankful heart are those who evidence true faith in Christ. Those who do not obey God’s Word evidence a heart that is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-3).
James is concerned with the practical business of Christian living, so he says if you are only a hearer of the Word and not a doer of the Word then you are deceiving yourself about your salvation. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). And Jesus said in Luke 6:46, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" Are you abiding in Christ by striving to obey His Word out of a thankful heart? Then you, my friend, give evidence that you are one of the sheep of Christ’s pasture, one of the people of His hand (Psalm 100:3). Keep on trusting in the Lord and abiding in His Word!
Tuesday Encouragement: August 25, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
… See MoreSee Less
A CHRISTIAN'S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
My Father and my God,
I bow before You this morning through my Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.
O my Father, “I am prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above!”
O Father, my thoughts of You are too few!
I have too much of the world still within my heart.
Because of this, I often don't understand the things that I do.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:15, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”
My only hope is the deliverance in Christ! “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand! I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name! On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!”
O my God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit: help me walk in truth, righteousness, and holiness!
Lord, I love You! Help me to love You and know You in a greater measure.
You have redeemed me that I might reflect Your glory!
But I am a very poor reflection!
Forgive me, O Father. My heart is still sinful.
No, sin doesn't reign in me, praise You Holy Spirit for Your work within me, but sin still remains and must be fought against every day.
The battle is continual, fierce, tiring, moment by moment, day by day.
Yet, I am too weak of myself, and I readily know this to be true!
Strengthen me, O Great Jehovah! I believe, help my unbelief!
Fill me Holy Spirit, with Your holy Presence, power, and holy Word.
Cause me never to trust my heart or my emotions but only Christ who speaks in and through the Word.
Help me, Holy Spirit, as I am dependent upon You and I am at Your sovereign mercy!
O Lord Jesus, cause me to bring all my thoughts captive to Your obedience.
Make me think Your thoughts after You.
Keep my mind meditating on Your Word.
Cause me to beat my body into submission to Your truth.
Cause me to discipline my mind into submission to Your Lordship.
Grant me a greater desire and hunger for Your Word, Your glory, Your holiness, Your righteousness, and Your kingly rule over me.
Cause me daily to remember what You have done for me in Your life and death, and continual intercession.
Cause me daily to remember that sin is a liar.
Cause me daily to remember that You purchased me, body and soul, to be Your own.
I belong to You, Jesus! You are my Good Shepherd!
Cause me to daily look away from self and keep my eyes fixed upon You!
O my sovereign Lord and Savior, I am so weak of myself that I cannot stand one moment apart from You upholding me.
Uphold me, Lord Jesus! Do not allow me to sin against You.
Don't allow me to wander! Don't let me do my own thing or go my own way.
Keep me on the straight and narrow path that leads to life.
Keep me following You! Keep me hearing Your voice as a sheep of Your pasture!
Keep transforming my mind by Your Word! Keep me loving you!
“Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.
Naked come to Thee for dress, helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly, wash me, Savior, or I die!”
My Father, I am so sinful, weak, frail, and fragile!
Please forgive me for the sake of Christ’s person and work.
Please forgive me according to the promise of Your Word, that if we confess to You that You are faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Father, I confess that I have broken all Your commandments!
Forgive me, cleanse me, and restore to me the joy of Your salvation.
Keep my mind dwelling on holiness, subdue my sinful passions and emotions, fill me with Your Presence and Power.
Be with me moment by moment as You promised to never leave nor forsake Your people.
O my God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit: You are holy, good, righteous, kind, gracious, just, merciful, long-suffering, wisdom, love, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, (all this and infinitely more) and You are immutably and eternally all Your attributes!
You are glorious in splendor and majesty! Use me for Your glory!
Here am I, send me! Use me, fill me, keep me for Your glory and praise.
Discipline me, O Father, when I disobey and go astray!
Humble me when I obey and stay in Your Word.
In Jesus' name I ask all this!
Amen!
… See MoreSee Less