Wrestling with Evil

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age.

Ephesians 6:11-12

When wrestlers compete, they rely on both strength and strategy to overcome their opponent. Even before the match begins, a wrestler takes a moment to size up his opponent, looking for his opponent's potential vulnerabilities, while remaining fully aware of his own. The passage in Ephesians uses the image of a wrestling match to convey the ongoing struggle and preparation that standing strong against evil entails - and it reminds you to be sure that you are fighting the right opponent.

People may do evil things, but your battle is not with individuals. Your battle is with evil itself. The Ephesians were well-acquainted with principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness - different kinds of evil spirits. The society was heavily involved in sorcery and magic. Even those who chose not to follow God were aware there was some kind of spiritual battle going on behind the scenes of their everyday lives. Ephesians 6 provides readers with God's guidelines on how to effectively fight that battle.

Mixing metaphors between wrestling and fighting a battle, Ephesians 6 instructs you to cover yourself with God-given armor. This protective gear is described in more detail in subsequent verses, but it includes things such as truth, righteousness, God's Spirit, God's Word, and prayer. As you choose to don God's armor each day and remind yourself who your opponent really is, you'll find yourself well prepared to hold your ground against evil.

Being prepared to encounter evil and focusing on it are two different things. Stay focused on God. His Spirit will make you aware of any battles you need to face.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for his guidance and strength in your personal spiritual fight against evil. It is not flesh to flesh, fist to fist battle that we prepare for but a spiritual battle against the enemy. God's truths are the armor he has given us to protect us through the journey. Let us not take it lightly that we need to prepare daily through prayer and time with scripture to feed our body, mind and spirit with all the goodness God provides us. Let us not be spiritually starved or else the enemy will take away our victory. ~ MME Team

Character Under Pressure

We... have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Genuine diamonds are known for both their beauty and their strength. Though they begin as common carbon, constant pressure over an extended period of time creates something of rare value. The same is true for strength of character, which is just as rare and even more valuable. True character exhibits integrity through consistent moral excellence. Through the apostle Paul's words, God shares the secret of how this priceless character trait is developed. It takes place through an unexpected process - experiencing joy when you're suffering under pressure.

In several versions of the Bible, the word for suffering is translated "tribulations." This comes from the Latin word tribulum, which was taken from the name of a piece of farm equipment used during New Testament times. A tribulum was a heavy piece of timber with spikes in it that was drawn over newly picked grain. It separated the valuable grain form the worthless chaff. Tribulation, or suffering, does the same thing to your character. It sifts it, helping you sort out what's truly important in life from what's of little value.

As your character grows stronger, so does your hope. Experiencing firsthand how God can use difficult circumstances in a positive way solidifies your hope for the future as it strengthens your trust in him. This character-building process hones the resulting hope by persevering through difficulties. This is what allows you to find genuine joy, even in the middle of suffering.

A diamond has no choice in how it responds to pressue. You do. Choosing to focus on the hope that produces joy during hard times develops a character that's more like Jesus's own.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and thank Him for free will and his great love that provides us strength for the journey; as we live and grow under the pressure of this earthly world. We thank Him for free will for it is this freedom that provides opportunity for each of us to grown personally in our one-to-one relationship with God. It is this freedom that reveals how GOOD God really is. That He provides us freedom to stumble and even fall in the pressure of living life while never leaving our side. At times He even carries us through the most difficult of trials and tribulations. He never leaves us, He sees everything we do ... and He still loves us enough to forgive us and grow our heart of worship through every prayer we say and every repentance. We thank you, Lord, for you are the GREAT I AM and you give us the promise of HOPE. ~ MME Team

Willing Surrender

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

For many people, the idea of submitting themselves to someone else carries negative connotations. Submitting implies inferiority, subservience, or blink obedience. Nothing could be farther from God's truth. Submission as described in the Bible is a mutual commitment between two equals whose goal is to foster unity and cooperation. The ancient Greek word used in the Bible to describe submission is a military command telling troops to get in order according to their rank. By following this structure of authority, soldiers can work together more efficiently to accomplish their own individual duties. A company with too many generals and not enough privates has little chance of winning a war.

In the Bible, several verses ask wives to submit to their husbands, servants to submit to their masters, and citizens to submit to the government. Ephesians 5:2 lays the groundwork for them all. It makes absolutely clear that submission is expected of every follower of Jesus, not just a few specific groups of people. One way that Jesus showed his love was by willingly setting his rights aside to better serve others. Every time you follow his example, you honor him.

In daily life, submitting to one another looks a lot like respect, humility, and love. It means that demanding your own way, flaunting your authority, or nurturing a superiority complex are things of the past. It means that your life is beginning to look more like Jesus's.

Before mutual submission is evident in your actions, it needs to take root in your attitude. That process begins the moment you submit your own personal agenda for life to God's.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for healing when it comes to how we view the act of submission. Ask Him to transform your broken heart that was created trying to please MAN with one of a heart centered on Him. Ask him for guidance and sustainability thus His work, His will, will become yours. In doing so submission transforms into an act of worship. When we worship our Lord we are healed and saved eternally. ~ MME Team

Free at Last

Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:31-32

In today's postmodern society, talking about truth can be tricky. If you want to discuss a truth, feel free. However, talking about the truth is a whole other matter. Talking about the truth would imply that what you're sharing is an absolute truth, something that is true for everyone - whether everyone personally believes it to be true or not.

That's the kind of truth Jesus was talking about to his Jewish audience in the temple treasury as recorded in the Gospel of John. The term Jesus used for truth was the same one used to describe a legal standard, a fact that would stand up in court. This fact was broader than just the truth about who Jesus was. The Jews who were listening already believed. The truth Jesus spoke of is the kind revealed over the course of a lifetime, as those who believe in him choose to obey his words.

In ancient Greek, know means more than "to make a mental note of." It means that you have tested your belief exponentially. By putting Jesus's teaching into practice, you can come to know the truth about God, life and yourself. This knowledge frees you from your chains you may not even  be aware are holding you back, such chains as pride, selfishness, and the temptation to do what is contrary to Jesus's words. Let God's truth lead you to true freedom today.

God's promise of freedom is linked to putting his words to the test. Get to know his words better by reading, meditating on, and praying  about at least one verse of Scripture each day.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give him thanks for the "truth" for it liberates and breaks all chains. In God we trust. ~ MME Team

A Brand-New Beginning

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born again,  he cannot be in God's kingdom.

John 3:3

The people of Israel were much like people today. They were constantly seeking restoration. They wanted broken bodies whole. Broken relationships mended. Their broken nation restored to peace and prosperity. Their broken link to eternity reforged. Yet God did not settle for restoration. He sent Jesus to bring regeneration - a totally new life.

This new life is what Jesus was speaking about when he talked to Nicodemus, a Pharisee of rare character who was honestly seeking God's truth. At first Nicodemus misunderstood the whole concept, arguing that there was no possible way for a baby to reenter his mother's womb and be reborn. But the birth Jesus was speaking about was a spiritual rebirth, a radical reawakening to who you were created to be. The spiritual rebirth was a brand-new way of relating to life that is possible only through the gift of a totally new nature.

The "old" nature was focused on self. The "new" nature is focused on God. Like a newborn who is predisposed toward certain traits because of his DNA but nonetheless has to positively participate in the maturity you need to live a godly life. To mature in that life, you must choose to nurture your new nature. Nourish yourself with the Bible. Exercise your spiritual muscles by acting on what God asks you to do. Rest in God's promise that the past is gone and that you have been born again.

Use Jesus's words as a touchstone anytime you get discouraged about how long it takes to become spiritually mature. You have the right DNA. Adulthood is inevitable. It just take times to get there.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God to keep your eyes on the prize - the prize of eternal salvation. The process of spiritual maturity is a gift God has provided us on earth to condition us to what awaits us in heaven. Through each transformative trial and tribulation that we encounter God wants us to glorify Him in the process. He wants us to focus on pleasing Him more then ourselves. That means loving when it's unfair (when we are hurt). That means forgiving without regret (do not keep a score card) sure in the knowledge that God is in control and He will guide you through all turbulence that this earthly life might push towards you. Actions taken by a spiritual mature Christian heart will yield the peace and love on earth that which awaits us in heaven. ~ MME Team

Power Source

God said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Three times the apostle Paul asked God to remove what Paul referred to as a "thorn in the flesh." Some historians speculate that this physical problem was some kind of eye disease. Whatever ailment was troubling Paul, the writer of this letter believed it was interfering with what God wanted him to do. God saw things differently. God will not always answer your prayers in ways you expect. Instead of curing Paul, God answered Paul's prayers by telling him that all Paul needed was God's grace, that God's grace was enough. God may be answering some of your prayers in the very same way.

God did not give Paul a reason for the pain he was going through. However, he did give Paul a promise. God promised that the apostle's personal pain would not diminish Paul's impact on the world; rather, his pain would expand it. Having to depend more on God, and less on his own physical strength and abilities, allowed Paul's life to reveal God's power in a greater way.

Your own personal weakness may be physical, like Paul's. It may come from a lack of confidence in your abilities, a financial setback, or the breakup of a relationship. Whatever struggle you may be facing, God's promise is as true for you as it was for Paul. Your powerlessness to change a situation provides a unique opportunity for God to reveal himself in a more powerful way to you and to those around you.

When you feel that God isn't answering a heartfelt prayer, take a fresh look at the situation. Ask yourself how God's power is evident through your problem. Thank him for what you learn as you persevere.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give Him your hurt, disappointment, frustration, and all things that come from this earth that are not made by Him. Take comfort that our God is always available to listen to us and He does listen to every word we speak. Then take time to mediate over the words you have spoken and take peace in the knowledge that you have given it to God to battle. He is our leader in this spiritual war. He is the one and only Lord the Savior who has power to make all good happen for his glory and honor. "Answers" may not come to you as you expect but that is good; this means He is working on it. Many times we expect thunder and lighting as a form of being heard by God. But it is in the silence that he is doing the work. During this time He is growing our faith and strengthening our lighthouse so we do not get lost in darkness. ~ MME Team

Remember Me

As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26

Every time you take part in Communion at church, you are preaching a silent sermon. The message you are sharing proclaims the truth that Jesus willingly gave his body and his blood through death on a cross so you could spend eternity with him. It is a message that carries multiple emotions. Sorrow over Jesus's suffering. Joy over his resurrection. Gratitude for the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

The power of remembrance can become meaningless ritual if you allow your attentions to become automatic. That is when you cease to proclaim, or to make public, the message Jesus shared during his Last Supper. It was at that final meal with his disciples that Jesus first used bread and wine as symbols for his own sacrifice. It was there that he explained that his broken body and spilled blood sealed God's New Covenant with his followers. The Old Covenant that temporarily covered a person's sins through animal sacrifice was null and void. The New Covenant of absolute forgiveness was available to all.

Jesus asked his followers to keep on proclaiming this message until his return to earth. While verbal messages communicate to the masses, the silent sermon of verbal messages is actually one you preach to yourself. It is a consistent reminder to stay focused on the basics. You commune with Jesus by looking back at what he did. You look forward to when you'll meet face-to-face. You look within to see what needs to be changed or confessed because of what Jesus has done for you.

Different churches celebrate Communion in different ways. The how isn't as important as the why, and 1 Corinthians 11:26 clearly points you to the why. Keep it in mind every time you celebrate the Lord's Supper.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give thanks for the opportunity provided to experience Communion. Give thanks for the cross and for the ultimate sacrifice of his Son, Jesus, who came to save us all. ~ MME Team

What's in a Name?

God said to Moses, "I am who I am."

Exodus 3:14

To the people of Israel, a name was more than an identification for an individual. It was a statement about who that person was. When Moses (whose name means "taken from the water") met God for the first time via the burning bush, Moses wanted to know God's name. Moses wanted to know who God was. God's reply was "I am." Derived from the Hebrew verb to be, this name let Moses know that the One he was speaking to was unlike anyone else. God not only is, but he always was and always will be. God alone was never created, and he exists totally independent from anyone or anything else. "I am" is the one unchanging, eternal God.

The Jewish people considered God's name so holy that they refused to say it aloud for fear of using it in a way that dishonored him. In the New Testament, however, Jesus not only spoke God's name, but he also used it to refer to himself. The people listening immediately tried to stone Jesus. They knew God's words in Exodus. They understood that Jesus was calling himself God.

When God told Moses his name, God revealed the essence of who he is - and confirmed in advance that the same essence was in his Son. In the same way that God introduced himself to Moses, this verse introduces you to God. It assures you that the "I am" of the universes is active and involved in life here on earth.

Understanding God's eternal nature, and that Jesus is wholly God, gives you the same assurance it did Moses. "I am" is with you, steadfast and unchangeable.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give thanks for he is unchanging and eternal in all his ways. ~ MME Team

Intimately Known

You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother's body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.

Psalm 139:13-14

You were a planned pregnancy. You weren't a random egg that just happened to be fertilized by a random spermatozoon. You were - and are - a beloved child, wanted, planned for, and created with a specific purpose and place in this world long before you even entered it. Psalm 139 gives evidence to that fact and is an important touchstone to hold on to any time your self-worth begins to waver.

The Hebrew word created means much more than "made." It conveys the joy and pride that come from acquiring an exquisite handmade possession. You were made by an almighty hand with great thought and care. This process is described as "fearful" because of how indescribably awe-inspiring it is. Just thinking about this miracle is enough to bring you to your knees.

That's exactly what it did to David, the writer of this psalm. As David thought about the individual attention to detail God took in creating him, God's goodness and power overwhelmed him. His automatic response was to praise God for what he'd done. Consider the miracle of your own creation by considering David's words. Think about the intricacy of the inner workings of your body, your unique physical frame, and the specific personality traits that make you, you. Then do as David did. Thank God for who he created you to be and for the purpose he has for your life.

Your value isn't determined by your performance, your appearance, or your position in this world. Your value was determined the moment God put his love for you into action by knitting you together.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give thanks for he created you perfectly to be YOU. God knows your mind and body and He has created you with purpose. Take time today to pray to God and begin a conversation (if you have never done so before) to your best friend, Our Savior. Confess with your mouth all the care you need and also praise with your mouth all the good that God has done for you, and will do for you. For God listens to the prayers of His children. God is GOOD ALWAYS. ~ MME Team

Children at Heart

Jesus said, "The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child.

Matthew 18:4

Jesus's disciples were waiting for a response. They had just asked Jesus an important question, one they sincerely wanted an answer to. It wasn't exactly spiritual in nature. It had to do with position and power. The disciples wanted to know who out of the twelve of them would be the greatest in God's kingdom. Jesus answered them by inviting a small child to sit on his lap. That child became an object lesson in how highly God values humility.

When it comes to power and position, children are at the bottom of the pecking order. They are dependent on others to fill almost every need. They are eager to learn, because they recognize their own ignorance and helplessness. They innocently believe everything they are told, and they share their love freely. Their goal isn't to be the best. Their goal is simply to be who they are. This is the kind of humble, authentic response that God desires from his own children.

Jesus's poignant words reveal that God's kingdom is vastly different from earthly kingdoms. In it, servants, not celebrities, are honored. Jesus came to earth to make it possible for God's heavenly kingdom to begin on earth. Take a lesson from the child in Jesus's lap. Go to God fully aware of your need and your dependence on him. That's the starting point for nurturing a childlike, humble heart.

It is good to want to do great things, but only for the right reason - to bring honor to God, not yourself. Let Jesus's words help you weigh your motives anytime you long to be praised.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God to give you a humble heart. To love like a child - with full dependency on the Lord's blessings for every breath, every thought, every movement you may take. Let your relationship with God be one of an interconnection held together like the strength of a bungee cord. Although the world may pull you down with intense force of gravity - God will catch you and bounce you back up to the safety of his presence every time. ~ MME Team

Praise Without End

I will praise you every day; I will praise you forever and ever. The Lord is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is.

Psalm 145:2-3

Creation praises God. Angels praise God. Infants praise God. One day every knee will bow as the whole world praises God. Scripture is filled with examples of praise, especially throughout the book of Psalms. Every one of those verses has a lesson to teach about honoring the Lord of the universe. The specific portion of Psalm 145 is significant because it is like a mini-primer on praise. It tells the who, what, when, where, and why of giving God glory.

The who explains God is the One most worthy of your praise. He is so deserving that it is impossible to run out of reasons for praising him. You can praise God for his gifts, but praise is broader than thanksgiving. What praise does is honor God for who he is, not just what he does. By honoring God through your prayers and actions you bless him. giving him pleasure. This alone is a great reason why you should praise God (along with the fact he deserves it!). Praise benefits the one giving it, as well as the one receiving it. Praise cultivates contentment by helping you develop a right view of God and yourself.

As for when to praise God, Psalm 145 tells you that it is appropriate to praise God every day. The psalm says that you will praise God forever, which means your praises will reach beyond the borders of this earth right into your eternal home in heaven. That's a where that you can look forward to.

The Hebrew word for praising God means "to celebrate his perfections". Put what you've learned into practice by taking time to do that right now.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give him praise. Praise him during the good times, during the sad times, especially during the confusing and hurting times. We may not understand the events of our daily life but God does and if we praise him daily all events serve purpose to glorify God. ~ MME Team

The Competitive Edge

I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

1 Corinthians 9:27

The people of Corinth knew all about the self-discipline it takes to become a top athlete. Every two years, the city of Corinth held the Isthmian Games, similar to the Olympics in Athens. Potential athletes trained hard for ten months. If they didn't complete the training or if they broke the rules, they were disqualified from participating in the prestigious competition.

The apostle Paul wanted his readers to understand the same principle was true when it came to going the distance in life. He filled the ninth chapter of his letter to the Corinthians with boxing and running illustrations that allude to the Isthmian Games. But verse 27 lies at the heart of the passage. It explains why self-discipline is crucial for Christians. When God asks you to do something, you want to be spiritually up to the task. You don't want anything to get in the way of your success. That includes any bad habits, uncontrolled passions, or lazy attitudes. 

Through sheer self-effort, you can discipline your body for athletic competition. Disciplining your body and your soul for spiritual challenges is possible only with God's help. Ask God to show you if there is any area where your lack of self-control could interfere with what he wants you to do. Use Paul's words as an inspiration to gain better discipline in that area.

Like a star athlete who leaves fans disillusioned by acting inappropriately, a Christian who behaves inappropriately can turn others away from God. Let Paul's words remind you that undisciplined words or actions can have serious consequences.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for spiritual maturity, for discipline in the self through his will; not by your wants and desires. Our earthly wisdom is limited and will yield emotional outcomes when push comes to shove. God's wisdom is limitless and always yields love. Without a relationship with God we are subject to unnecessary hardship and sorrow. God created us to love and share love; even when it's not fair. We are not the JUDGE but He is. Let his wisdom and judgement guide your footsteps and actions. ~ MME Team