Safety in the Suburbs?

Rockin’ the Suburbs

The original idea behind the suburbs was to create a place to escape the undesirable elements that live in the cities. In other words, people in the ghetto would not acquire the means to move out to the suburbs... thus making the bucolic and homogeneous communities safe from the crime and debauchery that would seem to be indigenous to the... erm, riff-raff.

This thinking has been debunked, however, by a number of disturbing trends... such as sex, drugs, and your diverse manifestations of immorality.

And the wide reach of the internet has made it so much easier for perverts and predators to reach into your home and to cause harm to your precious children... like the 12-year-old who was abducted and sold into prostitution on Craigslist and other web sites.

Sex... drugs... prostitution?

Not in my neighborhood!

After all, my kids go to church every Sunday.

Consider this, however... that going to church won’t make your kids Christians any more than going to McDonald's makes them hamburgers. And, if you are not exercising wise stewardship over them, then...

So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.

Matthew 25:28-29 [AMP]

Wait a minute, are you saying someone is going to take my kids away?

That’s right!

Who?

The devil!

The Bible tells us:

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

John 10:10 [AMP]

Whoa... wait a minute, you mean I moved my kids to a safe neighborhood... away from crime, away from poverty... and the devil can STILL get them?

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it roams through waterless places in search [of a place] of rest (release, refreshment, ease); and finding none it says, I will go back to my house from which I came. And when it arrives, it finds [the place] swept and put in order and furnished and decorated. And it goes and brings other spirits, seven [of them], more evil than itself, and they enter in, settle down, and dwell there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Luke 11:24-26 [AMP]

In Luke 11:24-26, Jesus explains that a person set free from demonic possession is only temporarily free. The way to permanent freedom is to have something occupying that space where the demon previously lived... something bigger and stronger than that demon... bigger and stronger than the seven others he brought with him. And who is bigger and stronger than satan himself?

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

1^st John 4:4 [AMP]

So just moving your kids to a safe neighborhood doesn’t cut the mustard. They are better off in the deepest darkest ghetto with Christ in their hearts and the baptism of the Holy Spirit than to be in the most exclusive gated community with nothing protecting them from the enemy.

Cases in point:

The Lost Children of Little Rock

While more than a decade has gone by since the original PBS Frontline broadcast, the message still rings true:

Teens left to their own devices... even in affluent suburban climes... got involved in all kinds of immoral behavior.

This came to light, as reported by the PBS Frontline team, when an outbreak of syphilis derailed the “fun times” and reality hit the parents in the face like one of Soupy Sales’ custard creme pies.

Kids need more than $1,000,000 homes in gated communities.

They need Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

They need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

To put kids in such nice surroundings and spend so much time away from home, working to pay for everything, is just a disaster waiting to happen!

It happened in Little Rock... and in many other places around the world.

Sex Is The New Goodnight Kiss

Journalist Sharlene Azam did a book and video report on how Canadian teenagers in nice neighborhoods are selling themselves into prostitution to have the money to buy the latest fashions.

This was (and likely still is) a huge phenomenon in the affluent areas of Asia such as Japan and Singapore... but now we have old guys in North America buying sex from teens for a pair of designer shoes or whatever.

And, as the economy continues to drag... people are going to all kinds of lengths to satisfy their materialistic lusts...

In teens, those lusts are fed by the media and peer pressure.

Overall, society is materialistic... you aren’t anything, the world tells you, unless you wear clothes by this designer or jewelry by that jeweler, or shoes with those logos on them... etc. And in these days of recession and bailouts, what other option do your kids have to feel good about themselves?

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1^st John 5:3-5 [NIV]

If your teen knows who he or she is in Christ, then they can have self-esteem in knowing that their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, and not in knowing that some designer’s logo is written on their backside.

Murder in the Nation’s Capitol

For decades, gang wars over drug turf and etcetera was a huge problem in the District. A year ago, the DC police had to literally impose martial law over the Trinidad section of the District because homicides were becoming a daily occurrence.

One mother wanted to raise her child away from all of that, so she and her Ex moved to the nicest suburban area that money could buy. She also hovered over him both physically and electronically. Still, while her 14-year-old honor student was riding his bike not very far from their home, he was beaten to death by schoolmates who had organized into gangs.

Unfortunately, the local police are busy swimming up the Egyptian river called “de-nial” to accept that gang activity exists there. The sad story appeared in the June 2^nd edition of the Washington Post.
If you have left the violent suburbs for the more safe exurbs... don’t worry... trouble will find you.

Why?

Because evil is not a matter of geography, it is the spiritual nature of fallen man. And when we realize that we need to put something into the souls of the youth, we won’t have to worry so much about the zip codes of the youth.

God’s Prescription for Protection

Pray Psalm 91 over your children every day... and have them put that scripture in their hearts. That is your protection.

Then, when the enemy wants you to worry about them... try sending this to your child as a text message (right after you send it to the Throne of Almighty God as a faith-filled prayer)...

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121 [NIV]

Safe in the Suburbs?

You and your family can be safe anywhere... but your safety is not in man made fortifications or structures... but in the Living God.

That clinches it—help’s coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out. See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we’re making garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame— and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall.

Psalm 20:6-8 [The Message]

Some trust in horses and chariots. Some trust in Smith and Wesson. But your family will be safe when you put your trust and confidence in the Creator of heaven and earth.

No Christ, No Peace. Know Christ, Know Peace.

If you have never asked Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life... or of your family... say this simple prayer right this moment:

Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have put my trust in things that are untrustworthy. I have spent my life worrying over things that I can not control, when I now know that I can put my faith and trust on You, because You have the power to control all things. So Jesus, please take control of my life. Fill me with your Spirit... in love, and in power... so that I may make the right choices in my life, and in the lives of those whom I love. Thank you, Lord, for saving me.

To Be More Like Jesus

This week we will focus on the subject of being more like Jesus. You may have noticed on our http://link2power.org page, we changed our slogan to reflect our desire to see Christians become more Christlike.

Helping Christians Clean Their Headlights So They Can Shine for Jesus

It is, in fact, our failure to be more like Jesus that often causes people to set their hearts like stone towards other religions, or towards agnostic or atheist beliefs. That, in part, is what inspired us to write the book “Please Don’t Feed the Atheists.”

Years ago, Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi made a very powerful statement:

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

The sad truth is that this is a very accurate statement. A glance at your newspaper or a visit to CNN will validate that. And so, as you read and meditate on this week’s blog… may you be inspired to open your heart and receive God’s grace to be more like Jesus.

I know that I will.

Pleasing The Father

by JesusLover Judy

Jesus, You are my example, and I desire to live in the way that will not grieve the Holy Spirit.

In Your name I resist unwholesome language, bitterness, improper use of anger, brawling, slander, and bad attitudes toward others.

I forgive, just as my Father-God has forgiven me.

May my attitudes and actions please God.

I purpose to act in love toward my brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending His Son to die for my sins. Amen

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:28-32 [ESV]

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long.

Walking in Compassion

by Brotha DC

Jesus was motivated by love.  His love was manifest as compassion for His people.

One of the most familiar expressions of His compassion in the scripture is meeting people’s needs.

In this study, we will consider the account of Jesus miraculously feeding the multitude.

Jesus introduced the idea of feeding the crowd to the disciples.  They saw it as being too big a job.  But with God, nothing is impossible.

I recall as a teenager seeing an elder in our church turn away a man who came to the church seeking help.  Unfortunately, this desperate man had bad timing.  He came to the door of the church during one of the many feasts this church sponsored.

The elder sucked his teeth and said, “I’m eating,” then turned his back and walked away from that poor fellow, leaving his need unmet.

But what did Jesus do when He encountered a person in need?

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 15:32-38 [ESV]

Jesus was often moved with compassion. Even when His own needs were waiting to be met, His compassion caused Him to first minister to others.

May we have His compassion active in our lives as we practice the love walk. May we look for opportunities to bless others and not to look to have our own needs met.

When we do this, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness... then all other things will be freely added to us.

Living in Submission

by JesusLover Judy

Father, You have called me and separated me unto the Gospel. I utterly abandon my dreams and plans to Your Will.

In the name of Jesus, I bind my will, plans and purposes to Your will, Your plans and Your purposes for my life.

I wait for Your Guidance, I listen for Your Voice.

When I lose my life, then I shall find it. Amen.

FROM PAUL, a bond servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God,

Romans 1:1 [AMP]

Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].

Matthew 10:39 [AMP]

My desire Lord is for people to see You in me… may I reflect Your love and grace and mercy… may I be more like You Lord everyday with a heart of compassion… You are the reason I live and breathe.

Serving With Abandon

by JesusLover Judy

Father, I desire to be completely abandoned unto You.

It is so wonderous to be captivated in Your bonds of love, yet completely free from the entanglements of sin.

 Completely free from doubt and fear.

 Completely free from worry and grief.

You are my God, and I will praise You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.

John 8:36 [AMP]

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression.

Psalm 19:13 [AMP]

IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Galatians 5:1 [AMP]

My desire Lord is for people to see You in me… may I reflect Your love and grace and mercy… may I be more like You Lord everyday with a heart of compassion… You are the reason I live and breathe.

Receiving His Sanctification

by JesusLover Judy

God of peace, I pray that You will sanctify me wholly; and I pray that my whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus, I give thanks to You because You have from the beginning chosen me to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. You called me by the gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I stand fast, and hold the traditions, which I have been taught in the name of Jesus. Amen.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 [NKJV]

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 [NKJV]

Lifestyle of Humility

by JesusLover Judy

In the name of Jesus, I submit myself to You, my God. Thank You giving me more grace.

I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil's strongholds of pride and arrogance that would hinder my walk in the Spirit.

Pride goes before a fall. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will remain humble before You. Then You will lift me up and make my life significant. Amen.

⁶ But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).

⁷ So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

⁸ Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

⁹ [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

¹⁰ Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

James 4:6-10 [AMP]

³ For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

⁵ [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 [AMP]

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

by JesusLover Judy

Before he ascended into heaven Jesus said: But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit is your divine helper, counselor, advocate, intercessor, strengthener and standby. He will take the things of Jesus and reveal them unto you for He is the spirit of Truth sent to lead you into all truth.

Acknowledge the Holy Spirit in everything you do; He will help you pray when you don't know how, and He will show you things to come.

Father God as a member of Your royal race, I have been made a king and a priest unto You.

I am Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do the works You have prepared for me to accomplish. Because I was born for such a time as this, I will make a difference in this generation and influence future generations.

You bestowed upon me Your creativity and ingenuity, and they are expanded through the power of the Holy Spirit, which You sent to be my Helper and my Strength. Amen

And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Revelation 1:6 [AMP]

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ephesians 2:10 [AMP]

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Esther 4:14 [AMP]

We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.

2 Peter 1:3-4 [CEV]

Follow the Good Shepherd

by JesusLover Judy

My Lord, I acknowledge that You are the Good Shepherd of my soul, and I am the sheep of Your pasture. When I hear Your voice, I come to You because You call my name and You lead me out.

You walk ahead of me; and I follow You because I recognize Your voice. I will not follow a stranger but will run from him, for I don't recognize his voice.

Thank You for giving me a willing and obedient heart. I pray in Your name, Lord Jesus. Amen

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

John 10:3-5 [ESV]

I Want to Be More Like Jesus

by Keith Green

I Want to Be More Like Jesus

by BJ Thomas

The Pain of the Cross

We saw this great cartoon at the Spirituality Guru blog and thought we would pass it along. It really touched us as we contemplate the deep message.

Check it out...

















As the old folks used to say when I was a tyke: No Cross, No Crown.

Churches Attacked in Israel and Iraq

URGENT: CHURCHES ATTACKED IN ISRAEL AND IRAQ
By Joel C. Rosenberg

(Dallas-Ft.Worth, TX, November 3, 2010) -- As I prepare to speak at church events this week in Texas, I am deeply saddened by tragic events in the epicenter. My colleagues and I are calling on followers of Jesus Christ around the world to pray urgently for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East.

In recent days, churches in Israel and Iraq have been attacked by terrorists.

• The seige of a church in Baghdad by radical Islamic terrorists leaving at least 58 dead and 67 injured received significant international media coverage. The New York Times called it “the worst massacre of Iraqi Christians since the war began here in 2003.”
    
• But the firebombing of an Arab Christian church in Jerusalem has received almost no media coverage. On The Joshua Fund website (www.joshuafund.net), we have an exclusive report from the pastor of the church in Jerusalem that was attacked.

Clearly, our brothers and sisters in both places need us to intercede on their behalf, and to mobilize others believers to pray for them and to stand with them in their time of need. This is a key mission of The Joshua Fund, mobilizing Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, according to Genesis 12:1-3. Please join with us in prayer at this critical moment. And please urge other Christians you know to pray as well.

In the meantime, please keep praying for:

• Gilad Shalit, the IDF soldier being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza
    
• Prime Minister Netanyahu as he comes to the U.S. for meetings with Jewish leaders this weekend
    
• The conviction of Jack Teitel, the Jewish terrorist who allegedly tried to kill an Israeli pastor and his family in March 2008, among many of his other Jewish and Arab targets. The trial has been delayed for several reasons. Please pray the trial happens and is successful.
    
• Other prayer requests are on The Joshua Fund website.

Thanks and God bless you.

For more details, and the latest headlines from the Middle East, please go to Joel Rosenberg’s blog -- http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/

Godly Sorrow

Godly Sorrow
(by Brotha DC)

When King David sinned by committing adultery and following it up with the murder of his lover’s husband, God sent the prophet to confront David.

When we are confronted with our sins, we often go into evasive maneuver mode:

• Sometimes we go into that Egyptian river called denial...
  
• Sometimes we conjure up excuses explaining that we had no other recourse but to do that thing...
  
• Sometimes we simply blame our behavior on someone else... 

Have you ever said... “I only punched him in the face because he was making me mad!”

How about... “I only slept with him because I was so lonely...”

King David did the right thing when confronted with his sin... he acknowledged his wrongdoing and confessed before the Lord.

The 51^st Psalm was written to convey David’s heart during that period of his life... and it often reflects our circumstances:

¹ Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. ² Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. ⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. ⁶ Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ; you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place. ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. ⁹ Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. ¹⁴ Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 51:1-14 [NIV]

Sometimes we are tempted. Other times we act impulsively. But the Psalmist drew particular attention to willful sins. This is when we get an idea in our head and act on it.

I watched someone as they eyed an unguarded jewelry case. They looked around... not realizing that I was looking at them. More importantly, God was watching them. To their disappointment, the case was empty.

How often do people come up with reasons to justify idiotic behavior... but then can not explain when they are caught?

On MSNBC there is a follow-up to the Dateline NBC To Catch a Predator series. In that program, men are caught trying to solicit sex from minors under the age of fourteen on the internet.

When confronted by Chris Hansen, they all have the same explanation for what they were doing.

“I dunno...”

"I wasn’t thinking...”

“I was just bored...”

“I wasn’t really gonna go through with it...”

After they leave the house... they are arrested.  They repeat those same excuses to the police officers processing them... and eventually go before a judge where most are sentenced and do jail time.

Do you think that if there was a Dateline NBC back in the Old Testament days that David would say the same if cameras popped out as he was seducing Bathsheba?

¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:13-14 [AMP]

Let¹s face it... we are all human beings. We all sin. That is why the Bible contains stories like the life of King David. I am glad it doesn’t contain my life story!

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2 Corinthians 7:10 [NIV]

Lord...
here i stand again
Stained
with the mud of sin
i could say that i fell, but
the truth is... i jumped right in

Felled
by temptation’s blow
Oh, Lord
how was i to know
when i thought i was standing sin called, and i fell so low

i don’t know how i could come
into Your presence
but my soul longs after you
with true repentance

Godly sorrow
for the things i’ve said and done
Godly sorrow
wash me with the blood Your Son
shed for me
set me free...
Please
forgive me

Lord...
cleanse me from my sin
Please,
Jesus be my friend
i took Your love for granted
Don’t wanna do that again

i
thought that i could stand
my God
want to be a man
who stands for righteousness, and
can overcome satan’s snare

humbled by my humanness
i cry FORGIVE ME
You’re the only one i love
Oh God, i’m sorry

Godly sorrow
for the things i’ve said and done
Godly sorrow
wash me with the blood Your Son
shed for me
set me free...
Please
forgive me

Dead to Sin
(by JesusLover Judy)

Father-God, I count myself dead to sin, but alive to You, and I refuse to allow sin to reign in my mortal body. Today and every day, I present myself to You as being alive from the dead, and my members as instruments of righteousness. Sin shall not have dominion over me, for I am not under law but under grace in the name of Jesus. Amen.

¹¹Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.
¹²Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.
¹³Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.
¹⁴For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God's favor and mercy].

Romans 6:11-14 [AMP]

More Grace
(by JesusLover Judy)

Father, I thank you for giving me more and more grace. Today and everyday I humble myself before you, and submit myself to you. In the name of Jesus, I resist the devil, and he will flee from me. Father, I come near to you, and you come near to me. I wash my hands, and purify my heart. I would not be double-minded, but humble myself before you, my Lord, and you will lift me up. Amen.

⁶But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).
⁷So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
⁸Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].
⁹[As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].
¹⁰Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

James 4:6-10 [AMP]

Be Holy
(by JesusLover Judy)

Father, with the help of the Holy Spirit and according to your Word, I prepare my mind for action with self-control; set my hope fully on the grace to be given me when Jesus Christ is revealed. As an obedient child, I will not conform to the evil desires I had when I lived in ignorance. You called me and you are holy, so I will be holy in all I do in the name of Jesus. Amen.

¹³So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.
¹⁴[Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel].
¹⁵But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living.

1 Peter 1:13-15 [AMP]

Righteousness of God through Christ Jesus
(by JesusLover Judy)

Father, according to your Word I have been made the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit who helps me bring forth good fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In Jesus name. Amen.

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

2 Corinthians 5:21 [AMP]

²²But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
²³Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

Galatians 5:22-23 [AMP]