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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Choose File, New Folder, How-To, Bible, ABCs

I created a folder on my computer called, “HOW-TO.” This is the most important folder I have. It saves me the most time and alleviates more frustration than any other folder I have made. All articles, tips, and important documents that I don’t want to spend time looking for again are stored in this HOW-TO folder. I refer to this folder almost every day for one thing or another.

Some of the document titles are:

- How to do a Quick Book entry;
- How to get rid of millipedes;
- How to give a wedding toast;
- How to make a Facebook banner;
- How to make a good tradeshow display;
- How to make an adult bib;
- How to mentor;
- How to potty train a toddler;
- How to resize images;
- How to write a book.

But, what if we had a Biblical “HOW-TO” folder? Well, we do. It is the Bible. It is in this book that we can find stories, encouragement, and important words from God on how to live our lives according to His purpose. All through the Bible, people spoke or pondered the HOW-TO’s of life just like we do today.

[Jeremiah] Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
Jeremiah 1:6

[Ezekiel] Show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.
Ezekiel 44:23b

[Job] For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away.
Job 32:22

In this blog, I want to just take a minut portion of some of the HOW TO questions that people ask God about and give a short answer through the Word of God. It is my prayer that maybe one or more of these alphabetically listed HOW TO questions will speak to you today.
 

 

A – How to deal with ANGER


 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20

B – How to be your BEST for God

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

C – How to accept CHRIST

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:9-10

D – How to view DEATH

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20

E – How to handle EVIL

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17, 21

F – How to understand your FUTURE

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

G – How to deal with GREED

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Luke 12:15

H – How to understand HOLINESS

For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:44-45

I – How to be an INTERCESSOR

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:18

J – How to deal with JEALOUSY

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4

K – How to become KIND

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Peter 1:5-7

L – How to handle LONELINESS

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

M – How to view MONEY

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

N – How to love your NEIGHBOR

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8

O – How to be OBEDIENT

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-25

P – How to PRAY

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:6-8

Q – How to live a QUIET life

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1Timothy 2:1-2

R – How to deal with RESENTMENT

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.
Hebrews 12:14-15

 
 

S – How to understand SUFFERING

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:2-3, 12

T – How to resist TEMPTATION

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

U – How to UNDERSTAND God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7

V – How to handle VOWS

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Ecclesiastes 5:5

W – How to deal with WORRY

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6

X – How to be an EXAMPLE to others

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3

Y – How should we view YEARS from God’s perspective

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter 3:8

Z – How to be ZEALOUS for God

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 2:11-14

Bible Verses: Above


Prayer:

My heavenly Father, I love you. Let me seek you for all the questions I have in life. Assure me that you know what is best for me at all times and in all circumstances. Let your Holy Word be my guide and comfort every day of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

May the Lord our God bless you as you walk with Him. Have a great weekend!

Patti

 
Books by Patti Londa Greene: Awaken Me: a devotional prayer journal and God, and God, It’s Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate about Prayer and Bible Study­­