Pathways Press.com

Written by Josh Axe  a contemporary author and doctor.  This is an excerpt from his book “Think This, Not That.”

A divine identity affirms that human beings are made up of more than flesh and bones; we are also spiritual beings, made in the image of God. For the Christian, a divine identity answers the question of who you are by first knowing who God is…Having a divine identity offers us a lens with which to see others. When our identity is in a God who created all people, we are more likely to treat all people with value, honor, and respect. When you have a divine identity, you have positioned yourself to live with purpose and to have an eternal impact. Studies demonstrate that when someone’s identity is linked to their beliefs in God, they contribute more to society and are more charitable in their giving. They volunteer more with acts of service. They are also more virtuous in character. Faith and character, both of which spring from a divine identity, knowing and believing who God says you are, stand at the top of the identity hierarchy. While you can’t change some simple facts about yourself, you always can grow in faith and character and continue to become a better version of yourself than you were yesterday.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  [Genesis 1:27]

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Written by Jana Harmon, a contemporary professor and author.  This is an excerpt from her work “Is it Rational to Believe in God?”

In his book Miracles, C.S. Lewis declared the need for a transcendent, intelligent, powerful Mind in these endeavors. Drawing on the thought of Alfred North Whitehead, Lewis stated, “Men became scientific because they expected Law in Nature, and they expected Law in Nature because they believed in a Legislator.” But, for someone who believes only nature exists, there is no rational basis for what we observe in the cosmos. They are compelled to admit the universe came from nothing by nothing for no reason. They cannot demystify why the universe is present, much less why it appears ordered or fine-tuned for life. They cannot account for the complex information and exquisite functioning of our DNA and the origins of life. They cannot unravel how life began from non-organic life, how consciousness arose from physical matter, how human beings are qualitatively different in kind from the rest of creation. Those inconvenient facts about reality are presumed, not adequately explained. Yet, within a God-centered and created universe, the cause is sufficient to the effect. These amazing realities can be adequately explained by the presence and purposes of a transcendent, powerful, intelligent, personal Creator who had us in mind.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.  [Romans 1:25]

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Written by Mark Roberts, a contemporary author and editor.

Gracious God, you are the source of all wisdom. You are, indeed, the embodiment of wisdom. All praise be to you! I thank you for the ways in which you have helped me to become wise. But, Lord, I recognize just how much wisdom I lack. So, I ask you for wisdom. Give me eyes to see as you see, a heart that feels as you feel, and a mind that understands as you understand. Amen.

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. [James 1:5]

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Written by Thomas Kelly (1893-1941), an American Quaker educator and author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Eternal Promise.”

We are men of double personalities. We have slumbering demons within us. We all have also a dimly-formed Christ within us. We’ve been too ready to say that the demonic man within us is the natural and real man and that the Christ-man within us is the unnatural and the unreal self. But the case is that our surface potentialities are for selfishness and greed, for tooth and claw. But deep within, in the whispers of the heart, is the surging call of the Eternal Christ, hidden within us all. By an inner isthmus, we are connected with the mainland of the Eternal Love. Surface living has brought on the world’s tragedy. Deeper living leads us to the Eternal Christ, hidden in us all. Absolute loyalty to this inner Christ is the only hope of a new humanity. In the clamor and din of the day, the press of Eternity’s warm love still whispers in each of us, as our deepest selves, as our truest selves. Attend to the Eternal that He may recreate you and sow you deep into the furrows of the world’s suffering.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. [Colossians 3:15]

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Written by the Lead Like Jesus Team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus.

God, thank You that I can come into Your presence. Thank you, Jesus, for opening the way to the Father, and thank You, Holy Spirit, for making my needs known moment-by-moment. Father. Work out Your will in and through me today, I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.   [Romans 8:26-27]

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Written by Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), an American author. This is an excerpt from her book “Something More.”

The ‘how” of forgiveness is through knowing how to use our will – the rudder of our life. We are responsible for the set of this rudder; once we have willed a course of action. God will be responsible for our feelings if we will hand them over to Him. Otherwise, nothing we can do would change these feelings. When I put that conclusion alongside David du Plessis’ statement, “Forgiveness means, ‘the other person may be as wrong as wrong can be, but I’ll not be the judge,’” I saw that forgiveness is simply the decision of our wills to release a particular person, followed by verbalizing that to God. As for faith that such a non-emotional release would result in changes in the other person’s life I confess that we began with deficient faith. The process of releasing the ‘aughts’ seemed too simple, too pat. We were about to be shown that when we follow Jesus’ direction, the simplest ways are the most powerful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  [Luke 6:37]

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Written by Anne Graham Lotz, a contemporary evangelist and author. This is an excerpt from her book “Joy of My Heart.”

What is hindering you from being filled with the Holy Spirit? To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be under His moment-by-moment control. He has not been given to you so that you can keep Him confined to a particular area in your life. Let Him loose! He is Lord! The amount of power you experience to live a victorious, triumphant Christian life is directly proportional to the freedom you give the Spirit to be Lord of your life!

For we know, brothers and sistersloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.  [1 Thessalonians 1:4-5].

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Written by the Lead Like Jesus Team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus.

Lord my God, Great I AM, Your love for me is transforming me from the inside out. Transform my heart so that I live and breathe the awareness of Your love today. Let my whole life be about you, I pray in the name of the One who lived only for You, amen.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  [2 Corinthians 3:18]

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Written by Michelle Lazurek, a contemporary speaker and author.

Blessings held such high importance in the Old Testament. Fathers often blessed their first born sons in the hopes God brought them prosperity and a long, fruitful life. Blessings were intended to bring peace, protection, and joy to their children. God blessed many people around him… In society, it is rare for people to bless each other. We are known more for what we are against, rather than what we are for. If we are to be like Jesus, we need to be known as people who, when others are in our company, feel like they’re in the presence of Jesus. There are many types of blessings. The most common is that of verbal affirmation. People want to know that they are seen, appreciated, and special… Make people feel special when they’re in your company. Above all, love them. Although blessings are often verbal, a non-verbal blessing can be equally as effective. Identify a person’s love language and speak it well. Do a kind gesture as an act of service. Hug people and let them know you love them. Spend time with them, letting them know they’re special to you. The purpose of a blessing is to let another person know how much they are loved by God and by you.,, Allow every person to feel like they are in the presence of Jesus simply because they are in your presence. By loving others, you will find you are blessed equally in return. 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26.

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Written by J.D. Watt, a contemporary American pastor.

And this is the secret of transformation. As we receive His righteousness by faith, we can by faith release our sinfulness. As we receive His wholeness, we can release our brokenness. This is the miracle of grace. God is not holding back waiting on us to get rid of our sinfulness so He can come in and replace it with His righteousness. He stands at the door and knocks. He comes to give us His righteousness which displaces our sinfulness, empowering us to then release it.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. [Revelation 3:20]

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