If Prayer Becomes A Habit, Success WILL Become A Lifestyle

"One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up." Luke 18:1

•18:1 To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for him day by day, believing he will answer. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay answering, but his delays always have good reasons. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope. — Life Application Study Bible NLT

Theme: (Success)
[Explanation]: Although people work very hard for money and fame, God views success as having a good reputation, moral character, and the spiritual devotion to obey him.
[Importance]: A successful relationship with God counts for eternity. Everything else is perishable. All our resources, time, and talents come from God. We should strive to use them wisely.
—Book of Proverbs Opening Chart: Life Application Study Bible NLT

"And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for." 1 John 5:14-15

•5:14-15 The emphasis here is on God's will, not our will. When we communicate with God, we don't demand what we want; rather we discuss with him what he wants for us. If we align our prayers to his will, he will listen; and we can be certain that if he listens, he will give us a definite answer. Start praying with confidence! — Life Application Study Bible NLT

Living A Godly Life

"The Christian life is not a changed life but an exchanged life." — Andrew Wommack

"For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

5:21 When we trust in Christ, we make an exchange: He takes our sin and makes us right with God. Our sin was laid on Christ at his crucifixion. His righteousness is given to us at our conversion. This is what Christians mean by Christ's atonement for sin. In the world, bartering works only when two people exchange goods of relatively equal value. But God offers to trade his righteousness for our sin — something of immeasurable worth for something completely worthless. How grateful we should be for his kindness to us. — Life Application Study Bible NLT 

"He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God." Romans 4:25 NLT

4:25 When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, an exchange takes place. We give him our sins, and he forgives us and makes us right with God. There is nothing we can do to earn this. Only through Christ can we be made right in God's eyes. What an incredible bargain this is for us! But, sadly many still choose to pass up this gift to continue "enjoying" their sin. — Life Application Study Bible NLT 

"God made Christ to be sin, even though he was without sin, so that believers would “become the righteousness of God.” The meaning of God's righteousness is explained by verse 19, which refers to forgiveness of sins." — The Gospel Coalition 

Born again believers: Because Jesus is righteous, then, we are too! We are the righteousness of God in Christ. When God looks at us, He sees us through JESUS and His finished work on the cross! ❤️

Heart Check

4:23-27 Our heart—our feelings of love and desire—dictates to a great extent how we live because we always find time to do what we enjoy. Solomon tells us to guard our hearts above all else, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections lead you in the right direction. Put boundaries on your desires: Don't go after everything you see. Look straight ahead, keep your eyes fixed on your goal, and don't get sidetracked on detours that lead to sin. — Life Application Study Bible NLT

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‪#‎heartcheck‬ 💗 Guarding our hearts is a constant thing! As born again believers in Jesus Christ, we can't look like the world. We can't love God and sin (can't tolerate it or support it because we will one day answer to God.) With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to discern good from evil. We can't do the things that we used to do before we were saved. Though we may fall into temptation & sin, we must repent. We have to be very careful of secular music, tv shows, movies, corrupt people, clubs, alcohol & drugs, false doctrines & whatever evil influence in the world because those things plant seeds in our hearts rather we know it or not.

🌱Rather, good or bad, seeds are constantly being planted into our hearts... & what's in our hearts WILL eventually come out in our lives. With God, we can get to the root and tear those bad seeds out. But, we must ALWAYS practice guarding our hearts so that we can prevent bad seeds from planting & producing bad fruits. (Jesus Teaches about Fruit in People's Lives: Luke 6:43-45/Matthew 7:15-20)

6:45 Jesus reminds us that our speech and actions reveal our true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations. The good impressions we try to make cannot last if we are being deceptive. What is in your heart will come out in your speech and behavior. — Life Application Study Bible NLT

‪#‎heartcheck‬ �� What's in your heart will come out when you talk. People will tell if you're a true believer or not by your speech & actions. For example, "a drunk mind speaks a sober heart." The alcohol may have influenced the corrupt speech, but the thoughts originated from the heart.

�� "But the words you speak come from the heart — that's what defiles you." Matthew 15:18

15:16-20 We work hard to keep our outward appearance attractive, but what is deep down in our heart (where others can't see) is more important to God. What are you like inside? When people become Christians, God makes them different on the inside. He will continue the process of change inside them if only they ask.

 — Life Application Study Bible NLT