The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. ?Proverbs 12:22, NIV

Everything that Christians do should be as transparent as the sunlight. Truth is of God; deception, in every one of its myriad forms, is of Satan; and whoever in any way departs from the straight line of truth is betraying himself into the power of the wicked one. Yet it is not a light or an easy thing to speak the exact truth. We cannot speak the truth unless we know the truth; and how often preconceived opinions, mental bias, imperfect knowledge, errors of judgment, prevent a right understanding of matters with which we have to do! We cannot speak the truth unless our minds are continually guided by Him who is truth. . . .

Those who have learned of Christ will ?have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.? Ephesians 5:11. In speech, as in life, they will be simple, straightforward, and true; for they are preparing for the fellowship of those holy ones in whose mouth ?was found no guile.? Revelation 14:5.?Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 68, 69.

The gospel is a message of peace. Christianity is a system, which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth. The religion of Christ will unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings. . . .

Men cannot manufacture peace. Human plans for the purification and uplifting of individuals or of society will fail of producing peace, because they do not reach the heart. The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the grace of Christ. When this is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension.

The faces of men and women who walk and work with God express the peace of heaven. They are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven. For these souls the kingdom of God has begun. The Lord is soon coming. Talk it, pray it, believe it. Make it a part of the life. Gird on the Christian armor, and be sure that your feet are ?shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.??God?s Amazing Grace, p. 32.

Paul?s second command is, ?Know the foe.? ?Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places? (Ephesians 6:11, 12).

In battle, it will never do to underestimate the opposing forces. Paul invites a realistic assessment. While we confront enemy forces on the human plane, our real battle is with ?the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.? In according titles of power to the church?s spiritual foes, Paul displays a kind of respect for them. There is wary acknowledgment, too, in his description of the devil as a cunning, devious foe. We need God?s armor to counter ?the schemes of the devil? (verse 11).

Is the sinner who commits sin every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers, ?We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them? [Ephesians 2:10]. In His divine arrangement, through His unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through Christ?s merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. . . . Our works in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that it is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed in the strength of our own sinful natures? (Ellen G. White, ?The Grace of God Manifested in Good Words?).  

Of all the books of the Bible, Daniel is the only one that Jesus Himself specifically counsels us to study. In Matthew 24, Jesus describes what the world will be like just before He returns. He talks about rising crime and violence, earthquakes and famines, and social conflicts. He pictures a world in which nation is rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Then He says, "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand) . . ." (Matthew 24:15). 

Jesus points us to the book of Daniel in the context of a world in turmoil just before he returns. And he tells us two things we should be doing. He says (1) read Daniel's prophecies, and (2) understand them. If Jesus says to read Daniel's prophecies, and if Jesus says to understand them, it must be important to spend time studying this book.

Failure means that a door has closed. When that happens, the temptation is to stare at the closed door and refuse to look at other options. That might be your struggle right now. You might be stuck asking "Why?" Why, God? Why me? Why now? Why this?                                                                                                                      

Instead of spending time staring at the closed door, wishing it could open again, look around and see whom God is sending your way to help you make the transition to a new reality. You have heard it said, "God never closes a door without opening a window." That's true. The fun part is that He will send you someone who can point you in that direction.

Of this you can be certain: the Father will not reject you after giving His only Son to redeem you. The Cross boldly declares the good news that there is no reason to feel uncertain as you stand before the Judge. You can face your eternal future with no doubt.

For the sacrifice of Jesus has been complete. "Christ purchased you at an infinite cost," writes Ellen White. "He says to the Father, 'Here is a poor sinner. I have given My life for him. He is saved by My grace. Receive him as Your child.' Do you think the Father will refuse?" We can have confidence, that as we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we will be saved (1 John 5:12, 13). Paul writes, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9).  

Our spirits are indeed willing, but our flesh is dreadfully weak. This is why, as we go forward seeking to stand strong against the attacks of the enemy, we must constantly be in a state of watchful prayer. We must be alert, on our guard, ever in tune with the Holy Spirit's promptings, anticipating danger or compromise before it occurs so that the enemy cannot sneak up and catch us unawares. Inspiration tells us, "no man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer."

Christ himself, when facing the biggest trial of his life in Gethsemane, asked his disciples to "watch and pray" (verse 41). They failed to do this, being too sleepy. Inspiration tells us, "it was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watch and pray that Peter had prepared the way for his great sin [of denying Christ three times]. All the disciples, by sleeping in that critical hour, sustained great loss." What loss might we personally?and corporately?be sustaining today because we are too busy, too sleepy, or too lazy to take the time to watch and pray?

Failure means that a door has closed. When that happens, the temptation is to stare at the closed door and refuse to look at other options. That might be your struggle right now. You might be stuck asking "Why?" Why, God? Why me? Why now? Why this?                                                                                                                      

Instead of spending time staring at the closed door, wishing it could open again, look around and see whom God is sending your way to help you make the transition to a new reality. You have heard it said, "God never closes a door without opening a window." That's true. The fun part is that He will send you someone who can point you in that direction.

Life is pretty complicated, isn't it? It seems one of the biggest challenges we face is trying to find a balance between relationships and work. We need money to survive, pay our bills, buy food, and put a roof over our heads. And to earn money we must work. This can cause a lot of stress which can impact our relationships.

There is no better place to find strength and wisdom than in God. Jesus invites us to bring our cares and concerns to Him so that He can lighten our burdens. He knows your heart and the worries that overwhelm you; so share everything with Him.

?In everything give thanks; for this is God?s will for you in Christ Jesus.? ?1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB)

Being thankful changes our life for the better. Giving thanks brings countless blessings. Giving thanks is God?s way for our life. The one who exercises a thankful spirit lives not just more grate-fully but also more happily and thereby in the end also more healthfully. Giving thanks means to remember that someone has done something good for me, and I express my appreciation in words. Gratitude changes my perspective and opens up a positive attitude toward life.

You can noticeably experience the life-changing effects of thankfulness if you practice the following simple exercise for several days: Every day write down ten different words that summarize things for which you are grateful. Then think about what these things mean to you (e.g., What does my bed mean to me? How would it be if I always had to sleep on a hard and cold floor?). Then take each word and write a short sentence expressing your gratitude to Jesus (e.g., ?Lord Jesus, thank You for my eyes with which I can see colors and read books.?).

At the end of just one week, you will already have seventy (!) reasons to be grateful. In one month?s time, at the most, gratitude will have changed your life. Guaranteed!