Cody Braddock's Blog

Tag: new

  • Speaking the Truth

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    Colossians 3 –     Why do humans lie?  Is it to cover guilt, sin, humiliation, or something else?  Is it ever okay to lie?  No.  It should never be acceptable to lie.  The truth may hurt at times, but lies hurt worse.  There is never a worse feeling then to feel betrayed and to lose trust for someone you care about.  I do not feel it is ever okay to cross that line.  Where one lie is told, many follow.  Speak the truth in love to each other and also yourself.  Self-deception is probably one of the devil’s biggest tricks.  Be honest with yourself in what you do so that you may be blessed by the Lord our God!  When you become new, the old ways and sins of the past are stripped from you.  Put on a new armor and a new way of living as Christ intended.  We are to be renewed in our mind according to the image of God.  If you do not change who you were, how will you ever depart from where you were?

    Vs 9, 10 – “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.”

    Walking in the Word – I will keep truth on my lips and turn from lies.  I desire to honor God by keeping my mouth clean, respectful, and free from sinful talk.  I desire to speak the truth to everyone and depend on the Holy Spirit for correction.  I will take off the old me and put on the armor of Christ so that I may be strengthened by the Father in time of temptation from the enemy.  I rely on my strong Tower, the Lord our God, for comfort and shelter from evil.

    Prayer Response to the Word – Father, be with me daily so that I may praise You all my days.  Strengthen me with Your right hand and crush my enemies before me.  Seal me from evil and keep my heart at peace and covered in Your grace, love, and mercy.  Protect me from temptation and lies and lead me with peace.  I pray that You forgive me for when I have not honored You in my actions.  I plead the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as atonement from my sins.  Lord please take me under your wing and renew me in You.  Please speak to the hearts of Your children, so they may once again glorify You.  I ask that You have mercy on this world for our evil.  I ask that You spare us by Your grace.  Please have mercy on these people Lord, for they know not what they do.  I ask that evil be struck down and that Your name be glorified!  I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • Making a Difference

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    Yesterday my pastor told us a story I thought to be quite inspirational.  An older man was walking along the beach when he noticed a young boy throwing something in the water.  He watched the boy stop every couple feet, bend down and pick up something, and then toss it in the ocean.  As the older man got closer to see what the boy was doing, he noticed there were thousands of starfish washed up on the shore.  The boy walked a few steps, picked up a starfish, and threw it back into the sea.  The older man inquire, “What are you doing there young man?”  The boy said, “All of these starfish are stranded on the beach.  I’m returning them to the sea where they belong.”  The older man said, “There are thousands of them, you’ll never make a difference.”  The young boy stopped, picked up another starfish and tossed it into the water.  He looked at the older man and said, “I made a difference to that one.”
    Sometimes as Christians we feel that we will never do enough to make a difference in the world.  The truth is, we can make a difference.  Just helping one person can change the world.  A revival in the world starts with the one in the mirror.  A person once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  As Christians we must live as one who loves Christ and share the love of our Lord with all others so they may see Christ in us.  We must be different than the rest of the world!  What will people see in us that is different if we do not live differently.  We should extend our arms to those in need and those that need love.  Every person can make a difference.  We share with one whom the Lord uses to share with others.

    Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of  your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

    Walking in the Word – I desire to make a difference in the world, by making a difference in at least one person’s life.  Many people set out to save things which perish.  I pray the Lord uses me to lead others to the Lord so that they may be saved eternally.

    Prayer Response to the Word – Our Father, please be with us in this dying world.  Help us to hold on to hope and joy in You.  With You nothing is impossible.  You take care of Your children Lord just as You did in the days of our forefathers.  I ask that Your children can act according to Your perfect will and love, to make a difference in each other’s lives.  I pray that we can all come to know Your love and salvation for us.  I pray that You have mercy on us.  Though we live in this world, we are not to be of it.  Restore our nation Father.  Please forgive us for abandoning Your commands.  Please deal with us in grace.  Please don’t strike us down.  I pray that we may all repent and follow You.  Who are we that You are mindful of us?  You don’t need us, yet You have taken interest in each one of us and have loved us unconditionally, even when we were not perfect.  You met us where we were in life.  We did not have to live to an unreachable standard.  You reached down and rescued us in time of need!  Help me to love others as I am loved by You.  Help me to help another in need, in Your name alone.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

  • Christian Living

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    Ephesians 4 –     As Christians, we are required to live different from the world.  I strongly feel that many people, though they believe they are saved are not.  I do not feel that you can have the Spirit of God in you and continue to live habitually in sin.  It goes against the very character of God.  Believing you have received Christ and are going to heaven no matter how you live is one of the devil’s biggest lies.  You are not your own, but were paid for at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”).  Salvation is followed by repentance.  We are to repent of the lives we lived and be changed, putting off the old person and putting on the new person of Christ.  We are not to be angry with one another, forgiving all who rise against us.  If we previously lied, murdered, stole, spoke crudely, lived in drunkenness, were sexually immoral, etc. we were to die to each sin, deny ourselves, and be raised new again in Christ.  No one can be made new when they still live in the old.

    Vs 26-32 – “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.  Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

    Walking in the Word – I want to live a Christian life based on the Word of God.  I do not want to be one of the world that has no respect for the Lord or themselves.  The devil continues to deceive others in believing they are okay in how they live.  Biblical Christian principles do not allow for one to live in a life of sin, and honestly loving the Lord prohibits you from even wanting to live in sin.  I love to please the Lord and only want to serve Him.  I desire to grow closer to the Lord by denying myself of my earthly wants and emotions.  I desire to be patient, understanding, and loving towards each person I come in contact with in my life, as Christ is.  I want less of me and more of Thee, so I may be full…lacking nothing.  It brings me joy and peace to live a life honoring the Lord!  Many people seek material and worldly things to fill a space in their heart only meant to be filled with the Lord God.

    Prayer Response to the Word – Lord God in heaven, precious is Your name.  I am thankful for You giving me life.  I am thankful that You give me opportunity to love others as You have loved me.  I pray that I seize each of these opportunities and that I live with purpose, and that I live a pleasing life in Your eyes.  Help me to have Your heart for Your people and Your eyes to discern good and evil as well as see how to love others as You do.  Please give me the patience and wisdom I need to stand against the tide in a world that resembles Sodom and Gomorrah.  I do not want to be like everyone else Lord.  I want to live like no one else, so that I may live with You for eternity.  Strengthen my bones and my spirit Lord.  I offer my life to You.  Please help me to honor You in what I do and say.  Please have mercy and grace on me when I am weak and failing.  In Jesus name, I ask these things, Amen and Amen.

  • Out With the Old, In With the New

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    2 Corinthians 5 –     It is truly a blessing to get second chances.  Have you ever done something or said something you wish you could have taken back?  Have you ever wished that you could just start over?  I know I have.  There are few things in life that we can do over from scratch as far as our life itself goes.  There is great hope and wonder in being born again.  Our old selves are dead and we are born again.  We are given hope, redeemed in the one true God.  We no longer have to live that life and can have a new beginning!  A gift of eternity in everlasting love!  Amen!
    Vs 17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!”

    Walking in the Word – I remember where I was before Christ and I remember where I am now.  The old me was dying inside and had a huge hole in the middle.  Many times I tried to fill that hole with things of the world and many times that left me even more broken.  Christ Jesus met me where I was at.  I was shown love on my level and then pulled to new heights.  There is nothing that speaks to the soul more fluently then being loved right where you are.  I didn’t have to become something great or do something supernatural.  I just had to be open to being loved and because of that I have done many things in Him and through Him.  I am a better person and have that hole filled with something that never ceases, never goes away.  I am able to enjoy live fully and I have an internal peace that can’t be found anywhere else, only experienced through the love of Christ.

    Prayer Response to the Word – Lord Jesus, I thank You for loving me where I was.  In the depths of my despair You loved me.  Because You loved me first I was rescued from a body of death and given new and abundant life in You.  I desire to share this with others.  I want others to experience this peace and love.  I want them to rest assured that we have another life in You after this one.  This is our temporary home and a paradise awaits us after.  I praise You that You have been so patient with me in my growth.  Please continue to deal with me in grace and mercy!  I love You and thank You for what You have given me!  In Your precious name!  Amen!