Life Principles

1. Our intimacy with God- His highest priority for our lives- determines the impact of our lives.

 Genesis 1:26  Then God said, “LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR OWN LIKENESS.”

GOD MADE US LIKE HIMSELF SO WE WOULD HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR A CLOSE, PERSONAL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND SO WE COULD SERVE AND GLORIFY HIM.

 Psalm 63:1,8 You are my God; I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for You…. for you have been my help.

2. Obey God and leave all the consequences to him. Exodus 19:5 IF YOU OBEY MY VOICE AND OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS, THEN YOU SHALL BE MY OWN POSSESSION AMONG ALL THE PEOPLES, FOR ALL THE EARTH IS MINE.

 Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men.”

3. God’s word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.

Numbers 23:19 GOD IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE, NOR A SON OF MAN, THAT HE SHOULD REPENT. HAS HE SAID, AND WILL HE NOT DO IT? OR HAS HE NOT SPOKEN, AND WILL HE NOT MAKE IT GOOD?

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever. Hebrews 6: 19-20

4. The awareness of God’s presence energizes us for our work. Deuteronomy  20:1 WHEN YOU GO OUT TO BATTLE AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES… DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM; FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD… IS WITH YOU!

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20

5. God does not require us to understand His will. Just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable. Joshua 3:8 “YOU SHALL STAND STILL IN THE JORDAN”

Simon answered and said, “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as you say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break. Luke 5:5-6

6. You reap what you sow. More than you sow, and later than you sow. Judges 2: 1-4 YOU HAVE NOT OBEYED ME; WHAT IS THIS YOU HAVE DONE? 

Whatever a man sows, he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, buy the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal Life. Galatians 6;7-8

7. The dark moments of our life will last only so long, as is necessary, for God to accomplish His purpose is us. 1 Samuel 30: 1-6 GOD WAS WORKING THROUGH  ADVERSITY TO TRAIN DAVID TO BE A WISE KING WHO WOULD TRUST HIM EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. 

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

8. Fight all your battles on your knees, and you will WIN every time. 2 Samuel 15:31 WHEN YOU FEEL CAUGHT IN A TERRIBLY DIFFICULT SITUATION, FIGHT YOUR BATTLE ON YOUR KNEES BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO…… YOU WILL WIN EVERYTIME!

9. Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see….to what God sees. 2 Kings 6:17 THE LORD OPENED THE SERVANTS EYES AND HE SAW, AND BEHOLD, THE MOUNTAIN WAS FULL OF HORSES AND 

“CHARIOTS OF FIRE ALL AROUND ELISHA. 

“This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know tht the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”1 Samuel 17:46-47

10. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will. 2 Chronicles 20:12 “WE ARE POWERLESS BEFORE THIS GREAT MULTITUDE WHO ARE COMING AGAINST US; NOR DO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT OUR EYES ARE ON YOU.”

“ I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

11. God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him. Job 42: 7-17 “I HAVE HEARD OF YOU BY THE HEARING OF THE EAR; BUT NOW MY EYE SEES YOU…. I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO ALL THING, AND THAT NO PURPOSE OF YOURS CAN BE STOPPED.

My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19

12. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God.

 Psalms 4:8 IN PEACE I WILL BOTH LIE DOWN AND SLEEP, FOR YOU ALONE, O LORD, MAKE ME TO DWELL IN SAFETY.

Do not let your heart be troubled;believe in God, believe also in Me…. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:1,27

13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God. Psalms 81:8 HEAR OH, MY PEOPLE AND I WILL WARN YOU, IF YOU WOULD LISTEN TO ME.

Prove yourselves doers of the word,and not merely hearers who delude themselves…One who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer this man will be blessed in what he does. James 1;22,25

14. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

 Isaiah 64:4 SINCE ANCIENT TIMES NO ONE HAS HEARD, NO EAR HAS PERCEIVED, NO EYE HAS SEEN ANY GOD BESIDES YOU, WHO ACTS ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM.

15. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 

16. Whatever you acquire outside of God’s will, eventually turns to ashes. 

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17-18

17. We stand tallest and strongest on our knees. 

Daniel 6:10 HE CONTINUED KNEELING ON HIS KNEES THREE TIMES A DAY, PRAYING AND GIVING THANKS BEFORE GOD

18. As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. Hosea 3:4-5 AFTER THEY WILL COME TREMBLING TO THE LORD AND TO HIS GOODNESS IN THE LAST DAYS.

We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

19. Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose.

 Amos 6:6-7 THE PEOPLE WERE SO ENAMORED BY THEIR PROSPERITY THEY FORGOT GOD. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR WEALTH AND EASE FOR HIM AND IT COST THEM EVERYTHING.

Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions. Luke 12:15

20. Disappointments are inevitable; discouragement is a choice. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5

21. Obedience always brings blessings. Luke 11:28  “BLESSED ARE THOSE THAT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND OBSERVE IT”.

22. To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit. Acts 10:19 GOD TENDS TO GUIDE US IN STAGES. WHEN WE WALK IN HIS WAYS AND OBEY THE PROMPTINGS OF THE SPIRIT, WE WILL ALWAYS FIND THAT OUR FINAL DESTINATION IS A PLACE OF PRAISE AND ADORATION FOR OUR WONDERFUL LORD. 

Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh… If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.Galatians 5: 16,25

23. You can never outgive God. 

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. Luke 6:38

24. To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us. Galatians 2:20 WHEN WE INVITE CHRIST TO WORK IN OUR LIVES AND OBEY HIS COMMANDS, WE BECOME HIS REPRESENTATIVES, AND HE WORKS THROUGH US SO OTHERS WILL BE SAVED.

25. God blesses us so that we might bless others. 

Ephesians 4:28 JESUS POURED OUT HIS VERY LIFE SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT BE SAVED.

 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. 1 Timothy 6:17-18

26. Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God. Phillipians 3: 10-11 DURING TIMES OF SUFFERING AND ADVERSITY THE LORD TOUCHES US SO PROFOUNDLY AND INTIMATELY THAT WE REALIZE HOW PRICELESS IT IS TO EXPERIENCE ADVERSITY.

27. Prayer is life’s greatest time saver.

 2 Thessalonians 3:1 IF YOU STAY IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE LORD THROUGH PRAYER, HE WILL MAXIMIZE OUR TIME AND GIVE WISDOM AND ENERGY NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH OUR PART OF THE MISSION HE HAS FOR US.

28. No Christian ever been called to “go alone” in his or her walk of faith. Hebrews 10:24 OUR PARTICIPATION IN A LOCAL CHURCH NOT ONLY PROTECTS OUR PERSONAL FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD BUT IT IS A VITAL ASPECT TO HOW HE MATURES US AND TRANSFORMS US INTO HIS IMAGE.

29. We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops. James 5:10 WE LEARN MORE THROUGH SUFFERING THAN WE DO FROM SUCCESS. 

ANY TIME YOU EXPERIENCE ADVERSITY, IT IS BECAUSE GOD WANTS TO SHOW YOU HIS POWER AND LOVE. Whatever the reason, God never means it for your harm. It’s for your benefit so that you can become everything you were created to be and experience his abundant blessings.

30. Anticipating the Lord’s Return

1 John 3:1-3 JESUS HAS PREPARED AN ETERNAL HOME FOR EACH OF US. NO ONE KNOWS THE EXACT DAY OR HOUR OF HIS COMING. BE READY AT ALL TIMES.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.” Revelation 22:12

From Charles Stanley Life principles to live by.