The most effective way to let other people know about the great things that God can do in their lives is to tell them the story of what God has done in your life. That is what makes a difference.

Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere” (NLT). What does a witness do? A witness just says, “Here’s what I’ve seen. Here’s what I heard.” A witness just tells other people the story of what God’s done in their life.

Friends don’t keep good news from other friends. You tell them the good news of what God has done in your life so that it can make an eternal difference in their lives.

Are you unsure how to get started? Here’s a simple action step: Write out your story, and share it with your small group. Start sharing with the people that are close to you so you can get some practice. Then, God will give you the opportunity to share your story with someone who needs to hear the Good News.

Acts 1:8b NLT
You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.

- Rick Warren Devotional

It is so true that feelings are fleeting. One day you may feel you are on top of the world but some days you may feel you are in the pit. Some days the sun may look brighter and some days the cloud seems to hide every rays of the sun. How moveable we are as human, we change our minds, we change our words and the same goes with our strength. Some days we feel we could tackle the world head on and there will be days where we seek every ounce of strength yet to find none.

I’m glad to know and to proclaim that my God is immovable. His strength, His love, His grace, His mercy remain the same throughout the ages, from the time of Adam to this present day. I’m humbled to say when I’m weak, God promises His strength. When there is doubt, He sends Holy Spirit to remind me of His words and when I fall, He lavishes mercy and grace for me to begin again.

Seek the Lord and the comfort He offers. They are not fleeting like our feelings or strength. When you need strength, seek the Lord. Let His presence and Spirit strengthens you from within. Don’t go a day without seeking His strength for your day.

Zechariah 4: 6
So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

- Irene Soon

With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s chariots behind them, Moses told the Israelites: “‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’ And the Lord said to Moses…‘Tell the children of Israel to go forward’” (vv. 13-15 NKJV). 

Notice, God told the people of Israel two things. First, that He would fight for them. Second, that they must go forward in spite of their fear. When you face the unknown it’s normal to feel fear. But that’s when you need to put your trust and confidence in God! In order for Him to fulfill His promise to you, you must obey what He has told you to do. 

How should you deal with change? In three ways: 
(1) Focus on its long-term benefits instead of its short-term inconvenience. 
(2) Be honest about what you really feel and fear about the change, and take it to God in prayer. 
(3) Keep an open attitude toward new ideas, and refuse to be influenced by rigid thinkers. 

Stand on this Scripture: “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left” (Isa 54:2-3 NKJV). God doesn’t change, but He moves! And in order to succeed, you must move with Him.

 Exodus 14:15 NKJV
Tell the children of Israel to go forward.

- Taken from http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/dealing-with-change

After being sold to Egypt by his brothers, Joseph was framed by Potiphar's wife and thrown to prison.

Genesis 39:20-23 tells us that while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him. God showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

The warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

When we experience a series of unfortunate events or facing tough situations; we might feel trapped and imprisoned and wish to get out of it as soon as possible. Sometimes we forget that we are predestined to be victors wherever we are, in whatever situation or place we are in. We are meant to be victors, even in tough times. As God was with Joseph when he was in prison, our God is with us even in the most difficult times. He will grant us favor in the place where we are right now.

Genesis 39: 21- 23
the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

- Diven

Sometimes life can be so frustrating. Everything you plan does not work out as you imagine. Then doubt creep into your mind, telling you that probably everything will just be fine someday and you do nothing and wait things to get better by themselves. Another time it could be the sound in your mind telling you that there is no way out, you are done for.

But the truth depends not on what we have in our mind or in our heart. The truth is there is nothing too difficult for God if we are willing to go to Him. He calls us to come to Him as we are. Not because we are good then we can claim His love. Those who come to Him, He will not reject. Those who come to Him, new life will be given. Yes, problem will still be there, but His peace will guard your heart.

Christ is a living God and He is the only Savior that has conquered death. No matter how difficult the situation,  … it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the Lord shall be saved (Joel 2: 32).  When you receive Christ as your Saviour, you have His assurance that He will never leave nor forsake you in your difficulties. Press on in the Lord for he is faithful

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Jenni Wang

Have you ever come across a construction site where the workers were laboriously laying a tile floor—one of those mosaic floors with thousands of tiny tiles that create a picture when finished? While it’s being put in place, the picture is not clearly visible because the workers use grout to fill the spaces between the tiles, and the grout leaves a heavy gray film over their work that hides the beauty of what they’ve done. But then, once the grout between the tiles is dry, the film is washed off and the picture is revealed.

That’s similar to how God works in our lives. In His infinite wisdom and all-encompassing love, He understands exactly what we need and goes to great lengths, with intricate detail, to provide those things.

Often He uses the troubles of life, such as economic difficulties, personal struggles, and mistakes, to work in ways we aren’t expecting. We don’t always realize how He’s preparing us, or understand why He has allowed something “gray” to cloud our lives, like the grout on the mosaic as it is being fashioned. But that only makes His loving and attentive care all the more profound and beautiful when it’s finally revealed.

1 Peter 5:10 ESV 
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

- Anonymous

Keeping God in the picture is another way of saying that we should give Him an active role in our daily lives, which we do by acknowledging His presence and power, and by asking for His counsel and help in matters big and small.

Daniel, whose story is told in the Old Testament book of that name, had just such a relationship with God. Daniel had been taken captive in his youth, when the Babylonians conquered Judah, but eventually he rose to a position of power and influence in the Babylonian royal court. Then, when the Medes overthrew the Babylonians, Daniel became a senior administrator during the reign of King Darius.

Daniel’s fellow governors then became jealous and plotted against him. They persuaded Darius to decree restrictions on prayer and worship, under penalty of death, but Daniel’s well-known devotion to his God compelled him to ignore the decree. Darius favored Daniel and realized that he had been manipulated, but he could neither change nor ignore his own decree. When Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions, it seemed that would be the end of him, but the next morning he emerged from the den unscathed.

Keeping God in the picture enables us to survive life’s tribulations with our faith and peace of heart and mind intact. Take the way of peace: Praying for the day ahead when you wake; pausing to pray when things get hectic or a decision or problem arises; taking a few minutes for quiet reflection in the evening - these are all ideal times to find peace in God’s presence.

John 14: 27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

- Anonymous