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Getting to the Root of your Problem

AuthorHouse

Chapter One

We were all created in the image of God. God took His DNA and implanted it in the spirit of man. Therefore, originally, we were all the same in spirit. The difference came when we were influenced by sin from birth.

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Day 2

Did you have a choice of your race, color, or nationality before you were born? No—but God did! You belonging to your family is no accident. Whether rich, poor, or in between, God purposed a plan for you to positively influence others around just you. That's one reason why you did not have a choice!

Day 3

God is love and has no color. That's why true love is colorblind.

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Day 4

Have you discovered your God-given gift yet? If not, here are four questions that will help you:

1. What do you enjoy doing or what are you good at?

2. What comes naturally to you?

3. Would you do it even if you did not get paid?

4. Will it make a positive difference in the lives of others?

Day 5

Everyone likes investing in things with an instant return. Have you ever thought about investing in peace? Peace is an investment whose returns are sometimes not seen immediately. Peace does not come automatically. You have to want it and fight to keep it. Not arguing with your spouse can be a good start. Peace is more precious than fortune and fame because without it you can't enjoy either!

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Day 6

One of the best tricks Satan uses is to convince people that he really does not exist—except on Halloween!

Day 7

Satan is good at using reverse psychology. He tries to convince godly folks to become close friends with ungodly people. Satan usually whispers that by being friends with ungodly people, you can win them over to God. I am not saying that we should avoid evil people or be unkind to them. However, we can't become too close to those who habitually practice wrongdoing. This has corrupted many godly people.

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Day 8

It is amazing to see people who believe in magic, which is an illusion, and not believe in God, who is real!

Day 9

For those of you who enjoy speaking encouraging words, don't get caught up in the number of people who acknowledge your good works. Keep speaking positively anyway! There are people who listen to your words and are encouraged by them, but they don't want anyone else to know that they are on board with you.

Day 10

If Jesus was to post His sermons on Facebook or Twitter back in the day, I don't think many would check "I like his status!"

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Day 11

Do you know people who always seem to be anxious or afraid? Perhaps they are spiritually weak. They need to be spiritually trained by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Christian's "muscle" waiting to be flexed, exercised, and employed in every moment of the believer's life. If you are a believer, you have the Holy Spirit (strength of God) in you to change your situation and remove fear. The more you exercise the Holy Spirit in your life, the faster fear is replaced by faith!

Day 12

Why don't people at church praise and worship God the same way that they cheer at their favorite football game? Imagine all the people in the Georgia Dome at a Falcons game on one accord worshipping God in spirit and in truth that place may literally rock! We might be visited by a few confused angels thinking they are in heaven!

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Day 13

"And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound" (1 Kings 1:38).

Day 14

Can you think of a time or situation when you could have been killed or could have been in a lot of trouble, but somehow you got out of it? That's God interrupting what was meant to destroy you from your purpose. God only preserves what has purpose and meaning!

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Day 15

Lord, I thank You for the good friends that You have surrounded me with. Help Your people in all walks of life who are struggling with the threat of unrighteous relationships. Do not allow us to turn our backs on those who need our help and prayers. However, help us to cut all ties with those who would lead us into wickedness. Fill us with Your Spirit today to be more like You. Amen.

Day 16

"Doors will open when you find the missing key." The lyrics in "Thank Me Now," by rapper-singer Drake, were originally in the Bible in Proverbs—by God!

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Day 17

Some of you are preserving your cash because of fear of the economy. In the meantime, the interest is killing you! Pay off your debts if you have the money, but make sure that you have some left over for emergencies—at least one month's reserve. Debt is of the devil!

Day 18

Too many people put off going to school because of cost. Investing in yourself is priceless, especially when it comes to education that will pay off later. A student loan is one of the best investment tools you can ever get. Creditors can repossess items bought by other loans, but they can't repossess knowledge gained through education.

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Day 19

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new - (2 Corinthians 5:17). However, this is not in our flesh, nor in our soul—just in our Spirit. It is a constant battle, because our minds and bodies have to be renewed by the Word of God daily!

Day 20

Sometimes when reading the Bible online, it may say, "Web Shield Alert! Threat detected Threat name: Exploit Fragus Exploit Kit (type 905)." Satan wants to keep you from the truth! He does not want you to be empowered by the word! More words equal more power!

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Day 21

How do I renew my mind?

1. Choose what you think about (guard your heart, because it determines your path).

2. Change your automatic pilot.

3. Go to the root of the problem.

4. Choose to depend on the Holy Spirit.

Day 22

God says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," which is in the Word. When you are spiritually ignorant, it's like going to war with a butter knife! Get the Word of God into your heart by reading, listening, and speaking it! God has provided it all in Jesus Christ, but it is up to us to individually get into the Word of God and learn who we are and what we have!

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Day 23

God desires for all to be saved! There are no such things as secular church folks! We all belong to Him! "All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him" (2 Samuel 14:14).

Day 24

There are some churches so bound in tradition that they receive very little spiritual insight. For example, some groups believe in no instruments in church. Why? They probably do not understanding the spiritual meaning of Ephesians 5:19–20: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."

This is what the amplified bible says:

Ephesians 5:19–20:

• "Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord ..."

• Now, did you know when you sing you are actually making music (creating notes and harmony)?

• David sang praises and danced to the Lord until his clothes virtually fell off!

• David actually played the harp to soothe Saul when he was stressed out.

• Lucifer (Satan) was the minister of music in heaven before he sinned and committed high treason against God!

Do you think the angels in heaven, who are made below us, are making music in their "hearts"? No! Their job is to serve and praise out loud!

Day 25

"Do you need wisdom? Ask him who made it all! This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it —the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:2–3, NIV).

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Day 26

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV).

Day 27

The Holy Spirit breaks through the walls of sin, guilt, and shame because there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. The Holy Spirit elevates our view off of earthly things and onto the things of God, spiritual things that are eternal.

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Day 28

"The Holy Spirit is described actually like a person. He has a mind, will, and emotions. The Holy Spirit helps, teaches, guides, and comforts, as well as performs other functions. Just like throwing a bucket of water on a fire can quench the fire, you can do the same thing to the Holy Spirit by actions and attitudes that are inconsistent with what the believers as a body are doing." —Pastor K. C. Price

Day 29

"The Godhead (Trinity) functions like a corporation. God the Father is the president and chief executive officer. Jesus is the executive vice president and director of operations. The Holy Spirit is the field representative. All three are God, but all have different functions." —Pastor K. C. Price

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Day 30

Did you know that one of the greatest tragedies of life is to go to church but never execute the Word? It's like having a key to get out of jail but being too lazy to put it in the lock and push! "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22, NIV).

Day 31

If you can't sleep, maybe you need to get up and pray! Somebody always needs prayer! The Lord always wants to hear from you. Just one word from God possesses dynamos (the power to change things or to be explosive like dynamite) in your life!

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Day 32

According to the Bible, you are not a child of God unless you believe in, rely on, and trust in Jesus! If not, you are just His creation! "To all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (John 1:12–13, NIV).

Day 33

As a child of God, there are special privileges—but even more responsibilities.

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Day 34

Today, choose to use the things and gifts of the spirit God has blessed you with to draw people not to yourself, but to Christ. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14–16, NIV).

Day 35

Did you know that God has given everyone a life preserver called the Bible? "I will never forget your precepts, for by them, you have preserved my life" (Psalms 119:93, NIV).

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Day 36

"To win our spiritual battles, we must be aggressive against our enemy, Satan. We cannot be passive. We must take the initiative. Ours must be the offensive position, rather than the defensive. Truly God is calling His people to rise up and war against their enemy. We're in a war—let's go!" —Bible.com

Day 37

If today has not been a good day for you so far, keep pressing through with a smile on your face and keep your head up high! It will soon be over! "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14, NIV).

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Day 38

Today I finished a rather difficult surgery. At the end, the patient said, "That's it?" I said, "Yes!" She did mention that she prayed before the surgery and I prayed before performing the surgery, and God did the rest! The next time you need surgery, please pray and don't be offended to ask the doctor to pray as well before the surgery!

Day 39

Are you tired of going to a stiff church? No music or depressing music at best just dead! Well, you don't have to tolerate that! You can really act like a fool when worshiping God oh yeah like David did! "I was dancing before the Lord so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!" (2 Samuel 6:21).

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Day 40

When I say "Let's go!" it's like saying Amen (which means so be it and to be in agreement with). Let's go together!

Day 41

The Christ-like life is a marathon—not a sprint! To persevere means to be persistent and refuse to stop: asking, seeking, knocking, praying, working, loving, helping, and giving to God and others. God honors that and He will honor you in due season. When is due season coming? When it comes! "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1).

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Day 42

You see, things are not always what they seem! Be careful trying to be like the Joneses and be like Jesus!

Day 43

God wants to do big things in your life! Do you know what one of my secrets to success is? Faith! (I saw, spoke, and worked myself into this position.) Now what is faith? "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, NIV). There was a time when I did not see how it was going to work out, but I believed anyway! Where is your faith now?

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Day 44

Do you want to be a famous rock star, rapper, or R & B singer? That's cool, but more importantly, God wants you to be a star for the rock (Christ, that is). The ice, the car, the house, the clothes should be used to give God glory! He is exquisitely eloquently divine!

Day 45

Pray this prayer today: Lord, thank you for all the wonderful things You have given me to enjoy in this life. However, I never want to be guilty of allowing those things that bring pleasure to become more important than the things of God. May I always put You and Your will first in my life. Today give me the strength and encouragement to stand for righteousness despite my sins. In Jesus's name, amen!

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Day 46

Endurance! Life is not a sprint, but more like a marathon! We may fall down, but we will get back up. This is our heritage and lifestyle as a Christian! The race does not always go to the fastest, but to those who endure to the end! Don't give up!

Day 47

Today I was able to bless a man I hardly knew and his family. Their house was foreclosed on. What a better world it would be if more people did this! We are blessed to be a blessing! Who have you helped lately?

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Day 48

Do you want good to come to you? Then you must give and run your business with honesty and integrity! "Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice" (Psalms 112:5, NIV).

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Getting to the Root of your Problem by Rico D. Short Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Rico D. Short . Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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