JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(1st Timothy 4:15) "Be diligent in these matters… give yourself wholly to them so that everyone may see your progress."
Chuck Swindoll is one of my favorite theologians/preachers.
He is a man of God whom I believe “rightly” divides the word of God.
I have come to trust his teaching and spiritual example over the last 40 years of my life.
Chuck tells a story how that one day, a friend of His stopped by his study to “speak the truth in love”
to him according to (Ephesians 4:15)
The man said, “Chuck, what worries me is that you could be tempted to let your time with God and your time in the study of the Scriptures become less and less important to you. I want to urge you, do not let that happen.”
Swindoll took his words to heart and wrote down these five promises to himself.
Friend if you’re serious about being a follower of Christ, devoted to God, and determined to be an influence in the world around you… then I challenge you to make these same promises to yourself also.
1) I promise to keep doing original and hard work in my study.
(2nd Timothy 2:15) “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Those to whom I am called, deserve my best efforts.
2) I promise to maintain a heart for God.
That means I will pray frequently and fervently and stay devoted to Him and to my calling.
(Colossians 4:2) “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. ... Be persistent in prayer giving thanks to God.”
3) I promise to remain accountable.
Living the life of a religious lone ranger is not only unbiblical… it’s dangerous.
(Hebrews 10:25) “Forsake not, the assembling of your selves together as some do”
Serving God is serving others.
The man said, “Chuck, what worries me is that you could be tempted to let your time with God and your time in the study of the Scriptures become less and less important to you. I want to urge you, do not let that happen.”
Swindoll took his words to heart and wrote down these five promises to himself.
Friend if you’re serious about being a follower of Christ, devoted to God, and determined to be an influence in the world around you… then I challenge you to make these same promises to yourself also.
1) I promise to keep doing original and hard work in my study.
(2nd Timothy 2:15) “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Those to whom I am called, deserve my best efforts.
2) I promise to maintain a heart for God.
That means I will pray frequently and fervently and stay devoted to Him and to my calling.
(Colossians 4:2) “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. ... Be persistent in prayer giving thanks to God.”
3) I promise to remain accountable.
Living the life of a religious lone ranger is not only unbiblical… it’s dangerous.
(Hebrews 10:25) “Forsake not, the assembling of your selves together as some do”
Serving God is serving others.
Serving God can be a very happy experience... real happiness comes from serving others.
Certainly, there should be no thought that our salvation depends on our faithfulness in "church attendance," or for that matter, any kind of work program we may invent.
The purpose for wanting to meet with our brethren is plainly stated in (Hebrews 10:24)...
Certainly, there should be no thought that our salvation depends on our faithfulness in "church attendance," or for that matter, any kind of work program we may invent.
The purpose for wanting to meet with our brethren is plainly stated in (Hebrews 10:24)...
"Let us think about how we may cause one another to love and to do good things."
We can accomplish this in a chance meeting with one person, or meeting periodically with a group of people.
Either way, we should not forsake the principle of getting together with others for mutual edification to encourage one another, and to inspire one another in our walk with God.
(4) I promise to stay faithful to my family.
My wife deserves my time, affection, and undivided attention... our now-grown children deserve the same.
(5) I promise to be who I am… just me.
To keep laughing and saying things a little off-the-wall.
We can accomplish this in a chance meeting with one person, or meeting periodically with a group of people.
Either way, we should not forsake the principle of getting together with others for mutual edification to encourage one another, and to inspire one another in our walk with God.
(4) I promise to stay faithful to my family.
My wife deserves my time, affection, and undivided attention... our now-grown children deserve the same.
(5) I promise to be who I am… just me.
To keep laughing and saying things a little off-the-wall.
To not wear plastic masks and put on the air of having it all together.
To be a friend and make a few mistakes each month.
Too often our religious activities as leaders, preachers, teachers can become a performance.
I want people to see me for who I am… just a simple man whom loves and serves Jesus.
As Country Singer John Conlee wrote and sang, “ I’m just a common man who drives a common van, my dog ain’t got a pedigree”,
On that… being devoted to Christ doesn’t make you weird, judgmental, antisocial, or isolated from the world.
No, it makes you the best version of yourself you can be… and the one God wants you to be.
Never forget that you were created for a purpose.
That purpose was to be one with God, and a “sweet savor” to the world around you.
God wants you to live in the midst of this world as a light for others to find Him.
The only way you can do that is to stay plugged into the power source.
Stay plugged into Jesus… not religion!
Good Day!
To be a friend and make a few mistakes each month.
Too often our religious activities as leaders, preachers, teachers can become a performance.
I want people to see me for who I am… just a simple man whom loves and serves Jesus.
As Country Singer John Conlee wrote and sang, “ I’m just a common man who drives a common van, my dog ain’t got a pedigree”,
On that… being devoted to Christ doesn’t make you weird, judgmental, antisocial, or isolated from the world.
No, it makes you the best version of yourself you can be… and the one God wants you to be.
Never forget that you were created for a purpose.
That purpose was to be one with God, and a “sweet savor” to the world around you.
God wants you to live in the midst of this world as a light for others to find Him.
The only way you can do that is to stay plugged into the power source.
Stay plugged into Jesus… not religion!
Good Day!
(Matthew 7:14) "But the gate is narrow…”
If you’re at a crossroads in life today, you have two options.
Turn right or left, forward or back.
There’s no doubt which way God wants you to go and that’s forward!
If you have any doubts about that, read and meditate on these scriptures:
“Though your beginning was small… yet your latter end would increase abundantly” (Job 8:7)
“They go from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7)
“The path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18)
“Meditate on these things… give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1st Timothy 4:15).
God will give you the grace and strength to go forward and pursue the path ahead, but understand this… it’s not always an easy path.
In reading from the Amplified version of the Bible which is a Bible that has been written with definition and meaning to many of its thoughts Jesus said…
“Enter through the narrow gate… for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction and many are those who are entering through it”.
But the gate that is narrow (contracted by pressure) is straightened and compressed that leads a way to life… and few are those who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14)
Here Jesus was preaching His famous Sermon on the Mount, where He outlined how we’re supposed to live as citizens of His kingdom.
It’s the difference between the “many” and the “few.”
The first group chooses the path of ease… but the second chooses the path of “pressure,” realizing that “tough as it may be… it forms the “character” of Christ with in us.
And ultimately that’s where God is trying to bring each of us to!
A life filled with the character of Christ…. conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”
That life will emanate or portray… the “fruit of the Spirit”.
(Galatians 5:22-23) “But the fruit of the Spirit is… love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
These are not “natural traits” of the human spirit!
These are traits that are developed only through patience and endurance… standing in and thru the tests and trials that we face daily.
(Hebrews 10:36) “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise”.
We must never forget that we are all “being conformed to the image of Christ” (Romans 8:29) because we are by nature “children of wrath”.
(Ephesians 2:3-5) “among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the bodyand the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind”.
Our “Adamic nature”, (the works of the flesh)… is something that is distasteful to God and not healthy for humanity.
The “Adamic nature” refers to the sinful condition inherited from Adam
after his disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
This nature affects all human beings, making them prone to sin and separation from God.
The concept is rooted in Christian theology, emphasizing that through Adam's sin, all humanity inherited a sinful nature… which manifests in every human being, a tendency toward sin and rebellion against God.
Paul writes however in (Galatians 5:13-26) “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh… rather, serve one another humbly in love.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command… “Love your neighbor as yourself.
If you bite and devour each other, watch out… or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Paul writes however in (Galatians 5:13-26) “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh… rather, serve one another humbly in love.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command… “Love your neighbor as yourself.
If you bite and devour each other, watch out… or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
They are in conflict with each other so that you are not able to do whatyou know is right.
But if you are led by the Spirit… you are not under the law… (in other words your not like the rest of the world)
The acts of the flesh are obvious… sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery…idolatry and witchcraft… hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy… drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this, will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
To this end, that is… what we should each be striving to be or do… is to be more like Christ and staying in step with Him!”
Good Day!
(Luke 12:15) "Life is not measured by how much you own."
The factitious story is told of a man who found a lamp in the sand on the seashore and after rubbing it, out popped a genie.
The genie said, “Thank you for setting me free and for that I will give you one wish, what can I do for you?”
The man said, “Show me the Wall Street Journal one year from today.
This way, I’ll know where to invest my money and become a multi-millionaire.”
So the genie snapped his fingers and out came a Wall Street Journal dated one year in the future.
The man flipped the pages of the newspaper, studying the listings and observing which stocks would be high and which ones would be low.
But in the midst of his joy, tears began to roll down his cheeks.
Why? Because when he looked over the obituary column, there was his face.
Listen folks… God is not opposed to you acquiring and achieving things in life.
But He wants you to know that this life can only offer so much, and unless you live each day in the light of eternity, you’re going to waste your time on the wrong things.
It’s okay to enjoy “temporal things”… as long as your main focus is on “eternal things”.
John wrote to the church saying “Love not the world nor the things that are in this world” (1st John 2:15-17)
Paul said, “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus… the work of telling others the “Good News” about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
I'm told that in Canada if you lived to be one hundred years old, you can receive a “Congratulations” letter from Buckingham Palace that was signed by the Queen of England herself.
The same goes with US citizens whom reach the age of 100 as well.
I’m told that President Gerald Ford and 1st Lady Betty Ford used to make it part of their routine to send out short congratulatory birthday cards to US citizens whom turned 100 years old.
But friend even that doesn’t compare to the “well done”, you’ll receive from God for fulfilling the assignment He has given you here on earth.
The lyrics to an old song called "Only One Life" say these words… "Only one life soon will pass, just what’s done for Christ will last, don't let Satan steal your time".
What about you today!
What is, and where is "your focus".
Paul said, "for me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21)
I take that to mean that for Paul there was only one reason to keep pursuing life.
And that pursuit was summed up in seeking first the Kingdom of God and sharing t with others thru out his life.
It was Hos passion and His purpose!
(Philippians 3:14) "Brothers,(and sisters)… I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it.
But one thing I do… forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s Heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.”
All of us who are professing believers in Christ should be embracing this same point of view”.
What about you, what’s in your view today!
Where is your focus today!
You’re the only one whom can answer that!
Good Day!
(James 4:2) “Ye have not because ye ask not”
There are things God will not give us simply because “we do not ask for them!”
For some of us it’s pride that keeps them from asking God.
Their attitude is “I don't need anyone’s help”.
There are some things you could have had victory with in your life, if you would have just come to God and asked.
There are blessings that God will never give you because you will not ask Him for them, “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:2)
Why haven’t you asked God?
Is it because you don’t want to get your heart right with God?
You forgot?
Lack of faith?
Or is your focus so consumed on the things of this world that you don’t realize where your true victory, source, and power lies.
That’s why John says “love not the world not the things that are in the world.” (1st John 2:15-17)
Yes many people get through life without God’s help, but that’s a low plan to live on!
When we get to Heaven, the last thing I would want to hear is, “See all these things I wanted to give you while you were on earth, but you forgot to ask!”
If I do not receive something from God, I don’t want it to be because I didn’t ask for it when the opportunity was available.
Many people pray daily to God, praise Him, and pray for others, but forget to share with God what is really bothering them.
If God says no to your request, or, “wait”, then praise Him anyway, but at least ask!
There is a passage of scripture in (Joshua 15:18-19), where Caleb’s daughter had received some land from her father, but it was a dry land without water.
She said, “Give me a blessing… for thou hast given me a south land… give me also springs of water.”
She was not afraid to ask… she new the land was useless with out water.
So she asked her father, “if you really want to bless me, give me springs with the land, it needs water, dig me some wells.”
If you have the thought, “I should just be satisfied with what I have and not bother God,” then you may end up with a “south land” (a desert) with no water on it.
True, this would be better than no land at all, but why not have both?
Notice she did not ask for one spring but for “springs,” and her father gave her at least four (Joshua 15:19).
When she asked, she could have said, “May I have “a” spring?
But hey, if you’re going to ask, then why not ask for “springs”!
If we are going to ask just for our own selfishness then yes, that would be wrong (James 4:3) “Ye have not because you ask amiss.”
But there are gifts from God we could have already had, had we been willing to humble ourselves and ask Him.
Things you might ask God for include… joy, happiness, peace, a mate, to be a better parent, wisdom to answer a question or solve a problem, power and grace to do what God wants, a job, etc.
I wonder if, or have you ever prayed for an hour?
Jesus was shocked by the actions of His disciples when he had asked them to pray with Him.
“What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray…” (Matthew 26:40–41)
The Bible says (1st Peter 5:7). “Be careful for nothing… but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving …let your requests be made known unto God.
(Philippians 4:6-7) “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
Did you know you could pray and ask God to give you peace that your problems will be resolved.
There are two parables where Christ teaches us that if we do not receive what we want… then we should keep praying (Luke 11:5–8, 18:1–5).
Why?
One would think, “If God wants me to have it, He will give it to me, and if not, then why should I keep asking Him for it?”
Well for one thing, if we keep praying for something, eventually we will have to ask ourselves what our motive is… “Why do I or do I really need this?”
Or, God may want you to give up some things (1st Samuel 1:10-17).
“Delight thyself in the Lord; and He will give thee the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
What is the desire of your heart?
If we go every day to the Lord in prayer for our heart’s desire, eventually we will ask, “What is your will Lord?”
Or are you willing to say, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me… nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)
Spending time with God is always good.
I see myself more clearly (my needs) and my purpose, my direction, God’s will for my life better, after I have spent this time each morning talking to God and writing these devotionals.
Also, I am more thankful to Him for his patience and His love for me.
If we keep praying, studying and meditating… we will get closer to God. “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).
Some of the problems and burdens we have, (believe it or not) were designed by God, not only to turn us to Him, but also to keep us where He wants us (2nd Corinthians 12:7-10).
Unfortunately, as human being we tend to take things for granted and if we we always get what we want the first time we ask, we can begin to treat God and His blessings as if He is our own personal servant or genie in a bottle.
And we tend to forget about Him just as fast, or until the next time we need His help and we even then we often don’t appreciate what He has done for us.
But the point I want to make this morning is that we need to trust God, we need to ask of God, we need to go to Him first, we need to make Him our priority in life.
When we do, life is good! No matter how you look at it,
God is good all the time and His benevolence is unending!
“The Lord is good to all… and He mercies are over all His works. . . . You give them their food in due time… You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalms 145:9-16).
God is good all the time… and He wants to pour His blessing out on you… but you need to talk to Him about it and you need to ask Him for them.
God is good all the time!
Good Day!
(James 4:2) You do not have because you do not ask God."
How large is your “asking capacity” when it comes to prayer?
When Elijah asked Elisha, “What may I do for you before I am taken away?’… Elisha replied, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me’” (2nd Kings 2:9)
Some of us may be a little shocked by his response… pegging Elisha as arrogant, and presumptuous… may be even thinking “You need to humble yourself and be grateful for the privilege of serving a great prophet like Elijah and count yourself fortunate that God permits you to carry on his ministry.”
But Elisha wasn’t timid and Elijah wasn’t offended.
So how did it all turn out?
Elisha got his double portion and ended up performing twice as many miracles as Elijah.
Listen… when you pray, God doesn’t say… “Make your request reasonable and practical.”
He wants you to ask “largely and abundantly, not sparingly”
(James 1:5)" If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not… and it shall be given him".
The term "upbraideth" is an archaic English word that appears in the King James Version of the Bible and is often translated in modern versions as "reproach" or "rebuke."
It conveys the idea of scolding, criticizing, or reproaching someone, often in a stern or severe manner.
In the context of Scripture, it is used to describe God's response to human actions or attitudes, as well as human interactions.
In this mornings teaching I want to emphasize the importance of believing and asking God for those things we consider impossible.
I want to encourage you to take the limits off of God because God does not put limits on you!
(John 16:24) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Jabez prayed this way… “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” (1st Chronicles 4:10)
How’s this for a big promise: “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession” (Psalm 2:8)?
Think about it… if He’s willing to give you “the nations for your inheritance”…
He will surely save your loved ones, heal your body, or give you that job, that home, or that relationship you have been praying for.
It’s time to take the limits off God!
Jesus said “all things are possible to them that believe” (Mark 9:23)
Jesus said, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name” (John 14:13)
Twice in Scripture someone said or asked something that caused Jesus to marvel. (Matthew 8:8-10), (Matthew 15:28)
On both occasions, it was a demonstration of “audacious faith” by a Gentile… someone that the religious crowd thought had no right to God’s miraculous provision.
Hebrews says it like this; “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
So listen folks… today, God wants you to ask of Him and believe Him for anything and everything that is of a concern for you! (John 14:14)
Pray large, pray big, pray with trust, pray with confidence and belief that He loves you and wants to meet your needs today.
Jesus said (Luke 11:9-13)… “So I say to you ask, and it will be given to you… seek, and you will find… knock, and it will be opened to you… for everyone who asks receives… and he who seeks finds… and to him who knocks it will be opened.
If a son asks forbread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Folks I plead with you today to embrace the message of (Luke 11:9-13), where answered prayers and the Holy Spirit await.
Approach God with unwavering faith and perseverance, just as you tackle challenges at work or care for your loved ones at home.
Seek God’s wisdom and blessings with a determined spirit and unwavering trust.
Commit to praying earnestly… pray largely… pray with confidence, and ask your heavenly Father to fulfill those needs and plans and desires that you have thought you were incapable of.
Take the promise of God and believe and determine to walk in it and invite the Holy Spirit into your life today?
(Mark 9:23) Jesus said… “All things are possible to them that believe”
Good Day!
(Luke 8:43-44) "A woman having an issue...touched the border of His garment."
The Bible says that there was, “a woman who had ‘an issue of blood’ for twelve years… in fact she had spent all of her living upon physicians, and none could help her.
Like people that gather to see a parade three or four hours before it passes by, she heard that Jesus was coming to her town so she left her home early, made her way to where he was located in the city, crawled and pushed her way thru the crowd that was gathered to see Him, and finally got close enough to reach out and just barely touch the hem of His cloak… and immediately… her
“issue of blood” was stanched.
Suddenly, Jesus said to those who were close round Him, “Who touched me”
When all those gathered around Him denied touching Him, Peter and they that were with him said… “Master, see this great crowd around you all pushing and bumping into you and you ask “Who touched me?”’
Jesus said, “Somebody has touched me… for I perceive that virtue [healing power] is gone out of me”.
When the woman realized that Jesus knew what she had done, she cried out to Him for mercy and he said unto her, “Daughter, be of good comfort… thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 8:43-48).
It doesn’t matter what your need is today… Jesus knows and He cares.
This woman had an “issue” that was draining the life out of her… an issue that no doctor could cure.
So she did what you need to do… she took her issue to Jesus… touched Him by faith… and was made whole.
Think about what she had to overcome.
Twelve years of suffering.
A sense of hopelessness and despair… because she had spent all she had upon physicians, and no one could help.
Then there was the crowd that thronged Jesus and stood in her way.
Nevertheless, the moment her faith made contact with Jesus, she was made whole.
So what’s your biggest issue today?
Is it a long-term one?
Is it at home or on the job?
Is it a health issue or a stubborn habit?
When we look at the world with all of its trials, troubles, tribulations, and heartaches… we sometimes ask "Where is God?
Why doesn't He do something?"
Is it that God is not able?
Is the situation too large or too difficult for God?
God told Abraham that he was going to have a son in his old age, and Abraham was more than a little quizzical about it.
Seeing Abrahams doubt… God asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14)
In (Jeremiah 32:17) Again the question is asaked… “is anything to hard for the Lord to handle?”
Then Jeremiah answered the question by saying…
"Ah Lord GOD! You have made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm… and there is nothing too hard for thee." (Jeremiah 32:17)
Jeremiah gives the answer… "There is nothing too hard for thee."
There are over thirty thousand promises in the Bible, and God will keep His Word.
If God made the promise, He cannot lie.
There is no promise too hard for God to keep.
There's no prayer too hard for God to answer.
Jesus said in (Matthew 21:22), "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
When you ask in prayer and believe, you'll receive.
There is no problem too hard for God to solve.
God specializes in things that seem impossible.
Now God may not solve your problem the way you want Him to… but there's no problem too hard for God to solve.
There's no person too hard for God to save.
God can save anyone if they'll come to Him.
(Luke 18:27) says,” is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord?”
The old Andre Crouch song of the 70”s says, “Jesus is the answer, for the world today”.
He was the answer for that poor woman with the issue of blood, and He is still the answer for your issues today as well.
Don’t stop until you get to Jesus, even if that means getting down on your knees in prayer and pushing through every obstacle that stands in your way.
Get Him in your focus today, all day, and every day going forward… and don’t lose sight of Him.
Touch Jesus by faith today, and you too can be made whole.
Good Day!
(2nd Peter 1:4) ‘These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature.’
Did you ever hear the story about a pastor who was invited to dinner with one of the families in his congregation?
The woman of the house really wanted to impress him so after they finished their meal she invited the Pastor to read something inspiring to the family,
So she said to one of her children, “Please go and get the Good Book, the book we love, the book we read every day.”
The child returned with a shopping catalogue!
Seriously though we are all guilty of filling our minds with things,
information, and useless past times… that steal our time and interfere
with the things that are most important.
Just as you cannot thrive physically without a daily intake of good nutrition, you cannot thrive spiritually without a daily intake of God’s Word.
Everything you need for living a joyful and victorious Christian life is found in your Bible.
(2nd Peter 1:3-4) reads, “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.
We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself…He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires”.
The “promises” spoken of here, are those found within the pages of “The Good Book”.
Do you remember what Jesus used to overcome Satan’s temptations in the wilderness? (Luke 4:1-13)
Intellect? Willpower? No… He used the Scriptures… because He knew Satan has no defense against them.
Do you want to succeed in your career, in your home, in your relationships, and everywhere else?
Then put into practice the words of Joshua to His family and the people of Israel.
(Joshua 1:8) “Study this book of instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do”
(2nd Timothy 3:16) tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right”.
If we live by the book… if we do it by the book… we can arrive in time, on time, at the right time, all the time, with lots of time, every time.
Good day