The Purpose

Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."
Matthew 4:10 The Message Bible

At work, we had a little chat about bucket lists - who wants to do what, when, where, and how the lists may have changed and evolved over the years. Many had to do with seeing far away places in the world. Just as many were very specifically individual pursuits even though the ones who commented were married. I thought it was also interesting to note that the vast majority of the lists had nothing to do with accomplishing more or "higher" goals in the chosen career field.

Over the last week, there have been quite a few remarks about people's perceptions of what they were born to do. It's been enlightening, to say the least.

Have you ever given that serious thought? Have you ever listened for God's answer as to how or why He created you? He has a plan, you know. He had a plan for your life when He created you in your mother's womb.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT tells us, For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

There's an old song - Born to Serve the Lord - that just has wonderful words to it. The second verse tells it all:

For I was made in His likeness
Created in His Image
But I was born to serve the Lord.
And I won't deny Him
I'll always walk beside Him
for I was born to serve the Lord.

This is the reason we have eyes, ears, legs, etc. We truly were born to serve the Lord - and to serve Him with singleness of purpose. Is your life serving a purpose? More specifically, is your life serving HIS purpose?

Prayer:

Father,
           Let our hands serve our neighbor, our eyes read Your Word, our hearts follow You, our feet walk only in Your footsteps as You go before us making the crooked way straight. You created us to serve, Father. Help us to walk single-heartedly in our purpose. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Request - Comfort

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Exodus 20:1-3 NKJV

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of comfort food? Bread in any form – pizza, biscuits, hot rolls, bread sticks? Ice cream? Something fried? Banana pudding? In Texas, it’s generally chicken-fried steak and gravy, with mashed potatoes and corn, with a basket of hot, yeast rolls and real butter. Whatever it is that comes to your mind, 99% of the people I know all have some sort of “comfort” food - what they eat or drink (or want to) when they’re stressed. The so-called experts say that a person’s definition of comfort food goes back to a favorite meal from childhood. I don’t know that I necessarily agree with that concept because I didn’t know about chicken-fried steak or Gringo’s green sauce when I was a child…

Without counting restaurants and grocery stores, America is obsessed with food. It seems as though the primary make up of every gas station and each convenience store basically adds up to a walk-in vending machine. In almost every hotel, any kind of waiting room in America – be it car repair or doctors’ offices - there are vending machines. It seems like 8 out of every 10 T.V. commercials are about food or drink and the 9th one is about a medication of some kind to help you with what you ate. With billions of dollars spent to advertise, we are bombarded with slogans such as “Obey Your Thirst” "Betcha can't eat just one" "Do you love anyone enough to give them your last _______ " "Gimme a break! Gimme a break - break me off a piece of that _______!" "What would you do for a _______?" "Gotta have my pops!" "Have it your way" "I'm lovin' it" "Where's the beef?" "Yo quiero _______." "You deserve a break today." (How many did you know?)

Is comfort/snack food bad? In Romans 14:14, Paul writes, I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. Okay… Keeping in mind that this Promise is written from MY walk, then why am I writing about comfort food? Because I was pierced in my heart with this Scripture from Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. And that was reaffirmed with Jesus’ own words, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

I often wonder why it is we go immediately to food for comfort. Would I settle for a fake life jacket if I were drowning? Would I want a party balloon instead of oxygen if I needed help to breathe? I realize cold weather is NOT life or death for most people in most situations, but reaching for substitutes to fill God's place in our lives IS life or death. If we're cold, let's be baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit. If we're thirsty, let's drink from the Fount of Living Water and we'll never thirst again. Instead of jelly beans, let's have Jesus. Instead of crackers, let's do Christ. Instead of hot Cheetos, let's have the Holy Spirit. I'm just saying, if we need comfort food, why not reach for the Bread of Life? There is no greater comfort.

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us when we reach for any substitution to comfort us, instead of You. Lord, You are our one true Comfort. Help us to keep food and drink and all else in proper perspective and purpose. It is only through You we find what we truly need to live and move and have our being. Help us to recognize this Truth and live our lives accordingly. Father, let our lives be a living epistle of Job 23:12, I have treasured the words of Your mouth more than my daily bread. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Teach and Train

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 KJV

Some people think teaching and training are the same thing. While they are similar, they are not the same. You can teach someone - provide them with the knowledge of what should be done to develop a certain set of skills or talent. They can know everything they need to do in order to accomplish their goal. However, unless they combine it with practical application, there is no value added. There must be training. Train up a child... Some things they will get the very first time. Some, they won't get for the first one hundred times. Frustrating, yes, but training is the key. You'll notice the Scripture doesn't define what age is old.

We all know that every athlete has to train. And when serious athletes face challenges, they step up their training to meet the requirement of the challenge. A runner doesn't train the same for a marathon as he would for a 50-yard dash. And when running a marathon, he or she doesn't just go outside and run around the block and then say, "Okay, I can run, so I'm ready." Nor would we expect them to be ready just because they know how to run. You see the point I'm making. It takes training to qualify for the competition, training to be able to maintain a position in the competition and endurance training to be able to finish no matter the circumstances.

It's the same with "baby" Christians. It doesn't matter their age in physical years. Yes, one would think that an adult (in years) would grasp the concepts and deeper truths more quickly than a child in years, and yet Scripture tells us we must come as a child. They must first be taught and then apply the training for what they've been taught. Yes, some things they'll get the very first time. Some, they won't get for the first one hundred (or more) times. Frustrating, for sure, but training is the key.

Christ's example of obedience only to the Father qualified us for the competition to have victory over death, hell and the grave. It takes training and disciplining our lives to His Word to be able to maintain a position of humility and submission to the Father in the race. And only those who endure no matter what the circumstances will finish and receive the crown. That's what we've been taught according to the Word of God. And now, we're in training...

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for providing the Word to teach and the faith, strength, and patience to train. Help us to see the opportunities You have placed before us so that we embrace them and utilize them wisely. Help us to grow in Your wisdom and in Your grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Q&A

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2nd Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

The question is, When we are grappling with pain - physically or emotionally; when trials come at us in seemingly never-ending waves, do we perceive that as God ignoring us or not paying attention to what is going on? As punishment? Do we see that as a reason or excuse to not be about our Father's business?

The question is, When we've done all that we know to do, are we still going to stand on His Word? 

Paul did, and I dare say he suffered more after becoming a follower of Christ than any of us have. Paul gives us the highlights in 2nd Corinthians 11:23c-28,

...in far more labors, in far more imprisonments,

beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

Three times I was beaten with rods,

once I was stoned,

three times I was shipwrecked,

a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

I have been on frequent journeys,

...in dangers from rivers... dangers from robbers... dangers from my countrymen... dangers from the Gentiles... dangers in the city... dangers in the wilderness... dangers on the sea... dangers among false brethren...

I have been in labor and hardship,

through many sleepless nights,

in hunger and thirst,

often without food,

in cold and exposure.

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

None of those things stopped Paul. None of them combined deterred him from his purpose of spreading the Good News - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He didn't question God over it. The truth is he saw it as a ministry tool! (see Philippians 1:12-16)

The question is... Can we believe in the midst of it all that God is working something eternal which we can neither see nor hear? That God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them? (see Romans 8:28 NLT)

And our answer is...?

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray as Moses prayed, Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. O Lord, come back to us! How long will You delay? Take pity on Your servants! Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, Your servants, see You work again; let our children see Your glory. And may You, Lord our God, show us Your approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Same Attitude

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8 NLT

Say you're in the grocery store and God nudges you to pray for someone in one of the aisles and you don't know the person. Or perhaps you get a heart-check to pay for their groceries, would you do it? Or would you politely decline with something like, "That's way out of my comfort zone, God. I can't do that." And then expect God to understand... I don't think He will understand. You see, in Romans 8, verse 29 (the Message), we are told, God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.

There were times Christ operated outside of His comfort zone. If you don't believe that, read the account of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. In His fully human state, His spirit was troubled. Matthew 26:39, He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me..."  And yet, even when He was out of His comfort zone, He operated in obedience to God. 100% and always. "Nevertheless, Thy will be done."  

According to the Word of God, God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son.  And as our Promise for Today clearly states, we are to have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to walk in full obedience to You as Christ did, even when outside of our comfort zone. We know it's all about obedience and following you. Holy Spirit, as was promised, give us the power to become the children of God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

 

Whaddaya Know?

Then the Lord himself said, “Gideon, you will be strong, because I am giving you the power to rescue Israel from the Midianites.”
Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest one in Manasseh, and everyone else in my family is more important than I am.”
“Gideon,” the Lord answered, “you can rescue Israel because I am going to help you!" 
Judges 6:14-16a CEV

We pray. God answers. Then we tell Him all of our excuses why His way won't work, based on what we know of ourselves. Why do we do that?!? We must not recognize the Creator for who He is! Perhaps we don't remember who hung the moon? (And the sun. And the stars. And the planets.) 

Lyric excerpts from I Know My Redeemer Lives may serve to remind us:

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

The very same God that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak.
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory...

It's THAT God! HE is the One who says, "Because I am going to help you!" Oh, that we would know God in His greatness better than we know ourselves in our weaknesses!

Prayer:

Father, 
         Please forgive us for all the times we fail to recognize You for who You are and for all the times we have minimized You and limited Your will and purpose for our lives. Once again, we repent and submit our lives to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Don't Go Digging

Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 
2nd Corinthians 5:14b-15 NLT

I love this Scripture. It is a strong foundational stone, pivotal - life-changing for those who get it! ...We have all DIED to our old life! Dead. Gone. What do we do with something that is dead? Get rid of it. We bury it!

Here in the south, many of our homes are pier and beam - up off the ground. Sometimes, a critter will get up under there and die and if we don't get it out, it is awful! It starts to decay and break down immediately. It stinks and it is horrible, to say the least! You gag, trying to get it out from underneath the house to bag it and bury it or get it to the side of the road for the garbage pick up. Would anyone want to tell the story of it and then go dig it back up so you can look at it and smell it and experience it all over again? No way! Of course not!

Then why would we pull out the proverbial shovel and go digging for the remains of our old life? It STINKS! It's rotting - there's no life in it!! There isn't anything there that you need. And be assured, if, in the remotest chance that there IS something worth resurrecting, GOD will resurrect it in HIS timing. Stop being a grave digger!

Prayer:

Father,
           Let any digging we do, be done in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What You Believe

The town of Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses had promised. And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.
Judges 1:20 NLT

When the twelve went to spy out the Promised Land, they ALL brought back the grapes. All twelve reported to Moses as in Numbers 13:27, This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces."

Then the ten succumbed to their fears and reported what they believed, based on what they had seen - giants, the sons of Anak. Joshua and Caleb reported based on what they believed - the Word of the Lord. He'd promised them the land, and they believed God. It didn't matter who or what occupied the land; they knew and believed that God was greater.

Caleb believed God and 40-plus years later, he went back into Hebron (see Numbers 13:22) where the descendants of the three sons of Anak STILL lived, and he defeated them. The land of the north was then given to Caleb as had been promised. 

Do we believe God is greater? Greater than what we see, hear, feel? Do we? It's important to choose and acknowledge what we believe. How else do we determine if we're going to believe God no matter what we see, hear or feel? What we believe WILL determine our actions and the outcome of our lives.

What are your beliefs based on? Faith or sight? The Word of God or what you see? What do you believe?

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for aligning ourselves with anything other than Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

His Works

They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalm 107:4-9 NKJV

My family and dear friends in the Midwest and on the East Coast are in the grip of winter and another 6"-12" of snow, depending on where they live. It's so cold outside and the wind is whipping and there is ice and some sort of precipitation in all four directions, but there is much to be thankful for. We have homes. We are not exposed to the elements. I saw lots of photos showing blizzard buffets... so there is food that we are not digging out from underneath the ice. We don't have to first milk the cow, to churn for butter to put on the popcorn...

Can you look for good in the midst of your "snow" day? Can you thank Him for the extra family time that you don't normally get? The extra time at home to get that project finished? The opportunity to sleep in a little? God can always be found. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Prayer:

Father,
Oh, that we would see Your hand in everything that touches our lives and give You praise for it. Help us to see You more clearly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Pay Attention

Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
John 4:48

Near the end of the 4th chapter of John, Jesus is traveling through Galilee to Cana (where He had performed the first public miracle - turned the water into wine). A government official in Capernaum finds out Jesus is there and travels to Cana (about 15 miles between Cana and Capernaum) to beg Him to come heal his son who is about to die. That's when Jesus asked the question in our text, "Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?" And it's almost as if the official wasn't paying attention because his response to the Lord's question was to plead for Jesus to please come right then before the boy died.

Jesus did not bow His head in obeisance because it was a government official. Jesus did not stop what He was doing and turn around and clutch the distressed father to His chest and assure him that they would make haste to go heal his son before he died. Jesus' reply was more like a retort in nature, "Go home. Your son will live." Then the VERY next words of the verse are, And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

The government official did not take a poll of his friends to see if they thought he'd heard the Lord's voice. He did not demand that Jesus go with him to be sure his son was healed. He did not even ask Jesus if He was sure. In an amazing display of faith in action, the government official BELIEVED and started home. (Remember, Jesus had asked, "Will you never believe unless you see...") The official had paid attention to every word that came out of the Lord's mouth.

There is a huge price to pay for unbelief. Not just that we lose out on our miracle or God's perfect will - we are in danger of not entering into His rest. Read Hebrews 3, beginning with verse 12, Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Remember what it says: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.”
And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

Pay attention or pay the price.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for not being first-time hearers and doers of the words You speak. Give us hearing ears and seeing eyes and a heart tuned in to only You and Your desires. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Incomparable

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Ephesians 2:4-8 NIV

I’ve been thinking lately about the grace of God. How do we measure grace? Should we at least try to measure it? Personally, I think we should. We need to know what it means to our eternal lives and we need to realize that although it was freely given, it was not free. 

I really have no idea what God’s grace covers in your life and you have no idea what God’s grace covers in mine. I know a lot of people – myself, included – who tend to struggle with receiving something they think they haven’t earned in some way, whether it’s love or a gift…or grace. And there’s the rub. We can’t earn any of those things. These are the things in life that are priceless. There's no way to put a dollar value of any kind on them.

I am all too aware of what grace has covered in my life and when I think of a pure and holy Christ giving His life for mine, I am overwhelmed. I know the cost of grace for me – His life for mine on the Cross at Calvary. Something only God and I know the real value of when it comes to my life. Something only God and you know the real value of when it comes to your life.

Oh, the incomparable riches of His grace.

Prayer:

Father,
         Help us to live for You as though we are worthy of the value You have placed on our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Not Giving Up

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT

People have discussed and argued politics for years, but I haven't heard the despair and hopelessness like I hear now. I understand the angst and concerns. I really do understand…and it’s easy to get caught up in it. But you can’t jaw it to death unless you’re Samson (Judges 15). And for those looking for answers to these problems in a man or a government or a leader other than God, forget it.

It's happened before. Read the history books. And now more than ever, Edmund Burke's famous quote rings true - All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. There has to be some action.

We should start with the sword - the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6). 2nd Chronicles 7:14 reads, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. I mentioned that the other day and someone who professed Christianity responded with, "Yeah, fat chance. You'll never get this nation to pray." Hmmm. That's why we're supposed to READ it. It doesn't say get the nation or all the heathen on their knees to pray. It says, If MY people who are called by MY name... If we call ourselves Christians… 

Putting on the whole armor for a battle is not just so you can stand there with some protection. It's so you can fight - it is so you are prepared to engage in the battle. The weapons of our warfare are not of this world, according to 2nd Corinthians 10:4, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds… 

2nd Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message reads, So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, [heaven] the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

In the meantime, let’s live our lives and fight our battles with the plan God has laid out before us. Ephesians 6:10-13 KJV reads, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Prayer:

Father,

          Keep us ever mindful of Your Word in John 3, that You loved us so much, You gave Your Son so no one should perish or be destroyed; and that by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. You didn't go to all the trouble of sending Your Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was and is. He came to help, to put the world right again. And anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is. Let us be ever aware that darkness is always overcome by the Light. Renew our minds. Change our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Conflict

Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen? None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death.
Ecclesiastes 8:7-8b NLT

In the last four weeks, there has been an inordinate number of people within my sphere who have passed away. Either close to me or close to those who are close to me. Thankfully, they have all known the Lord, for which I am so grateful. While I am comforted knowing that great and precious promise of eternity with Christ, I still grieve. I'm not conflicted, but there is an element of conflict in my emotions.

The truth is, we all live in conflict simply by being alive. When we choose to follow the Lord, then our Spirit is in conflict with our flesh and our selfish nature. And while we are not always victorious within ourselves, we are through Christ. The good news is, Christ died so that we could be forgiven for every mistake, every wrong-doing, every sin. We are not perfect, we are forgiven. We must come to understand that. Simply, we choose to believe the Truth of God’s Word over the facts that make up our life.

Today, I thought of the words from an old Tina Turner song. It says, “Time will ease the pain, for every life that fades, something beautiful remains.” It's true. Love remains and that is beautiful.

Prayer:

Father:
           Your days are without end, Your mercies beyond counting. Help us always to remember that life is short and the day of our death is known to You alone. May Your Holy Spirit lead us to live in holiness and justice all our days. Make us an instrument of Your peace, for it is in forgiving others that we are forgiven, and in giving to others, that we are able to receive, and only in dying that we are born to eternal life. Your Word promises: Blessed are we that mourn, for we shall be comforted. Comfort us, Father, heal our hearts. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

No More

And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.
Hebrews 8:12 NLT

I've read it before. I'm sure you have, too. But I have to tell you that EVERY time I read these words, I am both humbled and blown away... Can we even grasp the reality of forgiveness - to know that God will never again remember any of our sins?!? Or begin to fathom the depths of His love in choosing to do so?

EVERY sin. Gone. Remembered no more. Selah

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray as Paul prayed, when we think of all this, we fall to our knees and pray to You, the Creator of everything in Heaven and on Earth. We pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. We pray that Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him; that our roots will grow down into Your love and keep us strong. Father, give us the power to understand, as all Your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. Now all glory to You, Father, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lesson Learned?

And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
Daniel 5:23 NKJV

Nebuchadnezzar was the king who God caused to lose his mind because of his pride and arrogance. He lost his kingship and lived like a wild beast in the field after declaring the mighty works of his kingdom were his - done by his own hands - and did not glorify God. He was also Belshazzar's ancestor. Belshazzar knew all this and still didn't humble his heart. The breath God gave them, they used to deny God and renounce Him. So he lost everything, too.

You'd think they would learn, wouldn't you? The question is, Have we?

Do we acknowledge and glorify God for the strength and the wisdom and the abilities He alone has given us or do we take the credit? Do we still insist that we don't want to do or go or be what the Holy Spirit is leading us to?

...and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Let's learn the lesson before it's too late.

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive our foolish pride and pathetic attempts at greatness. Teach us how to humble ourselves - to throw ourselves on the rock before we are crushed by it! It is only through You that we have life at all. Any and all talents and gifts were given to us in our mother's womb when You created us and numbered our days. All glory and honor and praise to You, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Need More Light

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105 ESV (English Standard Version)

There are amazing things done with lights these days, and as incredible as those are, that's not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about the basics of light. 

I like light and plenty of it, especially when I'm trying to read or find something. Just like the woman in Luke 15 who lost one of her silver coins, what's the first thing she did? Light her lamp. I like that when I turn on the light, the darkness is gone and it's easier to see.

If we have to go outside at night, or if we go camping, what do we make sure we have? Flashlights and/or a Coleman lantern with batteries and/or matches because we need to be able to see our way. It shines the light on tripping hazards. It keeps critters at bay. It gets us safely to our destination as we walk the path.

God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We need the Light of His Word to dispel the darkness of this world so we can see where we're going. His Truths will prevent us from being tripped up by the lies and deceit of the evil one. The light of His presence will keep the enemy at bay. And Christ the living Word will get us safely home to Him.

Read your Bible. You need the Light.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray according to Your Word in Luke 11, shine Your light of Truth so we make sure that the light we think we have is not actually darkness. Let us be filled with light, with no dark corners, so our whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling us with light. Your light, Father. Birth in us a fresh desire to read Your Word so that we will shine for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's All About the Attitude

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:5 NLT

This is a beginning-of-the-year check-up. We often start the new year with new resolutions and plans and rules to follow. However, true life change isn't always about following the rules. When you think about it, you can follow the rules and still have a bad attitude about doing something. You can go to church because it's the right thing to do, but not want to be there. You can go to work, but not want to be there. You can help someone and be angry about it. The attitude is bad...

Attitude is more than just a certain mindset whether good or bad. Did you know there is such a thing as attitude flying - having to do with an airplane's attitude? According to the public domain edition of the Airplane Flying Handbook by the US Federal Aviation Administration, "flying by attitude means visually establishing the airplane's attitude with reference to the natural horizon. ... Airplane attitude is based on relative positions of the nose and wings on the natural horizon." It's about getting in the right position. 

Our Promise for Today is You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Our attitude in relation to following Christ is all about setting ourselves into position to be able to follow, to receive, and to be in obedience to the Lord of lords. We must humble ourselves - position ourselves - under the mighty hand of God. Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus speaking, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ 

How's your attitude? 

Prayer:

Father,

          We want to be in right-standing with You through the work of the Cross. Help us to righteously examine our hearts. We repent of wanting to do life our own way and ask You to forgive us. We want to be in perfect alignment with You and Your purpose for our lives. Help us to see clearly, Father. InJ Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Hands On

One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
Acts 13:2-3 NLT

I was listening to a message about fasting today and in the process found this Scripture concerning the anointing before Saul/Paul was sent on his first missionary trek. The elders laid their hands on them after fasting and prayer, and MORE fasting and prayer. 

In the Old Testament book of 2nd Kings, Jehoash went to see Elisha when the old prophet lay dying, and during their encounter, Elisha put his hands on the hands of the young king as he gave Jehoash instruction. Two different scenarios, but both involved elders putting hands on the younger. I like the idea of hands-on active participation rather than just trying to talk something done.

The younger generation of today may not always realize that they need the older generation to help fulfill their calling. We may not bring the same gifts, but together our gifts are multiplied. The hands of the elders on the young ones, combining strengths. Pr. Franklin said it this way, "The strength of the young, the direction of the old. The zeal of the young, the wisdom of the old." The pattern of hands on is worth searching out. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for the anointing that comes with the laying on of hands. We pray for fresh anointing in our lives. Show us what to put our hands on to best serve Your purpose in our lives and in the lives of those You have placed within our sphere of influence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

One Season Following Another

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

It's winter in south Texas - at least that's what the calendar indicates. However, a balmy 76 degrees Fahrenheit does not equal winter weather in the USA; although there is a storm front expected tonight that may usher in some cooler temperatures. Personally, I like mild warmer weather. I hate snow - much to the dismay of my youngest grandchild. (I'm sure the difference in age has everything to do with that.)  I have found myself wishing part of my life away by hoping to quickly advance to Spring which is unequivocally the best season in Texas... well, in my humble opinion, anyway. At any rate, we all have our favorite seasons. 

What about our seasons of life? Unlike Earth's seasons which range from 3 - 6 months long, hard life seasons seem to stretch on indefinitely sometimes. So much so that when the Spring arrives we may miss it because we're still focused on the bad "winter". Have you ever done that - been so caught up in the tough stuff that you miss the good? We have to take our eyes off the circumstances and look to Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Remember that Heaven is our goal and every day that passes means we're one day closer to eternity! 

Hebrews 12:2&3 in the Message read, Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! 

Seasons come and go; even bad ones eventually end. We need to be ready for the final season. Are you?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for choices of where to live in climates we prefer. Thank You for seasons that change even if it's only from hot to less hot. Help us to leave past seasons behind and to look forward to Heaven. Thank You for always teaching us no matter what the season and help us to stay focused on what You want us to learn in the current season. We don't want to miss any of it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Say That

The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
Haggai 2:9 NLT

I am fascinated by words and people's ability to put them together in such a way that those around them feel they are worth recording and repeating. I like to read quotes. They are words that we as a society tend to live by. 

A few of my favorites:
   Garrison Keillor said, God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is,
   He's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play
   funny.

   Thomas Edison has one of the best ever for maintaining the right
   attitude in the face of adversity. The world's opinion of his many
   attempts to invent was that he was a failure. He told them:
   I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

   Galileo, who said, I do not feel obliged to believe that same God
   who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect had intended
   for us to forego their use. Amen, brother!

   Famed comedian, Milton Berle quipped,
      I'd rather be a Could-Be if I cannot be an Are;
      because a Could-Be is a Maybe who is reaching for a star.
      I'd rather be a Has-Been than a Might-Have-Been, by far;
      for a Might-Have-Been has never been,
      but a Has was once an Are.

Of course, those are somewhat sardonic, but I'm also amazed at how this person or that person is credited for wise sayings, when the basis of their truths are Scriptural. For instance, Anton Chekhov is credited with, Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.  Alice Roosevelt Longworth said, I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full.  These are based in biblical truths. 

One of my all-time favorites that I rediscovered recently is, Never let your memories be greater than your dreams. 

It so reminds me of our text for today. Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the remnant of God's people hearkened to the voice of Haggai and finally began to rebuild the temple. It surely had taken them long enough! They had previously set out to do it, but got caught up in their day-to-day lives. The temple before had been such a glorious structure - all the gold and silver overlay and craftsmanship. Do you remember the story in the Old Testament? And because it had been so glorious, their attempts to rebuild seemed paltry in comparison. They got discouraged.

Don't we get like that? We want to quit because it doesn't seem like it's ever going to be as good as it once was in the good ol' days!  Isn't it easier to rest on our laurels (another famous quote), than try to forge ahead into the unknown?

In times of trouble, we tend to be able to see more clearly into the past and what we knew that WAS than to look toward the future with hope. However, I'll tell you there is no faith in looking back at what once was unless we're using it as a foundation on which to build our faith.

Adlin Sinclair, accomplished businessman and creator of the infomercial media format, is recorded as saying, The tears of faithfulness to your beliefs cleanse your spirit to envision the road ahead. Everything is possible for the person who believes. I believe the direct quote is in Mark 9:23, where Jesus said, All things are possible to him who believes. Hmmmm...what Jesus said. True words to live by.

Prayer:

Father,
         Keep our eyes focused on You - the Author and Finisher of our faith. You started it. You'll finish it. You are the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. Words we can live by. Your Word is alive - quick and powerful, rightly dividing between soul and spirit. Keep us by Your Words. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In League with...

And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this?
Judges 2:2 AKJV

God was very clear about not making any treaties or agreements with the inhabitants of the land He had promised to Israel. Yet, they forsook His plan and decided to do it their own way... never a good idea. 

You don't want to be in league with the enemy! Don't endorse them. Don't be on their team. Don't claim ownership of what is not - and never should be - yours. Don't lend your power to help sustain their way of life. We must be cognizant of the truth! Any power that we have is from the Lord to begin with and He will not lend His power to anything that He has not chosen. So if we choose UNwisely, He will withhold His power from us. And then where will we be?!?  Definitely out of our league.

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to see and understand that anything we choose to align with that does not have You at the center of it all is NOT where we need to be. Open our eyes to fully see the whole Truth of the matter. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Following After

     Listen, dear friends, to God’s truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. I’m chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths, stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother’s knee. We’re not keeping this to ourselves, we’re passing it along to the next generation - God’s fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done.
     He planted a witness in Jacob, set his Word firmly in Israel, then commanded our parents to teach to their children so the next generation would know, and all the generations to come - Know the truth and tell the stories so their children can trust in God, never forget the works of God but keep his commands to the letter.
Psalm 78:1-7 The Message

I've been reminiscing for the last 10 days or so. Another of my friends passed away and his service was this evening. He was about 15 years older than me and we swapped stories for several days in the last two weeks of his life. I thought I knew quite a bit about him, but I found out tonight, I'd only discovered just below the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. I knew he'd had a full life, a faithful wife who preceded him in death who he loved until HIS last breath, and that his was an intentional life. He lived with purpose.

His one concern was that perhaps he had not left a path clear enough for his daughter and granddaughter to see their way to Jesus. I told him if that path - however short or long - led him to Christ then it was clear enough for them to see and we prayed that their eyes and hearts would be wide open to see what God had for them.

We must be intentional about teaching our next generations about Jesus. We cannot leave it to this world to teach them. We must lead the way for those who are watching where we're going. Judges 2:7 tells us, And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. Then Joshua died and they buried him and in verse 10 we read, After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. One generation was all it took and they were separated from God - doing evil in His sight. 

So, the question is, are we following after that which will cause those who are following after us to follow after Christ?

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for ever misstep we have made along the way. According to Your Word, please make straight the way and plain the path so that we can leave good imprints as we follow You and our generations follow after. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Giving It Away

The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mark 4:14-15 NKJV

I shake and shudder at Matthew 12:36 that says we will answer for every idle word we have spoken. Has your mouth ever gotten you in trouble or am I the only one? I have said some of the stupidest things and at the worst times... I cringe even now when I think about them. I should have been handed a pencil and paper from the very beginning and never allowed to speak. At least when I'm writing, I can delete or erase or rearrange and edit, and I would stand a better chance of getting it right before someone hears it or is hurt by it. 

You might be wondering what that has to do with our Promise for Today. How does satan take away the Word that was sown in our hearts? For the answer, we have to ask ourselves, do our words agree with Truth or lies? The Holy Spirit guides us into all Truth according to John 16:13, and satan is the father of all lies. Both speak into our lives constantly. And we speak, also. The question is - What is coming out of our mouths? With whom do we agree? 

As an example, when we tell ourselves (or others) I just can't get it right, I'm stupid, I'm such a loser, I can't win for losing, I can't get ahead, et cetera, we align ourselves with satan's lies instead of God's Truth. Whatever Word was sown in our heart to overthrow those lies is given away when we open our mouth and side with satan. 

Mark 4:4 tells us we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The writer of Hebrews instructs, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Proverbs 18:21a tells us that Death and life are in the power of the tongue... Stop giving it away.

Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word tells us we are snared by the words of our mouths, but You, O Lord, are the Lifter of our heads. You came to set the captives free. Open our eyes to see the Truth of Your Word, to walk in it and like Jesus to speak only what we hear You say. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Bread Lovers

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again."
John 6:32-35a NLT

How are you doing with your New Year resolution(s)? I'm sure you know the number one resolution is to lose weight/get healthy, yet on average, more than 80% fail to keep their resolution. It's not easy. I don't want to admit that I've tried most of the diets that are out there, and I think I could be more successful if someone else would cook the food. I really enjoy a lot of the recipes but I hate to cook. That being said, the only recipe I didn't mind making on a regular basis was the alternate bread recipes. I would fire up the oven even in the summer and knead the dough because I.love.bread...of any kind.

One of my favorite Scriptures used to be Give us this day our daily bread...  The reality is, as you well know, that's a request for provision, not as a response to polyphagia. However, just as we require sustenance for our physical needs to live, how much more do we require sustenance for our spiritual wellbeing? John 1:1-2 tells us, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. In Scripture, bread is symbolic of the Word of God, and Jesus confirms it when He tells us He is the Bread of Life, the true bread. 

Think about this for a moment. We don't physically fast 6 days a week on a regular basis, so why would we think we could fast spiritually for ANY days, let alone from one Sunday to the next with no bread in between? In a world obsessed with fat-free, zero-calorie, and net carbs, we need to become Bread lovers once again.

Prayer:

Father, 

          Let us be able to say and live our lives as Job declared, I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Realities

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

Today, I attended the funeral of a teenaged girl who changed the lives of those around her with her incredible smile. She was a special needs child and non-verbal, but her smile spoke volumes. Tuesday evening, I will attend another funeral for one of my friends. I will miss the comfortable camaraderie and repartee of our relationship. The good news is I know where both of them will spend eternity.

Pastor Alan used our Promise for Today as the Scripture basis for today's service and I was struck by the phrase realities of heaven. Have you ever given Heaven any real thought? Have you ever stopped to ponder what it will be like? Oh sure, we talk about streets of gold and gates of pearl, the 24 elders on their thrones, and meeting Jesus face-to-face, and talking with our favorite persons from the Bible, but have we thought beyond those things? 

It's not going to be all white lights and no color. There's going to be plenty of color! Ezekiel talks about a sapphire throne and the glory of the Lord - that the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. Revelation tells us that the foundations of the city walls are adorned with every kind of precious stone and John also said, At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. The One seated there looked like jasper and ruby, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. We're not going to riding around on clouds and playing harps all day... We're not going to be angels. Angels are separate beings. We have a song of praise that the angels cannot sing because we have been redeemed. And I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but we're not going to have wings, either.

Are we guilty of letting Hollywood define our idea of Heaven? That cannot be good. Paul tells us to set our sights on the realities of Heaven. What are those realities? We need to search those out because we are now one day closer to our eternity than we were yesterday.

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for all the incredible sights we have here on Earth. Thank You for the people You put in our lives to love us, to teach us, to be examples. Help us to learn all we can from them. Teach us to love them as You have loved us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In the Same Breath

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NLT

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
1st Peter 2:24NLT

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
Luke 5:22-25 NKJV

As Christians, we believe the Bible is the divinely-inspired Word of God and as such, we believe it is true. We also believe the purpose of Jesus dying on the Cross was to pay the price for our sins so we can be forgiven. We can believe that we are forgiven because Christ's death on the Cross set us free from sin. So... then I have a question.

As witnessed in our Scripture references above, the Lord talks about both forgiveness and healing in the same breath. If we have no problem believing Jesus forgives our sins, then why don't we believe in healing? 

Prayer:

Father, 

           We pray as the father prayed in Mark 9:24, We believe! Help our unbelief! Shine the light of Your Truth on Your Word as we study it. Reveal to us all that You would have us to know. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Way, Right?

 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
Romans 4:18-19 NLT

Abraham never allowed his failures or sins to change his belief in God's promise. He didn't allow them to redefine who or what God said Abraham would be. He kept right on believing that he would be the father of many nations because God said so and he used God's word as his foundation. It's not easy - especially in the face of circumstances that scream "No way!". And yet, he was.

How about the borrowed axe head that floated?  (2nd Kings 6) No way, right? And yet it did...

The donkey that talked to the prophet (Numbers 22) - No way! YES, absolute way!

The Bible is filled with testimonies of overcoming impossible situations that had no reason for hope until God stepped in. 

It doesn't matter what you're facing - or how hopeless it seems. Invite God into it. Get into His Word and BELIEVE what He has to say about it. Spend time in His presence and listen for his voice. He'll make a way where there is No Way...

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for giving us the measure of faith and the opportunities for us to be able to grow in it. Thank You for allowing us to come into Your presence and stay there. Thank You for making a way when there is no way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Seeing 2020

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

New Year's Day marks the anniversary of the first Promise for Today that I sent to a handful of friends and family members in 1996. When I first started, I used other people's devotional books. We went through quite a few over the years. but I always let people know what book we were using. And sometimes I would elaborate and add my own comments. Those of you who know me know that written words are my passion... but I started with the works of others.

Then in 2007, my beloved former pastor, Doc (Dr. Howard O. Jameson) challenged me to step up, to make it personal and write from my heart about how God's Word affects me, rather than from someone else's heart and perspective. It has been the most challenging commitment of my life.

My slogan for this new year is "Seeing 2020".  I want to make a concentrated effort to be IN the moments of my life in 2020. I want to see people face-to-face instead of Facebook to Facebook. I want to be present and accounted for. By God's grace and with His direction, I will. As always, it's all about the choices.

The first Promise for Today that I sent out started with this excerpt from Max Lucado's book When God Whispers Your Name. I send it out as the first Promise of the New Year to remind us of our choices.

Max Lucado writes:
It's quiet. It's early. The coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I am free to choose. And so I choose.

I Choose Love ... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy ... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace ... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience ... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness ... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness ... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness ... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness ... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control ... I am a spiritual being ... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for the power of Your Word to change our lives and our choices for how we live the life You have given us. Give us the courage to walk in the conviction of Your Word. Father, we ask that You guide us in EACH step of our life. I pray Your provision and protection over those You have allowed me to touch with Your Word. Let us be ever mindful of You, Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen