As a Jesus follower, pay attention to the constant connection of your
inner being and your outward behavior. Even though you live in this world but
are not truly of it, you are to build bridges between spiritual devotion and physical
outcomes. Think of the difference between the example of Mary and Martha in Luke’s
gospel but remember they were still sisters. True fellowship remains the goal
in spite of circumstances.
Prayer: Lord, with connections, help me know where
and when I fit.
We are bombarded
with advertisements and institutions that promise to offer some kind of relief.
They ask: Can you be set free from the struggles and troubles? Do you wish
for the prosperous conditions of those who do not follow Christ, who seem to
have no problems? And yet, does not everyone eat, drink, and get hailed on? Is
your constant goal to avoid discomfort or suffering? Psalm 121 points you to a
magnificent truth: Believers and non-believers can have the same
difficulties, but the heavenly Father will keep you from evil. Events that
happen to you are neither good nor bad but have the potential seed for either
one. God may allow you a hard, difficult, uncomfortable event, but His Spirit can
keep you from doing evil. So it remains no accident in Christ’s model prayer
that he prayed “. . . deliver us from evil.”
Prayer: Lord, I
pray we pay attention when you deliver us from evil thoughts and ways.
Life twists and
turns like a briar bush and interlays like a mosaic tile-floor as well. Jehovah
is interested and just as concerned about the everyday little pieces of life as
they fit together. Nothing exists too small or mundane, but what it may be a
significant part of the mosaic of Christ. At the end of life you will see and
understand, you will recall, piece by piece, the full mosaic that heavenly
Father put together. Just lean on faith if you do not understand the pieces
now!
Prayer: Oh Lord,
help me pay attention to your doings of all the little facets of life.
No ‘ifs ands or
buts’. . . surrender your divided self into the realm of Jehovah God. And trust
certain principles that what you give yourself to (Jesus the Son) can sustain
you with heavenly principles. Any person or action that appeals for your energy
needs to call out your best potential. If some issue only brings out the worst
in you, it is not of heavenly Father. The Father’s concern and will promote the
best for you, though it may not happen
when your self-will expects.
Prayer: Lord,
help me know the difference between the selfish non-best and the legitimate your-best
to grow self-interest.
As you live in
this world, what becomes the most important result of knowing the Savior, Jesus
of Nazareth? Is it heaven? Is it peace? Is it abundance? Is it morality? Is it
hope? Is it that you will have your own kingdom? All have merit and deciding
one thing becomes difficult, but if you follow Proverbs 2 and gain its
treasure, the Holy Spirit will grant a guide most precious: Wisdom.
Clearly there are
two kinds of wisdom. One is fueled by ambition that leads to selfish motivation
and stays earth bound, not of the heavenly Father. The other comes from heaven
and upholds your Savior, while it feeds the fruit of the Spirit. How is the
correct wisdom attained? Proverbs says start by accepting the entire word of
heavenly Father. In that acceptance comes good sense and better insight into all
life, relationships, and overall humanity.
Prayer: Lord, grant me the wisdom to choose and
maintain the right wisdom for you.
Try not to hesitate
too long. Make your decisions based upon biblical and kingdom principles; avoid
predicting any results. Indecision tends to feed fear not faith. Don’t ask
first: “How will this affect me?” Rather, ask: “What is the right
thing to do? What will feed kingdom growth? How will what I do help someone
else? God-directed, right quick decision can also keep you out of the dilemma
of doubt.
Prayer: Lord,
help me not to waver when it comes to behaving in your kingdom.
The Bible exists
not just as a book of ideas or theories. It remains a book of historical fact;
the things did happen. It has been said that things are not true because they
are in the Bible, but they are in the Bible because they are true. You are not
only to love scripture for its own sake but because the words bring you into the
heavenly presence and Yahweh is all truth.
The magnificence
of God’s love isn’t just found in a love object, but in the essence and act of
loving. Scripture becomes food to help you stay and grow longer in God’s
presence. Jehovah’s beingness is the energy of all life. Think of the newborn
who results from a seed because the life force germinates growth. We are the seed;
scripture becomes one of the enduring growth sources. Savior Jesus becomes an enlarging power to
produce maturity. A full-blown live-being stays a potential love expression
from heavenly Father. A full-blown Christian is a love expression of the Son’s reality
and beauty.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord. Just thank you.
