What if someone asked you when you woke up this morning: "What is the most important first thing that you are going to do today?" Most people will have a to-do list a mile long. Others will say: "I just need to get through the day."
In my opinion, as a Christian, the most important 'first' thing that we need to do is to thank Jesus. Thank Him for dying for us and for saving us from a world of sin and shame. But, do we do that? Just think, if Jesus hadn't died for our sins and took all our sins to the cross for every one of us, then we would all have no hope. We would have no real reason for living each day.
So, the next time you wake up in the morning, have Jesus on your mind, and silently thank Him for dying for you so that you can live today.
Gratitude and appreciation are important, especially when it comes to our creator. Jesus pulled us all out of the gutter when no one else could. Thank Him as you wake up tomorrow.
Philippians 4:11 - "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
I saw this on the internet today and it's relative to my world right now. It said "Jesus walked this earth at three miles an hour. He saved the world at a walking pace - a pace of knowing and being known."
Am I doing this? Have I gotten so wrapped up in this worldly pace that I've forgot the most important thing in life? Jesus. We are supposed to want to become more like Him, and I do, every day. So, why am I rushing through life?
My prayer is that I do slow my pace down. I want to not rush through life and pass by the important things of God; His beauty in everything. God's purpose in our learning is that we become Christ-like. He doesn't want us to become information databases. The world may be impressed with your knowledge of the Bible, etc., but God is more concerned with how much we've been transformed into the image of His Son.
Slow down at God's pace. You'll be surprised at how much more peace you'll have!
Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest."
There have been times in my life, like today, when I can't see how God's Will is being worked out, but that doesn't mean that I can't trust that His plan for me is good.
The only way to understand God's Will for us is to read the Bible. God's word is perfect and we can discover God's plan for our lives through our study of it.
God's promise to us, His children, is that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Study scripture and strive to live holy before God. He then will reveal His plan for us in His perfect time and in a way that we can understand and know that it came from Him.
His plan is ALWAYS better than ours.
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
I've heard this statement before in my Christian walk, but it never came more clear to me than when I went on my first mission trip this year. There were times that yes, I was uncomfortable. I was almost ashamed at the way I was dressed (nice t-shirt and pants that were clean) and not dingy from the muddy river water that most villagers wash their clothes in. I was not comfortable enough (at the time) to tell my testimony and there were other times that I should have spoke up more when I didn't.
We get so used to our conveniences of life, like 'running water, air conditioning, refrigerators, etc.' Could we handle living in the conditions that they live in, day in and day out?
We must be ready to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
It's time to get uncomfortable. Step out of the box. Do for others just like Jesus did. Don't worry about your own inconvenience, but step out and help others. You'll be amazed at how much you're blessed through it.
James 1:22 - "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
I'm guilty of it. Thinking that I desperately need something, but in reality, I want it, and don't really need it.
The devil walks around like a lion, seeking to destroy your mind and your thinking. He will make you think that you really need something, when in reality you don't need it at all.
Have we lost the desire to please God? I hope not. It's important to recognize that there are only two paths in which we can direct our lives as believers. One is the path that makes us more like Jesus. The other is the one that makes us less like Him.
You want to know what true love is? True love is that Jesus died for you knowing that you might never love Him back. That's true love.
Don't be selfish with your time, money or love. After all, God gave us all that we have. He trusts that we will be good stewards of everything He gives us.
Don't be selfish. Aren't you glad Jesus wasn't selfish when He died on the cross?
1 Corinthians 10:24 - "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor."
It's been an obvious trend since the fall of man that we all have trouble staying focused and live in an age of unprecedented distraction. The main problem is that we're becoming conditioned to distraction. This is harming our ability to listen and think carefully. We are losing the will to meditate, pray or to just be still. This is a dangerous place to be spiritually.
When we begin to become distracted with other things and take our focus off God, the Bible calls this idolatry.
We need to ask God and He will deliver us from evil, whatever the cause. He uses these powerful foes to our advantage, helping us see what our hearts love and moving us by His grace into greater levels of humble faith, and hopefully self-control.
Distraction often humbles us and forces us to ask God for the help we so desperately need.
Are you distracted today? Ask God for help and to be still and focus on God, not your problems.
1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
We all do it. We are so blessed, yet day after day, we're caught complaining or grumbling about something. Grumbling directly or indirectly means that God is not sufficiently good, faithful or even competent. Faithless complaining is sinful. It is telling God that He's doing it all wrong.
Take a day or an evening and read the Psalms. They are expressions of God's compassion for us. God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him. The Psalms are treasures for the saints. They are also expressions of God's merciful care for us. God does understand our pain. So go ahead, complain to God, but don't grumble.
Be a faithful complainer, knowing that God works all things for our good.
Stop grumbling!
Philippians 2:16 - "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. "
Just like in the days of Noah, people are wicked, selfish and getting worse every day. We all know what happened in the days of Noah. God removed all those who would not follow Him, from the face of the earth. And, it will happen again. It's just a matter of time.
So many people think that somehow, some way, they will be able to escape judgment. Sorry to tell those people, but God stands on His promises. He judged that time, He will do it again.
Sin always has its consequences. Repent today, because none of us are promised tomorrow, or even the next hour.
The only people excluded from the horrible judgment of hell, is those who have surrendered their life to God, who walk with Him daily, and have a relationship with the King of Kings.
The only thing you should dread when that day comes is for God to say to you "Depart from me; I never knew you."
Get in the Ark. Give your life to Jesus today!
Hebrews 9:27 - "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,"