Consult and Commit

Proverbs 16: 3

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

 

The decisions you make today, will certainly affect your tomorrow.

Do you consult the Lord, in whatever you do?

If not, it’s probably a good idea to rethink your strategy.

 

In the midst of making simple or complex decisions, it’s always good to consult the Lord.

In the midst of decision making, just let God be God.

 

How can you know you’re making the right decision?

Here are some sound and simple biblical tips;

·         Study the Word so you that know what God would do in the first place.

·         Surround yourself with folks who are further along in their spiritual journey, and ask questions.

·         Never give up trying to make the right godly decision.

 

It takes time to develop good, sound judgment and decision making ability.

One you make the “decision” to commit everything to the Lord, you’re already half way home.

Working with God is a continuous process, but it sure is worth the effort.

 

Without God, our plans can never find true, meaningful success………..

Be anxious for nothing

Philippians 4: 6 – 7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

The possible causes for fear and anxiety are many.

It could be conflict—health issues—spiritual issues—false beliefs.

 

It is wrong to become paralyzed by excessive worry—which in turn, is sin.

Sometimes, anxiety is the result of sin in one’s life.

The solution? Repent—confess the sin and seek God’s forgiveness and set things right.

 

Did you know that most people worry, about events that never take place?

Wouldn’t you agree, that worry and anxiety are time wasters?

 

I wonder….When worry and fret and fear enter in, do you take God at His Word?

That might be the issue, right there.

 

Maybe these verses of scripture, will bring about God’s reminder of His peace and heartwarming presence?

What do you reject?

1 Thessalonians 4: 8

Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

 

Preaching God’s Word can take its toll sometime.

I recently sent out a pile of mail, containing invitations for an upcoming church event.

It required the recipient to RSVP, and yet some people have in essence rejected the invitation, because they haven’t yet expressed their intentions.

Some of the mail even came back, marked…”return to sender”.

 

The instruction from God’s Word is often like that.

The message goes out, but people often reject the content.

God’s Word says that the rejection of the Word, is not the rejection of the messenger, but the author of the message.

 

The more I read God’s Word, the more I realize His wishes and content, are only meant for our good.

God gives us His Holy Spirit to discern right from wrong, and yet rejection of the Holy Spirit’s prompting, is like…. “return to sender”.

 

What will you choose to do with God’s Word today?

Will you receive the full effect, and make changes, or reject it as people often do?

 

The message is clear, it is not the rejection of the messenger, but it is the rejection of the One who mailed it in the first place……..

Faith Driven

Proverbs 3: 3

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Regardless of the results, a farmer puts tiny little seeds in the ground, where he/she expects them to die.

One day those seeds will spring forth, and faithfulness to the cause will bring additional production.

I often wonder sometimes, why farmers, farm.

Could it be that the farmer is driven by faithfulness more than they are driven by fruitfulness?

To be driven by faithfulness, one has to continue to do what they are convicted to do.

To be successful in the things of God, a person has to be driven to do the things God has instructed them to do, regardless of the outcome.

The farmers faithfulness to farm, comes from a heart that is committed to the calling.

If you weren’t always promised something in return, how committed to the things of God would you be?

I also have to wonder what our level of commitment would be to God, if all the blessings just went along the wayside?

Faithfulness is not affected by what we get in return.

Without faithfulness though, it is impossible to be fruitful.

What’s your level of faithfulness these days—to the things of God, that is………

Constant Flow

Ephesians 5: 18

Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

 

Do you know, that there are no real exceptions to this verse?

We are called to be filled with the Spirit.

If we are not filled, then something is wrong—and that wrong is sin.

 

The Greek explains that we should be continuously filled with the Spirit of God.

Translated, this verse actually plays out as….. “Be filled and keep on being filled.”

It’s not like going and filling a bucket full of water—a onetime thing—it’s a constant flow and filling.

 

My great Grandma who lived in Tustin, WI, had an artesian spring flowing right into her kitchen.

I remember seeing that the faucet, or in this case the pipe, that came to her sink, had a constant flow of fresh, cold water—it never stopped.

Where does your constant flow come from?

 

We should never be emptied of the Spirit.

We should receive a daily influx of God’s Spirit, and the flow should be constant.

 

What are you doing, to keep a constant flow of God’s Spirit?

Actually, the Spirit should be overflowing, and you’d be surprised at how many dry people fill the churches week after week………….

A wonderful Promise

Matthew 28: 20

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Do you lay claim daily, to this awesome promise from our Lord and Savior?

Whatever you face today, you can be rest assured, that Jesus Himself is with you.

From every event of testing, we know that we can emerge in the light of His unfailing love.

The way may seem dim and dark right now, but we possess a promise, that we can step into His glorious light.

One day we will even go to live with Him, and be with Him forever.

Is this promise enough for you, today?

He is with you, ALWAYS……

Father, how can I even begin, to thank You for this incredible love?

You have shown me this love, by allowing Your Son to die in my place.

I will purpose myself, to live this life daily, so that it glorifies You in both victory and defeat.

Thank You for always being with me, even to the end of the world. Amen

There are blessings in Adversities

Psalm 94: 12 – 13 (NKJV)

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity…..

Maybe today, you’re facing adversity in your life in some way.

Did you stop to think, that God may be using adversity to teach you some things that are eternal?

To resist God’s hand of discipline, is to miss out on one of the greatest blessings that may ever come your way.

This side of heaven, is time spent in the class room of life.

Consider this; Going through adversity, could mean that God cares for you very much—and He does.

Read the book of Job, and you’ll soon discover that he suffered like few men have.

One thing he did though, was that he never lost sight of God’s presence in his life.

Job must have been an extraordinary man.

It be wise for us to remember this verse, when life isn’t going like we think it should……..

Hebrews 12: 11 (NIV)

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.