You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. --James 4:14
This verse is a challenging reminder to make every day count!
It can be easy to get distracted by problems or vain pursuits… or even to get weighed down in the same routine from day to day… and forget that God created you with specific plans in mind.
He wants your relationship with Him to deepen with every passing day… He wants to develop your Christian character… and He wants to use you to touch the lives of others.
God desires for you to experience a life of purpose and meaning here on this earth… and to be spiritually prepared to spend eternity with Him.
But time is short! And life can be filled with unexpected turns. So it’s important not to waste the days that God has given you but to make every day count for Him.
MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT IN FOLLOWING THE LORD AND FULFILLING HIS PURPOSES!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Dealing With Fear
Phillipians 4:6 - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Not only is anxiety an uncomfortable feeling, it also leads to negative consequences. Reasoning becomes cloudy when overwhelmed with worry. So an anxious person will have trouble making wise decisions. Fear of failure may also lead to procrastination or a lack of productivity. Apprehensions can devastate personal and spiritual growth, relationships, and work. So conquering fear is important. Four steps can help.
First, you need to identify the fear. Ask yourself about the circumstances surrounding your feelings and what triggered them. What message are you telling yourself?
Then turn to the Lord. Remember, God loves you and desires an intimate relationship with you. He’s in sovereign control of your situation, so bring your fear to Him.
You should rebuke the fear before God. You have the authority and power in Jesus’ name to reject what isn’t from Him. Meditate on passages such as Matthew 10:31 and Proverbs 1:33. Let God’s truth replace any wrong thinking.
Finally, cling to your heavenly Father. Take your focus off your circumstances, and look to the One who promises His help. Scripture from Isaiah 41:10 gives this assurance: “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”.
Circumstances are external and often beyond your control. But your response originates within. It’s amazing how fears diminish in the Father’s presence.
Not only is anxiety an uncomfortable feeling, it also leads to negative consequences. Reasoning becomes cloudy when overwhelmed with worry. So an anxious person will have trouble making wise decisions. Fear of failure may also lead to procrastination or a lack of productivity. Apprehensions can devastate personal and spiritual growth, relationships, and work. So conquering fear is important. Four steps can help.
First, you need to identify the fear. Ask yourself about the circumstances surrounding your feelings and what triggered them. What message are you telling yourself?
Then turn to the Lord. Remember, God loves you and desires an intimate relationship with you. He’s in sovereign control of your situation, so bring your fear to Him.
You should rebuke the fear before God. You have the authority and power in Jesus’ name to reject what isn’t from Him. Meditate on passages such as Matthew 10:31 and Proverbs 1:33. Let God’s truth replace any wrong thinking.
Finally, cling to your heavenly Father. Take your focus off your circumstances, and look to the One who promises His help. Scripture from Isaiah 41:10 gives this assurance: “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”.
Circumstances are external and often beyond your control. But your response originates within. It’s amazing how fears diminish in the Father’s presence.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Understanding Anxiety
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Throughout Scripture, the Lord gives us evidence that many people deal with anxiety, even those considered pillars of faith. For example, we can deduce from Acts 18:9 that the apostle Paul must have felt fear, since God instructed Him not to be afraid “any longer”.
The fact that fear is common, however, does not mean it’s from God.
Of course, certain situations… like hearing a loud noise when we’re alone… will trigger a frightened response. But the Lord doesn’t want us to live with ongoing anxiety.
Common worries include the fear of death, poverty, illness, old age, criticism, and the loss of a loved one or something cherished. Why do we find it so hard to let go of our concerns, even when the Lord clearly states in Luke 12, “Do not fear . . .”?
Worry can be deeply ingrained in the way we think. Sometimes we have unhealthy thought patterns that stem from feelings of inadequacy, a sense of guilt, or a mistaken view of God. It’s not uncommon for insecurity in childhood to develop into a lack of confidence later on.
Life experiences can be another factor. A person who’s lost a parent suddenly in a car accident is likely to struggle with worry.
Regardless of the cause, anxiety will take our eyes off our loving heavenly Father and focus our attention on our circumstances. No wonder God repeatedly reminds us not to fear. He wants His children to feel secure in His capability and trustworthiness.
Throughout Scripture, the Lord gives us evidence that many people deal with anxiety, even those considered pillars of faith. For example, we can deduce from Acts 18:9 that the apostle Paul must have felt fear, since God instructed Him not to be afraid “any longer”.
The fact that fear is common, however, does not mean it’s from God.
Of course, certain situations… like hearing a loud noise when we’re alone… will trigger a frightened response. But the Lord doesn’t want us to live with ongoing anxiety.
Common worries include the fear of death, poverty, illness, old age, criticism, and the loss of a loved one or something cherished. Why do we find it so hard to let go of our concerns, even when the Lord clearly states in Luke 12, “Do not fear . . .”?
Worry can be deeply ingrained in the way we think. Sometimes we have unhealthy thought patterns that stem from feelings of inadequacy, a sense of guilt, or a mistaken view of God. It’s not uncommon for insecurity in childhood to develop into a lack of confidence later on.
Life experiences can be another factor. A person who’s lost a parent suddenly in a car accident is likely to struggle with worry.
Regardless of the cause, anxiety will take our eyes off our loving heavenly Father and focus our attention on our circumstances. No wonder God repeatedly reminds us not to fear. He wants His children to feel secure in His capability and trustworthiness.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Ending the Obsession with Self
“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30
Have you ever considered how much time you think about yourself? Do you wander by a mirror and catch a quick glance? Do you browse fashion magazines and imagine for hours how you would look in some snazzy new outfit? Have you ever thought about how many of your sentences begin with “I” or end with “me”? The obsession with self starts early. Moments after birth, the self demands its own way. A baby will scream, pout or keep his parents awake for hours at night asserting his obsession with self. Have you ever wondered why it is that your parents never had to teach you how to be selfish? For most, no matter what the issue, life seems to revolve around answering the question, “What do I get out of this?”
One of the most compelling sermons I ever heard was given years ago by the former president of Moody Bible Institute, Joe Stowell. The sermon I heard hit me at the core of my being. He said, “One day, life won’t be about 'me’…it won’t be about you. It won’t be about the covers of magazines, or CEO status, or diplomas or anything else. Life will come down to Jesus.” I was challenged by the following portion from Joe’s message and hope you will be als
“I’m only fifty-seven, and I already find myself weary of the hollow thoughts of what few accomplishments I may have mustered in my life. My failures continue to embarrass me. The inadequacies I have carried with me since my youth still frustrate me. My insecurities still trouble my soul. And the praise of others has an increasingly hollow ring. I’m tired of worrying about what people think about me. I’m weary of the carnal feeling that sometimes haunts me when someone talks about his favorite preacher and it’s not me. Bottom line, I just get flat-out tired of me. BUT I NEVER GET TIRED OF JESUS. After all these years, I still find Him more compelling, more engaging, more awesome, more surprising, more fulfilling, and more attractive than ever before. I never get tired of singing His praises or of watching Him perform. I find Him to be gripping. Absorbing. Beyond comprehension. And that’s why – along with Paul, my grandmother, Billy Graham and countless others through the years – I find myself longing to know Him better.”
Today, work on ending the obsession with self by taking your eyes off of yourself. Instead, direct them toward Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
This devotional was written by Robin Dugall
Have you ever considered how much time you think about yourself? Do you wander by a mirror and catch a quick glance? Do you browse fashion magazines and imagine for hours how you would look in some snazzy new outfit? Have you ever thought about how many of your sentences begin with “I” or end with “me”? The obsession with self starts early. Moments after birth, the self demands its own way. A baby will scream, pout or keep his parents awake for hours at night asserting his obsession with self. Have you ever wondered why it is that your parents never had to teach you how to be selfish? For most, no matter what the issue, life seems to revolve around answering the question, “What do I get out of this?”
One of the most compelling sermons I ever heard was given years ago by the former president of Moody Bible Institute, Joe Stowell. The sermon I heard hit me at the core of my being. He said, “One day, life won’t be about 'me’…it won’t be about you. It won’t be about the covers of magazines, or CEO status, or diplomas or anything else. Life will come down to Jesus.” I was challenged by the following portion from Joe’s message and hope you will be als
“I’m only fifty-seven, and I already find myself weary of the hollow thoughts of what few accomplishments I may have mustered in my life. My failures continue to embarrass me. The inadequacies I have carried with me since my youth still frustrate me. My insecurities still trouble my soul. And the praise of others has an increasingly hollow ring. I’m tired of worrying about what people think about me. I’m weary of the carnal feeling that sometimes haunts me when someone talks about his favorite preacher and it’s not me. Bottom line, I just get flat-out tired of me. BUT I NEVER GET TIRED OF JESUS. After all these years, I still find Him more compelling, more engaging, more awesome, more surprising, more fulfilling, and more attractive than ever before. I never get tired of singing His praises or of watching Him perform. I find Him to be gripping. Absorbing. Beyond comprehension. And that’s why – along with Paul, my grandmother, Billy Graham and countless others through the years – I find myself longing to know Him better.”
Today, work on ending the obsession with self by taking your eyes off of yourself. Instead, direct them toward Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
This devotional was written by Robin Dugall
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Faith
And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
--Luke 17:6
So many great men and women are mentioned in the Bible, not because of personal greatness, but because their faith pleased God. And as a result, God used their faith to miraculously change their lives and the lives of those around them.
You may be in a situation today that seems impossible. Perhaps your life is spinning out of control. Let me assure you, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then your faith can make the impossible possible!
To have the kind of faith that Jesus spoke about in today’s verse, you need to do these three things:
YOUR FAITH CAN MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE!
--Luke 17:6
So many great men and women are mentioned in the Bible, not because of personal greatness, but because their faith pleased God. And as a result, God used their faith to miraculously change their lives and the lives of those around them.
You may be in a situation today that seems impossible. Perhaps your life is spinning out of control. Let me assure you, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then your faith can make the impossible possible!
To have the kind of faith that Jesus spoke about in today’s verse, you need to do these three things:
- First, surrender your life completely to the Lord and worship Him in the way you live your life;
- Second, be completely obedient to what He calls you to do;
- And third, never stop believing and trusting in Him.
YOUR FAITH CAN MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Art of Waiting
Exodus 13:21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them....
How are you at waiting on God? How do you determine if God is giving you the green light to move forward? Many businesspeople make the mistake of adding up all the pluses and then concluding that God has given them the green light. Several factors go into making a decision from the Lord.
It is important to do three things before you make a decision on a matter. First, you should gather facts. Fact gathering allows you to determine all the realities of a given situation. However, this does not ultimately drive your decision, but it can put a stop to it. For instance, if you were planning to build a shopping center and you knew the only way to lease the space was to rent to a porn shop, your decision would be made. God would not lead you to enter into unrighteous ventures.
Second, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in your decision? "If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm" (Ps. 37:23). George Mueller cites that the steps are also "by the Lord." God puts hedges around us, but many times we bull our way through the hedges under the guise of tenacity and perseverance. This too is unrighteousness. One wise businessperson stated that the greatest success one can have in business is to know when it is time to pull the plug rather than keep forcing a situation. Not all businesses last forever.
Third, has your decision been confirmed? God has placed others around us to be used as instruments in our lives to confirm decisions and keep us from the deceit of our own heart. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (2 Cor. 13:1b). This is God's way of keeping us within the hedge of His protection.
"Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser."
How are you at waiting on God? How do you determine if God is giving you the green light to move forward? Many businesspeople make the mistake of adding up all the pluses and then concluding that God has given them the green light. Several factors go into making a decision from the Lord.
It is important to do three things before you make a decision on a matter. First, you should gather facts. Fact gathering allows you to determine all the realities of a given situation. However, this does not ultimately drive your decision, but it can put a stop to it. For instance, if you were planning to build a shopping center and you knew the only way to lease the space was to rent to a porn shop, your decision would be made. God would not lead you to enter into unrighteous ventures.
Second, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in your decision? "If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm" (Ps. 37:23). George Mueller cites that the steps are also "by the Lord." God puts hedges around us, but many times we bull our way through the hedges under the guise of tenacity and perseverance. This too is unrighteousness. One wise businessperson stated that the greatest success one can have in business is to know when it is time to pull the plug rather than keep forcing a situation. Not all businesses last forever.
Third, has your decision been confirmed? God has placed others around us to be used as instruments in our lives to confirm decisions and keep us from the deceit of our own heart. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (2 Cor. 13:1b). This is God's way of keeping us within the hedge of His protection.
"Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser."
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Building Solid Friendships
Friendships are among our most valuable assets. Acquiring quality companions, who laugh with us in good times and stand by us during trials, requires shared commitment and an investment of time and energy.
We must be transparent and be honest with friends and encourage them to be truthful in return. To preserve a healthy bond, we can’t hide hurts or feelings of rejection they may have caused. Transparency that is tied to accountability can also help make each individual a better person. A solid relationship allows each party to gently point out errors in the other’s life and offer loving correction.
Genuine friendship takes time to develop. We must be willing to put aside other obligations and give priority to moments spent together. A generous portion of our time with each other should be spent talking about our thoughts and desires and also asking questions to prompt our friend to open up. This type of conversation allows a glimpse into the other person’s heart and mind.
Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Expressing thanks when friends are helpful will remind them that we’re grateful to have them in our life. We affirm our love when we communicate how much we enjoy a certain aspect of their personality or remember an occasion that’s special to them.
Being a good friend is a way to serve the Lord. He designed us to be in relationship with others, so we should give our best to every companion God places in our life.
Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV) 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free
We must be transparent and be honest with friends and encourage them to be truthful in return. To preserve a healthy bond, we can’t hide hurts or feelings of rejection they may have caused. Transparency that is tied to accountability can also help make each individual a better person. A solid relationship allows each party to gently point out errors in the other’s life and offer loving correction.
Genuine friendship takes time to develop. We must be willing to put aside other obligations and give priority to moments spent together. A generous portion of our time with each other should be spent talking about our thoughts and desires and also asking questions to prompt our friend to open up. This type of conversation allows a glimpse into the other person’s heart and mind.
Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Expressing thanks when friends are helpful will remind them that we’re grateful to have them in our life. We affirm our love when we communicate how much we enjoy a certain aspect of their personality or remember an occasion that’s special to them.
Being a good friend is a way to serve the Lord. He designed us to be in relationship with others, so we should give our best to every companion God places in our life.
Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV) 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free
Monday, May 19, 2008
Free to Stand
Joshua 7:12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies....
It matters not how strong you are. It matters not whether you have the greatest resources and talent. It matters not if you have the best plans and procedures. It will all fail if you have a break in your armor.
This is the message God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small army at Ai, which was the Israelites' second battle in the Promised Land. Sometimes we try to figure out why we are not successful in an endeavor. We look at all aspects of our performance to see what went wrong. For the people of Israel, it was not easily seen on the surface. Everything seemed just as it should be from Joshua's vantage point, so when his army was soundly defeated, he cried out to God, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)
The people had been defeated because God could not bless them. One person had violated the covenant with God. They were not to take any possessions from the first battle, but one person failed to live up to this, and the whole army suffered.
Sin makes our armor vulnerable to attack from satan, who then gains permission from God to attack us in the area where we have failed to uphold righteousness. If we break down in moral purity, satan comes in and establishes a stronghold. If we give place to bitterness and unforgiveness, we will break fellowship with God and others. If we become money-focused, we will fall into greed and deception. It is a vicious cycle.
Examine your armor today. Make sure you are not susceptible to attack. Begin from a solid spiritual foundation and your chances of success will be great.
It matters not how strong you are. It matters not whether you have the greatest resources and talent. It matters not if you have the best plans and procedures. It will all fail if you have a break in your armor.
This is the message God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small army at Ai, which was the Israelites' second battle in the Promised Land. Sometimes we try to figure out why we are not successful in an endeavor. We look at all aspects of our performance to see what went wrong. For the people of Israel, it was not easily seen on the surface. Everything seemed just as it should be from Joshua's vantage point, so when his army was soundly defeated, he cried out to God, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)
The people had been defeated because God could not bless them. One person had violated the covenant with God. They were not to take any possessions from the first battle, but one person failed to live up to this, and the whole army suffered.
Sin makes our armor vulnerable to attack from satan, who then gains permission from God to attack us in the area where we have failed to uphold righteousness. If we break down in moral purity, satan comes in and establishes a stronghold. If we give place to bitterness and unforgiveness, we will break fellowship with God and others. If we become money-focused, we will fall into greed and deception. It is a vicious cycle.
Examine your armor today. Make sure you are not susceptible to attack. Begin from a solid spiritual foundation and your chances of success will be great.
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Response of Faith
2 Kings 4:26 ..."Everything is all right"....
The prophet Elisha often would travel through the town of Shunem, and in that town was a well-to-do couple who extended hospitality to him. At first, they simply offered Elisha a meal when he came through town. Then, seeing that Elisha needed a place to stay and study, they built a room for him above their house so that each time he came through town, he had a place to stay. He was so appreciative of their kindness that one day he asked the wife what he could do for her. His servant Gehazi later informed Elisha that the woman was barren and her husband was old. " 'About this time next year,' Elisha said, 'you will hold a son in your arms' " (2 Kings 4:16). A year later the son arrived.
One day the father was working in the field, and the son became ill and died.The woman ran to meet Elisha to inform him. When Elisha asked what was wrong, she did not panic and react in fear. Her response to Elisha seemed almost unnatural. "Everything is all right," she said. Elisha went to the boy and raised him from the dead. It was a glorious miracle. (See Second Kings 4.)
Faith looks at situations through God's eyes, not the eyes of our limited understanding. This woman did not panic, for she knew something more than the current circumstance. Faith does not panic, but realizes that what looks like devastating circumstances may be God's plan to bring glory to Himself by demonstrating His power. When Jesus appeared on the water to the disciples in the middle of the night, they exclaimed, "It's a ghost!" (see Mt. 14:26) First appearances can bring great fear upon us even to the point of paralyzing us. Find the Lord in your circumstance today. Exercise your faith today and trust Him for His outcome in the situation.
The prophet Elisha often would travel through the town of Shunem, and in that town was a well-to-do couple who extended hospitality to him. At first, they simply offered Elisha a meal when he came through town. Then, seeing that Elisha needed a place to stay and study, they built a room for him above their house so that each time he came through town, he had a place to stay. He was so appreciative of their kindness that one day he asked the wife what he could do for her. His servant Gehazi later informed Elisha that the woman was barren and her husband was old. " 'About this time next year,' Elisha said, 'you will hold a son in your arms' " (2 Kings 4:16). A year later the son arrived.
One day the father was working in the field, and the son became ill and died.The woman ran to meet Elisha to inform him. When Elisha asked what was wrong, she did not panic and react in fear. Her response to Elisha seemed almost unnatural. "Everything is all right," she said. Elisha went to the boy and raised him from the dead. It was a glorious miracle. (See Second Kings 4.)
Faith looks at situations through God's eyes, not the eyes of our limited understanding. This woman did not panic, for she knew something more than the current circumstance. Faith does not panic, but realizes that what looks like devastating circumstances may be God's plan to bring glory to Himself by demonstrating His power. When Jesus appeared on the water to the disciples in the middle of the night, they exclaimed, "It's a ghost!" (see Mt. 14:26) First appearances can bring great fear upon us even to the point of paralyzing us. Find the Lord in your circumstance today. Exercise your faith today and trust Him for His outcome in the situation.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Conformed or Transformed?
“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 know what God wants you to do.” (Romans 12:2)
A flock of wild geese was flying south for the winter when one goose looked down and noticed a group of domestic geese by a little pond near a farm. He noticed they had plenty of grain to eat. Life seemed relatively nice for them.
So he flew down and hung out with these geese until spring and enjoyed the food that was there. He decided that he would rejoin his flight of geese when they went north again.
When spring came, he heard them overhead and flew up to join them, but he had grown a bit fat from all of the seed. Flying was difficult, so he decided to spend one more season on the farm and then rejoin the geese on their next winter migration.
When the geese flew south the following fall, the goose flapped his wings a little, but he just kept eating his grain. He had simply lost interest.
That is what happens in the subtle process of the world influencing our lives. It is not necessarily dramatic, nor does it usually happen overnight. It is gradual, causing erosion in our lives as we begin to lower our standards. Soon, the things of God become less appealing, and the things of this world become more appealing. After a while, we have no interest in the things of God.
We have a choice: either we will be conformed to this world, or we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It is one or the other.
The only question is, which way will you go?
Copyright © 2008 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
A flock of wild geese was flying south for the winter when one goose looked down and noticed a group of domestic geese by a little pond near a farm. He noticed they had plenty of grain to eat. Life seemed relatively nice for them.
So he flew down and hung out with these geese until spring and enjoyed the food that was there. He decided that he would rejoin his flight of geese when they went north again.
When spring came, he heard them overhead and flew up to join them, but he had grown a bit fat from all of the seed. Flying was difficult, so he decided to spend one more season on the farm and then rejoin the geese on their next winter migration.
When the geese flew south the following fall, the goose flapped his wings a little, but he just kept eating his grain. He had simply lost interest.
That is what happens in the subtle process of the world influencing our lives. It is not necessarily dramatic, nor does it usually happen overnight. It is gradual, causing erosion in our lives as we begin to lower our standards. Soon, the things of God become less appealing, and the things of this world become more appealing. After a while, we have no interest in the things of God.
We have a choice: either we will be conformed to this world, or we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It is one or the other.
The only question is, which way will you go?
Copyright © 2008 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Blameless
Psalms 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
If you were running for political office, what approach would your opponent take against you? If he wanted to launch a smear campaign, would there be any ammunition for him to use? Think how you would feel if the director of the opposing campaign came to you afterwards and said, "Sir, we tried to find something negative to play up in our campaign against you, but we couldn't."
What does it really mean to be a person who is blameless before God? Being blameless before God does not mean we are perfect. No human being is perfect. It means that we so fully trust in God that we are willing to make things right when we fail. We are willing to humble ourselves continually before the throne of God. "...blessed is the man who trusts in You" (Psalm 84:12). God has a specific plan for the people who fully trust in Him. He promises to be their shield, to bestow honor on them. He will not withhold any good thing from them. What a promise! What motivation to be all that we can be in God.
Imagine living a life that God views as blameless which allows Him to withhold no good thing. Pray that God would make you and me that kind of person.
If you were running for political office, what approach would your opponent take against you? If he wanted to launch a smear campaign, would there be any ammunition for him to use? Think how you would feel if the director of the opposing campaign came to you afterwards and said, "Sir, we tried to find something negative to play up in our campaign against you, but we couldn't."
What does it really mean to be a person who is blameless before God? Being blameless before God does not mean we are perfect. No human being is perfect. It means that we so fully trust in God that we are willing to make things right when we fail. We are willing to humble ourselves continually before the throne of God. "...blessed is the man who trusts in You" (Psalm 84:12). God has a specific plan for the people who fully trust in Him. He promises to be their shield, to bestow honor on them. He will not withhold any good thing from them. What a promise! What motivation to be all that we can be in God.
Imagine living a life that God views as blameless which allows Him to withhold no good thing. Pray that God would make you and me that kind of person.
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