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Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
One thing is certain for all of us, and that is we'll face situations and times in our lives when we don't understand why something is happening. There's times life doesn't seem fair. There are times when God seems far removed from situations in our lives, but Far removed is never God's position. His love is always present and always near.
His love is a love that never leaves you nor forsakes you, and the cares of this world were never meant to be yours. I Peter 5:7 says, Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Psalm 55:22 says, Cast all your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Even when you don't understand what's going on His love will sustain you.
In order for you to experience the peace that He has designed to sustain you, it's important to cast your cares and anxiety to the Lord. God's just waiting for you to tell him that you give all your worries, hurts and fears to him. This doesn't change the fact that you still wonder why, but what it does do is acknowledge that you're in need of a saviour and His redeeming love in that area of your life.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
If there's something in your life that you don't understand why it's happening, or how you'll get through it, then I want to challenge you today to just tell the Lord that you know that He is in control and loves you. Tell the Lord you are trusting Him and not leaning on your own understanding.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, you are my sustainer, my keeper and help. I cast all anxiety to You and know that You will carry me through every situation I ever face. I don't need to understand, and instead I trust you. Thank you for your peace that passes all understanding and for giving me joy and hope in my life. I love You. In Jesus name, amen.
In our life we will face the chance to make the decision between doing what is comfortable, and doing something incredible. We have ideas, or dreams and we have the choice to believe it's to big to accomplish, or the chance to believe that with God we can accomplish anything. Accomplishing something incredible isn't a matter of can you do it, it's often instead will you do it.
When MIchael Jordan had the dream to be a basketball superstar he didn't quit ever. Jordan was cut his sophomore year from the varsity team, but continues working towards the goal and became one of basketball's greatest players ever. Even when he failed, he never lost sight of what he dreamed of becoming.
The path to becoming all that God has for you is going to have some ups and downs, but never lose sight of the goal. The dreams he's put in you may seem to big to accomplish, and the path to long but don't be afraid. Don't let fear or doubt keep you from tackling the giants in your life and keep you from doing something incredible.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
It's simple today. DREAM BIG. Dream big and start to believe that with God on your side He can give you all that you need to accomplish it. Maybe it's an invention, a career... no matter what it is, DREAM BIG.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, I know that with you nothing is impossible. I am going to dream big for my relationships and my future. Fear will not keep me from pursuing all the desires in my heart. Surround me with the right people to help me accomplish the dreams in my life and give me courage, boldness and strength. Thank you for loving me and believing in me. In Jesus name, amen.
Psalm 23
A David Psalm
1-3 God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I'm not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd's crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I'm back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Meditate on this chapter in the bible taken from The Message Bible. It's a chapter that most have heard, but today especially look at what it says and know that the Lord is always faithful, always true and always everything you need to get through any situation in life.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, thank you for loving me and being the faithful one. You are my strength, and joy through every situation in life. Thank you for making me feel secure even when things in life might not be. And thank you for chasing after me with your love every day of my life. I love you. In Jesus name, amen.
Proverbs 13:4, "[T]he desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."
As you are challenging yourself to commit to better relationships with God, people and committing to your purpose, diligence is crucial in that quest. In most instances, a good idea just stays a good idea without diligence. When diligence is missing dreams remain dreams, but when we stick to the things we set out to do, and endure, there's no limit to what we can accomplish.
Another word for diligence is hard work and it's hard work that not only brings things to life, but keeps things going. The things we want to accomplish in our lives won't just happen, but instead, you have to work at making them happen. It takes a determination to not give up on the most important things in your life, and each day choose to work on it. The dictionary defines diligence as, "Careful and persistent work..." It's careful and persistent work that will pay off in the long run.
I like what the 10-time NCAA basketball coach John Wooden says, "Many athletes have tremendous God-given gifts, but they don't focus on the development of those gifts. Who are these individuals? You've never heard of them — and you never will. It's true in sports and it's true everywhere in life. Hard work is the difference. Very hard work."
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Don't allow yourself to miss out on your dreams and healthy relationships because of a lack of diligence and hard work. When you don't see result right away, don't let that keep you from remaining diligent. Today, challenge yourself not let time or circumstances keep you from sticking it out in each area of your life, especially in those areas that you're believing to see God bring change to.
Also, think of areas in your life that you've stopped being diligent. Take time this week to begin to be more diligent. Work on your relationship with God and pray 5 minutes each day. Take time to work at fixing broken relationships by doing something nice for someone. Last, take time to pick up an old dream and work at making it a reality.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, I pray today that you give me the strength to stick to things in life and to work at all areas in my life. Lord I know that you bless those who work hard and are diligent and so I am going to be that in my life. I won't accept my life the way it is, instead with your grace and mercy I'll work at making it better. I love You and thank You for this day. In Jesus name, amen.
Proverbs 12:3-4 "From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands reward him."
Yesterday, we talked about how you can stay committed by taking personal responsibility for putting your faith into action. Today, I want to talk about how using the right words will help you stay committed. Your actions are very important, but your words alone are as powerful.
We see the ultimate example of the power behind words in the very first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, when God spoke our very world into existence just using His words. With His words, God created, gave life, and commanded action to mankind. Our words also have the ability to create, to give life, and to command action - if we allow them to. As it says in the verse from Proverbs (written above), your words are as important as your actions in shaping who you become, what you experience, and what you do.
Of course, this isn't a magic wand: speak better = life better. But, what speaking life and faith-filled words will do is challenge your heart to believe for greater things. And once you start believing for greater things in your heart, the seeds of your words will begin to transform your actions and your life, and will cause you to be committed to seeing those greater things evolve in your life.
Your actions will always reflect what you say. If you say you're not strong enough, you'll never take the right steps to get stronger. If you say I'm a lousy child or a lousy spouse, then that is how you will act. That's why it's important to not settle for who you are in and of yourself, but instead to hang onto the promise that you are fearfully and wonderfully made and speak faith-filled words that will challenge you to be a better person. Doing so will birth the actions that move us closer to the abundant life God intends for us.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Take a few minutes and begin to see yourself not as you are, but as you desire to be. Think of areas where you speak negative words over your life. Exchange those negative thoughts and words for life-giving words. Start declaring that you already are what you hope to be. Know that what you desire to be, God has placed in you and is well able to equip you when you partner with Him through speaking words of life and faith.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord help me see in me the things you see. I want the words I speak to bring life and build my faith. I know you have a great plan for my life and I know that you can equip me for anything. Thank your for being my strength when I'm weak, my joy when I'm down and my love and my joy. In Jesus name, amen.
Since we’ve been talking about commitment, I’d like to take a few days to take a look at some things that will help you stay committed. Today we're going to focus on how taking personal responsibility to put action to our faith will help us stay committed. James 2:17 reads, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
In the Christian world, a lot of times we are taught that we can simply speak our lives into a better existence. But, the truth is, talking the talk alone will not work without walking the walk. In other words, you can have faith and speak faith-filled words, but will that alone change the circumstances in your life? I don’t think so. I full-heartedly believe there is power in what you say— the Bible says the tongue has power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21), but words alone are not enough.
So, while you can’t simply talk yourself out of your problems, you can talk yourself into faith and into believing things can be better. Once you have the faith to believe for something better it's time to put action behind it. This is where your personal responsibility comes in. If you have faith to believe something can be different in your life, you alone are responsible to put action into those things, and it will take commitment to stick with it when things get hard or when things don’t seem to be changing.
This is true in all areas of your life. For example, if you want to be closer to God, don't just tell Him that or say that. Show Him! It is equally important to do something to grow closer to Him and to keep doing even when it doesn’t seem like He’s working in your life. In a marriage, you can't just talk about how your marriage is going to get better. Do something about it! Start treating your spouse better, forgive, make your marriage a priority, even when it is hard to do so.
I've heard it said that if you want to see something different, you've got to do something different. The problem isn't usually a lack of being able to say good things or to believe for a better life, it's a lack of staying committed to doing something to make it better. Taking personal responsibility for putting your faith into action will help you stay committed in this way.
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Find areas in your life that you would like to see improve and take personal responsibility to see that situation change. If this involves relationships on the job, in school or at home, I want to challenge you to find something nice to do for that person. If you continue to do this more than just today I believe simple things such as this will begin to improve your life and help you experience God's fullness here on this earth. Let me know your thoughts on this.
TODAYS PRAYER
Lord, I don't want to just be a person who talks about being a better person or experiencing a better life. I want to take personal responsibility for putting my faith into action. I want to be a person who is committed in words and action to you, my friends and family and every area of my life. Thank you for giving me this day and building in me the power to put action to what I say and believe. In Jesus name, amen.
Character, integrity and discipline are built each time we choose to do what we know is right and not what we feel.
For some, today started with the thought of, "I don't feel like" ... going to school, going to work, being in this city, working on my marriage, getting along with the people in my life, etc. The list of things we don't feel like doing could go on and on. As we've challenged ourselves to grow closer to the most important things in our life, I'm sure there are going to be days when we don't "feel like it". The challenge is not to make decisions based on feelings, but instead connect to God, people and your purpose through commitment.
Feelings become the very thing we use to justify what we do and what we don't do. Feelings allow us to quit when we should keep going. Living your life guided by your feelings is what puts you in the wrong relationships, the wrong jobs and the wrong situations.
What happens to the brilliant new year's resolutions everyone comes up with? You set out and determine to start working out more, or at all, and it lasts for a couple weeks and maybe even a solid month, but it seems that it quickly comes to and end. Why? Because you don't feel like working out any more and you have no commitment to it to keep you going.
I believe that the more we live by feelings, the harder it becomes to live a spirit guided life. When you choose not to do what is right once and instead to do what you feel, it becomes easier the next time to not do it again. There is a compound effect and that's what happens with the most important areas in our life. Instead of acting on our feelings, if we would commit to something outside of our them, we would grow in character, integrity and discipline, and these are all virtues we need for success in our relationships and in our lives.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Today I want to challenge you to determine to make decisions based on what's right and not what you feel. When you don't feel like committing to the people, jobs or other things in your life make the choice to commit and not let your feelings determine your choices. Write down areas in your life you've once been committed to but now are not only because you didn't feel like it. Take a minute and tell me your thoughts on this in your life.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, today I want to commit to sticking with things in my life no matter how I feel. In my relationship with you and others I choose to not live a life based on feelings, but to live on purpose and commit to what's right no matter the cost. I love you and thank you for giving me the strength to do this. Thank you for your love and this day. In Jesus name, amen.
Yesterday, we talked about the benefits of wisdom. And maybe you were left wondering, “All those benefits sound great! But, how do I get that kind of wisdom in my own life?”
Well, the good news is, it is really simple. Perhaps too simple for some of you to even comprehend. The only thing you have to do to get God’s wisdom is to ask. That’s it.
James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” In other words, it doesn’t matter where you are, whether you are in the pits or on the top of the mountain in life, God will give you wisdom if you ask it. Why? Because God wants you to make good decisions because making good decisions will ultimately lead you to serving Him better.
I like how the Message Bible puts it, “If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.”
Now, if all I have to do is ask the Lord for wisdom and He’ll give it to me, I’m going to do it - and believe that He is true to His word – that I’ll have His wisdom to guide the decision-making in my life. I encourage you to do the same and watch the benefits of His wisdom unfold in your life.
TODAY’S CHALLENGE:
Today, trust that once you’ve asked God for wisdom, that you have it. Then, take a few minutes to read Proverbs 4, which discusses a lot of the benefits of making wise choices. I've posted it below to make it easy for you to read.
TODAY’S PRAYER:
Lord, your Word says that if I want wisdom, I’ll I have to do is ask you for it. I believe what you say is true, so I am asking you to give me your wisdom in every area of life. Thank you for making your wisdom available to me! In Jesus name, amen.
PROVERBS 4
Wisdom Is Supreme
1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,
4 he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, [a] get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil;
they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:3 “Wisdom will make your life glorious!”
Today, I want to talk to you about the benefits of wisdom. Even if we are a person with a lot of faith and book smarts, it is no substitute for making and learning how to make wise decisions.
The dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.” God calls this ability supreme and thinks wisdom is so important to success in our lives that He tells us to sell everything we have just to buy wisdom. He implores us, “Get wisdom—it's worth more than money” (Prov. 16:16 MSG).
So, why would God tell us that? Because if we have wisdom, we have the ability to make the right decisions in life. Whether you are young or old, male or female, rich or poor, wisdom will help you make the right decisions in your relationship with God, in your family, with your friends, on your job and in every other area.
And what are the benefits of wisdom? According to the Bible, a few of the things that come along with wisdom are riches and monetary success; honor and a good name; protection from the ways of wicked men; patience; and blessing, just to name a few.
I don’t think there is a single other factor out there that can give you all of those benefits, except wisdom.
TODAY’S CHALLENGE
Tomorrow, we’ll talk about how to get wisdom. But, today take a few minutes to think about the areas in your life where you would like wisdom. Write them down and ask God for His wisdom in those matters.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, today I ask you to reveal to me the importance of seeking your wisdom in every area of my life. Thank you for providing wisdom to me so that I can make good decisions and receive the benefits that come along with wisdom. Amen.
Daniel 2:48-49 - Then the king placed Daniel in a high Position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all it's wise men. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
I want to take a look at one of the greatest rewards of taking risks in life, and that is your risks may provide rewards for someone else. Many times when we step out in faith, trust God and take a risk, not only do we reap the rewards, but so do those around us. It is thanks to risk takers from generations past that we have cars, electricity, democracy, Christianity, and even your job. We are reaping the reward of their risks.
I want to focus on someone in the Bible I consider a risk taker. We don't have time to tell the whole story, but for sure, Daniel is a risk taker. In chapters Daniel 1-4 we see Daniel repeatedly standing up to the king taking risks that could have cost him his life. Because Daniel took risks, and because of his faith in God, he gained the king's respect. As a result, he was put in a high position in the kingdom. But that's not where his rewards ended. As the verse above says, Daniel was then able to get his three close friends appointed to high positions in the kingdom as well. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would never have been able to attain those positions without Daniel, and Daniel would never have been in a position to request his friends for those jobs without taking risks.
The story of Daniel shows me that maybe the reward of risk isn't always just for you. It shows me that if you don't take risks, it'll probably affect others. It proves that a person of risk is a person who lives for more than themselves. And although taking risks will benefit others, God always takes care of you too.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Start living intentionally and start living for more than yourself, and more than just today. See the risks in your life as the potential for not only your reward, but the opportunity to provide rewards for others. Read the chapters 1,2,3 and 4 in Daniel over the next few days or so. Take note at the ways Daniel took risk. As you look at Daniel remember that risk often takes you the opposite way that everyone else is going, but in the end you'll see the benefits no one else is seeing. Take risk, for you and for others.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, today I determine to live a life of risk and without fear knowing that how I live today affects not only me, but has the potential to provide amazing opportunities and rewards for others. I want to be a person of faith and one who makes a difference in the world. I ask you to take away any fear in my life and give me a heart of boldness. I will never let fear of risk keep me from obeying you. In Jesus name, amen.
"The best is perhaps what we understand least." C.S. Lewis
Dr. Steve Stephens best finished the quote from C.S. Lewis by saying, "what I understand least is what frequently moves me most." When we step out and take a risk, we expect to fully accomplish what we set out to do. But what happens when we take a risk and we don't succeed? Do we take time to learn something from failing, or do we grow discouraged and hesitate the next time we should take a risk?
Risk is just the possibility that something unpleasant or unwelcome will happen, it's not even a guarantee that something will go wrong. If risk is just a possibility that something will go wrong, then wouldn't that mean there's still a chance it can go right? There's a story in the Bible of Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego who were being forced to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's man made God or else face a fiery furnace and be killed. I love their response: "if we are thrown into the fire our God will save us, and even if he won't we still won't worship your god." You see, they didn't know the outcome and the possibility that something would go wrong was great, but they knew the risk was worth it. For them the risk was great, but the reward was greater no matter what because they chose to trust God.
We all find it hard at times to take risk. We fear the unknown and because of that we stay right where we're at. Maybe God doesn't always show us everything because maybe we wouldn't want to go through whatever it takes to get there. Instead of letting the things that we don't understand keep us from taking risk, lets let those things move us the most. We may not know the outcome or understand why God is calling us to take a risk, but maybe it's in risk that God can be God.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Write down something you've wanted to take a risk on. It may be a job, relationship or a business venture. For you it may be committing your life to Christ and living each day for him. Whatever the risk is don't let your young age or your old age keep you from stepping out and taking it. Take the very thing you wrote down and now begin taking a risk in your life and trusting God.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, today I see that although the risk may be great, trusting you and being a risk taker is far more rewarding. Give me boldness to take risk and create in me a fearless heart. Today I am trusting you with my life and the desires you've placed in me. I love you and commit this day to you. In Jesus name, amen.
In Romans 12:9-12 it says, Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
It only seems appropriate to talk about passion as we are being challenged to have a more intimate relationship with God. Passion is sometimes misunderstood or defined improperly. Sometimes passion is used to describe two people who are in love with each other, or other times the screams of a cheering fan. Is passion just simply that: an emotion or expression. I believe passion goes beyond emotion. It goes beyond the blissful feelings you get from the person or thing that you're crazy about. Passion is the very thing that keeps you committed to something.
The dictionary describes passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. It is both of those things, but I believe passion is best described as joyful determination. Think of that one thing you love doing, but maybe you're not that good and no matter how bad you are you keep doing it and loving it. Or, what about that person, the one who can't sing but that never stops them or steals their joy. These are examples of passion the way I describe - joyful determination. It is with joyful determination, and desire and enthusiasm, that we should approach our relationship with God and with each other. And it is this kind of passion that will keep us committed and keeps us going.
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Approach your relationships with friends, spouses, others and God with passion and enthusiasm. When situations aren't perfect with others or in your relationship with God, don't give up. Instead, love with passion - with joyful determination - and stay committed. Don't just be committed, be enthusiastic. When you spend time with people and with God, make them feel like you are excited to be with them.
TODAYS PRAYER
Lord, today I commit to pursue you and every relationship in my life with passion. I know that things won't always be perfect, but I ask you to give me strength to keep my joy and let your love shine through me. I ask that others would see my excitement for you and would desire to come to know you. You loved me with a passionate love, and now I commit to giving that back to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
No one sets out to fail. Most people strive for success, yet we all at one point or another have failed. But even worse than failing is not trying at all. In our lives we all have ideas and dreams that we intend to chase after. When we don't act on those ideas we start to lose heart and feel guilty for not accomplishing what we've set out to do. We often end up assuming: it's too late now.
In yesterday's 5 minute challenge, we talked about how guilt can create distance between us and God. And it's the same with our dreams. We allow guilt and condemnation to create a distance between us and the desires of our heart.
What would happen if we let the guilt of failing or never trying keep us from going after the desires of our hearts? We wouldn't have had Abraham Lincoln as our country's 16th President. Abraham Lincoln repeatedly failed in business and was defeated for political positions 8 different times before finally being elected President at age 51. Guilt from failure is no excuse to stop trying, but instead an opportunity to persevere and experience even greater success.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Take 5 minutes today reconnect to the dreams in your life that you've neglected. Write them down and keep them in front of you. Pray and ask God to revive those desires. Take one step of action every day to begin chasing after at least one of those dreams. Lastly, remind yourself daily of the things you desire.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Lord, today I ask that you would help me see what desires and dreams you've given me. For the dreams that I've lost sight of, I ask you to revive them in me. Give me wisdom and strength to not let fear or guilt keep me from chasing after them. In Jesus name, Amen.
I think back from when I was just a child to where I am today and there's something that hasn't changed. Time after time I have set goals and targets and missed them, and I am left asking why? Is it that I didn't posses the necessary skills or know-how to achieve them? Is it that I didn't have the proper resources? I think in some cases it can be both of those, but in most cases it was my inability to stick with my commitments. Often times, when we don't achieve something we have set out to do, we feel guilty and give up instead of taking simple steps to get back on track.
In our walk with God the same thing tends to happen. We commit to spending time with Him but we miss a day here or there, and that day turns into days, days turn into months and months years. Then we start feeling guilty and thinking God is disappointed in us. And guilt causes distance between us and God. The guilt becomes our excuse for a continued lack of commitment and drives us further away from what is right.
So, where does our guilt come from? Guilt can't be blamed on God, it comes from inside you. The Bible says the source is in our own hearts. The cool thing is, it says in I John 3:19-20 that we can set our hearts at rest - without guilt and condemnation - whenever they try to condemn us because God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything. You can be confident in His unfailing love and know He is committed to pursuing you, and that He loves you no matter what you say or do.
He did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (NIV) Knowing God is not a God who condemns will help you shake off any guilt and help you stay committed to pursuing Him.
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Make a commitment to develop your relationship every day with the Lord, even if you have been a Christian walking with Him for years. You don't train for the Olympics once at age 22 and expect that training to last you until your 65. The same is true spiritually. We need to be in constant communication with God through reading the Bible and praying. It's time to defeat guilt and never again let that keep you from coming to Him. If you haven't been diligent in this, then start today by walking closer to God instead of further away.
TODAYS PRAYER
Lord I come to you and ask you to forgive me if I haven't stayed committed to you. Forgive me for not being confident in your unfailing love. I am asking that you would give me a spirit of revelation and understanding as I make a commitment to pursuing you through your word and prayer. I will not let guilt or condemnation rule over me and become my excuse for not serving you. Thank you for loving me with such an amazing love and for being such a loving father. In Jesus name, amen.
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