Reminding Myself of God’s Grace and Learning To Relax In It

In review of Philippians 3:9 it reminds me that, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith” (NLT).

No amount of law keeping, self-improvement, discipline, or religious effort can make me right with God. Righteousness comes only from God, and I am made righteous (receive right standing with him) by trusting in Christ. He exchanges my sins and shortcomings for his complete righteousness. Paul gave up everything in order to know Christ and his resurrection power. I, too, have access to this same knowledge and power, but I will need to make sacrifices to enjoy it fully. So, what am I willing to give up in order to know Christ? A crowded schedule in order to set aside a few minutes each day for prayer and Bible study? Other’s approvals? Some of my plans and pleasures? Whatever it may be, knowing Christ is more than worth the sacrifice. 

Legalism will rob me of happiness. It’s the attitude that I have to prove my love to God, which means I have to make sure I do everything exactly right. It’s thinking I have to follow rules and regulations and restrictions in order to prove myself worthy. One of the consequences of being legalistic is that I then force the same expectations on others, thinking they also have to prove their worth to God.

Legalism will suck my your life dry of happiness. It sucks churches dry of happiness. Everybody’s just there out of duty or guilt.

How do you know when I’m being legalistic? It’s when I’m judgmental of other people. How do you know when I’m living by grace? It’s when I’m gracious to others. Those who live by grace often find it easier to forgive because they recognize that God continues to forgive them.

I’m told that when I finally realize there’s nothing I can do to make God love me more, it is one of the most liberating feelings in the world. And it is a key to happiness. Every day, I should remind myself of God’s grace, and then relax in it.

In summary, I can't count on my own righteousness through just obeying the law, rather I become righteous through faith in Christ. God's way of making me right with him depends on faith. Nothing I do can make me righteous. It only comes from God by my trusting in Christ. For he'll exchange my sins and shortcomings for his complete righteousness. I must however make sacrifices to enjoy it fully. I need to give up things in order to know Christ. Legalism will such my life dry of happiness. I'm being legalistic when I'm judgmental of others.  I need to practice graciousness to others. Those who live by grace often find it easier to forgive because they recognize that God continues to forgive them. I need to realize there is nothing I can do to make God love me more. It is a key to happiness. I need to remind myself of God's grace, and then relax in it.

Even though I trust in God’s grace, I still find myself forgetting this and getting caught up in what’s happening in life and the feeling of being pushed more activities than are possible. I need to remind myself what Christ has done for me and realize that I am helpless to save myself. Today’s devotional also reminds me that when I feel that others are against me, that I need to learn to practice grace with them. I pray this morning Father that your Spirit reminds me of your grace you provide and how I in turn should practice grace to others. I ask you for your wisdom and guidance for my day, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask this through your Son Jesus name.

When I’m Overwhelmed, Stand Strong

In review of 2 Chronicles 20:20 it tells me to “Put your trust in the LORD your God, and you will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed” (GNT).

I am to believe in and put my trust in the Lord my God and know that I shall have success! I can believe his prophets and everything will be alright!” However, when I focus on my problems instead of trusting God, I’m going to end up being exhausted. And I’m going to be defeated because God didn’t design me to fight my battles alone. I don’t have the power I need to face every problem in my own strength. I need God’s power.

I won’t be able to focus on my problems and focus on God at the same time. I’ve got to shift my focus to who God is and what he’s promised to do for me.

Life is full of experiences that will test, drain, and wipe me out. When I’m worn out, that’s when it’s time to say to God, “I’m sorry. I can’t handle this situation, and I’ve tried everything. I need to give it to you because it’s bigger than me.”

So when I feel overwhelmed, Stand strong versus just wanting to fight back or have someone take it all away from me.

Standing strong is an attitude of quiet confidence in the character of God. I will be successful when I put my trust in what he says to me through his Word and the Holy Spirit. When I get with God, I’ll never have to give up ground because I am standing strong.

When the burden is overwhelming, I may be tempted to cave in under the pressure. God doesn’t want me to back down from difficult situations. He doesn’t want me to sacrifice my integrity. God wants me to trust him through the challenges and learn from them. If I run, I’ll miss out on learning from God. And chances are, I’ll end up needing to repeat that lesson.

God is committed to my success. But I need to focus on and trust him and his Word in order to stand my ground.

“Trust God from the bottom of my heart; don’t try to figure out everything on my own. Listen for God’s voice in everything I do, everywhere I go; he’s the one who will keep me on track. Don’t assume that I know it all” (Proverbs 3:5-7 The Message).

In summary, I am to put my trust in the Lord my God, and I will stand my ground. If I focus on my problems instead of trusting God, I'm going to end up being exhausted and defeated. God didn't design me to find my battles alone. I don't have the power I need to face every problem in my own strength. I need God's power. Shift my focus to who God is and he's promised to do for me. When I get worn out, that's the time to say, "God, sorry, I can't handle this. I need to give it to our because it's bigger than me." I am to stand strong, which is an attitude of quiet confidence in the character of God. When the burden is overwhelming, it's tempting to cave in under the pressure or back down, nor sacrifice my integrity. He wants me to trust him through the challenges and learn from them. If I run, I'll miss out on learning from God. So, "Trust God from the bottom of my heart; don't try to figure out everything on my own. Listen for God's voice in everything I do, for he's the one will keep me on track. Don't assume I know it all."

Because I had been ill, and trying to get a little additional sleep, I had been by-passing my quiet time with God. I believe as a result, when I was working, it seemed to get overwhelming, and that myself and my team were getting dumped on. I see that in missing my time with God, that it was easy for me to miss out on his daily direction and perspective for my day. I’m glad I’m able to get back to this morning, as His Word today has greatly helped with what’s been on my mind and what I have been facing.

I thank you Father for your Word and my time with you. I pray today for me to put my trust in you. When I feel things getting overwhelming, that I can turn to you instead of trying to figure it all out on my own. I will look for and listen for your voice, so that you can help me keep on track. I also ask for your wisdom and guidance for my day, in my work, the work for my team, as well as my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen.

Mentoring Matters for Spiritual Growth

In review of 2 Timothy 2:2 I read  “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (NIV).

If we were to consistently follow this advice, it would expand geometrically as well-taught believers would teach others and commission them, in turn, to teach others. As a disciple / Christ follower, I need to be equipped to pass on my faith. My work is not done until new believers are able to make disciples of others. 

Every Christian needs both a Paul and a Timothy.

A “Paul” is somebody who has been a Christian longer than myself and is helping to train and encourage me. That person may only be a month older than me, but he or she has probably walked longer with the Lord and is more spiritually mature and can mentor me.

A “Timothy” is somebody who hasn’t been a Christian as long as myself whose faith I am helping to build. I offer that person encouragement and discipleship as they grow in the Lord.

So, I have a Paul and a Timothy in my life. But I’m also a Paul and a Timothy to others.

In 2 Timothy, Paul says this to Timothy: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV).

The are four generations in this verse. Paul says to Timothy that he helped mentor him, meaning Paul guided him to spiritual maturity. Now Timothy must find somebody to mentor, and then that person can find somebody else to mentor.

Don’t be intimidated by the word “mentoring.” Mentoring is as easy as taking someone to breakfast once a month and asking, “How’s it going?” I just need to be a friend. Listen to, encourage, and pray for that person. I don’t have to be a “perfect Christian” to do this. I just have to be willing.

To fully live out God’s calling on my life, I need other people. I will more fully grow as a disciple when I learn from other believers who are more mature than myself and when I share my wisdom and experience with believers who are younger than me.

In summary, Paul tells Timothy, the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. As a disciple, I need to be equipped to pass on my faith. My work is not done until new believers are able to make disciples of others. Being Mentor is as easy as taking someone to breakfast once a month and asking, How's it going. I just need to be a friend. Listen to. Encourage, and pray for that person. I don't need to be perfect, I just need to be willing. To fully live out God's calling, I need others. I will grow when I learn from others who are more mature, and when I share my wisdom and experience with believers who are younger. 

It’s been awhile since I had been mentored by someone else one-on-one. When I had been mentored it helped me with my thinking and perspective. But as I reflect today, I haven’t really had someone to mentor me in a while. I believe I have a problem taking any criticism or correction from others. In addition, I have also filled my life with work so that I have very little hours / margin left. Today I pray Father for your help me make more time available in my life to meet with others. I ask you Father for wisdom and guidance for my day. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen.

My Integrity Shows My Faithfulness

In review of Luke 16:10 it reminds me that “Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones” (GNT).

I would be wise to use the financial opportunities I have, not to earn heaven but to help people find Christ. If I use my money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, my earthly investment will bring eternal benefit. When I obey God's will, the unselfish use of possessions will follow. 

My integrity is often put on the line in money matters. God calls me to be honest even in small details I could easily ignore. Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But If I’m not trustworthy with my money here (no matter how much or little I have), I will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's Kingdom. I need to maintain my integrity in all matters, whether big or small.

It’s common today to hear people say, “What’s done in your private life is nobody’s business.” Well, that isn’t really true. What I do in my private life, behind closed doors or out of view of other people, builds and reveals my true character. And God sees it just as clearly as the things you do in public.

In fact, the small, unseen things I do are the seeds to God’s public blessing on my life. I cannot compartmentalize my life and say, “I have integrity in my public life, just not in my private life.” I bet you could make a list right now of public figures that have tried to live this way, only to have their private indiscretions lead to public scandal and personal downfall. No matter what they say, any leader who is not faithful in small matters will not be faithful in large matters.

This principle is nothing new. Jesus said, “If you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what belongs to you?” (Luke 16:12 GNT).

For centuries, everybody who learned a skill, trade, or vocation learned it through an apprenticeship. If you were going to be a mechanic, you apprenticed to another mechanic and served in that person’s business before you started your own. As an apprentice, you had to be responsible with your master’s business before you were entrusted with your own.

This principle of apprenticeship applies to every area of life. It applies to how you handle other people’s money, how you handle other people’s possessions, and even how you handle other people’s ministry before God gives you your own. When no one is watching at my job, do I work diligently?

God is watching and testing my integrity. I show that I can be trusted with the big things by being faithful in the small things.

In summary, whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones. Likewise if you are dishonest in small matters, you will be dishonest in large ones. It would be wise for me to use my financial opportunities I have to help others find Christ or help them when they are in need. When I obey God's will, the unselfish use of my possessions will follow. Therefore, I need to maintain my integrity in all matters, big or small. The small, unseen things I do are the seeds to God's public blessing on my life. God is watching and testing my integrity. I show that I can be trusted with the big things by being faithful in the small things. 

I’m reminded this morning that God has entrusted me with many things, all of which he is using to test my integrity. There are many things in my work that I am responsible for. Often it’s overwhelming and I want to manage them well, it just seems that I don’t have enough time to properly do it. Perhaps this is some of the source of stress I feel, wanting to do my best but not having the proper time to do it. I think one of the other areas I need to continue to concentrate on is my health. I must continue to do the small things that matter. Today I pray Father for your help through your Holy Spirit to be with me and encourage me as I take the time to be faithful in the small things. I also ask for your wisdom and your guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, and my interaction and influence on others. Thank you for the love you have for me. I ask for help to be and do what you designed me to do. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, amen.

The Value of Faith in a Faithless World

In review of Luke 18:8 this morning I'm given this thought  “When the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (NLT).

In the beginning of Luke 18 I read the parable of the persistent widow, I’m reminded in it that I should always pray and never give up. For If a godless judge responds to constant pressure, how much more will a great and loving God respond to me? Because I know how much he loves me, I can believe that he will hear and respond to my cry for help. 

I live in an increasingly faithless world. It is a secular world of shifting values and growing egocentrism. If Jesus were to come back today, how many people of faith would he find? And would I be counted among them?

The Bible makes it clear that God is looking for faithful people. I’m reminded In 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward him, so that he can show his great power in helping them” (TLB).

God is seeking them because he wants to bless them. He wants to show his love through his great power. Faithfulness is the key to unlocking his blessing in my life.

Jesus said, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV). God wants to pour blessings into all areas of my life, family, career, finances, health, and my relationships. This blessing may not look the way I expect it to, but God is working it out in my life nonetheless. And he will do it according to the level of my faith. If I have great faith, I will have great blessing. If I have a little faith, I will receive a little blessing. But if I have no faith, God’s blessing will not be in my life.

Sadly, faithful people who really trust God and live for Christ day in and day out are hard to find. The Bible says, “Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!” (Proverbs 20:6 GNT).

When sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, we were all corrupted. None of us does what is right all the time. But faith is the key to victory. The greater my faith, the more victory I will experience in my life. “Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory” (1 John 5:4 CEV).

In summary, when Jesus returns, how many will he find who have faith? I should always pray and never give up. If a godless judge can respond to pressure, how much more will a great and loving God respond to me? Because I know how much he loves me, I can believe that he will hear and respond to my cry for help. God is looking for faithful people because he wants to bless them. He wants to show his love through his great power. Faithfulness is the key to unlocking his blessings. Also according to my faith, it will be done to me. His blessings may not always look the way I expect them to look, but God is working it out in my life nonetheless. He will do it according to my faith. Faith is the key, and the more faith I have the more victory I will experience. 

Father you have reminded me that my faith is key to unlocking and receiving your blessings. While your blessings may not always come in the manner I expect, you are working things for my good. Problems and difficulties will arise. You will be doing things that help me to accomplish what it is you have planned for my life. My response it to believe and have faith in you. Then I need to do what you tell me and what I know I need to do. I pray this morning Father that your Spirit continually infuses my life with the perspective that I need to trust in you and live a life of service to others. I pray also for your wisdom and guidance for my day, my leadership and my interactions with others. Allow me to have a cam day that rests in your presence. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen.