More as Defined by God

More as Defined by God 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:13-21.

Adversity isn't really relished by anyone if we're all going to be honest. Some may say they do like the challenge but in reality that's probably not quite true. When it comes at a person suddenly and with significant force, it's highly likely that it's an unwelcome thing. 

Yet, for those who are among the saved in Christ Jesus, adversity is a tool of the Spirit of God to transform our lives, and hearts especially, into people after God's own heart. We just more often than not neglect to remember such things in the heat of the moment. 

Yet within these things, the incredible things of God show up. 

But, my Dear Reader, we must be looking for them. We should be expecting both the adversity as well as God's provision within it...acn when God provides...He certainly provides. 

With respect concerning this last season or so of my life I really do now have a kind of understanding with regards to what going through labor pains and the joyful results after the birth in life.

Only in relation to what is being written today, but nonetheless I think it appropriate to word it as Jesus did. "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you." John 16:20-22.

The world isn't going to get it when we have joy in the midst of adversity. Most would probably consider our need to be seeing professional help. 

When I survey what my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my Father in Heaven, has done with my life and what I get to do now...I am in awe. 

To those whom I have spoken to about these things that have lead up to today...all I can use to describe it is that it's been beyond anything that I could have asked for or thought of. I have told the original owner of the company that it really is awesome to work where I am, doing what I get to do, to help people communicate. I never would have thought that it would be possible to so enjoy what I get to do would be wrapped up in "find something to do that you enjoy and you'll never work a day in your life".

God provided such a thing for me. The labor pains have passed. This new life He's set before me has arrived. 

My Dear Reader, this isn't just for certain people in Christ.  

It begins with obedience to God's Word and sticking to your commitment to prayer and sustained time in His Word. I would argue that every month of unemployment was, in each their own way, a miracle of His provision. In providing food, work, whatever was needed. God did it. For me, I couldn't do anything less than stick to praying more, more heartfelt and earnestly. Couldn't do anything less than remain committed to my morning's and my evening's in His Word. Being available when He said this is the way you should go. 

The fingerprints of God are all over every single spiritual birthing process we go through.  

Keeping your mind set on Him.

Keeping yourself set on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world, matters. 

Standing firm, matters. 

Considering prayer to be essential, matters. 

Realizing your life isn't yours to live your way but whatever way the Spirit needs your life to go is transforming.  

Are you really ready for more than you can possibly imagine, more than you could ever ask for or think possible?  

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and never look back, never look anywhere else for what you really need in living life to the full.

Be what you're supposed to be. 

A fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  

Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead in Christ. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Fully Devoted Follower

Fully Devoted Follower 

by David Brenneman 

"For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God, The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, And sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped." Psalms 18:31-36.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

When Jesus called the Disciples, married, single, they devoted themselves to His calling of them. 

What we read this morning shows us that obedience is required on our part, without excuse, to be shown as being fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 

To be truthful, as always, I won't even let myself go to bed without keeping my commitment to be in the Word of God each evening. So I won't get as much sleep, big deal. I saw it wonderfully put in a devotional the other day: We don't get through a day with what Jesus has for us to be doing without His strength to be doing it. 

You're not going to make it very well or far by overpacking your life with many things and refer to your commitment to being in the Word of God as optional.

Was Jesus ever portraying Himself as having other options than going to the cross to provide salvation for all who would be calling on His Name?

He knew the Scriptures since it was He who wrote them and knew that obstacles would be trying to get in His way to the cross. He knew His enemy, the Devil, would try everything from things with an apparent good look of honest gain up to and including murder to try to prevent it.

You think that Satan's game has changed? You're dealing in foolishness if you believe that at any time he's given up on anyone who's a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. He just needs to ask permission first. But we also aid and abed the enemy by choosing to do things in our lives that harm our own walk with Jesus. 

We harm our own race from being ran with all diligence by not removing every encumbrance but instead add things on our backs that slow us down. 

Things that appear to be good and acceptable that probably are...but aren't for the fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

We harm ourselves with petty things that do just enough to cast a shadow on the light of Jesus Christ in our lives. 

We treat the training in righteousness we are to be engaged in as optional. 

This is a lie of Satan himself. 

Read the Gospels again and look for those people who were trying to be crafty with their questions to Jesus about just what was really required to follow Him. 

Jesus showed every one the error in their thinking. 

Look for the error in your own thinking. Look at your commitment to your life in Christ. 

Is it all that it could be?

Are you really showing full devotion to Jesus or are you putting on a show?

Remember Scripture says that the Lord knows your heart. He searches it all the time. So while you might have been quick to answer that question, you might revisit your answer. 

Be the fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ that you are claiming to be and the one He wants to make you.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Not Here, Not Now, Not This Time

Not Here, Not Now, Not This Time 

by David Brenneman 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1

     The expression "stand fast" conjures up an ironic picture of opposing actions. To readers of Paul's epistles, the words were a reminder of the hardened and disciplined Roman soldiers who would stand fast, locking shields together and digging their feet in the ground to provide a solid front against the enemy. Paul uses this powerful image to show believers how serious he is about defending their freedom in Christ against false doctrine.

     Over and over again, Paul uses this phrase to call believers to persevere against the winds of persecution: stand fast in your faith (1 Corinthians 16:13), in one spirit (Philippians 1:27), in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 3:8), and in the traditions you have been given (2 Thessalonians 2:15). It's a crucial command for believers today.

     Be aware of encroaching enemies to the faith. You may find them in the media, in a curriculum, or in your relationships. God will give you the strength to stand fast. With no apologies, we need to put our shields together, dig our feet in, and say, "Not here, not now, not this time."

We never become truly spiritual by sitting down and wishing to become so. Phillips Brooks 

-Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah. 

I read this particular devotional last evening and was lead to turn the last sentence into the subject line of this post.  

I look back over my life and recall a time when I took a similar stance about following in the footsteps of various family members whom I'll not mention here. I remember almost screaming the words like a battle cry that I was done. The mold gets broken now. Ironically something said by Patrick Stewart in Star Trek:First Contact held a similar feeling "The line MUST be drawn HERE! This far and NO farther!".

Over and over again we read of standing firm in the Lord. How much of your life has been spent standing firm in the Lord and how much is you just going with the world?

It amazed me, this particular time through the book of Luke, to catch just how many times and how often Jesus was trying to get people to LISTEN. 

Sometimes it was extremely clear to the recipients of what He was saying other times it was divine purpose that they only understood after the resurrection. 

But my Dear Reader, you HAVE to, you MUST, draw a line in the sand and be entrenched in the Lord while you stand firm in the Lord. 

You must LISTEN to the Spirit, LISTEN to the voice of the Lord, and obey all that He commanded us.

Our true, willing, obedience is what will survive the fires of Truth when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives.  

Have you ever taken your stand in the Lord and stood your ground in the Lord? Are you seeking out and destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus?

We indeed follow that which was said of someone when it was uttered "garbage in garbage out". Jesus said that what we take into our minds and hearts shapes our minds and hearts.  

You don't take a stand concerning music, television, podcasts, news outlets, family traditions, everything introduced into your life...you're liable to fall for anything.  

To put a twist on a country song "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. You've got to be the Lord's man (or woman) not a puppet on a string. Never compromise what's right. Uphold your Father's name. You've got to stand for something in the Lord or you'll fall for anything".

Take your walk with Jesus absolutely seriously. So what if family, friends, acquaintances, etc. see you as weird or different. Guess what? You're SUPPOSED to be different! 

Make no excuses for walking in His ways. To see people these days they sometimes appear all apologetic about their standards in the Lord. 

Why? Guess what, those in this world are GOING to get offended by the cross.  

"This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." 1 Peter 2:7-12.

There's a very significant Godly purpose for you standing firm in the Lord. Not just with regards to your sanctification, that is your becoming more like Jesus Christ, but that special purpose of being seen as lights in this present darkness. 

Don't give way to popular thinking. 

Don't give way to your feelings when they're leading you away from what the Word of God is teaching or has taught you. 

May today be your day to say "Not Here, Not Now, Not This Time!"

It's going to hurt to take your stand in the Lord. At least at the beginning. We're after the fruit of righteousness in our lives. We want people to see Jesus in us and not us. Less of us and more of Jesus. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

To Hear...

To Hear...

by David Brenneman 

"When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”" Luke 8:4-21

How often to we hear but aren't listening? Last night when I was reading this passage it literally leapt off the page at me that every part of this reading has to do with aspects of hearing and actually listening. 

It's also, in part why, the reason that while I use 4 study Bibles, 1 time through 1 is my listening to the Bible being read rather than my reading it like the rest. 

Used to be in Church that whenever the Scriptures were read that the people were to stand out of respect for the reading of God's Word. 

How are your listening skills when it comes to the Word of God?  

We will be evaluated concerning our intake of the Word of God. We will indeed. So how will you fare? 

We're easily indoctrinated to glue ourselves to small, medium, large and extra large screens. It's just how Satan's schemes have worked their way into our minds.  

The sower in this passage is Jesus.  

What we do with what we hear is on us. In my studies, more than one writer of the study notes believes that these segments of what happened to the seed was directed at everyone Jesus has been or will be talking to. It included the Pharisees, the Sadducies, the scribes, the Gentiles, the Jewish people. It refers to everyone.  

Literally the absolute truth is that every single human being will know that the love of Christ was indeed poured out for them. What they did upon hearing that absolute truth is on them. Jesus knows who will receive it with gladness and receive His free gift of salvation and who will reject it. Jesus knows who will listen and who will not. 

He know how much you have listened and how often you've been not listening to Him. 

He knows.

What you have done with what I guarantee you have heard will impact your eternity. 

Read that again. 

What you have done with what I guarantee you have heard will impact your eternity. 

What you hear and obey in Christ impacts your eternity just as much as what you hear and ignore or even outright disobey in.

So how are your listening skills? How important is your sanctification to you? It's of utmost importance to Jesus. He was crucified to provide the way unto salvation and in that to sanctify all who listen unto Himself. 

Our purpose isn't our hobbies, our jobs, or even our families. Jesus said to deny ourselves, take up our own cross and follow Him.  

This is what truly listening with all your heart to what is important to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ is all about. 

What runs through your mind when you're 'idle'? What do you spend your time listening to? The Disciples stayed with Jesus as close to 24/7 as was possible to take in everything He would teach them. Some Disciples were away from family for extended periods of time.  

How seriously do you take your listening to the Spirit when He speaks to you? Believe me He does speak to you.  

Be careful how you listen. 

Be careful of who you listen to. 

Be careful of what you you listen to. 

Hold fast to what you have learned in Christ...it has every bearing on your eternity. Listen well...

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Turn Your Eyes

Turn Your Eyes 

by David Brenneman 

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Thro' death into life everlasting,

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion--

For more than conqu’rors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you--He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

-Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus 

Helen Howarth Lemmel 1922.

When I am done reading here in these mornings, I stop n wait upon the Lord to learn what it is that He's bringing to me to write about. This writing today begins with a hymn.  

There's just something better, something special, about the hymns that I grew up on when adversity comes around.  

Something tells me that there's someone out there going through some rough patches and needs the comfort of assurance in the Lord. 

In these types of situations, these types of days, this song offers the best way to get through...turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. 

For those in the situation, we can be enveloped in it. We can miss the truth that Jesus is right there in it with us. What it takes is turning to Him and to focus on nothing else. 

Peter, having the only opportunity outside of Jesus Christ Himself, to walk on water took his focus off of Jesus and began to sink.  

We too can begin to sink when we forget who's right there with us. 

What's also hard on us is learning to be at ease with God's timing. 

It's a lifelong lesson. We have this or that happening and time, for us, seems to either stretch out or run so fast we can't keep up. 

The answer remains the same. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 

We can't run this race set before us without watching He who runs with us. Keeping pace with Jesus and neither getting ahead or lagging behind Him.  

Our woes are not ours alone to bear. In Christ, my Dear Reader, everything you experience is meant to be for you AND your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ to bear. 

Don't be distracted by emotions or feelings or in many ways, facts. Because Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is what's true. What He says is true is always true, yesterday, today and forever. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus to find what's true. 

People are going to let you down. 

Relying on Google, AI anything, is going to let you down. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 

Rest in the Lord as He dictates for you to be doing. Move when He says it's time to take a step.  

Our lives are not our own. We were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We are His. We are to lay aside every encumbrance, every distraction. Keep our eyes on Jesus Christ the Author and perfecter of our faith. 

Breathe and breathe...turn your eyes upon Jesus.  

Then turn to another great hymn. 

"Praise Him! Praise Him!" to help keep your heart from wandering from Jesus.  

King David wrote many Psalms of praise in his dark hours. They weren't just words on a page, they were truths from David's life. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and then Praise Him, Praise Him.  

Give Him whatever is burdening your heart and mind.  

Peace like a river will attend your ways...and it will be well with your soul...

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

"It is well, it is well with my soul."

It is well with my soul;

it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

let this blest assurance control:

that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

and has shed his own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul;

it is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

my sin, not in part, but the whole,

is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well with my soul;

it is well, it is well with my soul.

O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;

even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul;

it is well, it is well with my soul.

-When Peace Like a River 

Horatio Gates Spafford 1873

Continuing in Praise

Continuing in Praise 

by David Brenneman 

"O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!" Psalms 8:1-9.

"and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” Matthew 21:16.

How often in your week, outside of Church, do you really stop to dwell on praising God? 

Now, dig deeper. How often are you praising and lifting up people in your life in that same week? Famous or not, family or not, friends or not.

How much more deserving is our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to receive our praise? 

How often are you dwelling more on your situations than you're praising God?

A very huge portion of "set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world " has to do with praising God. The model of prayer that Jesus taught His Disciples begins with praising God. 

The final words in the book of Matthew Jesus said "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

We are to live out lives of those who have been taught and are to be teaching others to do the same. 

So I ask you again, my Dear Reader, how often are you intentional about praising your risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 

Oh how mixed up we can be. We can be wholly devoted on a Sunday morning but something happens after we leave the end of the service. Never realizing that Satan's right there to get our minds on the things that are of this world as soon as he can. 

While there are and have been some rather important people in my life, none takes the place of my Savior Jesus Christ. Easy enough to write and say, it's harder to keep in practice. Intentionality is at the core of living for Jesus in all that we do.  

It's rather easy to switch on the praise and worship when you walk in the door of your local Church but it's harder still to keep that on the rest of the week for many. They turn to television, streaming, podcasts, books, e-books, secular music, anything but continuing in praising God as they had been moments ago. 

Take time to examine yourself in this area. Realize that in Heaven, and we are to pray "on Earth as it is in Heaven", the only famous, most important person is Jesus Christ. What the dead in Christ are doing in Heaven is offering praise to Him who is on the Throne. They aren't stopping. 

Consider how you listen is what Jesus said. Consider where it takes you. Either towards Jesus or away from Him. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

What Are, Were, You Thinking?

What Are, Were, You Thinking?

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4.

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16.

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.

You probably don't stop to consider how much you psych yourself up when you think about what's to come in your life. If it's a long awaited vacation or time off you're building up what that will look like in your mind. 

When something special is presented or being considered your mind will build up anticipation. 

Do you really stop to think about your thoughts? Are they among those written here in Colossians 3 that should be avoided?

"Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." Colossians 3:5.

"But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

Colossians 3:8-11.

Does it not also say "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:23-27.

We have, at our fingertips, the guide for living a life approved of by Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.  

This guide is to steer our hearts and minds towards love and good deeds. Towards lighting the way for others to find the same salvation we share in Christ. 

Distractions, misconceptions, sly deceitful thinking is what our adversary who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour is plying as his trade. Our sin nature helps his cause in our underlying thinking if we're not careful. Between the two they disguise things to do just enough to take our minds out of the race.

Commercials are intended to sway your thinking. 

The words of the unwise are intended to sway your thinking. 

A mind not SET is going to have its thoughts swayed to some other way of thinking. 

A runner in a race doesn’t just walk out on the track without preparation. Physically and mentally before doing so is where it begins. To set themselves, they get in position on starting blocks. They push out all other thoughts and focus on the race set before them. The person governing the race pulls the trigger and off they go. Their only ambition is to run their race well, perhaps well enough to win. Nothing else is a consideration while the race isn't ended yet. 

Are we as astute about our thinking concerning the race set before us? To run in such a way that God is honored in all that we say and do?

To be that light He intended for us to be to those around us? 

To not put worldly ideas, possessions, or any such thing before running a race approved of by our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?

Where is your mind right now?  

What are you thinking about?

Are you going to the Lord in prayer?

Are you seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness above your wants and desires?

Do people see you as different in that they see Christ in you?  

It's good, in a limited sense, to pursue self-examination. Not to dwell there long, but long enough to gain your bearings. Where are you in living out your life in Christ?  

We need to take it with all seriousness this race set before us. It's our performance, our determination, our steadfastness, in this race that will be the basis of the account we will give before Jesus. Not what sights we saw, what cars we had. Not what accolades others gave us. Not what we pursued in life that wasn't in line with His workmanship He created us to be. 

It starts with your mindset. 

It begins with what Paul said of laying aside every encumbrance. Get rid of the baggage. Get rid of whatever you're holding on to that's slowing you down. 

Consider your thoughts. 

Consider what you feed your mind. 

Are you really running the race set before you or are you walking? Are you standing still? Have you sat down? 

It matters! It matters because you will give an account of your life before Jesus! 

Consider your thoughts. Consider carefully your ways. Get full on back in the race. 

Give Christ your everything and see what He will do with it. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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