Say What?

Say What?
by David Brenneman

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29.
   
    We always need to be careful about what we say because our
words have an extraordinary effect on us and others. What we verbalize we also hear -and it affects us physically, mentally,
emotionally, and spiritually. Choose to speak negativity all day long, and your day will be a lot worse than if you decide to be positive. So consider: Do the words you're expressing enhance or contribute to whatever it is you want to achieve?
    You may say, "But you don't understand. My life is difficult.
Complaining is how I release my feelings." However, you must
remember that your words communicate your beliefs. If you're
always speaking defeat, that's where you'll remain. This is why
David prayed, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth" (Psalm 141:3). He knew "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). Instead, when you face heartaches and burdens, try making a good confession of faith. When you get into a difficult spot, say, "Lord, thank You for Your promises because I know You're going to see me through this and bring good from it." It will make all the difference in your circumstances.

Jesus, set a guard on my mouth and help me always to speak faith. Amen
-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.

Ever really consider your words?  Literally it means to stop and reflect on before uttering.  What Dr. Stanley says right here "However, you must
remember that your words communicate your beliefs."?

A man got into a NY Taxi and the driver actually was quite pleasant to converse with on their way to his destination.  The driver gets cut off and to the man's surprise he didn't utter a string of profanities.  He smiled at the person doing this to him until the person drove off. This impressed the passenger to the point of making mention of it.  The driver made a comment about garbage in garbage out.  What comes out of people like that is because of what they take in.

Jesus explained to His Disciples as well as everyone since the New Testament was read to everyone and we read it ourselves.  What comes out of the heart is what defiles a person. Left alone, without the Spirit of God, the heart is desperately wicked the Bible says.

What you say out loud and before anyone lays claim to the excuse "I didn't say that out loud!" remember He who searches the hearts!

Every single careless word we will give an account of.  Spoken or unspoken.  We read we are to guard our hearts.  We read King David wanting the Lord to put a guard over his mouth. 

What you think, what you say, what you don't say, matters.

What you do shows to whom you serve, to whom you belong. 

Our lives in Christ have a fully divine purpose.  From before the first rays of the sun to begin the day til our eyes close for the night.  We are a seriously tempted generation to compromise in all areas that can affect our hearts.  We convince ourselves of good and bad of right and wrong WITHOUT CONSIDERING ASKING JESUS. 

Joshua son of Nun started off his filling of Moses's sandles great then his very next interaction with some locals in the Promised Land he trips up the nation for the rest of time.

We cannot guard our hearts on our own.  We need the strength and help of the Spirit of God to get it done. 

We need His Godly determination to persist in staying the course, to finishing the race, well.

We can't trust our instincts, our gut, as you will because we will lie to ourselves about what's right and good and what isn't.  It's why so much of the Church has problems with pornography, idolatry, adultery, foul language, and all other sorts of sinfulness.

Guard your hearts, guard your mouth, guard guard guard. 

If you're not exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit you should be very concerned and should be praying for the Spirit to help correct your behavior.  If your 'habits' are less than Godly, less than the standard of righteousness in Christ Jesus, you should be very concerned.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.  That's what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33.

Jesus set aside self in order to fulfill His Father's will.  That's our calling as well.  We easily see that in all the tapestry of the life of the Apostle Paul and his exhortation to Timothy.

Are you trying to choose right or wrong, what's good for you and what isn't based on your own understanding?  Speak truth to that notion "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.  Think before you speak.  Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus.

Our compromises aren't just "who we are".  We can seek first His kingdom and His righteousness if we but choose to do so and cry out to Him for help.

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

Waiting...and Persisting...Godly Stubbornness

Waiting...and Persisting...Godly Stubbornness
by David Brenneman

"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8.

Active Waiting
My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him
PSALM 62:5

    When you wait on the Lord for some request or opportunity, it may feel like you are wasting your time.  Indeed, it may feel as if your whole life is on hold. Like David, you may find yourself crying out, "How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1). But just as God had not abandoned David, He has not deserted you either. The Lord did a great deal of important
work in David's life and character during the waiting times, and He does so in you as well.
    Therefore, understand that your life is not on pause. On the contrary, you must actively position yourself for God's continuing instruction. To wait on the Lord requires strength and courage-it is not a time to be passive, irresponsible, or slothful. Rather, you must choose minute-by-minute to be obedient to the Father and His schedule regardless of how long long your your request takes. Do not
become impatient or rush into a solution of your own own making
you'll only hinder God's plan and prolong the delay.  Instead, trust
the Lord's awesome timing and allow Him to do His esential work
in you and your circumstances. He will certainly do beyond all you
imagine.

Jesus, You are my hope. I'll seek You with everything in me and wait on You. Amen.
- Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.

We are much for patiently waiting in this world.  We have generations after generations being taught to want it, go after it, pursue it, take it.  To not be patient about it. 

Those who wait upon the Lord are those whom the Lord will bless.  Yet while we wait upon the Lord we will always have something to be doing in Christ.  Therefore we are to persist in our growing in Christ.  We are to exercise Godly stubbornness in this.  We are given everything, every day, for a life in Godliness.  That's what the Bible says to each of us.

None of us is forgotten before the Throne of Grace.  I was reminded of a different aspect of this passage yesterday: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31.  A short video that showed seals who were threatened with a break in the ice and 1 almost didn't get caught up with the rest.  God made a way and it rejoined them.  Even had not it been caught on video it was noticed by our Father in Heaven who made provision for even the least of these seals.

We aren't ever forgotten before our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are His, sealed in the Spirit, forever more. 

We indeed are to be running His race not our own as the earlier post written was talking about.  If you've watched the movie Overcomer you will catch the big race at the end.  Her Dad was coaching her through every hill and valley.  Every place to attack and when to reserve strength.  She listened to her Dad's coaching to win the race.  We too need to realize we oftentimes fail in our attempts at this race we are in because we get to thinking we know better.  That we have enough understanding.  We stop listening to how Jesus says it should be done.  We don't rest when He says to rest. We don't meet Him when He says it's time for a meeting.  We can get too involved with too many things of our own making that we push out our ability to take the race at His pace and timing. 

Our lives are in His hands.

Even when we think we are alone and nobody sees our plight.

Even when it appears that we aren't running at all. 

Even when we have gotten off course He is there to get us back on track. 

Reminds me of the back story of the Mercy Me song "Even if".  Bart Millard has a son who has to have shots every day in order to live.  It's incredibly hard on him to have to do that to his son.  But even in this he understands that God is with him and his son.  No shred of understanding in why they're going through it but he knows that Jesus is in it with them.

My life of the past many months has been a huge question mark.  Jesus allowed my job to be terminated and put me on this path of rediscovery of a sort.  I have stayed the course in my morning's and evening's reading with Him.  In ways we never saw coming He has provided.  I know my new job is coming soon.  My prayers about getting things done around here from long ago are being answered.  I try to persist in doing whatever He puts before me to be doing. 

Our lives are about us following Jesus in whatever He puts before us to be doing.  It's His race.  His rules.  His coaching.  His direction.  He knows everything about the race course set before us.  We can't trust in ourselves to get through it on our own.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6.

Stop where you are.  Breathe.  Ask Jesus to make sure you are running this race of life His way and under His direction.  To search your heart and see if there be any wicked way in you and to remove it.  To lead you in the way that glorifies Him the most.

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

Running Your Race with Jesus or Running His Race with You

Running Your Race with Jesus or Running His Race with You 

by David Brenneman

When you run the race set before you...are you running it with Jesus His way or are you running a race with Jesus your own way?

If it's His race then it's by His rules by His understanding by His direction and in His strength. 

If it's your own way then it's by your understanding by your direction and by your strength. 

We don't start out with Him then give Him a nod then take off at our own pace. We'll surely lose our way doing it that way!

We aren't giving up self if we're still wanting things our way. We aren't losing self if we honestly stand defiant about what we won't let go of. Read what Blackaby said:

Losing Your Life

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.

Matthew 16:25

    Christians are commanded to lose their lives. This means they ought to deliberately release their lives to God and His kingdom. One of the greatest hindrances to your being on mission with God will be your view of what constitutes your "legitimate rights"-that is, those things that you feel you have a right

to experience and enjoy. It's not difficult to turn Over to Christ

those things that are not a sacrifice or that you would prefer to do without anyway. Rather it is the things that are good and that are dear to you that may stand between you and God's will.

    It's good to be near your grown children and grandchildren, for example, but God may want you to go to another city or continent on mission with Him. It's good to get adequate rest, but you may receive a call of distress in the middle of the night. You may assume that you have a right to certain material things, yet God may ask you to release all of your possessions to Him and His purposes (Matt. I9:2I).

    Jesus modeled perfectly this attitude toward life. He had a

legitimate right to enjoy the comforts of heaven. Yet, He did not

look at it as a right He should hold on to; nor did He see leaving

all that was His as a sacrifice too costly to make (Phil. 2:5-11).

As a result, God highly exalted Him and brought salvation to a broken world. Has the world convinced you that there are certain rights you must protect? Are you trying to save your life? Have you noticed that in so doing, you are actually losing the life God wants you to have?

- Blackaby Experiencing God Day-by-Day 

We heavily compromise and refuse to call it that. Yet that's what it is from God's perspective. We don't intend to love the world and the things of this world but we cut ourselves some slack and say "This one is ok. This one isn't hurting anyone. This one's not that bad. This one and no more. Ok. Just one more but then I'll stop there. I'm comfortable so that must mean it's ok with God."

When we compromise in any area we open the door to slow down our race that is Jesus's to lead. We see Him running without any trouble...if we're staying within eyesight of Him. Yet we're not noticing that we are keeping a backpack on and are tossing extra rocks into it with every single compromise we choose.  

Jesus said to take His load upon us for His load is easy and His burden is light. This too is part of running the race of life with Jesus.

When we embrace what we think are our 'rights' in this world. Things we think and are convinced that God gave us to enjoy...and these very things interfere with our growing in Christ...they no longer are a blessing but in all actuality are a curse. We've tossed rocks in with that load that Jesus said we should carry and all the sudden things aren't so smooth anymore.

When we compromise...we do exactly...and Biblically it's absolutely 100% true...we do EXACTLY..what Adam and Eve did...all over again.

When we take our eyes off the prize we lose sight of what we are running for. Many a joke is out there about a dog's attention span being as long as it is between looking at you and a squirrel. The moment the squirrel is known...the dog forgets about you.  

To set your eyes on the things above and not on the things that are of this world means just that. Focus. Establish. Intentionality. Give serious consideration. Prioritize.  

Why do so many Christian's exude such great joy and happiness for things that are of this world yet do not show the same or better at the mere mention of something that Jesus shared with us? Why do so many Christian's choose to create their own kingdom here on Earth rather than to be generous or to serve with what they've been given?

It is more the seasons of storms that show that God's will moved through an area than it we see when we look at peaceful times.

We look at the aftermath of massive rains and flooding and know that God did that or God allowed that to happen. Evidence is everywhere and oftentimes people get stirred up to go help rebuild and to maybe help save those displaced. Yet in the same area prior to it, it was absolutly beautiful and was so commonplace that it escaped the notice of everyone. After the recovery and rebuilding it's finally noticed that the beauty is coming back.

Are you keeping pace with Jesus or are you doing your own thing? Are you by your choices tarnishing your witness before men and women or are you pointing them to Jesus the Author and the Perfector of our faith? Are you honestly looking more like a walking idol worshipper or a child of God?  

You either take up your own cross and follow Jesus or you put it down and do your own thing. Jesus really left little to consider with that.

So how's that race going for you? Are you really staying in step with your Lord and Savior or are you looking around and don't know where He went? He's wanting you to run with Him so that you both cross that finish line together. 

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 Awaits All

What Awaits All

by David Brenneman 

"The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed." 1 Timothy 5:24-25.

"So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God." Romans 14:12.

"I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me." Psalms 101:3.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34.

We have a 'day of reckoning' that's to come upon all mankind, each one of us individually that is.

What will yours look like? This isn't something that 'might' happen. Jesus said it is GOING to happen.

We're in an entertainment and knowledge rich world right now. Every type of thing is just about possible and is right there at the fingertips of everyone.

So what? Well the truth of what Jesus said is the so what.

Jesus said you and I WILL give an account of our lives before Him.  

It's a guaranteed given as much as any of the other promises of God towards us this one is a true statement worthy of all consideration.

What have you included in your life that's not honoring to God? That will be shown before Jesus. What have you included in your life that does honor God? That too will be shown before Jesus. What have you carelessly spoken concerning yourself or others? That will be shown before Jesus. What have you thought about doing but didn't do...that too. What have you done that you thought nobody else saw? Yes, that too.  

We read in the Scriptures that it is He who searches the hearts of mankind. Which means you my Dear Reader. You.

Have you felt or spoken or made it known of something that you 'love' that isn't Jesus? He knows.

Have you done something without others seeing to benefit yourself that shouldn't have been done? He knows.

We can do many many things in this life but the question is should we be doing them. Should we be thinking them. Should we be entertaining them at all. Those are the questions.

We WILL be giving an account before Jesus...we will be wracked with every form of emotion at that time. From shame to tears to happiness and joy and everything in between. There's no defense to be had for our why's of all the wrong choices made or decisions thought and acted upon.  

What IS upon us to do is to obey to the best of our ability before we ever see that day.  

For every believer those things we did rightly and in Christ's Name...those will become the material for the crown with which we give back to Him for all He's done for us.  

Don't you want a lot to go into that crown of righteousness?  

This day is what awaits us all...and it's coming sooner than you are thinking. What you do matters. What you think matters. What you don't do matters.  

So what are you waiting for? Look over your life right now and determine to live appropriately for the One who saved you. Ask Jesus to examine you and see if there be any wicked way in you and to lead you in the way everlasting as David did.  

It may be costly. It may be painful. You may have to lose a few friends over it. But while you consider all this...determine whether or not it matters to you whether or not you think enough about disappointing He who died for you.

We have a day coming...what will yours look like?

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

Spiritual Bodily Discipline

Spiritual Bodily Discipline
by David Brenneman

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.  Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:1-12.

Many start out a year with high hopes of getting their physical bodies in shape again.  They sign up for places to go do workouts, some get personal trainers, all with the idea of 'getting in shape'.

Part of this might indeed be for the physical reasons but some others do so because of the perceived shaming that they get from others who look at them and see either problems or again perceived problems. 

In any case taking care of a body seems to be on the minds of people whether or not they are Believer's. 
Yet the inner-person be it a woman of God or man of God oftentimes gets neglected. 

Paul spoke of bodily discipline but what good is it if we're not taking pains to take care of our Spiritual Body? 

We're obviously NOT running a physical race with anyone to get to Heaven's gates. 

We're to run the race set before us in every spiritual sense.  Yet we're not going the distance in taking care of what we have in Christ.  We don't see or perceive the impact of the physical world upon our spiritual body.  We don't see 'the harm' in the things we claim to enjoy and have made a part of our lives with respect to our walk with Jesus. 

What is in your life that consumes 'your' weekend?  Do you shut the world out when sports comes on?  Do you put your Christian witness on hold when a game comes on?  Do you go places you shouldn't go and participate in things you should not?   Do you tell yourself that you've 'earned' the right to 'let your defenses down' after you say you've worked all week to deserve it?

I've read through the Bible many times and have never found any section where it teaches that there's time slots where we're allowed to just let go and embrace the world.

We can't say we're running the race as Paul exhorted Timothy if we 'miss' a day in the Word of God.  We can't say that w're running the race well if we're not seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness.  We can't say that we're in shape for the race set before us when we don't even have the ability to run yet.  We're still, as some were told in the New Testament, still taking in milk when they should have been at the point of solid food in the spiritual sense.  Part of that rebuke was that they weren't even TRYING to get to the solid food.  They were allowing themselves to be happy with the elementary parts of coming to Christ and were not pursuing anything more.

Jesus was behind the words of Paul with telling us to put on the whole armor of God.

Jesus was behind the words of all the others who wrote the New Testament. 

Jesus said to take up our own cross and follow Him.  This involves spiritual disciplines.  This involves training in righteousness.  This involves saying no to things in this world because what is necessary for our Spiritual growth should take precidence over anything or anyone else. 

People mourn those whom they lose in this world when God says it's their time...yet do not mourn their own life that's not living up to the potential that's to be found in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is coming soon and lukewarm people are everywhere.

Jesus is coming soon and there's millions of people who only think they have salvation when in fact they have warm feelings and no clear fruit that they ever came to Christ.  All because of the examples given by actual Christian's who have lived lax lives that are not growing in Christ who are not training in righteousness by the Holy Spirit.

Your life is to be your witness and if necessary use words when that light shines in such a way that they want to know what it is you have that's different.

It's extremely saddening to me when I see aspects of my life that have caused someone to miss a step with Jesus.  To my own shame, in my past, I confess that I mislead quite a few people.  I wasn't up to the task of running the race and botched it up.  My only hope and prayer is that someone else corrected my mistakes.

It's equally saddening to me to see people who are Christian's who actively mislead people by their behavior.  The Scriptures say that we are to be Holy as He is Holy.  Doesn't say anything about a timeframe of when we're excused from doing so. 

If you are involved with anything that's causing your witness to be tarnished by the world...STOP DOING IT.  You are adding baggage to your back in running the race set before you rather than reducing your load so that you can run better.

Yes it will mean giving up your deceptive thinking on what you 'love'.  Yes it is a very powerful tool of Satan to get Christian's to excuse their behavior rather than to confront it.

Where is the commitment that you showed at first to your Lord and Savior? 

Lay aside all that is of the world and  run the race set before you as though trying to win the prize.  That's what we're called to be doing.

Ask the Lord Jesus to show you what you're holding onto that is not growing you in Christ and to help you get rid of it.  It might be painful, it might even be costly.  But it is necessary if you're wanting to grow in Christ and do what makes your Lord and Savior happy with your life in Him. 

If that's not your aim then you are really really in trouble.

Do you want to do what pleases Jesus or do what pleases you?   If those two aren't the same thing...you'd better ask yourself if it's worth it for when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life.   And my Dear Reader...that day of giving an account is now one day closer to being a reality. 

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

Guard Your Hearts

Guard Your Hearts 

by David Brenneman 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit." Psalms 51:10-12.

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23.

"and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" Matthew 18:3-7.

The direction of the Spirit is where we're to proceed. When He speaks to us it isn't just for us to hear, but also to do. Just as Jesus, after He began washing the Disciples feet said that what He did now they did not understand but they would later on, so it is with many things that the Spirit teaches us. We may not get it until later on.

But guarding our hearts isn't something that is both taught or practiced much in this world. We're taught at an early age to 'go with the flow' by peer pressure. To 'not rock the boat' when we think about taking a stand on something we're beginning to believe in. Another big one is to 'mind your own business' when you see injustice having it's way between people.

We are to guard our hearts. There's more than ample reason by way of just being told by the Spirit through Paul to put on the whole armor of God. It's because from sun up to sun down we are at war with both our flesh and the world. We just don't want to think about it that way, it's too nasty and dark and yes even evil.

The war that's what we wake up to and go to sleep to has eternal significance. It has since Adam and Eve. It's not about gold or diamonds, wealth of every kind. It's not about those things we 'love' in this world. It's not about which version of the Bible we are convinced is 'the only right version to be reading'. It's not about status, of how well people think about us.  

It's about where we are in our training in righteousness. What we are doing to say no to the plethora of temptations we face and say yes to the will of God in our lives.

My Mom will tell you that she learned a harsh lesson in the error of thinking about how she 'loved' a car we once had. God took it away is what she will tell you. Ever since that realization she will never 'love' anything in this world in that way ever again.  

I hear and see people 'love' things in this world and these are the same people whom I see who somehow don't have as much time for being in the Word of God as they ought to have. 

I hear and see people embracing what the Bible says is idolatry. Yet they've believed the lies of Satan and just call it being 'a fan'.

i hear and see the words of people diminishing the value of other people yet they want God to value them.  

These are very very big symptoms of people who have never learned how to guard their hearts. These are very very big symptoms of people who don't take this spiritual war seriously. They aren't running the race set before them as Paul did and exhorted Timothy to do with all diligence. They aren't letting go of every encumbrance in order to run the race as the Word of God tells us to run it.

We run with patience, we run with purpose, we run with as few things hanging off our backs as we can in order to run well. When we bring along things of this world on that race we slow down, sometimes having to stop because we can't do both.

The whole armor of God is for our protection and for the fight at hand.

It's not for us to take it lightly.

Another thing we do is blame Satan for everything when it's us being carried away by our own sin nature. We cast the blame rather than take the blame for what befalls our lives and we find ourselves flat on our faces rather than running.  

Are you in 'love' with some things in this world? Are you accumulating things in this world that have no eternal value? Are you taking those precious minutes and seconds that you are given and wasting them?

Are you among those who say "I just don't have enough time!" when in reality you have more than enough. You just have to let go of whatever is where you put your time towards.  

It's been a very very powerful time this year for me to be intentional about both my morning times with Jesus doing what you are reading each morning as well as my time in the evenings going through 6 devotionals and 4 Study Bibles with their respective notes.  

We have to be intentional about our life in Christ. Jesus taught that to the Disciples and we're to do the same. Jesus taught us to take up our own cross and to follow Him, not to take up that cross AND bring a U-Haul for what we can't leave behind of thoughts, feelings, and possessions. Jesus taught us all to not take this life in Christ lightly. It's serious business. It's the Father's business. He isn't willing that any should perish but that all might be saved. We are those whom have been sent out into the world for the purpose of sharing what Jesus did for us to show the world a still better way.

The whold armor must be put on. Not just parts that feel comfortable. David tried on Saul's armor and had to take it off because it wasn't for him. Wasn't his size. The whole armor of God for you is exactly your size. Protecting the heart, the mind, all vital organs. Enabling us to stand firm against the schemes of the evil one.  

Guarding your heart means taking active steps to try to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ our Savior. Speaking truth to those things that invade our thoughts in order to bring about the righteous life that God desires for us. Newsflash for you: that righteous life that He desires may not look at all the way you think it ought to look.

My Dear Reader...take this life in Christ seriously. Cast away things that are taking your time away from learning to grow in Christ. Acknowledge what the Bible says about idolatry and those things taking your life down a path that isn't towards that finish line at Heaven's gates. Run the race, finish the course. Fulfill your calling in Christ Jesus. Everyone has one. Nobody comes to Christ to do nothing for the Kingdom.

Guard your heart. Keep that armor on and get used to wearing it all the time.  

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 

No Shortcuts

No Shortcuts

by David Brenneman 

Tempted by Shortcuts

"Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won't have to strike him twice!" 1 Samuel 26:8

You will sometimes be tempted to take shortcuts to your destinations in life. David faced this temptation numerous times before he finally assumed the throne. Samuel, God's prophet, had anointed David and prophesied that he would be the next king of Israel (I Sam 16:12-13). Yet, David waited on God's timing, he watched in frustration as a crazed King Saul

brought the kingdom into jeopardy. Saul pursued David to murder him, forcing David to flee for his life,

    Then an incredible opportunity presented itself to David. David found Saul in a vulnerable position, sleeping with his army. Abishai, one of David's warriors, offered to kill Saul It seemed to make perfect sense. God had said He intended for David to be the king. By taking matters into bis own hands, David could bring an end to his exile and assume the throne as God's anointed servant, Yet he refused to compromise his integrity in order to become king, even though he wanted the position and it was rightfully his.

    At times you may face similar temptations. Well-meaning

friends advise you to hasten God's will rather than wait upon Him. You may be sorely tempted to take control of your situation, assuming the end will justify the means. These are the times when you must trust God's perfect timing, God may plan for you to attain a certain position or take a new direction, but

the timing may not be right. Watch over your heart. Don't allow others to persuade you to compromise your integrity as you follow God's will. Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-by-Day.

In the last many months of being unemployed I can say that several times there've been some who've likewise encouraged me to take a short-cut to ending this time of unemployment by taking whatever job no matter what it was or where it was. A few even tried public goading to get me to just take the shortcut. But that's never been God's way of dealing with life. The temptation is always there to take things back into our own hands after we lay it at His feet in prayer.

There's a saying that I heard long ago "God gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him.".

Pretty much I'm sure that sentiment was born in "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart. All that God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9.  

We will always have that simple temptation to just take it back, that it's ok, our solution will work just as well as what we were praying for. In some ways that temptation will look just like what we were praying for although the means to achieve it will not be the same.  

A life principle of Dr. Charles Stanley is to obey God and leave the consequences to Him.

Do what it is God's put in front of you to be doing to the best of your ability and wait upon the Lord for His timing. If we've not been harboring sin in our hearts then indeed nothing has hindered our prayers before Almighty God. If we have not withheld forgiveness from anyone then our prayers have not been hindered before Almighty God.

This thought of not taking shortcuts goes hand-in-hand with that passage also of King David in Psalms. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." Psalms 139:23-24.

Before you jump into what you might think is the solution to what you've been praying for...pray again. 

Remember most of Job's friends were rebuked by the Lord Jesus, all except one, for their inaccurate view of life and of God and their seriously bad advice on how to take the shortcut to end what he was going through.

We surely can desire shortcuts to getting through difficult times, but all they will end up doing is prolonging whatever it was we were going through in order to achieve whatever it was that God wanted to do in our lives in that moment.

That's another life principle of Dr. Stanley's. Adversity will last only as long as is necessary to achieve whatever God was wanting to do in our lives....and not one second more.

You're in good company for taking the longer way, the right way, before God. Joseph, we read, was allauded for his sticking with walking with the Lord. While falsely accused, while jailed, and everything in-between. He could have escaped, could have ran for it when the opportunity came up. But held out for whatever the Lord wanted of him, serving as though he was serving the Lord no matter where he was.

Continue to pray on, pray over, pray through life. Continue to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you...in His time. 

Seek not shortcuts and don't give those thoughts a second thought. Satan's temptations we read about with Jesus all were short-cuts. Jesus shot them all down as well as everything else we have never read that He was tempted with.  

This is our example from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

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