Daily Archives: August 25, 2016

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Set Apart for God

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Romans 12:1-3

By placing faith in Jesus Christ, a person becomes a new believer and is sanctified—that is, set apart for God’s purposes. Unlike salvation, which takes place in a single moment, sanctification is a lifelong process. We who are followers of the Savior should be letting the Holy Spirit control our lives. If that’s the case, we are currently being sanctified, regardless of what we may feel or how our actions appear to those around us. In other words, we are progressively maturing in our faith.

And if we are progressing, we must be working our way toward something. The apostle Paul explained the Christian’s mission: “For those whom [God] foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). A believer’s character, conduct, and conversation should be reflections of Jesus, who lives within. On our own, we might place too much emphasis on behavior and get caught up in following rules and rituals that look Christian without truly reflecting Christ. But God has given each believer His Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide. The Spirit works to transform our minds and hearts so that we are markedly different from our unsaved peers. When we allow the Spirit to control us, we speak and act in accordance with our true identity: God’s sons and daughters.

Our Father wants His children to be living examples of who He is. He doesn’t expect perfection—He knows we can’t be totally sinless in our human body. But He shows us how to think and act so we may “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called” (Eph. 4:1).

Bible in One Year: Lamentations 1-2

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Remembering . . .

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Read: Psalm 119:17–19, 130–134 | Bible in a Year: Psalm 119:1–88; 1 Corinthians 7:20–40

I have hidden your word in my heart. Psalm 119:11

One difficult part of growing older is the fear of dementia and the loss of short-term memory. But Dr. Benjamin Mast, an expert on the topic of Alzheimer’s disease, offers some encouragement. He says that patients’ brains are often so “well worn” and “habitual” that they can hear an old hymn and sing along to every word. He suggests that spiritual disciplines such as reading Scripture, praying, and singing hymns cause truth to become “embedded” in our brains, ready to be accessed when prompted.

In Psalm 119:11, we read how the power of hiding God’s words in our heart can keep us from sinning. It can strengthen us, teach us obedience, and direct our footsteps (vv. 28, 67, 133). This in turn gives us hope and understanding (vv. 49, 130). Even when we begin to notice memory slips in ourselves or in the life of a loved one, God’s Word, memorized years earlier, is still there, “stored up” or “treasured” in the heart (v. 11 esv, nasb). Even as our minds lose the keen edge of youth, we know that God’s words, hidden in our hearts, will continue to speak to us.

I have hidden your word in my heart. Psalm 119:11

Nothing—not even failing memories—can separate us from His love and care. We have His word on it.

Lord, You are such an amazing comfort to us. Thank You that our salvation and spiritual well-being does not depend on our failing minds and bodies, but on You and Your faithfulness to Your Word.

God’s promises never fail.

INSIGHT:

Psalm 119 is well known as the longest chapter in the Bible. It is an acrostic (each section beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) that praises the goodness and value of God’s law. While it may be tempting to ignore the significance of what the writer of this psalm says and consider it mere poetic license, Scripture repeatedly praises the law of God as good and valuable. Jesus Himself affirmed the value and benefit of the law on numerous occasions. Most notably in His Sermon on the Mount when He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17).

 

http://www.odb.org

Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Misdiagnosing ‘Normal’

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Almost everyday, we are beset with news of daily atrocities, murders, and tragedies that continue to shake us. I sit in a somewhat curious state as I hear certain phrases so often repeated. “They seemed like such a normal person.” “My kids played at his/her house regularly.” Then the reporter chimes in, “How could such a normal person do such a thing?”

I guess what intrigues me in this constant replay from daily and weekly life is the surprise. The reporters genuinely seem surprised by the actions committed and in joining in with the social narrative’s rules, so do we! Many centuries ago, the ancient writer Herodotus wrote, “The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.” This is perceptive.

The modern era was birthed in the consciousness of rational men and women in control of their own destinies. It was the age of reason; we can and would figure everything out. It was the age of man; no need for god, the gods, or superstitions of any kind. It was the age of science; the new insights, techniques, and technologies would allow us to build our brave new world. It was the age of progress, as many believed we would grow from good to great, and perhaps end up in something like Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek future, where all need has been eradicated and all live for justice and the good of all.

The problem with this, and with all utopian dreams, is that they are illusions or delusions. They are fantasy constructs of the very sort Schopenhauer and Freud attacked in terms of religion. Despite promethean promises, guru advice, or our deepest sincere desires, wanting it badly enough does not make it so. What kind of a world do we live in? Who and what are we? What is wrong in life and with me? How can anything be improved? These are world and life view questions.

Continue reading Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Misdiagnosing ‘Normal’ →

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – The Giver of Life

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“‘Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on’” (Matthew 6:25).

God gives you life and sustains your life.

If you were living in Palestine during the time of Jesus, you might have been concerned about having the basics of life. That’s because there were times when the snows didn’t come to the mountains, and as a result the streams didn’t run. When the streams dried up, there was no water. Crops didn’t always produce either. They were subject to the onslaught of insects, disease, and weather. When the crops didn’t produce, there was famine in the land. And when there was famine, there was also no income. When there was no income, there was no purchase of clothing.

When Jesus spoke the words of Matthew 6:25 to those people on the edge of a parched desert who were totally dependent upon natural resources, it must have been a shocking statement. Our Lord recognized that man, in whatever time he lives, becomes obsessed with the externals.

The externals that Jesus mentioned—food, drink, and clothing—all pertain to the body. The world believes that man lives because of his body, and man therefore lives for his body. But Jesus asked, “Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?” (v. 25). In other words, your body does not give you life but is given life by God, who is the source of all life. Jesus is arguing from the greater to the lesser. If God gives you life (the greater), will He not also provide what you need for life (the lesser)? God gives you life and also sustains your life by providing food, drink, and clothing. Therefore, there’s no reason for you to worry.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for giving you life and sustaining your life.

For Further Study

Read 1 Kings 19:1-8. How did the Lord provide for the prophet Elijah?

http://www.gty.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Saved from Death, Saved for Life 

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For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13

The beauty of poetic language is that, in just a few short words, an entire world of vivid imagery opens up before the reader. In the Psalms, so often we are presented with contrasting but related themes. Today, in just one verse, we are given a potent picture that captures in many ways the whole of our life before God and with one another. Likewise, it is a passage that invites intentional self-reflection and contemplation: is my life in free fall or are my feet grounded on the path of life?

The psalmist here accurately and acutely diagnoses the universal human condition. Due to the sin and rebellion of our first parents, brokenness entered into the world, creating a break in the perfect relationship of love that we once knew with our creator. In a sense, you could say sin pulled the rug out from under our feet! It left us off balance, disoriented, and ultimately free falling away from the love of God and towards a life of separation and isolation.

This is the world into which every person is born. Though our lungs may fill with air and give life to our bodies, apart from the goodness and love of God our souls remain in a free fall towards death. Yet thanks be to God, in his goodness, mercy, and love, he sent his Son to set our feet back on solid ground, teaching us once again how to love and how to live in the light of his life.

I find this central point of our Christian life is so often overlooked and underemphasized. When we speak of salvation, often it is reduced to our salvation from death and separation from God. However, we are never simply saved from death, but we are also saved for new life! As it says elsewhere in the Psalms, God has “set our feet upon a rock.” (Ps. 40:2) Yet the Christian life is never a mere progression from a free fall to safe and secure inactivity. As the very next words of Psalm 40 remind us, the Lord “makes our steps secure.” Our feet are firmly set upon the ground so that we can walk!

God saves us from death, but more gloriously and wonderfully invites us to learn what it means to journey with him, behold him in his beauty, and become more and more like him each and every day.

Prayer: Father, we thank you for saving us from the free fall of sin and death, and ask that you would fill us with your Spirit each day that we might learn what it means to follow you and live in the light of your love.

Application: Are there parts of your journey with Christ that have stalled that you can commit afresh to the Lord?

Related Readings: Isaiah 2:5; Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:7

By Tripp Prince

 

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – A Stolen Bible

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Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Romans 4:7

Recommended Reading

Romans 4:1-8

Ramona grew up in a troubled home. Her mother was a Christian, but her father was an abusive alcoholic. As a young adult, Ramona made many unwise choices, married multiple times, and descended into drug and alcohol abuse. One night at the Pagoda Hotel in Hawaii, she saw a Gideon Bible in one of the drawers and she took it home with her. About two years later, she started reading it. “After reading a while,” she said, “it was like the words on the pages came to life and opened my eyes. God cleansed me of the anger and resentfulness. He set me free.” Her life changed so dramatically that she forgave her father, cared for him in his latter days, and had the joy of leading him to Christ before his death.1

The grace of God is a shaft of light that can penetrate any darkness, illumine any heart, and brighten any life. God’s arms are open to receive us always—regardless of where we’ve been or what we’ve done.

How blessed we are to find and receive the forgiveness of God!

Believe in God’s instant forgiveness. How long does it take you to forgive your child? Time is not considered in forgiveness. The estrangement of a lifetime may be forgiven in the twinkling of an eye.

  1. B. Meyer, in Steps Into the Blessed Life

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Ezekiel 5 – 8

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Check Your Motives

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The righteousness of the upright . . . shall deliver them, but the treacherous shall be taken in by their own iniquity and greedy desire. – Proverbs 11:6

Here’s an important question for you: When you do things to bless other people, why do you do it? Do you bless others because you love them, or do you do it to get them to love you? There was a time in my life when I tried to “buy” protection for myself. I thought if I was extremely nice to people and gave them gifts, I could protect myself from their rejection. It took me a while to learn that my motives were impure and therefore my act of kindness was not acceptable to God.

I was deceived. I really thought I was walking in love until God revealed to me that I was not giving my love freely to others without strings attached. I was giving my love to others in order to get them to love me.

When we give gifts, we should always do so for the joy of giving, not with the ulterior motive of trying to manipulate the recipients in some way so they feel they owe us something.

When our behavior is excessive and out of balance people can sense that something isn’t right about our attitude toward them. When you do things to bless others, be sure to do so out of a heart of love, care, or appreciation for them, not out of a personal need for security.

Love Others Today: Take an honest inventory of your relationships. Are you trying to buy anyone’s friendship for your own benefit instead of blessing that person out of sincere love?

From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Making God Smile

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Today’s Truth

For the Lord searches every heart, and understands every desire and every thought.

1 Chronicles 28:9

Friend to Friend

I have several roles in life. I am a wife, a mother, an author, a speaker … the list is really quite impressive. But being Mimi to our six grandchildren hovers around the top of that list. So when the phone rang, and I heard the sweet voice of our grandson Justus ask, “Mimi, can you and Papa come to my school for Grandparent’s Day?” I did not even have to look at my calendar. Whatever appointments I might have had could be moved in a heartbeat. “We would love to, buddy!” I replied.

When Dan and I arrived, Justus’ teacher, Mrs. Fox, greeted us and told us to look around. Since I taught elementary school for several years while Dan attended seminary, I was especially interested in scoping out the classroom to make sure she was doing a good job. She was.

And then it was time for games! Mrs. Fox divided the children into three groups. Justus and his group were playing pin the skull on the skeleton. They had just completed a series of lessons on the skeletal system … and Justus is in Kindergarten! Yep! She was doing a great job.

As volunteer parents lined the children up, Mrs. Fox came to stand beside me. “Aren’t they going to blindfold the kids?” I asked. Mrs. Fox smiled and said, “No. Some of the children really don’t like that, so we just tell them to close their eyes. And I will tell you that Justus will be the only child in this room who will not peek.”

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – Making God Smile →

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Free Gift 

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“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

One night I was speaking to several hundred men gathered in a skid row mission for an evangelistic meeting. I had been invited to bring the address and as always my heart was deeply stirred when I realized that these men needed the Lord so very much. In the spiritual sense, though, their lot was no worse than the leaders of the city, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death whether one is rich or poor, old or young, sick or well. It makes no difference. The wages of sin is death.

In an effort to communicate to these men the love of God and His free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, I pulled a ten-dollar bill from my pocket and said, “The first person who comes to take this from my hand, can have it as a free gift.” This was my way of illustrating God’s gift of grace. Out of the hundreds of people seated before me, not a single person moved as I extended the bill, repeating several times, “The first one who will come and take this bill from my hand can have it.”

Finally, a middle-aged man, shabbily dressed like the rest, stood timidly to his feet and with an inquiring expression said, “Do you really mean it?” I said, “Sure, come and get it; it is yours.” He almost ran to grasp it and he thanked me. The rest of the crowd began mumbling, as if to say, “Why didn’t I have the faith to go and accept the gift?”

This gave me a marvelous opportunity to emphasize that we do not earn God’s love. He loves us unconditionally – not because of who we are, but because of who He is. God proved His love for us in that while we were all wretched sinners, He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for us and give to all men who will receive Him the gift of eternal life. Oh, what an attractive gift. Who could refuse to accept such a wonderful gift?

Bible Reading: Romans 6:17-22

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: I will trust the Lord to help me make His offer of this marvelous free gift, the gift of His only begotten Son who is eternal life, so attractive that no one can refuse to accept it.

 

http://www.cru.org

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Faith and Doubt

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Read: Jeremiah 33:11-44

I took the deed of purchase — the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy — and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard. In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land. Jeremiah 32:11-15

What a ringing testimony to the power and greatness of God! God had said the land ultimately would be restored, and this deed would be valid. Therefore, it was to be put in a safe place. That is what Jeremiah did. He sent Baruch down to the title company and had him bring a deed to be signed. He acted before witnesses, and had the witnesses sign the deed and the copy — one to be sealed in a safe deposit box, the other to be kept by Jeremiah himself and passed on to his heirs, so that eventually they might claim title to this land. He worked in this normal way, and then clearly announced the purpose of it all: It is because God says there will be houses and fields and vineyards bought in this land again.

Faith takes no halfway measures. There is no hedging of Jeremiah’s bets here, no saying to these people, Well, I’m just buying this property on speculation, hoping it will all work out, but it’s just a gamble, a shot in the dark. No, he assures them that God has spoken, and that everything he is doing is consistent with the word of God.

Later in chapter 32, another quality of faith comes in. Beginning with verse 16 and continuing through verse 25, a remarkable prayer of Jeremiah is recorded. These are Jeremiah’s private thoughts about this deed. Before men this prophet is bold and resolute and confident. But before God he admits that he is not quite so sure this is all going to work out. He says to the Lord in verse 25, And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed. I am glad this account is here, because this is what we might call the doubtings of faith.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Faith and Doubt →

Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Trees and their Fruits

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Read: Matthew 7:15-20

You will recognize them by their fruits. (v. 16)

Shortly after my family and I moved into our house in Holland, Michigan, I hired an arborist to help me correctly identify the trees surrounding our new home. There were 40 trees on our little lot in the core city of Holland: Serbian spruce and Norway maple, eastern hemlock and northern catalpa, white pine and red cedar. I dutifully took notes as the tree expert walked and talked. On the east side of the house he identified a small fruit tree: it was a plum tree, he said with the confidence of an expert.

Come spring I noticed that our plum tree was sprouting crab apples. The tree man got this one wrong, but, to be fair, many fruit trees look alike and his visit took place in late October, when the leaves were gone, so it was even harder to identify this tree with any certainty.

“You will recognize them by their fruits,” said Jesus to his followers. You don’t get grapes from thorns or figs from thistle. (Nor crab apples from plum trees.) Good trees, furthermore, produce good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. Luke’s version of this story (6:43-45) is even more explicit: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good.” Let’s face it: talk is cheap, and we are known by our fruit. So let us bear the fruit of a heart enlarged and directed by the goodness of our loving Lord—above all, the fruit of love.

Prayer:

Lord, empower us by your grace to bear much good fruit.

Author: Steven Bouma-Prediger

 

https://woh.org/

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – A Passion for the Lost

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My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.—Romans 9:2–3

The apostle Paul had something essential for effective evangelism: a God-given burden for those who did not know Jesus Christ. In his case, the burden was for his own people, the Jews. He cared. It burned inside him.

General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once said that his desire, had it been possible, would be to dangle his evangelism trainees over hell for 24 hours. That way, they could see the reality that awaits those who do not know Jesus Christ.

That wouldn’t have been necessary for Paul, who spoke of his love and burning passion for unbelievers. I think it is there for us in Scripture so that we don’t become so obsessed with our own struggles and spiritual growth that we forget about people who need to know Christ.

I think Paul makes an amazing statement in Romans 9 when he says, in essence, “If it were possible, I would give up my hope of eternal life so that others who do not know could come to faith.” That’s a pretty dramatic statement.

As believers, you and I have a responsibility to those outside the church—those outside the faith. If God’s love is really working in our lives, it should motivate us to do something for Him.

If you pray that God will give you this burden, then be careful. The results could be life-changing. You just may be surprised at how quickly He answers you.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – All Our Righteousness Is of God

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“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ….God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them….Be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Have you ever heard of Onesimus (oh-NESS-ih-muss)? The apostle Paul wrote a letter for the sake of Onesimus, and that letter was inspired by God to be a part of the New Testament. If you find the book of “Philemon” in your Bible, you can read the whole story, but here it is in a nutshell:

Onesimus was not a powerful king or a famous preacher. In fact, Onesimus’s only claim to fame was that he was an unprofitable servant. He had left his master, Philemon (fai-LEE-munn). Bible scholars think Onesimus had run away or had been sent to prison by Philemon for doing wrong.

But God saved Onesimus during his time away from his master. Onesimus met Paul, and through Paul, Onesimus met Jesus Christ. In his letter to Philemon, Paul describes Onesimus as his own spiritual son, and he asks Philemon to take Onesimus back into his household as a servant again – and not only as a servant, but as a profitable, useful servant. And not only as a profitable, useful servant, but as a much-loved brother and a fellow-laborer in the faith.

Imagine yourself in Onesimus’s situation. The only thing you are known for is being an UN-profitable servant. You have wronged your master, and you haven’t done what you were supposed to do. You have been an unrighteous servant, and no one owes you anything – especially not your master.

Now imagine you read what Paul has written your master: “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it.”

Continue reading Kids 4 Truth International – All Our Righteousness Is of God →

BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Why the Media Doesn’t Get Religion–and How We Can Help

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Editor’s Note: With summer winding down and BreakPoint staff on vacation, we will be re-airing a few popular BreakPoints from John, Eric, and Chuck.

The first week of April saw a social-media-driven panic sweep across the campus of Indiana University. Starting around 9:15pm, students started tweeting about a sinister character prowling about campus seeking whom he might devour.

One student tweeted, “[IU] students be careful, there’s someone walking around in [KKK] gear with a whip.” Another complained about the school’s failure to “make students feel safe.”

A residence hall advisor then fired off an email saying, “There has been a person reported walking around campus in a KKK outfit holding a whip . . . I would recommend staying indoors if you’re alone.”

When an intrepid IU student confronted the threat at a local frozen yogurt shop—that’s your first clue—he did not find a Klansman, complete with hood and whip. Instead, he found a Dominican friar, Father Jude McPeak, whose “hood” turned out to be his habit and whose “whip” was his rosary.

And far from looking for someone to assault, Father McPeak was on his way back from a meeting with students. It wasn’t the only time he had been on campus: He often walks around IU praying for students.

For his part, Father McPeak chuckled and said it wasn’t the first time his appearance had ruffled some feathers. True, but it’s almost certainly the first time that people responded to his habit by asking him whether he hated black people.

Events in Bloomington reminded my colleague John Stonestreet of another example of ignorance about Christian faith and practice closer to his home. After the 2007 shootings at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, a reporter asked a member of the church who witnessed the shootings whether they took place during or after “Mass.”

Continue reading BreakPoint –  Why the Media Doesn’t Get Religion–and How We Can Help →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – THE TRINITY AND THE COMMISSIONING OF THE TWELVE

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Read JOHN 20:19–23

Early on the Sunday morning following Christ’s crucifixion, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. She reported this to Peter and John, who ran there and found no body, only empty grave clothes. They were puzzled and fearful. What happened? Would they be blamed for the missing body? Would they be arrested and executed?

Over time, the incredible truth dawned on them. Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He said! He appeared to them, ate with them, and spoke with them (v. 19). He showed them His crucifixion scars (v. 20). The Son now possessed a glorified body—as we will also one day (see 1 Cor. 15:20)—that could do things like pass through locked doors, but it was still identifiably His body. He understood the disciples’ state of mind and gently transformed their feelings from fear to joy.

Christ also gave them a task infused by the Trinity. They were to go forth with the message of the gospel. As the Father had sent the Son to accomplish redemption, so the Son now sent them to spread the news of God’s love (v. 21). They would do with God’s strength— Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (v. 22). This was a foretaste of Pentecost, the full anointing of the Spirit that came fifty days after Jesus’ ascension.

He also gave them the authority to speak in His name (v. 23). This verse does not imply that we cause God to forgive or not forgive. The Greek verb actually indicates that the forgiveness has already taken place. It means that to proclaim the gospel is to participate in God’s work of redemption, in which forgiveness of sin is crucial.

APPLY THE WORD

How are we as followers of Christ participating in the spread of the good news of the gospel? We should all testify to God’s work of salvation. Whether witnessing to a neighbor, praying for missionaries, or serving in a church outreach, we have an amazing privilege of following the command of Christ and participating in God’s desire to share His love with all people.

 

http://www.todayintheword.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – THE MOST POWERFUL WAY TO UNCLUTTER YOUR LIFE

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“When you have peace and quiet and you’re not concerned with people trying to get your attention, you’re dramatically more effective and can get important work done.” This is how psychologist Josh Davis describes the advantages of starting your day at 4 a.m. He notes that people booby-trap their offices with distractions: desk clutter, email pop-ups, cellphone, Facebook, other social media. However, “by waking up at 4 a.m., they’ve essentially wiped a lot of those distractions off their plate.”

You may not decide to get up at 4 a.m. tomorrow, but you can still choose to live a less cluttered life. Here’s how.

God’s word teaches us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). One way to do this is to cultivate a soul that listens to God. David testified, “For God alone my soul waits in silence” (Psalm 62:1). As a result, he could say, “Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God, and to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love” (vs. 11–12).

“God said” appears forty-six times in the Bible. We find this statement first in the third verse of the Bible (Genesis 1:3). The next-to-last verse of Scripture also quotes a direct statement of God (Revelation 22:20). Since neither human nor divine nature have changed, does it seem reasonable that the God who spoke so often in the biblical era would be silent today?

Francis Schaeffer noted that “he is there and he is not silent.” Our culture desperately needs Christians to hear from Christ and speak his word to our world.

According to The Atlantic, a major reason more people don’t go to church is that they don’t trust religious institutions. If they knew they would receive a genuine word from God, it seems they would be more interested in attending.

Continue reading Denison Forum – THE MOST POWERFUL WAY TO UNCLUTTER YOUR LIFE →