"Take words with you and return to the Lord”

Hosea 14


In Hosea 14 the prophet is calling Israel (the northern Kingdom) to repentance.  The nation has been led by a series of failed kings and has strayed far from God.


It is interesting to note that Hosea does not call for animal sacrifices in his warning, but instead says “Take words with you and return to the Lord”.  A cross reference in my bible for this verse is Psalm 51:16-17:  “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise.”


When we desire strong and lasting relationships the willingness to repent when we have wronged the other party is essential.  As I read Hosea 14 I thought about changing Israel in verse one to my name.  I then thought about substituting the United States and finally the Christian Church for Israel.  In all three instances there are certainly many opportunities to tell God “I’m sorry”.


It seems that repentance is a term that we don’t hear very often.  We like to talk about all of the benefits of being a Christian, but sincere confession and repentance often take a “back seat”.  If this concept is essential to healthy human relationships, how much more so in our relationship with our perfect, loving, and merciful God?


Hosea seems to sum things up in chapter 14 verse 9:  “Who is wise?  Let them realize these things  Who is discerning?  Let them understand .  The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous work in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”

My Lifeline

2 Samuel 7:18 (NIV)
¹⁸  Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

The scripture today finds David sitting (abiding) with the Lord. He is claiming, with great humility, just how stunned he is at the goodness of God. He is praising his Lord by asking, how it is possible that such a great God would trouble himself with a sinner such as he (David).

2 Samuel 7:19 (NIV)
¹⁹  And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?




Do I ever approach the throne with such an attitude? Do I acknowledge how unworthy I am and how great and awesome is the Lord? This may sound like 'buttering up," but if the heart is in the right condition, this is the proper way to come before God. Humility and honesty are traits God wants to instill, traits He wants to see us practice.

Prayer is too often focused on meeting our own needs, when prayer is so much more. Prayer is how I build a strong relationship with my Lord. Prayer and reading His Word are how I learn about God's heart; it is where I learn to be like Jesus and what that means for my life.

This week I am going to take a better look at my prayer life, my style of prayer requests, and how I view this thing called prayer. I am going to Praise Him and I am going to be more deliberate and open when talking to God. I want to build a better relationship with Him so that I can build a better relationship with others.

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Powerful Prayer

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other… that’s a tough thing to do.  It means being honest and vulnerable.  In today’s media-driven society, we like to show the best of the best, not the worst.  Life is messy, but no one wants to admit it.  It takes courage to own up to the bad choices we’ve made, and it takes being in a trusted relationship to feel comfortable enough to share our faults and weaknesses.  Confession doesn’t just happen, it requires faith.

And pray for each other so that you may be healed… and by healed James wasn’t referring to just repairing a bodily injury, but rather, being forgiven of sins.  Forgiveness heals us inside and out and allows us to live in communion with others in the way God intended.  Acknowledging sin's existence and praying for God’s healing power brings us back into relationship with Him.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective… some people are really good at praying, which is a testimony to the relationship they have with God.  People with an obvious connection to Christ are the ones I seek out when I’m in need, because as Luke 6:45 states, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Lord, fill my heart with good, so that my mouth speaks a testimony to you.  Make me an effective steward of your great love. Amen

Hello Father

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18

I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t pray – probably lose my mind.  Prayer is what gets me through.  Whether it’s thanking God for the beauty of another day or asking him to point me in the right direction when making decisions for my family, I pray to God in big ways and small, all day long.

It didn’t use to be like this.  Growing up, the only way I knew how to pray was to say the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be over and over.  (These are the main prayers of the Rosary.)  I still find great comfort in the prayers and turn to them often, but what has changed for me and my prayer life is that I’ve developed a personal relationship with God.  He’s become my friend and confidant and I talk to him that way now.

I tell him what’s on my heart – though he already knows.  I request things for myself and for others knowing that God will provide in His own way and time.  This is where prayer can get frustrating, because we want what we want when we want it.  Prayer can bring triumphant joy, but it often comes with significant heartbreak and sorrow.  So many emotions wrapped up in one act.  But what would you expect when you’re fighting for your soul?!

Prayer is how we fight against evil, but it’s also how we surrender – knowing that we can’t win this war by ourselves.  The only one who can do this is Jesus and we need to ask him for help.  There’s nothing we can’t bring to him, so we might as well take advantage of the gift the Spirit offers and pray.  It’s the only way we’ll make it through, without losing our minds.

The Message of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5: 16-19

How many of us make New Year’s resolutions?  How many of us make resolutions all year long?

“Okay, Monday I’m going to start eating better.  Or, tomorrow I’m going to get up early and exercise.”

We all tend to set goals, whether they be big or small, that often don’t make it past a few days and then we end up starting all over again.

“I mean it this time!  It’ll be different now, I swear!”

I do this a lot and not just with diet and exercise.  I do it with relationships, devotional time, educational goals and career objectives.

So why don’t my goals “stick?”  Why am I not transformed from old to new??

In all the times I’ve attempted to better myself or try something new, I’ve never really acknowledged the message of reconciliation.  I’ve beaten myself up.  I’ve tried on my own and hindered my progress.

Maybe it wasn’t that I failed to reach my goals, but I missed the mark in recognizing God’s necessary contributions to my success.

It comes down to reconciliation.  “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (v.19).  He gave the world a new start through forgiveness.

I normally don’t turn to Wikipedia in my devotions, but when I searched reconciliation, this is what I found…  Reconciliation is the end of the estrangement, caused by original sin, between God and humanity. Evangelical theologian Philip Ryken describes reconciliation in this way; "It is part of the message of Salvation that brings us back together with God... God is the author, Christ is the agent and we are the ambassadors of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is key.  It’s where we get the strength, the determination, the drive to acknowledge and carry out His plans for us.  It is through reconciliation that we are transformed and brought back into relationship with God.  We are human and will continue to sin, but we worship a God who loves us and wants to make us new each day and will continue to transform us, as long as we let Him.

Father, I need you.  I don’t want to be estranged from you because it’s through our relationship that I’m able to accomplish what you have planned.  Save me from myself and make me new each day.  Amen

Neighborly Care

"What has happened to me has served to advance the gospel." (Philippians 1:12 NIV)

Paul's story about his imprisonments and the subsequent blessings as a result of these situations are fascinating to read. When he finds himself in chains in a cold prison cell, and knowing he is innocent of the wrong he is accused of, he makes friends with his jailer.  He had time to write the letters which we now read to help us get through our trials and challenges.

"As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." (Philippians 1:13 NIV)

Many years ago, soon after my husband and I began attending church, we became friends with the pastor and his family. We lived a few blocks away from them and would often take an evening walk around the block, right past their house.  Often they were outside and we would stop and talk and laugh together.

This evening walk around the block soon developed into an occurence we looked forward to. In the beginning, Dave and I felt accepted and invited into their life, without being creepy. Over time the relationship grew and it became genuine and honest. They began to outwardly care for us by making our visits seem as important to them as it obviously was to us.

Dave and I grew in our faith and love for Jesus. Eventually that pastor baptized my husband and our youngest daughter. It is this type of story, or testimony, that could help someone else recognize that sharing the love of Jesus can be as easy as walking around the block.

Philippians 1:12-30

Friend Me

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. (Luke 10:38)

Martha did not know Jesus yet, but she opened her home to Him. In ancient times, this was not so strange; if you opened your home to a stranger, you weren't necessarily asking for trouble. Sharing was a part of life.

Inviting someone into our homes is sometimes easy and sometimes not. A lot depends on us, and our view of Disciple-making. I am learning that I can make a difference in someone's life by merely introducing myself and after a while, trying to find a way to get to know them better. Who doesn't need a friend. This can be a lonely world and often that smile or invite to lunch can change someone else's pain.

Invite is all about opening your heart and then your home.  It is about reaching over the fence in the backyard then installing a gate for easier access. I need to keep my eyes open for people who God is placing in my path; people who I encounter on a regular basis who were part of the background until now.

Every relationship begins with one of us reaching out, opening up, or stepping over whatever barrier it is that keeps us from making the first move.  I am convinced that God has my next best-friend out there just waiting for us to meet.

No more missed opportunities. No more looking back and wishing I had acted on a prompting of the Holy Spirit. Life is full of missed opportunities. My goal now is to recognize those moments and snatch them up before they are only a regret. Martha opened her home to Jesus. I am ready to do no less.

Luke 10:38-42

Luke 19:1-10

It’s Personal

Do you remember the song about Zacchaeus? The one that begins this way:

Click picture to view 2 minute video

“There was a man in Jericho call Zacchaeus. There was a man in Jericho called Zacchaeus. Now the Hebrews, they were tall, but Zacchaeus, he was small, and the Lord loved Zacchaeus better than them all!”

I don’t know that Jesus loved Zacchaeus MORE than others, but He did make the time to seek Zacchaeus out, sit at his table and through his words and presence brought the tax collector out of death and into life.

Jesus was most at home in the midst of the lowly. He knew they needed Him. He often took aside those shunned by the majority and made example of them.

Every person matters to God. Our relationship with Him is personal. Many of us are searching but do not know what we are looking for, like Zacchaeus. We long for answers, hope and life but often look in all the wrong places. Jesus was the light that guided Zacchaeus out of his darkness. Perhaps a gloom he did not even realize.

As people of God we still fail and begin again. We put our hope in things that do not matter eternally, forgetting that the will of God is what matters.  His will, in His time.

As we journey through this earthly existence, God asks us to seek those who are searching for life in places that can’t give life. May we, like Jesus open our hearts to taking the hand of another and sharing the hope that is within us. Who is your Zacchaeus?

Genesis 3:1-11

We all know the story of Adam and Eve with the serpent. It’s difficult to imagine how Eve could possibly have found credibility in a slithering snake.  The Lord had offered them the most beautiful gift they could ever receive, but they didn't know what they didn't know.

God is our ultimate source of life and fulfillment. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command, they demonstrated a lack of trust that brought separation from God and therefore, death.

Verse 4-5: “You will surely not die,” the serpent said to the woman.” 

         For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Though the couple did not physically die, they lost the blessing of paradise, recognized their nakedness in shame, and ultimately hid from the Source of Life, who sustained them. This is the spiritual death that sin brings.

Verses 9-10: Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord

God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid

          from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Though Adam and Eve disobeyed and mistrusted the Lord, He wasn't content to let them be lost to Him forever. He sought them out, calling Adam’s name. “Where are you?” God knew, of course. But Adam and his wife were being held accountable. How had it come to this? Where did they stand with the Lord? What would happen next?

We too, must ask the question. Where do we stand in the eyes of The Great I AM?

In the book of John, Jesus reminds us:

John 6:35  I AM the bread of life…    
John 8:12  I AM the light of the world… 
John 10:7  I AM the gate for the sheep…   
John 10:11 I AM the good shepherd…  
John 11:25 I AM the resurrection and the life…      
John 14:6   I AM the way and the truth and the life...
John 15:5   I AM the vine; you are the branches...                                                                                                                                                                        

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has made a way for our relationship with Him to be reconciled and restored. Are you going to work on that? I AM!

Read/Listen to Genesis 3:1-11

1Timothy 1: 12-16

The Lord’s Grace to Paul and Us

Does not the Lord make example of people and situations in our lives in order to reveal himself or draw us closer to Him? Would you agree there have been times when you have felt or said; “That was a God thing?”

Paul was definitely “A God Thing” and he knew it. In 1 Timothy 1:15-16 Paul wrote something worth remembering; “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who believe on him and receive eternal life.” Yes, believe “on” him.

As we travel this journey of life and make ourselves aware of the trials and struggles others face, we can learn from their mistakes as well as triumphs. We can gain wisdom from their tears and their anger. Just as God is a relational God, we too are relational human beings in need of others.

 At times we may be the example, support or love needed by another, yet other times we are the one in need of a rock to lean on, a Paul in our life who can help us make sense of our situation.

Paul’s heart grew into one of passion and compassion for God and people. He is such an incredible example of transformation there are 13 books in the bible written by him.

Romans 
1 Corinthians 
2 Corinthians 
Galatians 
Ephesians 
Philippians 
Colossians 
1 Thessalonians 
2 Thessalonians 
1 Timothy 
2 Timothy 
Titus 
Philemon

No one knows for sure who wrote Hebrews, but if it was Paul, then his total is at 14.

Paul had to tell his story, through the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What a blessing for us!

Dear God,

We thank you for your gracious and unending love. You shower us with blessings we do not even acknowledge and offer us new mercies every day regardless of our gratefulness. Your forgiveness for Paul and for us goes far beyond reasonable in our limited minds, but we are so very humbled and honored to call ourselves your children. We will focus on you Lord, and though we too are the worst of sinners, we will use Paul as our example and you Christ, as our Rock.

Read/Listen to 1 Timothy 1: 12-16

The Walls are Rebuilt….Rejoice!

Nehemiah 8

"They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so the people could understand what was being read.” Nehemiah 8:8

What a gift, to have God’s book read to you, and then explained in a way that relates to your own life. It’s as though the Lord is speaking directly to you and you can make sense of the messages, and the words coming alive within you. That is what our God intended. His Word was written for US.

If you do not yet have the regular experience of feeling God’s word come alive within you when you attend a church service, I urge you to look further. The purpose of a sermon is to make God’s teaching clear and to show relevance to our daily lives just as Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites did. The same is true for any devoted Christ follower. Making God’s promises clear and understandable to those who do not know Him and helping them realize the importance and relevance of a relationship with God is a life saving act.

 

Though when we read and listen to God’s Word and reflect on our daily lives, we may become sad and even grieved because we know we are not always following his  commands and directives, Nehemiah reminds us; “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” God’s joy is to show grace and keep His promises. God rebuilds us through his Word. Attending worship service regularly and becoming part of a community of believers is important, but also vital is feeding ourselves through His word. Today, in this country, we can freely access God’s teachings within our own Bibles, so..... read, reflect, act, and rejoice.

The Joy Of The Lord Is Our Strength!

Read/Listen to: Nehemiah 8

Famine Relief and Mission

Acts 11: 19-30; 12:25-13:3

As our faith deepens, because we spend more time in God’s word and walk in His ways, we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The more deeply we pray, praising and thanking our God, our sense that His will is being done within us and around us is validated, which brings us peace. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done."  We are not going to change the whole world, but as famine spread through the Roman world as was prophesied in Acts 11:28-29,  “The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea." We too can use our gifts and abilities for the care and benefit of others.

Our God is relational. He came to earth to demonstrate for us just how personally important each of us is to him. He came to save us, and offer His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He has given us the gift of His life in order for us to have the opportunity to live eternally with Him. What do we offer in return?

In Acts 13: “Barnabas and Saul Sent Off,” we are witness to the beginning of the first missionary journey. The teachers and prophets in the church at Antioch heard the message of the Holy Spirit while they were praying and fasting, that Barnabas and Saul should be set apart and sent out. They prayed over them, “placed their hands on them, and sent them off.” This scene is easy for us to envision in our minds for a moment and then release it, because this event was far away, a long time ago, and happened to someone else. Well, guess what…When our feet hit the floor each morning, we are in the mission fields. 

Read/Listen to Acts 11:19-13:3

Change hurts

1 Peter 4:12-13,16 (NIV) Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed...However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 

When we change our way of living, the way we do business and relate with others, people notice. Our friends may not like spending time with us like they used to. Our family may request the 'old you' back again. We hear the phase, "you're no fun anymore."

Change is always hard to accept. When someone we love and enjoy spending time with changes to the degree they no longer behave as they once did, relationships will change too. Peter is preparing his people, preparing us too, for that inevitability.

The wife of a recovering alcoholic has been known to say, "I don't know him anymore. In all the years of our marriage, he was seldom sober. Who is this man?" Friends we used to party with no longer view us as the life of that party. We are changed and they don't like it.

The reality is perhaps the change others see in us is the change they would like to see in themselves. While our former friends may avoid us, they will still be watching. Just maybe the look on our faces could interject curiosity; a spark of interest could be ignited. After all, you and I changed and it had to begin somewhere.

1 Peter 4

Psalm 8

Prayer Is Building

As a child, I remember feeling quite insignificant. I heard many phrases that resulted in the overall view of myself being small and irrelevant. “Who do you think you are?” “Children should be seen and not heard.” “Quiet mouth is golden mouth.” Names like rug rat, yard monkey ankle biter, and snot nose brat didn’t do much for my self esteem either.

Thank God for God! He loves all of his children, no matter how old we are, and regardless of what we have been though. He invites us to be His own, despite our shortcomings and sinful nature. Psalm 8: 3 “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him.”

As we grow older, begin to contemplate our place in this world, and long for purpose, we marvel at the beauty of this earth. God’s great power and creativity can be seen in what He has made, yet even more amazing is that small, seemingly insignificant beings like us matter to Him.

As we pray, we build our relationship with the Lord, and find comfort in his words of mercy and compassion. We begin to understand that the trials of this life have purpose. Our stairway to heaven is built one step at a time. We realize that on this earth we may feel unimportant, and our actions appear trivial in comparison to others, but in the eyes of the Lord of all the earth, our names and our hurts are important and very significant.

Who am I? I am His.

Read/Listen to Psalm 8

Listen to “Who Am I” by Casting Crowns

1 John 2:1-6

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. (1 John 2:3)

I went along for years with a Lone Ranger attitude. I did not have any friends, I did not need any friends, I did not want any friends. If I kept to myself I did not need to answer to anyone; I did not need to explain anything to anyone. I also did not cultivate a relationship with Jesus. I was too busy dodging anything resembling a 'touchy-feely" situation and doing my own thing to get involved with someone else's life or to allow anyone into my world. I knew that once I allowed someone access to my life, I would have to open up, reveal, become vulnerable.

Obviously, that changed for me. I not only have many friends, but my life would be overwhelming right now if not for friends. I have a relationship with God too. He did not create us to be alone and I have come to know Him and to love and obey His commands (1 John 2:3). Like the song says, "I am a friend of God, He calls me friend."

I love the verse in John 15:15 - "You are my friends if you do what I command." Thankfully I learned to allow people into my life. Jesus has blessed me with friends who surround me during life's storms. Do you have people in your life? Some day you may need them. Every day we need Jesus to call friend.

To read the entire text go here.

God Works in the Desert - Psalm 107:33-43

Have you considered what God has done for you?

"Let the one who is wise heed…and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord." (v 43) No matter what I am facing in my life, I would be wise to pay attention to and think about what God has shown me. That is: He is over all. In His loving kindness and His power He always knows what's best for me.

God is generous with His love. His love shows how important we are to Him. He wants to bless us and take care of us. He wants to carry us through difficult times to experience His peace. He wants to provide our every need. This doesn't mean we will get everything we want. It means He will provide every real need.

God is faithful. In return, He expects us to be faithful, obedient, and committed to Him. He wants to be important in our lives. He wants us to have a relationship with Him through worship, prayer and reading and studying His Word. He will increase our faith, opening our hearts to His will and His love.

God has us in His hands. He has His eyes on us. He loves us beyond our understanding. God offers us His forgiveness and grace when we make mistakes. He is in us and with us whether we are experiencing mountaintop joys or desert thirst.

Take time today to say, "Thank you God, for Your faithfulness, Your loving kindness, Your grace and Your abundant blessings!"

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Read today's text on Biblegateway.

Sin Enters the World -- Genesis 3

"No!" My friend, seeing his 3 year old daughter, hand on her hip, was somewhat amused at her defiance. Lately Maddy's need to exercise her freedom of choices had become greater than her desire to follow her father's requests. New boundaries were formed. They would still have fun, but now Maddy was aware of having choices she had to learn about consequences.

Sin entered the world when Eve said "no" to God and "yes" to her needs and desires. Eve ate the forbidden fruit and enticed Adam to do likewise. They experienced evil by yielding to temptation and disobeying God. God wanted them to understand and admit their sin. They tried to hide from God. Nothing could cover up the truth. They were both sinners.

As I look at today's reading, I think how intensely sin changed Adam and Eve's lives. They were taken out of the beautiful and serene garden. Never again would they enjoy the garden's blessings of inner peace, joy, and beauty. Sin filled them with doubt, fear, and guilt. Consequences led to new terms for living, working, and securing happiness. Their fellowship with God was broken.

Through the story of Adam and Eve, God's message is clear. He wants a personal relationship with me. At the same time He casts light on my sinful self making choices that keep us apart.

How thankful I am. I am blessed by living in a time of hope in Jesus Christ. He reconciles me to God when I get off track!

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Read today's text on Biblegateway, Genesis 3.

Hold On For Dear Life, John 20:11-18

This past December my husband and I took a much needed vacation. We went on a four day cruise, while my mom flew to our home to watch our three year old, Evan. This was the first time I was away from Evan for more than a day. As much as I needed and enjoyed the time with my husband, I have to admit when I came home I held on to my son extra tight.

In our passage today we have Mary seeing the risen Lord and crying out “teacher!” This is notable since a rabbi back then would not have spent time teaching women. We see a special relationship between Jesus and this woman. But I like the next verse, Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me…” I can just see it. Mary is hugging her Savior. After thinking Jesus was dead I’m sure she held on extra tight, not wanting to be separated from him again.

I want that relationship with Jesus. I want to cling to him and his word every day. I will hold on tight so nothing can steal Him from me.

Read today scripture on Biblegateway John 20:11-18

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Questions -- Isaiah 40:21-31

Reading today's text my eyes fell on, "Do you know? Have you not heard?' The questions are repeated twice so Isaiah has my attention.

Isaiah's words are describing God Almighty. God is everlasting. He is the Creator of all the earth. He never grows tired. His understanding is far beyond ours to comprehend. He gives strength when we are tired and increases His power within us when we are weak.

Hoping and trusting in the Lord God will renew our strength. He will help us soar far above our fears, difficulties, hurts, and distractions.

I find it comforting to know there is Someone greater than me who cares and thinks of me. I can call on Him when I need strength and peace to keep going. God has no limits, except the limits I sometimes put on Him, making Him less mighty than He is.

As I read Isaiah's words several times my heart is renewed and I am grateful for an Almighty God.

"Do you know [who God is]? Have you not heard [what God can do]?" Do you have a clearer picture?

Prayer: Lord God, You are awesome and wonderful. I praise You for there is none like You. You are able to do all things and by Your power all things are created. You are almighty. I am thankful for Your kindness, mercy and love. Amen

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Read today's text on Biblegateway, Isaiah 40:21-31

Spiritual Flabbiness -- 1 Timothy 4:1-11

"Exercise daily in God--no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart." 1 Timothy 4:8 MSG

Where do you like to meet God each day? I love to go on walks and talk with God along the way. Spring is my favorite time of year. I can breathe in fresh air, enjoy the beautiful flowers, hear birds singing, and see squirrels scurrying up trees. I feel close to God on these walks. Sometimes I listen to Bible readings or a downloaded sermon while walking outside or on the treadmill. This is my daily exercise time with God.

A disciplined daily study in God's Word is more difficult for me to maintain. I am not successful planning my day to avoid little distractions that crowd out my quiet time. A specific purpose for study helps me with discipline. I concentrate and dig deeper in Scripture when I put myself into situations that require making time for God's Word in my day. Writing devotions is my latest adventure for meeting God in His Word every day. I've also enjoyed daily reading Bibles, group Bible studies, and other writing projects.

I hope you are finding a way that works for you to read and study God's Word daily.

I hear Paul saying, "Know the Truth about God, strengthen your relationship with Him, power up in His Word; do this daily so you will be prepared to tell others."

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Read today's text on Biblegateway, 1 Timothy 4:1-11