"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2
My little granddaughter has reached the stage where she is "busy"- she doesn't just sit still any more, she wants to explore everything. This makes feeding her a real challenge. She's too "busy" looking around- she likes to look behind her, at the floor, at the ceiling, and she doesn't want to sit still either, she is constantly trying to get out of her high chair. You almost have to "chase" her little mouth down to find it and give her her food.
My little granddaughter has to eat physical food in order to get the nutrition her body needs to develop properly and grow. We also have to have spiritual food so our spirit man will grow and develop. But too many of us are like she is when it comes to "eating" our meal. We are too busy "exploring" other things to sit down and eat and drink from God's word. If we aren't eating natural food we will suffer from malnutrition. If we aren't eating God's word we will suffer from spiritual malnutrition.
There is one difference between the two. If she doesn't eat well or skips a day she won't have malnutrition, it comes through a process of neglecting to eat. Where the spirit man is concerned, if you go without eating the spiritual meat of God's word, spiritual malnutrition begins to take place immediately- it doesn't come through a long process of neglect. This is why we can't afford to miss even one day of reading God's word.
Where are you today? Is God having to "chase" you down to get you to read His word? Are you too busy exploring (involved in) other things to take time to "eat"? If so, this is why you are feeling "spiritually sluggish"- you're experiencing symptoms of malnutrition. Get back to the "table" and "eat". Spiritual malnutrition can be reversed, but you have to start eating and keep eating.
Have a great day. You can't be so busy with other things that you neglect to "eat" God's word- your spiritual well being depends on it.
Showing posts with label spiritual growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual growth. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
"Right Company"
"That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous." Proverbs 2:20
One translation of this verse says, "Follow the steps of good men." Who are you following? Who are you patterning your life after? Who are you imitating? We have a tendency to act like the people we hang around with. You see this more evident in teenagers. They get with the "wrong" crowd and they start acting like them. If they get in gangs they start doing the things that others in the gang do. We often see it in the corporate world. If you are with those who cheat, steal, deceive and step on others to accomplish a goal, you tend to do the same thing.
The Bible tells us that “bad company corrupts good character”. (1 Cor. 15:33) So we need to be more selective in who we keep company with. Are there people in your life who are "pulling you down"? Are they "corrupting your character"? Does having a relationship with them draw you closer to Christ or pull you away?
One of the things I, and the counselors, stress to the men and women when they are ready to leave the recovery center is that they break the ties with their drinking and drug "buddies", and surround themselves with those who will encourage them, who will help support them, who will pray with them, who will really love them. We all have to do that. Does that mean that we don't care about those who aren't walking in righteousness? Never, we have to love them and help them get on the path that leads to eternal life, but we do that by staying on the "right paths" ourselves... and who you "hang around with" either helps that to happen or it doesn't.
Have a great day. Who are you hanging around with? What type of example are they?
One translation of this verse says, "Follow the steps of good men." Who are you following? Who are you patterning your life after? Who are you imitating? We have a tendency to act like the people we hang around with. You see this more evident in teenagers. They get with the "wrong" crowd and they start acting like them. If they get in gangs they start doing the things that others in the gang do. We often see it in the corporate world. If you are with those who cheat, steal, deceive and step on others to accomplish a goal, you tend to do the same thing.
The Bible tells us that “bad company corrupts good character”. (1 Cor. 15:33) So we need to be more selective in who we keep company with. Are there people in your life who are "pulling you down"? Are they "corrupting your character"? Does having a relationship with them draw you closer to Christ or pull you away?
One of the things I, and the counselors, stress to the men and women when they are ready to leave the recovery center is that they break the ties with their drinking and drug "buddies", and surround themselves with those who will encourage them, who will help support them, who will pray with them, who will really love them. We all have to do that. Does that mean that we don't care about those who aren't walking in righteousness? Never, we have to love them and help them get on the path that leads to eternal life, but we do that by staying on the "right paths" ourselves... and who you "hang around with" either helps that to happen or it doesn't.
Have a great day. Who are you hanging around with? What type of example are they?
Friday, February 22, 2008
"It's Awkward"
"Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all." 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Have you ever thought about transition being a part of life? Some transitions are minor, everyday occurrences. For example, I have to make the transition from the role of a wife to the role of a grandmother when dealing with my granddaughter. Then there are other times of transition that are not minor- they are more major- like starting a new job, moving into the calling of the Lord, stepping out in faith, getting married and living with someone else. These are the transition periods that we seem to have more trouble dealing with.
I need a haircut badly. I usually wear it short but since my beautician is on maternity leave, I am long over due for a haircut. It's at the length where you can't do anything with it. I won't style like it should, it's too long for one style but not long enough for another, it's too long to make it puff up, it wants to lay flat--- the long and the short of it (no pun intended) is that it is in that awkward stage. It's in a transition stage- between short and long; not long enough, not short enough.
The "bigger" transition times in our lives are very much like my hair-- awkward. You don't feel comfortable, you can't do what you did, you can't seem to go forward, but you can't move backwards either, you are at a lose as to what to do. You feel like you are in limbo. During these times of transition, because of the awkward feeling it gives us, we need to guard against the temptation to get frustrated. It's when we are frustrated that it would be easy to throw up our hands, to quit, to give up, to feel defeated. Instead, remember that the Lord is the one who "brings us over". If you are going through transition, look to the Lord, put your trust and confidence in Him, ask for His guidance and peace to rule over your thoughts and feelings. He will help you to make a "smooth" transition in the transition.
Have a great day. Transition can be awkward, but God can give you peace to go through it.
Have you ever thought about transition being a part of life? Some transitions are minor, everyday occurrences. For example, I have to make the transition from the role of a wife to the role of a grandmother when dealing with my granddaughter. Then there are other times of transition that are not minor- they are more major- like starting a new job, moving into the calling of the Lord, stepping out in faith, getting married and living with someone else. These are the transition periods that we seem to have more trouble dealing with.
I need a haircut badly. I usually wear it short but since my beautician is on maternity leave, I am long over due for a haircut. It's at the length where you can't do anything with it. I won't style like it should, it's too long for one style but not long enough for another, it's too long to make it puff up, it wants to lay flat--- the long and the short of it (no pun intended) is that it is in that awkward stage. It's in a transition stage- between short and long; not long enough, not short enough.
The "bigger" transition times in our lives are very much like my hair-- awkward. You don't feel comfortable, you can't do what you did, you can't seem to go forward, but you can't move backwards either, you are at a lose as to what to do. You feel like you are in limbo. During these times of transition, because of the awkward feeling it gives us, we need to guard against the temptation to get frustrated. It's when we are frustrated that it would be easy to throw up our hands, to quit, to give up, to feel defeated. Instead, remember that the Lord is the one who "brings us over". If you are going through transition, look to the Lord, put your trust and confidence in Him, ask for His guidance and peace to rule over your thoughts and feelings. He will help you to make a "smooth" transition in the transition.
Have a great day. Transition can be awkward, but God can give you peace to go through it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
"Unconditional Trust"
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Psalm 37:3
Do you remember the old hymnal- "Trust And Obey"? Our obedience to God is the greatest proof of our trust in Him. But trust isn't a "fair weather" thing only. Too many of God's children have "conditional" trust. They trust Him as long as the sun is shining, the skies in their world are blue, they have plenty to eat, all the bills are paid, there are no conflicts in their life, and all is at peace.
The real test of trust comes in just the opposite conditions. Do you trust Him when all visible means of support are gone? Do you trust Him to carry you through the storm? Do you trust Him when Pharaoh's army is pursuing? Do you trust Him when the brook is dried up? Do you trust Him when you are standing before the fiery furnace?
It's one thing to trust God when all is well. It's another to trust Him when your world is falling apart. Whatever condition your life is in today, whatever situation you are facing, whatever you are going through- good, bad, or otherwise- are you going to put your trust in the Lord? Is your trust "rooted and grounded" in Him? If it's rooted, if it's grounded, then it's established upon a sure, strong and powerful foundation, and it's a foundation you can put your trust in because it's Jesus, the Solid Rock.
Have a great day. Is your trust in the Lord conditional or unconditional?
Do you remember the old hymnal- "Trust And Obey"? Our obedience to God is the greatest proof of our trust in Him. But trust isn't a "fair weather" thing only. Too many of God's children have "conditional" trust. They trust Him as long as the sun is shining, the skies in their world are blue, they have plenty to eat, all the bills are paid, there are no conflicts in their life, and all is at peace.
The real test of trust comes in just the opposite conditions. Do you trust Him when all visible means of support are gone? Do you trust Him to carry you through the storm? Do you trust Him when Pharaoh's army is pursuing? Do you trust Him when the brook is dried up? Do you trust Him when you are standing before the fiery furnace?
It's one thing to trust God when all is well. It's another to trust Him when your world is falling apart. Whatever condition your life is in today, whatever situation you are facing, whatever you are going through- good, bad, or otherwise- are you going to put your trust in the Lord? Is your trust "rooted and grounded" in Him? If it's rooted, if it's grounded, then it's established upon a sure, strong and powerful foundation, and it's a foundation you can put your trust in because it's Jesus, the Solid Rock.
Have a great day. Is your trust in the Lord conditional or unconditional?
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