Aug 10 2024

Afternoon Bible Verse

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

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Families are important. Every person on the planet was born into the family God prepared for them—it wasn't accidental. Our upbringing shapes the person we become as an adult. By the age of ten, our fundamental core values have already been formed in our lives.

Some people grow up in godly families where their faith is at the forefront of everything they do. For others, faith in God is absent in their homes, and they are left going through life without an Anchor, never certain if they are doing the right thing.

God's Word gives us a foundation to build our lives upon. When we need to make decisions, we can seek God in prayer and study the Bible. Even though we have these guides, the best time to make decisions is before the pressure is on. We can decide on the things that matter before we are standing face to face with them.

Within our families, we can make the choice that Joshua made in the Old Testament—"as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Not everyone grows up in a Christian home, but how you raise your family and care for those around you is a choice that you make. You may not have children or a spouse, but God can use you to lead others at work or in your community.

Stand firm in God's strength to lead yourself and others to Him.

Afternoon Prayer

Lord, I make hundreds of decisions every day. My prayer is that I always make the right choices, but I know there will be times when my choices don't glorify you. In those moments, I'm grateful that you give me grace that I don't deserve. Remind me to search your Word and seek your heart for every decision I make. Thank you for always providing the answers I need. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Aug 09 2024

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Verse

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. :

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Yesterday Afternoon's Bible study

Why is it so difficult for us to answer each other with a simple yes or no? Jesus addresses the tendency to try to communicate more in how we respond to others.

In Jesus' day, the Jews had the practice of making promises based on objects, not on the name of God. This was their way out in case they broke an oath to another person. They felt like as long as they didn't promise in God's name, they wouldn't be judged. However, Jesus was displeased with this practice.

God wants us to keep our word because we represent Him. God has kept every promise He has ever made throughout time. When we break our promises to each other, we are not representing who Christ is in our words and actions.

God cares about our promises and whether or not we live a life of integrity. When we do what we say we will do, people learn to depend on us. It is better to say we can't do something than to go back on our word.

Before we respond to something that is asked of us, we should take some time to really consider the request. It's important to be realistic in the commitments we make, knowing that saying no is honoring the person enough that we are honest and are not making promises we can't keep.

We are walking testimonies of the faithfulness of God, whether we say a word or not. Let's always say yes to Him and not be afraid to say no to others.

Yesterday Afternoon's Prayer

God, sometimes I feel pulled in so many directions. My family, friends, and coworkers have expectations of me that sometimes I can't fulfill. Give me the strength to say no even when it might mean disappointing someone I love. Help me be honest in how I respond to others. I want to honor you in how I demonstrate love. In Jesus' name, amen.


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