Dec 16 2021

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We can find everything we will ever need through our relationship with God.

When we release control of our lives to God, we can live in His will. As humans, our tendency is to imagine a worst-case scenario for even the smallest of situations. What happens if we forget to pack our kids' lunches? They could starve to death! What if a co-worker misunderstands something we said at work? We could get fired and end up homeless!

The reality of those crises happening as a result of one single incident are slim to none, but in our minds, we can justify the possibility. God doesn't want us to live in constant fear of the what-ifs. He offers us the opportunity to hand our lives over to Him and allow Him to take care of anything that comes our way.

When people know we are proclaimed followers of Jesus, they often watch us to see how we handle everyday life. If we are insecure and constantly worried, then why would they want to follow our example?

In comparison, a life filled with God's peace and power invites people to discover a different way of living as they turn their lives over to Jesus. When we choose to live for God, we actually receive a new life. We exchange our former way of living for a clean slate.

God's spirit and His power replace our old minds and way of thinking. No longer do our thoughts control us; they are now under the authority of God. With God in control, we can have total faith that He will take care of every area of our lives.

God, I want to live in your will. When I'm in control, I quickly mess things up—but you always know the right thing to do. Today, I choose to remember that you hold my life in your loving hands. Help me experience your love like never before. Remind me that your ways are better than mine. No matter how tempting it is to go my own way, give me the strength to choose your ways. I am so thankful that I can put all of my faith and trust in you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Dec 15 2021

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. :

We live in a pleasure-driven world. Every day on social media, we are bombarded with pictures and videos and gushing stories depicting a better life than what we currently have.

It can seem appealing to be in a fabulous relationship, have more money, and have nicer belongings. But as followers of Jesus, those things should never be our ultimate goal. We can find everything we need in life through our relationship with God.

When we are pulled toward "things", this should be an indication that our hearts are wandering toward our own desires and away from God's heart. This life and everything in it is temporary. God wants us to seek things that are eternal—like loving others, sharing the Gospel, and serving people the way Jesus did.

In this afternoon's Psalm, King David shows us the way to experience a fulfilled and happy life; to delight ourselves in the Lord. When we put our focus on God, we begin to desire what is pure and holy—like Him. Then, we no longer covet things that are outside of God's plan for us.

When we delight in what God loves, we are becoming more like Him and less like our human selves. It brings us joy to please Him and do what He wants.

Because we admire God and look to Him for everything, we should want what He wants. People admire celebrities, athletes, or personal mentors and often want to model their lifestyles after them. Their appearance and how they live can seem very appealing. But by turning our focus toward God and modeling our lives around what He says, we can find true pleasure—which the ways of this world can never really provide.In this afternoon's Psalm, King David shows us the way to experience a fulfilled and happy life; to delight ourselves in the Lord. When we put our focus on God, we begin to desire what is pure and holy—like Him. Then, we no longer covet things that are outside of God's plan for us.

When we delight in what God loves, we are becoming more like Him and less like our human selves. It brings us joy to please Him and do what He wants.

Because we admire God and look to Him for everything, we should want what He wants. People admire celebrities, athletes, or personal mentors and often want to model their lifestyles after them. Their appearance and how they live can seem very appealing. But by turning our focus toward God and modeling our lives around what He says, we can find true pleasure—which the ways of this world can never really provide.

Dear God, more than anything else, I desire what you want for my life. Sometimes I don't know what is best for me, and I get it wrong. Help me to focus on eternal things that will last forever, instead of temporary pleasures. My flesh longs for fleeting pleasures and these pleasures often pull me away from you. But you offer something so much better—your love. More than anything, I need your love to be present in my life. Please help me to follow you, above all else. In Jesus' name, amen.
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