Wisdom Given

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5

There is always concern that we are getting information from the wrong sources. The post “Approved Worker” has some ideas to help fill our thoughts with hope and optimism by building our faith on the firm historical facts of the gospel. The gospel message has been proven over time to provide what we need for our voyage through life.

The song Dear Younger Me by MercyMe  inspires us to start building our vessel with God’s wisdom so that we get the most out of life here on earth and arrive at our eternal destination. The Bible is all about gaining God’s wisdom because we are learning from the past, praying in the present, and listening for instructions toward the future. 
 

 Index of devotionals

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Approved Worker

Become an approved worker by studying the Word to build faith on a solid foundation. Everyone needs God’s grace. Once received, one can gain wisdom to live the way life is meant to be lived. Today, we focus on the Word of God in 2 Timothy 2:14-26.

The problem that concerns Paul in the church are the false teachers who needed to be held to account. Their godless chatter resulted in becoming more ungodly and like gangrene that spreads in the body to destroy tissue, false teaching would spread and infect the believers of the True Way.

Secular society stirs up the drama we see in the news, at the movies, on TV, in our music, or social media. The challenge we face in a world that promotes negatives is to fill our thoughts with things that give hope and optimism. What routines to our daily schedule can we change? Maybe it’s time to stop tuning in to the secular media but use the time to do some other activity that is helpful.

One idea is to take a walk in your neighborhood each day. If you have a dog, take them for a walk and as you walk, memorize scripture, think about your day; what good things did you experience and what bad things did you experience that provided a lesson for the future and a lesson to share and help others.

Turn away from what is bad and take in what is good. Let us not be ashamed of our work in spreading the gospel message. Let us stand firm on the principles taught in the gospel. Internalize them in order to apply our faith in life. The principles of God within His Word are of great value like gold and silver helping to fulfill a special purpose God has for us as we pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.

Like a lake collecting rain water, we can collect a reservoir of thoughts and ideas over time to help inspire or encourage towards the best path. These thoughts and ideas encourage others giving us the best chance that opponents to the Way will come around to the path of true freedom.

As we sail away on our voyage of life, we want to make sure we are on a ship that is proven, leads us to where we want to go, and has the Captain who sees the obstacles ahead. Below is an image of a boarding pass received when my wife and I went to Titanic display at the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor University Campus.

Secular society always gives us the wrong boarding pass as we voyage through life with many perils along the secular Way. When sailing away on your voyage called life, make sure you get on the right vessel that assures getting you to where you want to go.

Our voyage today with God will be amazing because God made each of us the vessel of His Spirit! We can use the skills He has given, be happy with who we are, and have confidence that we will arrive at our desired destination.

Lord this day, we have what we need in making the right choices. We have lessons from Your Word, the Holy Spirit speaking to us during our prayers, and experiences to fall back on when making decisions. You have provided us with the vessel for us to go places and You are with us along the voyage.

 

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Liberty Brings Victory

This day with God we are taking the clear path of God who provides liberty, spiritual growth, and financial justice. The Bible is all about gaining wisdom because we are learning from the past, praying in the present, and listening for instructions toward the future.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Always bring honor
To the Lord each hour
By speaking out against
Those abusing power.

For liberty, justice,
And equality
Received from the Lord
Give tranquility.

Defeat those who deceive
For together we can
By following the Word
The Lord’s game plan.

By fixing our mind
On what is honorable,
Right, pure, lovely,
And admirable.

Thinking about things
Throughout our days
That are excellent
And worthy of praise.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8

Poem by Mark Shields – © 08-1-2019

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Run with Perseverance

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. – Hebrews 12:1

Brought out in the post “Go the Distance” is that Paul was motivated by his faith in God’s complete deliverance in the end with the reward of eternal life in paradise. He was writing from prison but continued to be committed to God’s work to the end.

Brought out is that an athlete runs a race by the rules. A runner in a race goes the same distance as the other runners to win the prize. Let us be committed to finishing the race and never giving up but persistently heading toward the finish line.

Like Thomas Edison who failed over 9,000 times before inventing the light bulb, try and try again. Most of all, give praise to what Christ has done to free up what slows us down. As the song “Ever Be by Aaron Shust” give praise for what Christ has done to free up a past that slows us down and the opportunity to get on the fast track to a brighter future. God wants you to finish strong and win the race. 

Index of devotionals

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Go the Distance

This day with God, as we continue our journey through the Word in 2 Timothy 1:15 through 2:13, Paul writes to Timothy about those who have been loyal to the spreading of the gospel message and those who have been disloyal. Those who have been loyal to the Way will inspire, re-energize, and give a boost to keep stepping ahead. Paul refers this as being refreshed and we should strive to do the same for each other today!

There are three metaphors used in this passage to describe the Christian walk. The first is a good soldier of Christ. We are to please the commanding officer only and not worry so much about our own wishes and the wishes of others. The second metaphor used is being an athlete. To receive the crown, an athlete must compete by the rules. The third metaphor used is a farmer whose crop flourishes because of the hard work put in from planting to cultivating to reaping.

Paul is motivated by his faith in God’s complete deliverance in the end with the reward of eternal life in paradise. He desires that others gain this increase in faith through getting the message out about Christ to as many people as he can. We should desire to do the same and go the extra mile to help get God’s work done.

As brought out in today’s passage, an athlete that runs a race has to compete by the rules. A runner in a race goes the same distance as the other runners to win the prize. Let us be committed to finishing the race and never giving up but persistently heading toward the finish line.

This day with You Lord, refresh us with new energy to finish the race strong. Help us to know where we are, gain a vision to step ahead, and go places beyond where we’ve ever gone before. There is always new growth in our spiritual life that leads to new places of joy and hope. Your Way provides us with a destiny that leads to abundance and purpose. Amen.

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