My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. – Proverbs 5:1-2
Within the post “Paying Attention To His Way”, the challenge put forth is to look to the past and see how God has helped the faithful. Then look ahead to the future and see that He will provide and guide so we can know what things are right and we will do the right things.
In doing so, the Law of God will become engraved into our hearts. We will gain instruction and our ability to solve problems will multiply. Confidence will be gained for the present and hope for the future because salvation is guaranteed forever.
When we wake up, let us study His word and ask Him to do as the song Keep Me In The Moment by Jeremy Camp says. Throughout the day, let us keep putting our eyes on God and what He is doing. Let us observe what God is doing and what He has for us in the future. Then chronicle it and share it.
Much of life is directed by the low standards of this world rather than God’s higher standard. The world wants to mold us into their way with advertisements, and worldly pleasures where achievement is defined by lofty incomes, nice cars, or an expensive house instead of vast spiritual assets like faith, hope, and love!
In reading Isaiah 50 through 51:8, the prophet puts forth a challenge to Israel. He extends an invitation for them to listen, sing, and pray so that their hearts will be filled with God’s instructions. This day with God, let us look to the past and see how God has helped the faithful. Then look ahead and see that He will provide and guide so we can know what things are right and we will do the right things.
In doing so, we will gain instruction and our ability to solve problems will multiply. Confidence will be gained for the present and hope for the future because guaranteed is salvation forever. We will be filled with faith, so the Law of God becomes engraved into our hearts.
Within today’s passage, God wants to sustain the weary (verse 50:4). The example of God’s activity pointed to in encouraging us when little of consequence seems to be happening is His help during difficulty. When those against us cause fear or accuse us of something we didn’t do, God will be with us to defend us and help us.
One thought gained from reading today’s passage is that if we pay attention to the world, we become stressed or confused but if we pay attention to God’s Way, we’re prepared for the world. To help pay attention to God’s Way, there are some tools we can use, but we must use them.
Many may have software like excel and word, but do they use it? There could be many uses for software like excel and word to help grow our faith. This software can be used to help organize and retrieve thoughts collected over time. One idea is to organize these thoughts by sorting them into categories of key values. Say for instance, when listening to a sermon and a thought is received from the sermon. We can log this thought in an excel spreadsheet and organize it by a key value like faith, hope, or generosity for example.
There are many ways to get good thoughts to grow our faith and increase our spiritual assets. By observing or listening to others, through music, art, nature, or even through movies. These thoughts are like faith muscles and each build on another much like muscles in the human body are made stronger by exercising with equipment like weights or barbells.
The key to physical exercise is to simply use the equipment we have or get moving. Simply taking a walk in our neighborhood is a great way to keep the body fit. In the same way, starting small with thoughts you log in excel or word is a great way to stay spiritually fit.
This day with You Lord, we practice our faith by reading Your Word. We also step ahead with good works and observe the good works going on around us. We document what we hear, what we see, and what we feel. Help us today God to fix our eyes on the unseen and eternal so we can report on Your way that leads to peace and eternal bliss. Amen.
Our most precious, valued possession and our greatest strength is our relationship with the Lord. In reading John 20:19-31, we are given examples of Jesus appearing to His disciples after His death on the Cross. We get a lift in our day knowing that our Redeemer lives and that His Spirit is in our heart! Through His death on the Cross, we have a relationship with the ONE who taught the sun where to stand in the morning.
But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” – Isaiah 49:4
From the post “Journey Home”, Isaiah prophesied about a servant who would be the instrument and author of eternal salvation. Jesus became that servant who prepared a path home where fear and doubt are never known. He became the escort for the Israelites on their return journey. We may feel at times that God has too big a job on his hands. It seems impossible but God has done the impossible in the past and will do the impossible in the future.
This day with God, follow the guide to a place beyond what can be imagined. Our eternal home like in the song Finally Home by MercyMe.
I remember one time leaving work for a long weekend, I saw a vehicle with traveling items strapped on top heading down the highway on their return journey home. Some thoughts entered my mind like where were they from and what memories were made during their vacation. Anyway, it was fun to think about as I headed home looking forward to some rewarding days off from work on a long weekend.
This day with God, we are reading Isaiah 49. Along the journey, let us enjoy being guided into a great adventure with His guidance. Let us live for the day, the hour, and even the moment. Sometimes, many save the rewards from their hard work but may never get around to appreciating what they do have and celebrating. The Good News about faith is that we can revel in what we have, share with others, and look forward to more rewards in the future. There is an unlimited supply, so we can be grateful, celebrate, and enjoy!
In today’s passage, Isaiah prophesied about a servant who would be the instrument and author of eternal salvation. Jesus became that servant who prepared a path home where fear and doubt are never known. He became the escort for the Israelites on their return journey. We may feel at times that God has too big a job on his hands. It seems impossible but God has done the impossible in the past and will do the impossible in the future.
This day with You God, help us to be prepared for the challenges, to stay strong, and never give up. We rely on You and accept Your guidance along the journey as we build memories, as we look forward to the future, and know that there is no place like our eternal home with You. Amen
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 