1 John 4:6-7
But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Each January, countless people resolve to lose weight, get in shape, and improve their health. By the last day of this month, a good number of them have succumbed to all sorts of outside persuasions and temptations…and those good intentions have gone out the window.
Every day, we are bombarded with thoughts and ideas from a myriad of sources. Some of these are “healthy” views…but many are not. Try as we might to stay focused and headed in the right direction, the surrounding arguments and temptations often get the best of us. Just as there are no quick and permanent “fixes” for our health and fitness, our Spirit-filled fellowship with God requires continual “maintenance” as well. We will be bothered on all sides by those who wish to tempt or sway us toward their way of thinking…both unbelievers and those who believe in Jesus but do not listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit. And honestly, it can often be hard to discern who is Who!
I know this is a confusing passage. I’ve read it and studied more than a dozen commentaries just to try and get a handle on it for myself. And the conclusion I have drawn is that we are to continually seek God…through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with Spirit-filled believers, and genuine efforts to emulate the teachings of Jesus. We are to constantly strive to abide in God…to feel His presence and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This will help to insulate us from deceptive voices.
I find it amazing that we are already one month into this New Year! The time surely flew by for me! But there is still time to get on track…physically, mentally - and most assuredly – in a Spiritual sense. We can redouble our efforts to abide in Jesus and listen for His voice each and every minute of the day. We can tune out the noise and chatter of deceptive spirits…and strive to truly understand that we are children of God and belong to Him! He is with us…His love surrounds us! Our job is to embrace it. Are you ready to do exactly that? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label staying on track. Show all posts
Showing posts with label staying on track. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2013
2 Corinthians 7:1
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine sums up her life like this… “Oh, look… a squirrel!” In other words, she is easily distracted by something as simple as a squirrel passing through her yard. And let’s be honest… there are countless interruptions in our everyday life that can divert our attention. Staying focused and “on task” is not easy!
At any given moment, my mind is racing between a dozen or more trains of thought… what I have on my “to-do list” for the day…what to say in this devotional… what to cook for dinner…when I will have time to fit in a workout…what day will be good for the children to visit…I forgot to water the plants…did I turn off the iron?...I wish I hadn’t said/done such-and-such to one person or another… why did I eat that last chicken strip?... I need to check and answer e-mail…and so much more! And I bet you could give me a similar list. While all of this is going on in our brains, we are trying to concentrate on specific tasks… studying…working at our job…caring for our children, friends or other family members… driving… texting or e-mailing… carrying on a conversation with someone…or even reading our Bible or praying!
Paul is telling us in this passage that we need to clean out the clutter. We need to call on God to help us gain focus – and keep it. We need to learn to concentrate on one, maybe two tasks at a time…to limit the minutes we spend daydreaming… to get organized… and to prioritize. When we “see a squirrel,” we need to essentially say, “Yep, that’s a squirrel!” and return to the task at hand.
We need to start replacing some of the mindless drivel that occupies our mind – and our time – with a dialog between ourselves and God, Bible study, and a focus on things that honor and glorify Him. We need to evaluate every aspect of our lives… from the junk food we ingest to our lack of exercise and proper rest to the activities that consume our days and nights… and see where these things line up with God’s plan for us.
There is no time like the present to clear the clutter – physically, mentally, and Spiritually. Every single one of us has some area of our life with which we are less than serene. Even those of us who feel that life is pretty good can name something that could use improvement… an aspect that we could work on that would bring us more into sync with God – and create a more peaceful existence in the bargain.
Clearing the clutter and making more room for God is something each of us should consider. God will help us figure out what needs to stay and what should go. And when we “see a squirrel”…He can help us learn how to momentarily admire it and get right back on track! Aren’t you ready to rid yourself of distractions and the troubles that come with them? Don’t you want to focus more clearly on God and His plan for your life? Isn’t it time to bring His peace and order into your daily living? Will this be the day you begin… or are you still too busy looking at squirrels?
©2013 Debbie Robus
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine sums up her life like this… “Oh, look… a squirrel!” In other words, she is easily distracted by something as simple as a squirrel passing through her yard. And let’s be honest… there are countless interruptions in our everyday life that can divert our attention. Staying focused and “on task” is not easy!
At any given moment, my mind is racing between a dozen or more trains of thought… what I have on my “to-do list” for the day…what to say in this devotional… what to cook for dinner…when I will have time to fit in a workout…what day will be good for the children to visit…I forgot to water the plants…did I turn off the iron?...I wish I hadn’t said/done such-and-such to one person or another… why did I eat that last chicken strip?... I need to check and answer e-mail…and so much more! And I bet you could give me a similar list. While all of this is going on in our brains, we are trying to concentrate on specific tasks… studying…working at our job…caring for our children, friends or other family members… driving… texting or e-mailing… carrying on a conversation with someone…or even reading our Bible or praying!
Paul is telling us in this passage that we need to clean out the clutter. We need to call on God to help us gain focus – and keep it. We need to learn to concentrate on one, maybe two tasks at a time…to limit the minutes we spend daydreaming… to get organized… and to prioritize. When we “see a squirrel,” we need to essentially say, “Yep, that’s a squirrel!” and return to the task at hand.
We need to start replacing some of the mindless drivel that occupies our mind – and our time – with a dialog between ourselves and God, Bible study, and a focus on things that honor and glorify Him. We need to evaluate every aspect of our lives… from the junk food we ingest to our lack of exercise and proper rest to the activities that consume our days and nights… and see where these things line up with God’s plan for us.
There is no time like the present to clear the clutter – physically, mentally, and Spiritually. Every single one of us has some area of our life with which we are less than serene. Even those of us who feel that life is pretty good can name something that could use improvement… an aspect that we could work on that would bring us more into sync with God – and create a more peaceful existence in the bargain.
Clearing the clutter and making more room for God is something each of us should consider. God will help us figure out what needs to stay and what should go. And when we “see a squirrel”…He can help us learn how to momentarily admire it and get right back on track! Aren’t you ready to rid yourself of distractions and the troubles that come with them? Don’t you want to focus more clearly on God and His plan for your life? Isn’t it time to bring His peace and order into your daily living? Will this be the day you begin… or are you still too busy looking at squirrels?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 6, 2012
Philippians 3:12-16
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, my mom had cataract surgery. According to information found at http://mayoclinic.com, “A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a plastic lens implant. The replacement lens sits in the same place as your natural lens and becomes part of your eye.” My mom’s procedure took less than two hours from start to finish, including pre-op time and recovery. She will have to use some eye drops and avoid bright light for a few weeks, but otherwise, her blurred vision should begin to clear pretty quickly.
Want to hear something cool? God can clear our blurred Spiritual vision even faster than cataract surgery! He can show you the truth about every situation and answer every question. No anesthesia is required… no trip to the surgeon is necessary. We already have everything at our disposal for a complete Spiritual “lens replacement!” Once we have totally committed to God… once we begin to truly listen to Him and seek His wisdom – to look at the world through HIS eyes – our own vision clears rapidly. We begin to see people and situations with love, kindness, grace, and mercy. We become less judgmental and more fair and compassionate. We exercise more patience and restraint, and our hearts become more open to serving God and others.
Cataract surgery is a miraculous procedure that has enabled thousands of people to see clearly again. The Great Physician can do the same for each of us in our Spiritual lives. He can enable us to see clearly – to maintain focus on the goal of living for Him and being more like Him each and every day. Satan wants nothing more than for us to live with “blurred vision.” He really doesn’t care if we profess faith in Jesus… as long as we continue to do so with “Spiritual cataracts.”
Allow God to give you “new eyes,” and prepare for the devil to stir things up a bit! He doesn’t like to lose! I assure you… anything the devil tosses your way in frustration will be worth the hassle. And with your “new eyes in Christ,” you will recognize him clearly and see right through his attempts to trip you up!
None of us has this all together… and we probably never will on this earth. But if we allow God to give us “new eyes” in Him, we can see the Finish Line… we have a goal. As long as we work toward becoming more like Jesus, everything will come into clear focus, and we will know we are on the right track.
©2012 Debbie Robus
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, my mom had cataract surgery. According to information found at http://mayoclinic.com, “A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a plastic lens implant. The replacement lens sits in the same place as your natural lens and becomes part of your eye.” My mom’s procedure took less than two hours from start to finish, including pre-op time and recovery. She will have to use some eye drops and avoid bright light for a few weeks, but otherwise, her blurred vision should begin to clear pretty quickly.
Want to hear something cool? God can clear our blurred Spiritual vision even faster than cataract surgery! He can show you the truth about every situation and answer every question. No anesthesia is required… no trip to the surgeon is necessary. We already have everything at our disposal for a complete Spiritual “lens replacement!” Once we have totally committed to God… once we begin to truly listen to Him and seek His wisdom – to look at the world through HIS eyes – our own vision clears rapidly. We begin to see people and situations with love, kindness, grace, and mercy. We become less judgmental and more fair and compassionate. We exercise more patience and restraint, and our hearts become more open to serving God and others.
Cataract surgery is a miraculous procedure that has enabled thousands of people to see clearly again. The Great Physician can do the same for each of us in our Spiritual lives. He can enable us to see clearly – to maintain focus on the goal of living for Him and being more like Him each and every day. Satan wants nothing more than for us to live with “blurred vision.” He really doesn’t care if we profess faith in Jesus… as long as we continue to do so with “Spiritual cataracts.”
Allow God to give you “new eyes,” and prepare for the devil to stir things up a bit! He doesn’t like to lose! I assure you… anything the devil tosses your way in frustration will be worth the hassle. And with your “new eyes in Christ,” you will recognize him clearly and see right through his attempts to trip you up!
None of us has this all together… and we probably never will on this earth. But if we allow God to give us “new eyes” in Him, we can see the Finish Line… we have a goal. As long as we work toward becoming more like Jesus, everything will come into clear focus, and we will know we are on the right track.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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