TRAIN YOUR SPIRIT :
It [grace] has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world. – Titus 2:12
When an athlete goes into training, he practices to improve his skills. He works hard, repeating the same motions over and over until they become what we'd call "second nature" to him.
Most of us understand how crucial that kind of training is in the physical realm. We know that you simply can't be a winner without it. But did you know we can train ourselves that same way where spiritual things are concerned?
That's right! Hebrews 5:14 says we can train our senses to discern between good and evil. When you train, or practice, for something you expose yourself daily to whatever it is you want to become. You practice it over and over until it becomes second nature to you. People who are lazy have practiced being lazy. People who are disciplined have practiced being disciplined.
Spending time with God is "spirit" practice. As you do it diligently, your spirit will grow stronger and will start to overcome the habits of the flesh.
If, for example, you have trouble getting up in the morning to spend time with God before the busyness of the day begins, if you've been giving in to your flesh and staying in bed, then you'll have to start practicing getting up. The more you practice it, the easier it will be.
Don't expect yourself to do it perfectly right from the beginning. Don't get discouraged when you stumble and fail. You're just out of practice. Get back on your feet and go at it again!
Become a spiritual athlete. Put yourself in training by practicing the things of God. Build your spirit muscles through fellowship with Him. You will be surprised to find just how much of a winner you can be
KANGAROOS AND EMUS
Forgetting those things which are behind . . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:13-14
Two of Australia’s indigenous creatures, kangaroos and emus, have something in common—they seldom move backward. Kangaroos, because of the shape of their body and the length of their strong tail, can bounce along with forward movement, but they cannot shift easily into reverse. Emus can run fast on their strong legs, but the joints in their knees seem to make backward movement difficult. Both animals appear on Australia’s coat of arms as a symbol that the nation is to be ever moving forward and making progress.
The apostle Paul called for a similar approach to the life of faith in his letter to the Philippians: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14).
While it is wise to learn from the past, we shouldn’t live in the past. We cannot redo or undo the past, but by God’s grace we can press forward and serve God faithfully today and in the future. The life of faith is a journey forward as we become like Christ.
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
I will go anywhere—provided it is forward
SPIRITUAL FATIGUE
Have you ever fainted? I have. It’s no fun. I don’t know what happened while I was out. I lost time. That’s what happens when a person faints spiritually, too. They don’t know what has happened, and sadly, they lose time that they cannot get back.
Usually before a person faints, there are some signs. Maybe they get light-headed or start to get dizzy. They might start to sweat inexplicably. But before that, maybe they overlooked the fact that they were hungry or thirsty. Maybe there were other signs they ignored. We have to pay attention to what’s happening in the natural, and we have to pay attention to what’s happening spiritually.
Here are some signs that you are spiritually fatigued:
1. Everything seems to irritate you — your children, your husband, the dog. You feel like everyone is against you, and you are just frustrated all the time.
2. You develop an “I don’t care” attitude. The truth is, we always care. What we mean is that “I’m exhausted and can’t deal with that right now.”
3. You doubt yourself and your ability. You second guess your decisions.
4. You have a lack of motivation and vision.
What can you do?
1. Worship! Thank God. Be grateful! It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong, but that will only bring you down. Focus on what’s right and thank God for it! I bet there are a lot of people out there who would love to have your life!
2. Make sure you are getting rest and taking care of your health. There’s a direct correlation between what’s happening in the physical realm and what’s happening in the spiritual realm. When you are bogged down in the natural, you can’t hear God in the spiritual!
3. Be careful about what you take into your spirit through your eyes and ears. Garbage in, garbage out. Be careful about what you watch on TV. Fill your spirit with things that are uplifting. Meditate on the Word of God. Find one scripture that connects with your heart, write it down and memorize it.
4. Be sure to laugh! A merry heart does good like a medicine! Sometimes, you have to just laugh things off. God sits in the heavens and laughs, so we can laugh, too!
Remember, do what you can to guard yourself against spiritual fatigue. Keep yourself uplifted and encouraged so you can uplift and encourage others!
“Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, WEB)
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints ---
BE RESILIENT :
'We give great honour to those who endure...' James 5:11 NLT
During their famous expedition, American explorers, Lewis and Clark, faced incredible hardships. On reaching the Missouri River, they thought the worst was over - then they saw the Rockies! Instead of the easy ride downstream that they'd expected, they faced their biggest challenge: retreat or start climbing! Looking back, they realised it was in conquering the Rockies that they gained the confidence they needed for what they'd face later. John Maxwell writes, '...you will become a better, stronger, wiser and more resilient person through solving problems.' Sociologists who study resiliency - the ability to bounce back - tell us that people handle trauma in two ways. They either give up because they're afraid, or they grow up by developing the capacity to handle it. What makes the difference? Instead of acting like victims, resilient people: (1) take charge of their lives; (2) refuse to relinquish their values; (3) refocus on their goal. A challenge is a gift, a blessing in disguise. Quitting is always simpler than enduring. But it produces a pattern that's hard to break; one you live to regret. So if you're thinking, 'This relationship is too hard, I want out,' or, 'This job isn't what I expected, I'm quitting,' remember, you develop resiliency by remaining faithful in situations you don't like and can't change. That's why the Bible says, 'We give great honour to those who endure.'
AT THE CENTER
CHRIST MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE HE PROVIDES A STABLE, FIXED POINT OF REFERENCE; OTHERWISE, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE FRAIL AND FRAGILE.
Every relationship is based or founded on something. For example, some relationships are based on the fact that both people work for the same company, attend the same school, or sharing a similar interest in a hobby or sport.
With all of relationships, once a common bond is no longer present, the relationship will tend to deteriorate. For example, once a child graduates from high school and moves off to college, he or she will probably lose most of the relationships formed with classmates, because school is no longer a common bond and thus there is nothing holding the relationship together.
However, if your relationships are formed around a common belief in Christ, then no matter what else happens in life, as long as that common bond is still present those relationships will last.
Thus, it is clear why 2 Corinthians 6:14 instructs believers not to marry unbelievers: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
If you want to maintain lasting, stable relationships, they must be Christ-centered.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY :
“Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:5)
Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. This is the day the Lord has made; let me rejoice and be glad in it. Let the morning breeze bring me the joy of heaven and refresh my mind to receive new blessings from the Lord. May the Lord reach down to me and anoint me with oil and renew my strength that I will soar on wings like eagles’! Bless me O Lord; let me grow strong in Christ and inherit all You have from today till eternity for I am the one you love most.
Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!!
It [grace] has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world. – Titus 2:12
When an athlete goes into training, he practices to improve his skills. He works hard, repeating the same motions over and over until they become what we'd call "second nature" to him.
Most of us understand how crucial that kind of training is in the physical realm. We know that you simply can't be a winner without it. But did you know we can train ourselves that same way where spiritual things are concerned?
That's right! Hebrews 5:14 says we can train our senses to discern between good and evil. When you train, or practice, for something you expose yourself daily to whatever it is you want to become. You practice it over and over until it becomes second nature to you. People who are lazy have practiced being lazy. People who are disciplined have practiced being disciplined.
Spending time with God is "spirit" practice. As you do it diligently, your spirit will grow stronger and will start to overcome the habits of the flesh.
If, for example, you have trouble getting up in the morning to spend time with God before the busyness of the day begins, if you've been giving in to your flesh and staying in bed, then you'll have to start practicing getting up. The more you practice it, the easier it will be.
Don't expect yourself to do it perfectly right from the beginning. Don't get discouraged when you stumble and fail. You're just out of practice. Get back on your feet and go at it again!
Become a spiritual athlete. Put yourself in training by practicing the things of God. Build your spirit muscles through fellowship with Him. You will be surprised to find just how much of a winner you can be
KANGAROOS AND EMUS
Forgetting those things which are behind . . . I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:13-14
Two of Australia’s indigenous creatures, kangaroos and emus, have something in common—they seldom move backward. Kangaroos, because of the shape of their body and the length of their strong tail, can bounce along with forward movement, but they cannot shift easily into reverse. Emus can run fast on their strong legs, but the joints in their knees seem to make backward movement difficult. Both animals appear on Australia’s coat of arms as a symbol that the nation is to be ever moving forward and making progress.
The apostle Paul called for a similar approach to the life of faith in his letter to the Philippians: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14).
While it is wise to learn from the past, we shouldn’t live in the past. We cannot redo or undo the past, but by God’s grace we can press forward and serve God faithfully today and in the future. The life of faith is a journey forward as we become like Christ.
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
I will go anywhere—provided it is forward
SPIRITUAL FATIGUE
Have you ever fainted? I have. It’s no fun. I don’t know what happened while I was out. I lost time. That’s what happens when a person faints spiritually, too. They don’t know what has happened, and sadly, they lose time that they cannot get back.
Usually before a person faints, there are some signs. Maybe they get light-headed or start to get dizzy. They might start to sweat inexplicably. But before that, maybe they overlooked the fact that they were hungry or thirsty. Maybe there were other signs they ignored. We have to pay attention to what’s happening in the natural, and we have to pay attention to what’s happening spiritually.
Here are some signs that you are spiritually fatigued:
1. Everything seems to irritate you — your children, your husband, the dog. You feel like everyone is against you, and you are just frustrated all the time.
2. You develop an “I don’t care” attitude. The truth is, we always care. What we mean is that “I’m exhausted and can’t deal with that right now.”
3. You doubt yourself and your ability. You second guess your decisions.
4. You have a lack of motivation and vision.
What can you do?
1. Worship! Thank God. Be grateful! It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong, but that will only bring you down. Focus on what’s right and thank God for it! I bet there are a lot of people out there who would love to have your life!
2. Make sure you are getting rest and taking care of your health. There’s a direct correlation between what’s happening in the physical realm and what’s happening in the spiritual realm. When you are bogged down in the natural, you can’t hear God in the spiritual!
3. Be careful about what you take into your spirit through your eyes and ears. Garbage in, garbage out. Be careful about what you watch on TV. Fill your spirit with things that are uplifting. Meditate on the Word of God. Find one scripture that connects with your heart, write it down and memorize it.
4. Be sure to laugh! A merry heart does good like a medicine! Sometimes, you have to just laugh things off. God sits in the heavens and laughs, so we can laugh, too!
Remember, do what you can to guard yourself against spiritual fatigue. Keep yourself uplifted and encouraged so you can uplift and encourage others!
“Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, WEB)
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints ---
BE RESILIENT :
'We give great honour to those who endure...' James 5:11 NLT
During their famous expedition, American explorers, Lewis and Clark, faced incredible hardships. On reaching the Missouri River, they thought the worst was over - then they saw the Rockies! Instead of the easy ride downstream that they'd expected, they faced their biggest challenge: retreat or start climbing! Looking back, they realised it was in conquering the Rockies that they gained the confidence they needed for what they'd face later. John Maxwell writes, '...you will become a better, stronger, wiser and more resilient person through solving problems.' Sociologists who study resiliency - the ability to bounce back - tell us that people handle trauma in two ways. They either give up because they're afraid, or they grow up by developing the capacity to handle it. What makes the difference? Instead of acting like victims, resilient people: (1) take charge of their lives; (2) refuse to relinquish their values; (3) refocus on their goal. A challenge is a gift, a blessing in disguise. Quitting is always simpler than enduring. But it produces a pattern that's hard to break; one you live to regret. So if you're thinking, 'This relationship is too hard, I want out,' or, 'This job isn't what I expected, I'm quitting,' remember, you develop resiliency by remaining faithful in situations you don't like and can't change. That's why the Bible says, 'We give great honour to those who endure.'
AT THE CENTER
CHRIST MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE HE PROVIDES A STABLE, FIXED POINT OF REFERENCE; OTHERWISE, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE FRAIL AND FRAGILE.
Every relationship is based or founded on something. For example, some relationships are based on the fact that both people work for the same company, attend the same school, or sharing a similar interest in a hobby or sport.
With all of relationships, once a common bond is no longer present, the relationship will tend to deteriorate. For example, once a child graduates from high school and moves off to college, he or she will probably lose most of the relationships formed with classmates, because school is no longer a common bond and thus there is nothing holding the relationship together.
However, if your relationships are formed around a common belief in Christ, then no matter what else happens in life, as long as that common bond is still present those relationships will last.
Thus, it is clear why 2 Corinthians 6:14 instructs believers not to marry unbelievers: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
If you want to maintain lasting, stable relationships, they must be Christ-centered.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY :
“Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:5)
Dear Lord God, I praise You. I honor You. This is the day the Lord has made; let me rejoice and be glad in it. Let the morning breeze bring me the joy of heaven and refresh my mind to receive new blessings from the Lord. May the Lord reach down to me and anoint me with oil and renew my strength that I will soar on wings like eagles’! Bless me O Lord; let me grow strong in Christ and inherit all You have from today till eternity for I am the one you love most.
Gratefully, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen !!!
Free Christian Ebooks http://walthope.tripod.com
Fair
Use Notice: There is some copyrighted material on this site, the use of which
has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are
making such material available in an effort to our efforts to advance
understanding of serious issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of
any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US
Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on
this site is distributed without profit for educational purposes.
No comments:
Post a Comment