Daily Focus

“Time is very slow for those who wait. Very fast for those who are scared. Very long for those who lament. Very short for those who celebrate. But for those who love, time is eternal.” -William Shakespeare- One of the most precious things we have no control over is time. We cannot create it. We cannot save it. We cannot reuse it. We can only live in it. Do not take for granite the time you have. Use it wisely. (Matt. 22:37-40; Job 1:21; Ecc. 3:1-8)

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ”  ~Calvin Coolidge~   W e need to take on President Coolidge’s mind set about Christmas. You and I need to exemplify this mind set every day. Let your Christmas attitude teach you how you ought to be all year.  Then keep it alive.  (2 Cor. 13:11; Col. 3:12-13; Eph. 4:1-3)

In this season of giving we need to recall Winston Churchill’s statement. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” (Winston Churchill) Show your Christian life but what you give. Give not only of material things but of things relating to the spirit or soul. The latter gift is of greater value and significance. Give to others as God has given to you.  (2 Cor. 9:6-7; Lk. 6:38)

“Success isn’t always about ‘greatness’, it’s about consistency. Consistent, hard work gains success. Greatness will come.” Dwayne Johnson God does not ask us to be great. God asks us to be consistent hard-working servants. He will make use great when the time comes.  (MK. 9:35; Lk. 17:10; Matt. 22:37-40)

“All battles are fought by scared men who’d rather be someplace else.” (John Wayne) Fear does not have to be absent for us to be victorious. Sometimes bravery shows up late. Victory comes by always doing God’s will, no matter what.  ( Joshua 1:6-9 ; Luke 22:42; Hebrews 11:30-40)

“I like whiskey. I alway s did, and that is why I never drink it.”   (Robert E. Lee ) We need to understand ourselves enough to recognize that our fleshly desires are our weaknesses. Then avoid them. Just because we want it, crave it, and desire it does not mean it is sin free nor right to have. Perhaps we can be like General Lee and take the same stance on somethings in our own lives.  (1 Pet. 2:11-12)

We must be kind, tenderhearted, and loving towards one another. There is not a valid reason for us to think the worst of each other. Therefore, there should never be a reason for us to not be kind, tenderhearted, and loving to each other. We are bound in Christ let us treat each other appropriately.  (Eph. 4:32)

The lives we live are on the spot, one shot, live presentations of Christianity. We need to be aware of this simple fact. Be mindful of your actions and words.  You will not get to take them back. Let your light so shine before men that they glorify God.  (Matt. 5:13-16)

We need to seek the lost. We must search for sin burden souls. It is imperative we reach them. They have no hope without the gospel. Are you seeking the lost?  (Luke 19:10; Acts 8:4; 1 Cor. 15:1-8) 

Make sure your life is exemplifying the fruits of the Spirit. In everything you do show the fruits of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23) 

Complaining means it is about me. Life in Christ is not about us. Our Christian walk is about God and our neighbor. We do not get the privilege of complaining as blessed servant slaves of righteousness.  We must think twice before we speak our complaints.  (Phil. 2:14-16; Lk. 10:27)

Forgive as you have been forgiven. God has forgiven us of a debt we could never repay. No matter how difficult it maybe we must forgive others.  We must make sure to forgive others as God has forgiven us.  (Matt. 18:21-35)

We are weak. God is strong. We are only made strong in Him. When we admit our weakness then God can strengthen us.  (Rom. 6:19; Mk. 14:38; Phil. 4:13)  

Our prayers are petitions to God. God can choose how He will answer. We are to be in subjection to that answer. He also strengthens us and provides us with everything we need to be successful in our submission. For the very thing we are requesting to or not to happen maybe what must happen. (Heb. 5:7-10, Matt. 26:39,42; 2 Cor. 12:7-10) 

 “Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction” (Antione de Saint-Exupery) This was in his discussion of the bonds felt by soldiers who fight together. Our brotherly and soldierly love in Christ is the same. Let us look outward and upward together.  (Mk. 12:29-31; Eph. 2:10; Rev. 2:10)

God is only going to hold me accountable for my works. My faith hinges on my decisions and efforts. I am the only one that can make myself be faithful. I must admit that I am  responsible for myself. Take responsibility and act.  (Matt. 25:34-40; Rev. 20:11-15)

You feel like your spiritual life is hydroplaning. You decide to correct it your way. Then you find yourself at the mercy of sin and the situation. Do not do anything your way. Do everything God's way.    (Lk. 22:42; Heb. 5:8; Num. 20:7-12)

You feel in control, but you are not. Then you find yourself at the mercy of the situation. Always be ready. Always be aware. Always fight.   (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:13)

Be in control. Your flesh is not an untamable wild beast. It is not something you have to live subjection to. Our bodies must operate in subject to us. Do not be a slave to the flesh. (Rom. 6:7,12,16)

Thankfulness is the key to a joyful life. Be thankful for everything. For the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.   (Job 1:20; 42:12-17)

Our thankfulness is made known by our rejoicing. We show God how thankful we are when we rejoice. Weather in times of tribulation or jubilation we must rejoice in Christ. The world sees our thankfulness by us showing the great joy we have in Christ. (Phil. 4:4; Prv. 29:6; 1 Thess. 5:16) 

 Recognize those who taught you the word. Respect those who encourage you to evangelize. Be encouraged by those who are not content with your success and ask for more. Let your thankfulness stir your soul to crave more work in the Lord.   (Phil. 1:12-14; Col. 1:28-29; Phil. 3:14)

Thankfulness is caused by mindfulness. Be mindful of God who gives us all things.   Be mindful of Christ who died so that we might live. Be thankful for God and Christ every day. (Matt. 6:25-34; John 3:16; Eph. 5:25-27)

“Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as reality”  (Bruce Lee) We need to realize no matter what happens we cannot be defeated. We will succeed in Him. (Phil. 1:12-14; 1 Cor. 15:57; 1 John 5:4)

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” (Thomas Edison) Growth and success in Christ takes on the same appearance. As athletes, farmers, and soldiers for Christ there is never a moment that should go to waste nor an opportunity missed. (2 Tim. 2:3-6; Jm. 1:25)  

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” (James Cash Penney) Work at maturing in Christ. It will not happen by chance. Seek to grow and mature in your faith.  (Eph. 4:13; Jam. 1:4; Heb. 5:14)

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” (Theodore Roosevelt) We believe so we are already half way to success in Christ. All that is left is to work. God is going to do His part. We must do ours. (Eph. 2:10; Heb. 6:10-12; Jam. 2:17) 

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward” (Martin Luther King Jr.)  Never give up. Never Quit. Never stop moving forward in Christ. Always press on to the goal. (Phil. 3:12-16)

We must listen to hear their complete thought. We must think on what they have said. We must consider what God says about the subject. We must use our wisdom in applying God’s word to the subject. All these things must be done when we take in the words of another. Once all these things are worked out then we can speak.  We must all be slow to speak.  (Jam. 1:19)

It is hard to grow inside your comfort zone. Go!  (1 Pet. 1:7; Jm. 1:2-4; Matt. 28:18-20) 

We need to intend to walk in Christ. We must speak with intention. Intend to serve. As Christians we live with the intention to continually please God.  (Eph. 4:1; 1 Pet. 3:15; Gal. 4:18) 

Words matter and carry weight. Our speech is to always be with grace. Our speech is to be seasoned with salt. We must mind our words. We need to speak carefully selecting the vocabulary we use.  (Col. 4:5-6; 1 Pet. 2:1-3; Eph. 5:3-4)

Habits are a blessing. They can keep us faithful and growing. Habits can be a curse. They can keep us away from God. Make sure your habits are godly. Make sure they are a blessing to your spiritual life. If they are, let them be deeply ingrained in you.  (1 Cor. 15:33; Heb. 10:23-25) 

Love God. Love each other. Love the truth.  Love Souls.  If you do not, it will be your spiritual demise.  Cherish the greatness and richness in living in Christ.  (1 John 5:3; 1 John 4:21; 2 Thess. 2:10; John 3:16)  

Faith is precious and yours.  Do not loan it out to someone else to play with. Your faith is not a item to be gambled with. Hold the faith close and dear to you for the reward of such diligence is beyond comprehension.  (1 Tim. 6:10; 2 Tim. 3:8; Acts 13:8)

Blessed are our ears and eyes for they hear and see the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Be careful so that you do not become deaf and blind to the truth. Always seek to hear and see what God’s Word says.  (Matt. 13:9-11,13,16)  

There is only one faith. Belief in and obedience to the faith creates one type of person. All those that are in the faith are united. We are one in the faith. Keep the faith and you will have the unity God desires.  (Eph. 4:13; 4:5; 5:30)

Mistakes can range anywhere from very small errors to shocking blunders and grievous sins. “The man that never made a mistake never made anything.”  Abraham Lincoln.  Mistakes are going to happen. We must be able to take correction and change to be a successful Christian.  (Prov. 3:12; 29:17; 1 John 1:8-10)

The faith refers to the doctrine of Christ. There is but one faith to be obedient to. There is but one faith to be found in. Make sure you are steadfast in the faith . (1 Pet. 5:8-9)

It is easy to come by. It is hard to imagine for the faithful. We are all susceptible to it. In time, through lack of diligent bible study and daily devotion to God, a believer can develop an unbelievers hard heart. Take heed of any tendencies toward unbelief and hardening of the heart.   (Heb. 3:12-13; 2 Tim. 4:10; 2 Thess. 2:10)

Samson took his strength for granted. He then lost it. We have victory and strength in Christ. Take heed unless you lose it as well.  Remember our spiritual strength is proportionate to our love and faith. (Judges 16:17; 1 Cor. 10:12; Matt. 26:33) 

We are free. There are many things we do not have to be bound by. Our conscience may not let us participate in some areas of freedom. Make sure your freedom is not causing someone else to stumble. It is a sin to cause them to stumble.  (1 Cor. 8:9-13)  

Our foundation is Christ. We must be careful to only build within Christ. Make sure you do not build with your own ideas. Build on the foundation with the blocks God has given. Be built up into a spiritual house that cannot be moved. (1 Cor. 3:10-11; 1 Pet. 2:5; 1 Cor. 15:58) 

Be ready for the invite and the enticement to do evil. Your co-workers, family, friends, and acquaintances are not meaning you any harm. They think you are missing out. The truth is it is the other way around.  Do not consent to it.  (Prov. 1:10) 

We strive for more in every area of our lives. Strive to be better in Christ more than you strive for anything else in your life . We must reach forward. There are greater things before us. Let us reach out to those things which are ahead. (Phi. 3:13)

We need to be carefully examining and determining what is acceptable to God. With careful and prayerful study, we will know exactly what is acceptable to God. We need to be regulating our lives by what is well-pleasing to God. That is the ultimate standard of judging what is right and wrong.  Regulate your life by the Word.   (Eph. 5:8-10; Rom. 12:2; 1 Thess. 5:21) 

We can see the positive in everything. We are blessed beyond our imagination. We have every reason to be excited. Be enthusiastic about keeping God’s commands. It is a privilege and a blessing. Be careful not to begrudge them. Be eager about the life we have in Christ.  (Eph. 1:3; 3:20; Heb. 9:28)

We fight for control. We let other things control us. How strange is that? We need to be in control of ourselves. You tell yourself to think on and do what God commands. Do not let something else in this world be your slave master. That job is best handled by God and His pay is much more rewarding.  (Rm. 6:16,18; 1 Cor. 9:27)

We have limits. Do you know yours? It is hard to know your limits unless you push yourself. When you know your limits then you know when you begin to grow. Push yourself to your limits so you can move past them growing stronger in Christ.   (Phil. 3:14; 2 Pet. 1:6)

Christ is the only perfect teacher. He perfectly practiced what he taught, and if perfectly obeyed will make man in life just what Christ was. All the instruction as to how to live was illustrated in his own life. If we will carefully examine the records of his life, we will not be at a loss to know how to apply them in our own life. (Eph. 4:24; 1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Pet. 2:21)

Discover yourself in Christ. Sure, like all adventures it can be scary. It can also be very thrilling.  Go find who you really are in Christ. Learn your talents and use them. Fight the good fight. Reach out for lost souls. Go beyond that man made comfort zone.  Find out what God has in store for you.  Go!  (Matt. 25:14-30; Heb. 5:14) 

It is over. You cannot retrieve it. You cannot stuff your words back in your mouth. You cannot take back your actions. You cannot reverse your past life choices. Is that not just wonderful?  No seriously, without them we would not know how much  we need Christ. We would not know how much we have grown. We would not now what needs to change in our lives. Let it go and use it for your betterment. (Col. 2:13; Matt. 9:2; Psalm. 51:10)

Change is not a bad thing. We all must change every day. We need to let God change us into more mature Christians. We need to let God change us whenever we are not being like Christ. What needs to change in your life?  (Isaiah 64:8; Rom. 9:2)

Doing the honest thing when no one is looking can be a struggle. We are tempted to be lazy when no one is around. Let us be strong and zealous even in the absence of our brethren. (Phil. 2:12; Rom. 1:8)

We often fall into the trap of believing that we are alone. This can be one of the most discouraging thoughts that effects our Christian walk.  You are not alone!   You have brethren all over the world that are living and fighting the same way you are. Enjoy the blessing of this awesome fellowship we have in Christ. Let it encourage you in those dark moments of loneliness.  (Rm. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:14;1 Pet. 5:9; Gal. 6:2)

Christianity takes discipline. Whose job is it to discipline me? The preacher? The elder’s? The deacon’s? My spouse? My Christian friends? None of the above will suffice in the necessary discipline that is need to be a Christian. You must discipline yourself. (1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Tim 2:5)

Christ expects the church to be as a mustard seed. (Lk. 13:18-19) Christ expects you to start out small but not stay that way. You are to grow in your faith with the brethren. What are you doing today to grow and help the body grow? 

Falling down is not failure. Not getting back up is failure. People fail with they give up.  There is a saying “When you get hit, the getting up is up to you”. We need to always get back up. It is when we get back up we stand stronger and taller in the Lord.  (Prv. 11:28, 24:16; Jm. 1:2-4; 1 John 1:8-10)

It is hard to listen. We like to talk. When we listen and we are the last to speak there is a great amount of growth that can occur.   Are you listening to God when you read His word? Or are you trying to talk to God about what you think He is saying? (Pro. 19:20,27; John 8:43)

We do too much. Most of what we do is for worldly gain. Some of what we do we must do now. This is only because we have set ourselves up for it. Take a break. Jesus did. Take some time to have "Me" time with God.  ( Ecc. 4:4-6; Psalm 131; Mark 1:35) 

We are to serve. We live in a world that takes. Serving is easy if we can live in the world and not of it. Everyone will take what you bring them. Are you thinking more about how to serve or take?    (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3; Ecc. 4:4-8)

Let us not forget that we are in Christ. It can be very easy to let our lives   distract us from this thought. The most dangerous thing that can happen to you is for you to forget who you are. Always remember you are His. You are a child of God. (Eph. 2:10, 3:17; Gal. 2:20)

Transformation takes time. There are days where it seems as if everything is suddenly different. It did not just change that day. Work was necessary. Effort was made for days, weeks, months, and years in advance. Do not set around and wait for a “AHA” moment to happen in your Christian walk because it will not. Work for it and it will come. (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18)

We have the long-held mystery of God. We are the handlers of the truth and the gospel.(Eph. 3:4-6,10) How will it help others if we do not share it? It cannot aid a single soul if we keep it a mystery. Make the mystery known. Make it know that in Christ all mankind can be saved.

“Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” (Unknown) Wake up joyful for life and the blessings you first see with your waking eyes. I know it’s hard. Life can really be a curve ball. You are in control of the amount of joy you feel, give, and perceive in life. Let us all make up our minds to be full of joy every day. (Isaiah 61:10)

“Effort is the best indicator of interest.” What is getting the most effort in your life today? Is it God? Or something you have prioritized as important? Be mindful of what you are willing to exhaust yourself for. Whatever you expend effort in or for is where you will grow. (Eph. 4:16; Jam. 1:14-15) The more effort you put forth the more growth that occurs. (2 Pet. 1:5-8) Be mindful of what your effort is expended for. Don’t forget that energy is blessing and we are stewards of it.

We have a God given body. (Eph. 4:4-6; Rom. 12:5) There is strength in numbers. (Ecc. 4:12) Find your strength, encouragement, and edification in the body of Christ. (Heb. 3:13) Let them hold you up. (1 Thess. 5:11) Make sure to hold your brethren up as well. (Heb. 10:24-25)

Fight sin. Fight the spiritual oppressors. Fight for lost souls. (Gal. 6:10-13) Our time is limited and it behooves us to fight for salvation.   Don't roll over and let sin take hold anywhere in your life.      

We all have times where the world is heavy on our shoulders. Sometimes that weight is quite unbearable. Do not forget to look up, around, and inward. God is bigger that this little world He created.   (Matt. 6:28-34) He saved you and can carry that weight for you. Rid yourself forevermore of all your anxious care by depositing it with the Lord and live free. (1 Pet. 5:6-7; Rom. 6:7) He will sustain you. (Ps. 55:22)

Eventually there will be someone who will openly listen, “The Law of Averages” they call it. Who is it? I do not know. I cannot consider a crowd and tell. I can guess. You can guess as well. Does not the whole crowd deserve to hear the truth? Yes. (Acts 17:30) We are told to go and find. (Mk. 16:15-16) Who will listen and abide in Him? Only God knows. At least we can bank on the fact that one in four will listen and bear fruit. (Matt. 13:1-9,18-23)  Go and find that one today!    

We are to do more than just say we tried. We must give it our all. (Matt. 22:37-40) Do not forget God is on your side. (Phil. 4:13)

Make whatever is going on with you and another person right before you go to God. (Matt.   5:23-24) Do not let today end without seeking to reconcile your difference with your brethren. Always remember we all want the same thing, eternal life in Heaven.

We should admit when we fall short. (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) Without admission there is no correction.   What do you need to admit to and correct today? (Ps. 19:12-14)

God expects us to set priorities in our lives. The first one ought to be Him. Matt. 6:33 makes that clear to every soul who reads His word. What does your time, contribution, devotions, and work show as your first priority?

Luke 14:7-11         Sometimes we allow ourselves to be haughty. Occasionally, that self-generated high opinion causes us to be put in our place. The shame and embarrassment that comes with it is the dose humility we need. However, it could be avoided all together. God wants us to be humble servants. He then can exalt us in Christ into being saints. Also, others will see the good deeds we have done in name of the Lord and lift us up as well. Let God and others do the exalting. Stay in humility so you do not have to have the occasionally elephant size dose of it.   “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk. 14:11

We do not seek to be seen by men.  We do not ware broad fancying clothing to be seen by men. We do not love the most important rooms for our feast. We do not want the best seats at worship so we can be seen. We do not seek to receive everyone's greeting when we are out and about. We do not want to be call Rabbi. (Matt 23:5-7)  All of these things  put the praise and attention of men first. What do we want? We want to be servants. We are unprofitable servants at that. (Luke 17:10)  We want the praise and attention we receive in our lives to be last. We want our service to God and others to be first.  

Let us so increase in the knowledge of God that our actions are nothings but service to Him.  Then a great many will see and seek God.   At that point, with their obedience to the gospel, God can add them to the called out. (Acts 6:7; Matt. 5:16)

       Christians should be the most easy-going people on this little round planet. We have no reason to worry. We have no burden too great to give to God. We have no pressure that we cannot bear. There is no yoke we cannot negotiate through life with. We should be the most carefree people that have ever lived. When we are burdened with some worldly or fleshly nonsense, we have someone greater than us to handle it.  He wants us to make our request known to Him. He is the reason we are carefree and He can handle any care we have. In prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your request known to God.  (Phil 4:6) Let us take a moment and talk about our wonderful carefree state.       We have things in the world that burden us. For a country like ours many of us are burdened with great pleasures. Things like what car to get, job to take, and which house is big enough weigh us down.   I know these things should never bother us. However, we let them. Things that are more serio

We are to be carefree. We are not to be careless. God gives us things to care about. He also lets us know we are not to worry. How can we live carefree? We are to cast all our cares on to Him. He is the only one that provides for all our needs. He blesses us daily. Who else would be better than the Creator, our God, to take care of us? Lean not on your own understanding. Lean on God and let God take over.  “ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” Phil. 4:6 It is such a blessing to be carefree. Share that blessing by giving someone a chance to live a carefree life. Give someone a chance to live carefree by spreading the word. Gal. 1:3-5

“Best-laid plans of mice and men” is such a powerful thought. God is control. We are not. We can plan and prep. We can organize and schedule everything. Still there is an opportunity for things to go wrong.  We put too much stock in our plans. We rest our hat on things that are not in our hands. Make sure you are doing things God’s way. Make sure you are not putting too much trust in your own plans. Be ready to audible at a moment’s notice. “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Matt. 6:25-27 Give someone else a chance to rely on God. Spread the word today! Gal. 1:3-5

Often, we simply just try our best to make it through each day and get our list of deeds done. We rarely stop and think about what we need to be self-controlled with.   We need to be moderate with our food, work, hobbies, and sleep. (Psalms 22:26; Mark. 6:30-32; 2 Tim. 3:4; Proverbs 6:9) That is a powerful list of things to think about. We simply need to make sure we are not going to any extreme in these areas. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. We must make sure we exhibit it in every area of our lives.   “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23   Live with temperance. Strive for self-control in every area of your life. Give someone else a chance to know what a balanced life is today by sharing the Word. Gal. 1:3-5    

We need self-control in our lives. It is impossible to have a healthy life without it. If we go to an extreme on anything everything else suffers. We tend not to realize this in our daily lives. We refuse to think about what suffers when we go overboard. Even if we do stop and think often we just think about how we suffer for it. An extremist life style in any area causes everyone around you to suffer. What things in your life are you not doing in moderation? Who is suffering? How is it effecting those around you? “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” 1 Cor. 9:25 Live with temperance. Do not be afraid to show or stand up for moderation. Give someone else a chance to know what a balanced life is today by sharing the Word. Gal. 1:3-5

Sometimes we let the world get the best of us. When we do, our wrath is shown. Often that is not the best side of us. Frequently it is not the wrath they see. Sometimes, it is the lack of moderation or gentleness.   They see our lack of self-control. It may be stress, worry, heart ache, pain, loss, and or the fleshly desires that cause us to lose control. Do not let that be the case today. Let your self-control, moderation, be known to all men. It will take effort. Anything worth working for is worth having. “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ” Phil. 4:5 Be self-controlled so that the world may see your good works and praise God. Give them a chance to desire the truth. Beat the bushes if you must, but spread the Word today. Gal. 1:3-5

Don't miss the wonders that soround you, every tree, every rock, every ant hill, every star is filled with the wonder of God. You ever notice how greatful you are to see the light after you come through a long dark tunnel, well always try to see life around you as if you just came out of a tunnel.  “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—“ Psalm 104:24 Gal.1:3-5  

What is a good time to rejoice? What circumstances should cause us to rejoice? Christianity is never without its opportunities to rejoice. We should rejoice when we are under persecution. (Matt. 5:11-12) We should rejoice with others who are full of joy. (Rm. 12:15) We should rejoice in our sufferings. (Col. 1:23-24) We need to rejoice in His salvation. (Isaiah 25:9) Although we might not feel like rejoicing in some of these circumstances we are called to. Joy is more than a feeling it is about knowing. In all circumstance, we know all things belong to God and all things are under His rule. Rejoice in Christ. “ if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,” C

At times we forget how to rejoice. We lose track of what rejoicing is all about. We have great riches in Christ that should cause us to wake up rejoicing. There is another type of rejoicing. The worldly kind. The type of rejoicing where you are full of joy for immoral behavior. That type of rejoicing is appalling. Let us be careful to only rejoice in the truth. What can you do today to have more joy about the truth God has given us? “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;” 1 Cor. 13:6 We have so much joy flowing from us because of the truth God has given us. Share that joy! Give someone the opportunity to hear the truth and have your joy today.

We should rejoice. We need to increase our joy in our lives. We have one huge reason to rejoice. We can know and be assured of it. We have can rejoice every moment of our lives because our names are written in the Heaven. That is the most amazing to ever happen to us. How often do you think about your name being wrote in Heaven? That should make us leap with joy every day. ““ Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” ” Luke 10:20 We have so much joy flowing from us because our names are written in Heaven. Share that joy! Give someone the opportunity to hear the gospel so they too can have their name written in Heaven! Gal. 1:3-5

What does it mean to rejoice? We rejoice over many things but are they worthy of it? To rejoice means to be joyful over something good. Only God is good. Are we making a fair comparison when we compare someone rejoicing over a job promotion and someone rejoicing over God’s mercy? No. God is infinitely better than anything we have on this earth. The things of this world may seem good but they wilt in comparison to God. Think on that today. Paul was emphatic about it! Rejoice always for the Lord our God is good!   “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ” Phil. 4:4   We have so much joy flowing from us because of Christ. Share that joy! Give someone the opportunity to hear the gospel so they too can have true joy!   Gal. 1:3-5, Steve

The things  that need to draw us into meditation are not the last football score, the great mysteries of science, the unbelievable achievements of man, or anything else. They are godly things. Things like who God is, what He  has created, what He has done and much more should stay on our mind. Today spend at least a minute or two contemplating God.  “I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.” Psalm 77:12 “l will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.” Psalm 119:15 Let God captivate your mind so you can captivate the moment with Him! Keep working for the Lord. Live today to seek and save the lost.