Live Skillfully

Live Skillfully TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings...” (Proverbs 22:29, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Too often, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing the same way over and over every day. But if we are going to live at our full potential, we should constantly be growing and sharpening our skills. We should strive to learn and grow every single day because when you stop learning, you stop growing. When you stop growing, you stop living. In this season of your life, what are you doing to stretch yourself? What are you doing to improve your skills? Don’t get trapped into thinking that “good enough” is good enough. You were created for more than just average. Today is a new day, and there are new heights for you to climb. Pursue what you love and keep developing that area of your life. Take a class or find a mentor that will help you live skillfully. As you do, you’ll see growth and increase. You’ll stand before leaders and rulers and live the blessed life God has in store for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, today I choose to rise out of mediocrity. I choose to give my very best to everything I set my hand to. Teach me to live skillfully so that my life is a continual praise to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sep 1, 2014 Let God Take the Driver’s Seat by Rick Warren “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.” (Matthew 16:24 MSG) The best way I can define “meekness” for you is this: Let go, and let God. How do you let go and let God? First, you have to make Jesus the manager of your life. The problem is, we usually want to be the manager of our own lives, and so we argue and disagree with God. We think we know what’s best. The reason you’re under a lot of stress is that you’re constantly fighting God in your mind — “I know God says to do this but I want to do that instead!” Every morning when you wake up, you have a decision to make: Who’s going to be in charge of your life? Who’s going to be in control — you or God? Who’s going to call the shots — you or God? Every day, moment by moment, you are making that decision. When you choose to make yourself the manager of your own life, it causes conflict, confusion, and stress. Jesus says in Matthew 16:24, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am” (MSG). Here’s what Christians tend to do: When we become believers in Christ, we give him the driver’s seat and then promptly hop into the backseat and become backseat drivers. We’re constantly giving him “advice,” like, “No, turn this way. Stop. Wait. Faster! I want to go that way. I want to see that sight.” Many years ago Kay and I took dancing lessons from Arthur Murray Studios. The instructor told us that one of the biggest problems couples have is letting the other lead. When they’re both trying to lead, they’re stepping on each other’s feet all the time, and it doesn’t look very pretty. Your life doesn’t look very pretty when you’re trying to lead with God at the same time. You just need to let God be God and make Jesus the manager of your life. Talk It Over What are the details of your life that are most difficult for you to surrender to God? How have you been quarreling with God without saying a word? What do your actions reveal about who is managing your life? Determine today to give God control of the areas of your life where you have concerns and stress. What does it look like to do this practically? What difference does it make in your life? PS...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lydBPm2KRaU