Water the Right Seeds

Water the Right Seeds TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” (Mark 4:8, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria When somebody calls you something, either good or bad, that seed is planted in the soil of your mind. However, you get to determine whether or not that seed takes root and grows. When you dwell on what was said, you are watering the seed. You’re giving it a right to become a reality. That’s why it’s so important to have a disciplined thought life. It’s great when people tell you, “You’re blessed. You’re talented. You’re going to do great things.” Water those seeds. Meditate on those thoughts throughout the day. That’s what you want to become a reality. Too often, we water the wrong seeds. We dwell on what the negative people say. The naysayers can’t make a seed take root in your life. All they can do is sow the seed. You have complete control over what seeds are going to take root and grow in your own soil. Today, you might need to uproot some wrong seeds spoken over you. Let go of the negative and choose to dwell on the good. Dwell on what God says about you. Dwell on His word. Water the right seeds and receive the fruit of His blessing! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father, today I choose to focus on the good in my life. I choose to water the right seeds planted in the soil of my mind. I ask for Your grace and wisdom daily as I set my heart and mind on You in Jesus’ name! Amen.

God Is Ready to Take It to the Mat

BY RICK WARREN — SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

“God blesses those who ... realize their need for him.” (Matthew 5:3a NLT)

God doesn’t mind having a wrestling match with you, because wrestling is a contact sport. It means you’re up close, and God would rather have you up close wrestling with him than have you distant and apathetic.

You know the problems you’re having in your life right now? That problem you’re having with your kids, your spouse, your finances, or your health — that’s just the symptom. Your real struggle is with God.

What is your struggle with God? Your biggest struggle is when things don’t go the way you want them to or as fast as you want them to, and you take matters into your own hands. You don’t wait, you don’t trust God, you don’t pray, you don’t think God will provide for your needs, and you get in a hurry.

Whatever the problem is in your life, it boils down to two things: Will you trust God to take care of the situation? And, will you obey God and do the right thing even if it doesn’t make sense?

The root of all your conflicts in life is that you want to be in charge. You want to be God. You want to call the shots. So God says, “OK, let’s have it out. Let’s go to the mat. Let’s wrestle — you and me, one-on-one. Let’s have it out. Let’s see who’s really in charge here.”

The Bible says in Matthew 5:3, “God blesses those who ... realize their need for him”(NLT).

I love the analogy of wrestling, because the whole purpose of wrestling is to pin the other guy on the mat. How do you know when you’ve won? When they say, “Uncle!” or “I give up.”

God is waiting for you to say that. He’ll wrestle with you as long as it takes.

Talk It Over

• What is the problem or struggle you’ve tried to handle on your own that you need to entrust to God?
• Why is it difficult for you to give control of this problem to God? What keeps you from saying, “I give up”?
• What changes can you make so that you can slow down, wait on God, and give him the chance to work for your good instead of taking matters into your own hands?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UUpeImcnqA