Loading Up
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads
us with benefits…”
(Psalm 68:19, NKJ).
TODAY’S WORD
This morning when you woke up, what
was the first thing that went through your mind? Maybe you have a deadline to
meet or a to-do list a mile long. Maybe you are facing a challenge or going
through a difficulty in a relationship that’s consuming your thoughts. Today, I
want to encourage you, instead of focusing on what your circumstances have to
offer, focus on what God has to offer you. His mercies are new every morning,
and His compassion never fails. He has victory in store for you today. He has
provision in store for you today. He has joy in store for you today, and He has
peace in store for you today. He daily loads you with benefits!
The key to “loading up” these daily
benefits is setting your focus in the right direction. You can’t wait to see
how you feel, what kind of mood your spouse is in, or what the traffic is like.
No, you have to set your focus by saying, “This is going to be a great day. I
am blessed and cannot be cursed! I know God is directing my steps and something
good is going to happen to me today!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, today I choose to
focus on You. I open my heart and mind to receive Your daily benefits. Show me
ways to be a blessing to others and use me for Your glory in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
***
12 hours ago
“Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV)
Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act. The Bible says, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV).
God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us. All three are indispensable for character development. God’s Word provides the truth we need to grow, God’s people provide the support we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment to practice Christ-likeness.
If you study and apply God’s Word, connect regularly with other believers, and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, I guarantee you will become more like Jesus.
Many people assume all that is needed for spiritual growth is Bible study and prayer. But some issues in life will never be changed by Bible study or prayer alone. God uses people. He usually prefers to work through people rather than perform miracles so that we will depend on each other for fellowship. He wants us to grow together.
In many religions, the people considered to be the most spiritually mature and holy are those who isolate themselves from others in mountaintop monasteries, uninfected by contact with other people.
But this is a gross misunderstanding. Spiritual maturity is not a solitary, individual pursuit!
You cannot grow to Christ-likeness in isolation. You must be around other people and interact with them. You need to be a part of a church and community.
Why? Because true spiritual maturity is all about learning to love like Jesus, and you can’t practice being like Jesus without being in relationship with other people.
Remember, it’s all about love — loving God and loving others.
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