Today I went running. I know, some of you probably think I’m crazy for attempting to run in this extremely cold weather, but I just couldn’t sit still any longer. So, I laced up my tennis shoes and braved the cold. I didn’t think it would be really cold once I got my body moving, but I was very wrong. My teeth soon started to chatter and I’m pretty sure that I couldn’t feel my cheeks or my hands as I was running. I wanted to turn around and head back to my warm and cozy house. It seemed like such an easy choice. Just as those thoughts were running through my mind, I saw someone coming toward me with the best winter outfit on you could imagine… puffy jacket, thick gloves, scarf wrapped around her head, ski pants and hat. All I saw of her was her eyes. I started to think how ridiculous she looked and kinda laughed under my breath. However, as soon as I thought this, the Lord quickly kicked me in the butt and made me realize that though she may look ridiculous, she won’t be paying for it later as much as I will. Now, hours later, I have a little bit of a cough forming in my throat…
Being equipped and ready for things is so important in life. Sometimes we look at other people and we think they look ridiculous for the choices and decisions that they are making. We don’t really see it as that big of a deal if we see this movie, tell this joke, date this guy/girl, go to this party… And we don’t see how down the road we are going to pay for it.
Read Philippians 4:8
Are there some things in your life that do not match up with this verse? I know that I can think of some things for me! We are to be ready and equipped for whatever the Lord has in store for us. And here is an amazing guideline to take with us throughout the day. He promises us life and life to the full. He loves us so much that He knows that when we think on these things, we will be imitating Christ and His life.
Friday, January 15
Read John 10:10
This is exactly what I think of when I read this verse:
There is opposition. A tug of war over our hearts. Can’t you just picture it? Can you see the places in your life where there is a tug of war? In the moments where you feel defeated, where you feel overwhelmed, quote the second part of this verse. Say out loud and believe that God desires you to have a full and abundant life! There are power in your words.
Monday, January 18
The warrior lays wounded in a heap of mud, sweat, and blood. As he slips slowly in and out of consciousness, the battle rages on around him. Swords clash, arrows fly, armor falters, and the cries of angry men fill his ears with the unmistakable sounds of war. The faces of those he fights for flash before his eyes: his wife, his young daughter, his village, his king, and he feels the weight of the battle fall heavily on his weak and bruised shoulders. With a deep intake of breath, the warrior attempts to lift himself from the ground but falters and falls helplessly back into the filth. He cries for help, but none can hear him. He struggles to stand, but cannot lift his shoulders off the ground. He thinks of his family, and screams in agony. I’ve failed, the warrior concludes. I cannot do this on my own.
Lately, I’ve felt a lot like the warrior mentioned in the short anecdote above. Battered, bruised, and left in the dust by the world around me. However, as followers of Christ we’re called to “set [our] minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). You might think this is a little much to ask when your face is in the mud and all you can do is hope you avoid another fight with your parents, those girls at school, or the addiction that has begun to take over all of your attention.
I feel lonely, I feel helpless, and I know that I cannot do this on my own.
Do you ever feel like this? If you do, (which if you’re human, I’m sure you do), God desires to comfort you in your loneliness, deliver you from your helplessness, and engage in a personal relationship with you.
Read Ephesians 6:10-17 (Ephesians is after Galatians and before Philippians in the New Testament)
God clearly reveals to us through His Word that there is a battle raging around us for our hearts and our souls and that spending an eternity with Jesus is at stake. God realizes that we cannot fight this battle in our sinful flesh, so when we surrender our lives to Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and enables us to glorify God with our lives in a way that we could never do on our own. The Holy Spirit even enables us to set our minds on Jesus during the worst times of our lives. Paul (the writer of Ephesians) encourages the church of Ephesus to “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).
Take a moment and meditate on each piece of the armor of God presents in Ephesians 6:10-17. Think about how God can work through you and use each piece of armor to combat the battles raging in your own life.
The warrior felt the ground shake underneath him in his defeat, and he heard the deafening approach of a horse’s run. Fear of death crept over the warrior as he imagined being trampled by the approaching animal, but this fear drastically faded to relief as he felt the arms of a fellow warrior pull his body onto the restless horse. His hope was renewed, his strength had returned, and his heart beat harder with a desire fight the evil around him.
Tuesday, January 19
Enter stage left: the bubbly sixteen-year-old girl eager to display her talent to the judges sitting before her. She comes from a small town, has a large family, and strives her best to maintain decent grades in school. After a fidgety and nervous start, she manages to belt out a few strong notes that win over the judges’ hearts and earn her a place in the next round of the competition. When interviewed about her achievement, she cries and exclaims, “This is what I’ve always wanted!”
Sound familiar?
American Idol is just one many examples of entertainment that define our culture. In America, we strive to place people on pedestals, idolizing them for their talents, attitudes, and physical appearance. We rejoice in their outward appearances and fail to “look on the heart” as God says He does in 1 Samuel 16:7. Because God created us to be creatures of worship, we are tempted to worship things other than Him. This is a battle of worship that we face daily in the invisible war for our hearts and souls.
Read 1 John 2:15-17 (1 John is before 2 John and after 2 Peter in the New Testament)
God declares that those who love the world and things of the world cannot also love Him. However, we need to examine these verses in context. We know that God does not hate the world, because according to John 3:16, “ God so LOVED the world.” This passage is speaking specifically about the world’s culture and its sinful influences. We should not love the perverse nature of culture, the exultation of creation over Creator, or the prideful nature of our hearts.
Reflect on the verses from 1 John and write down some things you are idolizing above God in your own life. Talk to God about it.
You’ll soon realize that your actions are sinful because God created us to worship Him for His glory and our ultimate joy. Only in Him can we find true satisfaction, so why do we continue to idolize things other than our Savior?
“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Be aware of the enemy’s influence on our culture and never forget to put on the full armor of God to combat his advances. God loves you and will enable you to face the enemy head-on when you are tempted to worship things of this world. Just ask Him.
Wednesday, January 20
mages of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti flash across the computer screen. A woman looks hopelessly toward the camera, covered in dust and blood. Children and elderly women hold onto one another as they search for their loved ones. Bodies lie limply in the mounds of rubble as fires rage in crumbling buildings behind them. Students pull each other from the rubble and stumble away from their crumpled university. People scream and run in confusion and horror. Men, women, and children cry out desperation as their family members, friends, and neighbors fall under the weight of this tragic natural disaster.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/earthquake_in_haiti.html
Take a moment and pray for the people of Haiti.
In times of crisis, people gather around one another for comfort and support, and a bond is formed despite previous differences. As Christ followers, we’re called to come alongside our brothers and sisters and encourage, comfort, and support them in times of crisis and in times of joy.
Read Ephesians 1:15-22 (Ephesians is before Philippians and after Galatians in the New Testament)
In this passage, Paul (the writer of Ephesians) encourages the church in Ephesus by declaring he is thankful for his Christian brothers and sisters there and repeats specifically how he prays for them.
Examine each verse of this passage carefully and reflect on the beautiful truth that permeates throughout Paul’s prayer. Now pray the same prayer for your brothers and sisters in Christ, for your church, for Sublime, for your family. Thank God for the beautiful things He has orchestrated through His Son Jesus and for the things He has given us, and continue to pray for the people of Haiti.
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