Author: admin

What do you really want?

There are lots of things you want. But what do you really want? What are you willing to work for, sacrifice for, press toward with patience and perseverance?  The things you will put first, above other things.

Not just that. But which do you want more that the other? The answer makes a monumental difference in how you live your life. And in the results, you will have in your life.

No one can tell you what your priorities are – or should be. Only you know that, in the secrets of your heart. Be honest with yourself and name the priorities. Talk to God about them. Lay your heart out before Him. What you want will change over time. That’s ok, that’s good. It shows you learn and grow.

Once you have a good idea of what you really want, think about which is more important than the other. This is hard. Really hard. They are all important to you, and they are all interrelated. By prioritizing it will help you focus and drive your choices.

Some examples may be helpful. Remember only you can decide what your priorities are, so these are only examples. In our example, let’s say the priorities have been identified as: 1. Relationship with God. 2. Health. 3. Financial security.

Now the opportunity comes along to work 80 hours weeks and make more money! That’s great! Then it starts hurting your health. Stop. What are your priorities? If you said health is more important to you than financial security, then you will have to stop putting financial security ahead of your health.

Using that same example, remember you do have to balance your priorities. If health is the more important than financial security, a choice would be to not work, spend all your time taking care of your health. Spend your time sleeping, relaxing, working out, preparing nutritious foods. This is not a good choice. In the long run, you won’t have the resources to benefit your health, and your health will suffer. Your priority of financial security will also become no priority. So balance. But make wise choices in the order of your priorities.

Talk to God about your priorities. Order your life toward those priorities.

Bible verses to ponder:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? – Mark 8:36

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. – Luke 10:27

God often speaks to our hearts. One place in the Bible calls it a ‘still small voice’.

¹¹ And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

• I Kings 19

Sometimes that voice gives us guidance. Sometimes it gives clarity about a situation, maybe helping us to face the truth.

Sometimes it calls us to do something. Sometimes it calls us to be something.

Often times that still small voice brings us comfort. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

What is God’s voice saying to you?

In good times and in bad times, you are never forsaken by God.

Forsaken means to leave, abandon, walk away, leave alone. It implies the person forsaken may be without help or protection.

During our lives there are times when we may feel forsaken. Forsaken by the people we love the most, family, friends, church, work, community, and society. Which can cause us to wonder, am I forsaken by God? If I am not loved by the best people I know, how can God love me?

Because God’s ways are higher than our ways. God’s goodness is exceedingly greater than any goodness known on earth. God is only good, and all goodness emulates from God.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:9

He has created you. He has called you. He knows your name. God has purpose for you. Yes, even in your weakness. Yes, even in your pain. Yes, even in your circumstances.

⁹ The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee:
for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. – Psalms 9:10

Take courage today. God will never forsake you.

There are times when it is hard to keep going. We have tried things; they have not worked out like we thought.

The results we work for are never guaranteed. It’s better to try, than to not try. No matter what the results, you will be better off for having tried. Be persistent during time of discouragement.

The Bible encourages us:

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;  – Ecclesiastes 9:10

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; – Colossians 3:23

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not – Galatians 6:9

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

Trying is never easy. Results we want are never guaranteed. But God will see your heart and your efforts will be rewarded. Maybe in the way you expect, maybe in a different way. God is faithful, He will reward for good work.

Offenses large and small are to be forgiven. Let’s think about small offenses.

Think of some times when a stranger or casual acquaintance has said something that hurt your feelings. Maybe a snide comment that someone in a grocery store made to you about the thing you were buying. Maybe a disparaging remark an acquaint made about how you were dressed.

What’s your first reaction?

Maybe you can come up with a light-hearted humorous reply. It’s great if you can ‘bust their chops’ in a playful way.

But sometimes your response might be to give them a piece of your mind, or maybe respond with a remark to hurt them, ‘put them in their place’.

There are many who would give you kudos for that, and there might be a time for that. But it’s likely not your best response. It might make you feel good for a few minutes, but it really doesn’t benefit you any. It could lead to a prideful and self-righteousness spirit. You don’t want that.

Instead, appeal to God. Let Him know the person has hurt your feelings, and that you have responded with a humble spirit. Trust God and acknowledge our dependence on Him. As we more understand God’s sufficiency, we more understand our dependency.

Bear the wrong.

Let God take vengeance fight your battle, plea your cause.

The human spirit craves freedom. To make our own choices, to think our own thoughts. Spiritual, physical, and emotional freedom is valued and sought.

There may be times in our lives when physical freedom is not possible. In jail, prison, circumstances, or in a physical body that limits our freedom. Trust God even in those circumstances. “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” – Hebrews 13:5

Spiritual freedom is provided through Jesus Christ. It is always available. No one can ever take it from you.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32. Sometimes the truth is painful to face. Once we acknowledge the truth, we can begin to find freedom.

“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” – John 14:6

Sometime we become a servant to sin. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is a servant to sin.” – John 8:34

An addiction we can’t escape, an attitude we can shake, or a self-righteousness that we cling to for an air of moral superiority. The greatest deception is when we deceive ourselves. Statements or thoughts like, ‘that’s just the way I am’, ‘I can’t change’, ‘I can’t help it’. And the strongest deception of self-righteousness.

Jesus has the power to set you free.

Our key verse from this lesson:

“If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed.” – John 8:36

Ever had questions about whether God loves you, or will keep on loving you? Most, maybe all, have thoughts like that, even if for a fleeting second.

In His wisdom God provides us assurance.

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV):
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It may be something we know. But to have it articulated so well is assuring.

First, we note that the writer under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote ‘I am persuaded’. Convinced, after considering all the evidence and facts and all the circumstances, decided with no doubt.

Even death can’t separate us from the love of God. Certainly, God’s love doesn’t stop at death. He has created us for eternity, and through the salvation provided by Jesus Christ, we will live forever with Him in the present of His eternal love.

Another scripture teaches us how important it is that we have assurance beyond this present life: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
– I Corinthians 15:19.
If our hope stopped at death, then we would be miserable. But it doesn’t stop there, our hope is eternal, without end.

Down in verse 54 and 55 of that same chapter I Corinthians 15, it says “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Even the power of death shall never separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s important to seek God. Seek Him in your life, seek in all of your affairs.

Let’s think about God seeking you. God does seek you. But why? Is it because of some merit that you have that God would like a relationship with you? Some good works that you can do for God to earn His favor? Some benefit you can add to God? Well, of course not. It’s because of His own nature. God is love. Love is not just an attribute of God. It’s the essence of who He is.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

Not by works of righteousness which we have done , but according to his mercy he saved us – Titus 3:5

You don’t have to win God’s love. He already loves you.

O taste and see that the Lord is good:
Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
– Psalms 34:8

God created humans with a variety of characteristics – physical, spiritual, mental, emotional. All of these interact and impact each other. Perhaps we can’t understand their complexity. But God does.

One of the emotions we sometimes have is loneliness. It’s a human feeling, a natural feeling. It’s a feeling that all of us have had. Something deep within us makes us want to connect with other people.

One of the purposes of the church is to connect people, those who have the common purpose of seeking God. The Bible in Hebrews 10:25 encourages us to seek the fellowship of others: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Of course, other people are not perfect, and that includes church people, but there is still a need to connect.

In John 16:32, Jesus speaks of being forsaken by everyone, alone: “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”

Remember you too are not alone: the Father is with you.

Isaiah 40:28 – 32: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (English Standard Version)

There are times in our lives when we worry about our past. A past circumstance, a past sin, a past accident, a past regret, a past mistake, a past careless comment. Maybe a past that someone else did, but it bothers you.

God knows all about the past, and knows all about your past. He’s not alarmed by it. You can trust Him with the past. All of the past. Your past, the past of the people you love, the past circumstances.

The Bible is full of stories of the lives of people who had troubled past.

One of these is in Judges Chapter 11, about a man named Jephthah. We only know a little about Jephthah. He was the son of a prostitute. It sounds like his dad raised him. But then his brothers kicked him out of the house, afraid that he might get some of his dad’s inheritance. Jephthah ran away, and eventually came to live with a group of men who were ‘vain’, one translation says ‘a gang of scoundrels’. Not an ideal past, and not ideal circumstances!

Jephthah had some good characteristics – just like each of us. The Bible says he was a ‘mighty man of valour’, also known as a might warrior. So in the course of time, the country of Jephthah’s brothers was attacked by enemies. The brothers who had thrown him out of the house now came to Jephthah and asked him to rescue them from the enemies. Jephthah did, and became the leader, or judge, of the country.

People may see us as just our circumstances. But we are not our circumstances. God knows who we are.

“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” – Jeremiah 31:3