What you Love

What is the most important thing in your life? Jesus gave us the

test: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.".

You may think you know the answer, but do you really? This is

another test: On what do you spend the most time and attention?

I ask myself that question often--and sometimes the truth is very

uncomfortable! However I must know because I cannot correct what Ido not (or will not/cannot) acknowledge.

Will you ask yourself that question today?

   "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and

  rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for

  yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy,

  and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure

  is, there your heart will be also. (Mat 6:19-21 NIV)

Rededication

Are you really serious about having a deeper relationship with the

Lord? Then join me in praying today's prayer. If you are sincere, if

you genuinely mean it, He will take you at your word.

This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We

  too, then, ought to give our lives for others! If we are rich and

  see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we

  claim that we love God? My children, our love should not be just

  words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.

  (1 John 3:16-18 GNB)

  Prayer: LORD, I desire that every word I speak, every decision I

  make, every action I take, and even my most private thoughts would

  reflect my commitment to and relationship with You. Help me to be

  like You in everything that concerns my life--without exception,

  hesitation, or reservation. Do whatever You need to do in my life to

  make it so. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Are you at peace or overcome by worry?

We can look around us and find ample reason to worry, be anxious, or

even despair of hope. We do not have to look far.

God has given us reason to experience joy in even the worst of

circumstances: His promises transcend anything--everything--we can

see, touch, feel, or experience.

There is fact. Then, there is God's Truth. In which do you place

greater faith? One encourages peace. The other tends to anxiety.

Asked another way: Are you at peace or overcome by worry?

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me.

  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my

  soul. Can a corrupt throne be allied with you--one that brings on

  misery by its decrees? They band together against the righteous and

  condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my fortress,

  and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. (Psa 94:18-22 NIV)

Don't change partners

We can become so infatuated with "deeper" spiritual things that we

forget to give attention to the basics.

There is an old saying: "Dance with the one what brung ya." It has

come to mean essentially: Be loyal to the person/people, talent,

process, or system that enabled you to be where you are today.

Jesus is our reason. What He did is our why and how. Never lose

sight of who, how, and why we are here--or where "here" is.

 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our

  sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

  (2 Cor 5:21 NLT)

Counterfeit

There are counterfeits, fakes, and "knock-offs" of almost

everything these days--including spiritual things.

To recognize a counterfeit, you must study the genuine. Once you

know "the genuine article", a counterfeit is more easily recognized.

It gives you the standard by which to judge and evaluate.

 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the

  faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such

  teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have

  been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Tim 4:1-2 NIV)

Opposition with God

Did you ever think that not accepting what God was doing in someone

just because it did not fit your expectation was equivalent to

opposing God? Well, it is, according to today's verses.

This does not mean that we should accept anything from anyone. Far

from it! It does mean that before we say something is not of God, we

had best check in with Him first.

In short: Exercise discernment through prayer before judgment.

   "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on

  us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John

  baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

  So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the

  Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"

  (Acts 11:15-17 NIV)