Ceaseless Communication

In I Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to Pray without ceasing. We are to be in communication with the Lord at all times, without stopping, no interruptions.

How many of us truly keep up with this command?

Anybody?

No one?

We basically don't even attempt ceaseless prayer because we don't see how we can do any one thing ceaselessly but breathe - and we do that automatically.

However, the premise of this verse is played out in our lives more than we think. We just don't apply it to prayer.

Many of us give ceaseless attention to our phones. I know my phone is the first thing I check when I wake up, and the last thing I look at before I go to sleep. It never leaves my side during the day, and I am always checking it for updates. Let's not even talk about what happens if I forget it somewhere. It's ceaselessly a part of my day.

Others of us give our ceaseless attention to that special man or woman in our lives. We think about them constantly: wondering how they're doing, anticipating the next time we'll see them, thinking of ways to make them feel special. They are constantly on our minds.

Then there are those of us who ceaselessly give our focus to our jobs. We wake up with the job on the brain, spend all of our time at the job, and constantly think about our work. Ceaseless!

There are many other items that can be placed in that slot. Yet what should be taking precedence is our relationship with the Father.

He is who should be the first person we think about in the morning. It should be Him we are looking to for guidance as we go about our day. When issues arise, it is He who we should talk to. As we go through our day, we should be looking for ways to show Him love in how we live.

Jesus modeled this principle perfectly. He was a man who lived a life of prayer. He did nothing unless He got the okay or example from the Father. As a result, He lived a life of focused purpose. Never once do you see Jesus worried, afraid, lost, or depressed. He stayed on target and was able to fulfill His life's mission without extra time or detours.

Who knows how much our lives could improve if we just took on an attitude of constant communication with God?

Today, make the effort to put this verse into practice. Before you check in on the apps on your phone, text a friend, call that special someone, take on another project at work, or do whatever it is that snatches most of your time during the day, have a conversation with your Heavenly Father. Ask Him what's on His heart for you today. Listen for His words of love and give Him some in return.

He wouldn't ask us to consistently stay connected if it wasn't for our good. Let's put that word to work!

Verse of the Day: Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17

Thanksgiving Friday!

Good morning! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Today I'm thankful that my Theology Class is OVER!!!! I finished my paper, took my final, and now I can let that thing go. I didn't do as well on the final as I had hoped, so now I'm thinking that I'm going to get a high B. We'll see what my teacher gives me. I'm grateful for what I've learned, but I am happy to get my life back! That class was very demanding.

I'm also thankful today for answered prayer. I had a couple requests up before the Lord that I wanted to see happen before the end of the year, and one of them was answered yesterday! I'm so happy for God opening the door. And this was out of nowhere! God does everything for a reason, and He's never let me down. Thank you Lord for hearing my heart's cry.

Finally, I'm thankful for wisdom. God has allowed me to be the voice of wisdom for a few of my friends and co-workers, and it's so awesome to see the Word that I've planted in my heart is producing fruit that is helping to benefit other people's lives. The word we meditate on isn't always for ourselves, sometimes it's to help out someone else.

What are you thankful for this week? What has God been doing for you? Make sure you give God some thanks and praise!

Verse of the Day: I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. Psalm 118:5

How Are You?

So, I've been up all night, up all morning and my paper is.... not finished. Womp. I only have one page left, but still... So, here I am at work, half-sleep and counting down til I have to take another crack at finishing. Moving on...

How are you?

No, really. How are you? Have you sat down and considered it lately? I'm not talking about your current state of emotion. I'm talking about the very core of your being. What's going on inside? What feeling do you get when you are alone and still? - How are you?

A lot of times we are so busy living life that we don't take time to assess our mental, physical, emotional state while we're going through life.

Are you happy? Sad? Disappointed? Depressed? Tired? Joyful? Content? Indifferent? Hopeless? Lonely?

Take some time to get a clue as to what's going on with you. Any answer in the negative, you probably need to sit down with the Father and figure out how to change that situation around.

You're not here to just exist. You have a genuine purpose to fulfill. And while you're out here living it, you are supposed to be full of life of Christ! (John 10:10) God's life brings joy, peace, contentment, and fulfillment. If you're not experiencing these things - there's a disconnect somewhere.

Don't just let life wash over you. Don't let what you're going through affect your life in Christ. Don't just put on a brave face every day and ignore your own inner cries for help.

Jesus wants you to stay full of joy. With joy (notice it's not happiness, but joy), you receive peace and contentment. It's a wonderful way to live.

If you're not living your life with joy and peace, get before the throne of God and ask Him to show you how to get there. Ask Him to guide you back into His fulfilling way of life.

Verse of the Day: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11

Reading is Fundamental

The Lord is good, and his mercy endureth forever.

I am surrounded by journal articles, textbooks, and notes. How about I didn't realize unil yesterday that my paper is due today! (I thought it was due Friday.) So, I am squeezing it all in right now trying for that A!

Will post something more substantial later!

No Words

"Lord, I don't know what to say."

This has been my excuse for not witnessing on many occasions. I'll have it in my heart to go and witness or I'll see someone that I could talk to, but I just don't have the guts to go and open my mouth simply because I tell myself I don't know what to say.

I've never been that outgoing, so striking up conversations with random people has always been a challenge for me. Adding Christ into the mix?? That's an uphill battle I would rather not climb.

Now, if someone enters the house of God looking for salvation, I have no problem pointing them to Jesus. I can talk anyone's ear off inside the church. But that's not where it really counts. Jesus said go into the world and preach, not sit in the pew and wait for them to come to you. (Mark 16:15)

The Holy Spirit has convicted me about my attitude. I have the King of Kings sitting inside of me, and I'm afraid to have a conversation. There are no words.

When God called Moses to go before Pharaoh, Moses brought up his inability to speak. God told him that He would be with Moses' mouth and would show him what to say. How much more will the Holy Spirit help us when we call on Him?

Maybe you're like me and don't jump to witness since you don't know what to say. Or maybe you're staying silent out of fear of what the other person will say. Maybe witnessing as you're out and about doesn't even occur to you.

Whatever your excuse, don't let the work of the Kingdom be hindered by your inaction. I am leaning on the Holy Spirit to guide my lips and trusting that the King inside of me will stand up when I open my mouth. We can't let fear of man keep us from advancing God's Kingdom on the earth. Man cannot get us into heaven or hell, but our message could save their souls from eternal damnation.

We have to be a witness. We can't stay silent. So, let's all put down our excuses, go out into the world, and be God's mouthpiece.

Verse of the Day: And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. Exodus 4:11, 12

Offended?

Sometimes as we go through our day people offend us and we don't let our offense be known. The issue may not be worthy of mentioning or the circumstances were not right to acknowledge the slight. Yet, inside our hearts the offense remains, festering and hardening into a knot of unforgiveness.

Those slight offenses build up bringing with them bitterness, anger, and the spirit of the grudge. They change how we act toward the people who have offended us. They keep us from acting in real love towards those around us.

Most concerning, however, is how these offenses hinder us from a genuine relationship with the Father. Unforgiveness keeps us out of the will of God. It blocks our own forgiveness, and keeps us from our blessings. (Matthew 6:15)

Don't let yourself get fooled into thinking that holding onto a grudge isn't sin. Just because you haven't openly addressed your anger does not mean that it does not exist. If anything, the hidden anger does more damage, eating away at your heart and causing damage to your spirit. Eventually that damage leaks into your behavior and causes you to act in ways that are not pleasing to the Lord.

God sees straight to your heart. He sees all the "knots" of unforgiveness. He can recognize the grudges you secretly hold. Nothing is hidden from Him.

So, today, take some time to examine your heart. Are you holding on to secret offenses? Are you harboring unforgiveness?

Don't let another day pass without you releasing those things to the Father. Choose to forgive and move on. Allow the spirit to ease the pain of your offense and release you into the freedom of being in right standing with Him.

Verse of the Day: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Today Is Your Day!

It's a new day! You're in a new place facing something you've never faced before. You have the opportunity to do something new, achieve something you never have, go somewhere you've never gone.

God woke you up on purpose this morning. He has kept you alive to fulfill something for His Kingdom. It's up to you to get with Him and figure out just what that is. Don't think of today as just any ordinary day.

Philip was in his lane, preaching the gospel and bringing souls into the Kingdom when an angel spoke to him and interrupted his flow. Philip's obedience to the angel led him to a man of great influence who he led to the Lord. And when Philip's work was done, he was caught up in the spirit to a whole different city! (Acts 8:29-40)

Who knows what God wants to do with you today?

Today could be your day to receive your blessing. Today could be your day to be a blessing. Today, a new door of promise could open. Today your purpose could come into fruition.

No matter what, today is your day! Grab hold to it, get with God, and make the most of these 24 hours. Expect greatness. Look for the miraculous. Anticipate with joy God's movement on behalf.

You're not sitting there breathing for nothing, God's going to use you today!

Verse of the Day: Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Psalm 89:15, 16