One Or The Other?

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, load me with desire to seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your insight to righteousness. Hold my attention constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: 1 John 1:8–9

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 

truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all 

unrighteousness.

Verse of the day-PSALM 46:10

“Be still and know that I am God.I will be praised in all the nations;I will be praised throughout the earth.”

Today’s reading:  Job 28-29 Acts 13:1-25 

One Or The Other?

When you have a time with the Lord in your day, it must never be just read God’s word or just pray or just study. We need some of all these things for the Holy Spirit to ‘teach us all things and remind us’(John 14:26; Matthew 28:20). If we truly intend to seek God and love Him with all our heart, soul and mind, we must be determined to find a time slot-before all gets started or after-and make it as part of your life you cannot live without-because we cannot live in Christ(Galatians 2:20) and walk in the Spirit(Galatians 5:16) without this great life effort.

In the NBA draft, when the young men chosen are asked how it all happened, many have said, “I put in the work”. Some have come from a life of poverty to being millionaires by much hard work. Their coaches and friends speak of how hard they have worked but now they must work just as hard to stay where they are and advance because nothing is guaranteed.

A close walk with God is not automatic-it is not a given. What is given to each of us in Christ is everything thing we need to know all that God has for us and to perform the works He has prepared for us to do(Romans 8:32).

Our lives must center on God and ‘returning to Him”. Two verses in the Old Testament, God says, “Return to me and I’ll return to you”(Zechariah 1:3 and Malachi 3:7).

You will find, when meeting God on His terms, that it is not just returning to Him but constantly ‘turning’ to Him. Walking with God is having your best friend with you at all times-all the bad and all the good. We become aware of God’s living presence-His present and endless love and provision for us. His peace and joy inexhaustible.

So ask God to train you up-to show you how to study and read and do all He wants for you to do to be where He wants you to be.

...because He loves you, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come and Your desire in my heart to obey as in Heaven. Give me a sense of knowing how to schedule my reading and study to Your glory.

Forgive me for making excuses. Lead me away from evil laziness.

Father who sings over us,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen

Freedom