Put In The Work

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:    Luke 9:23-24

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Memory verse: Romans 8:32 ►He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  

Today's reading: 1 SAMUEL 27-29 LUKE 13:1-22

Put in The Work

Paul tells Timothy, (and us), to set an example in the things in 1 Timothy 4:12. We live in this world pushed by greed and the need for acceptance and somehow forget that we are being watched all the time by someone who does need a positive spiritual example.

This is good if we are on top of all these things but getting lazy and letting our guards down is all too easy. We must guard our hearts.

Proverbs 4:23-Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

1 Timothy 4:12...set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

It simply takes hard work. But to work on these things individually is the wrong direction. Working on our God-consciousness and seeking His kingdom(Matthew 6:33) will insure our hearts are in the right place and all these other things will fall into place. But it will not happen on its own. Be diligent and watchful.

1 Peter 5:8-Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

But how do we guard our hearts? If something was flying at you in a high wind what would you do? We naturally would throw up our hands or find something to jump behind. Natural self preservation...

To be God-conscious is soul preservation. We have the armor of God-the shield to hide behind-the Divine power of God-but if we don't put in the work to live in Him, guarding our hearts will not come 'naturally'.

Put in the work...

...because He loves us..

Father in Heaven,

I am lazy. Have mercy and fill me with concern for focusing on You every heartbeat.

Gracious and merciful Father,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen