#YourTimeWithGodDoesntHaveGod [part 1] 2017.08.22
Each & every morning, we choose to not have a miserable day (well, i at least hope so!) But how often do we wake up, and hit the snooze button, and roll over, and "want" 5 more minutes of something-that's-not-sleep (bc you can't sleep). But you oversleep and now you're rushing around, shower, clothes aren't pressed, down some quick breakfast, forgot your cellphone @ home and end up rushing into work... But more importantly, you did not start your day off properly, and have your quiet time. You can go to church, listen to gospel music all day, attend weekday services, reaching out with others to talk\rebuke\confess\pray, attend a conference or retreat... You can listen to all that's been presented before you, but if you're not studying God's Word, then you're not doing something right. Listening to people preach about God isn't good enough - you need to study. We need to spend time with God each & every day.
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. | ||
Psalm 27:4 |
If we don't start our day with God, then we are literally choosing to leave Him out - and He is offended by that. We need God more than we need sleep, or our pastor's sermons, ... bc He is all powerful & does things for us in our lives. We know this and yet, do we go to bed with the intent of waking up earlier to give our first moments of the day to God? Do we go to bed late, with the subconscious confirmation that tomorrow probably won't start with God (let's be serious here...) There is no way that we can be the people that God's is making us to be without our quiet times each & every day.
Each morning is a fresh start - ever notice how great things feel in the morning? It's the best opportunity to repent for all of our mistakes & wrongdoings from yesterday.
19I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. | ||
Lamentations 3:19-23 |
God makes a new batch of mercy because we used up all of yesterday's. God's mercy is something we need to take in each & every moment. You're day will suck if you live under condemnation. There is no way to have a great day if we don't allow to take in God's grace & forgiveness. We need to choose to have a great day, and that starts with acknowledging God & His gifts.
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. | ||
Psalm 118:24 |
Our day or lives in a day, are like a room - If we don't choose to fill it with God, then we leave it empty for the devil to come in & decorate. We have so much to be thankful, we can never run out of material. When I taught kid's class, we'd start each class with "good news" - each student (and us teachers) would offer up something great that we're thankful for from our past 7 days. Most of the time, we'd have to limit the kids because they were sharing way too much (and that's a great thing but we were pressed for time), but every now & then, we'd get someone who wouldn't, or didn't, have anything good to share about. And I'd simply yell out another student's name, and they would speak out, "you're alive, you're family's breathing, you had breakfast this morning..." No matter what you may be going thru, or where your head (or heart) is at, there is always plenty that we can be thankful to God over.
When we receive God's mercy, and then start making decisions... decisions with God in mind.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. | ||
Ephesians 6:11-18 |
"Putting our armor on" means receiving God's mercy and making a decision to acknowledge our station in God - We are God's children. Putting on this armor protects us from the devil. When a person is covered in armor, the last thing on their mind is "Is my breastplate on right, or upside-down? Is this part of my body exposed?" When you are covered in armor, you are unstoppable. You know this, and your actions show it. Nothing will penetrate your armor and touch you! Wearing the shoes of peace means that, although we don't know what the day has in store, we are up for it to not only stay in peace, but look for peace in every situation.
When we start our day with contempt, bitterness or something else that's sinful, we are choosing to plan our day to be horrible. We need to take time to make decisions on what we're going to do today - The devil's going to do what he wants to do, the world's going to do what it wants to do, so we better make decisions on what we're going to do. Because if we choose not to, then the devil (and the world) will make those decisions for us.
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. |
Decide ahead of time. Get up & decide that you're day is going to be in agreement with God - Don't wait to see what happens. Look at the commanding verbs in Ephesians 6:11-18: "put on the armor of God... take up the shield of faith... take up the helmet of salvation..." You need to take action, it does not say "do nothing and let it unravel before you".
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless andaffectionately praise His name! | ||
Psalm 100:4 [Amplified] |
If you are thankful towards God, tell Him! If you're thankful, then say so. If you're appreciative for someone, tell them! Don't tell them all of the wrong things that they do but share with them the things that you're grateful for! The good things in people far outweigh their bad. What are you thankful for? Do you thank God daily for the little things? This has to happen each & every day.
Each morning, we need to rededicate our lives to God.
Lord, I put my life in your hands | ||
Psalm 25:1 [ERV] |
We need to submit ourselves to God each & every day, giving Him everything - our mind, body, actions, money, time...
