Dethrone Self

I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 1 Corinthians 15:31

Me, me, me, me! No one likes to be around people who are puffed up and arrogant and always talking about their achievements and themselves. To be a believer takes humility and dying to self daily. No one is perfect and can slip up. I have done it but I try not to.  It is a process of learning to put others before yourself.

It is easy to get into your own thing and not think of others. I can think of a few friends who seems like they are always 'Johnny on the spot' when it comes to sincere caring and prayer. The kind who always have time if you make time for them. This is something all of us need to work on as many things in our busy world drag us away and distract us from more important things.

Do not guilt yourself and beat up on yourself but ponder if this is something you need to work on. Each person has to come to the decision on their own. Also don't compare yourself to others as each of us is gifted in many areas. Just remember as it says in Romans 12:3 to not think more highly of yourself than you ought to. 

PRAYER: I need to die to self daily Lord and I need help with time management so I don't waste time on just me but have time to share your love with others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Deliver Me From Myself

And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

Sometimes our biggest problem can be our self. Self can be notorious for trying to worry too much or even trying to capture too much attention. Maybe self can not stop saying wrong things and hurting people. Perhaps self tries to do things it's own way. Maybe self likes to exalt itself or other things before God. The main thing is 'self' is not supposed to be on the throne of our life. God is supposed to occupy that place. The question is "does he" or "do you even want Him too?" If you do it takes dying to yourself many times. 

What do you need to do to not be self occupied and self centered? Our Facebook stuff can be really fun to do at times but if not careful can borderline on putting 'self' on display. Self is the root for the word selfish meaning 'devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits,welfare, etc., regardless of others.' I do not know about you but I certainly do not want to be thought of as selfish or uncaring. Self centered people and selfish people are not much fun to be around. Jesus was truly our example of how to not live for yourself but to put others needs first. 

So today try to find ways to ask yourself if you are being focused on self too much. This could include even having self pity. As Joyce Meyer says "no one likes to attend pity parties" and that is so true. Try to let the self monster inside of you die and put God on the throne in all areas. 

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord for the times I have thought of myself more highly than I should or have gone the opposite way and thrown a pity party. Help me to always think of others as better than myself. In Jesus' name. Amen.

No Time For God

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Matthew 6:24

God allows certain things for a reason. Sometimes there are people who want nothing to do with church, God, or the Bible as they have no time for Him and are disappointed or angry because of a death of someone close.  Perhaps they think they are 'good enough' and Sunday is their only day for recreation and they certainly do not care to be in a stuffy formal church wasting their time. Only the Holy Spirit can bring conviction of this to those wandering away from the Lord. It may be hurtful to parents who see their adult children turn their back on God or maybe not raise their grandchildren for the Lord.

 This world we live in today is a challenge for the believer. Wrong things are being made to seem right and even accepted by some believers. The truth is the truth but Satan has made God's word twisted to some who want to accept a lie as truth. If a believer follows the guidelines in the Bible they are old fashioned to some or a little freaky.

We are not going to answer to our friends. We are not going to answer to someone at the lake. We are not going to answer to someone on the bike trail. We are only going to answer to Jesus. His heart is broken when He knows there are people who have accepted Him that are being distracted by the enemy.

Wherever you are today ask yourself am  I close  to God or running from Him. No one knows the day or hour of Jesus return. Do you desire more of Him? If not maybe it is time to rededicated your life to Christ or ask Him in your heart for the first time.

Make time for Jesus my friend! It is your choice.

 PRAYER: Lead me to the cross Lord and help me as I seek to turn from things distract me from the truth. I run to you Lord. I want to honor you Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.