Jesus First, Facebook Second!

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.Colossians 3:1-2

What is the first thing you do after getting up each day? Many folks like to get a cup of java and sit down and check their Facebook friends. No one is faulting Facebook, but is finding out about your friend's lives really going to improve your day?The best thing I think for starting out your day right, and believe me it does take discipline, is opening up God's word and reading some scripture to hide in your heart for your busy day ahead. Often times morning news, the paper, or Facebook can squeeze God totally out of the picture. Ask yourself why it is necessary to know every detail of a life and check it later on during day if you are really compelled. 

A Christian life requires discipline. Similar to athletes who train to run races, we as believers have to train ourselves for the battles ahead in our own life. Our enemy Satan wants to make you believe listening to a Christian radio station on the way to work or going to church for one hour is enough but it is not. Well it is if you want to remain a babe in Christ and never seek maturity. 

I challenge my readers today if you have a problem with spending too much time on Facebook and very little time in God's word, make a plan to change that and ask God to help you. Use your Facebook as a tool to witness for Him as well. 

PRAYER: I confess to you many days I get up and run to social media when I know it does not matter anyway. Give me the strength to do important things first and more importantly give me the desire for reading your word. Help me resist Satan's attempts to get me off course. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Everyone Needs Discipline

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.Proverbs 29:15

Recently I was at a concert in a church where a group of grade school age children were left on their own and were running around the front of the auditorium and sitting on the altar rails and no adult supervision was being rendered. Sitting on altar rails is not appropriate or respectful behavior nor is running around in front of people watching a concert. Whoever the adult in charge was, needed to set some guidelines and boundaries. If children do not learn to follow rules now they could indeed become unruly adults and could even end up in detention at school or in jail. Discipline is not a bad thing. 

Discipline is an essential part of life for raising children to be obedient respectful adults. Just as the verse today says, a child with no rules indeed will bring his mom, and his dad, to shame. It is up to parents to teach a child with love and firmness if they want an adult who is a good member of society and a good future spouse. One thing to remember is to not automatically assume a criminal on the side of the road had bad parents because sometimes people get in with the wrong crowd. It is our place to pray and not judge.

Start today and give God thanks for the way you were raised. If you are a young parent make sure not to be afraid to be the one in charge. God wants us to be disciplined and to that discipline add the discipline of reading the Bible and praying daily. 

PRAYER: I love you Lord. I thank you for disciplining me when I need it. In Jesus' name. Amen.

DISCIPLINED?

Discipline and self control are two things that go hand in hand. You need discipline in many  areas of your life.

Let's say you are a student, you would need to discipline yourself to study. If you are trying to lose weight you need discipline to eat right and get to the gym. If you are addicted to something you need discipline to overcome the addiction. Young adults starting out on their own need to have financial discipline to build up a savings account for emergencies and their future. When you are angry or upset you have to use discipline and self control to not spout off and start a fight.  These are  just a few examples.

Where in your life do you need to improve your discipline? The United States military is a great place to learn discipline. Some of my military readers  know the rigors of training and things they just do not tolerate in the armed forces. You have to be disciplined in order to be effective in war time.

Are you disciplined in your spiritual life? Do you regularly spend time with God reading His word and praying? Why is it many feel Sunday,for one hour, is quite enough? How can we grow to be more like Christ if we are not practicing His presence in all areas of life?

1 Timothy 4:8(NIV) says 'For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life that is to come.'

Does Jesus have first place in your life? If not what do you need to do to get disciplined for a godly life?

PRAYER: Today Lord I will ignore the devils' attempts to get me to busy or distracted to spend time with you. Help me Lord discipline myself to re- do my daily schedule to make sure I give you quality time. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ARE YOU DISCIPLINED? REALLY?

Discipline is something I know lots about after a stint of six years in the US Army. You have to be disciplined to follow orders in the Armed Forces or you do not succeed. If you are not disciplined when you go in you surely will be when you get out or they will perhaps put you out earlier than expected.

 Discipline comes in many forms, You must be disciplined to wake up in the morning and get to work or you will get fired. You must be disciplined to control your emotions or words or you could get in serious trouble. You must have discipline to not eat too much or you will become overweight. You must be disciplined to work out to keep in shape. You must be disciplined to follow rules of society or you will get into big trouble.Your parents hopefully instilled discipline in you as a child that if you had children you passed on to them.

The best discipline that many seem to forget about or put off to the side is the discipline of staying in the word of God. I did not say 'going to church' which is important but disciplined to grow in Christ on a daily basis through prayer and reading the word of God. Maybe you have no desire to do something other than Sunday. Then I would ask you to examine your heart and see if you ever truly asked Jesus to be Lord of your life. When you love someone you want to be with them all the time. Do you feel that way about Jesus?

2 Timothy 2:15 says "Study to show thyself approved a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth."  Hebrews 12:11 says " No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace by those who have been trained by it."
If you are not disciplined and feel joyful about reading the Bible ask God to help you. Matthew 22:37 says " love the Lord your God with all your heart,soul, and mind."

PRAYER: Lord I know Satan would distract me from getting into the word and knowing you better. The things of this world may try to lure me away. Give me your strength to make daily Bible reading part of my every day life. In Jesus name. Amen.

DISCIPLINES FOR 2012

We are now into the 3rd day of 2012. Parades are over and many are headed back to work after a long break. Time to get going and back to normal again as the saying goes. In your list of New Years resolutions did you include being disciplined? As mentioned in a previous devotion, many include weight loss on list of things to do for the new year but many do not follow through. Sounds doable but then when the 'rubber meets the road' the dedication and discipline are just not there. What do you do about that? First you make up your mind just how important being in shape and being healthy is. You can do something if it is really important enough to you but it takes Discipline. There is that nasty little word again. For those of us who have served in the military we know what discipline is, but a normal civilian can acquire this valuable trait as well with some dedication, desire and hard work.

Discipline is required to get up in the morning. Discipline is required to not spout off to people when you feel like saying something ugly. Discipline is required when completing your housework so you do not just go lay down somewhere and leave your home dirty. Discipline is required in looking for a job. You just can not give up. Discipline is required in getting an education. Sometimes things in life are hard and you have to stick with it to gain the reward. A doctor works hard in school for years before gaining the title 'medical doctor' which he can wear with pride. For marathon runners much discipline is needed to keep going when their body hurts and they feel like giving up.

The most important discipline you should be working on in 2012 is that of putting God first. I mean really first!! Not praying "Oh Lord I want you first in my life" then expecting a magic wand to be waved over you and 'voila', you are more spiritual. No, what is required is getting up and setting aside time to be alone with Jesus. Before the day is cluttered with all of its' busy activities make sure you put God in there. Pencil Him in on your 'to do' list and do not leave Him as an after thought. How many well meaning Christians do their Sunday thing going off to church and possibly Sunday school then the entire week goes by and the Bible is not picked up one single time? Does this describe you? When this happens you are giving the Devil a foothold and a grand opportunity to come into your mind and get you to believe lies and get you depressed and agitated. You must stay connected to the word of God and do it regularly.

Is reading the Bible important to you? I am not talking about getting on some rote plan where you read the Bible through in a year but really you were just reading and it did nothing for you. I am referring to studying God's word daily and applying it to your everyday life. You need Jesus every day so you can live victoriously above the junk our culture throws at you. 2 Timothy 2:15 says "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." Colossians 2:8 says "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." You can study the world's ways or you can study God's ways. It is your choice.

What is more important to you watching the nightly news to 'stay informed' or reading God's word to 'stay informed'? Think about that one for a while.  1 John 2:17 says "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

Do you want to be spiritually disciplined in 2012? Start now with a plan to get up daily and pray and read God's word. Do not start making excuses for why you can't. Start with a simple reading plan. Take whatever day it is today say the 3rd and read Psalm 3 and Proverbs 3 to start. Proverbs has 31 chapters so that is a perfect book to get started on at the first of each month. Make God a priority in 2012.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I am committed to being better disciplined in 2012 in getting into the word of God. I know the only way to combat the enemies lies is to quote the word of God. I desire to know your word better and let it guide my life. Help me to resist making excuses as I seek to get closer to you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Note: To help you on your spiritual journey I have included a link to a wonderful praise and worship song. Click on link and praise God!
http://youtu.be/ODatqyzberM