ROOTED OR WILTED?

Are your "roots" deep in the soil of God's word or when the first storm comes into your life do you wilt and blow away with the wind? Think about plants in a garden. The ones that get proper care in the form of water and fertilizer will usually have deep roots and grow healthy and strong. Those that get neglected will cease to become thriving plants and may even die before producing fruit.

In your spiritual life do you neglect reading the word of God? Do you feel Sunday is enough to suffice and get you through the week ahead? Has being called a Christian become mundane and more of a "title" more than something you really are?

As I sit writing this devotion I am in a coffee shop that plays Christian praise and worship music. It is lifting my spirit just being in here. I want to raise my hands and sing.

Do you seek more of God or have you become satisfied and are wilting on the vine of life? It is necessary to feed on the word of God on a regular basis to stay strong.

Psalm119:11(NIV) says 'I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.' How can you be armed for the battles coming your way without the word of God to make you strong? Start today and grow in grace and truth by feeding daily on His word.

PRAYER: Lord I do thank you for giving us your Holy word as our guidebook for life. Without it I am weak and become fearful. I choose to stay strong and grow strong by feeding on it daily. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click link for a powerful song of worship.

http://youtu.be/6Jo3y_XoHHQ

SPOON FED?

Are you a spiritual baby? By this I mean do you show up at church on Sunday without even your heavenly "instruction" manual , the Bible, and expect the preacher, priest, or rabbi to "spoon feed" you or are you capable of doing it yourself? Do you require a bottle and baby food or can you eat meat? Something to ponder. If we expect to grow up and become mature we learn to feed ourselves. Why should it be any different with "spiritual food"? Do you want to remain in a high chair or booster seat all your life? Of course not.

In 1 Corinthians 3:2(NIV) we are told the following 'I gave you milk not solid food for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready.' Are you spiritually mature or still sucking a baby bottle? We have to grow up beyond John 3:16 and Psalm 23 which almost all people exposed to church are familiar with. The enemy does his very best to try to get you to stay spiritual babes as then you do not grow into spiritual maturity and have no power to really defeat the onslaught of things that will come your way. If Satan can make you think you really do not need to read a Bible or study it then he has done his job. Remember it says in John 10:10 that he comes to "kill, steal, and destroy." Take a moment and read John Chapter 10.

To be mature you need training and food to grow to stay healthy. In our spiritual walk that training is not just church once a week but it is taking time to study the Bible on your own and also in a small group. Do you desire to grow more Christlike or do you just want to stay ignorant of what God has in store for you in the word of God? It is called the truth and is the way to Eternal Life.

Today I urge you to make an effort to become mature in Christ. Do you desire to be spiritually mature and have the "meat" of His word or are you satisfied being mediocre and being a babe in Christ? My prayer is all of those who read this grow up strengthened by the power that is in the word.

PRAYER: Dear Lord thank you that I have access to a Bible. I often do not give it the priority I should. I know Lord I need more of you in my life. I am aware the enemy tries to throw me off course and wants me to be spiritually starved. I choose to grow up in Christ. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click on link and worship in song.

http://youtu.be/y3GmSupatEs

Note:If you missed yesterdays' devotion and would like to read it you can access any past devotions at www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com.

RECHARGE YOUR BATTERY

Mobile communication devices, known as cell phones, not only sometimes need a Wi Fi connection but they are also in need of keeping a "charge" or the battery runs out. On a recent trip to our Nations Capitol mine "died" numerous times and I had no place to plug it in. Now I have bought a portable charger for the next time.

Charging a cell phone only once a week would not get service for very long. People are so concerned about losing contact with the outside world when their battery dies, but what about the "spiritual" battery? By this I mean that one hour in church plus a whole lot more. A one hour "pep talk" in church each Sunday is not adequate for keeping your "spiritual battery" charged.

So what to do you, might say? First, fall in love with Jesus! Next, make Bible reading a daily priority. It is only through looking at "His book" and getting the words of Christ inside of you that you will be able to grow and be fully prepared to keep going and going and going.

Matthew 5:6(NIV) says 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.' Why not go to God's "charging station" today and fill your mind with the things of Christ in order to keep going when life throws you a curve ball.

PRAYER: Today Lord I am sorry to say I have not always picked up the word of God. Sometimes not even on Sunday. Forgive me for allowing the enemy to put thoughts in my head that Sunday was "enough". I need to have you in my life around the clock in order to keep charged up for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ONE A DAY

Have you taken your "spiritual vitamin" today? We seem to do everything else but take care of the "spirit man" dwelling inside of us 

Get  up. Check.

Brush teeth. Check.

Shower. Check.

Get dressed. Check.

Eat breakfast. Check.

Read the paper. Check.

Watch the morning show. Check.

Are you forgetting something? You have neglected to take your dose of "spiritual vitamins" for the day. Staying healthy spiritually is oh so very vital yet  how many fail to bother looking at their Bible till Sunday rolls around and then maybe not. Many may think that just being  on the church membership rolls is enough or being baptized. I hate to tell you, but it is not.

To stay growing and healthy in the Lord it is necessary to have regular time with Him reading His word and praying. How can you expect to be able to handle things when life gets tough, and it usually will, if you are not rooted and grounded in God's word? How do you know what is right or wrong if you do not study the word? Do not just make it something you hear on Sunday.

Colossians 2:7(NIV) reminds us ''Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.' If you have not started a regimen of taking those "spiritual vitamins"  why not do it today? 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I know just like taking regular vitamins to help my physical body be healthy and well, I have to take my "spiritual vitamin" as well. Give me the desire to let you be first in my life and not just say it. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

ARE YOU GROWING OR DYING?

When you get up each day what do you do? Perhaps you take a shower. Then get the morning newspaper. Next you maybe turn on the morning show on TV. Of course you eat breakfast or have a cup of coffee. In your morning "to do" list where does God fit in? Is He there at all or some after thought if there is time?

You can not grow in Christ by not purposely making sure you add "time with the Lord" on the "to do" list of your daily life. Don't know how? It is not hard. Almost every American home has a Bible. We are allowed to have one whereas in some countries you can be jailed for having a Bible. Maybe you envy those who can quote scripture. The way to acquire this skill is to open the Bible.

Spiritual growth requires spiritual nourishment. Do you want to be a Christian in name only or do you want to be victorious in Christ living a life of joy and fullness in Him?

Plants can not grow without sunshine, water and perhaps some fertilizer or plant food. Likewise our human bodies need to be cared for and fed in order to grow. The spiritual part of us needs to be able to resist the arrows and problems Satan is sure to throw at us and the only way to be properly equipped is to study the Bible. Make it part of your morning routine. This might require you getting up a few minutes earlier and making sure Christ comes first not as an afterthought. Arm yourself with the word of God. Pray and ask Him to guide you through the day ahead. Hide the word of God in your heart to make you strong.

2 Timothy 2:15(AKJV) says 'Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' Are you studying daily? Make God's word first place in your life today. In Psalm 94:19(NASB) it says 'When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.' When the cares of the world are weighing down on you only God's words will bring you peace. Why not start today to make growth in Christ a priority in each day?

PRAYER: Father thank you for the Bible, the Holy Word of God. Forgive me when I have neglected reading it and allow my day to be filled with so many other unimportant things. I know it is only through you Lord that I can get the strength I need for each day. In Jesus' name. Amen.