Daily Living

Daily Living

Learning to love God and trust him in our daily living is as essential as breathing. We all need reminders of how good God is and what Jesus Christ can do for us. 

Psalm 118:24: "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

Lamentations 3:22-23: "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Day 241: God First

Matthew 6:33 NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

         Daily living is where we learn to live out what it is we claim to believe. There has been a process from the very beginning of 359˚ of beauty devotionals that has remained constant, get up in the morning and spend time with Jesus Christ. This verse tells us practically what to do every day. Seek God’s kingdom first. Seek His wisdom first. Pursue His righteousness first. If and when we grant God our first attention, the premise in scripture here implies that everything that we tend to worry about and strive for will be granted to us.

         Now, I have spent most of my life NOT doing this very thing. I have awakened more times in my life and got about my own business instead of spending time with Jesus. At this point in my early forties, I have learned that when I do get up and intentionally spend time with Jesus, I am far better off than the days I get up and just start working for myself or my family. This very habit has turned into a deep desire to pursue the Lord. I am always a work in progress, but I can honestly say that the work is being done. Learning how to love others is now what my life is about, along with balancing that out with learning how to love myself too. There are a few key thoughts that have driven me to this deep desire to spend time with Jesus…

         I asked myself a simple question, whose integrity would I prefer to operate under? Ultimately, we are held accountable for all our actions. This is clearly outlined in scripture. We will even be held accountable to what we have done with the grace and mercy we have received (See Matthew 7:21; Revelation 20:11-15). In learning how to answer this question, it occurred to me that every day has trouble, but whose authority do I want to submit to, Man’s or God’s? The answer is seemingly clear, God’s authority.

         In understanding that our desire should be to rest under God’s authority, should we then do what He is advising us to do in His word? Why would we not follow the outlines provided in His commands? I found very quickly that it was significantly easier for me to rest in God’s authority when I had spent time with Him first. I was not relying on what I may have read a couple of days ago, or the sermon I heard over the weekend. It was not that it made me mistake free, it helped me have a greater sense of my mistakes and how to navigate the road ahead. I found that I would rather rest in God's integrity than my own. At the end of the day, regardless of what had happened, I knew that I could trust that God was with me because I had spent time with Him. While his Holy Spirit is with us at all times, we don't always listen very well to it. By spending the morning in the word, it is easier to hear the Holy Spirit as you walk throughout your day.

         So, seek first God's Kingdom! It will help you become a better steward of what you have been given.

Dear Sovereign God,

         Thank You for another day. It is under Your authority that we desire to operate in this world. Your word says to seek You first in all Your righteousness, so that is what we intend to do. Jesus, we are thankful for the grace that You provide when we fail to put You as our first priority in our day and life. It is our heart's desire to learn Your ways, grace, and word. Would You help us be anchored in Your Holy Spirit as we go throughout our day. Grant us to see the beauty that surrounds us through Your grace. Thank You for the forgiveness that we have received through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrected life. Thank You for the promises that You have granted us through Jesus. In Christ Jesus name we pray, Amen

Day 242: Trust God First

Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

         How do we learn how to trust God with all our hearts and not lean on ourselves? This is probably the 64-million-dollar question that everyone would like an answer to in their lives. While many quote this verse to others in difficult situations, is it really that encouraging of a verse to use? Of course it is, but practically living this one out is probably the struggle we can all admit we have.

         So then, how do we live this one out? It all hinges around one word… ALL… We can have trust in God with ALL things. Notice here that it says trust in the Lord with all our hearts, not our minds. This is important, because it is within our heart that our core beliefs in God remain. Remember, upon accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we were granted a NEW heart in which the Holy Spirit dwells. This means that we access God’s Spirit to base our trust.

         The next section is where this scripture really gets good. While we trust with our Holy Spirit filled heart, we do NOT rely on our understanding of things. This means that our thoughts about how and why things are, may not be the reliable source of information in all circumstances. This concept is important to how this Proverb teaches us to be. Our minds are not always reliable, therefore trust God and His provision in our lives.

         In the next issuance of the word ALL, we find it in our response. This scripture tells us in ALL our ways to acknowledge God. This is the action we must learn how to take in response to all situations in our lives. If we understand our minds may not be reliable at times and we make it our desire to honor the Lord, we frame our worldview with the concept that God is always sovereign. When we allow this belief to guide our lives, the path before us becomes straightforward. We are not negotiating the ebbs and flows of life; we are relying on God to navigate every circumstance. When we find ourselves in this place, seeing God’s beauty becomes easier over time. God is leading the expedition through this world, and we get to enjoy the view of everything unfolding. So, if you face something difficult today, pause and pray, acknowledge God and let Him navigate for you instead of relying on your own strength.

Dear Reigning Father,

         Thank You for the reminder that You are sovereign and always driving our lives. Let us acknowledge You in all our ways today. Lord, Your word guides and teaches us to rely on Your sovereign grace and knowledge to guide our steps. May we pause and pray, opening ourselves up to listen in this hurried lifestyle most of us live within. May our response acknowledge who You are to us Jesus and become conduits of Your grace throughout our days. May others see You are work deep within us refining all that we are. May we be teachable, humble, and fix our trust in You Jesus. In Christ Jesus authority we are thankful for His grace, and we pray for His peace to come, amen.

Day 243: Rejoice in God First

Psalm 118:24 NLT

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

         Rejoicing is hard! Sometimes it is simply very difficult to show great joy, happiness, or delight in our lives. I know this is true because I have personally had many days swallowed up with grief from the moment I woke up, until the moment I fell asleep again. Yet, depending on what version of the bible you choose to read we can find this word, similar command, or some form of this idea anywhere between 200 to 280 different times throughout the scriptures. This is a significant amount of rejoicing…

         So how do we do it? This verse grants us insight into how we can do it. Today has been made by our Creator - Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. We must acknowledge the source of this day in our lives. It really helps when we do this early in the morning by expressing thanksgiving to Him. This sets the tone and helps anchor us in the truth for the day. Knowing our day is being established by our Creator settles us to know He has set the day in motion and we are watching to see how it plays out.

         The next half of the verse is the practical way we are to live out the rejoicing we are commanded to have. We WILL rejoice AND be glad in it. Will power is key but also knowing there is a day full of opportunities to be joyful, express happiness, or delight towards God is ahead. This is a future outcome built in anticipation of recognizing that the Lord has made the day! There is always a way to rejoice in the day. All we need to do is seize the day, rejoice, and be glad in it; even if sometimes you are simply glad it is over and you survived!

         Don’t worry, scripture makes this rejoicing a requirement repeatedly.

Old Testament Commands to Rejoice (NASB):

·        Psalm 32:11 - "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart."

·        Psalm 33:1 - "Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright."

·        Psalm 97:12 - "Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to His holy name."

·        Psalm 100:1–2 - "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing."

·        Zephaniah 3:14 - "Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!"

·        Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

New Testament Commands to Rejoice (NASB):

·        Matthew 5:11–12 - "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great..."

·        Romans 12:12 - "Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer..."

·        Romans 12:15 - "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

·        Philippians 3:1 - "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord."

·        Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!"

·        1 Thessalonians 5:16 - "Rejoice always..."

·        1 Peter 4:13 - "...but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."

         This is by no means a comprehensive list of our commands to rejoice, but it becomes increasingly evident that we are to be filled with rejoicing in our lives, because our God is infinite in His grace and mercy. We have much to rejoice over! So, REJOICE, AGAIN we say REJOICE!

Dear Rejoice-able Father,

         Thank You for being so amazing that we can be overwhelmed with joy, happiness, and delight! Father, You have done so many things in our lives that we should be overwhelmed with elation towards Your Holy Spirit displaying the awesome nature of Your grace. Jesus, the fact that You would love us so much to die upon the cross for our sins, pay our penalties, and then forgive us as we work towards sinning less in our lives is simply beyond comprehension. Thank You, thank You, thank You! Teach us to rejoice in all things and give us a spirit of joy that goes beyond comprehension so that others may see what You have done in us and we can rejoice in telling them the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ! It's in Christ Jesus name we rejoice and pray, Amen!

Day 244: Stand with God First

Galatians 2:20 NASB

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Praise Jesus for this truth! As believers and followers, we live- but wholly different!!! This is a Holy Spirit power that goes far beyond our comprehension. We are constantly putting ourselves to death repeatedly as we continuously pick up the same sin nature again and again. Why do we allow this chaos and insane nature to dominate our lives? It is probably related to how we feel and picture ourselves.

I know for me, there are ample opportunities in everyday to practice the feeling of being overwhelmed and inadequate. If I am not careful, I can live in that world in my mind. I often visit these cycles when I am not adequately fixing my eyes on Jesus Christ’s work and power.

Ultimately, the same power that called Jesus out of the grave resides in us through the Holy Spirit. This is not something we can just sit on the shelf and access when we want to in life. The Holy Spirit is present in all things. This is Christ being alive in us. We are living through our belief in Jesus, and we acknowledge Him through our faith in His grace.

  So then, what does this look like in our daily life? Well, when we feel overwhelmed and inadequate we can always remind ourselves that we do not have to rely on our own strengths. We can remind each other that God will stand for us. He has already died for us, and He has promised He is coming back again to call us up to Him. Yet as we wait, He offered us several key pieces of advice that often go overlooked. Take for instance 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Being crucified with Christ we can stand upon the work the Lord is doing, not ourselves. It is our belief in God that makes us steadfast and immovable because we don't stand on our own accord. We stand in accordance with what God has done in and through us.

         When David stood before Goliath, he was steadfast and immovable in his belief that God was greater than the fears that existed. Yet he still had to decide which rock to put in his sling that would ultimately defeat Goliath. Sometimes standing firm is just that as Christian believers, it is us standing firm and being prepared with the whole truth of the gospel and armor of God to walk forward on behalf of what Christ has done.

Dear Steadfast Father,

         Thank You that it is no longer us that live but that it is You that lives within us. Thank You that we live by faith in the Son of God. Thank You that He loved us and gave Himself up for us by dying on the cross. Thank you for the opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others in our lives. Thank You for verses like 1st Corinthians 15:58 that command us to be steadfast and immovable excelling in the work of the Lord. Thank You for the proof of standing up against giants in our lives so that we may honor You. In Jesus Christ authority and power, amen. 

Day 245: Daily God comes First

Luke 9:23 NIV

Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'

         Oh, to deny oneself is not to deprive oneself, with God, it is to deny oneself to find the truest essence of who we are in Jesus Christ. This scripture is more than just setting yourself aside. It contains within it significantly more than a token economy within your own motives. This scripture is offering us a choice; we can choose ourselves or choose to walk in Jesus Christ’s footsteps.

         Many would argue that This scripture is about choosing something to give up. For instance, if I'm prone to gossip because it's in my nature to, I have to deny myself the opportunity to gossip. Another example would be if I'm struggling with an addiction, I choose to give it up for a period of time thus denying myself. Examples like these serve as evidence that people often use this verse to justify behavior modification when what they really need is the heart modification this verse is teaching us to embrace.

         If you notice here in the scripture there's a question that Jesus is proposing, “whoever wants to be my disciple.” Jesus is proposing an idea that is designed to change one's heart. After the question you see that there is an action of denying themselves, however, in place of denying self- there is a better alternative than just a behavior modification. The alternative is that we take up our cross. This concept is a choice not a denial. Jesus is offering us a choice to choose him and the burden that he would have for us over our own sin nature and humanity.

         Now it gets interesting, because Jesus has proposed a choice to us, he is telling us that this choice is made daily. This is where God has led me into a framework of thinking that really helps drive the daily choice of picking up a cross. Think about this for a moment, if I wait to spend my quiet time with Jesus until later in the day, how am I picking up my cross and following him? Where am I carrying the cross to? If I wait until bedtime, how far did I carry the cross? Straight into my bed. So, the question then becomes what does it mean to take up one’s cross daily and follow him? OR better yet, what is the cross?

         We are not necessarily crucifying ourselves every day as the cross typically represents in the Christian way of walking. Yes, there is suffering in our walk but the cross is significantly different and more powerful than that. When we take up our cross we are laying hold of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have a burden to share that with others in our life every single day. We choose to take up the cross as found in the gospel of Jesus Christ and share in that joy over our own ambition. It isn't a behavior modification it is heart modification. It takes a significant amount of time of wrestling with God's word, in the morning, to get to a place where you are comfortable sharing with others what God can do in their lives. If a person submits to the will of God and daily take up their cross, others may come to know Jesus as well. This becomes a cycle of growth that can become exponential.

Dear Faithful Father,

         Thank You for for the opportunity to choose to become Your disciples. It is humbling to think that You Father have given us an opportunity to share with others the glory of Your cross in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us choose to take up that gospel message that only You can provide and take it to others throughout the world. Lord God thank You for what the cross represents. The grace and peace that is encountered when we continually take up the cross goes beyond our comprehension and it shows that You are a faithful Jesus. Be with us today, it is in Christ Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Day 246: Thoughts and Words

Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

         We have covered this verse throughout this 359˚ of beauty devotional multiple times, yet it is always such a great reminder of how God’s word works in our lives. We must read it, study it, and live it all out to allow God to truly transform our minds. We become significantly different people over time spent with Jesus. It is a natural byproduct of being consistently exposed to the light of the gospel.

         This is where we must be very careful of the 1° of our field of view. Think about it for a minute, if you were to go to your screen time on your phone, what is likely going to be the highest app that you are using? Even now as I write this, other things are competing for my attention. It isn't easy compiling things on a digital device that you use for all kinds of other tasks. So much so that I have personally deleted social media apps off of my phone including YouTube which I use a lot to learn how to do new skills and to get tips when working on unique projects. It is extremely inconvenient at times when I'm elbow deep into working on a car and I really want to look at a YouTube video on my phone, yet that app has been deleted.

         One of the practical ways that I deal with this struggle is to compartmentalize the tools which I use for each thing. My laptop is used for writing in my inner room. My tablet is used for social media and YouTube. My phone is simply used as a communication tool with e-mail, text messaging, calendar, and phone calls plus all the apps that you get at various restaurants and whatnot. Finally, I have a large desktop computer for video, photography, and website editing. By keeping the use specific for each of these devices it allows me the freedom to keep things from becoming distractions when I need to be focused.

         This does not look like the world. We must learn how to utilize the tools of this world yet still allow God to transform us by changing the way we think. Sometimes it's even down to changing where, how, the tools, and what we think in this world. Most of our devices bring about the 1° of our field of view by focusing on the negative or the things that we desire to have that we don't. We must ask God to expose the beauty that surrounds everything including the technology we possess in our hands. Whether it is a technological device that you struggle against or an addiction we all need the transformational power of Jesus Christ in our lives.

         We do have to be careful about substituting the bad things for the good versus the transformational process of Jesus. Oftentimes we will put in place a good audio book or podcast and yet it does not take the place of the word of God. We can become podcast Christians when we should become biblical based Christ followers that want to spread the gospel everywhere they go. Part of living the 359˚ of beauty lifestyle is figuring out what works for you to access God’s transformative process in your thoughts and deeds.

Dear Transforming Father,

         Thank You for another day. Thank You that we can come to Your word and be transformed in our lives. Thank You for the renewing of our minds and the newness of our lives. Thank You for Your guidance to know the truth that comes from Your word. Lord, let us be ever more satisfied with Your work through Your word. Jesus, we are humbled that You would love us as much as You have and that we have access through the same Holy Spirit that resurrected You from the grave. Let us be humbly transformed by Your work for Your glory. Thank You for the abounding grace and peace that comes through to us in Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus Christ authority and power, amen.

Day 247: Thoughts and Words- where we should focus

Philippians 4:8 NIV

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

             This verse is truly inspirational, real pie in the sky type of stuff for those that don't truly understand the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of Jesus Christ. Let us be honest for a moment, we all struggle with where we choose to focus our thoughts and our words.

Father,

             Right now we need focus in our minds, and we are thankful we can come to You for help. We want to serve You and Your will in our lives. We need a purity of thought and focus to be mindful of You in all things. Teach us how to live this verse out in practical ways. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

             There are so many times when anxious and critical thoughts enter our minds. Yet we're commanded to take hold of those and own them in such a way that we are in control of them and they are not in control of us. It is much easier said than done. A real simple strategy to be able to take ownership is to simply write them down and then write the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or excellent and praiseworthy about the situation or anxious thoughts that we are having.

             Another very tangible way of dealing with these thoughts and facing the truth is finding a brother or sister in Christ that can help you reframe your thought process to make sure that it is done in such a way that it guards your heart. The most interesting part about this scripture is that when we choose to focus on all these things it eventually leads us to contentment. In the section that follows Philippians chapter 4 Paul talks about how to be content in all circumstances.

             Recently I found myself being tested by this process. There was an opportunity to view content an information being broadcasted into the world that would alter my thought process about a situation. One of the ways I have guarded myself is to not participate or choose to view things that are not praiseworthy or honoring Jesus. This does not make me better than anyone else, but it does protect my heart and mind which allows me to be content even in difficult situations. We have to protect our mind Sometimes in order to find the beauty of the things mentioned in the scriptures above and be able to focus on these very things.

             359° of beauty is exactly what this verse is ultimately asking us to do. We are to shift our thoughts and our focus on to the beautiful things of the Lord and not to the troubling things of the world. This does not mean we will always be happy or content, it's simply a method of which finding a greater peace in our lives. In fact Jesus says the opposite, so we are to expect trouble, but he promises that he is right there with us through it all working shoulder to shoulder.

Dear Praiseworthy Father,

             Thank You for another day and another opportunity to focus on the beauty that surrounds us. We are humbled to be in Your presence and to be covered by Your grace. Let us dwell in the safety of Your wings and may our minds be focused on Your beauty and majesty. You Jesus are an amazing provider and gracious King. How You love us well. May be take our thoughts captive and seek to honor you in our work. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Day 248: Don’t let the sun go down on emotions

Ephesians 4:26 NASB

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.

         This is truly an interesting verse for so many of us. Anger tends to drive action faster than any other emotion that we experience. It is the catalyst in so many moments of pain and anguish throughout our lives. At some level, everyone has experience with this emotion, whether it is a personal struggle or you are the recipient of someone else’s anger, we have all experienced it. This scripture is powerful and extremely difficult to address in our own lives.

         In my life, I have experienced anger in almost every form it can embody. I did not grow up in an anger free home. I love and respect my father dearly and we have built an amazing relationship over the years but growing up he would use anger as a point of motivation. Many times, even as an adult, he has talked about how he would make us mad enough to do the task or job he wanted us to do, just so we would prove him wrong. Personally, in my journey, this left me with a short fuse at times and anger would be quick to flair up.

         When I accepted Christ at the age of 17, I thought everything would be different. It was not. In fact, the personal conviction became even more burdensome. It was not until year three of my marriage that anger finally became a reaction of my past. In a moment that married couples often have, I hit a door in my house out of anger and frustration. There was a lot going on within my heart. The internal conflict was massive, but what I distinctly remember about this moment over two decades ago is that, I crumbled into the floor of my garage.

         In that moment, I cried out to the Lord to remove my tendency to choose the path of anger with angry reactions. I saw myself becoming what I never wanted to be from my childhood. God removed that from me because that brokenness was true. I had become dangerous to myself and the anger broke something deep within me. Broken to the point where God was able to rewrite my reactions from that day forward. Now, I can still count on one hand where a flash of anger has come, but the reactions to anger have remained under control.

         What I learned is that anger is a choice. It is mostly based on a failed expectation, miscommunication, or a perceived wrongdoing in our lives. We feel the emotion and then do not do anything to speak truth into the emotion, unfortunately we just react. You could almost substitute any emotion in the place of anger in this verse, and it remains the same in context. Understanding this becomes a powerful tool for us to understand truth.

         While I do not want to add anything to scripture here, it is the concept of moderating our experience with God’s truth that is so powerful. Anger is the most destructive of all emotions which is why I believe it is listed here as the singular emotion to seek to control the most, but when you examine the context of the advice here it is equally important. Think about it this way, be emotional, and yet do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your emotion without consulting the Lord. This is a powerful tool to leverage in learning to see God’s beauty, because so much of what we experience is rooted in the emotions of living. God has designed all the emotions we experience on purpose. A purpose that is to bring Him glory through His grace.

Dear Steadfast Father,

         Thank You for another day. Lord as we come to You, we acknowledge that we are emotional beings that You have created. We are humbly asking for Your guidance to moderate our emotions against Your truth. Jesus, we need Your help to teach us how to test our feelings against Your truths. We are humbly asking for Your wisdom and Holy Spirit to teach us where to go in Your word. You have provided us so much through Your grace and mercy and You desire to see us learn how to navigate our lives with Your beauty as our guide. Thank You for another opportunity to see You at work in our lives changing the way that we feel about how real You are in helping us learn how to navigate the emotions we experience. Thank you, Jesus, for walking this life with us and experiencing many of the same feelings, thoughts, and emotions that we experience, so You would know how to best love us. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen. 

Day 249: Thoughts and Words- daily speech

Colossians 4:6 NLT

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right answer for everyone.

         Our words are some of the most unstable grounds in our lives. There used to be a time when a man's word and his handshake meant something. It carried significant weight. Nowadays, our words are just that, words. They have been filled with all kinds of inaction and false promises. There are times when I know I have fallen short of the words I have spoken. Especially those words that I have cried out to Jesus in attempting to negotiate aspects of my life with the Creator of all things. I hope to forever humble myself before the Lord and submit to His will for me... for it is so much greater than anything I can hope for or imagine.

         If you feel a similar sense of guilt that is understandable. Upon our own personal reflections, we begin to realize harsh truths. There have been many times when were not gracious, where our words fell short at times, and if we were really honest, they were repulsive. The Bible openly acknowledges that we tend to be this way in our own humanity.

Proverbs 15:1-2 NASB

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tone of the wise makes knowledge pleasant, but the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.

Proverbs 18:21 NASB

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 3:2-18 NASB

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to rein in the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well. Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.

Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

We have no need to walk in defeat with our words. We have the power to change what comes forth by teaching ourselves scriptures to help. Recently, I found myself in a situation where instead of saying anything negative, this scripture sprang forth from my lips. Now, I have carried this scripture with me bound to my heart for several years, but it came forth in a difficult moment…

Psalm 19:14 NASB

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

         I am not a sinner looking for salvation, I am a saint that occasionally struggles with sin nature. Jesus claimed we are NEW CREATIONS! Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are alive and walking with us working towards our sanctification. This starts with our heart and outflows through our mouths.

Dear Righteous Father,

         Thank You for Your Spirit working in and through our lives. We acknowledge how vile we can be with our words. We seek forgiveness from You and those who we have trespassed against. Your word is clear, so then, may the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus Christ authority and grace, amen.

Day 250: Thoughts and Words- A posture of reverence

Proverbs 16:3 NASB

Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

         What is God’s will for our life? What does God want me to do? Where is God taking me? What is God teaching me? What can I learn about God in this? What is in this for me? What lesson am I not learning? Why God? What do you want from me God? God, do you not hear me when I pray? What are you doing God? I don’t like this God…

         Is there anything wrong with these questions? I know I have asked them more times than I can count. It is my natural tendency to want to respond to every situation with these kinds of questions. On the surface, they feel right to ask, almost like they need to be asked. It is what we want to know most of the time. However, at the root of them all, is a self-seeking undercurrent that does not necessarily honor the Lord Jesus. These questions can be used in the proper context to help us learn, but they are not getting to the root of the scriptures, more specifically this scripture. Context is always more powerful, so let us re-examine this scripture with more context.

Proverbs 16:1-5 NASB

The plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight, But the Lord examines the motives. Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured, he will not go unpunished.

         Notice the significant difference between the verse out of context above and in context now. It is one thing to commit ourselves to the Lord to understand how our plans will be established, but it is another thing to relinquish full control to the Lord and realize that the plans we have for ourselves are not necessarily what Jesus would choose for us when we submit to His authority and will for our lives. It says that the Lord examines our motives. The list of questions above often can be used to see our motives, for most of them are egocentric questions. They are about what we can get out of our relationship with God. It is too transactional and not transformational.

         So then, what are we to do? Submit in a posture of reverence. God is not a slot machine where we place our prayers, pull the God lever, and out comes a result – good or bad. We are to ask him to change our hearts and minds through His word to align with His heart. We are to ask him to examine our motives and that anything we would seek to build for ourselves be consumed by His passion and overcome by His grace. We are to seek God’s beauty and glory, asking him to reveal the things that are from Him so clearly that we stand in awe and thanksgiving of His grace and glory.

         Finally, there is an acknowledgement we must make, even in the wickedness and evil that can exist in this world, it has a purpose. God’s glory will be revealed through all things in the eternal Kingdom. Ultimately, the things of this world that leave us hurt and reeling through the questions above will face their ultimate judgement. It is our burden to bear and cross to carry, for the Lord is good and knows exactly what plans He hopes to establish in our lives.

Dear Master Planner,

         Father, Your wisdom and knowledge is so far beyond our comprehension. We humbly present ourselves before You and seek that You would purify our motives and guide our hearts to walk the plan You have set before us. Jesus, we are in awe that You loved us to the point of showing us how to commit ourselves fully to the will of the Father. Now, we thank the Holy Spirit that helps us learn how to continually die to ourselves, take up our crosses and walk forward with the light burden of living our lives so that Jesus is magnified in every way, through every storm, and through every moment. May we present ourselves as dust and ash before You, craft us into broken vessels filled to the point of saturating everything around us with what You pour into us. Thank You for Jesus, Amen. 

Day 251: Interacting with others

Galatians 5:14 NIV

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Your neighbor as yourself… This phrase appears eight different times throughout scripture. How are we supposed to live this one out? We have covered if various times throughout this 359˚ of beauty devotionals, but it never hurts to constantly bring this ideal forth for it is essential in learning to see the beauty of God at work all around us.  

Leviticus 19:18 NASB

You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Matthew 5:43-48 NASB

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 19:16-26 NASB

And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man *said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 22:36-40 NASB

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 12:28-31 NASB

One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Luke 10:25-37 NASB

'And behold, a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was on a journey came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed compassion to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

Romans 13:8-10 NASB

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.

James 2:8 NASB

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

So, why take the time to read all of these scriptures? Loving our neighbor is an important aspect of honoring God’s commandments. We should have a love and desire out of loving Him to love our neighbor. This is particularly sobering in that this means loving those who would persecute us and cause us to go through significant adversity. This means even to the point of it “costing” us. Instead of counting the cost of loving others, we should consider investing in loving others. Their eternity could be affected by the choice to love them like we would love ourselves.

Dear Graciously Loving Father,

         Thank You for so much of Your word that guides us to love others. We are humbled by these commands. They are not just ideals for us to live by, but You teach us that there are practical ways of living this out in our lives. Your parables instruct our minds as to what to be mindful of and seek to do to love others. We know that sometimes that is in the tangible needs of others, and other times it is in the prayers we can offer on their behalf. Regardless Lord, You have commanded that we love others like Jesus did. Help us see where and how we can do that today. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen. 

Day 252: Actions, words, and heart

Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

         So much about daily living in Jesus Christ is about how we act towards one another, what we say, and ultimately the heart in how we operate in this world. Sometimes, due to our perceptions, it is incredibly difficult to be kind to others, because they just will not stop their actions. There have been ample opportunities for me to test this aspect of my daily living with Jesus as of late and I keep reminding myself repeatedly that this person is a child of God, just like I am. We both equally deserve the same punishment for our sin nature, death. With that truth, the major difference between myself and them is the grace that is afforded to me through Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. This same grace should be extended to the person in my life that is in opposition to me. Therefore, everything about who I am must be focused on Jesus Christ in my actions, words, and most importantly my heart for them.

         Now, let’s be very clear, this is one of the hardest aspects of daily living we can face. Dealing with ourselves is one thing, but those people we cannot control- that’s a whole different level of daily living most of us could simply forgo. However, we are not meant to do life alone, so we must learn how to navigate all these things and more together. This is where the scripture today comes from. In Paul’s letter to the church, He is teaching them what they should be doing in place of what typically happens. Let's take a look:

Ephesians 4:29-32 NASB

Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

As you can see, there is control of oneself demonstrated in restraint, but not simply restraint for just holding back, but a replacement of actions. Instead of discouraging others- you edify and encourage that way grace is extended. While this is challenging, with the right heart posture it becomes genuine. You see emotional reactions being replaced by uplifting heart actions. All of which are rooted in the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ.

         This is important to note here, we upon our own accord, cannot sustain long term behavior modification with replacement of actions. It is the condition of our hearts that matters in day-to-day living. Every single one of us, including our enemies stand in the same place to God. We are nothing but dust and ash before Him. Even upon accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are no better than anyone else, but we are secured in Jesus’s actions, words, and heart. Then, with that security, we are to embody all that Jesus is within our lives and love others through our actions, words, and heart.

Dear Heart Guiding Father,

         Thank You for another day and another opportunity to learn about how You have led the way for us. Thank You for Your actions, Your Words, and Your heart for us. Without all of them, we would not have the grace that is so freely granted to us. Lord, we need Your help teaching us where we can honor Jesus more and more in our lives. We have tons of opportunities to practice this every day in our daily walks with You Father. Guide and direct our steps and help us be the light You intend for us to become in our lives. In Jesus Christ’s authority and power, amen.

Day 253: Justice, love, and humility

Micah 6:8 NASB

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

         This is an amazing reminder of what we have been instructed to do in our lives. We know what is good, or do we? As a society, have we lost what we know to be good? Micah chapter 6 is God indicting His people Israel in an almost court room style approach. He was reminding His people of his historical actions to protect and provide for them, while emphasizing His disdain for ritualistic worship. In our culture today, we could easily be accused of acting in the same way.

         It has taken a long time for me to figure out how to let God truly transform me and my life. While transformation has always been present since coming to know Christ, it was an incremental egocentric driven journey at best. Over the past few years, I have come to realize that the depths of true transformation deal with the core tenants of this verse: Justice, love, and humility. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to uphold each of these qualities as we daily take up our crosses.

         For justice, we are to uphold fairness, protect the vulnerable, and actively correct systemic oppression. Now, fairness and equality are not the same things. Every year, since a student teacher taught me this, I ask students for stories about a time when they needed a band-aid. Upon the first student telling me their story, I give them a band-aid as a symbolic gesture of healing. For example, a band-aid for their left knee. Well, for every subsequent story a student shares, regardless of where their injury needed a band-aid, I give them a band-aid for their left knee. Quickly, students begin to realize that equality and fairness are not the same things. To protect the vulnerable and actively guard against the systemic nature of oppression, one must treat others with respect to their situation and lot in life. We must be fair. Fairness is a process that helps us operate in this world. Jesus met each of us on our road with a custom plan for meeting our needs as individuals… are we not to do the same?

         Loving mercy is paramount for transformational ethics to take hold of us and change us from ritualistic religious fanatics to compassionate humans that God loves deeply. We are meant to cultivate love through loyal commitment to one another all while being compassionate towards others. This is so simple, but we tend to make it significantly harder on ourselves thinking it must be some big grandiose act that has to be seen. It is not about being seen but seeing others. All we have to do is ask God for His eyes to see those around us and we will be transformed and know how to love them as they walk their roads. Most of the time it is simple encouragement that makes the greatest difference. Most people long for someone to believe in them.

         The final aspect that God calls us to in this scripture is about our ability to walk humbly with Jesus. This is about us maintaining a posture of dependence, reverence, and alignment with God’s purpose to act justly and love others. While this sounds easy, we must combat our own self-righteous pride and seek to honor and be available for Jesus to pour out through us. This is where we must be careful to always boast in what Jesus has done in our lives. Simply put, without Jesus, we are nothing. With Jesus, we can do all things in His strength.

Dear Just Father,

         Thank You for the ethical clarity You have provided in Your word to test ourselves against. Lord, many times we have fallen short of these simple concepts, and we have tended to make everything about ourselves in our own self-righteousness. Jesus, thank You for already forgiving us on the cross. Thank You that You are sovereign and that You always acted with justice, loved deeply, and that You walked with a humility that honored Your Father in heaven. May we be granted the same knowledge to walk in that way, where we may stand up for someone who is being mistreated or overlooked and we begin to treat them with respect and dignity that Your child deserves. Thank You, Jesus, for equipping us with Your Holy Spirit, amen. 

Day 254: Power of an encouraging prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

         Some of the better encouragement I have received has come from friends that know the storm I am in, and they speak life into my soul reminding me of all the good that God has done. However, some of the best encouragement I have ever received comes at the most random of times. Generally speaking, this encouragement includes something about what my daughters have done. I don't know what it is about the encouragement I received from those that encounter my daughters, except that it is possibly because they are a product of the struggle within single parenting, but when I receive encouragement about how good and wholesome my daughters are my heart becomes filled.

         In many ways, I think this is a lot like how God feels towards us. God senses the encouragement that we need and prompts us to encourage one another through his word. Therefore, when we pray for others and we praise Jesus for what He is doing in our friends’ lives, God feels honored and our people feel encouragement nurturing their souls. There's true power in praying with your friends. Honestly, it's something I don't do enough, and I need to work on doing better. This is likely the best source of encouraging others that we could utilize in our lives.

         When we pray for others, it is one thing to reach out and encouragement to say I'm praying for you. It's another thing altogether to send them a prayer. When they can read the prayers, you pray over them, it is encouraging. However, the most encouraging source of prayer comes from moments when we pray with them. God's word says that we go before the throne of the Father when we pray because of what Jesus has done. As a result of us going to the Father, we cannot be inauthentic in our approach to the Lord, otherwise the consequences that we would face would be greater than we could imagine.

         If we stand before the Father, the Perfect Creator, we cannot represent ourselves in any false way. We simply would not be able to stand. So, there is significant power in praying with people, for it reveals the true nature of your heart. If and when we really want to encourage others, praying with them is the most powerful tool that we have to be able to encourage them. The deep lasting encouragement comes through the times when we can pray with one another. I distinctly remember moments in my life where brothers, family, and even strangers laid their hands upon my shoulders and prayed for me. This has always been and will likely always be one of the greatest sources of encouragement for my soul. If You have had the privilege to experience this, you would likely feel similar.

         So today, reach out to someone unsolicited and send them a prayer. Being encouraging to them. Uplift their souls. Praise the Lord for them. Simply do it because it is the fulfillment of the scripture above and know that you have honored God by doing it.

Dear Encouraging Father,

         Thank You for another day where we can encourage others and pray with them. Lord, there is so much more at stake than we could possibly imagine. Please help us know where and when others need encouragement in their lives and help us seek to see the beauty in You working through our lives to uplift those around us. Help us honor You Jesus in how we lift others up in love. May Your grace and peace abound in the work of encouragement today. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Day 255: I don’t wanna…

Hebrews 10:24 NLT

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

         Let’s be brutally honest, sometimes, many times, we lack the motivation to do all the things for all the people. Sometimes we want to just go away to a quiet place and do what we want, when we want, how we want, and never come back again. We do not want to care any more about those that do not want to care for themselves. We are really tired of fighting the same battles repeatedly. We feel defeated, discouraged, and alone.

         Okay good, now that we have admitted that - do we really feel any better, or do we feel a little worse about everything because it feels so selfish? If you are reading this- likely you are someone who gives a significant portion of your life dedicated to the betterment of others. It is easy to develop compassion fatigue, caregiver fatigue, or you are just downright exhausted. All of these states of being are okay! It is just not okay to stay in these places.

         This is why we need verses like today’s. We must be motivated. We must have things that get us up and moving every day. If we do not think about life from a different perspective, we will lose ourselves in the process of living our lives. We have too much riding on our shoulders to drop the ball… right??? Wrong. The world as we know will continue to proceed forward without us juggling all the balls, spinning all the plates, or carrying all the load. We are not meant to do it all by ourselves. This is why this verse says, LET US think of ways to motivate ONE ANOTHER! It is a family, a bible study, a group of friends, similar minded people, or even total strangers that are there to encourage us and help motivate us to keep going.

         Motivate us to what exactly? To just be and then do… We must be who we are in Jesus Christ. We must be reminded that He accepts us just as we are and then begins to grow us. The fruit of our being is love and good work. Often, we flip the script and think that it is love and good work that helps us become what we need to be. It is simply the opposite way of thinking. It is out of our being that love and good work are found. We cannot be who God desires us to be without submitting first to a higher perspective of how to live our lives daily. We desperately need the encouragement of others in our lives, and we should seek it out by giving it first. We are to be what it is we desire to receive, all while knowing it comes from Jesus Christ.

Dear Encouraging Father,

         Thank You that You provide so much encouragement and motivation in our lives. Your word says that we are to motivate and encourage each other as a byproduct of our walk with You. We are to love others and do good work out of the state of our being with You Jesus. Lord, we need the encouragement and motivation to continue to daily live. We desire to take up our crosses and follow You. However, we openly admit, some days are harder than others. Grant us the heart to motivate others today in Your grace. In Jesus Christ’s authority and sovereign nature we pray, amen.

Day 256: A gentle walk

Philippians 4:6 NASB

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

         I have written about this verse many times because it is a very important verse for us to always consider. It is important for a wide variety of reasons, but in context it is even more important for us to understand because the Holy Spirit can use this scripture to transform everything about how each of us responds to every aspect of our lives. The Holy Spirit through Paul was granting us insight into how to live in contentment in all circumstances. There is a direct outline of how to do that found in Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:4-14 NASB

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my difficulty.

         There is so much more going on here than just a command to not be anxious. Paul starts off with rejoicing because of how important it is for us to rejoice in the Lord. However, there's some very subtle things about how we're supposed to carry ourselves in this world. We are to let our gentleness be known to all. This means we carry joy, but we do so in a gentle way not being aggressive or overly arrogant with the gospel. We are to do this because Jesus is close to us, even within us through the Holy Spirit.

         Conversely, we are also not to walk in fear or anxiety but through prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present a request to the Lord. In doing so, we walk that fine line between not being overly proud but also not being overtly meek when we are to share the gospel with others. The next level of understanding comes from what we are to focus on with our mindset. Paul lists out a long list of all the things we are to think about. We are to think in rejoicing about the things that are worthy of praise and give thanks for those things to the Lord. When we rejoice in thinking about these good things it is easy to walk with the gentleness of our spirit because we are thankful for who God is in our lives and we know that he is close by.

         This then allows us to become content in all circumstances. When we find that middle ground of walking in humility yet confident in Christ, expressing our gratitude through prayer, focusing on the things that are praiseworthy, then we find deep and everlasting contentment because we walk knowing that Christ strengthens us in all that we do and say in and through him.

Dear Holy Father,

         Thank You for such a clear outline on how we are to carry ourselves in this world. Lord, we need Your help and helper to guide every step and cover every interaction we have through the relationships in our lives. We desire to give You all of ourselves, yet we struggle to maintain our day-to-day walk in You. Jesus, help us overcome the natural desires of anxiety and overconfidence and help us walk in Your gentleness and contentment. Lord, we desire to respond to all situations in our lives well. Thank You for every opportunity that presents itself today. May we honor You above all things. In Jesus Christ’s heavenly and Holy name, we pray, amen. 

Day 257: Endurance in Jesus

Isaiah 40:31 NIV

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

         Endurance, going the distance, in it for the long haul, staying the course, weathering the storm, toughing it out, holding the line, a marathon – not a sprint, built to last, grinding it out, gritting your teeth, iron will, are all phrases associated with our abilities as humans to maintain forward progress. The thing is, apart from greater motivation, as humans we will always fall short. We simply are not enough to do things with our own willpower. We must have something to look forward to in our lives to give us the drive or determination to set a course and see it through.

         This is the problem with our world today. We always need something to be aiming at. Otherwise, our purpose is poorly defined as we wander about on our own accord with idle hands and lose focus. I've seen this to be true even in the Christian world. We claim that we want direction and to do God's will for our life, yet we stumble about looking for direction. God is clearly outlined in this scripture what it is that we are to do. It is more about where we place our heart and mind in hope and the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

         Too often, we lose sight and focus of what our true purpose is in life. Simply put it is the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This verse is our mission and this one is how we are to go about accomplishing this mission:

         1 Thessalonians 5:14-23 NLT

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

These verses paired with the one above helps us understand that we are to put our hope in the Lord, thus renewing our strength. It is only through hope that we will soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, and walk and not be faint. Our hope is in Jesus Christ.

         We must truly learn how to be thankful in all circumstances as that is the embodiment of the hope that renews us. When we find the grace and peace that only comes from Jesus we must express gratitude towards God. When we find ourselves in this state of gratitude our strength is renewed, anxiety is abated, and joy is made complete! This is so much easier said than done, but we've been given a road map through scripture on how to daily live in the hope of Jesus Christ.

Dear Hope-filled Father,

         Thank You for today. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Jesus Christ. Thank You for hope that is able to be renewed. Thank You that You claim we will rise on wings like eagles and soar above all strife in this world. Thank You that we will walk and not grow weary. Thank You for the strength that only You can provide. Thank You for allowing us to endure until the day of Your coming where Your promise will be fulfilled in our lives, Jesus. Our hope is in You. Grant us the ability to be grateful in all circumstances. Reveal Your beauty to all those around us. In Christ Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Day 258: Mistakes are not necessarily sin

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

         Mistakes. Every single human makes them. They surround us in our lives. More often than not, they are a source of shame. From a mix of failed expectations to unmet goals, mistakes tend to govern many of our responses in life. Mistakes steal more opportunity for God’s beauty than possibly any other thing. Most of us associate mistakes with sin, but that may not always be the case. Just because a mistake is seemingly made, it does not automatically mean that we have sinned.

         Think about it for a moment, if I drop a dish doing dishes and it breaks, that is a mistake, but not a sin. Say I stumble on a step and catch myself, even possibly tweak a joint, while it hurts and causes pain, it was a mistake or miss-step, but not a sin. It is likely the response in those situations that could very easily cross over into what we would call a sin. Say those things happen and then you start cursing, that response stops just being a mistake and can cross the line into our sin nature.

         These concepts are not limited to physical exchanges alone. If I misplaced my keys and could not remember which then made me late for an appointment. This becomes a series of failures compounding on themselves, but it does not necessarily lead to my sin nature. If it were to become habitual, then there is more to consider. Our sin nature is just that, our natural tendency to choose things over God’s guidance and will for our lives. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Yet, His grace still covers us all, if we will accept it.

         Today’s verse is one of the most reassuring verses in our walk with Jesus. God’s love endures forever. His mercy never ceases, which means God withholds the punishment and separation from God that our sin deserves. This mercy NEVER ends! NEVER! And why does it never end, because of how great His love for us is and it is renewed every single morning.

         For me, this is why I get up every morning and seek the Lord. I am a mistake filled human being. I need grace and mercy every day as I walk through this life. While I have not made a huge mistake of things, at least in recent memory, that would be considered a massive sin. Some of the habitual tendencies that I have would dominate my life, if I did not check them with Jesus every morning. I am in desperate need of my Savior every single day. I have learned that when I bring my mistakes and sin into the light with others, it becomes light in their lives because they can witness the authentic struggle within my life. Then they come along side of me, encourage, uplift, and pray for me in ways that go beyond my comprehension. All these things begin to allow me to see the beauty that surrounds me in all circumstances, especially in my mistakes and failures.

Dear Merciful Father,

         Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for taking the punishment I deserve and placing it upon Jesus. Thank You for the grace that covers all the bad things I have done and the mistakes I have made that lend themselves to sin. Jesus, help us let go of yesterday’s mistakes, failures and sins, accepting that today is a completely clean slate with You. Help us walk forward in the grace You have provided and let us not dwell on the mistakes and sin nature we encounter within ourselves today. Let us abound in the work You have set forth before us and allow our missteps to become light to others to find Your ways Jesus. In Jesus Christ’s authority, amen.

Day 259: Being strong and courageous through beauty

Joshua 1:9 NASB

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

         Strength comes in many forms. It is a command from the Lord to be strong and courageous, to not tremble or become dismayed, and for us to realize that God is with us everywhere we go. Yet we find ourselves asking a question in our walk with him, “God, are you there?” If you find yourself asking that question, clearly the need for this scripture in your life is present.

         So, in all practicality, how is this one lived out in daily life? This is a challenging question at best, but we think it can be done by changing the way you perceive the world around you. Often, when we feel like God is not present or that he is silent in our lives, we have inadvertently distanced ourselves from being able to hear the truth of His word. However, we can also be stuck in our daily routines and not really getting much out of our daily habits because it has become so mundane that our minds and hearts are not being affected by the scripture the way they could be. Regardless of why you are in the position you are in there is a path forward.

         Many times, it has been suggested that instead of asking God why, what are you trying to teach me, or what can I learn from this, we have suggested that you ask God to reveal his beauty. The application of this verse is all about seeing God's beauty wherever we go. We must ask Him for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to love. It is only when we ask Him to reveal His beauty, that we will truly begin to see glimpses of the 359° of beauty that surrounds us.

         There is a consequence or repercussion that comes from asking to see God's beauty. Life changes. It changes in huge ways; it allows you to stand against the prevailing fights of this world and become steadfast in seeing the beautiful things that God is at work doing when everything feels impossible. It allows you to stand with an immovable strength that goes beyond comprehension. The consequences of seeing God's beauty solidify the faith and hope that you have in Jesus Christ. It allows you to stand against the prevailing forces in this earthly world with the full armor of God on, bearing witness to who Jesus is.

         When we ask God to see his beauty, we see him everywhere we go, because we are on watch for the Lord of Lord, the King of kings. What we watch for we will find, and what we seek with all our heart will be discovered. So practically, how do we be strong and courageous not trembling or fearing what may happen? We seek the beauty of God. The beauty of God is not really an aesthetic quality but a deeply spiritual and moral quality that drives us forward out of our own human decay. When we see God's true beauty, it is a manifestation of His divine goodness and truth redeeming us as we move forward awakening our empathy in every situation, thus allowing us to be strong and courageous.

Dear Beautiful Father,

         Thank You for another opportunity to learn from You. Thank You that we can stand in awe of Your beauty. Thank You that Jesus enables us to stand firm, becoming strong and courageous through the Holy Spirit that is with us. Thank You for awakening empathy deep within our hearts and souls to see You at work all around us, knowing You are near. Lord, in seeing Your beauty surrounding us in every situation, we know we can be strong and courageous, without fear, because You are with us. Therefore, let our gentleness be known for highlighting the light and beauty that You place around us every day. In Jesus Christ’s truth and light, we pray, amen.

Day 260: What did you not receive?

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

         This verse is straightforward, simply stated, and does not need to be really explained for it takes care of itself. However, this verse also reveals where most of us likely fall short of even meeting the expectations that Jesus would have on us after we come to faith in Him. It exposes the conviction of our hearts and minds as we navigate life. Our exhaustion comes from our attitude more than our circumstance. If this is not true, how is it when we are running on fumes when we have infants, we can still answer random phone calls in a sensible way? The person at the other end of the line does not deserve to be unloaded on… unless it is about your car’s extended warranty.

         So then, what can help us change our mindset to the whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God? This is where a verse earlier in 1 Corinthians can help us out. It is a challenging one to think about, in 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NASB) it poses a question, “For who considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” This is a diagnostic question for us to consider as we move through our lives. Exploring it can help us accomplish 1 Corinthians 10:31.

         The first question asked is a question that is designed to help us understand humility. Who considers you as superior? The simple answer is no one. In our society today this concept of superiority is all over the place. There are different classes of people, whether we want to claim that we are a free country or not, there is the upper-class, a variety of levels within the middle class, and what is considered a lower-class system - all based upon monetary identifiers. Even within our church people stratify themselves according to what they believe is a hierarchical structure within the body of Christ. The reality is we all serve the same body and should remain unified, yet politics creep into everything as people posture for positions. This question suggests that none of us have any form of superiority over someone else.

         The second question asked is what do you have that you did not receive? This is probably the most powerful question because it forces us to acknowledge that everything we have ever had, we received. This includes the breath in our lungs and the body that we operate with. Without the grace of God, we simply would fail to exist. Acknowledging this helps you appreciate every single moment as an opportunity to act in accordance with what would bring honor and glory to God.

         The final diagnostic question directs us to a deeper understanding of our own nature, our arrogance. We tend to act as if we earned what we have. We are not suggesting that our actions don't matter in what we receive, but we are suggesting that everything that was received is from the Lord. Jesus enables us all to have our own gifts and lives that He intends to use to honor Him, if we let Him. Unfortunately, there is an enemy out there seeking to destroy this gospel and our ability to leverage the things received by God for His glory in our lives. We have to check ourselves daily, understanding that we have received the breath in our lungs and the opportunities before us in this day to honor Jesus Christ, to walk in the Holy Spirit, and to die to ourselves so that we may fully live within the presence of Jesus Christ.

Dear All-seeing Father,

         Thank You for allowing us to receive Your spirit another day. Thank You for granting us discernment in interpreting Your word. Love helps us understand that in everything, we have received You and Your grace, and it is in whatever we do, we are to honor You. Everything can bring Jesus Glory. Let us check ourselves with these questions to orient our lives to honoring You Father in whatever we do. Please use the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us today, even if it is in the most mundane ways. In Jesus Christ’s authority and power, amen.

Day 261: Daily accessing His unfailing Love

Psalm 143:8 (NLT)

"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you."

Psalm 143:8 NASB

Let me hear Your faithfulness in the morning, For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.

Psalms 143:8 NIV

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

        God’s word is always applicable in our lives. Psalm 143 is a beautiful Psalm dedicated to praying for help and guidance. We encourage you to read the whole thing this morning. The nuance of each of these translations is a subtle nod to how God’s word can affect our hearts and minds in various ways and at different times. While they are essentially stating the same thing, how they say it are just as important as what is being said.

         Two of the translations are direct in stating, “Let me hear … in the morning.” Whereas one says, “let the morning bring me word.” While this does not seem that significant, it can bring about different perspectives, all of which can be right. What if two of the verses are interpreted as if the morning dawn comes and the world comes alive around us. Like when we hear the birds chirping along with the gentle ebb and flow of a calm and peaceful morning. Whereas the third version says let the morning bring me word, this subtle interpretation is very specific about the word of God's unfailing love. Now remember, context is always important, there is a desperation within the pleading here of David's heart. He is longing to hear from the Lord and has gone through a process of remembering all that the Lord had done in his life.

         What is the difference between God's faithfulness and his unfailing love? Nothing! If you put your trust in Jesus. To trust means to open our hands and put our life and soul before the Lord. We need His guidance more than anything else in our lives and we need Him to lead us to the most appropriate responses in all situations that will gain Him the most glory. We need the Lord to teach us and show us how we should walk and the only way that we can do that is by hearing from Him in the morning. It is so practical and literal here in the sense that when we rise, we need the direction of the Lord for He will guide our steps in the entire day and so we should seek Him first. If I seek Him in the evening right before I go to bed, how far am I really walking? How much am I really trusting? We need to hear from God and His word every single day. If we ask to see His beauty every morning, He will reveal it every day.

Dear Unfailing Father,

         Thank You that we can humbly seek You every morning. Thank you that Your faithfulness and love remain steadfast and steady in our lives. You Jesus are a rock on which we can affix our lives upon that will not crush us. We know Your promises are meant to prosper us and build us up in You. Help us continue forward in our daily lives seeking You in the morning. May we commit our souls to You and entrust Your Holy Spirit to show and teach us the way in which we should go. Thank You, Jesus, for Your willingness to die to Yourself showing us the way to love others. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.