Thoughts for reflection . . . (Because)

The pages of our lives can be full of many questions. Circumstances that we pass through may raise many "why's?". Yet we should not be living our lives in the shadows of these questions, legitimate as they may be, but turn our focus to the many 'because's' that we find in Scripture. Living in the 'because' will raise faith and hope, whereas living in the 'why?' can just result in doubt and unbelief.

In the words of the old song, 'because He lives I can face tomorrow'. As we search the treasure of the Scriptures we will find many a 'because' that can be the bedrock of our daily living and give us a persistence to move forward positively.

Because God will never leave us nor forsake us, we can have assurance; because He is for us, we can have confidence; because He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world, we can overcome; because all His promises are 'Yes' and 'Amen' in Christ, we can have expectation.
[Heb13.5, Rom8.31, 1John4.4, 2Cor1.20]

Because He that leads us is Faithful and True, let us follow faithfully and closely; because the days are evil, let us be redeeming the time; because we want to see the Lord, let us be pursuing holiness; because we are looking forward to new heavens and a new earth, may we have a diligence in being at peace, without spot and blameless before God.
[Rev19.11, Eph5.16, Heb12.14, 2Pet3.13-14]

May I always be mindful of all that I have because of Christ Jesus, and live each day from that perspective.

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Desire)

Amidst the clamour of the world and activities of living, what is my true heart's desire in life?

The psalmist declares, 'whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.' Can I in truth make that same statement? Is God totally the focus of the desire of my life? Are all my ways filtered by my love for Him? Am I consumed with a desire to know God?
[Ps73.25, Phil3.7-11]

A singleness of desire toward God will be seen in my seeking to bring Him glory and honour in all I do. It will be seen in the shunning of all sin and evil, that in all my ways I may bring pleasure to the Lord. It will be known by the purity and nature of my speech, conscious of the ever abiding presence of God and out of a desire to not grieve the Spirit of God.
[1Cor10.31, 1Thess5.22, Eph4.29-32]

The Psalmist again says, 'One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord . . .'
[Ps27.4]

Such a desire will find it's root in a revelation of who God is and all that He has done for us. None can compare to our God, to His awesomeness, His majesty, power, wisdom and love. The essence of eternal life is knowing God. What we will spend eternity discovering of the wonders of God should start now and should be the magnet that guides the compass of our life.
[Is40.18,25-26, 1Tim1.17, John17.3]

Though my desire today may fall short of where it could be, may my heart cry be that my desire for Him may burn stronger. May I make that decision to turn the focus of my life away from the temporal things of this world that are all passing away. Instead to steer the rudder of the vessel of my life in the direction of deeper devotion and loyalty to the Living God, the only One Who deserves nothing less than my all.

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Follow)

How closely am I following the Lord? How much of my life conforms to the pattern that the Lord provided in His earthly life? Or how much of my life is still following the pattern of the world and it's ways?

As the Lord walked upon this earth, the call He made to His disciples was a simple 'follow Me'. The calling of the believer today remains the same, we are to be followers of Christ.
[Matt4.19, Matt16.24, Mark10.21, Luke9.59, John1.43, John12.26, John21.22, 1Cor11.1, 1John2.6]

Am I blazing my own trail through life and the circumstances and trials that confront me? Am I tackling life in my own way and wisdom? Do people see in me traits that are earthly in their origin, or do they see in me those qualities that can only be seen from a life that is closely abiding with the Lord and heavenly in nature?

The Lord Jesus lived a life in close communion with God the Father. He lived out the purpose He came for and fulfilled all of God's will. In the process He trod a road that included temptation, suffering and rejection. In all these situations He provided us an example to follow.
[John4.34, John8.28-29, John15.10, John17.4, Heb4.15, John1.10-11, Is53.3-8, 1Peter2.21-23]

Am I taking my example from Him? Is the Lord the Plumbline against which I measure my life? Do I study the Scriptures from the perspective of what I see in the Lord's ways is how God has empowered me to live by providing me the gift of the Holy Spirit?
[Acts1.8, Rom8.1-11]

May I always keep the Lord in front of me, fixing my eyes on Him. May I not be pulling in my own direction but submit to His yoke that is easy and lead a life that is lead.
[Ps16.8, Heb12.2, Matt11.28-30]

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Diet and Exercise - Part 2)

Just as the correct 'diet' is needed for us to remain spiritually healthy, so is there a need for exercise and training that we may be equipped and prepared for all that we pass through in our lives in our walk with God.

Exercise spiritually speaking can be seen as putting to use that which we receive from God; living out in obedience what we feed on in God's Word; practically applying the truths of Scripture into every avenue of life.

The apostle Paul speaks of exercising himself to always have a conscience void of offence toward God and man, of exercising unto godliness, and the writer of the book of Hebrews speaks of those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern between good and evil. All these statements imply proactivity on the part of the believer, action rather than passivity, a progression rather than stagnation.
[KJV: Acts24.16, 1Tim4.7, Heb5.14]

Am I applying God's Word in my daily living? Is the daily bread I receive having a transforming effect in my being the person God has called me to be, and also in my doing of His will in my life? Is my faith being exercised, showing that it is alive and well?
[Jam2.14-26]

We should see our lives as a training ground and the experiences we face as opportunities for God's Word to be active in us and for us to know God in an ever greater way in all we do.

May I not become lethargic as a follower of Christ, but may my life be energised by the working of the Holy Spirit in me: that my life may not be in words only but in the practical living out of the truth through the power of God..

Thoughts for reflection . . . (Diet and Exercise Part 1)

What am I feeding on?

Just as our natural diet affects our physical frame and strength, so spiritually the diet I feed my life on with what I see, hear and do, will directly impact the health and strength of my spirit and soul before God.

God's Word is spoken of in terms of milk and food, and consequently our nourishment and health spiritually necessitates the appropriate use and application of God's Word in our lives.
[Matt4.4, Heb5.12-13, 1Pet2.2, 1Cor3.2, 1John2.14]]

But the presence of God's Word in my life alone does not guarantee a healthy spiritual condition. The world and age within which we live furnishes a table before us which we can easily become partakers of, but which is laced with deadly poison. To be healthy requires taking sufficient quantities of good food but also excluding and avoiding that which would poison and damage our health.

Am I aware of the world's contaminants that may be part of my daily life? Those things which I listen to or watch which promote the ways and thinking of the world as opposed to God's ways. Those things which will deaden my senses and conscience to sin and weaken my pursuit of holiness. Those activities which will blunt the edge of my spiritual alertness and usefulness to God. That which would draw my affection toward this world instead of the devotion and affection that God alone deserves.
[1John2.15-16]

May I be alert to the impact of the world's menu on my spiritual life and determine to feed only on that which will quicken me in my walk with God, provide strength to accomplish all He has prepared for me to do by His grace and ready me for the Lord's return.