Live Long and Prosper
As the seasons once again begin their rotation Father, I am reminded of You. It makes me think of Your consistency – You are not fickle, or change Your mind willy-nilly. You are the same every day, time continues to tick away. We, as leaves, fall and the world marches on. But You, You are always there constant, steady, stable. It also makes me think of Your creativity, Your attention to detail, literally variety to the nth degree. And not just leaves, people, too! All shapes and sizes and hues – and You personally know each and every one. You’re re the awesome creator of us all, praise Your Holy Name!
1 Timothy 4:6-10 (<<click here)
Lord, in this passage I am admonished to be “nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching [I] have followed.” I am encouraged to not waste time on worthless discussions but to “train [myself] to be godly.”
Society is obsessed (that seems to be putting it mildly) with what we do with and put into our bodies. Exercise and diet is very important to maintain good health and it’s a necessity if we want to fulfill Spock’s statement of “Live long and prosper.”
We can invest all the time and money we want in maintenance but regardless this shell of our soul, that we call the body, will inevitably collapse. As time continues to tick away our body with slow down, little by little, until it stops completely. But what of our soul? It will not stop but how do we maintain its “health”?
As Paul states we must nourish it with faith and good teaching not wasting time or worthless things and we must train ourselves to be godly. Our regiment should be filled with a day partaking of Your Word – the Bread of Life will sustain us. We must exercise our ability to come to You in prayer, lifting our needs to You and carrying the daily responsibility of being faithful and obedient to your guidance and obedience.
Lord, help me to listen to You – my ultimate spiritual trainer – to follow Your example in all I say and do!
Sept 11th, Fri, 6:31 am
Discernment
Father, I am so grateful for Your presence in my daily life. My only regret is that I am not more attuned to You. I know that I have improved and that I do hear Your voice more frequently then I used to but I’m sure there are times when You speak that I just don’t hear. I am truly grateful for what I do hear but long to be more guided by You. I would ask that You would help me develop the habit of listening, then taking action, when You speak to me. I am Your vessel, Father, use me as You will. Amen – so be it.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 (<<click here)
As my study Bible reminds me, Lord, “the last times” began with Your resurrection and we are surely in the midst of them 2000 years later! Just as Paul had to deal with false teachers, so do we.
Lord, there are so many things in regards to You and Your Word that have become distorted. I pray that You would continue to encourage me to be a faithful student of Yours. I am by no means infallible but I strive to build my life upon the firm foundation which You have laid.
My biggest need in this area is knowing when to speak and what to say when discrepancies arise. I realize some things are not important but other things are essential and are not to be twisted or pulled out of context. Enable me to discern truth and falsehood and after doing so, I would ask for wisdom and courage as well. May I be patient or pointed as each situation dictates.
Again, Lord, You have guided my thoughts to the direction of Your Word ! Before I had ever read this morning’s passage You had pointed me in the direction You wanted me to go. What better place for me to place my faith than in my Creator and Savior – my God who sees the big picture of life and sets my course for what is best!
Sept 10, Thurs, 7:17 am
Theological Punch
Thank You for a restful sleep, Father. Knowing that I am secure in You brings a sweet peace. A portion of that security is found in the realization that You want me to succeed. You want me to be an overcomer in this life. You, in Your sacrifice, have done everything possible for me to be victorious. May I cling to You, may I achieve security, peace and victory. All the glory goes to You!
1 Timothy 3:16 (<<click here)
Lord, this hymn may not be lengthy but it packs a theological punch! You left the wonders of Your heavenly home to be “revealed in a human body”. You became one of us. Through the Holy Spirits power You lived and You were resurrected in that same power. Shortly after Your resurrection, You returned to Your heavenly home being seen “by angels,” so Your Spirit could come and work in and through us all.
Jesus, I am so grateful for everything You have done and continue to do for me! Being fully human You lived a perfect life, so I have an example to follow. Being fully God, You give me the power I need to do what is right in Your eyes. It is doable! I can live my life and overcome this world and all its vices. You lived it out and empower me to do the same! Lord, help me to keep my focus on You – not on things or people or the millions of distractions that cross my path throughout the day. You are my inspiration! You are my power source – help me to plug in to You always. Thank You, Lord, for enabling me to be victorious!
Sept 9th, Wed, 7:20 am
Pillar of Truth
Father, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is something I believe with all my heart. “I Am Weak, but Thou Art Strong.”- I am so grateful that I was able to firmly stand in Your strength yesterday. Praising Your Holy Name! Thank You for that and so many other things yesterday, a beautiful day with my beautiful wife, safe travels a great time with my family, good food and all the other blessing You bestow upon me each and every day!
1 Timothy 3:14-15 (<<click here)
Lord, where would we be without Your Word? From the beginning of creation through the divinely inspired writers of the New Testament, such as Paul, You have given us a solid foundation upon which to build our lives, for You truly are “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” I am grateful that we have clear direction as to how we “must conduct [ourselves] in the household of God.” And even though Your word is thousands of years old and was written in totally different cultures than which I live, I can still apply it and learn from it today! Thank You for Your external word! As King David said in Psalm 86:11-12.
“Teach me Your Ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever…
What better way to live my life!
September 8th, Tues, 6:26 am
Driven by Love
Once again, Father, I sit here and I’m in the same place I was yesterday…. We were so blessed with an outpouring of Your presence in both services yesterday morning – I am so grateful. Then yesterday afternoon my attitudes and actions went everywhere but where they should have been. I don’t know if it’s because I’m weary from a lot of extra physical labor this past week, so my defenses are down or what but, Father, I need an attitude adjustment! And it’s the kind that only You can perform. With the utmost of reverence I bow at Your feet… Be merciful on this old sinner. I am nothing and cannot survive this life without You. Please forgive me, heal me, and realign me. Only in You can I be made whole!
1 Timothy 3:1-13 (<<click here)
What a list of attributes worthy of aspiration on the part of every believer! Lord, Paul gives a fine list of qualities for which leaders, such as myself, should seek and strive. So many eyes are upon us. Most importantly Your eyes, Lord. Each and every day my goal must be to do what pleases You. And, yes, part of it is adhering to guidelines set in Your Word – that is very important – but I truly believe that my love for You must be the strongest driving factor. I can follow all the proper rules and regulations in my relationship with Karen but if I am not motivated by love for her things start to fall apart, selfishness worms its way in, apathy and self-inflicted blindness begin to take its toll on our relationship. It is magnified even more so in my relationship with You, Jesus. Love has to be my motivator. Time and time again You show me Your love for me Repeatedly, I see examples of love that others have for You. Help me to love You more and more. That is what will keep me true, that will adjust my attitude. Please, help me to clearly see Your love for me – that alone is motivation enough.
Lord Jesus, Your eyes are upon me but so are the eyes of everyone around me. For good or for bad, people see what I say or do. Most of the time I am a good reflection of You… but way too often I am not. Please, enable me to allow Your love to fill me each and every day so I can be a lighthouse that will guide others away from danger and that will guide them safely into harbor of Your love and grace!
September 7th, Mon, 6:30 am1