Tag: grace

I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12

When was the last time you were really hungry? Really, really, hungry? Food was very precious to you wasn’t it?

How important is God’s Word to you? When His Word is as important to you as physical food, then you will grow in your walk with the Lord. The problem is some people are starving themselves spiritually.

David said in Psalm 119:162, “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.” Both Job and David found God’s word to be precious treasure. It was valuable and they could not live without it.

Just as our bodies can only go so long without vital nutrients, our Christian lives can only go so long without good spiritual nutrition. If we starve ourselves the Word of God, we will suffer the consequences.

God told Joshua, “Don’t let the Law depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Did you catch that? When you treasure the Word of God in your heart, you will have good success. What a precious treasure!

Pray

Lord, I need Your Word everyday. I need it more than I desire food. Help me to stay in Your Word and give me an understanding of it.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:15‬

Paul knew he was a sinner. He knew he was fighting evil forces that were guided and directed by Satan. He also knew that he needed a Savior to free him from the captivity of sin.

Even though Paul was redeemed by the blood of Christ he still committed sin against his desire.  The battle with sin is real.  Sin can take you to places where you really don’t want to go.  The flesh is weak.

When you read Romans 7:15-17 it sounds like Paul was confused but he wasn’t.  He is simply describing he nature of the flesh versus the spirit.  Paul desires to do good but finds himself falling into the traps of sin because the flesh is weak.  

When we try live life on our own strength we will fail.  However when we rely on the power of God we will succeed.  This is truly amazing when we grasp the truth of this matter.  

God wants and desires to control our every thought and action by His Spirit.  The problem lies in the fact that we sometimes do not allow the Holy Spirit to helps us overcome evil.  We should be driven by the Spirit of God to such a point that we can easily say no to sin.

Think about what controls your mind and captivates your interests.  Is it the things of God or the things of this world?  Stop right now and consider your life and ponder who is in control, you or the Lord?

Pray

Lord, forgive me of my sin and give me the power to overcome every evil thing that captivates me. Give me strength and wisdom to know what I need to do and what is right. I trust you to control my life.

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
John 6:27

After feeding the five thousand men and their families, Jesus went up onto a mountain to pray. Meanwhile the disciples got into the boat and started across the lake. Little did they know that Jesus would come to them walking on the water.

Just as Jesus got into the boat they reached the other side. There they met a crowd of people seeking Him and asking when and how He got there. Of course, Jesus didn’t answer them.

His answer could have been, “I walked over the sea through the night, met with My disciples and miraculously landed the boat on the shore.” Instead He told the crowd why they came seeking Him. He told them they were seeking Him for more free food.

Those who went a great distance to find Jesus received some words of wisdom. Jesus made a contrast between material things and spiritual things. He enlightened them on the fact that they were more interested in earthly things than heavenly things.

Jesus desires for us to be spiritually minded rather than carnally minded. He encourages us to seek after spiritual things that will not rust and moth cannot destroy. What is your heart chasing after?

Are you more interested in finding financial freedom than spiritual fulfillment? Are you more intrigued with free food rather than eternal life? Jesus knows the heart!

Pray

Lord, clear my mind of earthly things and cleanse my heart of earthly ways. I desire to seek after You for the eternal things and not material blessings. Give me a heart that is like Yours.