Your Daily Crossroad
Grow A Vibrant Spiritual Life
I’ve always thought about today’s passage in an external sense, rather than about the spiritual life. After all, that’s how it presents itself.
The lazy person reaps ruin while the diligent can expect a healthy harvest.
Simple. Makes sense. It’s a good challenge to keep me working hard and ensure I don’t let myself slack off.
But what if we consider this sowing-and-reaping principle in terms of our spiritual life? Specifically in our relationship with God.
Read today’s devotional verse:
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. (Proverbs 24:30-34)
We might not all live in castles or own vineyards, but we do all have the most valuable possession in the world: a human heart, soul, and spiritual life that needs tending.
Which scene resembles your inner quality of life in the following facets:
1. Your spiritual life and relationship with the Lord,
If you’re like me, it’s probably a mix of the two.
Tending To Your Spiritual Life:
For me, being in the Bible and in prayer are two places I’ve experienced incredible life. I have also put myself on the line in order to be obedient to his direction—even though it’s been scary and uncomfortable.
It’s a mainstay of my personal relationship with Jesus.
I may not have a heart populated by colonnades and cascading fountains, but there is life there for both myself and for others.
But if I dig deeper:
* What about envy?
* What about my greed?
* What about mean-spiritedness and incessant judgment of other people based on appearances?
* What about how I deal with anger?
You see, the further I look past the well-tended fixtures of my inner life, I notice neglected places and crumbling walls.
I see nettles intruding on flower beds, choking the life out of what is good.
Tending To Your Personal Inner Life:
* Do I deal with anger before it blossoms into resentment?
* Am I the same person in private as I am in public?
* Am I cultivating habits that, while not comfortable, will produce life?
I encourage you to survey your spiritual life in the same way. Find both areas that are flourishing and those that are crumbling.
How can you be diligent to tend to both? How will you increase fruitful areas while tilling up the weed-infested ones and starting over?
For me, it all starts with a willingness to see reality. So, are you willing to see the real problems that exist in your heart? Are you willing to admit that there are cycles of trouble in your life that don’t stem from everyone else’s actions, but are caused by your own attitudes and dispositions?
Here’s the deal. Until you own the entirety your inner life—the fruit trees and the weeds—you’ll never have the power or clarity to nurture it to its full potential.
So, if you find yourself in a spiritual draught, be diligent in cultivating the places where life can be found.
We can nurture wonderful landscapes within our hearts and minds—but we must do so on purpose. The question today is, are you?
Wow, after reading this I don’t even know what to add. What a challenge for each and every one of us. We are quick to recognize and remind ourselves of the areas that are flourishing but let’s be honest with ourselves today and each day and survey the areas that are crumbling. We have nobody to blame but ourselves. Create in me a clean heart, o God; and renew a right spirit within me. Amen!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 24:30-34
A Slow Day
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. (Proverbs 14:29)
Have you ever had one of those days where you started out groggy, as if in slow motion? I woke up tired this morning. As I sat in my chair and began to read my online Bible, I was even more tired. Coffee did not help. I felt like I was swimming against the current. My insides were trying but my reflexes were not responding. I was having a hard time comprehending and focusing on what I was reading. Even my prayers were challenging, as my mind kept wandering. The day seemed to flow with the same kind of beat. Traffic seemed extra slow and congested. Red lights were longer than normal. And my computer…the little hour glass icon next to the cursor became a great nuisance as I tried to double click through files and pages. My irritation and frustration grew at top speed while everything else around me crawled at a snail’s pace. As my day is fast coming to a close, I am still tired and still in slow motion. What does the Lord want me to learn from this kind of day?
Several verses in the Bible include the word “slow,” but are often followed by the words “to anger.” Why? Because we tend to get angry very quickly. Also, when we act on impulse, we usually act foolishly. The more anxious we get at times, the more likely we are to behave rashly. The end result is not good, not to mention who gets hurt in the middle. We must learn the self-control to be “slow to wrath” and slow to anger. We must learn to recognize the triggers in our environment and circumstances that tempt us to lose control and react in the heat of the moment. For me and my day, the Lord reminded me of these lessons.
Since I woke up in slow motion, He meant for me to go with His flow, not mine. Today, God wanted me to slow down, sit longer at lights, and even wait on my computer to respond. Instead of impulsively getting upset, He wanted me to think about Him during those moments, talk to Him and let Him talk back. Instead of talking to the Lord, I was wondering just when that red light was going to turn green.
Today, and any day, when you are sitting in traffic, at a long light or waiting for service somewhere, stop and talk to the Lord. God has set your day in motion for His purposes. It is okay to go slow, especially when circumstances pull at our emotions. If you go with His flow and follow His tempo, you will end your day with peace and joy, instead of regrets and fatigue.
I certainly needed this reminder today. I have had circumstances pull at my emotions more than once in the past few days and I must admit I have impulsively gotten upset with how unfair the situation was and how wronged we had been but then God speaks right into my situation as He did today and reminds me that He has set my day in motion for His purposes and it’s up to me how I control my emotions and allow my day to end. My prayer today is that we go with His flow, not our own, and follow His tempo and not allow our emotions and circumstances to dictate our day but to end each day with peace and joy. Slow to wrath and slow to anger.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 13, 2 Corinthians 5
The Imaginary Line
In today’s verse, we see a definite dichotomy between living in the world and living in the Lord.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)
One must either choose to live a life in service to God or a life debasing oneself to what the world offers. In direct contrast to this is the phrase, “What you do is OK, just as long as you don’t cross the line.”
This thinking, unfortunately, pervades Christian thought and attitude today. Valuable time of growing deep in the Lord is wasted on debating where the “proverbial line” is between the world and Christ.
There could be 30 people sitting in the church and I’ll guarantee you that the line will be in 30 different places. At the end of the day we have to face the reality that there is no line. We see this throughout the Bible. Even Jesus said that it’s either one or the other in today’s verse.
We make decisions about life based on a line that isn’t even there. We use that line to rationalize compromising and potentially sinful decisions. By rationalizing, we fool ourselves into arrogantly believing that God has to accommodate our rationalizations. If we have to question it, then we shouldn’t do it. Always err on the side of righteousness. Always! It is of the utmost importance that we grasp this concept so that we may continue growing in the Lord rather than being stifled by trivial questions about how far is too far. It’s that spiritual laziness that causes us not to make the effort to both make and carry out godly decisions. It is in this way that we, by our works, deny Him.
How are you going to erase the imaginary line you have made for yourself today?
Err on the side of righteousness, wow, I have heard many times in my life to err on the side of caution but honestly I’ve never thought of it in this light. To some this may step on your toes but it is such an important truth that needs to be spoken. The Lord’s return is soon and I don’t want to be caught in spiritual laziness. I want to be challenged each and every day to make godly decisions. Remember, what’s right isn’t always popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22).
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Galatians 6:9, James 4:17
Looking for God’s Wisdom
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. (Proverbs 2:2-9)
As King David was facing his death, he appointed his son, Solomon, as the new king of Israel. In the beginning of King Solomon’s reign, the Lord spoke to Solomon in a dream and said: “Ask! What I shall give thee?” (1 Kings 3: 5) His reply greatly pleased the Lord, as he asked for wisdom and discernment so that he could rightly judge God’s people. The Lord gave Solomon such an abundance of wisdom that he became famous throughout Israel and other lands, attracting the attention of many who came just to hear his wisdom. His own people feared and respected Solomon because of the power of his words.
The Proverbs are filled with Solomon’s nuggets of wisdom, which are still applicable for our lives today. However, this man of wisdom begins this book of wisdom by instructing us to seek for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Solomon tells us to “seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures.” He obviously was thankful that he had the right answer when God asked him years earlier, “What shall I give you?”
We need to get in the habit of asking the Lord for wisdom, knowledge and understanding every day. The New Testament writer, James, also instructs us to ask for wisdom as he says in Chapter 1 verse 5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” In other ways, anyone can ask for wisdom at any time and the Lord will give it liberally regardless of our shortcomings and faults. Asking for wisdom is a gift as much as begin the recipient of the wisdom that He gives. There are no prerequisites or strings attached. There will be tangible fruit in your life as you begin to understand things from a different perspective. Certain habits will break and your own words will inspire you as they bring edification and counsel to others.
Oh Lord, please give me wisdom, knowledge and understanding today so I can think Your thoughts as You direct my words, hands and feet. Amen.
When I read this I thought about how often times we have jerk reactions and responses to situations that occur throughout our day, not allowing much thought as to how God would have us handle the situation or situations but if we would stop, take a moment every morning before we even begin our day and ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, we just might be surprised at how with God’s help we are able to redirect our words, hands and feet for His good. Let’s inspire and bring edification and counsel to others today. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 1, 1 Corinthians 16