How do you see God? How do you honor and please God? These are questions all of us should ask ourselves from time to time.

Only believe:

Do you really believe? Or, do you wear God like a sticker, a patch, or a designer shirt? Do you believe when it’s convenient, or do you purpose to please Him in all of your ways, especially when it’s hard?

Double-mindedness:

With God, you can’t compartmentalize your walk with Him. You can’t act one way at church and act another at home, or at work, or out socializing with friends. Too often, when people are caught doing wrong, they are quick to say, “Yeah, but I’m a Christian. I believe in God.”

Getting to know Him:

If you are truly right with God (as in, saved or born again), then you will have a real desire to get to know Him. You will want to please Him. You will want to learn His ways and follow His teachings. You won’t be living two separate ways, but you will be consistently living according to God’s word, wherever you go. Your walk will match your talk.

God will no longer be a patch you wear. Instead, you will purpose to serve and please Him in everything you do.

Just a thought,

PSS

As Christians, our responsibility is to obey God — to do what He asks.

Intentions:

We deal so much with the intentionality of our heart when we should be concerned with the obedience we walk in. It’s the willing and obedient who eat of the good of the land (Isa 1:19). When we focus so much on the intention of our motives, it can paralyze us spiritually. Instead, we should work to obey God and His word, so just do what He asks. I believe this would simplify our walk. God will deal with our intention (the why-we-do-what-we-do), because who can know the heart?

Actions:

“But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards according to what their actions deserve (Jer. 17:10). One translation states, “according to the results of his deeds.” It’s what we do that matters with God, at times, more than why we do it.

Feelings:

Maybe I don’t want to help, or feel like helping, someone; but if I help them anyway, who cares how I felt? We may not feel like obeying, or want to obey, God; but if we obey anyway, then God says that’s what He will deal with — our actions.

Motives:

Only God knows the heart fully — our motives. Those are all subject to change over time. But what He sees, what He rewards or deals with, are our actions. What we do is what counts. I had good intentions, but I didn’t do anything. That doesn’t help anyone. It has been said “Hell is paved with good intentions.”

Do what you know is right, and don’t get so caught up with the intention of your actions.

Just a thought,

PSS

The little things in life do matter.

Everyday choices:

Your character really isn’t formed by the big events of your life. Instead, who you are is ultimately determined by the smaller choices you make each day. When you choose to do what’s right every chance you get, you’re more likely to stick to your principles when the pressure is really on. On the flip side, if you let the small things slide, you’ll follow the path of least resistance — even if it means compromising your core values.

One small step: 

John Wooden said, “Little things make big things happen.” We all play just as we practice. How you do the everyday stuff will determine how you live your life. During his 2014 commencement address to graduates at the University of Texas, Admiral William McRaven reflected on the many lessons he learned during his 36 years as a Navy Seal. The first item on his list? Make your bed every morning.

Bed-making:

Little things, such as making your bed, set you up for success. One small accomplishment early in the day can lead to multiple accomplishments throughout the day. Plus, the person who does the little things right can probably be trusted with the bigger things in life. Jesus said the same thing more than 2,000 years ago (Luke 16:10).

Don’t overlook the small, everyday things of life — by doing the small things, you are ensuring your success in life. Neglecting them will only hinder your opportunities for real success.

Just a thought,

PSS

Do you want to grow? Do you want to get better in some area of your life? If you do, then you must learn.

Exercise:

If we want to get in good physical shape, we will have to exercise. To grow and develop our gifts and talents, we have to exercise them. Walt Disney said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious; and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

Yearn to learn:

Someone once told me, Learn something new every day. We shouldn’t allow the fear of change to hinder our growth. “Change can be frightening, and the temptation is often to resist it. But change almost always provides opportunities — to learn new things — to rethink tired processes, and to improve the way we work” (Klaus Schwab).

Don’t stagnate:

Playing it safe, I believe, is overrated. When you choose to settle for less or the status quo, you become stagnant. Consequently, nothing ever happens. We only maintain what we have, and will experience no new opportunities. Be a learner — someone who wants to do something, achieve something, and become someone. Don’t allow yourself to grow weary in doing well. God is always leading us forward to be able to see new opportunities that keep us curious about the what-ifs of life. I often say, “You will get older every year: there’s nothing you can do about it, but don’t ever get old.”

Being old is a choice. I believe we get old when we stop seeing the possibilities available to us who continue to learn. Let’s all be lifelong learners.

Just a thought,

PSS

Be Anxious for Nothing

Charlie Brown once said to Linus, “I worry about school a lot.” He thought a little longer and then said, “I worry about worrying so much about school.” He reflected some more and then concluded, “Even my anxieties have anxieties.”

Anxiety disorders:

Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles. Today in America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness. Worry and anxiety are very destructive, both psychologically and physically. People who worry constantly are at a greater risk of death when they become ill. According to the word of God, we worry when Jesus is not at the center of our lives. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is helped by worry.

Unbelief:

In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus actually dealt with the area of worry more than any other single area. When we worry, we don’t trust God to take care of us or help us. We worry about money because money comes first in our lives. When we worry, we are acting as unbelievers do. So, we must master worry and anxiety and begin to train our minds to think differently. Anxiety and worry are negative thoughts about the past and the future, and this will cause us to ruin the present.

Trusting God:

So, how do we move forward and get free from worry? Firstly, we must recognize it as wrong. Secondly, we must repent for worrying and not trusting God. Then, we must renew our minds to think on things which are good, lovely, and true. All worry is based on lies and deception. So, it’s the truth, God’s word, that can set us free.

Let’s purpose to stop the worry and meditate on the truth.

Just a thought,

PSS