Forgive My Bad Life.

Psalms 25:8-11(MSG) – God is fair and just; He corrects the misdirected, Sends them in the right direction. He gives the rejects his hand, and leads them step-by-step. From now on every road you travel Will take you to God. Follow the Covenant signs; Read the charted directions. Keep up your reputation, God; Forgive my bad life; It’s been a very bad life.

Content With Just Who You Are.

Matthew 5:5 (MSG) – “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

Get Away and Keep Company With God.

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) – “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Feed Jesus Your Fruit.

Matthew 21:18-22 (MSG) – Early the next morning Jesus was returning to the city. He was hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree alongside the road, he approached it anticipating a breakfast of figs. When he got to the tree, there was nothing but fig leaves. He said, “No more figs from this tree—ever!” The fig tree withered on the spot, a dry stick. The disciples saw it happen. They rubbed their eyes, saying, “Did we really see this? A leafy tree one minute, a dry stick the next?” But Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don’t doubt God, you’ll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance you’ll tell ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God.”

Train Hard, Run Hard Every Day.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (MSG) – You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

God’s Gifts.

Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG) – But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way fruit appears in an orchard—things like

• Affection for others
• Exuberance about life
• Serenity
• We develop a willingness to stick with things
• A sense of compassion in the heart
• A conviction that a basis holiness permeates things and people
• We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments
• Not needing to force our way in life
• Able to marshal and direct our energies wisely

Faith.

Hebrews 11:1,2,6 (MSG) – The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguishes our ancestors, set them above the crowd. “It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.”

Spiritual Structure to Go Higher.

2 Peter 1:3-8 (MSG) -Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complement your basic faith with

• Good character
• Spiritual understanding
• Alert discipline
• Passionate patience
• Reverent wonder
• Warm friendliness
• Generous love

Each dimension fitting into and developing the others.

 

May God help us to walk the path, sit down and eat with Him and in our private place with Him, build a strong structure with Him on which our lives can be solid and strong every day in Jesus’ Name.