Good morning! I am praying for each one of you this morning! Praying that each one of us recognizes how blessed we are to have the One True God as our Father and Friend. Praying that we don’t take for granted the opportunity He has given us to have a personal relationship with Him!
There is no one who knows us better than He does! There is no greater comforter! There is no greater friend! There is no better accountability partner! There is no better provider! There is no one more loving!
We need Him at all times! When things are out of control, when things seem to be normal, and when things couldn’t be better! It’s easy to see our need for Him when nothing seems to be going our way. But it’s often more difficult to see our need for Him when things seem to be going our way!
This morning I want to share a ‘life lesson’ from Joshua after God had given the Israelites rest from their enemies and they were settling in the land God had promised to them. Life was good but Joshua cautioned them:
“But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to keep His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Joshua 22:5
Living as children of God, we need to live disciplined lives. It’s not easy and comes with many challenges, but when we prioritize our relationship with God He will increase and we will decrease! It’s one thing to say we love God, but quite a different thing to live displaying our love for God through obedience and surrender.
I know if I told my wife constantly how much I love her but lived in a way that said differently, she would not feel very loved. But when my conduct aligns with my words, she knows beyond doubt that my love is real!
Joshua’s advice is just as relevant to us today!
Love God: We can’t just declare our love for Him – we need to put it on full display in the way that we live!
Walk in Obedience: We need to walk in His ways. Putting His will above our own, trusting His plan and not ours!
Keep His Commands: When we do this, it will not only benefit our lives, but also the lives of the people around us!
Hold Fast to Him: Stay committed no matter the circumstances. Recognizing that He is the source of everything we need!
Serve Him: This is a total dedication and devotion to God. Not just with our external actions, but with our internal motives and attitudes!
Heavenly Father, our desire today is to love You and live in a way that confirms our love for You! Thank you for Your Holy Spirit who constantly reminds us of Your love and brings conviction when we start heading in the wrong direction. Help us to recognize our need for You in all seasons and live disciplined lives as Your children. Thank you for being the perfect example of love! In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 