Daily Dose 10-22-15

Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 
He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

We all want rescue when we are in trouble especially when it is coupled with blessings and honor. Yet, we are not always as eager to truly love the LORD and acknowledge His name. We may say we love Him. We may even go to church on a regular basis and live a decent and moral life; but is that a relationship with Him? Is that acknowledging His name? To merely attend church and call that love for Him is like a husband who only sees his wife when it’s time to eat. Is that a marriage? To love God and acknowledge His name is to be in constant conversation with Him. It is making decisions based upon His desires, not your own. Are you asking for rescue and honor from someone you barely know? Get to know God through time with Him in prayer and His Word. Don’t merely strive to know the Word of God. Get to know the God of the Word!

Father, I DO love You. I have witnessed Your rescue many times. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and full of anticipation to see how You will rescue again. I believe the promises of Your Word; I believe You! Amen

Daily Dose 10-21-15

1 Timothy 6:6-12 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Contentment seems to be an elusive commodity in our society. We are programmed to want -  to the point of seeing wants as needs. Even the poorest of our society are wealthy in comparison to the world. Then, is it wrong to pursue wealth? As with all matters in a Christ-centered life, it is a matter of motives of the heart. If your desire to achieve more wealth is motivated by lavish wants, you could be in jeopardy of the traps brought by those wants. If you pursue wealth to meet true needs and live generously toward those in need, you will enjoy your wealth with contentment and doing good for others and the Kingdom.

Father, Show me the difference between wants and needs. Not by the world’s standards, but by Your standards. Teach me to live in generosity and find Your contentment. I love You! Amen