“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.” Proverbs 4:20

We are bombarded with so many distractions every day. It takes a conscious effort on our part to remain focused and do the things in life that are truly needed.

Think of the story of Martha receiving Jesus into her home. Her sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, paying attention to Him and taking in every word. But Martha was busy in the kitchen, preparing everything so it was perfect for her guests. Naturally, she became frustrated with her sister, who wasn’t doing anything to help out:

“[Martha] came to [Jesus] and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’

‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:38).

Like Martha, we tend to be worried and distracted, giving attention to the challenges around us instead of the Word of God. But the only thing that’s needed is to be like Mary, to sit at the feet of Jesus, soaking in His presence and His Word.

Are you giving attention to the Word? Are you hearing from Him? Or have you allowed the distractions of the world keep you from listening to Jesus? Instead of fixating on life’s challenges, meditate on the Word so that you can hear from Him.

Lord, give me the wisdom to deal with the distractions in my life that are keeping me from attending to Your Word. Amen.

By Folasade Oladapo
used by permission

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

Spiritual Distractions

How Distractions May Lead Us to a Slow Fade

When Silence is More Than Being Quiet

The post Only One Thing is Needed appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“There is a way that appears to be right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”  Proverbs 14:12

Once, I tried assembling a lawnmower without reading the directions. I figured it couldn’t be that difficult, so I proceeded on my own. When I finished, it started right up, but when I shifted to forward, it went backward. What seemed right to me was wrong.

Proverbs warns us that sometimes what seems right to us leads to disaster. This is especially true regarding our attempts to reach God. People have tried in many ways to bridge the gap between themselves and God.

God didn’t create us as robots to love and obey Him. He gave us a will and freedom of choice. We have chosen to disobey God and go our own willful way. The result is separation from God.

I recently attended a funeral and listened to how people get into heaven through good works, religion philosophy and morality. But all those ideas are wrong. No bridge reaches God except one.

Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people. There is only one way and we must make a choice by trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We must admit our need, by confessing that we are a sinner and be willing to repent and turn from our wicked ways. We must believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. Then through we can invite Him in as Lord and Savior. Only that way is the right way to reach God.

THOUGHT: Ask yourself if you have made this decision and confession or are you playing church. Have you invited Jesus into your heart?

Lord, I am a sinner and I repent of my sins. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose from the grave. I invite Him to come in and control my life through the Holy Spirit and I receive Him as Lord and Savior.

By John Grant
used by permission

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney.

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

It’s a Jungle Out There!

Selling it All

Heavenly Wisdom

The post The Wrong Way appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17

Thoughts on today’s verse:

How do you view God? Is he someone looking for a way to condemn you? Is he an out-of-touch old man who doesn’t really know what it’s like in our modern world? Is he too holy to soil himself with the concerns of mere mortals and has left it up to us to work everything out for ourselves? No. NO. NO! God chose to enter our world and experience it from the side of mortality. God chose to enter our world, not to condemn us, or it, but to redeem it. Jesus is the great reminder that God longs to save us, not judge us. Thank God for God! Thank God for Jesus who was God with us.

Prayer:
Holy and Heavenly God, thank you that you live with those who are contrite and repentant and who long for your presence. You know we are only mortal, but you love us. You know that we are flawed, but you redeemed us. You know that we are not perfect, but you sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice to save us. Thank you. Through my Savior I offer my sincerest gratitude and praise. Amen.

By Phil Ware
used by permission

You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on https://www.verseoftheday.com

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

Getting Life Back on Track by Marvin Kehler

Where Your Choices Can Lead You – Frank Krause talks about what he learned from experience

Unrequited Love

The post How do You View God? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” Luke 18:16

Sherry and Jimmie met at a hard rock Black Sabbath concert.
Both were serious substance abusers.
Sherry became pregnant and a few months later, they got married.  But it was awful!
A divorce ended years of abuse.
Strangely enough, God drew them back together.  He had a plan for this family!
What did God use?
Little three-year-old Jason told the pastor, “I want Jesus to bring my daddy home.”

Months later, the couple asked the pastor to marry them.
He agreed if Jimmie would receive Jesus into his life as Sherry had done previously.
So Jimmie said yes.
Now he says,
“Jesus invaded our world that night.  We got up from there and were completely different.”

Now Sherry and blues artist Jimmie Bratcher are sharing Christ’s life-changing story with others.

Friend, your experience might be less dramatic, but God WILL change your life!

By Vonette Bright
used by permission

~~~~~~~

If you don’t know God and his forgiveness and would like to start living a life where he is at your centre, you can start that journey today with a prayer:

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to trust you from now on. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be. Thank you for enabling me to trust you in these uncertain times. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~

FURTHER READING

The Gift of Forgiveness – by John William Smith

A Moving Mountain

Searching for a Higher Purpose – Betty Lau shares her story

The post Completely Different appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”  1 Peter 2:23

Deep within us resides a longing for justice. We want evil punished and good rewarded. Yet, all around us we see evil celebrated and good penalized. When society blurs the lines between right and wrong, truth stumbles and justice fails (Isaiah 59:14).

When wrongly accused, Jesus didn’t fight back. He suffered the ultimate injustice. Although Jesus was completely innocent, He was put to death. As Jesus entrusted Himself to God, we should strive to do the same.

Peter tells believers how to handle injustice against them, particularly when it results from their faith in Jesus. Peter repeats the idea of entrusting ourselves to God later in the same letter. “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19).

God is our faithful Creator. God is the One who judges justly. When we rely on God’s faithfulness, His goodness, and His justice, we can keep on doing good even though we are treated unjustly. We can keep on living for the truth and trust God to look after us.

Put yourself in God’s hands. Know that you can trust Him to care for you, regardless of what people say or do to you.

Heavenly Father, it is so hard to not demand my rights or defend myself when someone takes advantage of me. Demonstrate your power in my life by giving me the strength to act as Jesus did. I submit myself to you. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

Suzanne also has devotionals on:  https://thelife.com/devotionals/

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

Justice, Mercy and Grace

Judging Vs. Justice

Yearning for Justice

The post Entrust Youself to God appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

It’s crazy how easily we can talk ourselves into wanting to be more, have more, and do more. And for me, it happens most when I let the world creep in where Jesus should reside.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Taking delight in the Lord means that our hearts truly find peace and fulfillment in Him. If we truly find satisfaction and worth in Christ, Scripture says He will give us the longings of our hearts. The idea behind this verse and others like it is that, when we truly rejoice or “delight” in the eternal things of God, our desires will begin to parallel His, and we will never go unfulfilled.

Many delight in wealth, status, material possessions, and other temporary things of this world, but they are never satisfied. They never truly get what they want, which is why they are always wanting more.

Everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father, but from the world which seeks pleasure. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

We will never be deeply fulfilled or “happy” with the things this world has to offer. But if we place our joy and hope in God first, He will meet all of our needs.

Have you trusted God first in your life? If not, do so today and receive the desires of your heart.

THOUGHT: What gives you pleasure in life? Does it come from the world or from Jesus?

PRAYER: Father God, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you and look to you and to you alone for true delight and pleasure in life.

By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

FURTHER READING

Our Heart’s Desires

Delight Yourself in the Lord

God is My Delight

The post The Delights of Your Heart appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7

Recently, I toured a tulip farm. It was the peak of blooming season, and what a wonderful sight it was to see hundreds of acres in full tulip bloom, displaying as many colors as in the rainbow.

I was shocked to learn that they were about to trim the flowers, and then I learned why. It seems that the goal in the field is not to grow flowers, but to grow bulbs and when the flowers are trimmed and the stalk remains, it allows the nutrients to go down to the bulbs and make them stronger and more hearty. It gives the bulbs more vitality.

There is a spiritual parallel here. Sometimes God cuts out the beautiful things in our life to allow us to grow.

Since God is the source of all goodness, his glory is the wellspring of all joy. What God does for his own sake benefits us. Therefore whatever glorifies him is good for us. And that includes the suffering he allows or brings into our lives. God refines us in our suffering.

Some consider God egotistical or cruel to test us for his sake. But the testing he does for his sake accrues to our eternal benefit.

How often have you heard people say, “I grew closest to God when my life was free from pain and suffering”? Just as the tulip farmer snips the flowers from the plant, God often walks with us through hardship and despair to deepen our roots in Him and make us all the better for it.

By John Grant
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Roots That Grow

Keep Training

What can You Expect?

The post Strengthening Your Roots appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 2:26

God often speaks at the most unexpected times. One day I was casually talking with a friend about a situation at my job. In the middle of the conversation I said, “This is driving me crazy.” My friend simply looked at me and said, “Only if you let it.”

In five words, my friend had summed up one of the major issues I have been struggling with for years: how do I keep from giving away the peace I have in Christ?

I confess that I am a perfectionist. If something doesn’t go the way I want it to go, I get anxious and upset. I feel out of control.

I have to remember that the peace of God is with me because the Spirit of God is with me. I must keep my mind on the person and promises of God instead of letting circumstances lead me into thoughts of anxiousness. To me, this means remembering some important truths:

•    I am a child of God (Romans 8:14).
•    God is for me, not against me (Romans 8:31).
•    I have the favor of God (Proverbs 8:35).
•    God’s love for me surpasses my understanding of it (Ephesians 3:19).

It takes practice to keep my mind on Jesus and not on the turmoil around me. But when I can do it, I have His perfect peace in the middle of the storm

Lord, help me cooperate with You to keep my peace. Help me focus my mind on You. Amen.

By Debbie West
used by permission

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

Finding Perfect Peace by Kathy Cheek

Perfect Peace by Phil Ware

Perfect Peace

The post Work For Peace appeared first on Thoughts About God.

There are places and times when we feel we need extra wisdom, insight, guidance and strength. We long for understanding in situations that seem confusing. We need revelation when truth is being hidden or skewed.

God provides all these things to His children through the Holy Spirit. Paul the apostle, prayed for believers to receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so they could know God better. This prayer is still for us today. It reflects what is available to believers… to you and me.

Why do we allow ourselves to live in confusion and even chaos when we can be equipped by the Holy Spirit of God. Do we miss the wisdom and revelation we can have from God because we drown out that quiet voice of the Spirit by our busy lives? In so doing we are actually choosing the chaos and confusion. Think about it. This is not God’s plan for you. Know He wants to equip you to walk in wisdom, revelation, strength and power right where you are. He wants you to know Him better.

Heavenly Father, Thank you that Your Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Thank you that Your Spirit will lead me to know You better. Fill my spirit afresh today with the wisdom and revelation, the strength and comfort I need to walk in the areas that perplex me. Quiet my heart to hear Your Spirit specifically in (name your own perplexing circumstance) . Thank you that You equip me by Your Spirit. I pray these things in the name of Jesus, amen.

Thought: Think of one area where you are experiencing perplexity, confusion or chaos and invite God right now to begin to show You His wisdom in this situation.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”  Ephesians 1:17-20

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Praying the 23rd Psalm for Yourself and Others

The Supernatural Power of Praise

Hearing God’s Voice

The post Are You Choosing Chaos? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”
1 Peter 2:2 (KJV).

Sam was very impatient with himself. Though he was a new Christian, he could not understand why he was not as spiritual as some of the other students who had walked with the Lord for several years.

I explained to him the Christian life, like physical life, involves a process of growth. A person begins as a baby and goes through various stages of childhood, adolescence and young adulthood to reach Christian maturity. Very few, if any, Christians, I explained to him, become spiritually mature overnight.

Lane Adams, a beloved colleague, gifted teacher, preacher and author, said, “I shrink inside when I think of the times I have mounted the pulpit, recited the conversion experience of the apostle Paul, and then indicated that he went out and turned the world upside down for Jesus Christ immediately.”

He continued, “This simply was not the case. There is a difference of opinion among scholars concerning New Testament dating, but it seems rather plain that many years went by before the Holy Spirit laid the dramatic burden on Paul as a missionary of the cross.”

If you strongly desire to serve the Lord in some particular way, such as teaching, ask the Holy Spirit in faith to empower you to become an effective teacher. Now, it may be that the Holy Spirit will see fit to make you a great teacher overnight, but this is most unlikely. So if it does not happen, do not be discouraged. Have faith!

Continue to ask and believe that the Holy Spirit will make you an effective teacher of the Word of God and be willing to work hard and long to develop your natural ability. The Bible reminds us that “faith without works is useless.”

If we are unique members of the Body of Christ, and we are, if we possess special tasks to accomplish, and we do, then the Holy Spirit will empower us to carry out those tasks. God does indeed have a plan for each of our lives. And He gives us the direction and power of His Holy Spirit to accomplish that plan as we continue to trust and obey Him.

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 3:14-18

Action Point: Recognizing that I am in the process of maturing spiritually, I shall seek to accelerate my spiritual growth by hiding the Word of God in my heart, spending time in prayer, walking in the Spirit and sharing my faith in Christ with others as a way of life.

by Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

Seek God and Not an Experience

Holy Cravings

Abuse Survivor – One Woman’s Story

The post Recipe for Growth appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” — Matthew 6:25

Thought

God gives beauty to the flowers and life to grass. In the grand scheme of things, these are transitory and insignificant. He sent his Son from Heaven to save us. So, he most definitely is going to give us what we need until we go home to live with him!

Prayer

Loving Father and Almighty God, forgive my distraction over temporal things. I do believe that you have given me everything I need in Jesus and in the gracious abundance of your blessings. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission

From: https://www.verseoftheday.com

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Fast Of Words: A Different Kind of Fast

Praying the 23rd Psalm for Yourself and Others

The Supernatural Power of Praise

The post Worry about Your Life appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Two hikers, bone weary from trudging toward the peak of a majestic mountain, pause when one says, “I think we’re on the wrong path; we’ve stopped making progress. Maybe it’s time to turn back.” Instead of agreeing with her companion, instead of berating her fellow hiker with condemnation and shame, she simply says, “Let’s rest for a while and study the map.”

Walking the Christian path is much like climbing a mountain. Vistas ahead are breathtaking, companions along the way encourage, unexpected bubbling streams refresh. But the way is long and often fraught with danger.

When the way is long, when we doubt that God is leading—when we doubt that God cares—it’s time to rest awhile and study the map, God’s words from the Bible. Past experiences of God’s faithfulness, knowledge of God’s will and way will not always eliminate doubt. Faith is almost sure to waver as we climb the mountain, but God’s promise to “never leave nor forsake” is like a cup of cold water as we traverse through thorns that leave us bloody, blinding lightning and soul searing thunder, gnashing teeth of wild animals called despair.

After misunderstanding from friends and family, after the never-ending neediness of people, after heart rending grief, Jesus says to his weary friends,

“Come with me to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Whatever thorny path you now travel, whatever doubt plagues your soul, whatever mountain peak is unseen through the clouds, Jesus’ invitation can be heard: “Sit down on the path with me and get some rest.”

Lord, I’m weary. Are you listening to my cry? Do you care? I need your comfort, please fill me again with your endurance and strength. Thank you that you are a God of mercy and grace.

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • ‘X’ Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

FURTHER READING

Importance of Knowing God
I Want to Know Him
The Christian and the Bible – do you believe it is the infallible truth?

The post Walking on the Mountain appeared first on Thoughts About God.