Recognize What the Spirit is Telling You

Recognize What the Spirit is Telling You
by David Brenneman

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding ofthe hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a
robber, and want like an armed man." PROVERBS 24:33-34

     We've all seen it. In the worlds of sports, business, and academics, less gifted individuals often go further than those with greater abilities due to one trait: diligence. Such people are willing to take seriously the challenge of laziness and do what they must to overcome  its allure.  You likely are one of those people or aspire and work to be one.
     But, if we're honest with ourselves, this same diligence is often lacking in our spiritual lives.
     If you and I are to counter spiritual laziness, we're in need of an assessment of sorts: Do we have any indication of how we're doing? When We reflect on the past year, have We made any progress? Have We done any Bible memorization recently? Have we used "idle moments" to read or meditate on the word or to pray to our Lord? Or has laziness caused us to do what is easy rather than what is best and prevented us from storing the word of God within our hearts?
     When asked to take part in Christian service, how do we respond? Maybe it's not an outright refusal, but even a hint of reluctance is a dangerous sign. What about in hearing the word of God when it's preached, when it comes home with power and impact and we know that it demands application and change? Do we take action as doers of the word and not as hearers only (James 1:22)?
     Your answers to such questions can help you press on and avoid the slow drip-drip of laziness (a lie-in instead of a morning devotional here, a boxset instead of a prayer meeting or a sports match rather than a conversation about Jesus there), which leads to spiritual poverty.  Do not become a master of unfinished spiritual business and unfulfilled good intentions. Often, all the started plans and kind notes, and the many words of repentance and petitions for help, die in our minds while we turn on our beds "as a door turns on its hinges" (Proverbs 26;14).  Flee from this behavior and instead run to Christ, asking Him to stir your heart and make you into a man or woman of action.
     Do you want to be useful to God? Do you long to make a difference: to reach people on the seas of life in all their trouble and emptiness and to be part of the means by which God builds His Church? Do not neglect your souls by giving room to laziness.  Without diligence in your relationship with God, you will grow no true fruit in your life. "Tomorrow" is the devil's favorite word.  "Now is the favorable time; behold now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). Be useful to God now.
- Truth for Life Devotional Pastor Alistair Begg.

It's been something stirring in me to start asking myself the question: are we treating, have I been treating,  what we/I have read in the Scriptures as mere suggestions or as instruction for living?  If so, what is behind such thinking?  Then I read this devotional last night.

Do we convince ourselves that the other things in our lives are God-given and ignore the weightier things that Scripture tells us to abide by and make a part of our lives?

If what we fill our days doing, regardless of intent, isn't allowing our proper ingestion of the Word of God and for quality time in prayer, then we need to re-evaluate. 

We can be busy and lazy about life at the same time.  We can look like we're doing great things yet accomplishing nothing of importance for the Kingdom of God.

Spiritual laziness isn't fiction.  It is a reality in many lives.  We are in a society that has transitioned to one where like's, follow's and subscribe's are becoming a defining part of lives...at the expense of all else. 

We can be so concerned about such things and neglect the instruction and admonition of the Lord. 

My Dear Reader...don't put feel good things before your relationship with Jesus.  Don't, as Allistair Begg's examples show, make excuses for not being in the Word of God and prayer because we put other things and people above that.  While people are why Jesus came, lived, died and arose again...our relationship with Jesus-our sanctification- is the work of God in us.

Our prayers are weakened, our struggles made more real, because of our spiritual laziness. 

We learn spiritual discipline through what we permit the Spirit to do in our lives. 

Be sure of what you're doing in your life that it's from God for you to be doing.  Be sure of those whom you surround yourself with.  Be sure of your salvation as the Scriptures say that we should be doing. 

Is your time with Jesus on as much of a schedule as your streaming or television time?  Are you showing adverse signs that aren't glorifying God when you are engaged in these other activities?  Showing flavors of anger, rage, bitterness and justify it be calling it 'fun'? 

Recognize that even things done in 'fun' can cause days, weeks, months or even years of damage to the work of God in someone's life to bring them to the same salvation that we have in Christ ourselves.

If we are really wanting to live lives approved by Jesus we must examine our lives, ask Him to point out what ought to be removed or changed, and stick to it.  Be more involved in studying the Word of God.  Be more involved in listening to the Spirit of God. 

"Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3.

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalms 37:5.

"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Worrying or Praying, It's Up to You

Worrying or Praying, It's Up to You 

by David Brenneman 

"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span?" Luke 12:25.

Do you realize that most of the things you are worried about today will never come to pass? If you think about it, you've

probably fretted about many calamities over the years that never happened. And the stark reality is that worry is a debilitating state of mind that can crode your joy, peace, and sense of God's pres-

ence. Perhaps it is your job that has you anxious, or your loved ones, or the future. The perpetual worrier carves emotional channels through which deeper and stronger fears may eventually take root

Yet worry is essentially an assault on the character of God, since most of our concerns stem from the notion that somehow God will not come through for us. When we confront worty with the truth of Jesus' goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, we can disarm the explosive nature of our fears. And when we deliberately choose to trust Him to take care of our circumstances and concentrate on the business the Lord sets before us each day, we can experience

newfound contentment and stability. So do not fret. Instead, "commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help

you" (Psalm 37:5 NLT).

Jesus, help me to stop worrying, I trust in Your wisdom, power, and love.

- Trusting God with Today. 

A prevailing thought that I had last night after this, other devotionals and my Bible study...how often are we taking the Word of God seriously? Are we just reading it...are we thinking about it at all? Are we taking the Word of God as mere suggestions or are we taking it as instruction for righteousness?

Righteousness in Christ important to us or isn't it? Are we so concerned and or consumed in what's going on in our world that we forget or neglect the Word of God? Are we praying or are we merely worrying? 

All of these thoughts are connected. 

As children of God, the saved in Christ, we ought to be looking more and more into the Word of God rather than wasted ventures in this world. I used to be heavily into science fiction. Books, movies, writing it. Used to be into television sitcoms. So much of my time was used up every day in these things. For several years, when I was single, I was consumed with an online life. Convinced that my Savior wanted me to reach people for Christ that way. I was right and wrong at the same time. Yes I would, but not in that way. 

I went through many countless seasons of praying and worrying.  

Likely heavily related to my massive inconsistency in being in the Word of God.   

We can't embrace the world and embrace what our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ wants of us.  

We will find ourselves in a very poor state of mind. We will find ourselves worrying rather than praying. We will find ourselves compromising where we should be standing firm in the Lord.  

Our lives aren't our own. We don't truly have a right to do our own thing when we have a responsibility and the reason to live our lives in Christ...because of all He did to save us.  

Probably the first thing to come to mind is all you think you will miss out on by living for Jesus with your everything. That's a deception, a lie, from your sin nature. We can't know what all that He has prepared for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 

Simply put until you walk the walk and do more than simply talk the talk you're going to have troubles. 

Give up worrying. Your resources are insanely limited concerning understanding your situations compared to what Jesus is able to accomplish in a life wholly committed to Him. 

Satan's going to feed our sin nature whatever it takes to derail our life in Christ. We're called to stand firm in the Lord. Call upon Him. He will make a defense for us. He will make a way where once there was no way.  

When you came to Christ you weren't given an instruction book n told to go make the best of it.  

You were given an Instructor, the Holy Spirit, you were given full access to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. You were given unbreakable promises and unrestricted access to the Throne room of God.  

Be sure you aren't worrying and that you're confidently coming to Christ for what you need to live the life you've been given to live.  

Daily, many times a day, we will be tempted to deal with life on our own. Know this and prepare to combat it.

We have our lives hidden in Christ. 

We have a Savior who relates to everything we will ever go through. 

Let us live life knowing this is true. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Being the Light We are to Be

Being the Light We are to Be 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2.

In my time in God's Word last night, particularly in the notes of the various study Bibles, there was some varying views of interpretation of this passage.  

My view aligns with a few of them. 

This "great cloud of witnesses" I take to mean as Dr. David Jeremiah and Pastor John MacArthur do, that it's referring to the prior list of individuals who's life was marked by faith in Christ either in looking forward to Him or looking back at the cross. I do not believe this "great cloud of witnesses" refers to those who have gone on before us are looking down from Heaven. 

There's several key points that really shoot down that notion.

One, is that the primary focus of those who have left this world and are those saved in Christ Jesus, is Jesus. Their attention there is Him and not this world. 

Next, is the inability of those who have gone on before to look into time as that is of God and certain angels. 

My thoughts of Heaven, from the Scriptures, is that the focus isn't on past lives, but the new life in Christ. Rejoicing to be with their Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  

Another valid point is that there would be nothing but tears in Heaven if people there, with a sin-free perspective on life and living, were constantly able to be exposed to this world would be in tears constantly at the choices those they knew were making. 

All this said you can probably see why Dr. David Jeremiah said Pastor John MacArthur stand on what they do.  

Another sort of related notion is how we have all seen funerals where people like to say that those who've passed are in a better place...when we know they likely weren't saved in Christ.  

We really do no favors by holding to this train of thought.  

God's Word clearly says that those who have not come to Christ for salvation are not going to see His Heaven.  

While this makes those who are still alive possibly feel better it's perpetuating a falsehood.  

There's good reason why the road to Hell is wide and the path to Heaven is narrow.  

Ours, as those alive in Christ here alive today are supposed to be pointing people to Jesus.

Whatever we do should be in Christ. What life we live should be the light of Christ shining in us. 

We have all kinds of lives to look at in our Bibles to encourage us in Christ to live a life approved by Jesus. 

We should be telling the truth in love to those we are in communication with. Should be making every effort to live lives that show Christ to this fallen world. 

In Heaven Christ is glorified and worshiped...so should it be as it is in Heaven, here on Earth. In Heaven Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father.  

Think about these verses: "Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." 1 Peter 3:13-17.

Be the light of Jesus Christ to those around you and be ready to give a reason for the hope within you. Speak the truth in love and hide it not in order to spare feelings.  

While nothing can be done for those who've passed on something can be done for those who yet live. 

While we are going to have various trials and tribulations in life we have a Redeemer who lives who is with us always. Who wants our lives to shine in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

Careless words abound in our world and the thought of consequences concerning them is the farthest thing from the minds of those who have them.  

We who are in Christ are to be different. We are to be living for Jesus in all that we do. Even if it means standing out, of being different. It may hurt but the consequences of sin are a lot worse. 

Jesus is coming soon and now more than ever the truth, His truth, needs mentioned all the more as that day draws near. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

More Than You

More Than You 

by David Brenneman 

"casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.

     At times, when there are heart-wrenching situations that steal our hope, there is only one thing we can do-let go. As much as we would like to control the situation and have our will be done,

we must acknowledge that in His wisdom and love, the Lord will decide what is best. And it may hurt terribly. But we recognize our responsibility is to honor Him as God, trust in His goodness, and put no other thing before Him.

     So when you encounter trials where the consequences are monumental, do not bow to despair or bitterness. Instead, deliberately submit your life to God. This does not mean you will stop wrestling in prayer. Rather, it means that even as you pray, you put your wholehearted trust in God, seek His will, and intentionally relinquish the outcome of your circumstances to Him. This is not resignation or fatalism, and arriving at this point is seldom easy. You may wrestle with the feeling that you can do at least one more thing to solve your dilemma. But releasing your situation to the Lord is a mature step of faith, indicating your trust in His wisdom, goodness, and power. So let go, And allow Him to reveal Himself to you.

Jesus, I let it all go. Help me to trust You completely Amen

- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.

When two of the devotionals that I read are on exactly the same passage...it's for a post the next day. 

We weren't meant to live overwhelmed lives.  

We weren't meant to live lives that were laced or filled with broken relationships, broken hearts.

We weren't but many wake up to these daily. Many people struggle and don't know or maybe don't realize that there is a solution.

I am not here speaking from a soapbox. I have spent my share of time in those kinds of situations.  

When finally I was in that blessed position of having nowhere to look but up...only then did the tide turn and relief arrive.  

Worrying coupled with anxiety are you trying to convince you that you are on your own and must find your own way.  

When you get to the point of realizing that Jesus has been there all along, waiting with open arms, then you have reason to hope. 

My hope is in Jesus to get me through those lonely times. Everyone goes through seasons of loss seasons of hurt. Seasons of not knowing who to go to or who to talk to. Those whom we used to have drifted away or moved on from us. Have had people I considered very close friends whom I used to confide in leave me by the wayside. It happens. But the greater truth is it is God who sometimes moves those people out of our lives because His plans and purpose don't include them for us anymore. 

Other relationships we need to ask Jesus if they should stay or go. Because of utmost importance to Him is our sanctification. Our becoming more like Jesus Christ. It isn't for setting up our own little peace on Earth.  

Knowingly and with intentionality staying in a bad situation is really on us. If God shows us the path to relief and His peace and we choose to keep trying to win the day instead...it's on us.  

In every type of work experience and in many relationships I have stayed with them only as long as the Lord has allowed until He makes it impossible for me to stay in them. I learned the hard way not to push the issue when He who knows my end from my beginning says it's time to move on. 

Our anxieties aren't something we're actually told to flee. We are told to cast them on Jesus. That's Alistair Begg's interpretation of this same passage. Take them and toss them to Jesus to handle, to deal with.  

Our broken world has never had any kind of a breakthrough with self-help books or inspirational speakers.  

Our world has only ever seen good come about when this verse has been properly applied. 

It's going to be in my book but it's worth mentioning here...I had every single right to be severely anxious when I was informed that I was being put on Administrative Leave pending an investigation that could lead to my termination of employment.  

I had that right but I chose instead to cast it to my Savior in prayer. I had never experienced anything like that situation and absolutely wanted to respond in a way that would honor my Savior and my Lord Jesus Christ.  

We have choice because of the cross of Jesus Christ. Choice to come to Him to be saved or not. The consequences of sin is death and there's a definite day when those who have said no to the free gift of salvation will pay for that rejection. We have the choice, after coming to Christ for salvation, to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness or to try life in other ways. We have choice to live a life that honors Jesus in everything or in what we want the world to see. 

We have choice to cast our anxieties, our burdens, upon Him or do the utterly foolish thing and try to deal with them ourselves. As Allistair Begg also eluded to...we tend to try to fix everything ourselves first before seeking His help. 

My Dear Reader...first and foremost be sure that you are saved. The invitation has gone out to all the world for over 2,000 years. Soon that invitation will be ended.  

Secondly, why would such a person who has the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, try to do life apart from God? Why try to solve or resolve situations that Jesus is immeasurably more intimately aware of every minutiae of detail than we ever could be? Why settle for breadcrumb solutions when Jesus is more than able to give us our fill of His peace?

Walk away from whatever relationships aren't healthy for you in Christ and pray for those people. Walk away from the situations that you can that aren't healthy for you in Christ.  

Like arguments, food, other things, we don't always have to go to any we are invited to.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

My Dear Reader...stubbornness with regards to self is an extremely dangerous thing when living in this world apart from a right relationship with Jesus. You can be saved an be just as stupid as those not saved.  

Cast your anxieties on Him. 

If you're not saved yet don't listen to the lies that God's solutions will destroy your life. God's solutions always bring life.  

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Open Your Eyes, Open Your Heart

Open Your Eyes, Open Your Heart 

by David Brenneman 

"And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31.

"If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?" Proverbs 24:12.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." Romans 1:18-32.

Without excuse means exactly and only what that says. There will be no excuses accepted for why anyone's rejection of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. None.

Why is Jesus still delayed in returning? Because of this: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

Hate to break it to you all but there's nothing truly unique about your life's journey. Sure technology and cultures have changed but the struggles of life aren't unique. Any excuse anyone will try to use when they stand before Jesus in judgment will not save them...will not save you...if you're among those as yet undecided. 

Fear? Afraid of what others think? Afraid of what God might ask of you? Afraid of losing your stuff, your possessions? Afraid of family or friends whom you don't think will understand?  

Being afraid isn't a viable excuse either. Salvation is for you if you come to Christ and ask Him to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. It's about YOUR standing before Jesus not your standing before your friends, your family or your acquaintances. 

You, my Dear Reader, will stand alone before Jesus. No lawyers to defend you. Just you. You will either stand as one justified in Christ or as one condemned to eternal punishment forever separated from Jesus. Only in this life do you choose or can you choose. Scripture further says that it is appointed for men and women to die once then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Jesus said it simply and plainly enough...decades ago I understood it as a child. 1974 in fact. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” John 3:16-21.

Right there is what the essence of the beginning of this post is talking about.  

A very good, heartfelt, song says "When He was on the cross, I was on His mind". Yes, in all truth, you and I and all mankind were crossing His mind as He sacrificed Himself to pay the price for your sins and mine. And oh my Dear Reader you indeed have sinned. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

You have this sin problem that no amount of good-doing is going to erase even one single sin. No amount of loving others is going to remove even one stain.

You must choose for you. Nobody in all this universe can choose for you.  

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

The choice is a simple choice but it's impact and importance will affect you now and throughout all eternity. When you choose Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...when next you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life...He will not be your Judge. He will be your Savior, your Lord and your Friend.  

I know in some corners of this world a choice like this might mean your life. Do not allow that to deter you from choosing a new life in Christ. If He so chooses then your life will continue on as a light in that dark corner of the world. If not, then the next thing you would know is the warm loving embrace of Jesus Christ Himself. 

Open your eyes, open your heart, to this plea from God my Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Father because of what Jesus did to save me. He can be your Father too. The Holy Spirit will come to you and make His home with you by being in you...just as He did with Jesus and does for all who call upon Him to be saved. 

If you need more questions answered about being saved in Christ Jesus, please text "Jesus" to 1-330-264-9459 or call that number. There's people there ready to show you how to know for sure that you are saved or to answer your questions about salvation in Jesus.   

Time is running out my Dear Reader. While God has been patient and isn't willing that any would die and be forever separated from Him, there is a set day for Jesus to return in Judgment. He will remove all who are saved before that judgment begins. All who remain will face it. 

I love you too much not to share all this with you. It matters not that I have likely never seen you. As God puts these words on my heart so will I tell you His truth in this: come to Jesus and be saved. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org

Driven to Distraction or to Life

Driven to Distraction or to Life 

by David Brenneman 

"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?" Proverbs 22:17-21

I am in the midst of a situation. Not work related. Not marital related. Electrical related. Something that is a conundrum of sorts. I have sought out some help but have to wait for the help to arrive when they can. 

The temptation is to dwell on it n allow it to get the best of me. As one to whom God has blessed with a form of ability to troubleshoot things, not being the one to complete the fix or repair can be disheartening or discouraging.  

My choice, therefore isn't to allow it to dwell in my mind but rather to wait upon the Lord to bring about the resolution. Having done all I know to do, the next steps are in His hands.  

Without spending consistent time in the Word of God and in prayer...being the way that I am today wouldn't be possible. My much younger self would have reacted more irrationally. Would have jumped in farther without a full consideration of things.  

A lot has happened in regards to growing in Christ for me and it is rooted in being intentional about wanting to learn more about Jesus. Of how to truly live out the Christian life.  

Our world wants nothing to do with a life in Christ. It pushes self everything. Self help. Self assurance. Self this self that. 

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We can do extremely little on our own. 

We learn how to react to situations in life that are less than pleasant, less than ideal. We learn how to behave as Christ would in these situations as well. We learn more of what's truly important and what isn't. Our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our lives are to be lived honoring that sacrifice.  

What we do in private as well as publicly is all known to Him with whom we have to do. What we put before Him and what we do with Him are intimately known. 

All things that aren't working as they ought to are a situation in Christ. Jesus has no problems.  

We can get emotionally involved or we can get spiritually involved. Emotional involvement usually doesn't end too well. Spiritual involvement usually puts us back on track or keeps us on the track of righteousness.  

I also had some really odd really weird dreams last night and they lingered into my waking moments. Enough to be unsettling. Without persistence in time in the Word of God and being taught by the Spirit...I wouldn't have recognized a distraction that was a precursor to not writing this post well. 

Without intentional persistence in a regular time with Jesus in His Word we don't have the ability to fully recognize or understand the schemes of the devil.  

Believe me if you are not consistently, persistently, persevering in being in the Word of God you have no clue what the real dangers of everyday life has in it concerning spiritual matters and their connections to the physical world. 

Some utilize the acronym: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth for BIBLE. It's way more than basic in its Instructions its the real owners manual to a life in Christ as God intended. It has all the required information for truly living and what to do when situations happen. 

A chorus from a song comes to mind in times like this.

I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies

The Lord liveth and blessed be my rock

And let the God of my salvation be exalted

The Lord liveth and blessed be my rock

And let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Praise and discouragement cannot coexist.  

This is still the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

To Be In The Word Because You Want To

To Be In The Word Because You Want To 

by David Brenneman 

"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?" Proverbs 22:17-21

My Dear Reader...you can't miss what you have not tried in the Lord. I began with a determination to add to what I was previously only doing in the semi-early morning's with reading and studying God's Word. That began on January 1st 2025. What I had selected were two study Bibles and a few devotionals by reputable men of God. Within a few weeks of starting, I could tell that the Spirit was saying it wasn't enough, to add more. So two more study Bibles were added. 

Truth be known...I can't remember not spending this time in the evening's with the Spirit reading and studying God's Word. I can say some evening's have been a little more difficult to understand but it's been wholly worth it. 

The way of the world is to veg out and find some mind numbing thing to watch or do rather than seek out that which is the most beneficial for spiritual growth. Truthfully going to the gym isn't nearly as profitable for spiritual growth.  

You need your spiritual food way more than you think. You need your spiritual food to grow in respect to your salvation. It's not something optional. 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word what a glory He sheds on our way. While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and all who will trust and obey. 

Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Think about that great hymn. Our still yet being in this world after coming to Christ for salvation isn't so that we live out our days having our will being done. It's to continue to seek n save the lost...the Father’s business that Jesus was teaching the Disciples to be ready to do. 

We can't be about the Father’s business if we're not in the Word of God to learn what it is and what our part of God's plan for mankind is. We, for sure, will have our sanctification completed when we step into eternity but in the meantime we are going to go through that process here on Earth. 

But only if we trust and obey and are avid about being in the Word of God to learn and grow in Christ. 

Truth also be known, there's been more than a few evening's where I sacrificed some sleep to complete my evening reading. Following Christ does require more than a surface level commitment. 

You can't expect to grow in Christ if all you eat from is the appetizer table and never sit down at His table of food to eat. 

While yes our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus we do need nourishment in the Lord. We ought to do as Paul wrote of in pressing on.  

Pressing on towards the upward call of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Pray about your own time with Jesus in your evening's. Seek out what material He would have you learn. Stick to the Biblical examples of Godly men and the Word of God.  

It's not going to be a good day for any Believer to stand before Jesus to give an account of their lives and have no evidence to show that His Word and divine purpose for them wasn't truly important to them.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 

Stand firm in the Lord. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org