Not Too Late for First Things

The fervency of the new year coming is now on the wane, and I'm betting a lot of diets have already been broken :) However, it's not too late for you to make some commitments this year to what should be priorities in your life. Putting first things first will make your life much more awesome, I guarantee it. As long as your list starts like this, you're getting off the mark right:

1. Relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Family

So if you want to get things going right this year, let's do it!

Here's what I want you to do first: make a list of everything you are thankful for that happened in 2012. Everything. If you had a bad year, find the good and write it down. If your list is real short, then go back further than 2012 and write it out.  You need to be thankful and grateful for what the Lord has done in your life and thank Him for it.  The Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father.  Amen.

Now after you have done that, start your list of first things.  These are things that are going to take precedence in your life in 2013.  You know what's important; now it's time to write it out and hold yourself accountable.  (Sidenote:  get somebody else you trust to hold you accountable as well.)

You are writing this list out so that when things come up throughout this year, you can refer back to your list and see how they measure up.  You are also writing out your list because statistic after statistic proves that writing down goals results in much, much higher achievement rates.  Get to writing!!

As long as your list starts with the 2 things above, you will be starting well.  Take some time and make sure the rest of your list makes sense, too.  Where does work go?  Is it more important than time with friends?  How much does money matter to you?  How do you balance work, people, hobbies, etc.?  How much time do you spend on Facebook, and does it amount to anything?  Is fitness a priority?  How about learning new things?  Answering questions like these will help you get your list right.

So write out the good things God has done; give Him thanks; pray about how you spend your time, asking God to lead you where you can do better; examine your heart; write out your first things list for 2013; hold yourself accountable; get somebody you trust to hold you accountable to your list (and critique it if needbe).  You can make 2013 great.  Start right now!

Save It

This guy and gal held out. What a great decision it was, and how true this post is.

Discernment

Satan is a master of deception. He has a knack for making things look and feel real when all the while it’s a fake. This presents those of us who follow the Lord with problems sometimes: being able to discern what is of God; being able to distinguish between the voice of God, the Enemy, and ourselves; being able to separate the real from the fake.

I feel like this must be an area that needs some attention b/c I didn’t start out writing this blog in this specific direction. Let’s shine some light in.

* * * * *

So how can you be sure you are hearing from God? not being deceived? heeding the right voice? doing the right thing? It can be tough, for sure. When you don’t have a clear-cut “yes” or “no” from the Lord, it can make things difficult to decipher. But I think I can help you a little.

1. Pray for discernment

Pray in all things!! You are gonna hear that a lot from me :) When you pray for discernment, you are asking God to give you insight into how things really are; you are praying to see past the natural into the spiritual realm. You are asking for the Lord to help you see things that your eyes can’t see. When you do this, you may notice the Holy Spirit quicken certain things to you that you could otherwise never know...you may get a certain feeling…you may experience weird sensations in your body that clue you in to what is happening…you may “just know”. It can happen in a lot of different ways. Just be open to what God is trying to tell you and don’t be surprised if it comes in a way you aren’t used to.

2. Stay in the Word

If you are always in the Word—the real deal—then you know when something is false. For example, let’s say all you’ve ever had is Angus beef. When somebody comes along and tries to give you a soy burger, you are gonna know instantly. The same principle applies here: when you constantly feed yourself the authenticity of the Bible, worldly knock-offs are easier to spot because they are so glaringly different from what you are used to. Satan can only offer you imitations of the real thing. So if you can tell that it ain’t real, then it ain’t from God.

3. Learn from experience

As you are subject to more challenging situations and overcome them, you are gonna have more personal knowledge to draw from—you can compare your current situation to what you’ve already seen. The things that used to confuse you and maybe require lots of prayer, study, and guidance will now take only a quick, “Oh, I’ve seen this before.” Your experience can help you to identify the situation for what it is and take the necessary steps of action. Obviously, there are gonna be new things all the time (which is why you never cease to pray and read the Word), but your past victories will strengthen you and give you more confidence and competence going forward.

Don’t be sad or discouraged or down today—the Lord loves you!!! Keep pushing in and believing for revelation—it will come :) Remember, our God is not a god of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). I’m praying that He shines some light into the dark and/or confusing situations in your life, and that He gives you clear direction and clear discernment on the decisions you have to make. I’m praying with you. And I love you, too.

In Christ’s Amazing and Never-Ending Love,

adam