Good morning, nice people.
I’m facing a little kick of motivation to get back to pumping out some devotionals after receiving a request from my grandson, Zane, yesterday to get back on this routine. If he is going to demonstrate renewed interest in Biblical inspiration and victorious Christian living, I guess I can’t avoid some renewed interest to respond with compliance…and view this shift, at least in part, as an answer to prayer.
So I’m sticking on below the message I sent to Zane this morning. And since I’ve had expressions from a few others over the past several months requesting that I get back to this routine, I’m sending to the entire list that was active back in 2018 as a kind of feeler/experiment to see if any others may wish to hitchhike with this effort. It would be nice if I could hear back from you.
Blessings to you and yours.
Ray Sparre
Good morning, Zane.
I’m facing a very congested challenging day…with all there is to do before we take off for New York…being gone for 20 days. But I’m following through with a starter devotional from several years ago…and one I sent to you before while you were at OYCP. I figure it doesn’t hurt to be repetitious. Even though I am the author, I forget so much that it seems as though I’m reading someone else’s writing.
Blessings. Love and prayers. Tua.
Contained in Paul’s defense of his apostolic ministry is an essential principle for all believers toward Christian success. It is a principle that calls for constant psychological discipline. We might call it BIBLICAL MIND CONTROL. But it’s not JUST psychological. It is also spiritual, because it employs the most dynamic resource of spiritual power available to man—the proper use and application of THE WORD OF GOD—which is “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17). “For THE WORD OF GOD is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
Let me say it again with exclamation: This is an ESSENTIAL principle for ALL believers toward CHRISTIAN SUCCESS! Why? Because to overlook, neglect, or reject it is to guarantee CHRISTIAN FAILURE.
Have you noticed that virtually everything you do in life is a result of your thought processes? Thoughts are definitely linked to your behavior and quality of life. Please do not buy into the notion that thoughts are just thoughts—that they just come and go as they please and you hardly have any control over them. That’s a recipe for becoming a psychological and emotional basket case. Here’s how it works in simple form: THINK RIGHT—LIVE RIGHT. THINK WRONG—LIVE WRONG. And remember—there are only 2 kingdoms—God’s and Satan’s. God wants you to think right and has provided a standard and resource for doing so. Satan wants you to think wrong and will employ every subtle and deceptive trick he can to neutralize or destroy your faith. It boils down to a matter of choice. Which do you choose? Please understand that the right choice is a 24/7 choice.
In view of all this, can you imagine a more pertinent ongoing attitude and prayer than the one David prays in Psalm 19:14? I refer to this often. I’m not reluctant or ashamed to do so again. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”