Friday May 13, 2011

Read Hebrews 12:1-2

I take my hat off to triathletes and marathon runners and other athletes that work hard in their chosen field. I admire their dedication. I’d love to be as fit as they are, to be as agile and fast and fit as those super men and women. But my lifestyle forbids it. There’s just too much good food, too many friends to see, family to enjoy and blessings to lap up. If I were to exercise with their commitment I’d have to give up too much. I’m happy the way that I am. I get a bit of exercise 5 days a week. I’m in pretty good shape for my age and I’m happy.

Doesn’t that sound like the way we speak or think about our own

spirituality? I take my hat off to those super spiritual men and women that work hard at serving God. I admire their dedication. I’d love to be like them, spiritually fit like them but my lifestyle forbids it. I’m too busy. There’s just too much good (non spiritual) food to indulge in. I have too many friends to entertain and indulge in. My family keeps me too busy and they don’t want this spiritual stuff. I am really happy the way I am and I don’t want to change! I do a bit of spiritual exercise during the week. I look good for my Christian age. I’m in pretty good shape, compared to some people and we’ll, I don’t sin that much and ....

My prayer this morning is for you personally. I pray that you will not be satisfied with your level of spirituality but that you would crave desperately to grow and mature and be even fitter and closer to the Lord. It’s my prayer that you and I are totally discontent with our levels of fitness so that we strive and push ourselves to greater spiritual heights.

Hebrews 12 urges us to run the race marked out with us with perseverance. God wants us to run our lives for Him. He wants us to be spiritually fit so that we don’t collapse half way through the race. He wants us to be spiritual athletes, serious about the competition.

And the power source of our running is God’s grace. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus. We are to focus and meditate upon Him. We are to set our sights on Jesus and we are to chase after Him. The grace of God is the power-ade that energises us. It’s the vitamins and minerals that strengthen. God’s grace is the low carb energy that keeps burning long  after we’ve been tempted to give up. God really is our strength and refuge, isn’t He?

Prayer:-

V Pray for the Extreme event coming up next Saturday. Ask God to bring many non church families along. Pray that the children will see and respond to the grace of God. Pray that the families will hang around and speak to believers and receive the grace of God.   Ask God to grow the Kingdom through this ministry.

V Pray for our Kings Kids ministry and youth ministry. Ask God to be growing  the children and youth in their faith so that they can be a light of salvation to those around them. Pray that our children and youth would be protected from the attacks of the evil one, the lures and pleasures of the world and even from their own bodily desires.

Developing Godly Habits #1

The Bible is very clear that a man reaps what he sows.

Galatians 6:7-8 is a truth worth writing on your heart.

Godly growth comes from sowing godly seeds and vice versa.

Change, real change, real life long change comes from sowing seeds of godliness in your life right now.

Begin sowing godly habits by making it a priority to pray every morning before you do anything else.

Praise God for the faith He has given you.

Praise God for the grace and peace He has lavished upon you.

Praise God for the love He’s shown you in the cross of Christ.

Pray that you will internalise and understand that love more.

Pray that you will be able to reflect that love to others.