COMPARE

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. - Galatians 5:25-26

Many of us are competitive people. Sometimes healthy competition is a good thing. It can encourage us to strive harder. But all too often we can slip into comparing ourselves in a way that gets right to the core of who we are. We mistake what we do with who we are.

Paul encourages us to not waste our time with this sort of comparison. The fact is that there is so much to be done using what talents and skills that God has given us to accomplish Kingdom work. When we second guess ourselves and get tied up in the approval of people around us, that's when we get into trouble. Today, focus on what you can do and realize that you are loved unconditionally by Abba, your Father.

ThoughtPrayer: "God, keep me focused on doing my part."

ThoughtSong: Jonny Diaz "More Beautiful You"

FIX

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. - Deuteronomy 11:18-19

God has deep insight into us. I don't know if you're like me, but I can get easily distracted. I forget and often neglect the path that God has for me. This verse reminds us to internalize God's word. Memorizing Scripture can be one of the greatest tools to spiritual growth, especially in areas that can bog you down.

I find that taking a verse that stands in the face of a temptation or issue that I'm dealing with can greatly help me towards victory. I use halves of 3x5 cards and then punch a hole in them with a single ring to bind it all together. I write the scripture on one side, the reference on the other. Starting with the reference, then the verse, then the reference again.

Today, find a verse that you need to have inside your heart and mind. The Spirit will guide you.

ThoughtSong: John Waller "Ancient Words"

THOUSAND

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. - Deuteronomy 7:9

This covenant is an awesome promise of God's faithfulness.  We are beneficiaries of that promise fulfilled.  If a generation lasts anywhere from 25-40 years (depending on who you talk to), our faithfulness to Jesus could affect the lives of our families for 4000 years!  

God made some pretty amazing promises throughout Scripture. Behind each of His promises is a great foundational truth about God.  HE IS FAITHFUL to His word.  I don't think we truly grasp this enough.  As we remember His promises to us, we live differently.  

Take time today to reflect on one of God's promises.  Here is a list of some of them. 

ThoughtSong: New Life Worship "Promises"

CROWN

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! - Philippians 4:1

Paul is speaking to the people in Philippi that he not only loves, he gives them some nicknames - "joy and crown". Joy for me is an inward state of being, whereas a crown is something outward, showing some sort of distinction. These people have affected Paul in such a way that his inner self is filled with joy and he literally "wears" the people on his head, as a proud emblem of distinction.

Have you ever known someone that you can say this about? That they bring you great joy and your pride in them makes you want to show them off to others? I feel this way about my daughter, Sophie, who's 8th birthday is today. She brings me joy and I'm honored to call her my daughter.

Today, consider celebrating someone special in your life. Tell them what you love best about them. Write them a letter. Leave them a crazy voicemail. Be creative. Spread love liberally.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, thank you for people in my life that bring me joy."

ThoughtSong: David Crowder Band "You are My Joy"

WHENEVER

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? - Deuteronomy 4:7

I sometimes struggle with my perception of God. For me, He's often somewhere "in the middle". He's not a distant God who never hears me, but He's also not that intimate friend who sticks "closer than a brother."

This verse is a great reminder for us that no matter when we pray to God, He is near. We might feel alone or that somehow God is not listening, but this verse tells us that He is close. Throughout Scripture God is always pursuing us.

He's the God who walks with Adam in the Garden. He's the Sovereign King who comes down in the flame and smoke and leads His people. He's the father running to the prodigal son. He's the Savior on the cross broken for each of us. He's with you and me. He's near.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, I believe You are near."

ThoughtSong: Delirious "What a Friend I've Found"

WHOLEHEARTEDLY

I will give him [Caleb] and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed me wholeheartedly. - Deuteronomy 1:36

Caleb was one of the spies who surveyed the Promised Land before the Israelites entered it. Only he and Joshua gave the report to take the land for "we can certainly do it." Caleb saw the potential for what God would do. He didn't focus on the impossible, as the 10 other spies did.

Do you ever find yourself focusing on the impossible? Or do you look beyond the current circumstances and see the God of the universe who is faithful? God is looking for people who trust Him wholeheartedly. The great thing, as Jesus reminds us, is that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

ThoughtPrayer: "Trusting You, Lord, I move ahead in faith."

GROAN

I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. - Psalm 38:8-9

King David, who wrote this Psalm, is crying out to God after a period of utter despair. Possibly written after his son, Absalom has usurped the throne, David has moved past words to groaning before God.

Have you ever been there? Where words were unable to come out of your mouth? Only sobs.

You are not alone. David felt this and yet even in the midst of despair, he reminds God that his sighing does not go unheard. We too, can lay our deepest needs before God and know that He hears us. Though we may not immediately be delivered, we can know that our God is moving. Every groan is heard by our heavenly Father.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, hear me."

ThoughtSong: David Crowder Band "Deliver Me"

WHITEWASHED

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness." Matthew 23:27

Have you ever done something just to look good to people who "matter"? Have you ever served with the idea that recognition might come your way?

As much as we would like to think that this was a problem only for the Pharisees, it's still as challenging today as it was then. Jesus is condemning the Pharisees (the influential religious rulers of the day) who seemed to do all the "right" things on the outside, but on the inside, Jesus knew what they were truly like.

Our challenge is to keep our relationship with Christ so centric, that every activity, especially religious ones, brings us closer to Jesus. Today, we need to ask God to point out when our outside actions and inward motivations are not lining up.

ThoughtPrayer: "Every thought, every action, for Your glory, God."

ThoughtSong: Big Daddy Weave "Pharisee"

VOW

When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. - Numbers 30:2

This verse is reminiscent of Jesus saying "let your yes be yes and your no be no". It calls out the integrity of the pledge-giver. Jesus is always about the heart of the Law, never just about the letter. Instead of settling for honesty when specific vows are made, Jesus is calling us to integrity all the time, in every area of our lives.

We often get into trouble when we make promises that we know we can't keep. "I'll be home by 5pm" or "I'll have the money to you by Friday", when we know that these things won't happen. Once we decide that integrity needs to run deep in our everyday doings, with the Spirit's help, we'll live better equipped to be the people Jesus wants us to be.

ThoughtPrayer: "Today Lord, in every word, thought and deed, let me live with integrity."

HIGHER

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. - Psalm 61:2

David is asking God to move him to solid ground, a firm place to stand. The interesting thing is that this ground is beyond David's reach. He would need God's help to stand on it.

This is a great reminder for us. We often want deliverance from our problems - a difficult person, a set of job tasks, a financial crisis. But we sometimes want this deliverance on our own terms. But David asks the better thing, for God to lead him to a whole new level of dependence.

How can you open your prayers today to let God lead you to solutions that are beyond you? In what areas do you need to release control?

ThoughtPrayer: "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

ThoughtSong: Illuminate Compilation "Lead Me to the Rock"

FAVOR

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. - Luke 2:52

For any of us who are parents, this is a great verse to pray for our kids (and ourselves). The hope and desire is for growth in wisdom and stature. Often, we sell God short as we pray for our kids. We may say things like "Lord, protect them", or "Lord, help them be successful", or even "Lord, bless my kids." These are not bad prayers, but they do reveal our limited perspective. They are asking for God to enter into the lives of our kids, again, not bad.

But I think we continually need to direct our kids (and our prayers for them) to what God is doing in the world and have them join in. A prayer like, "Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in my kids' lives as it is in heaven" or "Lord, give my kids the wisdom to choose Your way and not necessarily the easy way"; these seem to move from a focus on us/our kids to a focus on God and His agenda.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, help the next generation seek you with all their heart, mind, soul and strength."

ThoughtSong: Delirious "History Maker"

OPPORTUNITY

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. - Ephesians 5:15-17

As we seek God's wisdom there are often doors which God opens for us to walk through. They may only open for a moment or a season and then they are gone. These may be relational opportunities, serving opportunities, financial opportunities, etc. During these times, God is asking for timely obedience.

Are there opportunities in your life that you need to be faithful to God for at this very moment? How do you need to respond? Prayerfully consider your actions to God's calling on your life.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, help me obey, immediately."

ThoughtSong: Starfield "I Will Go"

ThoughtSong

TENDER-HEARTED

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32

God's intent for us is to be inter-dependent. So many verses in the Bible that mention "one another". This verse is a command by Paul that we need each other to fulfill. It often can be that the people in our lives that cause us the most difficulty can be our greatest potential for growth.

Who in your life do you need to forgive? Be kind to? This can be difficult, but Jesus reminds us that with God, "all things are possible". God can give you a tender heart towards those who may seem unloveable.

ThoughtSong: Superchick "We Live"

SLEEP

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. - Proverbs 3:21-24

Many of us have a great deal of difficulty sleeping.  Sometimes it is because of our circumstances, but all too often it is the result of poor choices that we make.  In this section of Proverbs, Solomon is reminding his son to "preserve sound judgment and discernment".  If we willingly seek God's wisdom in everyday decisions (i.e. time management, budget, friendships), the more we'll hear from Him in the big decisions.

In what decisions do you need to seek God today, in order to have a "sweet sleep" tomorrow?

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, in EVERY decision, help me seek Your wisdom."

ThoughtSong: The Soul Stirrers "Seek and Ye Shall Find" 

REFRESHED

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. - Proverbs 11:25

Look around you right now.  Who do you need to share with.  It may be an idea.  A meal.  Some money.  An encouraging word.  And the list goes on.

We have been given much.  As we share what we have with others, God promises that we will be refreshed.  We will be encouraged.  We will be blessed.

ThoughtQuote: “We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sharing.” - Billy Graham

ThoughtSong: Tree63 "Over & Over Again"

GUARD

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. - Proverbs 4:23

A short and direct verse about what is to be most important in our lives. Not our physical well-being, how much money we have, even how many friends we have. It is most important to guard our hearts against ANYTHING that would pull us away from our love and trust of God.

What are you doing to daily guard your heart from wandering where it shouldn't? What kind of accountability do you need for this?

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, guard me from idols that would enslave my heart."

ThoughtSong: Vicky Beeching "Above All Else"

DUPLICITY

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. - Proverbs 11:3

When something has integrity, it is consistent. Gold has a degree of integrity, which ultimately relates to its value. Duplicity is where this integrity breaks down. Maintaining one life is hard enough. Trying to maintain two is impossible. Much effort is employed in keeping a mask or appearance up. God desires for our hearts and actions to line up.

Is there an area in your life that is inconsistent with how you live in other areas? Is there a pattern of sin that needs addressing? Who can you bring this to in order to have accountability for change? Allow the Holy Spirit to heal these duplicities and bring wholeness to your life.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, is there a duplicity in my life that I need to bring to you?"

ThoughtSong: Rachel Milstead "Make Me Whole"

SPOKE

When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him. - Numbers 7:89

Sometimes when we read the Bible and have a lot of knowledge of the story, we miss out on the fantastic things that are happening. When someone who has never heard the story realizes that Moses actually SPOKE with the God of the universe, it rocks their world! God came down to dwell with His people, Israel. I imagine that Moses heard from God rather clearly due to their relationship.

Since then, God came down through Jesus and finally sent His Holy Spirit to dwell with us and in us. The Counselor. This wondrous part of the Trinity speaks with us at deepest levels, whispering guidance and hope - only if we listen and develop this relationship. Setting up regular intervals, like a beep from your watch, or a reminder on a computer calendar can be ways throughout our day to recalibrate our hearts toward the Spirit.

Thought Song: Klaus "I'm Listening"

IMPORTANT

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'" - Mark 12:29-30

Jesus is asked a difficult question, considering all the commands that had been given by God to the people of Israel. But Jesus narrows the focus to what is essential for those who follow God: To love God in every way possible. Every part of our being, every corner of our lives, every facet of every affection in us needs to love God first.

From personal experience, when I've this is out of order, and this commandment becomes secondary, or moves down the list, life just seems out of whack. It is critical to continually ask God questions like, "How can I put You first today?" and "What else is vying for my affections?" These will help us align ourselves with God and help us recalibrate. The Holy Spirit is waiting for us to engage. He will provide the direction.

ThoughtPrayers: "How can I put You first today?" and "What else is vying for my affections?"

ThoughtSong: Lincoln Brewster "Love the Lord"

EVER-PRESENT

God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble.  - Psalm 46:1

From the beginning of creation, as God walked with Adam in the Garden, God has always been present to us.  We may turn our backs on Him and even run away from His love, yet, He is always there.  When we consider how many people suffer from abandonment, especially from earthly fathers, it makes this verse all the more important for us to memorize and take to heart.  

God is there for us.  He is the pinnacle of strength and the perfect refuge to run to; always present to help us in our times of need.  A sure foundation to build our faith upon.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, You are here."

ThoughtSong: Kutless "Strong Tower"

SLAVE

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. - Mark 10:43-44

Jesus is always turning things upside down. Classic Jiu Jitsu moves.  First become last. Last become first. People who think they're "in" are "out", and people seemingly "out" are "in". This is another example where John and James ask for the special privilege of sitting at Jesus' right and left when He enters His kingdom. Maybe they wanted the perks? Maybe they wanted the influence?

We, too, can strive for position. We can become competitive in unhealthy ways. Even in church circles this can happen. Jesus calls them (and us) back to our motives. In our hearts and in our actions, we must become slaves - servants of all - in order to be first. I think this is Jesus doing his best Jiu Jitsu move on us. Basically saying, "you can't there from here". You want to be first? Not happening. You humble yourself and seek the Kingdom with no other motive than love, you'll get there.

God is calling us to love.  God is calling us to service.

ThoughtPrayer: "God, help me to serve."

ThoughtSong: Misty Edwards "Servant of All"

HOUSEHOLD

Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. - Acts 18:8

People have the most influence on the people they are closest to. After Crispus heard the message of the Gospel from Paul, he must have told all of his household. This group would be quite a bit bigger than today's households since entire clans lived together. Also, the fact that a person of high position (ruler of the synagogue) would give that up for Christ; this would have gotten the attention of those around him.

Our challenge is to share the love of Jesus with the people we rub elbows with everyday. We don't need to go on a missions trip in order to be missionally minded. Praying that God would open up opportunities around us and believing that He will move in people's hearts. These are steps to seeing the radical changes in lives around us, much like Crispus experienced.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, open doors around me."