imported_rachel
11-01-2006, 09:52 AM
In the message "Guard The Good Deposit" we saw the importance of
protecting what God places on our heart. He often gives us moments of
Divine intimacy as a taste of the life He desires for us - a life of
continual passion for God; a life where all our thoughts, words, and
deeds become an act of worship.
As these moments fade, we either take definite steps to follow God's
call, or we allow our heart to slowly drift away. The nature of this
world is to pull us from what God desires and cause us to forget He has
even called. So how do we really "guard" what God has given and truly
accept His invitation to draw near?
Deuteronomy 11:17-20
"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. Write them on
the doorframes of your houses and on your gate."
When God called the children of Israel, He knew they would face the
same difficulties we face today: "Be careful, or you will be enticed to
turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them" (Deuteronomy
11:16). He said the values of the world must never distract from our
primary duty to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5).
God told His chosen people that the best way to remain near to Him was
to remain near to His Word through disciplined reading, teaching,
discussing, and applying. When our lives are completely immersed in
His Word, the "enticements" of the world lose their power and no longer
pull us from God's path.
But His desire was never for us to stop with outward
disciplines. While they are somewhat useful in themselves, the desired
end is always for His Word to be written on our heart and for our
thoughts to remain with Him all through our day! Only as He is allowed
to truly live through us will our lives become a complete sacrifice of
worship.
If this is the life we desire, then we must begin with a disciplined
approach to God's Word. I suggest we set aside a specific time and
place each day which we can completely devote to prayer and the quiet
study of ALL His Word. He will soon reward us with a more intimate
relationship as His Word becomes written on our heart. As we continue
to grow, our thoughts will turn more and more to Christ. What began as
great effort will soon become as natural as breathing. The world will
still try to pull us away, but it will no longer succeed; for we will
be walking in His Presence and will have learned how to guard His
deposit.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to devotions@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm
protecting what God places on our heart. He often gives us moments of
Divine intimacy as a taste of the life He desires for us - a life of
continual passion for God; a life where all our thoughts, words, and
deeds become an act of worship.
As these moments fade, we either take definite steps to follow God's
call, or we allow our heart to slowly drift away. The nature of this
world is to pull us from what God desires and cause us to forget He has
even called. So how do we really "guard" what God has given and truly
accept His invitation to draw near?
Deuteronomy 11:17-20
"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. Write them on
the doorframes of your houses and on your gate."
When God called the children of Israel, He knew they would face the
same difficulties we face today: "Be careful, or you will be enticed to
turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them" (Deuteronomy
11:16). He said the values of the world must never distract from our
primary duty to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5).
God told His chosen people that the best way to remain near to Him was
to remain near to His Word through disciplined reading, teaching,
discussing, and applying. When our lives are completely immersed in
His Word, the "enticements" of the world lose their power and no longer
pull us from God's path.
But His desire was never for us to stop with outward
disciplines. While they are somewhat useful in themselves, the desired
end is always for His Word to be written on our heart and for our
thoughts to remain with Him all through our day! Only as He is allowed
to truly live through us will our lives become a complete sacrifice of
worship.
If this is the life we desire, then we must begin with a disciplined
approach to God's Word. I suggest we set aside a specific time and
place each day which we can completely devote to prayer and the quiet
study of ALL His Word. He will soon reward us with a more intimate
relationship as His Word becomes written on our heart. As we continue
to grow, our thoughts will turn more and more to Christ. What began as
great effort will soon become as natural as breathing. The world will
still try to pull us away, but it will no longer succeed; for we will
be walking in His Presence and will have learned how to guard His
deposit.
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive06.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to devotions@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm