GODLY DECISIONS, DAILY DISCIPLINE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“When does it get easier?”

I can almost read folk’s minds when they ask that question. It is as if they have said to themselves and GOD, “OK GOD, I am “doing” recovery, I am “doing” the right things, saying the right stuff, drinking the soda water sans the vodka, when is the ‘light yoke, and easier burden' Jesus keeps talking about going to kick in?”

I usually answer with this…

Proverbs 10:17
The road TO LIFE is a disciplined life…

Just look at the definition of DISCIPLINE…

…activity, exercise or regimen that develops or improves a skill…

To me, that says recovery, this walk, is exactly that; exercise.  It takes a little sweat equity on our part.  And sometimes that walk ISN'T so easy.

1 Timothy 4:7

…Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.

That means we must EXERCISE some GODLY decision making and for some of us that is SOME HARD WORK, right?  But it is a must.

Romans 6:12

That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time…into GOD’s way of doing things.

A WHOLEHEARTED and FULL-TIME commitment to CHRIST prompts us make good and GODLY choices, to shed sinful tendencies and to think in the way GOD would want us to think.  And believe me, I know that can be a challenge.

In addition to improving upon our decision-making, we must also EXERCISE DISCPLINE! What did that verse say, the ROAD TO LIFE is a DISCIPLINED LIFE!

No cutting corners or cheating allowed.

Matthew 7:13 (The Message)

^13-14"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

VIGOROUS! 

That doesn't sound like a cake-walk to me...

Now we shouldn’t be surprised that GOD would want us to EXERCISE some good decision-making and some daily discipline.  Anything worth pursuing requires some effort, some work, some commitment, some passion, and some investment.   And we would all agree, this NEW LIFE is worth it, AMEN?

So let's hit it this morning. 

GOOD DECISIONS! GODLY DISCIPLINE!

Proverbs 8:32

"So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don't squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me…

I love you all.

Have a blessed day

Freedom Church

 

 

Pastor GDelaney