SHARPEN UP!

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)

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

How sharp is your edge today?

Most of you know I am a “FOODIE”. I love cooking, catering, and being creative in the kitchen. I even had the chance back in a previous life to work in some professional kitchens as both a sous and a prep chef.

And every morning before we began to work in the kitchen, we would unload our knife rolls and sharpen everything from the chef’s knife to the paring blade before we got to work. You didn’t touch a veggie, a protein, nothing; until the knives were sharp and ready for the work ahead.

Did you know that GOD is as concerned about the “sharpness” of your mind and spirit as my fastidious chef’s were about their knives?

Did you know that GOD wants us to be prepared for the day ahead in the same way my chef’s wanted our equipment to be prepared for the service of the day?

He does. He knows what you are about to face and if you are dulled and unprepared it is a “recipe” for a tough day.

Ephesians 6:13

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own.

You see in the kitchen a sharp edge is a matter of safety and efficiency. A dull knife is a dangerous knife and makes the job way more difficult.

It is the same thing in life.

God wants us to be spiritually sharp.

Jesus even warned about the “dangers of dullness”.

Matthew 13:14-15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

^{14 [a]}In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘^[b] You will keep on hearing, ^[c]but will not understand;

^[d]You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become dull,

With their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes,

Otherwise they would see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I would heal them.’

In the kitchen a knife can quickly lose its edge from the wear and tear filleting, chopping, julienning…you get my drift, right?

In the same way, our minds and spirits can be dulled from the bombardment of the world, our challenges, our circumstances, and the attacks from the enemy…you with me now?

So I ask you again, how’s your edge this morning?

Did you take some time to pause and seek GOD to sharpen your resolve, to refresh you’re compassion, to enhance your awareness of His presence for the day ahead?

Or are you stepping into today unprepared, still dulled from the work and efforts of yesterday?

If so, then ask God to open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. GOD is waiting to "heal" and sharpen you.

Open the WORD and allow it to restore your edge!

Sharpen up!

Hebrews 4:12
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

I love you all.

Have a blessed day.

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney