Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
— Hebrews 12:11

In yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, I encouraged you to be faithful to your commitment to lose weight this year. Today I want to take it one step further and exhort you to stick with your commitment to start exercising!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to begin an exercise program, I want to ask you:

It is day four of this new year. If you’re still on track with your commitment to regularly exercise, well done! If you’re already faltering in that commitment after just four days, you need help getting started and maintaining that heartfelt commitment to the Lord.

You may tell yourself, Well, I’ll start tomorrow. But the world is filled with people who put things off again and again! Are you going to let that be your story this year as well? Are you going to take your place among world-class procrastinators who never do what they promise about getting in shape and who therefore deteriorate physically year by year because they won’t take care of themselves? Remember, you need to stay strong physically not just for your own sake, but to be able to finish your spiritual race strong for Him!

So let me ask you: If you haven’t done anything yet to prove that you’re really serious about starting an exercise program, what are you going to do now to get back on track with your original commitment?

Many years ago, Denise and I decided we would start exercising regularly. Instead of purchasing Christmas gifts for one another as we normally did each year, we decided to put our money together to buy a computerized treadmill that could read blood pressure, heartbeat, and even tell us how many calories we were burning as we huffed and puffed each morning during our exercise regimen. But we felt that a treadmill was not enough, so we also purchased a stationary bicycle to be a part of our exercise equipment. The treadmill and bicycle were top-notch and cost a lot of money. Denise also wanted to work on her circulation, so we added a mini-trampoline to our collection of home equipment so she could jump up and down every morning to increase her blood circulation.

At first, we were faithful — walking, bicycling, and jumping every morning. But after a while, it got more and more difficult to get on that treadmill, bicycle, and mini-trampoline. Soon I found myself using only the treadmill — and for fewer and fewer minutes each day. It wasn’t long until all that equipment became silent pieces of unused machinery in our Moscow apartment.

One day I was sitting in my easy chair, thinking about how I needed to exercise, when I looked over at the treadmill and realized it had become a platform for boxes! Clothes on hangers were now hanging from the handlebars we used to hold on to so tightly as we briskly walked! I turned to the exercise bike just behind the comfortable chair where I was sitting. The seat we once sat on while we exercised was now piled high with stacks of study books. The mini-trampoline that Denise previously jumped on each morning to get her blood circulating was sitting upright on its side against the wall, collecting dust.

As I looked at it all from my big comfortable chair where I was sitting, I remembered how noble our intentions were when we spent the money to purchase all that equipment. But Denise and I had fallen into the same trap so many people fall into when they start exercising. The biggest part of our commitment was spending money to buy the equipment, but we had not been committed enough to consistently get on the equipment and exercise. Our good intentions were not enough. The only way we would ever take control of our flesh and submit it to this discipline of exercise was if we were committed and determined to do it, regardless of the cost.

I pondered all the exercise equipment Denise and I had purchased and how much I despised exercise, despite the fact that I so wanted to be in better physical shape. Then the Holy Spirit brought Hebrews 12:11,12 to my mind, and I began to feel very uncomfortable because it brought such conviction to my heart! The passage says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyful, but grievous; nevertheless it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore, lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees.”

Although this passage is actually talking about the chastening of the Lord, the fact remains that the principle is applicable to the subject of exercise or any form of discipline. The word “chastening” in verse 11 is actually the Greek word paideia, which is taken from the Greek word pais, the word for a child. However, when it becomes the word paideia, it refers to child-rearing; child discipline; or the process of transforming an undisciplined child into a disciplined child. Eventually it became a word that referred to all forms of discipline. Therefore, it could refer to budgetary discipline, mental discipline, spiritual discipline, or physical discipline, such as exercise. Therefore, the verse actually could be translated, “Now no discipline for the present seemeth joyful.…”

Notice this verse says no discipline for the “present” seems joyful. The word “present” in Greek is the word paron, which literally means at this very moment. Let’s talk about this word before we proceed any further in the study of this verse.

Isn’t it true that when you’re trying to teach a child discipline, this is often the moment when wills collide and that innocent-looking little child can put up the fight of a lifetime! Isn’t it amazing to see how strongly a child can resist your instructions! At that moment, the conflict between parent and child may seem unending, but the truth is, it is fleeting and temporary. As tough as it can be to win the battle of wills and teach a child who’s in authority, it is necessary for the parent to endure that moment in order to establish who’s in charge and teach that child the need to obey and submit to parental authority.

However, this enduring of unpleasant moments isn’t only true of dealing with children; it can be applied to any area of flesh where discipline is needed. For instance, flesh despises and resists financial discipline because it has to say no to things it wants to purchase. Flesh hates dietary discipline because it has to push away the plate when it wants to overeat. And flesh loathes the physical discipline of exercise because it doesn’t want to be subjected to the “hardness” of such rigorous activity. It abhors the inconvenience of getting out of bed early, walking down the hallway to the exercise equipment, and feeling forced to do something physical. Flesh doesn’t want anyone forcing discipline on it. It’s like a child who must be taught to obey!

So as you begin the exercise program you pledged to do as a part of your New Year’s resolutions, know in advance that when it’s time to start exercising, your flesh will probably rant, rave, scream, resist, and recall everything you could be doing at that moment instead of exercising. It will try to escape by reminding you of other things that you need to do, people you need to call, other places you need to be, things you need to fix, and so on. The pain of discipline isn’t attractive to the flesh, so it may look for a way out of that momentary discomfort.

This is exactly why Hebrews 12:11 goes on to say, “…No chastening for the present seemeth joyous.…” The word “seemeth” is the Greek word dokeo, and in this verse, it could be translated as feels. The word “joyful” is the Greek word chara, and it means enjoyable, pleasant, or joyful in this context. Thus, the verse could be translated, “No discipline feels pleasant or enjoyable at the moment it is happening.…”

This verse goes on to say that, far from enjoyable, discipline at first feels “grievous.” In Greek, the word “grievous” is lupe, which depicts something painful, sorrowful, or something that is filled with anguish, torment, or agony. What a description of what I felt every time I walked to my own treadmill! My flesh did everything it could to resist it — and at times, forcing myself to get on that machine was pure agony! However, if I wanted to get in shape, I had to speak to my flesh and tell it to obey, whether it wanted to or not!

I have a suggestion for those moments when you fantasize about physical development and weight loss that requires no effort — or on those mornings when your flesh tries to escape exercise. It would be good for you to have a photograph placed in a visible place, such as on your refrigerator or the mirror you use each morning, that reminds you of what you’d like to look like as a result of dieting and exercising. It may be painful to get through the process of achieving that goal or vision, but the fruit of experiencing your desired outcome is worth it all!

That’s why the remainder of the verse says, “…Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peace- able fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” The fruit of discipline and exercise is available to anyone who is willing to pay the price to obtain it. If you and I will be willing to endure the momentary pain, anguish, agony, and inconvenience of regularly exercising, it will pay off big time when you begin to look sharper and actually feel physically stronger.

Hebrews 12:11 could be interpreted:

“No discipline feels pleasant or enjoyable at the time it is happening. But later on, it produces long-awaited righteous fruit in the lives of those who are willing to undergo the discipline required to attain it.”

So when it’s time for you to head to the gym or get on your home exercise equipment, expect your flesh to put up a fight and look for an escape. But just determine beforehand that you’re going to steadfastly subdue and conquer that fleshly “pull” to give up on your commitment. You have to let the flesh know that it is your servant and you are the boss!

There is a price to pay for any success. You must decide how far you are willing to go to win the victory in the physical realm. What price are you willing to pay to look better and finish your race strong?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

 

Father, I made a commitment to begin an exercise program. It is my will to keep this promise that I made both to myself and to You. I have been convicted for a long time that I need to take better care of myself, to get into good physical shape, and to honor this body that is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I thank You for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit who will help me take charge of my flesh in order to carry out this commitment. I receive Your grace and mercies that are new every morning to help me to exercise control over my flesh. I yield to Your quickening power that will help me maintain this position of victory. Thank You for strengthening me to remain steadfast in this area of my life, each day from this day forward.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am in charge of my flesh and my flesh is not in charge of me. It has ruled and dominated me long enough! So starting today, with God’s help, I am taking charge and submitting my fleshly desires to the sanctifying power of the Spirit of God. My body is His temple, and I will treat it with respect. I will care for it; I will discipline and exercise it. I will do everything I can to make sure it looks good, feels strong, and is equipped to live a long and healthy life. God has a lot for me to do in this world! Therefore, I will get my body in shape so I can run this race and have a long and blessed life with a physical body that is free from the adverse effects of physical inactivity and lack of discipline.

 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to start exercising this year, how are you doing so far? Are you on track with your exercise program, or are you already losing ground in this commitment you made to yourself and to the Lord?
  2. What are you going to do to change your present course of action? What is your exercise program? Exactly what kind of plan have you developed to get moving toward your goal? Can you articulate what you want to achieve and the specific goals you’ve set for yourself, as well as the plan to attain them?
  3. If you have struggled in the past with self-discipline in this area of your life, is there someone who can exercise with you or at least check in with you every day so you can be held accountable in your new exercise regimen? Who can you bring into the process to help you stay on track in this way?

Isn’t it Time for You to Hit the Rewind Button?

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
— 2 Timothy 1:6

Have you ever experienced the delivering and rescuing power of God? I’m talking about those moments when your situation looks completely hopeless — but suddenly God’s amazing grace intervenes and your situation is miraculously changed! Can you think of moments like this in your past?

It’s amazing that when we are confronted with a new challenge, we often fail to remember God’s faithfulness in the past. Our perspective gets blurry because of the problems we are currently facing, and we forget that we’ve gone through similar or worse circumstances before. The looming mountain of problems before us looks so big that we momentarily fail to remember all the other mountains we’ve already faced and overcome with the help of God.

When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, the younger man was facing the biggest mountain of his life. Nero had become the emperor of the Roman Empire. Because of his tyrannical rule, believers were being persecuted and were even dying for their faith. In the midst of all the panic, Timothy was tempted to fear for his life and his future. He must have wondered, Is God going to be faithful to me in this terrible hour?

So in Second Timothy 1:5, Paul tells Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.” Paul wanted to remind Timothy about something very important!

God’s faithfulness was a part of Timothy’s family heritage. His grandmother trusted the Lord —and the Lord had never failed her or let her down. His mother trusted the Lord — and the Lord had never failed her or let her down either. Because Timothy was dealing with great stress and difficulty, Paul took the opportunity to remind him that just as God had never failed his grandmother or mother, neither would He abandon Timothy in his difficult hour.

Then Paul told him, “…I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). I want you to particularly focus on the phrase, “I put thee in remembrance.” It is taken from the Greek word anamimnesko, a compound of the words ana and mimnesko. Pay close attention, because this is very important! The word ana means again or to repeat something. The second part of the word mimnesko means to be reminded of something, such as memories.

When these two words are joined together as in this verse, it means to regather or to recollect memories. The little prefix ana carries the idea of replaying these memories over and over again in your mind, the way you would hit the rewind button on your video player so you can back up and watch one part of a movie over and over again.

This means there are some memories we should never forget! For example, we should constantly hit the rewind button in our minds and “replay” the times that God has been faithful to us in the past — delivering us, healing us, and rescuing us time and time again. We should “replay” those scenes in our minds until we never forget His faithfulness to us!

You could translate Second Timothy 1:6 in the following way:

“I am putting you in memory of all these things, so that by your remembering them, you might stir up the gift of God that is in you….”

Paul reminds Timothy (and us) to take our eyes off these times of trouble or the present crisis and to remember God’s delivering and rescuing power in the past. If we really looked at our past, we’d find that we have faced other moments more severe than the one we’re facing right now — and God never failed us or let us down. In fact, He delivered us and turned those situations around!

Don’t ever forget what God has already done for you, for those memories will stir you up and encourage you to face your present dilemma with faith. Just as God has always been faithful to you in the past, He will be faithful to you right now.

Never forget how:

These kinds of memories are powerful and will stir up your faith today!

So the next time the devil tells you there is no way you’ll survive what you’re facing, take the time to get alone with the Lord. Then hit the rewind button, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you regather and recollect all those past events when God came through for you! As you replay those memories over and over in your mind, your faith will rise to a new level of confidence. You’ll be able to look your problems right in the face and say, “God’s record with me has always been faithfulness, and I know He’ll be faithful to me now as well!”

sparking gems from the greek

My Prayer for Today

Lord, You have always been faithful. I thank You that even in my present situation, You are going to be faithful again. Please help me recall all the times in the past when You delivered and rescued me from other situations that also looked hopeless. Thank You for helping me keep those awesome experiences alive and fresh in my mind and heart. I thank You for always being faithful to me!  

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

My Confession for Today

I confess that God has never failed me or let me down. He has always delivered me from difficult times, and He will rescue and deliver me now as well. Today I will dwell on those past moments when God did for me what everyone thought was impossible! Just as He intervened on my behalf in the past, He will intervene on my behalf again! I will not succumb to fear, doubt, or failure. With God’s help, I will conquer what the enemy meant for my downfall and defeat!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions to Answer

1. As you think about God’s faithfulness in your life, how does it affect the way you perceive the problems you are dealing with right now?

2. What are some of the seemingly impossible situations you faced in the past that God delivered you from?

3. What steps can you take to trust God more fully to deliver you from your present situation as He has done for you in the past?

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
— Romans 6:12

Since this is a week when you’re thinking about New Year’s resolutions, I want to go ahead and hit hard on the subject of losing those extra pounds you might think about all the time!

Have you stood in front of the mirror and lamented about the double chin that has appeared under your face in the past few years? Perhaps you spend time each morning despairing over the roll around your waist that bulges over your belt. Instead of enjoying your clothes as you once did, you may find yourself turning this way and that way as you look in the mirror to see if the bulge shows through your clothes. Or you may be one who has shifted to wearing dark colors because you’re trying to hide your real size. How many times have you asked your spouse or someone else whether you look too fat in the outfit you’re wearing?

It is amazing how long human beings will tolerate something before they finally decide to take action. I can personally vouch for what I am writing because I struggled with my weight for many years. Day after day, I’d look in the mirror, feel disgusted with myself, and then ask Denise how I looked — expecting her to confirm how terrible I felt about my appearance. When I got out of bed in the mornings, I’d run to the bathroom to step on the scales to see if I was bigger or smaller than the day before.

This fixation on weight completely controlled me. I felt trapped. Instead of exercising restraint, I felt hopeless to overcome. So when it was time to eat, I’d eat anything I wanted, which resulted in gaining more weight and feeling even more down in the dumps about my physical appearance. The truth is, I was in a prison in this area of my weight, like so many others are in today, and I didn’t know how to get out.

Instead of accepting responsibility for my condition, I’d blame my weight gain on pastors who wanted to take me out to eat and enjoy a time of fellowship after evening church services. Night after night, I would find myself eating in restaurants late in the evening. But instead of exercising self-control, I’d order hamburgers with extra mayonnaise, French fries with “tons” of ketchup, and a large-size Coke, topped off with a dessert — and then I’d head to my hotel to go to bed. Then before I fell asleep, I’d mentally beat myself up for eating so badly and would swear before God that I was going to start doing better and losing weight the next day.

But time after time and year after year, I kept struggling with my weight. It was up and down, up and down! And when people would see me for the first time in a few years, I’d think they were looking me over to see if I was bigger or smaller than the last time they had seen me. It was a tormenting thought that deeply bothered me.

I was totally disgusted with myself regarding this area of my life. I was exhausted with fretting about how my clothes fit or what others thought of my size. But at long last, I came to a place where I decided enough was enough!

The big change in me started one day as I was looking in the mirror and thinking about how terrible I looked and how food had been ruling my life. Suddenly the Holy Spirit quickened Romans 6:12 to my heart: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

It was like a bolt of divine revelation shot through me — and in that split second, I knew that my allowing food to control me and to lord itself over my life was a sin. Until that day, I had called it a personal problem, a hang-up, and a struggle. But in that moment, I saw it as God saw it. It was much more than a personal hang-up — it was sin calling the shots in my life. The day I recognized this truth was a landmark day in my spiritual walk, for I realized God was calling me to repent and to change. He didn’t want me to feel badly about myself — but, most importantly, He didn’t want anything ruling my life other than the Lord Jesus Christ. That day I repented — and when I did, those wrong eating habits immediately began to lose lordship over my life.

I’m so thankful the Holy Spirit reminded me of Romans 6:12, where it says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof,” the word “reign” is the Greek word basileuo, which is the very old Greek word for a king or one who rules supreme. It is the picture of a mighty ruler who makes all the decisions, calls all the shots, and controls and completely governs his subjects. This verse described my situation well, for I was definitely being ruled by food. Even though I loved Jesus with all my heart, it was simply a fact that He was not Lord over my eating habits!

But in Romans 6:12, God tells us, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.…” Notice it says, “Let not.…” The Greek tense used for “Let not” is an authoritative prohibition ordering us to put an end to something immediately. A correct interpretive translation could read, “I want you to stop this and stop it right now!”

When I understood that God was saying, “Stop it and stop it right now,” I knew I had the power to change my behavior. God wouldn’t tell me to stop something if I didn’t have the power to stop it. Therefore, He was making me responsible to do something about food ruling as a king in my life. It was time for me to quit complaining, moaning, fretting, and condemning myself about how I looked and to finally take action.

Instead of listening to the commands of my flesh to overeat and to eat the wrong types of food, it was time for my flesh to listen to me! It was up to me to make a firm, heartfelt decision to repent from this wrong lordship in my life and allow Jesus to step back on the throne of my life to rule my flesh in the area of food. As I did my part, the Holy Spirit would rise up inside me, and His grace would enable me to make sure this sin never ruled me or called the shots in my life again!

How about you? Does this discussion sound personally familiar to you? If it does, I’m wondering if you are weary of feeling badly about yourself or being constantly fixated on your weight. If so, it’s time to ask yourself, Am I ready to put an end to the way food has ruled me physically and emotionally?

“Yes, that’s me! I’m ready for a real change!” If that’s your answer, today Jesus wants to assume His position over your appetite and physique. He wants to be Lord in this area of your life. If you’ll confess that you’ve allowed this sin to rule your flesh — and then genuinely repent of it — I assure you that the Holy Spirit will help you carry out that decision. And as Jesus takes control, it won’t be long until your body will begin to return to its God-ordained size and you’ll begin to feel good about yourself again. It makes such a huge difference in our lives when we allow Jesus to rule our mortal flesh!

I shared my personal experience with you today because I know many people are making New Year’s resolutions at this time of year about losing weight. Jesus can give you the same victory He has given to so many others. All it takes is a decision to turn from what you have been doing and let Jesus be Lord in this area of your life. You may have to follow a diet or learn to eat the right kinds of foods, but it all starts with a decision.

Just determine today that you are going to willingly obey, step by step, whatever Jesus asks you to do to get your appetite and your physical condition back under His control. If you’ll make that heartfelt, sincere, and firm decision today, the Holy Spirit will empower you to eat right and to take the right steps on the road to a healthier lifestyle in your walk with God!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, today I repent for allowing food to control so much of my life. It really has affected me in so many ways — in my thinking, my self-image, my appearance, and even my self-respect. I have lived in condemnation for too long, and I’m ready for a real change in my life. Forgive me for tolerating gluttony and calling it everything else except sin. Today I confess that I have permitted sin to rule in my mortal flesh, and I ask You to forgive me and cleanse me from this unrighteousness. Holy Spirit, I am depending on You to help me walk free of this wrong habit and make Jesus the Lord of my appetite.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I boldly declare that Jesus is the Lord of my life and that nothing else may rule over me! My appetite for food does not lord itself over me any longer. Overeating is sin and a tool that Satan wants to use to hurt my health, my self-image, and my self-respect. I have lived in this mental prison long enough, and I refuse to live there any longer. From this day forward, I am giving Jesus the throne in every part of my life — and that includes my physical appetite and my eating habits!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Has it been a struggle for you to maintain a healthy weight over the years? What has been the main cause of weight gain in your life? How does being overweight affect your life and your self-image?
  2. Have you made New Year’s resolutions in the past to exercise control over your eating habits and to lose weight? Did you follow through on your past commitment? If not, why didn’t you? Is it possible that your appetite has been giving the ultimate orders in your life?
  3. Have you ever taken time to let the Holy Spirit show you that overeating is not just a personal hang-up or a health risk, but rather sin ruling in your mortal flesh? Have you ever seen it the way that God sees it? Don’t you think it would be wise to let the Holy Spirit open your eyes to help you see that your desire for food — more than Jesus — is ruling this area of your life? If you’ll let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and if you’ll truly repent of letting your flesh rule in this area, Jesus will take His place on the throne of your appetite and set you free from this prison you’ve been incarcerated in and held captive by for so long!

Could You Use a Little Extra Strength To Make It Through Your Day?

For I Know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
— Philippians 1:19

At times everyone gets physically tired and mentally exhausted. However, some believers, regardless of how long or how hard they work, seem to have the knack, fortitude, determination, and will to keep going strong, even when everyone else can barely take one more step.

Have you ever met someone like this? Have you wondered, How in the world can that person keep going the way he does?

Could it be that this person has learned how to tap into a supernatural Source of power? Well, the same inexhaustible supply of power is available to you! In Philippians 1:19, Paul talked about this kind of power: “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”

I especially want you to notice the word “supply” in this verse. It is the Greek word epichoregeo. To those who read Greek, this word seems like a strange choice for Paul. However, after reflecting on the original usage of this word, it makes this verse very exciting! The word epichoregeo is an old word that literally means on behalf of the choir. I know this sounds peculiar, so let me explain where this word came from and why Paul uses it here.

Thousands of years ago in classical Greece, a huge choral and dramatic company practiced endlessly for a huge, important theatrical performance. After they put in a great amount of time, effort, energy, and practice, it was finally time for the show to go on the road. But there was one major problem — they ran out of money!

These people had given their lives to this production. They had committed all their resources to making sure the performance succeeded. But because they ran out of financing, it meant the show was over — finished! They were washed up before the show ever officially got started. From all appearances, it was the end of the road for them and their dream.

At that exact moment, a wealthy man heard of their crisis, stepped into the middle of their situation, and made a huge financial contribution on behalf of the choir. This contribution “supplied” all they needed to get back in business again! In fact, the gift the man gave was so enormous that it was more than they needed or knew how to spend! This man’s contribution was excessively large, abundant, overflowing, and overwhelming.

This is where we get the word “supply” in Philippians 1:19 that now describes the enormous contribution of the Spirit that Jesus Christ wants to give to you and me!

In light of this, Philippians 1:19 could be taken to mean:

“I am certain that this situation will ultimately turn around and result in my deliverance.
I’m sure of it — first, because you are praying for me; and second, because of the
special contribution of the Spirit that Jesus Christ is donating for my present cause.”

This means when you’ve run out of steam; when you’ve given your best effort and you don’t feel like you have another ounce of energy left to give; when it looks like your resources are drained and you are unable to take one more step unless someone steps in to help you — that is exactly the moment when Jesus Christ becomes your personal Benefactor! Like the wealthy man in the story above, Jesus steps into your life at that moment to donate a massive, overwhelming, generous contribution of the Spirit’s grace and power for your cause!

Jesus is your wealthy Benefactor. He has more strength and power to give you than you’ll ever be able to use! If you are weak, He has precisely what you need to get up, get recharged, and get going again! If you’ll open your heart to Him right now, Jesus will give you a brand-new contribution of the Spirit’s power — and it will be more than enough to get you on your feet and back on the road again!

So when your natural human will is too tired to keep going and you’ve exhausted all your resources, let Jesus reinforce you with a new “supply of the Spirit” that will give you all the strength you will ever need. Just open your heart to the Holy Spirit’s help today. Allow Him to fill you with a supply of power so large, you could never even begin to use it all! 

sparking gems from the greek

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I realize I don’t have enough strength by myself to do what You have asked me to do. Today I’m asking You to donate a new supply of Your Spirit into my life. Right now, I open my heart and ask You to fill every nook and cranny of my life with the power of the Holy Spirit so I can get back on my feet again and fulfill what You have told me to do!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

My Confession for Today

I declare by faith that I am refilled and recharged with the Spirit of God. There is no lack of strength in me because Jesus continuously provides a huge supply of the Spirit in my life that empowers me to achieve everything I need to do. There is no excuse for me to fail or to stop short of the goals God has given me for my life, because in the Spirit of God there is enough supernatural strength and power to energize me to finish my divine assignment!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions to Answer

1. Do you ever run into times in your life when you feel like you’ve hit a wall and you
can’t go any further?

2. How do you normally respond to times like these?

3. Compare the results of your past responses to these difficult times to what would happen if you took the time to talk to Jesus about your need for supernatural strength.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
— Philippians 3:13

Today is the second day of the new year. If you are like many other believers, you have mentally made a list of things you’d like to change or accomplish in your life and in your walk with God this year. We often call them “New Year’s resolutions” — but for us as Christians, that list should actually consist of Spirit-led commitments before the Lord concerning areas of our lives we need to focus on to further our own personal growth in the months ahead.

So if you haven’t actually taken time to write down the goals God has put on your heart, it would be good for you to do that today. Writing down your vision on paper often helps you nail down what you really want to do. Keep that paper as a reminder to help you stay on track and to gauge your progress throughout the year.

As I have talked to people over the years, I have found that New Year’s resolutions can often be summarized into the following categories. Of course, people make countless resolutions at the beginning of a new year, but the most common commitments they make are to:

 

These are noble and admirable resolutions. However, for you to reach any of these goals will require a fierce determination on your part to be a finisher and not just a starter! The truth is, most people have made some of these same commitments in the past and didn’t achieve them. However, as we saw in yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, if you have already repented for past failures, you are not to live in the regret of what you didn’t do yesterday. Now it’s time to focus on the future. With the help of the Holy Spirit, this year you can gain victories you’ve never gained before! But to reach these goals, you must be very determined and committed.

This is why the apostle Paul continued to tell us in Philippians 3:13 that we must persistently be “…reaching forth unto those things which are before.” This statement is packed with divine insight, so let’s take a few minutes on this second day of the new year to examine the words in this verse and see how they will help us achieve our goals in the months to come.

When Paul wrote that we must be “reaching forth” to the things before us, he used the Greek word epekteino — an old word that was used to picture runners in a foot race. It is a triple com- pound of the words epi, ek, and teino. The word epi means upon; the word ek means out; and the word teino means to stretch out or to strain forward.

When these three words are compounded into one word as they are in Philippians 3:13, where Paul urged us to be “reaching forth” to the things before us, it portrays the mental image of a runner who is running with all his might toward the finish line before him. As he approaches the goal in front of him, he reaches out (ek) toward the goal before him. Straining with every ounce of his being (teino), he stretches out and presses toward the finish line. At long last, he leans forward to lay hold upon (epi) the goal — the finish line. If the runner is to reach that goal and receive the cherished prize, he must give his very best effort to the race. He can reach the finish line and win the prize, but it will not happen without a firm commitment to be the best — nor will it occur unless he possesses a willingness to push harder than any of the other runners. This prize will go only to those who are the most determined and who have pushed the hardest!

This lets us know that if we are to accomplish our Holy Spirit-inspired goals and win the prize, we’re going to have to focus on those goals — and on God and His Word — as we commit to giving 100 percent of our efforts to achieving the desired result. Therefore:

These goals are noble, but such aspirations are not attained accidentally. Success doesn’t come without sustained commitment. If you are going to do better this year than you did last year, you must make a decision that by God’s grace, you’re going to maintain your commitment until you reach the finish line and you can say, “I achieved my goal through Christ who strengthened me!” A haphazard, “take-it-easy-and-don’t-be-too-hard-on-yourself ” approach will not cause any significant changes to take place in your life. If you are really committed to fulfilling these objectives, you must ask the Holy Spirit for His help and then start reaching forward toward these goals with every ounce of your heart, mind, soul, body, and strength.

This is precisely why I encourage you to write down your goals! When a runner runs, he keeps his eye focused on the finish line before him. That finish line is always in his sight and gives him direction as he runs. As longs as he keeps his gaze fixed on the goal before him, he runs in a straight line. But even the best runner with the best intentions will wander off course if he has no visible goal to keep him on track.

Similarly, you need clearly stated goals. So I must ask you: Can you articulate your goals? Have you written them down for this year? Today is your golden moment to begin “reaching forth” to the wonderful possibilities that God has in store for you! If you’ll determine to focus on Him and on His plan for your new year, the Holy Spirit will empower you to make it all the way to the finish line as a winner!

The second part of Philippians 3:13 could be interpreted:

“You need to keep your eyes on the goal before you — straining with every ounce of your being to reach that goal, even if your success demands that you push harder than you’ve ever pushed before. This prize will go only to those who push the hardest. So give it your best shot!”

This new year is your gift from God to achieve those dreams and longings you’ve put off again and again. Now is the time for you to commit yourself to the race and start running forward with the power of the Spirit to lay hold of the goals you and God have set for your life this year!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I am so grateful that You have gifted me with this new year and this new opportunity. I thank You for a fresh start to be more fruitful and to accomplish more for Your glory this year than I did last year. Help me set goals that are realistic and attainable so I can reach them by the power of the Holy Spirit assisting me. I ask You to strengthen me with might in my inner man to apply the determination and commitment to reach these goals. I praise You for the supernatural ability at my disposal according to the power that is already at work in me through Christ. I look to You to empower me as I press forward toward the finish line before me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I can do all things through Christ who empowers me! I finish what I start, and I accomplish whatever I set my heart to do. I do not set goals based merely on my desire, but I listen to the direction of the Holy Spirit as He guides me in setting goals for this year. He knows me better than I know myself, and He knows what I should achieve this year and where I should apply my efforts. I run my race this year with commitment, determination, and diligence. At the end of this year, I will say with a satisfied heart: “With God’s help, I have achieved each goal I set out to accomplish!”

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. What goals have you set for this year? Do you know your goals so well that you could articulate them to someone else if that person asked you what they are? As an experiment, why don’t you sit down with someone you trust and see how well you can articulate what is on your heart to achieve before the year’s end?
  2. Have you written your goals down where you can read them, review them, and gauge how well you are doing in achieving them? If you know your goals, write them down and put them in a visible place — such as on your refrigerator or on the mirror you use every morning — so you can be reminded of the commitments you have made for this year.
  3. I assure you that you’ll do better at achieving your goals if you make them a part of your daily prayer. How can you help yourself remember to do that? Perhaps you could write down those goals and place them on your refrigerator or on a mirror you use each morning. It might also be good for you to write them on a piece of paper that you keep in your Bible or prayer journal so your goals are easily accessible for you to pray over each day.

Let God’s Peace Serve as an Umpire for Your Mind and Emotions!

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
— Colossians 3:15

Have you ever had one of those days when there was so much confusion whirling around your head that you felt like screaming, “STOP”?

From time to time, everyone has that kind of a day. And when you do, your temptation is probably either to get in the flesh and react to someone in an ugly way or to get depressed, go to bed, and forget about it all. However, you know that neither choice will help you solve the problems you are facing.

Rather than throw in the towel and give way to these emotions that want to get the best of you, why not stop right now and make a decision to let the Word of God rule you today? When I say “rule” you, I’m talking about God’s supernatural peace dominating and governing every emotion and situation that confronts you. If you don’t make this decision and follow through with it, worry, fear, insecurity, doubt, and a whole host of other emotions will assuredly try to take control. And there is no worse roller-coaster ride than when you are being knocked all over the place by emotions that are out of control!

Instead, let the peace of God rule in your heart, as Paul wrote in Colossians 3:15. He said, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” I especially want you to notice the word “rule” in this verse. It is from the Greek word brabeuo, which in ancient times was used to describe the umpire or referee who moderated and judged the athletic competitions that were so popular in the ancient world. Paul uses this word to tell us that the peace of God can work like an umpire or referee in our hearts, minds, and emotions. When detrimental emotions attempt to exert control over us or try to throw us into an emotional frenzy, we can stop it from happening by making the choice to let God’s peace rise up from deep inside us like an umpire or referee to moderate our emotions. As we do, we will be kept under the control of that divine peace as it rules in our hearts. When this divine umpire called “peace” steps into the game, it suddenly begins to call the shots and make all the decisions instead of fretfulness, anxiety, and worry.

Colossians 3:15 could be translated:

“Let the peace of God call the shots in your life.” “Let the peace of God be the umpire in your life and actions.” “Let the peace of God act as referee in your emotions and your decisions.”

Even though it’s true that everyone has hard days and difficult weeks, you don’t have to surrender to those emotions that try to steal your joy, disturb your relationships, and rob you of your victory. When you feel overwhelmed by problems or emotions that are hitting you from every direction, just stop a moment and deliberately set your heart and mind on Jesus and the Word of God. As you do this, the wonderful, conquering, dominating, supernatural peace of God will rise up from your spirit and take control!

sparking gems from the greek

My Prayer For Today

Lord, I don’t want to let my emotions get the best of me today, so I ask that Your peace would rise up like a mighty umpire and referee in my heart, mind, and emotions. Help me recognize those moments when unhelpful emotions try to sneak up on me. I ask You to teach me how to put those emotions aside and release Your supernatural peace that is resident in my heart – the peace that is always ready at every moment to moderate every thought and emotion that tries to pass into my life! 

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

My Confession For Today

I confess that God’s supernatural peace dominates me. When I am tempted to get upset and my emotions try to take control of me, I put these emotions aside and allow the Spirit of God to release a supernatural, dominating, moderating peace to rule my heart, mind, and emotions! 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions To Answer

1. Do you recognize moments when your emotions try to throw you into an emotional tizzy and steal your peace and joy?

2. Have you asked God to help you overcome these moments?

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
— Philippians 3:13

On this first day of the year, family and friends are gathered together around the world to celebrate the New Year holiday. Millions of people are thinking and even talking about changes they need to make in their lives as they get started in a brand-new year. Unfortunately, this is also a day when people experience deep regret for what they didn’t accomplish in the previous year, such as commitments they made to themselves that they didn’t keep, promises they made to others that they left unfulfilled, or goals they set that they didn’t attain. Some are disappointed in themselves for a lack of spiritual progress.

I have a suggestion for you: Rather than live in regret about what you didn’t do last year, make this a day to spend some quality time with the Lord and repent for not doing what you should have done. Then make the decision to stop wallowing in regret about something that’s in the past and that you can’t do anything about now. It’s time for you to shake off that negative focus of what you didn’t do right last year and to start thanking God that today offers a new opportunity to do better! Think about it — this new year presents you with a golden opportunity to make some serious changes in your life!

That’s why I love to meditate on Philippians 3:13 every year on January 1. The apostle Paul gave us sound advice for leaving the past behind and focusing on the future before us! He said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

Today I want you to focus on the part of this verse that says, “…forgetting those things which are behind….” The word “forgetting” is taken from the Greek word epilanthano, which is a compound of the words epi and lanthano. When these two words are compounded into one word, as they are in this verse, it forms the Greek word epilanthano, which the King James Version translates as “forgetting” in Philippians 3:13. However, the first part of this Greek compound word is epi, which in this context denotes a turning, as in turning from one thing to focus on something else. The second part of this compound word is the word lanthano, which comes from a root that describes something that is finished, done with, or obsolete.

When these two words are joined together, they form the word epilanthano, which portrays the idea of something you should turn away from and forget. When used in a passive sense, it pictures something to be put aside, deliberately ignored, purposefully disregarded, and completely forgotten. It denotes something that may have really been true in the past, but is no longer applicable. If you were to paraphrase this word in today’s language, you could say: “Stop thinking about it! Put it out of your mind. Put it behind you, wipe it out, and erase it from your memory. Get it out of your system; quit paying attention to it; get your eyes off of it; be oblivious to it; and forget about it!”

But wait — what was Paul telling you and me to forget about? He said we must forget “those things which are behind.” Pay close attention to this, because what you are about to read is really powerful! The word “behind” is the Greek word opiso, which categorically describes something so obsolete that it should be permanently relegated to the back or to the past, abandoned, or left behind. This is something in your past that should be left in the past. It is behind you, and you are never to turn around to look at and focus on it again. In other words, the Greek word opiso means, “Leave it behind and never revisit it!”

It is very interesting that this word opiso is the same word used in Matthew 16:23 when Peter tried to interfere with the plan of God. After listening to Peter protest His impending death, Jesus spoke up with great authority and said, “…Get thee behind me, Satan….” Of course, Peter was not Satan, but the devil was speaking through Peter, as he has done with people so often throughout history — and still does today. But rather than listen to those words, Jesus spoke with firmness and rebuked the devil-inspired insinuations and ideas that were being spoken through Peter’s lips.

When Jesus said, “Get thee behind me,” the word “behind” is this same Greek word opiso that Paul used in Philippians 3:13 when he told us to forget the past. This means when you are hassled, harassed, or tormented about past failures, it may not be just your memories speaking to you — it could be Satan trying to harass you! This is especially true if you have already sought forgiveness and this mental onslaught continues. The devil could be trying to drag you back into regret over past things that are done with, over, and not changeable.

In such moments, you must do as Jesus did when He rebuked the devil. You must speak with bold authority in Jesus’ name! Speak to those thoughts like they are enemies sent from the devil to drag you down into depression and defeat. Don’t listen to them! If you do, the devil will hound you relentlessly with thoughts of failure — and little by little, you’ll find yourself becoming trapped in the memories of past disappointments. Don’t let that happen! It’s time for you to speak out loud and remind the devil that those failures and negative memories are in the past. They are under the blood of Jesus and therefore no longer applicable! Resist those thoughts of failure just like you would resist the devil. Command them to get behind you and to stay away forever in Jesus’ name!

Make the decision today that you’re finished with fixing your mind on things that are in the past — things that you have repented about, that have been erased by the blood of Jesus, and that you can’t do anything about now. You have the power right now to turn away from yesterday and start focusing on what is in front of you. Yesterday is a done deal! The clock cannot be turned back. Living in regret will only keep you from moving forward into the future.

Today is the first day of a new year — a brand-new start and a new opportunity for you to repent for past failures. This is your opportunity to say goodbye to the past and hello to the future. This is your golden moment to begin reaching forth to the wonderful possibilities that lie before you!

An interpretive translation of Philippians 3:13 could read:

“It’s time for you to turn loose of the past! You need to put it aside, deliberately ignoring and purposefully disregarding what happened yesterday. The past is old and obsolete, so why fixate on it any longer? Stop turning around to reflect on the past. You need to get it out of your system, put it behind you forever, and purposefully forget about it…”

If you’ve repented for past failures, it’s time for you to turn them loose and let them go! Since Jesus has forgiven you, you should quit looking backward. That’s right — you can put the past behind you and never revisit it again!

If you need to repent for past failures, then repent. But after you sincerely repent, it’s time for you to quit fixating on what you failed to do last year. Thank God for repentance and cleansing. Now it’s time for you to start thanking God that He has given you a new year filled with new opportunities to do better than you’ve done in the past 12 months! He has given you the gift of a new year, so reach forward to achieve those dreams and longings that you’ve put off again and again. Throw open your arms of faith, and embrace the rich future Jesus has waiting for you as you follow Him step by step in the days ahead!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I repent for not doing what I should have done last year, and I receive Your forgiveness. I thank You for this new year and for the new opportunity it presents for me to make serious changes in my life. You are the God who makes all things new. I yield to Your power at work in me as I deliberately choose to do Your will and to walk in Your ways with diligent obedience. Holy Spirit, I ask for and receive Your help to fulfill the will of God for my life. My past is not a prophecy of my future! Today I make the decision to put aside memories of past failures, and by faith I reach out to the future You have planned for me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I am not a failure and that my past is not a prophecy of my future! Even though I have not done as well as I should have in the past, God’s Spirit in me will enable me to do better from this point forward. I am willing to make whatever changes I must make. I will alter my lifestyle. I will fix things in my life that are messed up. I will do whatever is required to move forward into the fabulous future God has waiting for me! From this moment on, I will run this race with my eyes fixed on the goal before me. I am committed, determined, and willing to pay any price to obtain full and complete victory in my life!

 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. As you begin this new year, have you taken time yet to make a list of the things you would like to accomplish in the next 12 months? If not, I recommend that you take some time to pray and seek the Lord regarding what He wants you to achieve in your life this year. Afterward, write down those goals, and keep the list in a place where you can read and regularly pray over it.
  2. If you failed to accomplish important tasks or goals due to a lack of commitment last year, have you taken time to repent before the Lord? It’s important for you to do this so you can “clean the slate” and start this new year with a right heart before God. Why not take the time today to get honest before the Lord and ask Him to forgive you for any past failures?
  3. Are there any changes you need to make — such as toxic relationships or environments you need to remove from your life — so you can fulfill what God has given you as goals for this new year? What are those changes?

…forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto the things which are before….
— Philippians 3:13

Well, today one year is closing, and another year is about to begin. Is your year ending the way you prayed it would? Or do you need to make alterations in your heart quickly to get back on track with what God wants to do in your life so you can start the next year right?

Many times as I’ve come close to the end of a calendar year, I’ve wondered if I was going to accomplish everything I sensed the Lord instructing me to do in that year. But if it’s too late to do what you should have done this year, it’s time for you to forget those things that are behind and to reach forth unto the things that are before you (see Philippians 3:13). The word “forget” in this verse is the Greek word epilanthanomai, which depicts something that is done with, accomplished, and no longer an issue before you. The word “behind” is the word opiso, which describes something that no longer has relevance in your life. It is old, antiquated, outdated, and no long applicable.

Rather than focus on things of the past that no longer have relevance in your life, it’s time for you to “reach forth” unto those things that are before you. The words “reach forth” are translated from the Greek word epikteinomai, and it pictures a runner in a race — running with every ounce of strength he can muster to get around that final bend in the stadium one last time and finish as the winner! His whole body and eyes are fastened on that goal as he leans forward and runs with all his might to break through that finish line.

Today is your last day to make wrongs right and to do things that you know you ought to do. This year is closing in a mere matter of minutes or hours. But before you is a glorious new beginning! The Holy Spirit wants to divinely energize you to run your race in the new year with your eyes and your whole being fixed on the goal. It may be challenging, but if you’ll surrender to the Holy Spirit’s control, He’ll take you where you never could have gone by yourself!

When you lay your head on your pillow tonight and say farewell to this year, make sure that you also welcome the new year with faith, confidence, and commitment that in this new year you will accomplish every dream, goal, and desire that God has put in your heart to accomplish over the next 12 months!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Heavenly Father, this has been an awesome year in which You have taught me so much. My heart is overflowing with thankfulness for every challenge You’ve helped me overcome and for every lesson You’ve taught me that has helped mold me more to the image of Jesus Christ. I am simply filled with gratitude that You have done so much in my heart during this year — and I believe that the next year will be even richer and fuller than the one I am presently completing. As I reach the finish line of this year, I forget what is behind me, and I reach for what is ahead. For all of this, I give You thanks!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I boldly declare that the year before me will be the best year I’ve ever known in my life thus far. The Holy Spirit is energizing me — and He will help me run my race better than I’ve ever run it before. I say no distractions or obstacles will stop me — and that I will run until I reach the finish line! Jesus has already laid out the race before me — I only need to jump up, give it my best shot with the Spirit’s power, and finish everything God wants me to achieve in this new year!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Is it too late — have you run out of time to do what you were supposed to do? What could you have done differently to produce a more fruitful outcome? Write down what you should have done and what you could have done better to achieve your goals and dreams. Then repent and forget the guilt of it. The past is over, irrelevant, and no longer an issue before you. Ask the Lord to help you accomplish old responsibilities in a new way by the grace and mercy that are freshly available to you today!
  2. Before you is a glorious new beginning! Have you consulted the Holy Spirit to find out what He wants you to know about the race set before you in the new year? If you make the decision now to yield to the Holy Spirit’s direction at every turn, He will take you where you never could have gone by yourself!
  3. Have you written down the ways you want to use your faith to be a bigger blessing to the Kingdom of God in the coming year? In what way can you better serve your pastor and your church? What are the steps you need to take to be a stronger spiritual influence for God in the lives of your family and friends? What do you need to do to be a brighter light and better representative of Christ to the lost? When you lay your head on your pillow tonight, say farewell to this year, and welcome the new year with faith, confidence, and a commitment to glorify God as never before.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
— Philippians 1:6

I have no doubt that there are a few things I need to wrap up before the year ends. It has been a good year — very productive and full of good fruits. I am so thankful for this — yet I know there are still some things that the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish in my life before the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins. The new year is just two days away — so it means I must intensely focus on what the Holy Spirit desires to get done before this year ends.

Just as has been true every year, this past year has been a year of both challenges and victory. But I want the year to end in total victory by allowing the Spirit of God to inwardly finish what He has started in me at the first of this year. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

The word “confident” is the Greek word peitho, and it means to be sure, to be certain, and to have absolute conviction. I don’t know about you, but the Holy Spirit has been working fervently in my heart all year, and I have absolute conviction that He is going to finish what He started. Do you have that same conviction concerning your own life?

What does the Holy Spirit want to accomplish in your life in the next two days? You might say, “Two days is too short a period of time!” But nothing is impossible when the Holy Spirit has a willing vessel who is willing to cooperate with Him. If you are willing, the Holy Spirit can accomplish anything in you — even in two days before the year ends. Then you can start the new year fresh and ready for what God wants to do in the next year, with nothing trailing behind you from the year before. Don’t let yourself drag anything negative from this year into next year! The Holy Spirit’s power is available to do a fresh, quick work of grace in your life. He wants to set you free and get you ready for a brand-new start!

In the first seven devotionals in this book (January 1-7) I challenged you with certain goals the Holy Spirit may want you to focus on in the ensuing 12 months. I want to encourage you to skim those seven days and see if you have allowed the Spirit of God to do what He wanted to do in those areas of your life. If not, this is a good time to seek forgiveness and cleansing — and to move into the new year with a fresh sense of faith and courage to allow the Holy Spirit to do the work He desires to do in you in the coming 12 months.

I’ll honestly tell you that one of my goals for this year was to finish and publish the book you hold in your hands. It required a great level of commitment and fortitude to accomplish this goal. But I knew it was the will of God, so I set my heart to accomplish it. And with the Holy Spirit’s help, it has been done according to the plan.

Knowing God’s plan — and operating according to that — is so essential for living effectively for Him. If you don’t know the Lord’s will for the next year of your life, the Holy Spirit wants to help you know it, so ask Him to show you. As I’ve already noted, the Holy Spirit will work fervently in you to finish what He has started. Philippians 1:6 assures us that this is true: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Just stop a moment to consider that promise! God begins the good work in you, and then He performs it. From start to finish, it’s His grace that enables you to accomplish what you need to do before the clock strikes midnight on December 31. So don’t say it’s too late, because it’s never too late to address those issues the Holy Spirit has been talking to you about. If nothing else, get started in this new calendar year — and His power will help you quickly get the victory.

I am praying for you today. God has wonderful things in store for you. He simply needs your cooperation, and His supernatural power will quickly do what otherwise would take a long time to do. So throw open your arms and say, “Holy Spirit, I am ready to cooperate with You! Do quickly in my life what only You can do, and show me what my part is so I can do what You want me to do!”

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, the race for this year is almost over, but it’s not too late for me to come out a winner by faith in every area of my life. I surrender every obstacle that has hindered me as a result of my own thoughts and actions. I ask You to supernaturally quicken me so I can achieve the goals You desire to perform in me. I am absolutely convinced that You will perform this work in me and that You’ll keep doing it until the day of Jesus Christ!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that God’s power is working inside me — and He will quickly do those things He has wanted to accomplish in my life this past year. My wrong choices may have hindered them from being done earlier. But right now, I choose to cooperate with the will and the power of God to see His plan for me accelerated and accomplished because of my obedience. According to Philippians 1:6, I am absolutely sure and completely persuaded that God is doing His work in me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. What internal changes do you need to wrap up before the clock strikes midnight on December 31? The Holy Spirit can quickly do what you could never do on your o Why not write down the changes you desire to make today and release your faith for a quick work to be done?
  2. Do you have relationships that need to be mended and healed before the end of this year? If so, you know that restoration is possible through the power of the Holy S Ask Him to help you to know how to approach that person, how to apologize, and how to make amends. He will show you what to do.
  3. Do you owe a debt to someone that you should have taken care of this year but failed to do so? Has that unpaid debt grieved you and hurt the person to whom you owe the debt? Why don’t you humble yourself, make a phone call, sincerely apologize, and get on the path toward making things right with that person?

…I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
— Philippians 3:8

I had always heard of house-hoarders — that is, people who hoarded belongings until they had so much “stuff” in their houses that they had to walk on top of it all or forge little trails to get through the maze. I even watched a TV program about hoarders, and I was horrified that anyone could live with so much garbage in his or her home.

Watching this hoarding experience on TV was mind-boggling to me. But then a relative needed help moving from her home to a new house. When I walked into the old house, I was stunned by what I saw. It was exactly what I had seen on the television program, if not worse. There were piles, piles, and more piles of goods that still had original tags on them, plus ceramic items that were stacked high on shelves. The wallpaper was falling off the walls, and there was a huge nest of mud daubers living in the corner of the living room! The only way to get from one part of the house to the next was to walk a tiny little corridor that had been left between the mounds of trash that had accumulated over the years. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that a human being could live in such squalor.

The outside of this relative’s house was no better. Rather than throw away old magazines, she had stacked them high, one on top of another — and they were rotting into a “wall” of magazines that surrounded part of her property like a barricade. It was truly beyond anything I had ever witnessed.

Hoarding. That’s exactly what this dear relative had been doing — just like the hoarders I’d seen on TV. Only now it was my job to remove it all so that the house could be put on the market. Honestly, it would have been easier to bulldoze the house and start all over than to try to get the old one back into shape. I had never seen anything like it.

Some people’s spiritual lives are like that. Rather than deal with issues and keep their lives clean and clear, the spiritual rubbish just keeps building up, deeper and deeper, until it seems almost impossible for them to clean up and put themselves back into working order. They have so many piles of unforgiveness, bitterness, and other forms of spiritual garbage that they can barely make it from one room to the next in their “house.”

When people hoard — or refuse to let go of — things like fear, doubt, jealousy, bitterness, and envy, their spiritual lives become a mess! Their lives can eventually be compared to those houses we see on TV in which the wallpaper is falling off the walls, the electricity doesn’t work right, the sink in the kitchen is a slimy, wretched mess, and rodents and all kinds of other pests live in the midst — right along with the person who lives there with them!

When I saw this unbelievable mess at our relative’s home — something I truly thought only existed in fantasy TV programs — I was speechless. There is no way a person can be healthy in his or her mind and emotions, and think that way of living is acceptable. It brought my mind to Philippians 3:8, where Paul uses the word “dung” to describe his life before Christ. He says, “…I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

The word “dung” is the word skubalon, and it is the word for refuse. To be more pointed, it refers to things like a half-eaten corpse, filth, lumps of manure or human excrement, or food thrown away from the table and then left lying around, piled up on the floor as it rots. Skubalon would be a sickening sight that would tend to make one want to vomit.

When I saw how our relative was living in such chaos and squalor, I realized that it is impossible to live a normal life under such wretched circumstances. And when Paul used the word skubalon, which depicts this very type of scene, he was admitting that all he had done before he came to Christ was nothing more than a skubalon pile of rubbish; it was spiritual defilement. That may sound harsh to say, but that is precisely the word that the apostle Paul used to describe his life before He came to Christ. In the end — after Paul came to a saving knowledge of Jesus — he recognized that his entire life until that time had all been rubbish, with nothing worth saving. But after Paul came to Christ, he was set free from the spiritual garbage of his past and his life was cleansed and set apart to be used of the Lord.

As we approach the end of the year, I want to ask you: Are you living in spiritual squalor — or are you abiding in a lifestyle that gives glory to Jesus Christ? Many people pile up grief, resentment, bitterness, and other things that block their ability to function normally for the Lord. What about you? Are things as they ought to be in your spiritual life? It’s something for you to really think about today!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I confess that there is spiritual trash in my life — and I’ve just tolerated it and let it grow deeper and deeper. Help me recognize it for what it is and begin the process of removing it from my life. You can’t use me as You wish if I’m surrounded by piles of squalor. So I ask You to help me, Holy Spirit, as I start the cleanup process so I can function freely and clearly when You have a job for me to do!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I’ve been a spiritual hoarder — letting things build up in my life that hindered my effectiveness. I repent before the Lord for letting this buildup of spiritual refuse take hold in my life. If I’m going to be used mightily of Him, I have to keep my heart and soul clean, so today I commit to making this a serious endeavor in my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of areas where you’ve allowed yourself to hoard attitudes that are unproductive to your spiritual life? If yes, what are you going to do to start changing this mess in your life?
  2. To be honest, when hoarding has already begun, it takes a very serious commitment to bring things back into order. Are you willing to make the kind of commitment that is required to bring order back into your spiritual life? God will help you, but you must turn and commit your way to Him.
  3. What is the area in your life that gives you the most trouble in discarding spiritual “refuse” that isn’t good for you? Can you name it?