Fearlessly Courageous

What does the Bible say? Ask not – have not. Think not.. have not… plan not, have not… Believe not… have not.

NOT is the common denominator. When our life, our future, and our plans are NOT… then we have nowhere to go. When our mind has stopped asking, knocking, and seeking then there is no forward movement. We have become stagnant water with no outlet and probably no inlet either.

How are you growing your future? Or should I ask how you are growing your life and your faith?

Question? What is the greatest commandment? Matt 22:36 “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” So the formula is: God first, Spouse, Children, and work. Most of us live the other formula right? Work, children, spouse, and then God. Or some close resemblance, right? If you lay the wrong foundation for a house, it will not stand. We can build it on a rock or on the sand. God lets us choose. He said, in Luke 6:47-49 “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” He’s a wise man who seeks God out…Who listens to their counsel and the men of accountability he has told us to place around us. And then obey! He said that’s like building a house on a rock, and it will weather the storms to come. We and our families will be safe from the tempest that always come for a season. So, in conclusion, the man who doesn’t listen builds his house on sand or in modern day words… on our own flimsy efforts. On what I think is best.

I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING! AND I CAN DO IT ALONE!

And the tempests that come, that are completely beyond their control, take his little house of straw down. Or give them an ulcer or heart attack…or cause them to lose their marriage and or miss out on raising their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord because they are just too busy making their own world successful…on their terms. There is no room at the inn. Work, recreation, kids, spouse, and finally God.

Completely __ __ __ backwards.

Jesus taught we should strive to bear good fruit with our lives. So our purpose, work, and efforts should result in a juice that’s worth the squeeze. John Mason said, “you can predict your future by the awareness you have of your purpose”. We first must find our God-given purpose and God’s given direction and blessing. Then… concentrate on fulfilling it. Having a powerful why will provide you with the necessary how. Purpose, not money, is your real asset.” Marcus Aurelius said, “without a purpose, nothing should be done”.

Robert Byrne said, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose”.

Don’t just pray that God will do this or that; rather pray that God will make His purpose known to you. That begins with: God first, Spouse, Children, and work. (there is your purpose, your formula, and your filter). Psalm 138:8 reads, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me: Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever” John Mason, said it clearly, “We can’t do anything about our length of life but we can do something about its width and depth. What you believe and walk out is the force that determines what you accomplish or fail to accomplish in life”.

THIS DAY… WHO AND WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?

Devotional song: The Father’s House – Cory Asbury (Lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjVi0CDicEQ