In class yesterday, we talked about the pledge of allegiance and the reason why we recite those well known words every school day. As I spoke to the children I explained to them why we stand, why we hold our hand over our heart and why we feel it’s necessary to pledge our allegiance to the country that has given us so much. I told them I wanted them to say the pledge, not because it was something they had to do, but because it was something they understood and wanted to do.

    Upon reflection of the lesson I taught my students, I began to wonder how many of us know why we do what we do in the kingdom of God.

• Why do we pray to God and ask Him to meet our needs?
• Why do we fast for those needs we desperately need met now?
• Why do we train up our children in a home that shows Christ is the only way? 
• Why do we clap our hands, sing and worship to the father?
• Why are we called to live a life as a light to those around us?

In essence, why in the world do we do what we do? I don’t know about you, but I am so much more invested in the things that make sense to me and that have a purpose for me and my life. Because of that, I choose to read my Bible.

Proverbs  19:8 tells us-“He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.” 

Don’t forsake the wisdom that comes from being closely connected to your Word. Take the time to learn the whys and you will soon find yourself fully invested in the purposes and plans God has for your life.

In our world today there are so many voices. There are voices on social media, voices on tv and on the radio, voices in our workplaces, and voices in our homes, voices literally everywhere we go. In the midst of all these voices it can be so easy to forget who we are. It can be easy to buy into the lies of those voices that we allow to speak loudest into our lives. Voices that tell us we aren’t good enough. We aren’t strong enough. We aren’t pretty, wealthy, or articulate enough. Voices that tell us everything we can’t be, but literally nothing that we can. Voices of defeat, despair, and destruction.

However, there is one voice that, if we allow it to speak loudly enough into our life, will drown out the lies of all the others: God’s voice. In Psalm 139:14 the Psalmist says-“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” This is just one example of the truth about us that can be unearthed when we choose to listen to the voice of God over the voices of the World.

What voices are you listening to today? Are they bringing you hope, life, joy, and peace…if not, maybe it’s time to tune them out and tune into the Word.

Have you ever worked in an environment where working was not the first thing on the majority of the employees minds? A place where most of them did what they had to do to draw a paycheck, nothing more, and nothing less. In that environment it isn’t long before even the “good” workers begin to give up because the environment isn’t one that supports those who put forth effort above and beyond the call of duty. On the flip side, have you ever worked in an environment where people enjoyed their job and were truly dedicated to making a difference? Many of your coworkers went above and beyond the call of duty and did more than was asked because they were invested in the work that was being done? In that environment you likely felt pushed to excel, not because you had to, but because your coworkers inspired you to.

This is exactly how it works in the spiritual workforce. Hebrews 10:24 says-“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” If you surround yourselves with spiritual “coworkers” who insist on doing the bare minimum, just enough to barely make it, before you know it you will likely follow suit. However, if you surround yourself with spiritual “coworkers” who do more than is expected of them because they are fully invested in the work being done, it is very likely that you will find yourself going above and beyond because you have become invested as well. Who you surround yourself with spiritually matters. Are you surrounding yourself with motivated and called workers or are you hanging out with the “don’t care” crowd? Whichever you have chosen, they will help determine your eternal destination.

Have you ever experienced a sickness in your body and struggled to perform the daily things that are typically a breeze? Things like getting out of bed, eating a meal, or walking across the room seem like almost more than you can take. Most of us, when we reach this stage of “I just can’t”, due to our illness, finally take a trip to the doctor. Once there, if we are lucky, we get the answers and resources we need to get on the road to recovery.

This very same scenario can play out in our spiritual walk as well. We can become spiritually sick and the things that are typically a breeze suddenly become difficult. Things like getting along with our spiritual family, reading our Word, and saying our prayers. However, unlike the first scenario many of us reach the “I just can’t” stage in our spiritual walk and decide it’s the church’s fault, or our brothers and sisters fault or maybe even God’s fault and, instead of turning to the great physician to get our healing, we turn our backs on God. We give up our spiritual wellness and trade it in for all the sickness this world has to offer.

Why is it that we don’t treat spiritual illness with the same urgency and care as physical ailments? Pride. We don’t want to admit we aren’t spiritual enough to fight the battle we are facing, but God came, as a sacrifice for not only our sin, but also as a healer of ALL our diseases: physical, mental, and spiritual. We discover this truth in Matthew 8:16-17 which says-“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

Don’t spend another day unable to be the Christian God has called you to be because you refuse to admit your are spiritually unwell. Talk to the great physician. Tell Him about your pain. He knows just how to heal you.

I read the following quote the other day and it really spoke to me. It said-“yes, there are frustrated wives, just as there are frustrated engineers, airplane pilots, and karate instructors. But the frustration does not stem from the nature of the word; rather it comes from the boredom inevitable in any job done poorly or unimaginatively.” As I read this quote I was blown away by the simple truth hidden within. So many of us are living our lives dissatisfied, joyless and depressed simply because we have allowed ourselves to buy into the lie that if something isn’t pleasing to us and our flesh it isn’t a worthwhile pursuit.

This thought process simply isn’t Biblical. We are assured of this in Colossians 3:23-24 which says-“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

We have to stop living our daily lives as though they are something to be muddled through while on our pursuit to self satisfaction. We must remember that what God has placed in our lives for us to do, whether it is raising children, nurturing our marriage, working for the church, or being a light and example of work ethic at our jobs, we are to do it to the best of our abilities because it is a God given gift to be entrusted with the responsibility. It’s time to live a fulfilled life, rather than a life simply fulfilling obligations.

Have you ever had one of those moments when something made you so mad you could literally scream? How about one of those moments where the sadness was so great you just didn’t really feel like going on? Have you ever had a moment where the fear far outweighed your bravery and the thought of pushing forward was more than you could take? In those moments and others like them we must remember that as children of God we are called not to give into emotions but to remember who we serve. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us-“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

If we allow every circumstance and every frustration to keep us in turmoil and unable to function as we should, are we really living as a victorious child of God? Trials will come. Moments of fear, doubt, sadness, and anger will come. How will we meet them: beaten down, fearful, and out of control or as a strong, confident, and victorious child of God?

Every day we wake up it’s a little different. Sure, we may follow the same routine. We may go to the same places, do the same things, and see the same people, but each day is a little different than the day before and the day after it. One main determinant in the outcome of our day is the attitude with which we choose to face it. When we wake up with an “I’m ready to tackle the world” attitude our day plays out a lot different than when we have an “ugh, I don’t want to be here today” attitude.
       
One of the things I love about the Lord. Is His consistency. As His children we should strive to be consistent as well. Does that mean we won’t have bad days? Absolutely not! However, what it does mean is that we should strive to keep a joyful attitude and consistent spirit even on our hardest days. We might not always be successful, but we stand a much greater chance of making it through our storm if we keep a “we (you and God) can do this” attitude vs a “I can’t do this” one. Don’t give up hope. Don’t stop fighting. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrew 13:8) It’s time for us to be consistent.

It’s easy for me, when I have a to-do list that seems longer than the time I have in a day, to get frustrated and overwhelmed. Yet, every single time I have found myself in this position I always do my best to prioritize what is important and am able to get done what needs to get done. The thing I have discovered about life is this: there is always something else to do. No matter how long you have lived, you are never done. There is always something new you can or should do. Because of this, we have to learn to keep the main things the main things.  
     
Matthew 27:37-40 says-“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” God first, people second, everything else after.
     
I encourage you today to take a good look at your life. If you have put anything before God and then the people God has placed in your life, your life will always seem frazzled and out of control. Put the important things first and you will be able to ensure that, even if you don’t get it all done, you will have accomplished the things that truly matter!

Every year, as I’m going over our classroom expectations with another group of students, one of the things we always talk about is our environment and how important it is for each of us to remember that what we do affects those around us.
   
As I sat in church recently I was reminded that the very same thing is true in the church. It is our responsibility, as members of the church, to provide an environment in which the lost, weary, hurting, and confused, can come and find the help and hope they need. In Matthew 5:16 we are reminded to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
       
What you do in the church house matters. Do you worship and show the importance of reverencing His spirit? Do you celebrate with those set free and lament for those still lost? Do you choose to set the troubles of the world aside to focus on what truly matters while in His house? Are you doing what you can do to make God’s house a place people can come and feel God’s mercy, love and hope? If not, I implore you to start. It may not seem like what you do matters but it does. We each have the ability to affect the environment God has given us to grow in. What effect do you have on your church?

The word tells us “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (I Corinthians 12:12-14)

What our world is missing today is the sense of community that allows us to want what’s best for those around us. We have been so trained to look out for number one and do what’s best for us and ours and we have forgotten that we are all one body. Just because someone doesn’t look, think, act, or view the world like we do doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy in God’s eyes. If we don’t wake up soon our world is in serious trouble.

Take the time to take the time for someone else. Show someone who can do nothing for you that you care. Make an effort to inconvenience yourself to make someone else’s life easier. Stop spending your days simply working to make your life easier and take the time to dig someone out of a hole they could very well die in. I know without a doubt I could do better caring about those God has sent me to care for. Could you? With Christ WE are the change; a change we so desperately need!

While feeding the chickens with my niece Kayla one summer she made an interesting observation. She said: “That chicken isn’t eating any food. She just picks up a piece and then throws it down and runs after the next piece you throw.” When she said this I began to think about the times I have lived my life just like those silly chickens. God gave me a blessing or a gift, but instead of being happy and content with what I was given I insisted on searching for more, and in the pursuit of more, lost what I was given to begin with. I Timothy 6:6-7 says-“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

     Is it wrong to want more? Absolutely not! However, be careful to not waste your life in the pursuit of more when God has already given you gifts and blessings you are failing to take advantage of. Sure, you might miss out on a morsel or two while being content with what you have, but contentment with what you have been given is sure to bring more joy than all those things you are chasing that God never meant for you to have. Look around today. Focus on what God has given you and do your best to be content, because with contentment “is great gain”.

Have you ever faced a moment in your life where you wondered if anyone at all saw how hard you were trying? You were working your absolute hardest to be the best mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband, wife, or Christian you could be and yet no one seemed to notice.

     If you have been there or this is where you are today don’t give up hope. Galatians 6:9-10 says-“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
 
     We aren’t called to do good because it brings us good. We are called to do good because God is good. Your pat on the back, award for a job well done, or thank you’s may not come this day, month or even year, but rest assured, those who continue to do well, will have their reward. God sees. God knows. God will reward in due season…if you faint not. Keep working to be the you that God designed you to be even if no one else notices!