local Daily Devotions

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In Pursuit of Holiness

ÔÇ£God caused Him who knew no sin to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.ÔÇØ (2 Corinthians 5:21)

What keeps you pursuing holiness? What has happened as a result?

For me, I have learned to trust God in times when everything seemed perfect, but MOST importantly I have learned to trust Him in times of wilderness.

The gospel truth keeps me pursuing holiness and the assurance of His grace gives me the courage to pass on to others what I learn, and continue to learn.

Today, itÔÇÖs a joy to remind you what God has given His people to help them grow and pursue holiness, these gifts are the gospel truth, the Word of God.
Being rooted in the gospel truth will help us face tomorrow and walk in victories.

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ÔÇ£What to Do When You DonÔÇÖt UnderstandÔÇØ
By Scott Hunter


Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:5-8)


Have you ever said the following, ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt understandÔÇØ? I know that I have. There are many times in life whether it is sickness, finances, relationships and other things that happen and we just donÔÇÖt know why. We try to figure it out but it doesnÔÇÖt make sense. There are things we will never figure out, but we can faith it out. Here are some things we can do. First, trust God.

Proverbs 3:5-8 says that we should trust in the Lord with all our heart and
lean not to our own understanding. How many of us really trust God? I mean when it comes down to it, are we still involved in the situation, or have we given it all to God? Are we willing to let go and take the leap of faith, trusting that He will never fail us? Second, pray in the Spirit. In Romans 8:26-28, it says that the Spirit will pray through us when we donÔÇÖt know how to pray.

This is awesome because I know that many times I have prayed about something every way I know how, and still nothing. When we pray in the Spirit, we pray the perfect will of God. Third, know that He understands. Hebrews 4:14-16 says that Jesus, our high priest, was tempted on all
manners just as we are. He understands and according to Hebrews 7:24-25,

He is praying for us. He gets it, and He will see us through. Lastly, be thankful. Remind yourself of His faithfulness. In Philippians 4:6-8, it says donÔÇÖt worry, be thankful and let GodÔÇÖs peace override your understanding as you meditate on good things. Win the battle by meditating on Him. I know sometimes it doesnÔÇÖt look like it is working, that 1 + 1 + 1 = 2. If we keep doing these things above and believe that what he has started, He will finish. That 2 will turn to a 3. DonÔÇÖt give up, even when you donÔÇÖt understand

I want to encourage you to check out ScottÔÇÖs new You Tube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/CFGMUSA, or you can go to his website at www.compassionfireandglory.org and see all that God is doing through him.

[04ctd]

Unexplainable Power


"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony." - John 3:11

When is the last time God did something in your work life that can only be explained as God? Was it yesterday? Was it just last week? A month ago? A year ago? The answer to this question may mean several things. If it has been some time since you saw God's activity in such a way that you know it was His hand, you may not be trusting to a level that requires faith. You may not be risking enough for God to show Himself. The converts in the early Church changed the world they lived in because of what they saw and heard. It was the power of the gospel that changed lives, not what they learned from mere teaching. This power drew people to Christ. Things happened that could not be explained as anything other than the activity of God. Is that the kind of faith you are experiencing in your life? Many of us live a wholesome, moral life, but those we associate with do not see this activity as anything that cannot also be achieved by them. That is why many are not drawn to our lives. God's power is not evident. The Lord has been challenging me to trust Him at levels I have never trusted before. This level of trust has placed me in a vulnerable position. However, the blessing of this relationship is that I see the activity of God as never before, and those closes to me see it as well. It builds their faith and draws others to investigate.

Sometimes the activity of God comes in unusual ways. God often sets up scenes that appear to be negative on the front end, but God has orchestrated these events for His glory.

-Without Pharaoh's pursuit of Israel at the Red Sea, there is no miraculous deliverance.

-Without Lazarus's death, there is no rising to life.

-Without Goliath, there is no underdog story.

-Without Peter stepping out of the boat, there is no miracle on the water.

-Without Judas' betrayal, there is no resurrection.

God wants to show Himself in ways you and I cannot imagine. Let God demonstrate His power in your workplace today. Then, you will see "all men drawn unto Me."

[04ctd]

The Spirit of Competition
I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. - John 17:23

A story is told about F.B. Meyer, the great Bible teacher and pastor who lived a century ago. He was pastoring a church and began to notice that attendance was suffering. This continued until he finally asked some members of his congregation one Sunday morning why they thought attendance was down.

A member volunteered, "It is because of this new church down the road. The young preacher has everyone talking and many are going to hear him speak."

His name was Charles Spurgeon. Meyer, rather than seeking to discourage this, exhorted the entire congregation to join him and go participate in seeing this "move of God" as he described it to his congregation.
"If this be happening, then God must be at work."
Meyer, even though he was an accomplished preacher and teacher, recognized where God was at work and joined Him in it.

Can you imagine this story taking place in our competitive world today? Competition has penetrated the Church so much that many churches and Christian organizations approach ministry like a sports event. They view their mission as a business that seeks to gain market share among Christians - donors, members, influence - all under the name of God. I am sure God looks down at us and asks, "Whatever happened to John 17:23?" Sometimes we must remind our fellow servants that we are all on the same team! We should be seeking to impact the Kingdom of God, not increase our own market share.

When Jesus made this statement about unity in John 17:23, it represented the key to bringing salvation to many. He was saying that when His Body is unified, the non-Christian would be able to see who Jesus really is - the Son of God. Are you contributing to unity in the Body of Christ? Or are you contributing to a spirit of competition? Ask God where you can be an instrument of unity in His Body

[04ctd]

GodÔÇÖs Authority


"I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on Me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me...." - John 14:30-31

There is a constant war going on between our flesh and the Spirit. As Christians, the Spirit seeks to move us under the authority of His domain in order for us to fulfill all that we were created for. Every person was designed to be under some form of authority. Jesus modeled this in His own life. He lived under the authority of His heavenly Father. He made no independent decisions. He, unlike us, was sinless and always remained under His Father's authority. He acknowledged that the prince of this world has a hold on many, but did not have a hold on Jesus.

The prince of this world does have his hold on many in our world, even among our brothers and sisters. The one thing most of us want the greatest is the freedom to make our own decisions. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when the decision was made to exercise a personal right: freedom to decide, freedom of choice, freedom from hindrances, freedom from pain. However, Jesus chose to live under the authority of the Father's desire for His life. He was the ultimate model of a man under authority.

Each day we must determine if we'll willingly choose to be under the authority of the Father and the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is a choice each of us must make. It is a choice that actually leads to freedom, not bondage. Choosing to live under the authority of our heavenly Father frees us to gain the greatest fulfillment in life-His mission and the purposes He has for us. It is the little decisions of daily life that reveal whether we truly live under His authority

[04ctd]

Beware of Unusual Circumstances


"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit?" (1 Corinthians 12:7-9).

Whenever something unusual happens in daily life, these are often signs that God is up to something. We must have a heightened sense of awareness of what God may want to do in these situations. My mentor once shared how he was upgraded on an airline unexpectedly. A woman sat down next to him who was very troubled. He began to quietly pray for the woman and God gave him supernatural insights that her problem related to the fact that she had not forgiven her mother in a family-related issue. He decided to politely share his insight. The woman was shocked. My mentor began to minister to her on the airplane and ultimately led her to Christ.

God is raising the spiritual bar for Christians who want to impact the world for Christ today. He wants to break through into people's lives supernaturally by giving them insights into the needs of people in order to bring them to Christ.

Jesus often spoke supernaturally into the lives of others based on the circumstance of the moment. He often spoke of their current condition in life and invited them to make a change.

As you go about your day, there are situations that we can find ourselves in that are open doors for bringing Christ into the circumstance. In fact, He is the one orchestrating the circumstance!

Next time an unusual situation develops, be aware that God may be creating such a circumstance to bring His glory into the situation.

[04ctd]

Turning Tragedy into Triumph


"So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you" (2 Corinthians 4:12).

On 9/11/01, New York City firefighter Stephen Siller had just completed his shift when he heard on his truck's scanner that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers. Siller quickly turned his truck around and attempted to drive back to Manhattan via the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel but found the entrance blocked by abandoned vehicles. Desperate to join his elite Squad One brothers, Siller donned 75 pounds of fire gear and ran a mile-and-a-half through the tunnel, before an emergency vehicle picked him up and dropped him off at Tower Two.

Siller had been orphaned at the age of 10 and raised by his much older brothers and sisters. Siller died that day trying to save others. He left behind a wife and five children.

His story proved so inspirational that it became a legend in the newsrooms and firehouses of New York City. His six siblings - who in many ways viewed Siller as a son, as well as a brother - found themselves grappling with a dilemma: should they allow the tragic circumstances of their brother's death to paralyze and embitter them or use it as a catalyst to help others and preserve his memory?

The Siller family chose the latter.

Once they made that decision, and armed with no extraordinary wealth or political clout, the siblings combined forces to convince New York officials to close down the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel the last Sunday morning of each September and stage the "Tunnel to Towers Run" to commemorate their brother's heroic last run.

Each year since 9/11 tens of thousands of runners have retraced the steps of a hero. As part of the event 343 New York City firefighters, each representing a fallen comrade and holding an American flag, stand throughout the length of the tunnel. They are joined by firefighters from across the United States, each holding a poster-size picture of a firefighter who perished on 9/11.
The Siller family has raised more than $1 million and donated the money to charities, that benefit families of those affected by the 9/11 attacks.

This is a tribute to one heartbroken family who opted to channel its energy into triumph out of tragedy.

[04ctd]

The Importance of the Scripture
by Bill Moeny

"When he (the king of Israel) is seated on this royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do the statutes. Then his heart will not be exalted above his countrymen, he will not turn from this command to the right or the left, and he and his sons will continue ruling many years over Israel." Deuteronomy 17.18 - 20

This applies to us as business owners and business leaders called by God to run His companies for Him in the marketplace. Jesus bought us and "our" companies at the Cross (I Corinthians 6.20). He owns the companies, and has hired us to run them for Him. We need to know how He wants each of us to run the company He has assigned to us. We need to know the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2.16) through the Scriptures. We need to know His purposes, His ways, and His will concerning these companies He has called us to run for Him. What does He want us to do with the company? How does He want the company culture to look like and to function?

We represent Christ to the marketplace in leading this company that He has assigned to us. To do a good job in representing Christ, we need to know Him; we need to know His purposes, His ways, and His character. We need to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures. We need to become students of the Text. Reading the Bible daily needs to be an important part of our executive leadership of our lives and company. Without a daily immersion in the Scriptures, the adversary will steer us off course and into a mud pit, and the consequences will be significant.

All of the above also is crucial for our daily lives as individuals.

[04ctd]

Victory in Jesus


"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ." (
1 Corinthians 15:57)

There is victory for every child of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. All we have to do it have a child like faith and patient to wait on the Lord. I love the old song, Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! Now I will tell you that there are times when it looks like youÔÇÖre being defeated, but just HOLD ON, don't throw the towel in just yet, THERE IS VICTORY IN JESUS! What may seem as Jesus is going to be late; He gets there always in time!

Just hold on, our God will show up, and take you through the fire again.

[04ctd]

Trust and Obey
Proverbs 3: 5 - 7 ÔÇ£Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
Every Christian needs to Trust and Obey the Lord with their life.

One of the greatest problems with Christians is that we say we trust the Lord and Obey the Lord, but do we really? Many of our Christian marriages are ending in divorce because as long as couples have sufficient funds to live very High Cost lives everything is good. The problems come into the marriage when couples live HIGHER than their means and when the money runs out or runs low, that is when the trouble begins. Christians need to learn how to be content with what they have, trusting and obeying the Lord's will for our lives, will bring contentment. When Christians start truly trusting and obeying the Lord, it is then that Life at its fullest will begin!

Next, Trusting and obeying the Lord will lead to absolute Joy and Peace in one's life.

Jesus clearly tells all people in John 14: 27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not you heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." There is nowhere else to find Peace except the Lord! Money can't bring it, Houses can bring it, and BIG gains on your stock can't produce it. Only Trusting and Obeying Jesus can move us into a life of Absolute Joy and Peace!

Last, Trusting and obeying Jesus is the only way to be Born Again!
In Romans 10: 17, Paul said "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD!" It is by hearing the instructions of GODÔÇÖS WORD that mankind are saved! The Philippians Jailer cried out to Paul and Silas, "Sirs, What must I do to be saved?" Paul gave the Jailer THE biblical answer to his question, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be SAVED..." Trust and Obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!

[04ctd]

Stoplight Faith

"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith" (Matthew 13:58).

You can learn a lot about people in traffic. For instance, I observe a lot when I see 20 cars in one line and only 3 cars in another. The reason for the longer line is these people want to make sure they get to make their turn after the light. I, on the other hand, want to get through the light first, and then I will worry about making the next turn. This is a difference in risk taking tolerance, or perhaps faith; or even some might argue with me that I'm operating out of presumption versus real faith.

No matter which person you might be in this situation, it is sure that faith is often spelled R.I.S.K. When the priests carried the ark into the Jordan River at flood stage there was a risk they could lose the ark to the Jordan River. However, that is not what happened. "And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap" (Josh 3:13). God changed the entire environment and made it possible to walk across without the pressure of wading through the powerful water only when they took the first step.

Risk means there is a potential for loss. However, when God leads us to take a risk, then He is there whether we succeed or fail. He is there in the success and He is there in the failure. If He leads you to take a risk it may not always succeed in the way you think. In fact, it could even fail.

The only true failure is when we fail to take the risk when God is leading us to do so. Sometimes the fear of failure is the greater obstacle than the risk itself.

Has God called you to step out in an area that requires risk? This could be the place He wants you to move. Ask Jesus to give you the courage to step out

[04ctd]

Old Paths

Jeremiah 6: 16 "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein. "

WOW! Have Christians ever strayed from the Old paths around the world today! Our Homes are different, our Churches are different, and our Nation is different. The reason for the difference is that the Christians have strayed from the Old Paths. Christians have chosen their own paths, their own ways, to the ways of man that we feel more comfortable in.

Husbands and wives, you need to understand that the further away from the Old Paths that you walk, your children will walk yet further away from the Old Paths than you. It will also affect your church; it will be two more votes for your church to drift away to a more liberal state.

Oh, we Christians still look pretty godly when we compare our homes to the worldly places, the bars, or the clubs, but if you compare your home to the Home of the Bible, you will be ashamed at what you have become.

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God’s Preparation for Moving Out


"In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys." - Genesis 30:43

Jacob left his homeland after suffering a broken relationship with Esau for stealing the family blessing. He went to work for his uncle Laban where he stayed for 20 years. It came time for him to leave, but he had no physical assets to show for those years under Laban. Laban had taken advantage of his nephew in every way. (In some ways, Jacob was reaping the seed he had sown his entire life as a manipulator and controller.)

Nevertheless, God's hand was on Jacob, and He had plans to prosper him. However, Jacob had one problem - he had no resources of his own. For Jacob to launch out on his own, he would need resources. In those days, resources often meant large flocks of animals. God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy for creating wealth by multiplying his sheep. Even though Laban sought to thwart Jacob's efforts, God overcame the evil in Laban to allow Jacob to prosper.

There are many important lessons for us in this story. First, when God decides it is time to move you into a larger place of His calling, He has the ability to provide the resources you need to support the call. God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy never used before to build wealth. It was totally from God's hand. It was creative and new. God called Jacob to move out after he had demonstrated his faithfulness in 20 years of serving Laban. He learned to live under authority and served Laban faithfully, even though he knew he was being taken advantage of.

God will do the same for you and me. However, a word of caution: Be sure the strategy is born from above, and not from self-effort. The difficulty for most of us workplace believers is to learn the difference between the strategies born of God versus the strategy of self-effort.

[04ctd]

Horizontal versus Vertical


Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. - Exodus 2:12

Moses saw the pain of his people. He saw the bondage and the injustice. His heart was enraged, and he decided he would do something. He would take matters into his own hands. The result was murder. The motive was right, but the action was wrong. He went horizontal instead of vertical with God. Moses fled to the desert, where God prepared the man who would ultimately be the deliverer of a nation. But it took 40 years of preparation before God determined Moses was ready. He was a professional businessman - a sheepherder. It was during the mundane activity of work that God called on him to be a deliverer.

Moses was like a lot of enthusiastic Christian workplace believers who seek to solve a spiritual problem with a fleshly answer. The greatest danger to the Christian workplace believer is his greatest strength - his business acumen and expertise to get things done. This self-reliance can become our greatest weakness when it comes to moving in the spiritual realm.

We're taught to be problem solvers. But, like Moses, if our enthusiasm and passion are not harnessed by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will fail miserably. Peter had to learn this lesson too. His enthusiasm got him into a lot of trouble. But God was patient, just as He is patient with each of us. Sometimes He must put us in the desert for a time in order to season us so that Christ is allowed to reign supreme in the process.

Before you act, pray and seek the mind of Christ until you know it is God behind the action. Check it out with others. You may save yourself a trip to the desert.

[04ctd]

Perfectionist

"Moses said to the LORD, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue'" (Exodus 4:10).

One of the greatest affronts you can commit against God is to refuse His calling that He has placed upon you. Imagine arguing with your Creator and telling him you know better than Him.

That is exactly what Moses did when God called him to be his spokesperson to Pharaoh. God and Moses got into an "I know best" competition. "The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.'"

God actually relented in the argument. Can you imagine that? But He's not happy about it. "Then the LordÔÇÖs anger burned against Moses and he said, 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?'" God has to use Aaron as Moses' mouthpiece.

Have you ever not pursued something because it had to be perfect? There is a fine line between doing things with excellence and being a perfectionist. Perfectionists become argumentative with God. They refuse to step out in faith and obedience because they care too much about what others think if the results don't turn out perfectly.

I battled these same demons when God led me into a writing ministry. "Lord, I am weak in grammar and you know I'm an introvert." Then He reminded me "...for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When God places His anointing on you He uses whatever level of skill you have to fulfill His purposes in your life. This is why you need not fear moving into an unfamiliar area if He calls you there.

What is God waiting for you to do? It may be time to step out. He specializes in "cliff-catching."

[04ctd]

Forgiving Ourselves


If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

The murderer was condemned to life in prison. Then one day something amazing happened. The guard came and opened the jail cell. "You are free to go. Someone else is taking your place," said the guard. "How can this be? I am still guilty!" said the prisoner. "Your debt has been paid. You are free to leave," said the guard once more. The prisoner decided not to leave. "I cannot allow another to pay my debt," said the prisoner. Because of his pride he chose to remain in bondage.

Imagine the guilt Peter must have felt when he denied the Son of God three times by saying he never knew him. Imagine what he must have felt the moment he reunited with Him after the resurrection.

The hardest person to forgive sometimes is ourselves. It is especially hard for high achievers to forgive themselves. We think we are above such failure. However, the Bible says we all sin and it is impossible to remedy that sin by ourselves.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives?" (1 John 1:8, 10). The question is not whether we will sin; the question is what we will do when we do sin.

There is only one thing for us to do. Go to the cross. Jesus paid for that sin by dying on the cross. Picture yourself writing your sin on a white piece of paper, then pinning it to the cross. Now, leave it there. The cross is for sinners. When Jesus looks at you, He no longer sees your sin. He cannot see the sin because He can only see the cross.

When you come to Jesus with your sin, there is nothing more you can do besides confessing and renouncing your sin. Sometimes it may require restitution with others. However, once you confess your sin and ask forgiveness, it is no longer on the ledger of debts.

Why not choose to walk free. The cell has been opened.

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Special Callings


"Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him." 1 Corinthians 7:17a - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Each of us is called to relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are called by Him, to Him, and for Him. Once we enter that relationship with Christ, we are called into the physical expression of that relationship. This is where our vocations are manifested as a result, not as an end in themselves.

Additionally, there are examples of special callings in the Bible in which individuals have a direct communication from God to do a specific task for Him. Moses, Paul, Peter, and many others had direct communication about what God was calling them to do. Not everyone receives this "special" calling. This is not to say God is not personal with each of us. Some have had extraordinary supernatural encounters with God that led to their calling being specific to a task ordered by God. All of us have been called to follow Christ and live our lives in obedience to Him. Many of us have a sense to go in one direction or another based on our life experiences and giftedness. This, too, is God's calling.

Calling goes beyond our work and includes our relationships to others: our spouse, our children, our neighbors -- and our co-workers. We must remember this in order that our "work calling" does not become elevated at the expense of the other important aspects of our lives. This is the holistic approach to the gospel in which God made all of life equally important.

Therefore, the next time someone says, "I was called into the ministry" or "I am in full-time Christian work," stop him or her and tell him or her we are all in full-time Christian work. There is no secular and religious in the economy of God. I have a dear friend who often says, "I am a servant of the living God masquerading as a dentist." So, too, are you first a servant of the living God.

[04ctd]

Resurrected Faith


"Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son" (Genesis 22:10).

There are times in our lives when God brings a test to see if we are ready to put to death the very thing that God promised we would have. Such was the case in the life of Abraham with Isaac. Isaac was the promised son. Yet, God said to raise the knife to sacrifice him in obedience to God.

When God brings such a test into our lives we usually have a choice. Neither choice is attractive. One choice will often salvage some aspect of the vision. The other choice will totally kill the vision from our perspective. However, that is the faith decision. That is the only decision from God's perspective.

If we choose the faith decision that kills the vision - we will witness the resurrection of the vision supernaturally by God. Our own faith will be launched into a whole new dimension. He will raise us up in order to speak through our lives in that experience. God often brings that person into a very public ministry.

However, if we choose the lesser decision, we will reside in a lesser walk with God. God will accept the decision but there will be consequences to our faith journey. He cannot trust us with a bigger vision because He sees our obedience is moveable based on our perceived consequences.

If we choose the lesser decision then God will often orchestrate other events in our lives that are designed to develop our faith to a level that will allow us to make the right decision the next time.

Do you have resurrection faith that will trust God to raise your situation from the dead

[04ctd]

His Presence


And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not (Malachi 3:18).

"Good morning," I said to the woman behind the counter as she asked if she could take my order. "You're a Christian, aren't you?" "I can see Him in you!" I boldly proclaimed. "Yes, I am," she replied with a beaming smile. I could literally see the presence of God in her countenance in the way she related to me and others.

When Moses led the people out of Egypt he had several crisis moments during those forty years. His greatest crisis was when he came back from the mountain and discovered the people had made a golden calf. It was after this he came to a profound conclusion. "Then Moses said to him, 'If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.' What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15-16).

The difference between a Christian in the workplace and a non-believer should be that the Christian brings the presence of God with him to work. However, this is not always the case. A Christian can shut out the presence of God by his behavior. Like the Israelites who experienced great miracles in their lives but began to worship idols, we can move away from God. Sin separates us from God. His presence moves away from us. Moses realized, he too had to have the presence of God with him to lead such a people.

The prophet Malachi was saying a day is coming when you'll be able to recognize a clear difference between the righteous and the unrighteous. Would your co-workers be able to recognize a difference in you from others? Ask God to fill you with His overflowing presence in all you do today.

[04ctd]

RETARDED SPIRITUAL PROGRESS


I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statues. I will not forget thy word. (Psalm 119:15-16)

Probably the most widespread and persistent problem to be found among Christians is the problem of retarded spiritual progress. Why, after years of Christian profession, do so many persons find themselves no farther along than when they first believed?

The causes of retarded growth are many. It would not be accurate to ascribe the trouble to on single fault. One there is however, which is so universal that it may easily be the main cause; failure to give time to the cultivation of the knowledge of God

The Christian is strong and weak depending upon how closely he has cultivated the knowledge of God

Progress in the Christian life is exactly equal to the growing knowledge we gain of the Triune God in personal experience. And such experience requires a whole life devoted to it and plenty of time spent at the holy task of cultivating God. God can be known satisfactorily only as we devote time to Him.

In a busy life, Lord, itÔÇÖs so easy to neglect the important time we need to cultivate our knowledge of You. I devote myself to furthering my spiritual progress by seeking knowledge of You. Amen