Day Forty: Living with Purpose

What was helpful to you in the reading today?

It's taken more than forty days to work through this book! But the forty days I have spent reading through these chapters have been encouraging and convicting for me. How about for you?

This last chapter hits on some core issues that are very important to me:

Most people struggle with three basic issues in life. The first is identity: "Who am I?" The second is importance: "Do I matter?" The third is impact: "What is my place in life?"

These are questions I cycle through on a frequent basis. It's one of those insecurity things I need to solve. In the weeks I have spent working through this book, I have made progress in answering those three questions. I've been learning to accept myself, I've been seeing more clearly my value to others, and I've become more energized by the difference I have already made, and will continue to make in the world.

A common theme for me lately is "focus". I have to move beyond curiosity and good intention, I have to focus on what is central and vital and not get distracted by lesser opportunities. In gaining clarity about myself and God's purposes, I must do it.

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." Once you know what God wants you to do, the blessing comes in actually doing it. As we come to the end of our forty-day journey together, now that you know God's purposes for your life, you will be blessed if you do them! 

This probably means you will have to stop doing some other things. There are many "good" things you can do with your life, but God's purposes are the five essentials you must do. Unfortunately, it's easy to get distracted and forget what is most important. To prevent this, you should develop a purpose statement for your life and then review it regularly. 

Here are some ideas on what is a "Life Purpose Statement", why you should develop one, and how it would help you stay on course:

It's a statement that summarizes God's purposes for your life.

It's a statement that points the direction of your life.

It's a statement that defines "success" for you.

It's a statement that clarifies your roles.

It's a statement that expresses your shape.

I really, really, really liked these questions - very helpful to me "catching" what the five purposes are all about and how they play out in my life:

What will be the center of my life?
This is the question of worship. When you committed your life to Christ, he moved into the center, but you must keep him there through worship. How do you know when God's at the center of your life? When God's at the center of your worship. When he's not, you worry. Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sideline.


What will be the character of my life? 
This is the question of discipleship. What kind of person will you be? God is far more interested in what you are than what you do. Make a list of the character qualities (like the Fruit of the Spirit) you want to work on and develop in your life.


What will be the contribution of my life? 
This is the question of service. What will be your ministry in the Body of Christ? Knowing your combination of spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences, what would be your best role in the family of God? How can you make a difference?


What will be the communication of my life?
This is the question of your mission to unbelievers. Your mission statement... should include your commitment to share your testimony and the Good News with others. You should also list the life lessons and godly passions you feel God has given you to share with the world. As you grow in Christ, God may give you a special target of people to focus on reaching.

If you are a parent, part of your mission is to raise your children to know Christ, to help them understand his purposes for their lives, and to send them out on their mission in the world. Of course, our lives must support and validate the message we communicate.


What will be the community of my life?
This is the question of fellowship. How will you demonstrate your commitment to other believers and connection to the family of God? To which church family will you be joined as a functioning member? The more you mature, the more you will love the Body of Christ and want to sacrifice for it.

There are few books that I can recommend that are better than this one in providing a gracious, focused, well-thought-out, helpful outline of how to grow as a vibrant, God-centered, neighbor-loving Christian. I've read through this book several times since my Dad gave it to me a few days after the 2004 New Year's Day. I know that I will work through it again and again in the decades to come. And I will continue to highly recommend it.

Live on Purpose. Live for God. Live out Love. Everyday.

Day Thirty Nine: Balancing Your Life

What was helpful to you in the reading today?

This was a good summary of the book, of how the five purposes are action plans of the Great Commandment and Great Commission of Jesus:

1. "Love God with all your heart": You were planned for God's pleasure, so your purpose is to love God through worship.

2. "Love your neighbor as yourself": You were shaped for serving, so your purpose is to show love for others through ministry.

3. "Go and make disciples": You were made for a mission, so your purpose is to share God's message through evangelism.

4. "baptize them into...": You were formed for God's family, so your purpose is to identify with the church through fellowship.

5. "teach them to do all things...": You were created to become like Christ, so your purpose is to grow to maturity through discipleship.

A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will make you a great Christian. Keeping these five purposes in balance is not easy. We all tend to overemphasize the purposes we feel most passionate about and neglect the others. Churches do the same thing.

The point of this chapter was to help the readers make an action-plan for putting these purposes into practice on a daily basis. There are four suggestions: join a small group for accountability, regularly evaluate your spiritual health, record your progress in a personal journal, pass on what you learn from others.

We learn best in community. Our minds are sharpened and our convictions are deepened through conversation. A small reading group provides many benefits that a book by itself cannot. You can give and receive feedback about what you're learning. You can discuss real-life examples. You can pray for, encourage, and support each other as you begin to live out these purposes. Remember, we are meant to grow together, not separately.

God places a high value on the habit of self-evaluation. For your spiritual health you need to regularly check the five vital signs of worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry, and mission.

Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life. "Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips." Don't write down just the pleasant things. As David did, record your doubts, fears, and struggles with God. Our greatest lessons come out of pain, and the Bible says God keeps a record of our tears.

Whenever problems occur, remember that God uses them to fulfill all five purposes in your life: Problems force us to focus on God, draw you closer to others in fellowship, build Christlike character, provide you with a ministry, and give you a testimony. You owe it to future generations to preserve the testimony of how God helped you fulfill his purposes on earth.

If you want to keep growing, the best way to learn more is to pass on what you have already learned. Those who pass along insights get more from God. God is calling you to be his messenger. The more you know, the more God expects you to use that knowledge to help others. Knowledge increases responsibility.

The reason we pass on what we learn is for the glory of God and the growth of his kingdom. God wants us to introduce people to Christ, bring them into his fellowship, help them grow to maturity and discover their place of service, and then send them out to reach others, too.

It takes hard work, perseverance, focus, and delight in the rewards to make and sustain change. And it doesn't have to be all guesswork. Our five purposes dovetail with one another, giving helpful guidelines for the direction God wants us to take, the goals he wants us to accomplish with him.

As you pursue these purposes in your home, at work, at school, at church, you will initiate a good change within yourself and those around you. The same trust and obedience you had in God to start the change is the same trust and obedience that will sustain the change. The Spirit that prompts you will not mislead you. Go with confidence. Go in humility. Go in love.

Day Thirty Eight: Becoming a World-Class Christian

What was interesting or thought-provoking to you from the reading today?

Some estimate that there are over 2 billion Christians in the world today! It's the fastest growing religion in some parts of South America, Africa, and Asia. As the world's largest religion in a world of over 6 billion people, Christians can have enormous influence for good.

Even with so many people adhering to the Christian faith, there are still more than 4 billion people that haven't made a decision for Christ or haven't heard the Good News (or heard a version that made sense, delivered with authenticity, perceived with credibility...).

This is where you come in: we always want to think local when we think of mission, of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. When we serve and care for others in our community, we are living out the Great Commission. But we also want to always think global in our evangelism as well.

We ought to be considering where in the world we can serve and be Good News to communities with none or small Christian communities. When we show up somewhere in the world with Good News and supplies for a fresh-water well, mosquito nets, farming equipment, or medicine, we earn the opportunity to share about Jesus.

Have you ever been on a short-term or long-term mission trip? If so, how did it go? What was it like? Why did you go? What was the outcomes of it? If you have not gone yet, why not? When will you go? What is stopping you? What excites you about going?

It's been too long since Anchor has sponsored some short-term mission trips. It's time we started planning some to happen soon.


Here are some thoughts from the reading today that I though were helpful:

The Great Commission is your commission.
"Jesus said to his followers, 'Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone." Mark 16:15 (NCV)

Worldly Christians look to God primarily for personal fulfillment. They are saved, but self-centered. Their prayers focus on their own needs, blessings, and happiness. It's a "me-first" faith: How can God make my life more comfortable? They want to use God for their purposes instead of being sued for his purposes.

In contrast, world-class Christians know they were saved to serve and made for a mission. They are eager to receive a personal assignment and excited about the privilege of being used by God. World-class Christians are the only fully alive people on the planet. Their joy, confidence, and enthusiasm are contagious because they know they're making a difference. They wake up each morning expecting God to work through them in fresh ways.

It has never been easier in history to fulfill your commission to go to the whole world. The great barriers are not longer distance, cost, or transportation. The only barrier is the way we think. To be a world-class Christian you must make some mental shifts. Your perspective and attitudes must change.

Shift from self-centered thinking to other-centered thinking.
The Bible says, "My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people." Of course this is a difficult mental shift because we're naturally self-absorbed and almost all advertising encourages us to think of ourselves. The only way we can make this switch is by a moment-by-moment dependence on God.

Fortunately he doesn't leave us to struggle on our own. "God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think." Begin asking the Holy Spirit to help you to think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them.  Your goal is to figure out where others are in their spiritual journey and then do whatever will bring the a step closer to knowing Christ.

Shift from local thinking to global thinking.
God is a global God. He has always cared about the entire world. "God so loved the world...".  Much of the world already thinks globally. We are more connected than we realize. Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world. People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they are defenseless against our prayers. Prayer makes you a partner with others around the world.

Another way to develop global thinking is to read and watch the news with "Great Commission eyes." Wherever there is change or conflict, you can be sure that God will use it to bring people to him. People are most receptive to God when they are under tension or in transition. Because the rate of change is increasing in our world, more people are open to hearing the Good News now than ever before.

The best way to switch to global thinking is to just get up and go on a short-term mission project to another country!

Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking.
To make the most of your time on earth, you must maintain an eternal perspective. This will keep you from majoring on the minor issues and help you distinguish between what's urgent and what's ultimate. Paul said, "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission? What's keeping you from being a world-class Christian?

Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission.
If you are willing, there is always a way to do it, and there are agencies that will help you. Many Christians have missed God's plan for their lives because they have never even asked God if he wanted them to serve as a missionary somewhere. If you are tempted to say no, you ought to check out all the different ways and possibilities that are now available (this will surprise), and you ought to seriously pray and ask God what he wants from you in the years ahead.

If you want to be like Jesus, you must have a heart for the whole world. The Great Commission is your commission, and doing your part is the secret to living a life of significance.

Day Thirty Seven: Sharing Your Life Message

What was encouraging or convicting to you in the reading today?

For such a difficult subject, I think this chapter was brilliantly written. Most Christians I know are very uncomfortable with talking about their faith, and many are even petrified of praying with a friend to become a Christian. It's a weird scenario, when you think about it. What's the big deal talking with others about why you are a Christian and how they can become one?

As I've thought about the issue, a lot of it comes down to assumptions: publicly there is plenty of hostility towards Christians, so we assume that others we know are hostile as well. There is also a public frown against proselytizing: you believe what you want to believe, I'll believe what I want to believe, who are you to imply that your way is better than mine? This kind of attitude compels an assumption of social awkwardness when it comes to talking about personal faith. Also, what if when you start talking about your faith, others ask questions you can't answer, so you end up looking stupid?

It's possible that all three of those scenario's could get played out when you talk about your faith. Or not. Regardless, here are some thoughtful ideas from the chapter that I liked:

God has given you a Life Message to share. When you became a believer, you also became God's messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. Paul said, "We speak the truth before God, as messengers of God."

Your Life Message has four parts to it:
* Your testimony: the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus
* Your life lessons: the most important lessons God has taught you
* Your godly passions: the issues God shaped you to care about most
* The Good News: the message of salvation

Your testimony is the story of how Christ has made a difference in your life. Peter tells us that we were chosen by God "to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you." This is the essence of witnessing - simply sharing your personal experiences regarding the Lord. In a courtroom, a witness isn't expected to argue the case, prove the truth, or press for a verdict; that is the job of attorneys. Witnesses simply report what happened to them or what they saw.

You may not be a Bible scholar, but you are the authority on your life, and it's hard to argue with personal experience. Personal stories are also easier to relate to than principles, and people love to hear them. Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to theirs. Many people who won't accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal story.

The second part of your life message is the truths God has taught you from experiences with him. These are lessons and insights you have learned about God, relationships, problems, temptations, and other aspects of life. While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experience of others. There isn't enough time to learn everything in life by trial and error. Imagine how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other's life lessons. Mature people develop the habit of extracting lessons from everyday experiences.

As you grow closer to God, he will give you a passion for something he cares about deeply so you can be a spokesman for him in the world. It may be a passion about a problem, a purpose, a principle, or a group of people. Whatever it is, you will feel compelled to speak up about it and do what you can to make a difference. You cannot keep yourself from talking about what you care about most.

God gives some people a godly passion to champion a cause. It's often a problem they personally experienced such as abuse, addiction, infertility, depression, a disease, or some other difficulty. Sometimes God gives people a passion to speak up for a group of others who can't speak for themselves: the unborn, the persecuted, the poor, the imprisoned, the mistreated, the disadvantaged, and those how are denied justice. The Bible is filled with commands to defend the defenseless.

God uses passionate people to further his kingdom. He may give you a godly passion for starting new churches, strengthening families, funding Bible translations, or training Christian leaders. You may be given a godly passion for reaching a particular group of people with the gospel: businessmen, teenagers, foreign exchange students, young mothers, or those with a particular hobby or sport. If you ask God, he will burden your heart for a specific country or ethnic group that desperately needs a strong Christian witness.  God gives us different passions so that everything he wants done in the world will get done.

What is the Good News? "The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself - that it begins and ends with faith." "For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others." Most important, you must learn to love people the way God does. God has never made a person he didn't love. Everybody matters to him. We must care about unbelievers because God does. If you've been afraid to share the Good News with those around you, ask God to fill your heart with his love for them.

The Bible says, "[God] does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives."Don't miss the opportunities God is giving you.

Day Thirty Six: Made for a Mission

What was insightful or convicting to you in the reading today?

You were made for a mission. God is at work in the world, and he wants you to join him.

This is such an important idea. It is God's world, and it is his work - and he wants to work through us to accomplish his mission. This brings relief - we are not ultimately responsible for how it turns out. But it also brings energy - God is the one with the power and strategy for moving his work forward.

The mission Jesus had while on Earth is now our mission because we are the Body of Christ. What he did in his physical body we are to do as his spiritual body, the church. What is that mission? Introducing people to God! The Bible says, "Christ changed us from enemies into friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also."

As we get to know Jesus, his life, his teachings, his patterns, way of life, we become more informed and more inspired to follow in his steps. His mission is our mission, we are not left to guess what kind of work God wants to do through us. Just as Jesus helped connect people to God, so we help others know God. Not through "hit and run" conversations or events, but through the life we build with others, and through the opportunities God gives us in everyday life.

In the Great Commission Jesus said, "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you." This commission was given to every follower of Jesus, not to pastors and missionaries alone. This is your commission from Jesus, and it is not optional.

God wants you to share the Good News where you are. As a student, mother, preschool teacher, salesman, or manager or whatever you do, you should continually look for people God places in your path with you you can share the gospel.

Paul said, "My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love." There are people on this planet whom only you will be able to reach, because of where you live and what God has made you to be.

To fulfill your mission will require that you abandon your agenda and accept God's agenda for your life. You can't just "tack it on" to all the other things you'd like to do with your life. You must say, like Jesus, "Father, ... I want your will, not mine." You yield your rights, expectations, dreams, plans, and ambitions to him. You stop praying selfish prayers like "God bless what I want to do." Instead you pray, "God help me to do what you are blessing!"

You hand God a blank sheet with your name signed at the bottom and tell him to fill in the details. The Bible says, "Give yourselves completely to God - every part of you ... to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes." If you will commit to fulfilling your mission in life no matter what it costs you, you will experience the blessing of God in ways that few people ever experience.

Day Thirty Five: God's Power in Your Weakness

What was encouraging or insightful to you from the reading today?

This is a chapter that a lot of us need to read and reread in the months to come. Where we are weak in our lives, that is a great place to begin trusting God. Since we often feel powerless to improve our weakness, letting God bring good out of it is a wonderful miracle. What's been your attitude towards God and your weaknesses? One of frustration? Of indifference? Or anticipation?

Here's some of the quotes I liked, ideas that were helpful to me:

God loves to use weak people.

Everyone has weaknesses. The more important issue is what you do with these. Usually we deny our weakness, defend them, excuse them, hide them and resent them. This prevents God from using them the way he desires.  We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weakness for his glory.

The Bible is filled with examples of how God loves to use imperfect, ordinary people to do extraordinary things in spite of their weaknesses. If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done, because none of us is flawless. That God uses imperfect people is encouraging news for all of us.

When you think of the limitations in your life, you may be tempted to conclude, "God could never use me." But God is never limited by our limitations. In fact, he enjoys putting his great power into ordinary containers. The Bible says, "We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us."

When it comes to letting God further his work in the world through our weaknesses, there are some key actions we need to take, some things we need to let happen:

Admit your weaknesses.
Own up to your own imperfections. Stop pretending to have it all together, and be honest about yourself. Instead of living in denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses.

Be content with your weaknesses.
Paul said, "I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses."...contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God.

Paul gives us several reasons to be content with our inborn weaknesses. First, they cause us to depend on God. Whenever you feel weak, God is reminding you to depend on him. Our weaknesses also prevent arrogance. They keep us humble. God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check. A limitation can...keep us from going to fast and running ahead of God.

Our weaknesses also encourages fellowship between believers. While strength breeds an independent spirit, our limitations show how much we need each other.  Most of all, our weaknesses increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry. We are far more likely to be compassionate and considerate of the weakness of others.

God wants you to have a Christlike ministry on earth. That means other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts. The things you're most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share are the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.

Honestly share your weaknesses.
Ministry begins with vulnerability. The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others. Vulnerability is emotionally liberating. Opening up relieves stress, defuses your fears, and is the first step to freedom. Vulnerability is an endearing quality; we are naturally drawn to humble people. Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy.

This is why God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths. If all people see are your strengths, they get discouraged and think, "Well, good for her, but I'l never be able to do that." But when they see God using you in spite of your weaknesses, it encourages them to think, "Maybe God can use me!" Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community.

At some point in your life you must decide whether you want to impress people or influence people. You can impress people from a distance, but you must get close to influence them, and when you do that, they will be able to see your flaws. That's okay. The most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility.

People must be able to trust you, or they won't follow you. How do you build credibility? Not by pretending to be perfect, but by being honest.

Day Thirty Four: Thinking Like a Servant

What did you read today that was helpful to you?

The attitude we choose to have makes all the difference. We either make the choice based on how we feel, or we make the choice based on what we think. Actually, it's usually a mixture, but one or the other predominates. There is nothing wrong with feelings, they are very important.

For many of us, we make choices based on how we feel because we give so much authority and credibility to our feelings. Following our feelings will lead us to a very selfish attitude. But when we choose a good attitude of service, no matter how we feel, we'll be doing the right thing, and our feelings will probably change in accordance!

I write this as an important reminder to myself. Maybe you needed the reminder as well. Here are some other thoughts that I needed to read again.

Service starts in your mind.

Servants think more about others than about themselves.
This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. Unfortunately, a lot of service is self-serving. We serve to get others to like us, to be admired, or to achieve our own goals. That is manipulation, not ministry. The whole time we're really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are.

Thinking like a servant is difficult because it challenges the basic problem of my life: I am, by nature, selfish. I think most about me. That's why humility is a daily struggle, a lesson I must relearn over and over. The opportunity to be a servant confronts me dozens of times a day, in which I'm given the choice to decide between meeting my needs or the needs of others.

Servants think like stewards, not owners.
Servants remember that God owns it all. Servanthood and stewardship go together, since God expects us to be trustworthy in both.

To become a real servant you are going to have to settle the issue of money in your life. Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters.... You cannot serve both God and Money." Money has the greatest potential to replace God in your life. When Jesus is your Master, money serves you, but if money is your master, you become its slave. Servants of God are always more concerned about ministry than money. How you manage your money affects how much God can bless your life.

Servants think about their work, now what others are doing.
They don't compare, criticize, or compete with other servants or ministries. They're too busy doing the work God has given them. Paul said, "We will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."

If you serve like Jesus, you can expect to be criticized. The world, and even much of the church, does not understand what God values. Your service for Christ is never wasted regardless of what others say.

Servants base their identity in Christ.
Because they remember they are loved and accepted by grace, servants don't have to prove their worth. They willingly accept jobs that insecure would consider "beneath" them. If you are going to be a servant, you must settle your identity in Christ. Only secure people can serve. 

Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others. They fear exposure of their weaknesses and hide beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions. The more insecure you are, the more you will want people to serve you, and the more you will need their approval.

When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows you to really serve them best. The closer you get to Jesus, the less you need to promote yourself.

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.
They enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry. They "serve the LORD with gladness." Why do they serve with gladness? Because they love the Lord, they're grateful for his grace, they know serving is the highest use of life, and they know God has promised a reward.

Albert Schweitzer said, "The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve."

Day Thirty Three: How Real Servants Act

What was encouraging or convicting to you in the reading today?

In our quests to be happy, to be liked, to be noticed, to be loved and respected, we can too often miss a more important opportunity: being a servant.  We often know what we want from God or what we want from others, but how often do we want to be one who serves? We get irritated when others don't serve us, or when the service is sloppy or sporadic - but what about your service to others?

This chapter requires humility - if you want to get something good out of it. When it comes to meaning in life, strengthening your home, improving work conditions, doing better at school, and getting more out of church, having the heart of a servant will go a long, long way.

Here's some thoughts from the chapter that I really liked:

We serve God by serving others.

Jesus...measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant's heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain.

God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways that we're not shaped. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.

This list was really helpful to me, and maybe it will be for you. We don't have to guess if we are a servant or not, we can know, and we can get better at it. Which of these six ideas is an area of strength for you, and which one is an area of struggle?

How can you know if you have the heart of a servant? Jesus said, "You can tell what they are by what they do."

* Real servants make themselves available to serve.
If you only serve when it is convenient for you, you're not a real servant. If you will remind yourself at the start of every day that you are God's servant, interruptions won't frustrate you as much, because your agenda will be whatever God wants to bring into your life. Servants see interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.

* Real servants pay attention to needs.
Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great opportunities to serve never last long.

* Real servants do their best with what they have.
Servants don't make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. The Bible says, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are.

* Real servants do every task with equal dedication.
Whatever they do, servants "do it with all their heart." The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it need to be done? You will never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane. The Bible says, "If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody."

Small tasks often show a big heart. No task is beneath you when you have a servant's heart. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things. Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do. But before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.

* Real servants are faithful to their ministry.
Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. They don't leave a job half-done, and they don't quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.

* Real servants maintain a low profile.
Servant's don't promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they "put on the apron of humility, to serve one another." Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities.

You may be serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated. Listen: God put you where you are for a purpose. You had better stay put until he chooses to move you. He will let you know if he wants you somewhere else. Your ministry matters to the kingdom of God. "When Christ... shows up again on this earth, you'll show up too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity."

Day Thirty Two: Using What God Gave You

What was insightful or convicting to you in the reading today?

This is a great quote:

What you are is God's gift to you;
what you do with yourself is your gift to God.
~ Danish Proverb

At times it can be difficult accepting who you are. And it is usually always difficult becoming better at what you do. Which is why this chapter was so encouraging to me, and maybe to you too.

God deserves your best. He doesn't want you to worry about or covet abilities you don't have. When you attempt to serve Go in ways you're not shaped to serve, it feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole. It's frustrating and produces limited results. It also wastes your time, your talent, and your energy.

The Bible says, "Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to." Take a long, honest look at what you are good at and what you're not good at. Paul advised, "Try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities." Ask questions like these: Where have I seen fruit in my life that other people confirmed? Where have I already been successful?  The best way to discover your gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service.

You will never know what you are good at until you try. Paul advised (again!), "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that." Again, it helps to get feedback from those who know you best. Ask yourself these questions:
What do I really enjoy doing most?
What do I feel the most fully alive?
What am I doing when I lose track of time?
Do I like routine or variety?
Do I prefer serving with a team or by myself?
Am I more introverted or extroverted?
Am I more a thinker or a feeler?
Which do I enjoy more - competing or cooperating?

Review your life and think about how it has shaped you. Moses told the Israelites, "Remember today what you have learned about the LORD through your experiences with him." Forgotten experiences are worthless; that's a good reason to keep a spiritual journal. We rarely see God's good purpose in pain or failure or embarrassment while it is happening. Only in hindsight do we understand how God intended a problem for good.

In case we have missed one of the main points of this reading today:)

Since God knows what's best for you, you should gratefully accept the way he has fashioned you. Part of accepting your shape is recognizing your limitations. Nobody is good at everything, and no one is called to be everything. When we try to overextend our ministry reach beyond what God shaped us for, we experience stress.

God wants you to enjoy using the shape he has given you. The Bible says, "Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Satan will try to steal the joy of service from you in a couple of ways: by tempting you to compare your ministry with others, and by tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others. Whenever you lose your joy in ministry, start by considering if either one of these temptations is the cause.

I need to read and reread this:

The Bible warns us never to compare ourselves with others: "Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others." There are two reasons why you should never compare your shape, ministry, or the results of your ministry with anyone else. First, you will always be able to find someone who seems  to be doing a better job than you and you will become discouraged. Or you will always be able to find someone who doesn't seem as effective as you and you will get full of pride.

Avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations, and seek only God's commendation.

Jesus' parable of the talents illustrates that God expects us to make the most of what he gives us. We are to cultivate our gifts and abilities, keep our hearts aflame, grow our character and personality, and broaden our experiences so we will be increasingly more effective in our service.

Whatever gifts you have been given can be enlarged and developed through practice. For instance, no one gets the gift of teaching fully developed. But with study, feedback, and practice, a "good" teacher can become a better teacher, and with time, grow to be a master teacher. Don't settle for a half-developed gift. Stretch yourself and learn all you can. "Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of."

Day Thirty One: Understanding Your Shape

What did you find encouraging in the reading today?

Too many of us underestimate the need others have for us to be us - to live out of our abilities, personality, and experiences. We struggle to accept ourselves as we are, and we have a hard time accepting others as they are.

It's very encouraging to remember that God can use us - our abilities, personality, and experiences to accomplish much good in the world, if we are willing. We beat ourselves up for not being more capable, or having a more winsome personality, or more diverse experiences. We are who we are, and that is enough.

Living in a celebrity age, we compare ourselves to others more famous than us, those that have gotten more recognition than us. We pay too much attention to others with more celebrated abilities, more famous personality, more popular experiences.

We ought to pay more attention to what God is seeking to do in us and through our abilities, personality, and experiences. As we get to know ourself, we become better aware of what we are good at, what we enjoy, and what local difference we could make for good and God. That is a very satisfying direction to head in.

Here's some helpful stuff from the readings today on abilities, personality, and experience:

If you don't make your unique contribution to the Body of Christ, it won't be made. You are a bundle of incredible abilities, an amazing creation of God. Part of the church's responsibility is to identify and release your abilities for serving God. Every ability can be used for God's glory.

You are the only person on earth who can use your abilities. No one else can play your role, because they don't have the unique shape that God has given you. The Bible says that God equips you "with all you need for doing his will."

To discover God's will for your life, you should seriously examine what you are good at doing and what you're not good at. God doesn't waste your abilities; he matches our calling and our capabilities. Peter said, "God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings."

It is obvious that God loves variety - just look around! He created each of us with a unique combination of personality traits. The Bible says, "God works through different people in different ways but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all."

The Bible gives us proof that God uses all types of personalities. There is no right or wrong temperament for ministry. We need all kinds of personalities to balance the church and give it flavor. Your personality will affect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities.

It feels good to do what God made you to do. When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, and fruitfulness.

You have been shaped by your experiences in life, most of which were beyond your control.

God uses... painful experiences... the most to prepare you for ministry. God never wastes a hurt! In fact, your greatest ministry will likely come out of your greatest hurt. The Bible says, "He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

If you really desire to be used by God, you must understand a powerful truth: The very experiences that you have resented or regretted most in life - the ones you've wanted to hide and forget - are the experiences God wants to use to help others.

People are always more encouraged when we share how God's grace helped us in our weakness than when we brag about our strengths.

Using your shape is the secret of both fruitfulness and fulfillment in ministry. You will be more effective when you use your spiritual gifts and abilities in the area of your heart's desire, and in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences. The better the fit, the more successful you will be.

What is keeping you from letting God use your uniqueness to help others? Do you need to find a new job? Start a new hobby? Stop beating yourself up for not being somebody else? Allow yourself to enjoy being yourself?

Day Thirty: Shaped for Serving God

What has helpful to you in the reading today?

It is encouraging to know that God gives us particular gifts and a special heart when it comes to serving him. God wants us to serve him, but he has some unique ways for us to make a difference in the world in his Name - through the special way he has crafted us. Sometimes we wonder our differences are what will make us weird - but God says that it is what makes us unique and positioned to change the world for good.

A bunch of years ago I went through a period of self-loathing. I despised myself, my talents, my personality, my weight, my interests, etc. It was a miserable time for me. I wanted to be somebody else. I was convinced that being me was not enough, that if I wanted to make a REAL difference in the world, I'd have to be transformed into a different kind of person. This chapter was instrumental to me in calming down, in accepting myself, and trusting that God could use even me to make a difference in the world for good.

Here's some of the stuff that was helpful to me, maybe it will be helpful to you:

The Bible says, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." Our English word poem comes form the Greek word translated "workmanship." You are God's handcrafted work of art. You are not an assembly-line product, mass produced without thought. You are a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece.

This is a really important truth:

God never wastes anything. He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory. By identifying and understanding these factors you can discover God's will for your life. The Bible says you are "wonderfully complex." You are a combination of many different factors.

A helpful tool for thinking through the ways you serve...

Whenever God gives you an assignment, he always equips us with what we need to accomplish it. This custom combination of capabilities is called your SHAPE:
Spiritual Gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experience

When it comes to your Spiritual Gifts...

God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in ministry. These are special God-empowered abilities for serving him that are given only to believers. The Bible says, "Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit."

Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit. The Bible says, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church."

When it comes to your Heart...

The Bible uses the term heart to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have. Your heart represents the source of all your motivations - what you love to do and what you care about most.

The Bible says, "As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person." Your heart reveals the real you - what you truly are, now what others think you are or what circumstances force you to be. Your heart determines why you say the things you do, why you feel the way you do, and why you act the way you do.

Another word for heart is passion. There are certain subjects you feel passionate about and others you couldn't care less about. Some experiences turn you on and capture your attention while others turn you off or bore you to tears. These reveal the nature of your heart.

Don't ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God's glory. There is a reason that you love to do these things. Repeatedly the Bible says to "serve the Lord with all your heart." God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully.

People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others. Listening for inner promptings can point to the ministry God intends for you to have.

How do you know when you are serving God from your heart? The first telltale sign is enthusiasm. When you are doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you or challenge you or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment. The opposite is also true: When you don't have a heart for what you are doing, you are easily discouraged.

The second characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness. Whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it. Passion drives perfection. If you don't care about a task, it is unlikely that you will excel at it. In contrast, the highest achievers in any field are those who do it because of passion, not duty or profit.

This is excellent wisdom:

Figure out what you love to do - and what God gave you a heart to do - and then do it for his glory.

Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Have you ever listed out what you have a passion for? Do it!

Day Twenty Nine: Accepting Your Assignment

What was interesting or inspiring to you in the reading today?

This was probably one of my favorite chapters. I needed the affirmation when it comes to serving. Ever since my brothers died, I've had an ever-increasing compulsion to make a difference with my life. Sometimes the compulsion is overwhelming and ends up causing some form of depression. Am I making enough of a difference?  So it was important for me to read this chapter and get some solid reminders about God's perspective on serving.

Here's some of the quotes I liked:

You were put on earth to make a contribution.
You weren't created just to consume resources - to eat, breathe, and take up space.
God designed you to make a difference with your life.
You were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it.
God wants you to give something back.

The Bible says, "God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do." Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes.

The Bible says, "It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan." You're not saved by service, but you are saved for service.

"God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." We don't serve God out of guilt or fear or even duty, but out of joy, and deep gratitude for what he's done for us. A saved heart is one that wants to serve.

In the Bible, the words servant and minister are synonyms, as are service and ministry. If you are a Christian, you are a minister, and when you're serving, you're ministering.
We are healed to help others.
We are blessed to be a blessing.
We are saved to serve, not sit around and wait for heaven.

Have you ever wondered why God doesn't just immediately take us to heaven the moment we accept his grace? Why does he leave us here to fulfill his purposes? Once you are saved, God intends to use you for his goals.

Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service. A "non-serving Christian" is a contradiction in terms.

Anytime you use your God-given abilities to help others, you are fulfilling your calling. The Bible says, "Now you belong to him... in order that we might be useful in the service of God."

In some churches in China, they welcome new believers by saying "Jesus now has a new pair of eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, and a new heart to love others with." Today thousands of local churches are dying because of Christians who are unwilling to serve. They sit on the sidelines as spectators, and the body suffers.

For Christians, service is not optional, something to be tacked onto our schedules if we can spare the time. It is the heart of the Christian life. Jesus came "to serve" and "to give" - and those two verbs should define your life on earth, too.

Maturity is for ministry! We grow up in order to give out. It is not enough to keep learning more and more. We must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe.

The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, "Who's going to meet my needs?" and starts asking, "Whose needs can I meet?" Do you ever ask that question?

You are going to give your life for something. Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives.

God wants to use you to make a difference in the world. He wants to work through you.

For some of us, there is a bit of confusion about serving: is it something I do at the church facility, does it mean to be part of some ministry program? Service and ministry is a way of life that permeates everything everyday. Your attitude of service shapes what you do and say at home and at work and at school and at church and in the grocery store and the gym and the restaurant.

Do you have the attitude to serve? Or are you more focused on getting served? What are you good at that could be a gift to others, that could be helpful to others? And have fun doing?

Day Twenty Eight: It Takes Time

What did you find interesting or encouraging or convicting in the reading today?
This was a really appropriate chapter for me. It ties in closely with the sermonseries we just started yesterday. It also hits home personally for me - I'm always in a rush to grow up, mature, get it right. So as I spend time encouraging others to be patient and trust God and let Him work things out - I ought to take my own advice.

This is such a great thought: I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. Philippians 1:6

This is so true:

There are no shortcuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time. While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow.

Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ. The Bible says, "We arrive at real maturity - that measure of development which is meant by 'the fulness of Christ.'" Christlikeness is your eventual destination, but your journey will last a lifetime.

We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar, or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation, and release us from all growing pains. But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual. The Bible says, "Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become more like him."

I found these observations to be very helpful - perspectives on why it takes so long to grow up, and what I can do to nurture that growth. They are mostly practices that I already know about, many I've done in the past - but they are good reminders to me - and convicting.

We are slow learners. We often have to relearn a lesson forty or fifty times to really get it. The problems keep recurring, and we think, "Not again! I've already learned that!" - but God knows better.

We have a lot to unlearn. There is no pill, prayer, or principle that will instantly undo the damage of many years. It requires the hard work of removal and replacement. The Bible calls it "taking off the old self" and "putting on the new self." While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.

We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves. The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Only as God is allowed to shine the light of his truth on our faults, failures and hang-ups can we being to work on them. This is why you cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude. 

There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. Every change involves a loss of some kind: You must let go of old ways in order to experience the new.

Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: you must practice them - and that takes time! There are no instant habits. Paul urged Timothy, "Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress." Repetition is the mother of character and skill.

This is so vital to sustaining hope and trust:

Believe God is working in your life even when you don't feel it. Spiritual growth is sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement. The Bible says, "Everything on earth has its own time and its own season." There are seasons in your spiritual life, too. It's fine to pray for a miracle, but don't be disappointed if the answer comes through a gradual change.

I've done this since college in one form or another - not every day, but every year - and it's been very helpful:

Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned. Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches you about him, about yourself, about life, relationships, and everything else. Record these so you can review and remember them and pass them on to the next generation. The reason we must relearn lessons is that we forget them. The Bible says, "It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off."

What does it mean to love God? I'm suggesting that this task is the first act of love:

Be patient with God and with yourself. One of life's frustrations is that God's timetable is rarely the same as ours. We are often in a hurry when God isn't. You may feel frustrated with the seemingly slow progress you're making in life. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time.

Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process. James advised, "Don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed."

No is immune to getting discouraged towards God and yourself.

When Habakkuk became depressed because he didn't think God was acting quickly enough, God had this to say: "These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!"
A delay is not a denial from God.

Remember how far you have come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be.

How about you? 
In what areas do you need to be more patient with God?
In what areas of your life do you need to be more persevering?

Day Twenty Seven: Defeating Temptation

What was helpful in the reading today?


This is such good news:

There is always a way out.

You may sometimes feel that a temptation is too overpowering for you to bear, but that's a lie from Satan. God has promised never to allow more on you than he puts within you to handle it. He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome.

These four actions to overcoming temptation are key!

Refocus your attention on something else.
Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group.
Resist the Devil.
Realize your vulnerability.

Lots of good wisdom in this chapter.

The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes you. You strengthen it every time you think about it. Since temptation always begins with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to something else. Don't fight the thought, just change the channel of your mind and get interested in another idea.

The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you. Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt.

Let me be clear: if you're losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you're stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention-failure-guilt, you will not get better on your own! You need the help of other people.

Do you really want to be healed of that persistent temptation that keeps defeating you over and over? God's solution is plain: Don't repress it; confess it! Don't conceal it; reveal it! Revealing our feeling is the beginning of healing.

Hiding your hurts only intensifies it. Problems grow in the dark and become bigger and bigger, but when exposed to the light of truth, they shrink. You are only as sick as your secrets.

The reason we hide our faults is pride. We want others to think we have everything "under control." The truth is, whatever you can't talk about is already out of control in your life: problems with your finances, marriage, kids, thoughts, sexuality, secret habits, or anything else. If you could handle it on your own, you would have already done so. But you can't. Willpower and personal resolutions aren't enough.

How can we resist the Devil?
The first step is to accept God's salvation. You won't be able to say no to the Devil unless you've said yes to Christ. Without Christ we are defenseless against the Devil, but with "the helmet of salvation" our minds are protected by God. Remember this: if you are a believer, Satan cannot force you to do anything. He can only suggest.
Second, you must use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan. Jesus modeled this when he was tempted in the wilderness. Every time Satan suggested a temptation, Jesus countered by quoting Scripture. he didn't argue with Satan.

Given the right circumstances, any of us are capable of any sin. 

We must never let down our guard and think we're beyond temptation. Don't carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them. Remember that it is easier to stay out of a temptation than to get out of it. The Bible says, "Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence."

Day Twenty Six: Growing Through Temptation

What did you read today that was helpful or convicting?

I'm not used to thinking about temptations as an opportunity to do good! But, as I worked my way through the chapter, I was encouraged: "temptation simply provides a choice."

Temptation isn't really a word that gets used a lot anymore. Probably because the word "sin" doesn't get used much anymore. Sin is a good generic word to describe all the wrong behavior that we do, in the eyes of God, of others, and ourselves.

Sin can be small, it can be catastrophic; it can be thoughtless, it can be malicious. And the temptation to sin can be obvious, but we can also be oblivious. But to grow through our temptations, that requires self-reflection and the power to choose.

I see how the power of sin in my life wreaks havoc, and I continue to be reminded of the power of temptation. I often give in before I even realize what just happened. But even then I have a choice: do I repent or do I relent.

And then what - do I pray and ask for help, do I seek help in order to succeed next time? Or do I just accept the failure and merely resent the consequences? This is where having good friends who will care and speak truth into your life can be such an anchor when the strong currents of temptation come swirling through.

This was encouraging:

While temptation is Satan's primary weapon to destroy you, God wants to use it to develop you. Every time you choose to do good instead of sin, you are growing in the character of Christ. To understand this, you must first identify the qualities of Jesus. 

One of the most concise descriptions of his character is the fruit of the Spirit: "When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These nine qualities are an expansion of the Great Commandment and portray a beautiful description of Jesus Christ.  To have the fruit of the Spirit is to be like Christ.

God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality! Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity. 

God uses the opposite situation of each fruit to allow us a choice. You can't claim to be good if you've never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Every time you defeat a temptation, you become more like Jesus!

Here's a helpful thought on how temptations affect us:

We think temptation lies around us, but God says it begins within us. If you didn't have the internal desire, the temptation could not attract you. Temptation always starts in your mind, not in circumstances. Jesus said, "For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within."

Temptation preys upon our doubts, and it gains power through deception. We indulge in the temptation because we choose to believe that a pleasurable or desirable outcome is pretty much guaranteed. But temptations always distort reality, and they blind us to the true consequences. How many times do we regret a decision that ultimately was rooted in a temptation? If only we could have seen what would happen!

This is why listening to the Holy Spirit is so crucial - we need the prompt in our conscience to resist the temptation, to get an outside power to help us. The Holy Spirit can also help us recognize habits and patterns we get into that set us up for failure when it comes to temptations.

Ask yourself, "When am I most tempted? What day of the week? What time of day?" Ask, "Where am I most tempted? At work? At home? At a neighbor's house? At a sports bar? In an airport or motel out of town?" 

Ask, "Who is with me when I"m most tempted? Friends? Coworkers? A crowd of strangers? When I'm alone?" Also ask, "How do I actually feel when I am most tempted?" It may be when you are tired or lonely or bored or depressed or under stress. It may be when you've been hurt or angry or worried, or after a big success or spiritual high. 

You should identify your typical pattern of temptation and then prepare to avoid those situations as much as possible.

It's remarkable that God is so committed to helping us overcome temptations, learn from our temptations, and bring good through our failures with temptations. God's love for us is not lessened through being tempted or giving in to them. Often times this is when we begin to realize how much God really does love us!

The Bible guarantees that our cry for help will be heard because Jesus is sympathetic to our struggle. He faced the same temptations we do. He, "understands our weakness, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin."

...God never gets irritated, bored, or impatient when we keep coming back to him. The Bible says, "Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it."

What are the temptations that are infecting your life? What's the character traits that God is focusing on these days? What must you do different in order to grow through these temptations to become more like Jesus?

Day Twenty Five: Transformed by Trouble

What did you read today that was encouraging or convicting?

This is probably one of the most popular chapters in the book. Everybody has problems, and everybody knows people who have even more problems. At some point you wonder where God is in all of these troubles, and if good can come out of it. We all have an interest in knowing how God works to transform us through our troubles.

Here's the one paragraph that really hit home for me:

Every problem is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber. Paul said, "We know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character."

I read that and remembered a bunch of tough stuff that's been going on in my life lately, stuff that has basically required a lot of patience from me. Instead of patient I could have been mouthy, or meddling, or mad, or start meandering down a different path. But I hung in there, and in some instances, the troubles have given way to a better scenario. Other situations, though, seem to require even more patience than I'm currently giving. And what does all this patience do for me? It's the primary definition of love, and it's a key component of character-building.

Enduring trouble is not the same as accepting bad behavior or ignoring evil actions. Enduring trouble is more about not giving up on doing good, persevering is pro-actively doing the next right thing in the face of resistance, patience is about not giving up on God prevailing. This is how to face trouble and build character: be patient.

This is good:

Since God intends to make you like Jesus, he will take you through the same experiences Jesus went through. That includes lonliness, temptation, stress, criticism, rejection, and many other problems. The Bible says Jesus "learned obedience through suffering" and "was made perfect through suffering." Why would God exempt us from what he allowed his own Son to experience? Paul said, "We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!"

Here's a few more lines that I needed to read:

Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve one, another is waiting to take its place. Not all of them are big, but all are significant in God's growth process for you.

We learn things about God in suffering that we can't learn any other way.

Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves.

Corrie Ten Boom, who suffered in a Nazi death camp, explained the power of focus: "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest!" Your focus will determine your feelings.

If you are facing trouble right now, don't ask, "Why me?" Instead ask, "What do you want me to learn?" Then trust God and keep on doing what's right.

Don't give up - grow up!

Day Twenty Four: Transformed by Truth

What did you read that was interesting, convicting, or encouraging today?

"If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." There is no substitute for reading the Scriptures. The inherent power in the Words of God to change our lives is untapped for so many of us because we simply never choose to read the Bible on a regular basis.

There are so many things to read these days, it takes a real effort to keep on saying "no" to great books, fascinating magazines, compelling internet newsites, and on and on and on. For those of you who don't like to read, I guess you have the problem of turning off the radio or TV or YouTube. Or you are too busy, or tired, or overwhelmed. Yet, if we believe that we can be transformed by the truth, why do we not immerse ourselves in the Scriptures more?

Maybe it's because we know Christians who know the Bible really well, but they are still morons - morons who are still petty, shallow, unchanged, and prideful. It's unfortunate that people like that spout out their Bible knowledge. I beg you: don't let those people sway you away from investing time in the Bible and absorbing God's Word into your life. You want change, you want wisdom, you want help, you want God... and this is what you'll get if this is what you want from reading and reflecting on the Scriptures.

Here's some quotes I liked from the chapter today:

Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth.

The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guidebook. God's Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever!

The Bible must become the authoritative standard for my life: the compass I rely on for direction, the counsel I listen to for making wise decisions, and the benchmark I use for evaluating everything.

It is not enough just to believe the Bible; I must fill my mind with it so that the Holy Spirit can transform me with the truth. There are five ways to do this: you can receive it, read it, research it, remember it, and reflect on it.

Anytime you fell you are not learning anything from a sermon or a Bible teacher, you should check your attitude, especially for pride, because God can speak through even the most boring teacher when you are humble and receptive. James advises, "In a humble spirit, receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted in your hearts contains the power to save your souls."

But if you will just read the Bible just fifteen minutes a day, you will read completely through it once a year.

The difference between reading and studying the Bible involves two additional activities: asking questions of the text and writing down your insights.

You remember what is important to you. If God's Word is important, you will take the time to remember it. The three keys to memorizing Scripture are review, review, and review! The Bible says, "Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise."

No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more lie Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture. As we take time to contemplate God's truth, seriously reflecting on the example of Christ, we are "transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory." Serious reflection on God's truth is a key to answered prayer and the secret to successful living.

The best way to become a "doer of the Word" is to always write out an action step as a result of your reading or studying or reflecting on God's Word. Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do. This action step should be personal (involving you), practical (something you can do), and provable (with a deadline to do it). Every application will involve either your relationship with God, your relationship to others, or your personal character.

What has God already told you to do in his Word that you haven't started doing yet?

Day Twenty Three: How We Grow

What did you find helpful in the readings today?

An encouraging idea that came to me after I finished reading the chapter: anybody can grow up! I know people who have all sorts of backgrounds when it comes to education, career opportunities, family situations, health issues, and financial stability. Everything can be an excuse for immaturity, and everything can be a prompt to grow up. Nobody had a perfect life growing up, and yet everybody needs to do what it takes to grow up. And Jesus is the way.

We become what we are committed to.

Christlikeness is the result of making Christlike choices and depending on his Spirit to help you fulfill those choices.

To change your life, you must change the way you think. The Bible says, "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act. Paul said, "There must be spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes."

To be like Christ you must develop the mind of Christ. We are commanded to "think the same way that Christ Jesus thought."

This is where reading the Scriptures and stories of Jesus are so crucial: we learn what Jesus did so that we can know what Jesus wants us to do. And this is why the same Spirit that was in Jesus is available to us today: so we can think and do what Jesus did.

The Spirit of Jesus gives us power and energy to do the next right thing. The Spirit gives us direction and instruction about how to do the next right thing. The Spirit pricks our conscience and convicts our heart about what is right and wrong.

When we make it our goal to be like Christ, and we put in the effort as we rely on the Spirit, things will begin to change.

Day Twenty Two: Created to Become Like Christ

What helpful insights did you find in the reading today?

What would it look like if God became like one of us? It's a great question, and there's already a great answer out there for us to explore: Jesus. When we wonder what it's like to be made in the image of God, we look at Jesus. When we wonder what it means to be godly and good, we look at Jesus. The Bible says, "You were... created to be like God, truly righteous and holy." And Jesus helps us understand what that looks like in real life on this beautiful, frightening planet.

Here's some quotes from the chapter that were helpful to me:

God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.

Christlikeness is all about transforming your character, not your personality.

Every time you forget that character is one of God's purposes for your life, you will become frustrated by your circumstances. ...life is supposed to be difficult! It's what enables us to grow.

God [is not] a genie who simply exists to serve you in your selfish pursuit of personal fulfillment. ...God is not your servant, and if you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely disillusioned or you will live in denial of reality.

Mention "the power of the Holy Spirit," and many people think of miraculous demonstrations and intense emotions. But most of the time the Holy Spirit's power is released in your life in quiet, unassuming ways that you aren't even aware of or can't feel. He often nudges us with "a gentle whisper."

Christlikeness is not produced by imitation, but by inhabitation. We allow Christ to live through us. "For this is the secret: Christ lives in you." How does this happen in real life? Through the choices we make. We choose to do the right thing in situations and then trust God's Spirit to give us his power, love, faith, and wisdom to do it. Since God's Spirit lives inside of us, these things are always available for the asking.

Obedience unlocks God's power.

God waits for you to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and it is how your character develops.

God uses people. He usually prefers to work through people rather than perform miracles, so that we will depend on each other for fellowship. He wants us to grow together.

Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life.

Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than anything else.

God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings.

...many [Christians] have abandoned living for God's great purposes and settled for personal fulfillment and emotional stability. That is narcissism, not discipleship. Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives.