that is the life we will live in heaven, but until You take us home, please give us the guidance so we can do just that here on earth. Amen.
32…RESTING
Good morning! Do you ever feel guilty about taking a nap? For years, I did. But that guilt stopped one day when I read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” God gave us our bodies so we could use them to do the work He has laid out before us. He knows our physical limitations because He created us. If we need to rest in order to keep going, then a nap it is!
Just as sleep is important to our physical body, spiritually resting in the Lord is just as, if not more, important than physically resting. When we rest in the Lord, we are closing our minds off to everything else but Him. Although this time might seem unproductive, I promise you that the benefits of it far exceed anything else that we would do in the course of the day.
It’s during this time that the Lord speaks to us and prepares us for what we’ll experience throughout our day. It’s time for us to just soak up all He wants to share with us. Sometimes He’ll lead us to a particular Scripture that we need to read. Other times He will speak softly to us. Connecting this way with our Heavenly Father makes it easier to hear from the Holy Spirit. God wants us to be strong in mind, body, and soul. So, the next time you are feeling drained and need a nap, take it without any guilt, but also remember that God wants us to take time to sit quietly in His presence, too.
Heavenly Father, thank You for removing the guilt we often feel when we need to slow down and rest. This world encourages us to go, go, go but our bodies just can’t take that pace. Help us see that resting in Your presence every day is crucial to our well-being. Amen.
33…REVEAL YOUR CHARACTER
Good morning! Something I do at the beginning of each new year is make a budget. It helps me see how I need to use the money God has so graciously provided me with. This budget is just a flexible plan that is subject to change as God instructs me differently, but it’s a good place to start.
As I was reading in the New Testament, I noticed a notation that I had written after 1 Timothy 6:18-19. The note said, “When you see a dollar, be reminded that what you do with it reveals your character.” Wow, now that will stop and make you think! We all need money to live, there’s no getting around that. But God expects us to be good stewards with what He’s given us. Since we are to be about Kingdom work, does our spending reflect that endeavor? Are we financially taking care of what’s been entrusted to us, or are we living beyond our means?
We need to remember that those who have not yet come to faith in Jesus closely watch those who call themselves God’s children. They look to see if their words and actions line up. With that being the case, as a Christian, being financially responsible is another way to be a good witness for the Lord. Living within our means shows others that God provides His children with what they need. As we begin a new calendar year, it would be good to prayerfully look over our finances to make sure they are pleasing to God, and make any changes God leads us to make.
Lord, help us find ways to bless others through the resources You have so graciously given us. Give us eyes to see the needs of others and show us how we can be an extension of Your love. Help us remember that those who don’t yet call You Lord are watching Believers. Please help our words and actions line up. Help us be good stewards of what You have given us. Amen.
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