Based on “Living and Dying for What?” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 7/10-11/10,
Message # 6054; Daily Devotional #2 - “Joyful Living”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction):
| Daily Planner: Wednesday July 14, 2010 |
| 5:57 AM - Wake up. |
| 6:00 AM - Make Coffee. |
| 6:15 AM - Feed pets. |
| 6:30 AM - Drink Coffee while doing my Devotion/Pray. |
| 6:45 AM - Get ready for work. 7:30 AM - Leave for work |
| 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Work |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. Lunch break/read the Bible. |
| 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Work. |
| 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Dinner, Church, Chores. 10:00 PM-Prayer/Bedtime |
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): What does your daily planner look like? Take a close look, then fill in the blank to this statement. “For me, to live is_________.” (Philippians 1:21) It is time to be honest. Would you write “Christ” on that line? Every Christ follower knows that Jesus’ name should be there, but is it? Ask yourself these questions before you fill in that blank. When you do your quiet time, are you focused on Jesus or on the clock? When you go to work are you thinking about the problems of the day, relationships, earning a paycheck, or are you thinking about how you can serve Jesus in your work? Is Jesus really at the center of your life, or are you “penciling him in” when it is convenient? How much time in your day are you actually devoting to Him? Is He at the center of everything you do, or are you trying to fit Him into your schedule?
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. (Leviticus 6:12a) Paul did not allow the flames of his passion for Christ to die. He experienced joy in the midst of a life of continuous peril. How do we keep the fire for Jesus in our hearts burning? Attending church fans the fire, but a blazing fire requires frequent tending. Instead of squeezing in our devotion time between our morning coffee and brushing our teeth, we can begin the day with a simple prayer. “Oh Christ, be the center of my life.” Our devotion time should not end when we close the Bible. God’s Word is meant to speak to us all day. Jesus’ teachings apply as we care for our families, perform the routine tasks of our jobs, or partake of our pleasures or hobbies. Let Him guide us and change us, not just in the way we conduct ourselves, but in the way we view our world. (Philippians 2:12-13) Honor the Holy Spirit by listening as He nudges and convicts us. Do you have an attitude of joy? Have you truly made Christ the center of your life? The evidence of salvation is a changed life. The evidence of a Christ centered life is joy. Look at your neighbor today, smile, and say, “JOY!”
Cultivating (Additional Reading): John 12:25-26, James 5:16
blw
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.