Unconditional love and commitment are not things of the past. People crave them as much as they ever have. So does God.
He doesn’t ask for part of your love or some of your attention. It is silly to think He desires our occasional devotion. He wants all of you.
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Have you given God you all today?
Reading: Mark 9-12
People say, “Follow your heart,” but do you really have a choice? Your heart contains your values, ambitions, and desires. It forms a veritable blueprint for your life—your choices will inevitably follow your heart.
So what is in your heart?
As Jesus surveyed the hearts of the hypocritical Pharisees, he saw evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
So here’s the scary part: I see those in my heart!
Still, there is good news. Hearts can be cleaned1, reshaped2 and retooled3 for God. Begin the overhaul of your heart today. Have a heart that is geared for God; then follow your heart.
Reading: Mark 5-8
1 Hebrews 10:22; 2 II Peter 1:5-8; 3 Romans 6:16-18
“Are you busy?” What a silly question. Of course you are!
It seems like everyone just needs a moment of your time. There is always something else to do and there are just not enough hours in the day. So you press on busy, stressed and stretched too thin.
After a night of non-stop healing, when the crowds pressed against the door with their sick, lame and demon possessed, Jesus left before the sun came up. When his disciples finally found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you!” They wanted Jesus to go back and keep healing. But Jesus said no.
He had a greater purpose. He needed to go preach everywhere. He needed to go spread the news about the kingdom and eventually save the entire world.
Jesus teaches a valuable lesson: meeting your purpose requires setting priorities. Sometimes setting priorities means saying no to busyness.
Reading: Mark 1-4
Pursue Righteousness 