The Long Run: Chasing what matters

By Boyd Brigman

A daily devotional expounding on the power of God's word to change lives. The Long Run is a down to earth, applicable, plainly written book that daily challenges readers to find focus, build foundation, and act on the instructions given by God in the Bible. Life is not a sprint; it is a distance race that is won by chasing what matters. The Long Run was written to help you keep your pace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350956641

Boyd Brigman

With over 4 decades in the business world. Boyd Brigman has extensive experience leading various businesses including banking, transportation, agriculture, and sports. He has been involved in coaching and ministry including substantial work with youth and young adults. As a past coach and teacher, Boyd continues to show a commitment towards the next generation and has a gift for equipping and empowering people. He is also a motivational speaker, freelance writer, and Christian Blogger.

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© 2024 Boyd Brigman

ISBN: 979-8-35-095664-1

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Table of Contents

Cover

Title

January 1

January 2

January 3

January 4

January 5

January 6

January 7

January 8

January 9

January 10

January 11

January 12

January 13

January 14

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

January 19

January 20

January 21

January 22

January 23

January 24

January 25

January 26

January 27

January 28

January 29

January 30

January 31

February 1

February 2

February 3

February 4

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 10

February 11

February 12

February 13

February 14

February 15

February 16

February 17

February 18

February 19

February 20

February 21

February 22

February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

February 29

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29

March 30

March 31

April 1

April 2

April 3

April 4

April 5

April 6

April 7

April 8

April 9

April 10

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

April 18

April 19

April 20

April 21

April 22

April 23

April 24

April 25

April 26

April 27

April 28

April 29

April 30

May 1

May 2

May 3

May 4

May 5

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 10

May 11

May 12

May 13

May 14

May 15

May 16

May 17

May 18

May 19

May 20

May 21

May 22

May 23

May 24

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 30

May 31

June 1

June 2

June 3

June 4

June 5

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 9

June 10

June 11

June 12

June 13

June 14

June 15

June 16

June 17

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 21

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

June 26

June 27

June 28

June 29

June 30

July 1

July 2

July 3

July 4

July 5

July 6

July 7

July 8

July 9

July 10

July 11

July 12

July 13

July 14

July 15

July 16

July 17

July 18

July 19

July 20

July 21

July 22

July 23

July 24

July 25

July 26

July 27

July 28

July 29

July 30

July 31

August 1

August 2

August 3

August 4

August 5

August 6

August 7

August 8

August 9

August 10

August 11

August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

August 30

August 31

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

September 5

September 6

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

September 12

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 16

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 20

September 21

September 22

September 23

September 24

September 25

September 26

September 27

September 28

September 29

September 30

October 1

October 2

October 3

October 4

October 5

October 6

October 7

October 8

October 9

October 10

October 11

October 12

October 14

October 15

October 16

October 17

October 18

October 19

October 20

October 21

October 22

October 23

October 24

October 25

October 26

October 27

October 28

October 29

October 30

October 31

November 1

November 2

November 3

November 4

November 5

November 6

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 11

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

November 16

November 17

November 18

November 19

November 20

November 21

November 22

November 23

November 24

November 25

November 26

November 27

November 28

November 29

November 30

December 1

December 2

December 3

December 4

December 5

December 6

December 8

December 9

December 10

December 11

December 12

December 13

December 14

December 15

December 16

December 17

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

December 24

December 25

December 26

December 27

December 28

December 29

December 30

December 31

JANUARY 1

1 Peter 2: 1-3

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word…

That’s a pretty tall order to start the year.  Taking out the trash of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander - and replacing them with God’s Word.

I looked up definitions to be sure we know what to get rid of:  Malice is the intention to do evil. Deceit is lying with words or actions. Hypocrisy is claiming to have morals to which you do not conform. Envy is feeling discontent because of someone else's position or possessions. Slander is lying and damaging a person's reputation. 

That’s a  lot to tackle. You may not have all of them but if you’re like me, you have most  - and there are a couple of favorites. When I struggle with things on this list the common thread seems to be selfishness… and a lack of concern for others.

If this year is going to be any better than last year, I  need to vomit those spiritual toxins out of my system and replace them with the pure milk of the Word of God. I need to consistently read the Bible… you probably do too. 

So, you can respond to this in one of three ways:

1.      Disagree, in which case this coming year will look a lot like last year.

2.      Agree and think to yourself that you should change some things… in which case this coming year will look a lot like last year.

 3.      Or you can call a couple of friends and say Let’s commit to read through the Bible together a chapter a week. Let’s create a thread and every morning read a passage of scripture and text our thoughts to each other to encourage and hold each other accountable. 

…IF you do that.  It will change this coming year… and it will change your life. 

Few New Year’s resolutions really change anything …but this one will. Jesus said we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God so let’s study what God says. The world will provide junk food for your soul daily. If you really want to change, you must  intentionally consume the pure milk of the gospel which will provide what your soul needs to flourish. 

A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.

- Charles Spurgeon

JANUARY 2

Proverbs 19:2

Desire without knowledge is not good —how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

Do you have a plan… or just a desire?  You need a plan if you don’t want to miss the mark. Let’s make this New Years plan deal with who we are going to be, not what we are going to do. This plan is comprised of six words which build on each other….

Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, Joy. 

It all starts with FAITH… Faith has always been our path to God. Hebrews says it’s impossible to please God without faith. That is a significant statement that we sometimes ignore. Faith comes from God so I must continually pursue it in prayer.

The next ingredient is LOVE… Love identifies me as God’s child. Scripture says anything I do without love is irrelevant. Even great faith without love is meaningless.

Once these foundational pieces are set, I need WISDOM to see God’s plan.  Scripture says if I lack wisdom, it’s because I haven’t asked for it… So, I will ask God for the wisdom to know what He wants me to do. 

Knowing what to do is different than doing it… God’s way is not always popular. So, it’ll require COURAGE to stick to His plan. 

Next, I need PEACE. I often have anxiety over problems that have not yet happened. Peace will allow me to stay focused on what is in front of me. Philippians says to stop being anxious and tell God my needs. If I do this, His peace which is beyond comprehension will guard my heart and mind and allow me to deal wisely with issues I face today.  

The final component is JOY. Nehemiah says the Joy of the Lord is my strength. I cannot dispassionately serve God – I must see life from God’s perspective and tackle life Joyfully. Doing so will produce unstoppable enthusiasm and strength and will attract others to Him. 

So that’s the plan. We will deep dive into each ingredient in the coming days. Pray for FAITH, radiate LOVE, seek WISDOM, COURAGEOUSLY follow where wisdom leads, relax in God’s PEACE, and lean on His JOY.

Post these six words where you’ll be reminded to pray through them every morning.  Go All In this year and become a part of the victorious plan of God.

God’s plan is to make much of the man… Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. – E.M. Bounds

January 3

Galatians 3:26-27

So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Yesterday we discussed a life strategy with six words, the first of which was Faith. Today let’s talk about why faith is step one and is required to please God. (Heb. 11:6)

Galatians explains the process that turns us into children of God. Anything less than accepting Christ’s righteousness as my own, will fail to elevate me to the required holiness. 

The entire plan is a non-starter without faith. You either acquire it or you stop here. Faith is the doorway to the perfection required to commune with Holiness.

Thinking that your religious acts can earn your entrance is like offering pocket change to the surgeon who saved your life. Not only is it inadequate - but it is also offensive.

Faith does not fix you; it replaces you.  Faith clothes you in Christ… Your sin replaced by His righteousness. Only then are you able to fellowship with The Father.   So, faith is mandatory for salvation. But faith also transforms your life. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says… we live by faith, not by sight.  That is a game changer. 

We must function differently than non-believers. Our blinders have been removed and now we see with spiritual eyes not just earthly ones… We don’t ignore physical sight, but we don’t depend on it either. We operate according to what we know is true even when we can’t see it.

If you struggle with faith pray for it… Ephesians 2:9 says it is a gift. Scripture also acknowledges that at times we wrestle with it … Like the father of the sick child in Mark chapter 9 who said, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!  Jesus responded to that prayer - so admit your struggle and cry out to God… Continue requesting and never relent. There is no Plan B so pursue it daily.

Faith is not a part of your life - it is your life source. It is your spiritual oxygen, and you will suffocate without it. Faith is the vehicle God has chosen to save you, change you, and strengthen you. It is not a nice addition to your life… it is the required foundation.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. -  C.S. Lewis

JANUARY 4

1 Corinthians 13:1-2

If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

We have been discussing a life plan of pursuing Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, and Joy. 

We established that Faith is the mechanism that allows us to walk with God… But If faith is the engine, then love is the fuel, and the power of the engine is irrelevant without gasoline. 

Today’s passage states that it doesn’t matter how talented, rich, pretty, or popular you are… if you don’t love, it’s worthless.  God is unimpressed by loveless acts - They are simply irritating noise. Even with positive traits such as eloquence, intelligence, and faithfulness …your efforts are meaningless without love. 

Scripture goes so far as to say if you don’t love, you don’t know God. Jesus said, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  That means, if you don’t love, your salvation could depend on you figuring out why. 

Love is our fuel, our proof, and our identity– it would be difficult to overstate its importance. So, how do you attain love? You fill yourself with its source. 

God is the only source of love in the universe, and He is standing at the door of your heart knocking. The only way to acquire the most powerful force in existence is to open that door and give Christ command of your heart. 

Love does not originate in you… In fact, you must decrease, and He must increase (John 3:30). God is love. So, to be more loving there must be less of you, and more of God.

If you give your heart to Christ …He will fill it with love, and it will show.  Love is a power you cannot fake, nor hide… If it is in you - it will splash out on those around you.  

You have been praying for faith, now give yourself over to love… and watch it transform everything you do, from meaningless noise into powerful actions.

Love is the active, working principle in all true faith. It is its very soul, without which it is dead. Faith works by love. - Jonathan Edwards

JANUARY 5

Proverbs 3:13

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.

Our six-word life plan is Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, and Joy. We have discussed Faith as the engine of your life, and Love as the fuel. Today let’s look at wisdom, which we’ll call your compass.

In sports, even with athletic ability, you need direction. It doesn’t matter how fast you run if you don’t know where you’re going.  Life is the same way – even with faith and love, you need wisdom if you want to know what direction to move. There are two things that facilitate wisdom… improving your stance - and improving your vision.  

The power of an athlete is affected by his footwork.  The power in your life depends on the same. A proper base makes you wise and stable, and the only foundation that provides this is scripture. Your daily strength and steadiness depend on your knowledge of the Bible. 

The second component of wisdom is vision.  How often do coaches say, keep your eye on the ball?  That’s because focus is crucial in achieving goals. In life if you are preoccupied by material things you will drift off course and be out of position. If you allow the urgent to distract you from the important it is the equivalent of taking your eye off the ball.

Wisdom is the ability to stand on scripture and see the goals God has given you. Michelangelo said: The greatest danger is not that our aim is too high, and we miss, but that it is too low, and we reach it.  Wisdom perfects your aim allowing you to say, Thy will - not my will.

So how do you get wisdom?  Proverbs 2 says, it’s a gift from God. Proverbs 4 says, Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding. In other words, God will give it to you – but you must pursue it at all costs. 

So, try this…. Proverbs has 31 chapters. That’s one for each day of the month. Pursue wisdom by reading a chapter a day. That’s a five-minute investment, that will have you reading Proverbs twelve times by next year. This will improve your stance and train your eyes, developing a compass that points true north and allows you to know what God expects you to do.

Wisdom is looking at life from God’s point of view. – Chuck Swindoll

JANUARY 6

Deuteronomy 31:6-8

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. 

We are halfway through the life plan of Faith, Love, Wisdom, Courage, Peace, and Joy.

Today’s word is Courage, which is challenging if you have not mastered the first three components. However, if you are walking in faith, love, and wisdom it will produce stability and understanding which eliminates fear in your life. 

God is never frightened or anxious, and He does not expect us to be either. Scripture says, greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. That is our source of courage … not our own power, but the strength of Christ who lives in us. 

Any other type of bravery is a paper tiger. Like a Chihuahua barking at a Doberman – what some call courage, is simply fear hiding in bravado. True courage is quiet and calm. It does not ignore danger it simply sees it in context. While we may feel fear – it is dwarfed by the power of God and His promise to never leave us. Bravery is focusing on His power and promise – instead of our problem.

Not acknowledging danger is foolishness. But a man who realizes that fear is not from God – can disregard the dread and continue down the path God has set before him. 

There is no need to search the web for reassurance. We don’t require others to agree with us. The source of our courage comes from the faith we have in God who loves us and is in complete control. 

Everything I face today must pass through God’s hands before it gets to me.  If I believe that, no response other than courage makes sense.

Courage is not a feeling; it is a decision. You choose to trust God and share the gospel. Courage is not ordinary, and it will make you stand out like a beacon in a dark world of fear and anxiety. 

You have chosen to be called a Christian, but as William Wallace said: men don’t follow titles, they follow courage.  So, stand on scripture, and live courageously in the power of God - and men will follow you to Christ.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin

JANUARY 7

Philippians 4:9

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The fifth word in our life plan is peace.  This verse tells you how to get it – and teaches an important principle. Paul didn’t just say do what I say – he said do what I do … Can you say that?  That is your target, because obedience produces peace.

Peace is not the absence of difficulty – We need more than that … Mark Twain said I am an old man and have known many troubles. Most of which never happened. His point was that even without difficulties we destroy peace with anxiety and worry. 

Peace is not a natural characteristic; it must be acquired. That’s problematic since it is what we need most. Peace is the golden ring of life. It is what we all want when our head hits the pillow at night. The world constantly offers peace, but never delivers. Men chase money, drugs, sex, fame… all in a futile attempt to find serenity but there is no source for it on earth. 

The God of peace is its only resource. Psalms says: He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. This beautifully illustrates the contentment and tranquility of a lamb that is guarded by The Shepherd…. That is peace, and whether you are aware of it or not – it is the thing you desire most. 

But how do you get it? This verse says to obey the gospel. Put it into practice.  Seek faith, love, wisdom, and courage - and the God of peace will BE WITH YOU. 

It’s a lifestyle… a state of calmness that comes from a relationship with your creator. Not the absence of trouble but the presence of God. Which makes peace not a fragile condition dependent on circumstances, but a permanent state dependent on the power of The Almighty. That is why we can have peace even when we don’t understand… because it is not based on us but on God.

Persistently obey His Word. Choose faith over fear - and rest in the green pastures and still waters that the presence of your loving Shepherd provides.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there. There is no such thing. - C.S. Lewis

JANUARY 8

Nehemiah 8:10

Then Nehemiah told them, Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

The people of Israel were weeping because the book of the Lord had pierced their hearts. Nehemiah told them to smile. He told them to celebrate because the joy of the Lord would make them strong. 

The same is true today. Joyfulness in the Lord gives us power. Yet somehow the church has become the most somber place on earth. Our sharing of the gospel is ineffective because we do it out of duty – not joy. If you ask people what traits they associate with Christianity you will probably hear stuffy, judgmental, boring, maybe arrogant… but you will seldom hear Joyful …and that is one reason the church struggles today.  

If we pursue faith, love, and wisdom and we seek courage, peace will result. And that peace will generate unquenchable joy that is impossible to hide from those who don’t have it. 

I should be that person who is always smiling… Not because nothing ever goes wrong - but because one amazing thing went right – Christ rose from the dead and because of His grace, I will spend eternity with Him. 

The word Gospel is the combination of the Hebrew words for good and message.  So, if we carry God’s good message, how are we not beaming?  We are not oblivious to the trouble in our lives; however, we are more aware of the deliverance the cross has provided - so joy shines out of us. 

Nehemiah told them to celebrate because the day was holy. When you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, every day is holy… and every day should contain Joy. 

If you want more power in your walk and your witness, try smiling. Try focusing on the amazing gift God has given you.  Joy, like peace, is not dependent on circumstances – It is dependent on the fact that God saved you from your sin …That produces joy - and that kind of Joy is unshakeable. 

Once you have the faith, love, and wisdom to know what God wants you to do… if you will do it with Joy, you will be unstoppable.

Never learn doctrine from someone who doesn’t have a sparkle in their eye

– Anonymous

JANUARY 9

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

THEREFORE, is often the most neglected word in this passage. We tend to read all the phenomenal theology in Romans prior to this verse, all the breathtakingly powerful thoughts on the love of God, and then just go about our day as though nothing happened. We ignore what the teachings in this passage are There For.  We agree with them , we support them, we even repeat them… but they were written to change us.

Atheist have said Christianity might be a good thing; someone should try it. That is an accusatory statement directed at the church.  And yet, I cannot argue that sometimes my morning Bible study is followed by a day that appears to ignore what I have read.

Theology matters, but altered behavior, is the indicator of a changed life. So, as believers, do our lives look like those of a person who has been transformed by the love of our King? Are we living, holy sacrifices acceptable to God?

As soon as were born into this world it begins the process of killing us… We owe it nothing. Yet we search for fulfillment pursuing its trinkets.  Instead, we should pursue God’s path of life with a mind renewed, obedient, and following His will.  If we did that, we would be living as we were designed to live.

But do you?... Do I? Do we love others? Do we bless those who persecute us? We say we believe and that’s good, but even demons believe. So, the real question is, does our belief change us? Does it result in us obediently following God?  Are we transformed by the renewing of our minds, proving the will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect? 

Those are the marching orders. Talk is cheap, so renew your mind this morning and start living out scripture. Because at the end of the day… that’s what it’s there for.

One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

JANUARY 10

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.

I have learned to see God as my Father. My sin is covered by His sacrifice, and He is not angry with me.  I also envision God as a Warrior who protects me. But I still struggle to see Him so pleased with me that He would rejoice and sing over me.

When my nephew was an infant, he was extremely sick, and I remember seeing my mother softly singing over him in the hospital. Her love for him was evident. But how could God love me like that? How can God sing over someone who is guilty and unclean?

The life I have lived is not worthy of that kind of affection. That sounds like modesty, but that focus is the problem… when I concentrate on my own unworthiness, it is not humility – it is doubt.  It is questioning the power of the blood of Christ.  In God’s plan, it doesn’t matter who I WAS… It matters who I AM. The question is, have I placed my faith in Jesus, and am I walking in His righteousness?

If you think you're not good enough for God to love, you are looking at the wrong set of qualifications. YOUR actions don’t deserve His love. But HIS actions … make you perfect and qualified. 

How liberating it is to realize that salvation is based on His love and power… Once I accept the gift of grace and take my eyes off me - it is easy to envision His wonderful song as I bring Him joy by walking in the holiness of His Son. 

By accepting His grace - I instantly become free to do good … Not so He will love me, but because He loves me… And I begin serving God from a position of security and strength… as a cherished child – not an imposter desperately trying to earn their way into His presence.  

Put joy in this new year by abandoning your efforts to be good enough for God to love, and instead rest in the completed work of Christ. Then you can focus on the unfinished work of spreading the gospel - which is what set you free in the first place. 

It is finished – Jesus 

JANUARY 11

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven.

Who do you think of when you read the word enemies?  Who do you have trouble forgiving?  A sibling, a parent, an old friend.  Who in this world has hurt you too much to let it go?  It is one thing to not hate your enemy… but it is an entirely different thing to love them… and that is exactly what Jesus said to do.

Can you imagine the freedom that would come in loving them?  Not just forgiving them, not just ceasing to be angry. Actually, loving them.  Imagine the garbage that would be flushed from your heart if you really prayed for them... Prayer purifies... you can't lie to God... How empowering it would be to feel the sludge of animosity breaking free in your heart if you honestly prayed for them.

This verse is not a proverb, or an illustration... It is a command straight from the mouth of Christ.  Do we take it seriously?  Love your enemy... It's not about church attendance, how much you give, the length of your quiet times.... LOVE YOUR ENEMY.  That is what we must do if we want to look like our Father ... after all that is what He did for us. Our sin killed His Son, and He loved us so much He let it happen, and then loved us unconditionally.

So, who came to mind as an enemy?... What are you going to do about it? Decide to obey. Choose to love them.  Get on your knees today and pray for them.  Do something nice for them ... Call them ... but whatever you have against them - forget it.  Do what God did for you and wipe their slate clean and see them through His eyes, as valuable and lovable. 

Aren't you tired of carrying the load of anger and bitterness ...  Empathize with them.  Find a way to care about their story. Loving them will set you free... set them free... and it will create in you a family resemblance that allows the world to recognize you as a Christian.... And that will draw far more to Christ than any sermon. 

Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?

- Abraham Lincoln

JANUARY 12

Matthew 6:9

Pray then like this: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

When is the last time you began a prayer by focusing on how hallowed God's name  is? Hallowed means holy, sacred, blessed, divine, revered. Jesus says we should approach our Father with those words in mind.

Next, He says we need to ask God to do what He has determined is best. We need to realize that God knows what needs to happen in our situation.  And our desire must be to want what He wants. So, the first two steps in prayer should be that we acknowledge who He is and trust Him completely.

But that is not always how it is. Sometimes our prayers sound like we are talking to a short order cook.  We rattle off our list of demands as we run out the door to start the day.  We tell Him what we want as though He works for us... and the only time we remember our prayers is if we think He didn't answer them as per our requests.

According to Jesus that is not how we are supposed to pray... No wonder our prayer life is anemic... We are doing it wrong. Jesus gave crystal clear instructions on the matter, and we promptly ignored them and did it our own way. Let’s change that today and start doing it right.

Make prayer a priority. Many times, the disciples had to go find Jesus because He had slipped away to pray.  Find a time and a place to be alone and still before God.

Begin your prayer with the realization that you have the honor of entering the presence of The Almighty. Acknowledge that you need His wisdom and direction... and then like a child who is speaking to his father,  make your request known. Keep in mind that God loves you beyond your ability to understand. And because of that, the middle of His will, is the safest place you can be.

He has told us to pray, and He has said that prayer changes things. So, since Jesus took the time to give us a prayer pattern... let's follow it and be amazed at what He does.

To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. - Martin Luther

JANUARY 13

1 Timothy 4:16 

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

People don't usually mind you talking about Jesus until you get specific about what He said. The fact that He said He was God.  The fact that He called much of what some people think is acceptable today, Sin. The fact that He said we will all perish for eternity without His sacrifice... That is where the rub begins, and that is called Doctrine. Doctrine clarifies the most important point in Christianity… There is a God, and it’s not us.

Doctrine is the owner’s manual for our lives and yes, the implication is intended.  God is the owner. He has given us choices, but He is The All-Mighty Creator and He alone knows best what we need.

This verse says doctrine matters so pay close attention to it. It is true that, as Christians we will be identified by our love. But love is not always easy.  Sometimes you must love enough to offend the one you love. Love is not the absence of conflict, in fact sometimes love demands conflict.

If I won’t tell a loved one that they are standing on the train tracks and a locomotive is coming, because I don’t want to offend them – then I have proven I love my comfort more than their safety.  If you won't speak the truth because it is offensive -  you have become a doctor with a lifesaving injection who refuses to injure the patient with the needle.  Those who hear you will be very comforted as they continue down their path of destruction.

The Bible is clear that we must speak the truth in love. But if it's not the truth, it can't be spoken in love.

This scripture says that doctrine saves you... and those who hear you.  Make sure you get it right... and make sure you live a life that makes your words substantial enough to be heard. Persevere in these two areas because you won't accidentally get them right.

Commit to knowing the Word, and commit to speaking the Word, and commit to walking in the truth of the Word... It will impact your life, and the life of anyone who listens to you.

Christ's riches are unsearchable, and the doctrine of the gospel is the field this treasure is hidden in. -  Thomas Goodwin

JANUARY 14

James 1:22-24  

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

If you go to the gym and talk to your trainer, then go home, think about what he said and then have a snack and take a nap ...will there be any improvement in your physical health?... of course not.

The same is true spiritually.  You can go to church, or read your Bible every day, but if you think just listening will change you - you are deceiving yourself. You are like someone who looks in a mirror but doesn't fix anything. You walk away and nothing changes ... you haven't combed your hair or fixed your face - and once you're gone you don't even remember what needs to be done.

The phrase deceives yourselves is not so much a reprimand, as it is a statement that shows pity for the one deceived ... It’s not really saying you’re a hypocrite, but someone who mistakenly thinks they're improving.

When you read scripture, look closely. Fix what needs to be fixed.  Own it, and take action based on what you see.  Make changes in your life predicated on what the Word of God says needs to change.

Sometimes we walk a rough road, and it feels like we are not progressing ... but our aim has to be growth and improvement.  In a world of empty promises, this is the one thing you can count on. The Word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit can change you ... truly permanently change you.

There are days we will stumble, and  there is blood on a cross to cover that ...but it must be our goal to walk in the light of God's Word, let it impact us, and make us a little more like Him each day.

This week read the Word ... but read it slowly ... study it ... create a plan to implement it ... and then do what it says.

Philosophy without action is the ruin of the soul. One brave deed is worth a hundred books, a thousand theories, a million words - Edward Abbey

JANUARY 15

Philippians 4:4  

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice

We often think of Joy as something we experience when things go the way we plan them. This verse says  that Joy is something we choose, and that it has nothing to do with circumstances. It is a decision you make, and the fact that the verse commands us to do it twice, indicates that God realizes that it might not be easy to do. Paul is telling the Philippians that attitude matters, and attitude is a choice.

In this world everyone has struggles, we are all the same in that regard. Some have more than others, but every morning each of us has a list of blessings... and a list of things that break our heart... and we get to choose the list on which we are going to focus. Regardless of their Facebook profile everyone has the same two lists, and everyone has to make the same choice.  This verse ... twice....says to choose joy... and tells you where to find it.

The verse also tells you when to make that choice… Always.  There is never a time to not choose Joy.  If you set your gaze on Christ, joy happens.  If you wake up every morning amazed that God loves you, and redeemed you, joy will be your default emotion.  Don't confuse joy with happiness... Joy is deeper, stronger, and does not depend on circumstances.  Joy is present and functioning even in seasons of sadness.

Rejoicing is important because it is where we, as Christians, get power.  ...the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy can transform you from a weak tentative Christian, into a powerful soldier of Christ... A soldier who doesn’t blink at adversity… and the transformation begins when you choose to rejoice in the Lord.

So, change your focus. Reject self-pity... Choose joy... Immerse yourself in the love of your Father... Let your heart soak in the implications of being a child of God. Take your eyes off the storm, and gaze intently into the eyes of the Creator.

He loves you so much, He gave His Son to save you... and he will not abandon what He paid so high a price to redeem. Stand on that fact and choose joy.

Joy is the serious business of Heaven. - C. S. Lewis

JANUARY 16

Proverbs 11:3

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

If you want to make a change in the new year, here’s a good place to start. Establish your moral compass, set it in concrete and abandon all other options.  Decide what your true North is and put a stake in the ground. Then live by it.

 When was the last time you made an expensive decision solely because it was the right thing to do?  When did you last sacrifice something you really wanted simply because of honor?

Integrity is seldom found today because it calls for absolutes, and our culture’s only absolute now days is dopamine. We will sacrifice any and everything to get immediate satisfaction and gratification. That is the target and there is not much we won’t do to get it.  There is no moral code, and the only boundaries are those that we set for ourselves… and it isn’t usually very long until we push them as well.

But that is the big lie… The idea that truth is relative. That we  can adjust right and wrong based on our feelings.  There is nothing about integrity that is fluid. It is not adjustable.  There is no room to negotiate. It is permanent and unyielding. 

If integrity is just one of your options, you won’t take it… It must be your only choice.  It is not a popular choice either, and at times it is called radical, intolerant, unyielding, and other names that illustrate the absence of a societal moral compass.

So, you must choose. Either you live out truthfulness, honesty, righteousness, and unselfishness as established by God. Or you determine your actions relative to situations and your assessment of risk and reward. It is your choice, but the verse is clear. Either your integrity will guide you, or your duplicity will destroy you.

Whether it is your taxes, your marriage, your job, or your personal life … live with integrity. It is easier to work hard to do things right, than to live with the results of doing them wrong. Set God’s standard as your True North and start walking.

Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us. - Charles Spurgeon

JANUARY 17

Philippians 4:13 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This well-known verse is one of the most misapplied passages in the Bible. We usually quote this as a statement insuring our achievement of a goal. We claim it when we catch the winning touchdown pass and are being carried off the field. But in context the passage has a very different meaning.  Immediately before this verse Paul says, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 

So, the proper application of this verse is not to ensure accomplishment, but to remove fear and self-pity, and eliminate comfort as a requirement for contentment. The verse says we can