Noise
Give ear and hear my voice, listen and hear my words.”
Isaiah 28:23
Have you ever noticed how noise fills our lives? We wake to music or alarms. We get in the car and what’s the first thing we do—slip in a CD, or turn on the radio. When we walk in the house or a hotel room, the first thing we do is turn on the TV. It seems that with noise, we just don’t feel so alone.
In the midst of all of this noise, are you missing the most important voice of all?
God still speaks in a still, small voice. In the busyness and noisiness of our lives, it’s easy to miss Him. The only way to hear Him is to make an intentional effort to quiet the noise of our life and spend some time listening, through prayer and reading His Word. You will never get a more important phone call or crucial message.
Find some time each day to be alone and quiet, and listen to the most important voice of all. It will enrich your life tremendously.
God’s Reason for Marriage
Then the Lord God said, “it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18
Jesus was asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” He responded by describing what God had in mind for marriage in the first place.
Marriage is for procreation. Jesus said, “He who created man, created man as male and female.” God said to Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply.”
Marriage is also for companionship. After God created Adam, He said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” So He created Eve, the perfect companion.
Marriage is also for sexual pleasure. As the story continues, Jesus quotes God’s Words on the first marriage: “and he shall cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.” Sex is not just for procreation. It’s God’s gift to a husband and wife, to enjoy to the fullest in the context of marriage.
Procreation, companionship, sexual pleasure—reminders from Jesus about why God had the idea of marriage.
First Basic in Victorious Living
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.”
Isaiah 55:1
Great football teams focus on the basics of blocking and tackling, over and over and over. Victorious living focuses on the basics as well. And, the number one basic discipline for victorious living is regular time alone with God.
The prophet Isaiah says, “Ho, everyone who thirsts. Come to the waters.” Ho, whoa, slow down! We tend to be like a bunch of racehorses, charging out of the starting gates, rushing into the day without a thought for God. Ho! Slow down and thirst for God. Charging out to make money doesn’t satisfy; it leaves your soul empty. God is the source of satisfaction and fulfillment.
So thirst for God. Ask God to give you a thirst to know Him. Ask God to give you a desire and discipline to spend time with Him, talking and listening to Him through prayer and Bible study. This brings renewal and strength. Regular time alone with God is the first basic in victorious living.
Terrible Times in the Last Days
“For men will be lovers of self…rather than lovers of God.”
2 Timothy 3:2, 4
Imagine a time in history, when “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unloving, slanderous, without self-control, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness but denying its power.” (What a description of many inside and outside of today’s churches!)
Does this sound like today’s world or not? So, when were these words penned? Almost 2,000 years ago in the Word of God. This prediction was prefaced with these haunting words: “But mark this: These will be terrible times in the last days.”
Sounds like we’re there.
How can we change? God’s Word says, “the Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” So study God’s Word. Believe what it says about how to be saved from ungodly character. Live what it says, for we all are running out of time.
Do What’s Right
And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord…
Deuteronomy 6:18
Society today is caught up in the comparison game. Keeping up with the Joneses seems to be the goal of many. Children compare clothes and curfews. In their own minds adults compare cars, vacations and promotions while smiling and patting each other on the back.
In morality, we too often compare ourselves to others. We see or read in the news and think, “I’m not that bad.” Too many times we justify our actions because we are comparing ourselves to the wrong measure. God’s Word gives us the proper standard; by God’s standard, we all fall short.
Sometimes life requires us to stand up and be counted. Sometimes we must choose between immediate gratification or a denial of self. Sometimes we simply must go against the grain because our goal is to please God, not man or even ourselves. In the long run we will be a better person and will be blessed for it. So, do what’s right.
Racquetball and Life
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
Hebrews 2:1-2
A key to success in racquetball is being in the right position on the court. With the ball coming at you from every angle, this sport can make you react like a klutz if you are out of position. Proper positioning can determine a successful reaction, otherwise, watch out for a whiff!
In life, being out of position makes us unprepared for all the challenges that come our way. God has given us the Bible as our playbook and guide as to how to be in the right position as we take on life. God is the ultimate coach for successful living. We can be confident in placing our complete trust in His wisdom. When following His playbook to the “t”, we will always find ourselves in the proper position to succeed in life. A good player will be prepared having studied his playbook regularly. Allow God’s Word to prepare you for the challenges of life. Get in the game.
