Purpose of Your Body

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

A main point brought out in the post “Honor God with Your Body” is that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This truth should govern how we treat ourselves. We should eat healthy foods, have good sleeping habits, and exercise to honor God. We should not misuse our body by smoking, drinking, overeating, or being immoral.

We know much about our physical bodies as we have eyes to see, ears to hear, a mind to think, and a heart to pump blood to feed our body the oxygen it needs but do we know much about the human soul?

The physical body at some point no longer grows and eventually does not even work. Take inspiration from the song Oh My Soul by Casting Crowns. God has provided a way to lay down our burdens like worry and anger. A way to receive peace and joy. A way to make sure our soul continues to grow and last forever. 

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Joy Even in Trials

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. - James 1:2-4

Within the post “Joy and Excellence in the Future” are ideas to building up character. By following God’s plan for us, we have joy and the game plan for a victorious life.

We may not feel good at times, we may feel lonely, we may feel inferior or just physically worn out but these are the things that create resistance and ultimately make us stronger; the resistance like lifting weights to build muscle. The resistance of water as we swim laps to burn extra calories or the hill as we run to the top.

Without resistance, the wings of a plane can’t produce lift and fly through the air. Without resistance to fear, there is no courage. Next time your day is filled with some resistance, smile at it, say thank You God, and keep going.

As in the song Keep Making Me – Sidewalk Prophets let us have the attitude of continuous growth in the ways of God. Even during tough times, there is joy when God is put in control.

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Adjustments

Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong. – Job 6:24

The post “Interaction” highlighted principles that can be used for how we interact in our relationships and in life situations. Some main points brought out are to avoid the traps that get us into trouble by listening to those we can trust and striving to get along with others by watching what we say. When challenged with difficulty, continue to have a good outlook on life.

As pointed out in the song Dear Younger Me by MercyMe, life is not always a smooth ride but the bumps along the way hopefully help us learn and gain experience so that needed adjustments are made for a better future.

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The Reward is with the Lord

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. - Revelation 22:12

As brought out in the post “Keeping Sight of Doing Right”, the greatest reward is doing the right thing so the heart is at peace in knowing that God will reward with an eternal destiny.

Just as pointed out in this song Lose My Soul by Toby Mac ft. Kirk Franklin, Mandisa, some are consumed by gaining the whole world but in the process lose their soul. Instead, do the right things in life and look forward your eternal destiny.

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Advantage for Your Day

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13

In the post “Advice for Life”, highlighted is that being on God’s side gives a tremendous advantage. The scripture above and other memorized scriptures can be very useful when faced with pressure moments in life.

I once heard about a field goal kicker in football that repeated over and over in his mind scriptures like the one above before kicking a field goal. This gave him poise as he got set to perform the winning kick in the last seconds of the game. 

One thing about sports that is related in life is how we all compete against time. We all set priorities in the use of our time. As we plan out each day, two questions must be answered: What is it that needs to be done? What is most important?

The amazing thing to me is that efficiency is thought of highly in sports but not so much these days in government, organizations, and businesses. Each sports team competes and the coach puts players in a position where they can do the best for their team. In government and in some businesses, people seem to be put out of position. They are put in a position to fail and organizations are run in such a dysfunctional way.

We all win some and loose some but the most important thing is you give it your best. If God is with you through all of it, then you’ll end up victorious. Here’s a song to inspire us toward a winning day: Through All of It by Colton Dixon.

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Desire and Power

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. - Philippians 2:13

The post “Wellbeing for Daily Living” laid out the effects of wisdom and discretion in your life. The results are courage, confidence, efficiency, health, safety, peace, riches, and honor. The things to be desired in our daily living.

What God gives in a plan for life is a treasure and the more you lose yourself in this plan, the more desire and power you will have. Take inspiration from the song My Desire by Jeremy Camp and desire to let God work in you for His purpose today.

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Incentive for Growing in Faith

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. - 1 Corinthians 2:9

As pointed out in the post “Benefits of Wisdom”,  there is a part God plays and a part we play in our gaining wisdom. There are major benefits right now to gaining wisdom like being rewarded with understanding, protection, safety, and victory in life.

Even if everything does not work out in this life on earth, there is still a great incentive for growing our faith as inspired in the song Home by Chris Tomlin. For there is a better place where there are no more burdens. A place where the streets are golden, the chains are broken, where fear is gone, and we are free at last in our permanent home.

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More Blessed to Give than to Receive

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ - Acts 20:35

Generosity is the best way to find joy and meaning. Paul gave his time to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Jesus gave everything; even His life. Receive inspiration from today’s song When Love Sees You by Mac Powell.

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The Passion on the Inside Forms Something Valuable on the Outside

His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. - Jeremiah 20:9

We face difficulties and tensions in life but that’s when the Holy Spirit fills us up on the inside so we can handle the pressure. God can provide a passion inside like a burning fire to get us going and do amazing things for His glory. As explained in the post “Power to Build an Amazing Day”, scriptures encourage, difficulties teach us endurance, and hope overflows.

God can take these pressures we face and turn them into something amazing. Diamonds are formed from small dust like minerals that are exposed to high temperature and pressure at depths of over 100 miles below the Earth’s surface. This occurs over a long period of time. In a similar way that God’s Creation forms a very valuable diamond out of dust, He can also forms diamonds out of us.

Receive inspiration from today’s song Diamonds by Hawk Nelson and get started on building an amazing day.

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We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. – 2 Corinthians 6:3

The post “Accepting Others and Working Together” brought out the thought that we are bound together by the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. The idea is to have an attitude of kindness by focusing on the big issues that bring us together rather than the small things that divide us.

What we make happen for others will be given back to us so when we give a smile, a smile will be given back. When we act kind, we receive kindness from others. Be inspired by today’s song Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw and have a day filled with peace and joy.

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Victory in Life

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. - 1 John 5:4

Brought out in the post Overcome Evil with Good, were some main ideas expressed and emphasized within Romans 12:9-21. Imagine a society that obeyed these ideas. There would be much less crime, greater health, and much more productivity in the economy.

The game plan to obeying these ideas is to overcome evil with good by being faithful in prayer, being joyful in hope, and devoted to one another in brotherly love. If wronged, understand that God will take care of the injustice.

The key then is to focus on being on God’s side. My pastor Steve Ramsdell brought out in a sermon one time that our plans do not always work out but God’s plan for us always brings victory in life.

So this day with God, let Him in your life and allow for His power to bring hope to your future. Many of us hate losing. We may watch our favorite sports team and at some point they lose. We can be down for several days but with God, we never lose. There is always victory.

Just as brought out in the song My Victory by Crowder, we gain victory through Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was hell’s defeat. A cross meant to kill became the secret weapon to victory.

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Stronger on the Other Side

Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

Even in hard times, we can have joy. Never get down but remember what Jesus went through on the cross. Remember the many things people have gone through but came out stronger on the other side.

Hope is a major part of the Christian life because it gives patience in time of difficulty. For regardless of circumstance, hope keeps us looking forward to a day when there is no more pain, no more tears, and no more fears.

This day with God, have hope in all circumstances. As in the song There Will Be a Day by Jeremy Camp, be liberated from bondage and set free as God’s children. Someday there will be no more burdens because we will see Jesus face to face. Keep holding on to the day when there is joy and peace; keep holding on to the hope.

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Find Your Treasure

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21

What God gives is a plan for life that is a treasure and the more you lose ourselves in this plan, the more passion we will have.

An idea pointed out in the post “Peace and True Life” is to find treasure as you gather positive thoughts, pictures, and sounds desired by the Spirit. These diamonds in the rough will fuel your actions revealing to those around you that you are a part of a group that follows Christ.

Some ideas that might help with our attitude and thought life is to start the day with uplifting positive music. Your thoughts will have a better chance to get in the right frame of mind as you take on the challenges of the day. If yesterday was a rough one, find a treasure like this song called Diamonds by Hawk Nelson to get the momentum going in the right direction.

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Refining in His Timing

Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. - Philippians 4:4

Touched upon in the post “The Law and the Fall” are two opposite laws that Paul explains. One is the law of God that is holy, just, and good. Then there is the opposite law that he calls the law of sin which the human race is under because of Adam’s fall in the garden.

Every day, we get hit with so many negatives and it is a battle to control our thought life but with Christ, there is hope because there can be refining in His timing. We can overcome and live a life that is pleasing to God.

Some ideas that might help with our attitude and thought life is to start or end the day with uplifting positive music like this one: Live Like That by Sidewalk Prophets. This will allow your thoughts to have a better chance to get in the right frame of mind as you start the day or retire for the evening. Then each day, you will be ready to show the world the love God has shown you in Christ.

Another idea for the end of each day is to write out a sentence or two on something good that happened or why the day was amazing. Think about what you are looking forward to tomorrow. Even though there is an internal spiritual war inside our soul between good and evil, we can be optimistic. With Christ by our side, the Holy Spirit will make it possible for the law of God to be in control and there are no limits to what can be accomplished.

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Sing of the Lord’s Great Love

I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. - Psalm 89:1

This day with God, receive the peace Christ has provided. Express your joy for God’s love to you by persevering, building character, and maintaining hope. 

Just as in the song I Am Free by Newsboys, each day can be amazing because we can live out loud. We can pray, listen for instructions, and get things done now. Opportunities to do great things are right in front of us so let’s go out and give God our best.

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Hold Onto the Promise

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. - Romans 8:25

God’s actions seemed delayed when Moses went to the top of the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments and the people got impatient. As pointed out in the post “Hope Produces Patience” our response when the answers to our prayers seem delayed should be to hold on to the promise just like in this song: Hope in Front of Me by Danny Gokey. 

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Inner Joy

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. - Philippians 2:3-4

As written about in the post “Cultivating Internal Beauty”, So much time went into furnishing the inside of the tabernacle. In the same way, we need to spend more time cultivating an inner joy.

We can do this by following the scripture above with concern for others and not building our lives on the externals like attractiveness, nice clothing, and new cars. The problem with the externals is that there is always someone that looks better on the outside, has a better house, a better car, or takes better vacations. We look at others and think they are smarter, slimmer, or better looking than we are.

Instead, just focus on what God has given you in Christ. By believing in His Son, you are precious and beautiful on the inside. You have been given an inner joy and are pleasant to be around. You have joy even in difficulty and see each day as the best day ever.

This day, feel secure because of the joy in knowing that God is with you wherever you go and see each moment in life as sacred. May this song Stand In The Light by Jordan Smith  help as you step ahead today!

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Crucified with Christ

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

One thing is for sure and creates true joy for the future; by accepting Christ as Savior, things only get better. The negative past is washed away, the joy of the present is highlighted, and the future is brighter each and every day.

These thoughts were also brought out in the post “The Promise Of The Spirit” and give us a lift for each day. The memories we make today will give us a lift, the weather can give us a lift, and the ultimate lift is knowing that the future is bright because of the reward God has for all that believe in His Son.

Enjoy today’s song Multiplied by Need to Breath and receive the multiplied effect of the Spirit inside which is like radiant diamonds bursting inside with the promise of a great future filled with the never ending flow of grace.

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Regain Your Edge

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24

Within the post “Christ In Our Heart” were some thoughts as Paul tells the Galatians that God would take care of them. There was no need to be enslaved by idols because by accepting Christ as Savior, they would be set free. This same power is available to us today.

During troubling or confusing times, understand that you are highly favored in God’s eye. This favor changes everything so if your thoughts are going in the wrong direction, you can regain your edge for a great day by thinking of what good things are going your way.

This will build momentum so that you stay on track today. Here is a song called Free by Dara Maclean to help you remain optimistic and confident that God will step in to change everything for the better and help you regain your edge as you step ahead today.

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Always Hope

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. – Romans 8:25

In the post “On this Journey to a Brighter Day”, written about was how Joshua reviews Israel’s history, he emphasizes how God was involved in bringing them from the land of oppression to the Promised Land.

There is always hope for a brighter day when we are with God and He is with us. That is why we should always examine our hopes and dreams and let God take them to a level that we never dreamed. Even if faced with dark times, His light will illuminate the path to a brighter future.

Like Joshua, let us determine the purpose God has for us, let us carry out this purpose, and finish well. When we serve the Lord, there is always hope for a brighter future just like in this song: Chain Breaker by Zach Williams.

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