“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As a follow-up to Deborah’s week on self-examination, I want us to focus on our prayer life this week. I love this quote from Oswald Chambers: “We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense.” How often do you make prayer a last resort? Is prayer your first line of defense? It is easy to make prayer a last resort when the enemy is constantly trying to derail us. Listening to Satan’s lies can be like going through the Inversion Tunnel pictured here by Ray. Thankfully we walk rooted with a God who fearfully and wonderfully made us. He desires a relationship where we devote ourselves to prayer. In our key verse He tells us to be watchful and thankful.

How do we make prayer our first line of defense? I feel as though once we get in the habit of turning to God before turning to our people and things, it will become a daily practice. Author and Pastor Mark Batterson says we can make and break habits in 30 days. I encourage us to start by making a declaration. According to the dictionary, a declaration is a formal or explicit statement or announcement. You can use my example or you can create your own. This doesn’t have to be a public announcement but rather a private conversation between you and God.

My Declaration: I can choose my thoughts! I don’t have to accept Satan’s lies! I have victory in Jesus! Fear is a liar! Christ is in me! I am enough! I praise my God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Claiming victory today in Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

Now it’s your turn. Let us join together this week in making prayer our first line of defense.

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you spreading the Good News? Are you ready to tell others about Christ?

Click here to watch today’s See You Saturday video with an idea for sharing Christ with others.

Click here to read about ways to make an elevator speech.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV (English Standard Version)

As we end this week of self-examination, I encourage you to reflect on how you are being transformed to be more like Christ. After all, shouldn’t becoming Christ-like be our ultimate goal? Shouldn’t our lives be transformed by Christ’s presence?

What habits and routines do you have in place to help you grow more like Christ? Below are some ideas on how to grow spiritually and be transformed:

• Pray/ask God for guidance and direction.
• Read and study the Bible to learn about the life of Christ and His teachings.
• Participate in an accountability group, Sunday School class, or Bible study group.
• Do for others and seek opportunities to care for and serve others.
• Spread the Good News and be ready and willing to tell others about Jesus.

Our world is full of busyness and distractions. Our world pulls us away from Christ. Today I encourage you to put into place daily habits and routines that will draw you closer to Christ. Be intentional with your plan and be transformed.

Let’s pray Psalm 51:10-13:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

Today’s featured photo, by Ray White, shows various groups of people walking on a foggy shore. Although the people are only a few feet apart from one another, each person is walking towards an unclear future with unique life experiences and perspectives, as well as individual hardships and obstacles to overcome. 

Today’s featured scripture, written by Paul the Apostle, reminds us to value others. Valuing others means realizing that each person in life reacts and responds to life’s circumstances based on past experiences, perspectives, and circumstances. What is difficult for you may not be difficult for me.  My perspective does not lessen your perspective and vice versa. God loves me, God loves you, and God loves every other person on Earth. God’s grace is offered to every person, no matter how they differ from me or you.

This week I have challenged you to examine your coachability, your words, and your actions.  Today I encourage you to examine your heart. Christ teaches us to value others above ourselves. How do you view others who are different from you? How do you interact with others who have a different experience or perspective than you? Are your words and actions a reflection of Christ in your heart?

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for loving me. Help me to reflect Christ in my interactions with others. May I value others above myself, even when my perspectives and experiences differ from theirs. Guide my thoughts as I strive to be more like Your son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.” 2 Timothy 2:16-17

This week as I have talked about being coachable, I have also discussed being changed by God’s teachings. Today let’s examine our “chatter.” Read below The Message version of 2 Timothy 2:16-17.

“Stay clear of pious talk, that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.”

Recently, my son overheard a Christian talking about him to another Christian in a public place.  The discussion came across as judgemental and pious. Plainly speaking, the discussion was gossip. As a result, I have become very aware of my walk, reflecting my talk. I have been convicted of times that I share “prayer concerns” with others in a manner that is actually glorified gossip. 

Today, examine yourself. Do your words glorify God? Are the words you use also reflected in the actions you display? Does your walk match your talk? Are you displaying Christ to others or are you like today’s featured picture, abstract and vague? 

Let’s pray: Dear God, Make me aware of the power of my words and actions. Forgive me for times when my words or actions have not been Christ-like. May my walk match my talk and may I reflect Your presence in my life in all that I say and do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

This week I have encouraged you to examine your coachable spirit. Today I challenge you to examine your response to God’s coaching. How do you respond to God’s guidance and direction? Are you affected by His message for you?

The Bible study our Sunday school class is doing is titled First & Second Thessalonians – A World Changing Faith by Levi Lusko. In the first video, Lusko stepped on our toes when he said, “Sunday doesn’t change anything until it changes Monday.” So I ask you, has the message you received on Sunday changed your Monday? Are you applying each day of the week the coaching God delivers to you on Sunday? Of course, Sunday isn’t the only day God is teaching you. What about the lessons you learn through daily prayer and devotion? The Holy Spirit speaks to us each time we read God’s message in the Bible. Take a few moments today to examine your response to God’s coaching in your life. Are you correctly handling the word of truth? Just as the sand in today’s featured photo has been changed by the ocean, I too want to be affected, shaped, and molded by God. I want to be changed by God’s presence in my life.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for being the Master Coach. Continue to coach me to be the best I can be. May I respond to Your coaching in a manner that glorifies You. May my response on Mondays reflect the lessons You teach me on Sundays. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly or the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” Psalm 1:1-6

I love learning. I like hearing new insights and taking notes. However, do I allow God’s words to teach and train me? At the baseball field, I often hear coaches telling pitchers to follow through. Do I follow through? When I hear God’s words and take notes about it, do I then follow through? Am I changed by His word? Do I apply His message in my words and actions.

I want to be coachable/capable of being easily taught and trained to do something better. I want to be a tree which yields fruit and whose leaves do not wither. I want to prosper for God. What about you? Are you presenting yourself to God as coachable? Are you ready to learn and apply His word today? Are you following through? God wants us to not only hear His word and read His word, but to also learn and grow from His word. He wants us to be changed by His word. As a result, we should follow through by living our lives in a way that exemplifies His word.

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, open my eyes and ears to Your words for me today. May I be humble and yielding to Your message and may I apply Your word in the way I live out my life each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.