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    • Walking with Jesus

      Posted at 8:10 am by sneuhofer, on June 22, 2018

      Proverbs 14 gives a contrast between the life of the wise vs. the life of a fool (or the unwise). As I read through this Proverb, there were several verses that caught my attention and forced me to ask the question “Am I choosing to live by the standard of God’s word in every area of my life?” and if not “Am I changing to align every area of my life with the word of God.”

      Our life is a daily journey to learn what God’s word says and then walk it out-loud for others to see so they may come to know the saving grace of Christ’s love. So the first verse that stopped me dead in my tracks to do a little self assessment was verse 9.

      “Fools don’t care if they sin, but honest people work at being right.”

      I got out my journal and wrote down my thoughts to the following questions:

      • Is there anything in my life that doesn’t align with the word of God and if so, am I staying there?
      • Do I refuse to accept God’s truth about an area of my life? Maybe it’s not a refusal to accept the truth, maybe it’s just not trusting God to know what’s best for my life in that area.

      • Have I fallen into repeated patterns where I know my actions, words and deeds speak negatively about my walk with Christ? [I guess what I mean by this question is: what do others who don’t know the truth of God’s word see when they watch the way I live my life? When I come to realize what others are seeing in me that don’t line up with God’s word, I ask God to forgive me of (the specific sin) and give me the courage to  to change so my belief align with His word.]

      Verse 12 also had me looking inward,

      “Some people think they are doing right, but in the end it leads to death.”

      Is there anything in my life that I think I’m doing right, but I haven’t checked  against God’s word?

      Since accepting Christ as my Savior, I have so desired to live the abundant life He has for me and I strive to walk in His truth in everything I do…from the way I act around others, conduct myself at work, raise my child, and treat my spouse. [I know I’m not perfect…and I know God’s grace is sufficient for me every day of my life. When I mess up…I fess up.] My prayer is that I will continue to grow daily in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ so that I may life a life worthy of the gospel. Thank God that my walk with Christ is a “marathon, not a sprint!”

      My prayer is also the same for you. I pray you will live your life according to the truth of God’s word and when sin in your life is revealed, I pray you have the strength to lay it down at the foot of the cross and trust Jesus to help you grow and change.

      Related reading: Gal. 5:22–23; 2 Peter 1:5-6; Titus 2:2-6; 1 Cor. 15:58

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      Posted in christian living, Christian walk; Christian growth, pressing on | 0 Comments
    • What’s best for you?

      Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on January 22, 2018

      Proverbs 21:2 (NCV) “You may believe you are doing right but the Lord judges your reasons.”

      YIKES! When I read this verse I thought about all the times I said “well I need to do what’s best for me.” Actually what’s best for me may not always be what God says is best for me. My “what’s best for me” might be born out of selfish desires, ambition or jealously of what someone else possesses.

      Look closely at the second part of the verse, the Lord judges your reasons. Some other translations of the Bible use the language: the Lord looks at the heart. UGH! So my “I know what’s best for me” might not be what is actually best for me at all. The Lord is the ultimate judge because He can see the depths of my heart and He knows my motives.

      So, how do I determine what really is best for me? I have to first see if what I “think” best aligns with the truth of God’s word. If it doesn’t, then I have to give it up and realize it’s simply a ploy of the enemy to take my focus off of Christ. As Christians, the Bible is the standard by which we live our lives. This being said, it is up to each one of us to carefully examine our heart and life to determine what is best by looking through the lens of the Bible.

      We have all been called on purpose for a purpose and will stand before God one day and give an account for our lives. If there are things in my life I’m holding onto for my own reasons…. unforgiveness, anger, jealously, hate, my own dreams and desires, etc… I need to repent (turn from those reasons) and allow Christ to lead me down the path He has for me. This may not always be the path I would have chosen for myself…but I guarantee there will be abundant blessing that flow from being obedient to Christ and His plans for my life.

      I challenge you today to look inward and determine if there are “things” you’re holding onto for your own reasons. If so, it’s time to let go and give them to God. Lay your agenda down at the foot of the cross and walk away. There is incredible freedom and immeasurable blessing in releasing your own agenda and trusting God’s plan for your life.

      How do I know this is true? Because according to Jeremiah 29:11 “He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.”

      Related reading: Proverbs 4: 25-27; Isaiah 55:8; Colossians 1: 9 – 11; Ephesians 5: 15 – 17

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      Posted in Christian walk; Christian growth | 1 Comment
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