PROGRESSION – Should be 9/10ths of the Law!

You know, when it comes to daily living (in our health, spiritual journey, intelligence, or physical conditioning), we need to always keep a conscious check on our progress. We become so easily distracted with the "little things" no matter how big they may seem. We fail to keep the bigger picture in mind – which is not easy – not when you're dealing with one difficult issue after another. Regarding our faith walk, this is why I believe it's so important to continue to meditate upon the truths that God has given us. It helps us maintain His perspective about life so that we see things as He does. In fact, when we attempt to see things through God's eyes (by way of meditating on His truths and praying for His guidance), then we become more like Him, gain and maintain His unique perspective and thereby, PROGRESS in our faith. If God has truly done a work in our hearts, then the fruit of His Spirit will become manifest in our lives:

". . . love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control . . ."

(Galatians 5:22-23)

I don't know about you, but for me, these particular attributes are what I need on a moment by moment basis to be the best that I can be. The amazing thing is that they come from God! Being tapped into Him means being supercharged to plow through all the daily muck and mire.

Furthermore, it's the only way that we can keep moving forward – PROGRESSING and not sliding backwards!

My prayer for all of us today is that we keep ourselves "plugged in" to our real Source of strength and wisdom:

1. Focus on God's truth.
   
2. Pray for His strength, wisdom and guidance.
   
3. Decide to consciously follow what He reveals.
   
4. PROGRESS in your faith and move forward!

Don’t Worry About Anything

These are the apostle Paul's inspired words of encouragement for those of us who tend to get bogged down in the muck and mire of everyday existence. They come from a profound understanding that for those who have a true faith in God – that He will watch over and protect – come what may. To give you the full context of this passage, I'll quote it below. It comes from Philippians 4: 4-9. It's one of my favorite biblical passages. I'll quote it from the Amplified Bible, as it tends to elaborate well on certain terms by defining them in parentheses.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

For those of us who have a particular problem with focusing on the negative (ah, that would be me), I bolded verse 8. I find that if I keep that particular passage in the forefront of my mind, that it's easier to traverse difficult moments during the day. It's a way that I can proactively affect my life. I must continuously remind myself that there's no place in my mind and life for the negative. The only thing negativity does is propagate more negative, stress and anxiety. Does the phrase "sick with worry" sound familiar?

Join me today in meditating upon the truths that are written above. If we practice them, then I truly believe and know that God's peace (as stated above in vs. 7), which truly does pass all understanding, will pervade our hearts and minds – even through the difficulties that we are facing.

If We’re Not Actively Surviving, We’re Passively Dying!

The above title is profound, to say the least. I wish I could claim its authorship, but I cannot. My friend and co-writer Ori Hofmekler came up with this philosophical quote. He applies it to fitness, health and nutrition. Over the past couple of years, I've adopted the philosophy for myself as well, but not only in terms of health, fitness and nutrition, but also to the spiritual side of my life. Being a minister and Christian myself, I find that the concept is actually quite biblical as well.

The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians to " . . . work out our salvation with fear and trembling . . ."

Our faith walk with God is a daily, hourly, and sometimes moment by moment pursuit to be, do, act, respond and advance as Christ would want. In the midst of my life relationships, I find that we all have challenges, struggles and issues through which we all must navigate. The question is who is doing the navigating? Do we aimlessly wander through life without an "active" pursuit to survive these difficulties? Do we leave our circumstances to some unknown fate, with no clear direction as to where we're going?

I know that in my life, I choose to take the higher road – one which is directed by the teachings of Christ – Who understood the temptations and pains of being human, yet also being God, always made the right choices. He understood that just as silver and gold are only purified by fire, so are our lives refined, by the fire of trials and struggle.

The thing we must constantly remind ourselves is that it's a daily choice – to endure the trial – holding true to our convictions, because we know they are right – because we know that the rules by which our lives should be governed, are what God has stated are true. They are what God has determined will help us survive, to flourish and to have ultimate victory.

Let's determine to keep our eyes on the prize, knowing full well that as we choose to actively survive, that we'll soon cross that chasm of pain, discomfort and despair – only to find ourselves much better off when we arrive on the other side.

Being Thankful for the Trial

I'm just sitting here today at the beach.

It's early morning and as I watch the sun break just above the ocean, I can't help but think about how thankful I am, just to be healthy and alive. This morning, God brought some bible verses to mind, specifically from the book of James in the New Testament. After having surgery and overcoming the anxiety surrounding it, I can close my eyes, feel the sun on my face and thank God for my health and my life, and for the fact that the trial is over. By His grace and strength, I have endured. Below, are His words that He shared with me today. In like manner, I share them with you:

• Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.

• Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

• But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

• If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

• Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

• For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,

• [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

• Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation [as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God],

• And the rich [person ought to glory] in being humbled [by being shown his human frailty], because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.

• For the sun comes up with a scorching heat and parches the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away. Even so will the rich man wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.

• Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

That last verse is my prayer today for all of those who are enduring trial, temptation, heartache or suffering. We should all endeavor to receive the promised "crown of life" as we persevere through the difficulties of this life!