'...Let God transform...the way you think...' Romans 12:2 NLT
Behind everything you do, there's a thought! So if you're serious about changing your life, you must change how you think. That's not easy, and it doesn't happen instantly. Picture yourself in a boat with the automatic pilot set to go in a certain direction, then you suddenly decide to go somewhere else.
First option: willpower. Grab the wheel and force it to go where you want; by sheer willpower, overcome the autopilot. But you'll feel constant resistance. Your arms will get tired, and when you let go of the wheel, guess what? The boat will go the way it's programmed to go. Get the idea? That's
what happens when you try to change your life through willpower alone: 'I'll force myself to quit drinking, cheating, or doing drugs no matter which kind', and so on. Your willpower can only produce short-term change, but it creates constant stress because you haven't dealt with
the root cause and reprogrammed your mind. The change doesn't feel natural so eventually you give up, revert to your old patterns and say, 'I guess this is just the way I am. I'll never change.' Second option: God's power. There is a better way! The Bible says, '...Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.' Change always begins in your mind! The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act. You say, 'How can I change the way I think?' By programming your mind each day with God's Word. 'How can a...man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.' (Psalm 119:9 NKJV) So hit
the reboot button and start living God's way....
'...The words that I speak to you are...life.' John 6:63 NKJV
Don't just read this devotional, interact with it. To get the most out of each day, find an insight and reflect on it; a nugget of truth you ponder throughout the day. Paul told Timothy, 'Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.' (2 Timothy 2:7 NIV) The more you reflect, the more God will reveal. Then, find a verse and memorize it. This verse should encapsulate a truth you've just read. If you want to improve the quality of your life, memorizing Scripture is one of the most important habits you can begin. Write the verse down and read it every chance you get. Like a seed planted, it will produce life in you. Jesus said, '...The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.' Then try to find a question and personalize it. This question should help you to think about what you've read and how it applies to you personally. The question is not just 'What is God saying?' but 'What is He saying to me?' By writing down your thoughts you can find the answer to that question. Finally, find a principle and act on it. Information only turns to transformation when you do something about what you've read. James writes, 'But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.' (James 1:25 NIV) Your life is worth taking time to think about! So when you read this devotional, do these four things. It will change your life!
'The fear of the Lord adds length to life...' Proverbs 10:27 NIV
The secret of ageing well is staying young at heart, staying close to God, and staying fully engaged with life. The mirror isn't your problem; how you see yourself is. Have you noticed how 'young' some older people are, and how 'old' their peers seem? Seeking the elusive fountain of youth isn't the answer, nor is surrendering to time and fate. Rather, do these two things. First, be realistic! Nothing is sillier than a woman made up to re-create what she hasn't been for decades-except an older man in an unbuttoned shirt flashing jewelry intended to recreate the macho image of a lost youth. When you are comfortable with your age and stage of life, others will be too. Solomon points out that age decreases vigor, dims vision, slackens muscles, stiffens joints, whitens hair, and so on (Ecclesiastes 12:1-5). Vitamins, exercise and a good attitude help, but you must be realistic in order to handle ageing with dignity. Secondly, keep giving. 'Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks lie ahead.' (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 NLT) Don't stop investing your energy and resources into God's Kingdom because you think it's time for the young folk to take over. If you do that loneliness and depression will set in, and illness and death often soon follow. When you shut the door, draw the curtains and isolate yourself, you're old at any age. But when you stay in the mainstream, give yourself to God and others, you'll stay young all your life!
'The fear of the Lord adds length to life...' Proverbs 10:27 NIV
When asked about the benefits of living to be 100 years old, one centenarian smiled and said, 'There's very little peer pressure.' Thanks to medical science we're living to our eighties, nineties and beyond. But living longer means dealing with the realities of ageing. Our youth-orientated culture often gives old age a bad image, but clearly God doesn't agree. To Him, old age is the reward for a life well-lived, a privilege earned, an accomplishment worth celebrating, and wisdom shared to benefit succeeding generations. For the next few days let's observe some things about ageing.
Note how God sees ageing. He views long life as evidence of His favor. He says, '...Through Me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.' (Proverbs 9:11 NIV) Longevity, with all its aches and pains, is a blessing. 'The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of
the wicked are cut short.' You say, 'But who will take care of me when I get old?' Don't worry, God will be there for you: '...I have cared for you since you were born... I will be your God throughout your lifetime-until your hair is white with age...I will care for you...' (Isaiah 46:3-4 NLT) What an insurance policy! Is there proof that He does? Yes, ask the Psalmist. 'Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.' (Psalm 37:25 NLT)
'...He knows how weak we are...' Psalm 103:14 NLT
Any weakness you refuse to deal with will draw you towards the wrong things and set you up for defeat. To live victoriously you must recognize that, first, your weakness can emerge at
any time. What you allow to take root will grow within you. What you fail to master now will master you later. The Psalmist prayed, 'Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.' (Psalm 71:9 NIV) Secondly, God's Spirit will repeatedly warn you. Jesus told Peter: '...Satan has asked for you... But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail: and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.' (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV) Imagine the Lord praying for you. He does! '...if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' (1 John 2:1 NAS) He intercedes for you, clothes you in His righteousness, and draws you back to Himself. Thirdly, God will continue to use you even while your weakness is growing within you. He provides opportunity after opportunity to reach for His help. Jesus warned Jerusalem, '...How often I have longed to gather your children together...but you were not willing...your house is left to you desolate.' (Matthew 23:37-38 NIV) When you neglect God's grace, what's left? Your consequences! You ask, 'What can I do?' Turn to God. He's neither shocked by your weakness nor unwilling to help you. Acknowledge your weakness. Become an enemy to it. Let God's Spirit empower you. Not only can He deliver you, He can turn your greatest weakness into your greatest weapon.
'...Having loved His own...He loved them to the end.' John 13:1 NKJV
On a busy morning, a nurse in the crowded emergency room seated an elderly gentleman who had come to have stitches removed from his hand. He said, 'I'm in a hurry, nurse. I have an appointment in an hour.' As the line of patients ahead of him moved slowly he kept looking anxiously at his watch. Knowing he'd never make his appointment, the nurse led him to an examination room, checked his vital signs and evaluated the condition of his wound. Seeing it was well-healed, she consulted with one of the doctors and got clearance to remove his sutures and re-dress his wound. She asked, 'Are you hurrying to another doctor's appointment?' He said, 'No, I'm on my way to have breakfast with my wife at the nursing home.' She asked about his wife's health and learned she was a victim of Alzheimer's disease. 'Will she be upset if you're late?' The old man told her she hadn't recognized him in five years. Surprised, the nurse asked, 'And you still go to see her every morning, although she doesn't know who you are?' The old man smiled, patted her hand and replied, 'Oh, yes. She doesn't know who I am, but I still know who she is!' Loving 'for better or for worse' means being committed to each other in every season and circumstance of life. It's how Christ loves us: '...Having loved His own...He loved them to the end.' And it's why He said, 'A new command I give you... As I have loved you, so you must love one another.' (John 13:34 NIV)
'His...power has given us everything we need for life...' 2 Peter 1:3 NIV
Here are three rules for living. First, learn to control the climate around you. Negativity is contagious; look out for its 'carriers'. Love them, lift them, but don't let them infect you. Filter what
people say to you through God's Word. '...God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power (ability and a can-do attitude) and of love (which always looks for the best) and of a sound mind (which is stable and consistent).' (2 Timothy1:7 NKJV) Secondly, learn to laugh at yourself. A woman who'd been given a lovely plant took it home, watered it, fertilized it and set it in the sun. A
year later she discovered it was silk-and she still laughs about it. When you're secure in God's love and approval you can laugh at yourself; it's a mark of spiritual maturity. Thirdly, learn to factor God in. Ever hear of the 90/10 rule? When 90 per cent of the circumstances are uncontrollable,
focus on the 10 per cent you can do something about. Paul did that. '...We were troubled on every side; without were fighting's, within were fears. Nevertheless God...' (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 KJV) Note the words 'Nevertheless God'. When you're facing a mountain always remember: God can move it, He can level it, He can tunnel through it, or He can help you climb it. All you have to do is factor Him in by seeking His face and consulting His Word. 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...' (Colossians 3:16 KJV) Keep a rich deposit of Scripture within you and draw on it daily.
