Many people grew up in Christian families, and carried on with their Christian lives from childhood into their adult lives. There are also many Christians who practiced different religions, were avowed atheists, or just didn’t think about God in their lives until God called them to his mission. Many of these conversions are amazing stories.

The most amazing conversion in the Bible is the apostle Paul, who turned from being the biggest persecutor of Christians, to the leading Evangelist in history and the author of much of the New Testament.

These conversions are not coincidences to God. Paul writes in Galatians 1:15-16, “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.”

Dear Lord, Thank you for being active in our world, calling and empowering people to bring your love and Salvation to others. Help us find your calling in our lives so that we may do our part. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We all have experienced the challenge and frustration of learning something new at some point in our lives, algebra, a foreign language, a new piece on a musical instrument, a trick on a skateboard, tennis backhand, or one of a thousand other skills. The learning process rarely happens with one try and then we have the skill mastered. Most of the time, it takes many attempts to get it right once, then many repetitions of doing it correctly before we can do it right, at will.

In a way, this is what James is describing in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James is saying we build up our skills as faithful Christians by going through the difficult practice testing our faith, but when we do this enough, we will have these “skills of faith” mastered.

Dear Lord, You are always giving us the opportunity to face challenges that improve our skills to serve you. Help us see these challenges as the learning and development that they are, and not irritants for us to complain about. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is a fair amount of debate, in intellectual circles and scientific communities about where a person’s morality and conscience come from. People without a religious belief, atheists and agnostics would argue that morality and conscience are learned, and are only a result of upbringing and exposure.

God is pretty clear through Paul’s writing in Romans, though, that our conscience and morality were placed in each of us by God. Romans 2:14,15 says, “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.”

How great it is to have a conscience to help us see the boundaries for our behavior. God put these reminders there for us, all we have to do is follow them

Dear Lord, We thank you for having written your law on our hearts. Please give us the strength to listen to our conscience, and choose to do the right thing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I am continually am amazed at the information that is available on the internet. So many things that we used to have to search for to understand, or we just had to accept the information was not available. Now we have maps, pictures, reference material, training courses, phone books, news, connection with longtime friends, video conversations…just amazing. Unfortunately, this amazing technology also creates new opportunities for deception and temptation.

In The Living Bible translation of Matthew 6:22-23 Jesus says, “If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul. But if your eye is clouded with evil thoughts and desires, you are in deep spiritual darkness.”

As I read this I could visualize those links on many internet sites sometimes referred as “click bait,” teasing you to look at the latest gossip, scandal, lewd photos and behavior. What a waste of our thoughts, and a “clouding of our eyes” these things are. As tempting as some of these headlines may be, we need to take a second and determine if our reasons for reading the story or looking at the pictures is right.

What a great image it is, however, to have “sunshine in our soul” as the verse says; The result of keeping our eyes and thoughts on all the great things God has provided.

Dear Lord, the blessings and opportunities you provide for us with modern technology are amazing. Help us keep our focus on the amazing benefits which provide “sunshine in our souls.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have you ever completed a personality assessment? There are a number of different types, but all of them have you answer a large number of questions about yourself, and after your answers are analyzed, the results are used to help you understand yourself better, and hopefully use the information to improve yourself.

David writes in Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

He is asking God to assess him, both, his heart, those reflexive feelings, impulses, and preconceived ideas, and his thoughts. Then he is asking God to show him where he needs to work on himself to be a better follower.

We should have the same prayer, asking God to show us the places we can work on to improve ourselves, and keep us on the right path.

Dear Lord, search our hearts and minds and show us where we are not following your will. Then help us make the improvements to stay on your path. In Jesus’ name. Amen.