I believe that most of the challenges we face in life are temptations to do things we know we should not be doing. Resisting some of these temptations is often just a matter of commitment, self discipline, and habit, such as using foul language, lying, gossiping, etc. Some temptations, however, cannot be overcome with our own strength. Things like the many addictions that are often more than people can overcome on their own. I think in many of the cases of addiction, it is not possible to overcome without God’s help.

We stand in the checkout line at the store and see the tabloids telling about the continuous relapses of addictions many celebrities deal with, and many of us have our own friends and loved ones who battle with addictions, never seaming to be able to overcome. I believe in order to overcome these challenges; they must have faith in God and His power.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

These forces are stronger than us on our own, but as John writes in 1 John 4:4, “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”

With God’s spirit in us we can overcome the forces that pull us toward these evil temptations.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us your Spirit to teach us and give us strength. Help us rely on you and your spirit to overcome temptation and live lives that glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is a popular business book called “One Thing” and the author’s main point is that in order to succeed we need to focus intently on one thing. If you are old enough to remember the Billy Crystal comedy movie, City Slickers, there was a tough old cowboy character “Curly” played by Jack Palance who had a famous scene where he said, holding up one finger, “the secret of life was one thing…., you have to find out what that one thing is for you.”

In the story of Mary and Martha recorded in Luke 10, Jesus came to visit sisters Mary and Martha, and while Jesus was there, Martha was busy with all the activities of hosting Jesus’ visit, but Mary sat and listened to Jesus teaching. This upset Martha who told Jesus it was not fair that Martha was working hard on all the arrangements while Mary sat listening to Jesus and not helping. Jesus’ answer was, Luke 10:42,43, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

There is only one thing we also need to be concerned with, and that is following Jesus. When we keep this in as our focus we stay on the right path.

Dear Lord, You have given us the incredible gift of Salvation through Jesus’ Christ. Help us remember that is the one thing that matters most. In His name we pray. Amen.

I have written in the past about how each of us has a calling, a mission, that God has put us on. We go about our daily lives pursuing our occupations, responsibilities and hobbies, and if we keep God the priority in our life, he is directing us.

Proverbs 16:3 is a great passage to memorize and ties in with this concept. it says, “Commit your actions to the Lord , and your plans will succeed.”

When we say, “this is what I am trying to accomplish Lord, but let me do your will not mine,” we are committing our actions to the Lord. He promises our plan’s will succeed, which will ultimately be the plans he is using us to accomplish.

Dear Lord, Thank you for directing our activities toward success in the calling you have given us. Help us always begin our days and tasks by asking for your direction and guidance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Each year, Warren Buffet, thought to be the greatest investor of modern times, auctions off a lunch with himself, giving the proceeds to charity. This year the winning bid for this lunch was $2.35 million. I imagine the person who paid that much money will be alert and listening to every word he hears from Warren Buffet.

Fortunately we don’t have to pay to speak with God, the creator of everything. Prayer is our way of communicating to God. Often times God is responding to us, while we pray, through our thoughts and perceptions. We need to be concentrating and listening for these answers.

Paul writes in Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” NLT. However, The Living Bible translation writes the same verse this way, “Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for Gods answers, and remember to be thankful when they come.”

We know God is answering our prayers, his way. Let’s be thankful always, and alert for God’s answers.

Dear Lord, Thank you for being just a prayer away. Help us pray regularly, alert and thankful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You have probably heard people In sports, music, writing, art, and probably other activites talk about being in “the zone.”  “The zone” is meant to describe a state of concentration and focus that allows you to perform exactly the way you like, smoothly, flawlessly.  

In some ways, there is a “zone” we can get into spiritually, where we feel like we are smoothly moving along a path on which God is guiding us.  It is a great feeling, unfortunately it gets interrupted by our own mistakes, and sometimes God’s challenges for us. 

I think this is what Romans 12:2 is describing when Paul writes, “….change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.”

Changing the way we think is using God’s template, outlined in the bible as our model, rather than the template  that happens to be popular with people.  

Dear Lord, thank you for sending your spirit to us to help and guide us.  Help us renew our minds and hearts focusing on you and your will, so that we might get “in the zone,”  Your zone.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.