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 account 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 as our focus we stay on the right path. Following Jesus is, as he said in Matthew 22, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

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

How often have we faced a situation where we knew what we should do, but had trouble controlling ourselves and doing the right thing? It might be something simple, like skipping desert, working out rather than watching TV, or going to Church rather than sleeping in. It might also be something very serious like avoiding a cigarette for a quitting smoker, a drink for an alcoholic, or drugs for an addict.

Paul says in his letter to the Philippians that he has the secret to being content in “any and every circumstance,” verse 4:13 he writes “for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.” TLB

What he is saying is that he doesn’t have to carry the burden of his struggles. Christ carries the burden, allowing him to handle anything, even torture and death for his beliefs which he endured.

Dear Lord Jesus, help us have the knowledge that we can do all things and handle anything if we put our faith in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

One of the mysteries of Christian faith is the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes in Romans 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The Bible tells us that we can only believe in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. It also tells us that it is the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, and allowed the apostles to perform miracles. The Holy Spirit is also how God works in us, connects us to each other, and to Him.

We therefore have God’s unlimited power in us and available to us. I believe that the biggest limit on that power is our limited faith in it.

Dear Lord, let us take the limits off of the Holy Spirit working through us, and as Paul tells us, “overflow with confident hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.” With You, all things are possible. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Studies have shown that people adapt and become accustomed to their situations pretty quickly. This ability has helped people survive and adapt to difficult situations, like famine, POW camps, or living through wars.

The phenomenon works the opposite way too. People who live in good times and good conditions like most of us do in the developed world today, can become too accustomed to how great life is, and not appreciate the tremendous blessings we have.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Stop and think about your day sometime, and all the amazing things that are just routine in our lives, from the time we wake up in the morning and through the day. Heat and air conditioning, a bed, electricity, hot shower, sharp razors, clean water, clean laundry, a closet full of clothes, cupboards and refrigerators full of food, cars, trains, buses with heat and air conditioning, paved streets, police departments, computer and internet technology, radio, tv, telephones, stores with anything we need, modern medicine, schools and universities. On top of all those things, the amazing beauty, complexity and balance of nature, the stars in the sky, sunrises, sunsets, birds, flowers, and the list goes on and on.

How could we not be amazed and joyful at all God has given us each day?

We praise and thank you Lord for your wonderful and amazing creation. Help us remember to appreciate all you have provided for us, every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We read about the Devil also known as “the Deceiver” and his deceit many places in the Bible, including the temptation of Jesus in the desert in Matthew 4. The Devil is a crafty supernatural being described as the “ruler of this world” in Ephesians 2:2. He is like “a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour” in 1 Peter 5:8. We can only imagine how effectively he can manipulate our thoughts and perceptions with thousands of years of experience. 1 John 5:19 writes, “We know that we are children of God and all the rest of the world around us is under satan’s power and control”

But in 1 John 5:18 writes, “No one who has become a part of God’s family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, God’s son, holds him securely and the devil cannot get his hands on him.” TLB

Although the devil may be stronger than us on our own, he is nothing compared to us with Christ. Our Faith in Jesus’ power and love is what protects us from this enemy.

Dear Lord, as we pray in the Lord’s prayer, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. When we feel “the tempter” working on us, help us have faith in you to protect us and those we love from the devil’s ways. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.