Are we paying attention?

God wants our attention and devotion more than he wants our accomplishments for the kingdom. Otherwise, we've set our devotion to our accomplishments over our devotion to God. When this happens, God himself may become the force that hinders our success. Accomplishments without his Spirit and leading will be empty, lacking both his power and anointing. Therefore, we must carefully avoid worshiping our work and work to abide with Christ.

Linda Evans Shepherd
           Praying through Hard Times

Live Before You Die - day 4

While Gideon was still in his mother's womb, God called him a mighty man of valor, and God never gave up on that dream for Gideon's life.

When Gideon looked in the mirror, all he could see were disadvantages and shortcomings.  He doubted that he was capable of greatness and was not convinced the Lord had picked the right man for the job.  But the Lord knew exactly what Gideon needed to hear, and He spoke words that went right to the heart of Gideon's inadequacy:  "The Lord said to him, Surely I will be with you" (Judg. 6:16).

These were the words Gideon needed to hear, and these are also the words you need to hear deep within your spirit as you begin this journey of discovering God's will for your life.  "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5) and again in Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of age." 

When we understand this reality and it becomes part of the fabric of who we are, then we will begin to view every circumstance, both positive and negative, as a situation God can put to work for our good and the furtherance of His purposes.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." 

Daniel Kolenda, Live before you die

Live Before You Die - day 3

Many times when we begin to break out of the old patterns and mind-sets that have held us back, rejecting the status quo and looking for higher ground, our greatest opponents are close friends, fellow church members, and even our own relatives.  In fact, it's interesting to note that the Midianites, being descendants of Abraham, were actually cousins of the Israelites.  It was these "family members," if you will, who had so oppressed Israel that they were cowering in fear rather than living victoriously.  The enemy knows how to use those closest to us to bring discouragement.  They say, "Who do you think you are? Do you think you're better than us?  We've known you since you were a child.  We've seen all your failures, and we know your faults.  You are just one of us.  Get back in your place!"

But God sees more in us than we see in ourselves, and our obstacles, failures, and shortcomings do not intimidate Him.

The architect of the universe spoke the worlds into existence, but He crafted Adam with His own hands and breathed into him with His own mouth!  God has crowned His creation with a masterpiece, which is distinguished because it is "handmade" by the great Creator!  And God continues to fashion mankind with His own hands.  Psalm 139:13 says, "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb."

But before He began to weave you together in your mother's womb, He saw you in His eternal mind down to the smallest detail.  And before you were ever born, He had a dream for your life.  Perhaps as He was weaving you together in your mother's womb, He said, "I'm going to make this little girl into a mighty prophetess to her generation!"  Whatever His dream for your life might be, one thing is for sure:  His will for your life is beyond what you could ask or think!

Daniel Kolenda, Live before you die

Live Before You Die - day 2

If the burden we feel for people is our sole motivation for preaching the gospel or serving the Lord, it is just another form of humanism.

After Jesus had risen from the dead, He found that Peter had gone back to his old occupation - fishing. After cooking breakfast for Peter, Jesus pointed to one of the fish and asked this question, "'Simon [Peter] son of John, do you truly love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs'" (John 21:15).  Note that Jesus didn't say, "Peter, do you love My lambs?" Then, "Feed My lambs."  Rather Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love ME?" Peter's ministry to the sheep was to be motivated primarily by his love for Christ, not his love for the lambs.

When we receive His gift of life, which cost Jesus His life, how can we spend it in the pursuit of our own ambitions, lusts, and gratification?  God forbid.  Instead, in reverent awe and profound love, we are compelled to pour our lives back out before Him like a drink offering, holding nothing back, giving everything we are in the service of the only King who will reign forever and ever.  Make no mistake -  this is not a waste.  It is our reasonable service.  We have been saved to serve.

Leonard Ravenhill once asked the question, "Is what you're living for worth Christ dying for?"  We were not saved so that we could be polished, decorative knickknacks sitting on God's shelf filling space in heaven for eternity.  We have been saved for a purpose, and the fulfillment of that purpose is the only acceptable reaction we can have to the great gift of salvation we have received.  You have been saved, not for salvation's sake, but you have been saved to serve.

Daniel Kolenda, Live before you die

Live Before You Die - day 1

I just started a new book titled Live before you die by Daniel Kolenda.  Mr. Kolenda is a missionary evangelist and president of Christ for all Nations.  I'd like to take the next days/weeks to share excerpts from this book and hopefully you will find them as informative and moving as I have.



The purpose of your existence is not to achieve your own happiness or success.  Your role is to advance a cause greater than yourself. 

Although our lives will one day come to an end, the kingdom of God will keep moving forward to victory, and herein lies our greatest opportunity.  With our mortal hands we can help to build God's eternal kingdom - and that is the greatest privilege any human being could have!

Paul realized he had been saved to serve.  He went on to tell the Romans that they should also present themselves to God as a living sacrifice, and then he added, "which is your reasonable service" (Rom 12:1).  In other words this is not some generous favor you are doing for God.  He purchased you and redeemed you with the blood of His Son.  He set you free from sin and bondage.  He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.  In light of all He had done for you, your reciprocate service to Him is only "reasonable."  You have been saved to serve.