Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Genesis

Looking Back

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This is the time of year when many are writing about looking back over the past year, recounting lessons learned, blessings, and obstacles. Looking back is helpful only insomuch as it focuses us on the beauty and blessings of our Savior. There is a danger in looking back that we focus too much on ourselves and not on God. Considering what we have accomplished and overcome can inadvertently lead to self-satisfaction and pride.

looking back,mission,commitment,focus,God's Kingdom,discipline,Genesis 19:15-27,Lot's wife,Psalm 105:5,remember God's wonders,Matthew 6:34,today has enough trouble,Deuteronomy 8,remember what God has done,Kingdom of God,Luke 9:62,no one who puts their hand to the plow

Reflecting on our problems and challenges can lead us down a road of discouragement and despair rather than focusing on the One who provides everything we need. If we visit it lightly, the past can teach us a few lessons and serve as a wonderful reminder of the provision of our God. Better to leave it quickly though and focus instead on the work ahead.

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Time for God

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Despite promises to the contrary, technology continues to overcomplicate and frustrate our lives. Having spent most of my career in the information technology field, I speak not as a Luddite but as an enthusiast. Still, it doesn’t take an expert to recognize how technology has exacerbated, and sometimes even led to, the growing sense of despair and sense of being overwhelmed so many are experiencing.

time for God,priorities,discipline,commitment,Exodus 20:8-11,honor the sabbath,Luke 5:15-16,Jesus went alone to pray

Social media fuels both the cancel and comparison culture while stealing away the moments we used to spend in the actual company of people or in quiet times of reflection. Our busy lives crowd out any time for God. He exists only in the margins of our lives if we allow Him entrance at all.

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Feed Your Mind

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My pastor passed on some wisdom he had received from one of his college professors: “If you get it out of your heart, it won’t come out of your mouth.” His takeaway from that is to put into your heart what you want to come out of your mouth. Feed your mind with what you want to reflect. If you feed it words and images of divisiveness, hate, mistrust, and fear, what kind of person do you think you’ll become?

feed your mind,thoughts,emotions,feelings,love,discipleship,focus,fear,God's Kingdom,Genesis 3:1-6,serpant was more crafty,Ephesians 4:29-32,build others up,Daniel 1:3-20,Daniel refused to eat,Philippians 4:8,think on these things,whatever is lovely,John 6:35,bread of life,Kingdom of God

What sort of words do you think will come spilling from your lips? Paul implored us to speak only words that build others up (Ephesians 4:29-32). If you constantly feed your mind with messages that tear you (and others!) down, you can never do as Paul says.

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Total Dependence

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Have you ever prayed a prayer that immediately scared you? When I ask God to help me live in total dependence on Him, I get a little nervous. I am desperate to live my life in total dependence on Him. I don’t want to be independent and self-sufficient any longer. It’s an illusion, anyway. We aren’t self-sufficient. Jesus gives us the very breath we breathe each moment. We don’t create it, and we couldn’t if we tried.

total dependence,surrender,commitment,discipleship,Genesis 1:26,dominion over earth,Genesis 3:1-5,did God really say

Everything we do is because our Creator has given us the ability to do it. Without Him, we could do nothing. The reality is we already live in a state of total dependence, but we spend our lives in a state of denial. We convince ourselves that we are the rulers of our destiny when nothing could be further from the truth. It’s all lies brought to us by the father of lies himself.

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Doubt

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Never let the devil convince you that you are less than who God says you are. You are created in the image of God, designed to be holy and in perfect union with your Father in Heaven (John 17:21). Never doubt that fact. In the beginning, God created men and women in His image (Genesis 1:27). Yet we constantly see ourselves as lacking what we need to succeed or enjoy life.

Doubt,despair,purpose,works,commitment,love,focus,Genesis 1:27,created in God's image,John 17:21,be one as we are one,Psalm 46:1,ever present help in trouble,John 15:15,Jesus calls us friends,John 3:16;God so loved the world,Ephesians 2:10,created for good works,2 Peter 3:9,willing none should perish

Satan plants thoughts in our minds like we aren’t attractive enough, smart enough, skinny enough, talented enough, wealthy enough, and on it goes. Before believing any of those lies, recognize that as an image-bearer of God, you are more than enough. You have all the talent and resources needed to become the person God created you to be.

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