Run to obtain that crown

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

"Run in such a way to win the price" v24   1 Corinthians 9:24 - 27  CSB

Today is a new start for you. No matter what happened or didn't in 2023, move forward with Jesus throughout this New Year. In the Olympics, or any other particular athletic competition, men and women run to get gold. As good as that is, this prize is perishable, Paul says it is of no lasting value. When the athlete dies, the prize will probably be handed down to family but, it will not qualify anyone to enter heaven. We must seek an imperishable prize - Jesus Christ.

The prize a Christian wants to hear is Jesus saying: 'Well done, good and faithful servant'  (Matt.25:23). These are the most wonderful words any of us want to hear, and we will, if we keep our eyes on the finishing line where the prize is. God's rewards never fade, rust or perish. So therefore, make it your determination to receive this prize.

There is only one passion in your life worth total commitment, and this is loving and serving Jesus Christ. So when things come your way that hurt you, bruise you or humiliate you, rise above it. No matter what, you serve Jesus not people. People may hurt you, Jesus won't so, don't give up; don't lose sight of that finishing line. Don't disqualify yourself by allowing yourself to fall to the devil's tactics or losing your self-control. 

You have such an inheritance to receive when you are promoted to be with Jesus. Therefore, start investing in this right now. Make it your point that, whatever may come your way - and it will - that you will react in a way Jesus would do. He knows how cruel this world can be; He knows how people can rip you off, falsely accuse you, criticise and judge you, but hey, you are on the winning team. You were chosen for this task and if you handle it all right, Jesus will flick the flak away. Think about that anecdote, as long as you are walking with Jesus, serving Him by carrying out His wishes, then anyone that tries to prevent you, is preventing Jesus' work and He will avenge, not you. Leave it to him and, He will flick the flak away.

So, 2024 is unfolding before you, it's a brand new event and you have an important role to play throughout this year. So, take hold of Jesus' hand and walk it through with Him. There is no other way.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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What have you learnt this year?

"Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead." 

                                                                               Philippians 3:13   CSB 

We're told in various places in the bible, not to look back. Here Paul is forgetting what is behind and reaching to what is ahead. The thing is, occasionally we need to look back so that we can assess how far we have come. However, we are not to look back by living in the past. The past is over, it's a new day and there is a new way forward. Look at Lot's wife (Genesis 19:17- 26). They had been told to get out of Sodom as it was going to be destroyed. Clearly they were told not to look back. However, Lot's wife did, and she was turned into a pillar of salt. Not nice. 

We also need to remember things that God has done for us. This is also looking back. As we do this, we are strengthened when we realise that He turned up at just the right time for us. So, the title of this study today is, 'What have you learned this year?' To do this, you need to look back to assess how things have gone. Therefore, this past year:

WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED AND WHY?

How has your life been this past year? Think back and make a list of the things that you have achieved or even failed at. If you have failed at something, what made this happen? Did you do something wrong or did life prevent you from achieving what you had set out to do? There is nothing wrong in failing. Ask Thomas Edison, he failed many times as he was inventing things. One of them was the Electric Light Bulb. I read it took him 1001 times to achieve this before it worked properly. If he had given up in frustration we would have still been using candles until someone else had succeeded.

Write two lists: your SUCCESS list and your UNSUCCESSFUL list. As you list these down, leave a space to answer why you were successful, what did you do to achieve this. On the other list write why you were unsuccessful, what happened to prevent success. Then when you have finished your two lists read them prayerfully and allow God to show you where you could have been even more successful or what you could do to improve the unsuccessful ones. 

These lists can help you determine what progress you have made, what you could do to improve. This could mean spending more time in prayer and reading God's word. If you find you have not made much progress at all, ask God why this is; what are you missing. He will answer this very quickly. 

Now write a list about:

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR

Then use your list to assess how you are doing. You'll be surprised how God can help you in this area.If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle  

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

 

 

Be in charge of your anger

"You must all be, slow to anger"         James 1:19   CSB

It is possible to not like what God has spoken to you or, if He hasn't answered your prayer the way you wanted Him to. It is recommended that we refrain from doing this; God knows best and we need to remember this. You may also become angry because someone in your church, at home or even at work, has wronged you. Again, this is not recommended as we find ourselves walking in disharmony. If we are right about something, it's possible to approach the person and gently address this. However, be careful because they may not receive it the way you had hoped. Jesus demonstrated anger when He found the temple being used as a trading place (Mark 11:15-17). But notice, in His anger He didn't sin. And this is the difference.

Our egos can be bruised when someone hurts us and this can cause us to become angry.  But when injustice and sin occurs, with people suffering, then that is the time when righteous anger can take place. It is never right for people to be treated in a bad way. But selfish anger is never the answer. To become angry to win an argument or settle a dispute, should never take place by the Christian.

As we've mentioned over the past few days, you need to be in charge of how you listen to people, how you respond to any given incident and take control of anger that is bubbling away. Whenever you have lost your temper with someone, it is most likely that words have been spoken which are like arrows to the heart. You can never take back such words. For many, they are tattooed on the soul, causing severe pain whenever they are thought about. Some of you reading this, may be victims of harsh, arrow-shaped words. All you can do is, forgive the person, as hard as it may be; and then give these painful words to Jesus. He had many hurtful comments made against Him. Don't forget, He was in His humanity so, He would have felt the pain as you do. However, He decided that the work He had to do, was more important than the pain He was suffering. Why not take His example and set yourself free. It will be worth it.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle  

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

Be in charge of your mouth

 "You must all be slow to speak"   James 1:19   NLT

Having covered the area of listening, or in some people's case, not listening, we now come to the area of speech. Some people have very little to say. It's not that they are being rude, they are just built this way. They are quiet by nature and, they can make better listeners than the ones who talk a lot.

We need to speak, it is the number one way in which we communicate with other people and, with God. However, there are limits because some people can talk for a very long time. The one who limits their speech tend to be the ones that get things done. Those that speak a lot can lose the point of what they are trying to say and have to be reminded. Some people talk a lot because they're lonely and welcome the flow of a conversation, while others, are people who get straight to the point and nothing more. Perhaps the ideal is to find somewhere in the middle of this, if that's possible.

There is a danger in speaking too soon. It's possible that the conversation can be misheard, where the speaker may then jump in, challenging something that they thought had been said. It is imperative that we be slow to speak as James advises us. We tend to feel there won't be enough time to get our point over so we, try to jump in when there is a gap in the conversation. Having an itinerary of what you need to speak about is a good idea. However, it must be flexible with thought given beforehand of what people may say about your comments. Obviously, this is only a guide because, the conversation may go another way.

Of course when we speak, we should have a good idea of what is being said. In a  meeting, it can be so easy to drift off and lose your concentration. This leads to  confusion and a vote of no confidence from others. Of course, not all of our conversation is concerned with meetings. There are the every day ones too. But, we still need to be slow to react to another person's comments because, it's still so easy to blurt out a load of gobbledegook. So be careful. 

A big mistake we can fall for by rushing to speak is, making promises that you know you can't keep or, will cause you extra work later. We've all done this. This is the peril of speaking too soon. 

Well, tomorrow, we'll look at the final topic James speaks about - Anger. 

Have a great day!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle  

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2