READ 1 Corinthians 6-8

My Verse:

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV)

If we truly want to succeed in life, we must make choices that help us to reach our goals. Doing things that are not beneficial, although not inherently wrong, will only stall our progress and hinder us from experiencing the abundant life that Christ died to give us. Do not let anything master you in such a way that your forfeit what truly matters to you.

What is one thing you need to let go that is not beneficial for you in reaching your goals?

READ 1 Corinthians 3-5

My Verse:

For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)

Living for Christ is a 24/7 commitment. The message we send others with our words must match the message we share with our actions EVERYWHERE we go. We cannot live two different lives and expect to succeed. When your heart is divided, it is impossible to truly love and to truly live. I pray that your way of life will agree with the teaching of your words.

What message are you sending about Christ with your words? With your actions? How can you make these two match up in a way that honors God?

READ ROMANS 16- 1 Corinthans 2

My verse:

so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:5 NIV)

As humans, we like to be right and desire to be respected for our expertise and experience. But we must remember that when it comes to faith, Christ has become for us wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Cor. 1:19). Our faith must be dependent on the power of God, which is His Gospel regarding the message of the cross. When we build up our faith on the foundation of Christ, we can rest assured that He will keep us firm to the end (1 Cor. 1:8).

Does your faith today rest on God's power or on your own understanding?

READ ROMANS 13-15

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NIV)

Trusting God isn't easy...sometimes we don't understand all the reasons why things happen the way they do. But The Lord promises us that if we trust Him--believe Him and obey him--He will fill us with joy and peace.

Here is one definition of joy:

"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation." (Kay Warren)

Peace is often described as a lack of disturbance, but there are several kinds of peace--peace with God through Christ, peace with others in our relationships and peace through trials. And God is the source of all peace.

And as He fills us with joy and peace, He produces an abundance of hope in us so that we can in turn give hope to others!

How can you trust God more today in order to be filled with His joy & peace and overflow with hope?

READ ROMANS 10-12

My verse:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

So many of us think that God's will is mysterious and unknown. But here God tells us how we can test and approve His will-- meaning how we can know it! And that is by transforming the way we think by replacing our thoughts (pattern of this world) with His thoughts (renewing my mind with Scripture). Seems simple, right? But sometimes the biggest challenge we have is making time to read and listen to God's Word, much less apply His Truth to our daily living.

If you really want to know God's good, pleasing and perfect will for your life--make time today and every day to read His Word, understand what He asks of you in His Word, and obey His Word. If it's important to you, you'll find a way...if it's not, you'll find an excuse.

How will you make the renewing of your mind a priority today?