You’re an expert now! Mike, a friend of mine, heard this just after finishing a motocross (motor cycle) race. Last year Mike was in the beginner class and had just moved up to the intermediate class. There were jumps and speeds that still unnerved him.
In this particular race, Mike was dueling with another rider. If he tried to pass, the other rider would move in front of him. If he tried to speed up, the rider in front would hit the throttle as well. This went on the entire race. He was never able to pass the other rider, who eventually won.
Mike was exhilarated over the race, but disappointed he hadn’t won. His disappointment soon changed. An expert rider, who was watching the race, came to congratulate him on his times and asked if Mike was racing the following week. Mike said, “I’m not in the expert class.” Come to find out, this duel pushed both riders to cross the finish line in expert class times!
Mike was so focused on the rider ahead of him, he forgot all about his speed concerns. His fears weren’t present because he simply kept his eyes on the front rider.
Hebrews 12:2, “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of your faith.” You stay focused and keep acting on the truths Jesus gives you and your life will be changed. You become what you focus on and what you focus on gets bigger. Who are you focusing on?
S“E”t Free Nowww

Isn’t this true? When you want your drug of choice, it all of a sudden appears, seemingly out of nowhere! Your enemy is not stupid. Just as we have angels helping us (Heb. 1:14), our enemy has helpers as well (Eph. 6:11-12). He’s watching your life waiting for opportunities to help you to fall. And just as Jesus can speak to you (John 10:27), so can your enemy (Mk. 5:9).
It’s our choice who we will listen to – Jesus or our drugs of choice. Keep walking and talking with Jesus everywhere you go. And when your enemy wants to break into that communication, don’t answer! Don’t even let him go to voice mail.
You are a secure child of God who is sitting Jesus’ lap at the right hand of God right now. You have the power to tell him to shut up and get right back to talking about your day with Jesus. Choose to keep listening to Jesus. He is friend.
“S”et Free Nowww

“I won’t let it define who I am, and I refuse to allow it to consume me.” How’s that for an awesome attitude from a 16 year-old recently diagnosed with cancer?
Her parents are right there as well. “The human thing is to go down the darkest roads and start to think about the worst possible scenarios. You just stay off those roads and do everything possible to remain positive.”
I don’t know whether or not this family believes in Jesus. Their story should be a testimony to all of us, though. Our circumstances – past, present or unknown future – don’t define us. Jesus does. We are secure children of God, who have a choice how we approach each day – victorious through it or victims to it?
“Death where is your victory? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus took the ultimate lousy day and turned it on its head. Circumstances for the secure child of God don’t have to be rosy; how we approach them can be.
The same Jesus who rose from the grave, lives inside you. So rejoice my friend, despite your circumstances, because your Lord is near.
“S”et Free Nowww

WARNING: STOP READING IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE GOD SPEAKS TODAY. I realize that some of my readers may not believe our God speaks to His children outside as well as inside His words on the pages of Scripture. If you don’t, please come back tomorrow. If you do, keep reading.
It took place this morning during my Bible Impact reading time. I was in the middle of the next section of Scripture on my Read the Bible in a Year schedule, which was Ecclesiastes 1-3, when it happened. God started talking to me big time; so much so that I opened my journal to write it all down. He didn’t stop for three pages! I needed to hear every word of it too. Afterwards, I went back to my reading and continued listening to Him in the Word.
A fellow pastor called this contemplative prayer. I call them thoughtful conversations. It’s a type of prayer where conversation goes both ways – between the person and God and between God and the person.
I believe our God wants to talk with His children. And when He does, we end up hearing exactly what we need to hear. Sometimes He speaks wonderful words of encouragement, while at other times His words are full of correction. Either way, I am so glad He does. This secure of child of God grows closer to Jesus because of them.
My next book, “A Personal Walk in the Presence of Your God,” is about the subject of God talking with His children. I pass on some very important lessons I’ve learned about how to better listen to and follow Jesus every day everywhere through prayer walking. You can reserve your copy today by emailing me. My email address can be found via the Resource tab – Contact Info.
“S”et Free Nowww

Look at the photo clearly. There is freshly tilled dirt next to growing plants. The entire field was plowed into rows. The brown rows are getting water just as the green plants to the left are. Yet, only one has growth taking place. The difference? One was seeded and the other one wasn’t. Something doesn’t come from nothing. Add seeds and you get something.
Believers can have their fields plowed through life’s challenges. Believers can watch the Spirit work in the lives others. But if those same believers haven’t planted specific truths from the Word of God into their lives – something doesn’t come from nothing – no growth.
You might have the greatest and most valid reasons ever for not reading the Word. Remember, though, something doesn’t come from nothing – nothing in, nothing out.
Want to see your life changed? Listen to Jesus in the Word. Want to experience the peace of God? Plant specific truth seeds into your brain. Something only comes from something.
If you’re making excuses, ask the Spirit to show you what’s behind them so He can begin to help you erase them using the FREEdom process. If you’re not in a BIG, ask the Spirit who He wants you to be accountable to life change with. If you don’t know where to start reading, download the Read the Bible in a Year schedule and start putting something into your heart and head.
As you do the above, you will taste and see that the Lord is good from the crops of your own field.
S“E”t Free Nowww