Today's reading: Psalm 149:1-9
The clear instruction in Psalm 149 is to sing a "new song" to the Lord, which communicates that it's important for us to be fresh and creative with our praise. In other words, the words we use to praise God, and even the manner in which we praise, shouldn't always be the same. So as we go about our weekend (Sunday is coming), let's be open to different ways to praise. Look for a fresh new way to praise God, and then do it!
Think about your normal routine when it comes to praising God. What's one way you can praise God differently this weekend (verbally or with your actions)?
~Daily Disciples~
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Controlling Our Appetites
What words would you use to describe our society? Materialistic, sensual, impatient, indulgent, undisciplined--these are just a few. We're also a "have it now" culture. Satan specializes in presenting us with opportunities for instant gratification while promising us that indulging our appetites will bring us the satisfaction we seek.
Human appetites, in themselves, are not sinful. In fact, they're God-given. However, because of our fleshly weaknesses, they need to be controlled. When our appetites rule us, we're in trouble. Paul likened the Christian life to that of athletes who are so focused on winning the race that they exercise self-control in every area of their lives
That's exactly how we're called to live, yet we lack the motivation, determination, and power to do so in our own strength. For this reason, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit within us. If we yield our lives to Him and step out in obedience to His promptings, we'll have the strength to say no when fleshly desires feel overpowering (Gal. 5:16).
Another key to success is keeping our focus on the eternal instead of the temporal. Many decisions that seem mundane are in fact spiritually significant. Are you indulging an appetite that could result in the sacrifice of an imperishable reward in heaven?
When the Enemy tempts us, he always tries to keep our attention on our desire and the pleasure of indulgence rather than on the eternal rewards and blessings we're forfeiting. Just remind yourself how quickly immediate gratification wanes and how long eternity lasts.
~Charles F. Stanley~
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One continued dream and delusion!
(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")
"There is no one who understands." Romans 3:11
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
"They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts." Ephesians 4:18
The natural man's apprehension of divine things is corrupt. The understanding, that leading faculty, is despoiled of its primitive glory, and covered over with confusion.
Tell them how they may advance their worldly wealth, or how they may gratify their lusts--and they will quickly understand these things. But it is very hard to make them know how their souls may be saved, or how their hearts may find rest in Christ. They are very stupid and unteachable in the matters of God. What woeful delusions prevail over them! Do we not often see those, who in other things are the wisest of men--yet are notorious fools with respect to their soul's eternal interests?
Many who are eagle-eyed in the trifles of time--yet are like owls and bats in the light of eternal realities. Nay, truly, the life of every natural man is but one continued dream and delusion, out of which he never awakes, until either, by a divine light darted from Heaven into his soul, he comes to himself--or, in Hell he lifts up his eyes in torment!
Sin has closed the windows of the soul, and darkness covers the whole. The prince of darkness reigns there, and nothing but the works of darkness are framed there. We are born spiritually blind--and cannot be restored without a miracle of grace!
"For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord!" Ephesians 5:8
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