Daily Devotional-You Have Permission to Excel- through your faith in Jesus Christ
It seems that some people think that their chances of excelling in life are limited if they acknowledge their faith or Christianity. Very plainly but humbly, we disagree. We are here to tell you that you can do far more when you put your faith in the God who made you than you can without Him.
The Word of God Literally Gives You Instructions
Everything you need to excel in life is in The Word of God. He tells us over and over, through the prophets, disciples, and in His own Words. You have His permission and goodwill for all things that are acceptable to a life that is in Christ.
We admit that life is often imperfect, there are sometimes roadblocks, disadvantages, and even difficulties, or undeserved criticism. However, He does not send those imperfect things to us. The Bible tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from God above.”
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17
If you read the three scripture above that, it tells us that most of our temptations and difficulties for excelling in our life come from our own actions.
He watches over our existence with love and compassion, and He is the one who gives us “perfect peace.” He does not want us to fail, lag behind or feel inadequate. However, we must keep our faith and trust in Him, and not waiver in our relationship with Him.
3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isaiah 24: 3-4
It is often the enemy of those who have a life in Christ that will try to discourage you. He wants you to feel that you are failing, and wants you to think you are “less than,” and that you have no hope in your personal endeavors. Do not listen to the voice of the enemy of God. He has no power over God.
There is Nothing That is too hard for God and there is nothing He Can’t Do -Scripture to prove it…
When Jeremiah became afraid he began to doubt. In the scriptures, Israel had disobeyed God and they were about to be captured by the Babylonians. Even though Israel would be taken for a time; the Lord God had an extended plan and would save His people when it was time.
26Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 27Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:26-27 (KJV)
You must believe Him, and never let yourself doubt the abundance of God’s mercies. His mercy endureth forever:
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalms 100: 2-5 (KJV)
It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed Him, or what you have done. **see the ending scripture. There is nothing that our God Can’t Do. When you commit yourself to Him and He sees in your heart of truth, He forgives and forgets.
Yes, there are methods that exist in life to excel that we must pay attention to. If you do not abide by the basics of what it takes to accomplish “life things,” you will be lacking in your abilities to finish what you have started. Your walk with God does not eliminate the basic guidelines that contribute to your plans for achieving success, or anything within your life.
When you are following the rules of how to work toward your personal goals, and you are also following God’s plan for your life; you have permission to excel. He will see you through it, and be there to encourage you, but you MUST still produce what it takes to get to the finish line.
This does not mean that you will get everything you want. The Lord God also knows more than you and I do. He sees the future, He knows your needs, and if and when something is not right He will not put His approval upon it.
This is what God told Isreal after their capture…
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
EndNote:
There is only one sin which will not be forgiven:
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Matthew 12:30-33
