Unsinkable YouVersion Devotional

The Lord Is Not Slack Concerning His Promise. 

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Lord is not slack concerning His Promise. What has God Promised you? He is not slack, slothful or lazy concerning what He has Promised you. The Lord is not slack, slothful or lazy concerning what He is preparing for you. What has God Promised you? Surrender to Him. Focus on Him. His timing is perfect. He is faithful. 

You may have been waiting on a Promise to come to pass for some time. You may have been waiting on a Promise to come to full maturity. Don’t give up. Maybe God is maturing you. Maybe God is preparing the stage. Maybe God is preparing the platform. Choose not to faint. Choose not to worry. Choose to Worship Christ — He is fully able to deliver what He has Promised you. 

While you’re waiting. Don’t let your heart grow weary. While you’re waiting. Don’t let your heart grow bitter. Choose not to worship the Promise. Choose to worship God. Shift your focus and choose to worship God, the Giver of life — the Giver of gifts. Don’t turn your promise into an idol. Turn to Christ. 

2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ declares, “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.” Who are you worshipping? What are you worshipping? Are you worshipping God or are you worshipping the promise? Choose to worship Christ over the promise. Don’t idolize the things of this world. 

Are you serving God or is your heart worshipping the temporary things of this world? Choose to Worship Christ and not the temporary things of this world. Choose not to magnify the things of this world over the True and Living King. Choose to serve Christ. 

Who do you serve? “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Action:

Have you exalted or magnified the temporary things of this world over the the True and Living God? 

Renounce every idol that you’ve exalted on the throne of your heart. Choose to surrender to God in every area of your life. Worship God and not the promise.

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Direction Not Drift – High Impact Living with Pastor Rick McDaniel – January 2020

January 01, 2020

2020 – DIRECTION NOT DRIFT

A couple went on a vacation to Hawaii. They decided to do some snorkeling at the beach near their hotel. They paddled into the lagoon to observe the aquatic life in the coral reef. They were mesmerized by all they saw – the coral, the colors, the variety of fish. I did it once in Fiji and it is definitely quite an experience.

At some point, the husband lifted his head out of the water. And what he saw shocked him. They had been caught in a riptide without even realizing it. Focused on looking downward into the water they had never looked up. When they did they realized they had drifted more than a mile out to sea. The shoreline looked impossibly far away their hotel a mere blip in the distance.

Fortunately, they had a boogie board with them. They both grabbed it and began furiously paddling back to shore. They swam for more than an hour before finally reaching the beach and collapsing in the sand. So close to disaster on a day intended to be a relaxing time at the beach.

It’s a crazy story but truthfully too many people can experience this with their lives. They look back over the past year and realize they are far away from where they thought they would be. Somehow they drifted. And that needs to not happen again this new year. Maybe this is you. But how can you keep from drifting in 2020 and have a clear direction?

In Philippians 3:16 it says, “We must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.” And if we are not moving toward the goal we will drift. Did you drift last year? You can’t go somewhere else unless you acknowledge where you are right now. Have you allowed your focus to wander and drifted off your life’s direction?

Where are you at with your health, family, finances, career, spiritual life? And where do you want to be this year? If you don’t know where you are going you won’t get anywhere or you’ll end up somewhere you don’t want to be. You don’t drift to a destination you would have chosen.

Determine your direction this first day of the year. Decide drifting ends today. It will take self-discipline and hard work. But it can be done. You haven’t drifted too far away that you can’ get back on course in 2020.

 

Imprinting

“Teach them to your children…so that your days and the days of your children may be many.” Deuteronomy 11:19–21 We recommended last night that you give extra attention to the spiritual training of your children at age five, when they are most open to your teaching. This idea may concern you. You might prefer that your child be allowed to decide for himself on matters of faith and God. We can respond to this concern with an illustration from nature. After a gosling hatches from his shell, he will become attached, or “imprinted,” to the first thing he sees moving near him—which is ordinarily mother goose. If mama goose is absent, however, any mobile substitute will do. In fact, a gosling will become imprinted easily to a blue football bladder dragged by on a string. A week later, he will fall in line behind the bladder as it scoots past. Time is the critical factor; the gosling is vulnerable to imprinting for only a few seconds after he hatches. If that opportunity is lost, it cannot be regained. In a similar way, there is a brief period when children are most receptive to instruction about God and about right and wrong. When parents choose to withhold religious training from their small child, allowing him to “decide for himself,” they almost guarantee that he will “decide” in the negative. If you want your kids to enjoy a meaningful faith, you must give up any attempts at objectivity and instead “teach [these words of Mine] to your children” (Deuteronomy 11:19). Before you say good night… Are we holding back in the spiritual training of our kids? If so, why? Can we harm our kids by withholding our instruction? Dear God, thank You for the privilege of teaching our children about You. Let us make the most of the opportunities You give us, not allowing anything to come between our kids and an intimate relationship with You. Amen. From Night Light For Parents, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.

Happily Ever After?

“Are you married? Do not seek a divorce.” 1 Corinthians 7:27 What you have observed by looking around your social circles is born out by the numbers: According to nearly every relevant statistic, the institution of marriage is in serious trouble. The Council on Families in America reports that half of first marriages are likely to end in divorce. The National Center for Health Statistics tells us that the number of Americans choosing to marry is declining. And Brent Barlow, professor of family sciences at Brigham Young University, says that if cohabitation and divorce trends continue, “married” could become a minority status within ten years. Obviously, millions of couples who were once deeply in love and believed they were wonderfully suited for each other are seeing their marriages fall apart. If you and your spouse are going to beat the odds, you will need to bring dedication and hard work to your relationship. Does this challenge seem more like a threat than a promise? We have good news. First, couples who are willing to invest in their relationship will find the greatest fulfillment and meaning that life has to offer. That is the promise of a godly marriage. Statistics bear this fact out too! Second, you need not try to beat the odds alone. In fact, you were never meant to. But more on that tomorrow… Just between us… What, specifically, does having a “happy marriage” mean to you? Are you happy? Why or why not? What can I do to bring more happiness to your life? Heavenly Father, You designed the covenant of marriage from the beginning, and our marriage belongs to You. So bless our union with Your best! Draw us together, and draw us to You. Amen. From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.