Devotions

Set Your Mind

“Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things.”   Colossians 3:2  We bought a new car a while back and I kept forgetting to put a Christian CD in the CD player to listen to while I drive. So, on went the radio. It took quite a few tries to find a station that I deemed appropriate for me - no less my kids. Each time I got in the new car I knew I had forgotten the Christian CD, but I always seemed to be running too far behind to run in and get one. When I would drive the old car, the comfort of hearing lyrics focused on God and all that He has to offer me was comforting. The thing I found myself doing, after driving the new car, was replaying in my mind the songs that I had heard during my short drives to run errands. I don’t spend a lot of time in the car; my two older boys go to school three blocks away and I home school our youngest son. My time in the car is short, but turned out to be not so sweet. The catchy tunes with sketchy lyrics continued to replay over and over in my mind. What is replaying in your mind? Are you finding yourself focusing on the busy things in life: schedules, projects, meetings, packing, unpacking, scheduling flights or getting the car serviced for your long journey to the season, finishing up the school year so you can join your husband for the summer? We are very busy everyday. Are we too busy to ‘set our minds on things above’? What can help us accomplish this focus? For me, remembering to bring a CD to the new car helped change the replaying of tunes in my mind. Now the tune playing in my mind is ‘I can feel you standing here with me’. How much better that is than the sketchy lyrics of so many modern day pop/hip hop songs? Now I am singing praises to the Lord, replaying the lyrics that encourage me to remember He is with me throughout my day. “Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name.” Psalm 30:4. What can we do to encourage us to praise His holy name? Set our minds on things above, set our focus on His words, and immerse ourselves in things that are godly. Prayer: Lord, continue to fill me with your presence as I set my mind on things above. I sing to you Lord all the praises that are due to you. Thank you, Lord, for your unending faithfulness and love. Suggested Reading: Colossians 3 -- Billie Jauss

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Be a Giant Slayer

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”   1 Samuel 17:32 Some days I wake and find myself dreading all the things that lay ahead, or the things that I don’t have answers to. Often in baseball life we find “giants” blocking the path of peace, joy and the dreams we feel God has placed in our hearts. Sometimes I feel like we never have enough time being settled before having to find a place to live, make travel arrangements, pack, unpack, find activities for the kids in another town or city, set up utilities, find out how to get to the ballpark, where to park, what entrance to go to, who do we talk to about tickets, meeting other wives, making sure our husbands are supported, and on and on. When is there time to fulfill the dreams we have when these “giants” stand in our way? With God there is always a way! 1) Make a plan. In 1Samuel we see that David stepped up boldly and planned to fight Goliath, the giant that stood before him. He didn’t write down a step-by-step plan, but made a decision in his heart. He went ahead on the “but with God…” plan. “…but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 2) Block out the negative voices. In 1 Samuel 17:33 Saul said to David, “you are not able to go against this Philistine…” Satan will use a megaphone to try and stop you before you can do the good works God has prepared for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Don’t agree with these voices; don’t give Satan a chance to stomp out God’s dream for you. 3) Fight as God designed you to. In verses 39-40, when David was clothed in Saul’s armor he found himself unable to move. He knew he couldn’t fight in someone else’s armor; he took his staff in his hand and chose 5 smooth stones and put them in a bag he had along with his sling. He needed to fight his own giant with his own armor. If you have a giant to slay, imitate Christ not someone else – in the armor He provides for you. 4) Be confident in Christ. In verse 46 David declared the slaying before it was done. He stood in faith and proclaimed the victory God would perform over the wicked giant that defied Him. There is no sin in our life that can stand against the power of God; when we believe and declare our strength in Him, God works, and we will give Him all the glory. Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Romans 10:10“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” 5) Execute your plan. If you don’t move forward your giant will stay and mock you. Get up and get started! In 1Samuel 17:48,49 “…David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine; taking a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine in the forehead…and he fell on his face to the earth.” He moved forward determinedly in the strength God provided. When we pray and ask the Lord for direction, putting these principles into action, we can be confident that He will enable us to stand in victory against any giant that confronts us. We can begin to walk in the dreams God has given us, standing strong in His plan no matter what baseball throws at us. Prayer: Lord, I confess I have a giant to slay; I ask you to give me guidance to do so in order to begin to live a life of victory that glorifies you. Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 17