“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 (NIV) Accuracy promotes intimacy. If you want to have an intimate love relationship with God, you must have an accurate estimation of yourself. Taking personal inventory can be helpful. Have you ever stopped long enough to really get down to your current reality? You can live at such a fast pace in this life that you neglect the need for introspection. Looking within to capture the truth of your spiritual status is vitally important. An accurate estimation of yourself requires truthfulness. Being honest about your thought-life, being honest about your motives, and being honest about your inner desires are marks of spiritual maturity. The tendency is to evaluate others under a microscope and to evaluate ourselves with binoculars. Everyone looks good from a distance. Take a close look at your life. Don’t live in deception. Don’t gloss over the things that break the heart of God. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Cor 10:12 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor (This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.) Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: If
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14 Your impact for God will never rise above your prayer life. God honors those who seek Him. God took the initiative to bring us into a right relationship with Himself. His heart is for you to know Him intimately. God has done everything needed to enable you to have an intimate love relationship with Him. Will you respond to God’s invitation? If you will humble yourself, pray, and seek God’s face and turn from the path of evil, God will respond with blessing from heaven. God promises to hear, forgive, and heal. Are you in need of God’s heavenly touch? As you seek God, He responds to your pursuit. Can you imagine where you would be had God not pursued you long before you ever thought about Him? Can you visualize where you would be had God not built the ultimate bridge to come to where you were? You are armed with an opportunity to take your relationship with the Creator of the universe to a whole new level. Will you seize the opportunity by taking God at His Word? Will you capture the awesome privilege of connecting with Almighty God through prayer? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
If
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV) God keeps His promises. If you confess your sins, God will forgive you and purify you. God’s forgiveness and cleansing is not based on your consistency, rather on His faithfulness. God is holy and demands holy living. At salvation, you received the imputed righteousness of Christ. You are a child of God and positioned in Christ as rightly related to God. However, daily cleansing from sin is needed. Living in a fallen world perpetuates the sin that can contaminate your life. “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Cor 7:1 (NIV) “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 (NIV) To confess your sin is to say the same thing about your sin that God says about it. Don’t neutralize your sin by overlooking it and ignoring it. Instead, confess your sin specifically and receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Walk in light of the cleansing you have received. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 (NIV) Accuracy promotes intimacy. If you want to have an intimate love relationship with God, you must have an accurate estimation of yourself. Taking personal inventory can be helpful. Have you ever stopped long enough to really get down to your current reality? You can live at such a fast pace in this life that you neglect the need for introspection. Looking within to capture the truth of your spiritual status is vitally important. An accurate estimation of yourself requires truthfulness. Being honest about your thought-life, being honest about your motives, and being honest about your inner desires are marks of spiritual maturity. The tendency is to evaluate others under a microscope and to evaluate ourselves with binoculars. Everyone looks good from a distance. Take a close look at your life. Don’t live in deception. Don’t gloss over the things that break the heart of God. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Cor 10:12 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor