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Stand Our Ground

By Steve T. on May 31, 2011

Our Christian walk of growing closer to God and becoming more like His Son involves a process of “renewing our mind” (Romans 12:2). Our mind is renewed as we begin to consider things of eternal value rather than the fading things of the world. But no matter how far we mature in our walk, distractions attempt to consume our thoughts and distance us from God.

Distractions always come in some form of temptation. There is a wide range of self indulging, flesh-filled desires and power hungry ambitions which tempt us at every turn; but there are also the more deceptive temptations like laziness, worry, pride, and overfilled schedules (and don’t even get me started about my selfishness!). Each of these are common tools of the enemy used to separate us from an intimate relationship with God. But God is not surprised by temptation. He understands and has provided a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

In our fight against temptation, we must first understand that being tempted does not mean we have been singled out. Temptations are not an issue of Salvation, and they do not diminish God’s love – our temptations are “common to man.” Though we don’t seem very good at talking about our struggles, we ALL face forms of temptation. We are a Family and have much more in common than we realize.

Since we know we will face temptation as part of our daily battle, let’s start our day by getting prepared. No soldier enters war without the proper equipment. Neither should we enter a clearly hostile environment without making sure to get properly dressed; “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:13).

The middle of a tempting situation is not the time to make decisions on how to react. Temptation decisions must be solidified in our heart long before the enemy attempts to pull us off God’s path. Conquering temptation is only possible by growing deep roots of commitment and Godly character through daily studying His Word, praying for strength, and trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide our steps – by putting on the “FULL armor of God.” I must start today asking God for the patience and strength to give myself away.

Our Heavenly Father has given us the tools, and He desires for us to live a victorious life. The attacks are going to come (and they will keep coming!) but our way out is to be prepared. If we will begin each day by getting fully dressed for battle, we WILL bear the temptation – we WILL stand our ground.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Live Above The Noise

By Steve T. on May 31, 2011

[Note: This message was originally sent out in 2009 when we were traveling. Tonight, as I read about priorities and the busyness of life, I can see it is a message I need to hear again!]

Today is day thirty-two of our traveling “journey.” I put journey in quotes because I’m not exactly sure what to call it. We are definitely not on vacation – we’re needing to address this with regard to how we school our kids – and we don’t really have specific ministry goals related to travel. I don’t have a speaking schedule, no meetings or conferences. So I called it a journey. We are going from one place to another seeing what God will do along the way, how He might use us and what lessons He might teach our family.

One lesson which is becoming more clear has to do with priorities and the busyness of life. I have often written about the need to examine our priorities and see if they are aligned with the priorities of God, but I’m beginning to see that examining priorities means more than just a listing of first, second, and third.

Before getting on the path of full-time ministry I spent many years training to be an electrical engineer. One of the concepts an engineer must learn is signal to noise ratio. All signals contain an inescapable amount of noise. However, a signal can be fully recovered as long as the signal to noise ratio is high. It’s not enough for the signal to just be larger; it must be “much” larger or we say it has become buried in the noise.

Over the last thirty-two days the noise of life has begun to slowly fade. It’s definitely not completely gone (I’m not sure that’s ever possible) but as the noise is reduced, God’s signal is becoming more clear. What is He saying?

The busyness of life can make it impossible to hear from God. Jesus came to give life, “and have it to the full” (John 10:10). But we will never have this life – the life which brings true glory and honor to God – unless our life in Christ is far above the noise of this world.

Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

It’s becoming clear that when Jesus said “first” He did not simply mean to seek His kingdom slightly more than the things of this world. Jesus consistently talked in term of a dramatic difference; “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be My disciple” ( Luke 14:26). In engineering terms we would say Jesus was speaking about a high signal to noise ratio, where our love for God is so great that all other loves appear as hate; “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).

We are called to serve God and love Him with ALL our heart. This love can never be something we simply add to our other loves; it must be a love beyond compare! Let’s truly examine our priorities and determine to give God the absolute fullness of our heart. Let’s reduce the worldly clutter and forever live above the noise.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Give Him All The Glory

By Steve T. on May 31, 2011

Joseph had some difficult times in his early years. His brothers tried to kill him and then sold him to the Midianites. The Midianites, in turn, sold him as a slave to Potiphar who was one of Pharaoh’s officials. Joseph was then falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown in prison where he sat for several years – things definitely were not going very well.

Then one day Joseph got his opportunity to make a change. Pharaoh had some dreams which bothered him greatly, but, when he sent for the wise men of Egypt, no one could help; “Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him” (Genesis 41:8). Pharaoh was told of a young Hebrew slave who was in prison but had demonstrated a unique ability to interpret dreams.

Pharaoh quickly summoned Joseph from the dungeon; “I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it” (Genesis 41:15). Wow! This was Joseph’s big chance – his opportunity to take matters into his own hands and shape his circumstances. He certainly deserved a break. And after all, doesn’t God help those who help themselves?

Unfortunately, this is one of the biggest misquotes of the Bible – and a shameful misrepresentation of God. It’s much more accurate to say God will faithfully work our circumstances to the good (as seen through His eyes) as we diligently seek Him and love Him with all our heart, and faithfully follow where He leads.

Joseph could have used this opportunity to bring glory and honor to himself. But He had learned the important lesson that ALL things come from God and should be used to glorify His name.

Genesis 41:16
“‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.'”

Joseph had been given a wonderful gift, but this gift would only produce fruit as God worked through Joseph’s life. This was the same lesson Paul tried to teach the Church in Corinth: “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

It’s by God’s grace we accomplish anything; “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). It’s by His grace we have talents and abilities. It’s by His grace we obtain direction and motivation. In fact, it’s by His grace we take our next breath! If God provides all the tools, He certainly deserves ALL the praise. Let’s never miss an opportunity to use the gifts God has provided. And when our lives produce fruit, let’s never miss an opportunity to give Him all the glory!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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The Watchman

By Steve T. on May 31, 2011

Ezekiel was called to be a prophet after being taken captive to Babylon. Since the beginning of his ministry Ezekiel knew his path would be difficult; he knew the people would not be receptive to his message; “The people to whom I {God} am sending you are obstinate and stubborn” (Ezekiel 2:4). And yet, from the very beginning, God made it clear that Ezekiel was accountable to speak the truth.

Ezekiel 3:17-18
“I have made you a watchman; so hear the Word I speak and give them warning from Me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him…that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.”

God called Ezekiel and clearly gave him a message of truth that was expected to be shared; “whether they listen or fail to listen” (Ezekiel 3:11). Ezekiel was not responsible for how many people obediently followed God’s Word, but he was definitely accountable for sharing the message God gave.

God’s call is not just reserved for pastors, missionaries, or ministry leaders; His call goes out to each of us who hear His message of forgiveness. Yes, the world is still full of “obstinate and stubborn” people (we probably need look no further than the mirror), but God’s truth is good news which can save lives and give hope – it’s a truth which must be shared!

Now here’s the difficult part: Sharing God’s truth is not an optional part of our walk. Each of us have been called and given a mission field in which to minister; and we are each held accountable for our ministry into this field. Notice we are not accountable for the response, only for our action or inaction; “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17). Failure to respond to God’s leading is sin!

What field has God called you to today? What message has He placed on your heart? There are family, friends, and coworkers who desperately need to hear the gospel message. There are people all around us who need to be encouraged to draw closer to God; encouraged to forgive and restore relationships; encouraged to live according to who they are in Christ. This is our mission field and this is our message! We must obediently share, in love, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, even if no one listens.

We are God’s watchman over whatever field He provides. Let’s draw near and love Him with all our heart – so close to His side that His message and direction are absolutely clear. We must proclaim His truth wherever He leads. Let’s accept the responsibility, and accountability, of the watchman.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Our Family is Hurting

By Steve T. on May 23, 2011

This morning we were once again greeted with news of devastation somewhere in the world. This time it was tornadoes in the central US, specifically in the city of Joplin. Almost 100 people killed; thousands grieving. I don’t personally know anyone in Joplin, but I know many in Joplin through email. Many receive my email devotions and several support this ministry. This morning I had a strong sense of loss and grief.

I believe what I felt this morning is a glimpse of what we all ought to feel for people all around the world. I have many friends in Africa from my travels to that beautiful country and I was deeply saddened when Kenya went through the deadly political turmoil a few years ago. Another Brother in Sudan has been writing of the pains of hunger among those in his ministry.

Today our headlines give us a clear reminder. But the reality is that every day there are many around the world who hurt; and these who hurt belong to our family. I pray that we can slightly widen our view and expand our prayers. I pray for a renewed sense of compassion and outreach, because today, and every day, our family is hurting.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Always Seek His Counsel

By Steve T. on May 23, 2011

As Moses was about to die, he transferred leadership of Israel to Joshua. God gave His approval of Joshua with the instructions, “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7).

Initially, Joshua sought God’s counsel for every step he took. Joshua received direction for crossing the Jordan river (Joshua 3), building a lasting memorial (Joshua 4), renewing the covenant of circumcision (Joshua 5), and defeating the fortified city of Jericho (Joshua 6). In all of this Joshua listened and obeyed; “So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land” (Joshua 6:27).

However, after the miraculous success at Jericho – after Joshua witnessed the city walls fall with the sound of a trumpet and a shout – Joshua’s confidence began to grow. When it was time to attack the small city of Ai, Joshua relied on his own strength and the advice of men rather than seeking God.

Joshua 7:3-4
“‘Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there.’ So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai.”

Attacking the city of Ai seemed an insignificant decision. It was a small city and the Israelite army was mighty. And God had already given general instructions to conquer the entire land and an assurance of victory in battle; “I will give you every place where you set your foot…No one will be able to stand up against you” (Joshua 1:3,5). But, unknown to Joshua, there was sin in his camp – spiritual battles which would hinder any physical victory; “That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies” (Joshua 7:12). The assurance of victory always assumes we are walking with God and trusting in His strength.

When did we last seek and received counsel from God? If it’s been longer than the time it took to begin our last step, we may be attempting to fight a battle we cannot win. We must never presume to know God’s specific plan without asking for specific directions. Just because He said “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), doesn’t mean we can presume on His method or His timing; “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

God will show us the way, but we must ask for His guidance; “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8). Our battles are never won because of our strength or the enemy’s weakness. They are won only as we allow God to guide and then boldly follow where He leads. No matter how insignificant the decision may appear, let’s be sure to walk in His strength and always seek His counsel.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Know Him Better

By Steve T. on May 23, 2011

When a child is born into a family, there is almost an instant bond of love. The parent and child spend LOTS of time together and truly begin to know each other. The parent knows the needs of the child, and the child knows the parent as the provider of comfort and security.

But as the child grows, other activities and friends begin to limit time together. In the search for independence, there is often rebellion toward parental instruction and counsel. Soon, the parent and child drift apart and no longer communicate as they once had – they sadly cease to know one another.

Ephesians 1:16-17
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.”

Notice this is Paul’s continuous prayer, that we be given revelation and wisdom. Revelation is the unveiling of God’s truth and wisdom is the application of His truth in our lives. Both of these are necessary and serve the single purpose of knowing Him better.

As we continue in our relationship with Jesus Christ, there is a tendency to hit those spiritual teenage years where we have things pretty well figured out – or so we think. We begin to gain “self” confidence and trust in our own ability. We get more involved in activities (maybe even “good” activities) and with friends (maybe even “good” friends), but one day we wake and find we’ve drifted. We didn’t intentionally walk away, but there is a definite loss of passion – we no longer really know God.

As a loving father longs to hold his children, our Heavenly Father longs for us to draw near and know Him; “Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me” (Jeremiah 9:24). The Bible always speaks about knowing someone as a very personal and loving relationship; “Adam knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain” (Genesis 4:1 KJV). Jesus even defined eternal life as a state of knowing; “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

The road back to a restored relationship begins with spending time together. No matter how busy we get we must continue to humbly come into the presence of God, confess the sin which causes separation, fellowship with Him in prayer and the quiet study of His Word, and listen intently for His direction. Let’s commit (or recommit) to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and let’s be determined to take the necessary steps to draw near and know Him better.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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Join The Battle

By Steve T. on May 23, 2011

In the message “We Will Overcome” we were encouraged to hold on to Jesus when our strength fades and we become weary. We saw that our faith (not our strength) ensures we will overcome and receive the gift of eternal life. We can take great comfort in knowing Jesus will carry us and not let us fall. But we must also remember we were not born into His family to be permanently carried: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31). As we draw near to God through dedicated quiet times of prayer, He WILL renew our strength; and when He does, we must once again march into battle.

We often forget there is a war being fought all around us. We tend to become passive because we don’t actually see the fighting. There are no official announcements of enemy strength and no news flashes of casualties. But make no mistake…it’s a war!

Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Just as surely as there is a God who gave His Son to die for our sins, there is also a devil and spiritual forces doing battle. The good news is that we know the final outcome of this war; “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 20:10).

The devil’s end is certain; but, until his end, he is attempting to disrupt God’s plan and take as many with him as possible: “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was {also} thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). The stakes of this war are high. The enemy continues to attack, and he rejoices when we think we’re defeated.

But we are NOT defeated! We may lose our focus – we may stray from what is really important and trust in things which are fading, or even experience times of fear and doubt – but we are definitely not defeated! The road to victory has been paved with the blood of Christ. We walk in victory as we remain on His path with determined steps of drawing closer to God and loving Him with all our heart.

As our strength returns (and it will!) we must pick up the Word of God and become a soldier! There are many all around us with deep wounds who are literally dying for help. Let’s not be content to sit on the sidelines or be forever carried. Let’s present our lives to God and allow Him to work through us to encourage others in their walk and share the hope of Jesus with whoever crosses our path. Let’s rededicate our lives to an uncompromising faith and, once again, join the battle!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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We Will Overcome

By Steve T. on May 23, 2011

God’s Word contains many passages which encourage us in our struggles. Paul tells us to “press on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:14), “run a good race” (Galatians 5:7), and “fight the good fight” (2 Timothy 4:7). Each of these acknowledge the struggle and exhort us to keep moving forward. But there are times we become weary and even the thought of pressing, running, or fighting becomes difficult. Yet, we know we must endure – we must overcome!

Revelation 2:7
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

In the second and third chapters of Revelation, the Apostle John is simply dictating the words spoken by Jesus. In these two chapters, Jesus speaks seven times about “him who overcomes.” Each time there is a gift or reward for the one who is “successful” and overcomes. This is certainly good motivation for us to endure, but the question still remains: How can we overcome as our strength begins to fade?

John knew what it took to overcome. Several years earlier, he had written a letter to encourage believers to stay committed and to give the assurance of eternal life. He also specified exactly who would overcome: “Everyone born of God overcomes the world… Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5). Read this carefully and rejoice! Those who believe are those who will overcome!!

We must endure and overcome the world; but our faith in Jesus and NOT our strength is what allows us to endure. There are times we must run and times we must fight – times we will be called to be a mighty warrior for the Lord. But there are also times when we are terribly weak, times we must grab on to Jesus and allow HIS strength to carry us through the storm. These are times we will need to simply hold on!

When the battle seems unbearable, “Hold on to what you have – I {Jesus} am coming soon” (Revelation 3:11). When we feel surrounded by evil and the darkness is closing in, “Hold on to the good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). And when we become overwhelmed with doubt and fear, “Hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast” (Hebrews 3:6).

When we are weary in the storm, let’s take comfort in the peaceful waters ahead. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and hold on…He will never let us go. He has given His Children a wonderful promise: as we continue to believe and trust Him with all our heart, we WILL overcome!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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The Examined Life

By Steve T. on May 23, 2011

We’ve heard it said, and it proves to be true, the unexamined life is not worth living. If we flow through life without evaluating who we are and what we believe, we have not really lived. Deep down, we all desire to take a stand and live according to a consistent set of beliefs. This requires a boldness to explore beneath the surface of our beliefs, into our very soul! Without this boldness we may give the appearance of living, and may even fool ourselves for a number of years, but there will always be an emptiness until we look deep within and deal with what we find.

God knows every detail of our heart; “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). But our Heavenly Father desires for us to know our own heart as we are being transformed; “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

As we seek to understand who we are – with all our hidden motives, pride, and selfishness – we find we’re somewhat difficult to understand. Without the spiritual help which God freely gives, there will be parts of our life which remain covered and dark. There may also be portions of our heart we would rather not face.

Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

It’s foolish to think we can hide anything from God! It’s equally foolish to intentionally close areas of our heart from examination when we know those areas are keeping us separated from God. What do we really believe? And are we living consistent with that belief?

We have been given God’s Word as a guide, “a lamp to my feet” (Psalm 119:105). And as we dig deeper into His Word, we find the same lamp which guides our steps also reveals our heart: “The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being” (Proverbs 20:27). Using God’s Word to truly examine our heart can be painful. It seems we strip back one layer only to expose additional layers of sin we didn’t even know we had; but this process must continue without fear!

If we desire to live in His presence and bring Him glory and honor in all we do, we must determine today to know ourselves. We must know what we believe, with all our strengths and weaknesses, and know our level of resolve to follow where He leads. Let’s open our heart and allow His Spirit to search and wash us with His Word. Let’s follow according to a consistent belief and commit to living the examined life.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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His Perfect Way

By Steve T. on May 23, 2011

In the message “A Living Sanctuary” we considered our call to praise and worship ALWAYS, and that this can only occur as we trust God with all our heart and release control into His hands. We seem to often come back to this theme. Perhaps this is because releasing control is one of our major struggles.

The world definitely trains us to take control. There even seems to be special rewards for those who can say, “I did it my way!” But the truth is, my way will always fall short of God’s desire. Our biggest struggle is often finding the balance which keeps us on His path and traveling at His pace. Lack of faith causes us to lag behind, and our pride and desire to control causes us to try and push ahead. Whether we lag or try to push ahead the result is a drift from God’s path.

2 Samuel 22:31
“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.”

These words are part of a song of praise King David sang to God. Several times in his life David ventured out to do things his own way. Yet time after time he found that walking down God’s path was not only the best way, it was the perfect way. We obviously must learn this same lesson. We are given many options – many roads to travel as we seek a better way – but His narrow road is the only way to true life…the only road to peace and true contentment.

Living by God’s way requires constant renewal of faith and trust. It first requires faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, and then complete trust as we continue down His path. While God’s way is definitely perfect, it’s not always easy to understand. His way will often conflict with what we just “know” is best. “The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2). These times of apparent conflict are times to humbly increase our faith and better learn how to trust.

The world’s way will continually do battle against this trust. Jesus said, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear” (Matthew 6:25). The world’s way says we will soon be hungry and naked; but God’s way says that as we trust Him with all our heart, we will soon find rest and peace; “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

God has given each of us unique and wonderful gifts. But our gifts must be used along His path and for His glory, or they become nothing but “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Let’s stop seeking our way, with our goals and our desires. Instead, let’s daily release to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and boldly follow where He leads. Let’s trust and walk each and every step according to His perfect way.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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A Living Sanctuary

By Steve T. on May 11, 2011

Our Heavenly Father desires our life to be FILLED with praise and worship. When we gather together with other believers for church services, we generally begin with songs of praise. We praise God for His love and faithfulness, and for the gift of His Son. We worship Him for His awesome majesty as we prepare our hearts to receive His Word. These are wonderful times, but they are only a small part of God’s true desire for our life.

Ephesians 5:19-20
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As Paul wrote these instructions to the Ephesians he never said, “give thanks only during your worship service,” or, “make music in your heart only when you gather together with other believers.” He clearly instructed “always” and “for everything.” The “music” of praise and worship to God should always reside in our heart.

This can be a real challenge without a shift in the way we view our life – a shift from the way we’ve been “trained” by the world. We absolutely must learn to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Though the world teaches us to “take charge of your own destiny,” we are called to release control to our Lord and patiently trust. For it’s only through faith and trust that we can praise in ALL situations, even through our confusion and pain.

One of my favorite praise songs contains the words: “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary; pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.” The word sanctuary means: A place set aside as sacred and holy, especially a place of worship. The meaning of this song then becomes, Lord prepare my life to be a sacred and holy place of worship!

There can be no greater ambition for the Child of God. With a proper understanding of eternity and the saving grace of Jesus, our life only has real purpose as we live each day to bring Him glory and honor – as we live each moment in praise and worship, no matter what circumstances our day may bring. The way we walk through our trials as well as how we accomplish our daily tasks, ministry activities, or times of prayer and study should all be done through a heart devoted to worship.

Let’s allow the “music” of our heart to sing out with praise and worship – not just for a few set hours each week, but every day with every word, thought and deed. Let’s patiently trust in all areas of our life and ask our Father to teach us to live as a living sanctuary.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

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