We are generally okay with having friends and even doing stuff together, but when it comes to personal matters and the deepest parts of what we’ve done, we often withdraw and hide those pieces.  As a result no real life change is happening; only surface change can be seen and to most eyes that is enough.  

What if We had relationships where we could talk about the hard stuff including temptations and falls.  What if we were close enough to one another that we could really help each other through the fires we walk through?  What if we could even confess to one another and then pray for one another? I’m convinced we would see genuine change;  the unrestrained power of God unleashed in lives, transforming and conforming them to the image of Christ.  The prayers uttered in this Christ dependent environment could avail so much and change the world!

Reflection

Do you have those kind of relationships?

Are there other believers that you are accountable to and are holding accountable?

Are you praying for them regularly?

If you answered no to those questions, pray that God would bring those people into your life.  Pray that you would be that person for others. 

Prayer

Father, You are our everlasting God above all. You have given us the body of Christ that we may grow and mature.  Teach us to seek out these kinds of relationships.  Bring others in our lives that spur us along on our journey, hold us accountable and pray for us.  Let us likewise be that person for them.  May Your righteousness and glory reign forever in Jesus, Amen!

The excitement of being freed from our sin should never grow old.  We must remember what we have done and what has been paid.  It’s as if we were living the best first date forever with all of our affections laser focused on the One who has rescued us from sin and darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of light.  

Let’s not get complacent in our relationship with Him.  Here are some ideas to keep the zeal in your relationship:

Read truth.  Get in the word first thing when you get up so you start your day with Him and with the right perspective.  Have to work early? Go to bed 15 minutes earlier and get up 15 minutes earlier.  No excuses

Attend Church. Surround yourself with true believers.  Great conversation and praise is sure to follow.  

Get Involved. Volunteer to serve at your church and in your community.  When we serve, we are more likely to see opportunities for prayer and seeing the hand of God move. 

Pray. Make it a daily habit to have conversation with God throughout the day.  Share with Him how thankful you are.   

Praise.  Sing your own song of praise of what He has done for you.  No need to rhyme, just sing the things you are thankful for.  I like to do this in the car when I’m traveling and praise Him loudly.  I found out recently that this stimulates the Vegal nerve in your body and helps you be more physically healthy!

Be intentional. Get the zeal back in your relationship with your First Love.  

Reflection

Is God still your first love?  If not what are you doing about it?

When can you do the things mentioned above?  

Make a plan and begin working on your relationship now!

Prayer

Father, You are a mighty God who has sought after and found us in the muck and mire.  By Your hand we have been saved and set on a rock to do Your will.  May it be so for Your glory, fill our hearts with zeal for You; our First Love. Amen!

It can; however, lead to Spiritual blindness. We can get so wrapped up in our knowledge and self dependence that we deny the One who gave us the ability to learn.  We can pursue truth to the extreme and miss the ultimate truth altogether. 
I spent years being the straight A student, mastering every topic in my path. God is not a topic to be mastered, but instead, a relationship to be enjoyed.  Knowing God is not the same as knowledge of him 

Reflection

In what ways have you pursued knowledge of God instead of knowing Him. Reset you pursuit to knowing and enjoying Him starting today

Prayer

Father we confess that we have treated you like a topic to be mastered at times.  Help us not to exchange knowing You for the knowledge of You.  May Your love abound in us as we carry out the good works you You prepared for us to walk in. 

Our Father in heaven knows that once we taste His goodness we can never be the same.  We may slip and fall, but we will never be satisfied with anything other than His goodness ever again.  

May you come, taste, and see the goodness of our LORD; that you too may be filled to full measure and overflowing with joy!

#truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

 
Praise and thank you’s to the LORD are something that should spill over into all of our relationships. I love hearing peoples testimonies of how the Lord has rescued them but equally amazing are the stories of what he did in their life last week yesterday and in the last five minutes.

Perhaps one of the reasons believers are not seen any different than nonbelievers are because we never tell of the good deeds God has done for us.  Instead we reduce it to sharing what was shared in the sermon on Sunday. While that’s good, if it’s the only thing we share, it leads to a mentality that God is only in church on Sundays or Saturdays instead of ever present in relationship with us protecting, guiding, and directing our steps.

Personal Reflection

Our relationship with God is just that a relationship.  It takes time, investment, learning, and walking together to grow that relationship.   If we don’t spend time with our family how we can expect that relationship will grow.  The subjects of our conversations are often about our experiences with our friends family and other relationships. Why would our relationship with God be any different? 

Be watching for evidence of God’s work in you this week and share that with one person and(or) look for one way God has blessed you and share that

Prayer Focus

Heavenly father we thank you that you are ever present with us. You never leave me nor for sake us. Instead you continue to guide and direct our steps while blessing us. Let our  mouths be filled with praises and our lips speak of your great deeds that you’re doing in our lives right now! May the truth of your word and your gospel be seen in every conversation we have. In the Name of Christ we pray, amen!

@ brianfriedl

#tellofhismightydeeds #lipsfilledwithpraise #truthtalk4life