Friday

Have A Good Name

       Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."  Considering that Solomon, who had incredible riches, was the one who said this, having a good name must be very valuable.  
      
       There are two reasons why we should strive to have a good name.  First, we need a good name so we can serve God well.  Consider this- a person can spend a lifetime building a good reputation, only to tear that reputation down in a few short minutes of folly and sin.  And while God definitely forgives sin, men aren't quick to forget.  For example, a pastor could live his whole life in a Godly way, but even one moment of yielding to temptation could totally destroy his ministry.  Why is that?  It is because people would have a hard time trusting him again.

       The second reason we should have a good testimony is this- as Christians, we don't want to give unbelievers an occasion to blaspheme God ( 2 Samuel 12:14 ).  When we don't walk what we talk, the world looks at us and says, "I definitely don't want to be like THAT hypocrite!"  When we act ungodly, we are being a terrible witness.

       So remember- as Christians, we are to be Christ-like.  If someone could see you every minute of every day, would they think that you were more like a little Christ, or a little devil?

      

Thursday

The Health Of My Countenance

     God recently spoke to me through Psalm 42:11, which says, "Why art thou cast down, O my
soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is
the health of my countenance, and my God."  What really spoke to me was this- if I allow God to
be the "health of my countenance," I can be cheerful no matter what happens!  Too many Christians walk around looking defeated.  If you are saved by the blood of Jesus, you are blessed.  And if you are blessed, remember to notify your face!

More Goals 2013

Here are five more of my goals for this year-

1. Be consistent in my prayer life.  I find that sometimes it is easy to pray, and sometimes it isn't; however, it is important to talk to God regularly, even when we don't feel like it.

2. Improve on the banjo and guitar.  I play music for the honor and glory of God, so I want to do my best for Him.

3. Preach the Gospel every opportunity I have.  I feel very strongly that God wants me to be a preacher, so I want to take every chance I get to proclaim the Gospel, and the incredible truths found in His Word.

4. Have a more grateful heart.  Ungratefulness comes from pride.  When someone is ungrateful, it is either because they didn't get what they thought they deserved, or because they don't realize that the blessings they have received are given to them by God.  God loves to hear His children express their gratefulness for what He has done in their lives!

5. Encourage others to serve God whole-heartedly.  It burdens me greatly when I see others (especially young people) wasting their lives on trivial things, while millions of people are lost and on their way to hell.  Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"  This week, encourage someone to serve God!