What have you set your mind on?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
(Colossians 3:2 (NIV))


I have been in the process of migrating everything from a computer that is dying to one that is new and stable. Unfortunately, it is taking much longer than expected and I was left without a way to prepare and send out a devotional. I had spent hours preparing and migrating everything and was so focused on the tools I use that I was left without a way to prepare and send anything when I normally do send it.

After getting very frustrated over the situation, I was forced to step back and laugh.

Was God using this to get my attention?

That is when the above passage came into the picture.

Was I focusing on my earthly problems instead of focusing on the Lord? Was I getting overwhelmed by an earthly problem that didn’t really matter in God’s plans? Was I fixating on something when my focus, my attention should have been given exclusively to the Lord?

Have you ever felt this way?

What have you set your mind on?


Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Do you find peace in these words?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


I and the Father are one."
(John 10:30 (NIV))


What is your reaction to these six words?

These words elicit a wide range of reactions, from utter disgust and contempt to complete acceptance, understanding and faith.

Where do you fall in this range?

Hopefully, you agree with the truth presented within these six words, but if you don't agree, what is your reason for this disagreement? Do you find it difficult to believe that evolution is not real and everything around you is not a matter of chance? Do you accept that there is a Creator, yet still find it difficult to believe that He loves His creation? Do you find it difficult to believe that God can do whatever He wants, including taking human form?

I could go on with examples, but I hope that you understand that your acceptance of these six words tells what your eternity will be like. Perhaps you understand the following words better.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:16-18 (NIV))

Either way, belief is crucial to faith. You must believe that Jesus and the Father are one. You must believe that Jesus was sent in human form to redeem us. You must believe that these two statements do not contradict each other. You must understand that human knowledge is limited and our understanding is only a small percentage of the wisdom and understanding that is that of our Father.

We must come to the realization that we are not the masters of our own domain. We are only passing through this sinful, fallen world. We must realize that the Lord has reached out to us by becoming one of us.

Do these words give you a peace that passes understanding?

Do you find peace in these words?


Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Are you ready?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
(Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV))


Are you ready?

If you know something is going to happen, you prepare for it. If you do not expect something to happen, you never prepare. It is human nature.

Now, as the Body of Christ, we should know beyond a doubt that what He has told us will come true. If we know that Jesus will return, we should be prepared for his return. We may not know the exact hour or day, but we know that He has promised that He will return.

If you have a loved one who has gone away for any length of time, you stand on the promise of that person returning when they say they will return. You prepare for that return. We place our faith and our trust in one who is sinful by nature. We place our faith and trust in a sinner to keep their promise. If we can trust in a sinner to keep their promise to return, how can we deny that He who was and is without sin will return as He promised?

We prepare for the uncertain and ignore the certain!

With this perspective on Jesus' return and recent world events, are you ready? Will you find yourself bewildered and confused when everyone who is ready is taken? It is time to get ready by asking Jesus into your heart.

It's as simple as ABC.

A is for admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior.

B is for believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead.

C is for call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

Are you ready?


Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Do these words describe you?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
(James 1:19 (NIV))


Is it just me, or do these things go against everything that comes as instinct because of our sinful human nature?

Instead of being quick to listen, we are planning our replies when other people are talking.

Instead of being slow to speak, we try to make our voices heard.

Instead of being slow to anger, we explode when things don't go as we think that they should.

We are our own worst enemy. We have accepted the lies of the enemy to the point that we, just like Satan, feel that we are elevated above all others, including God. When we don't get our way, we lash out.

That is not what God intended for His creation!

Ever since the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, sin has made all of humanity something that we were never created to be. We have become selfish. We have become self-centered. We have become self absorbed.

That is not how we are called to live.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 7:12 (NIV))

I have but one more question for you to consider. Take a look at what we are called to do and take a look at how you live it out.

Do these words describe you?


Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

Do you imitate your Father?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
(Luke 6:36 (NIV))


It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

With that in mind, who do you flatter with your actions? Who do you flatter with your words, and who do you flatter with your thoughts?

Do you imitate the flesh or do you imitate the Father?

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV))

These characteristics do not sound very appealing. In fact, they sound sinful in nature. Is that what you imitate, or do you strive to imitate characteristics that are more loving and flattering to the Lord?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV))

We have a choice to make. We can imitate the things of this sinful, fallen world, or we can imitate the things of a loving and righteous Father.

It is your choice who you imitate.

Do you imitate your Father?


Copyright 1998 - 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org