Practices 

You may have heard it said that practice makes perfect, but that is not entirely true. It is more correct to say that, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” We can spend our lives doing the same things over and over, making the same mistakes over and over, and never go beyond the abilities that we have. Our weaknesses become stronger instead of our faith, and we wonder why we can not grow in the Lord. It may lead to frustration and ultimately we convince ourselves that we must have misinterpreted what the Lord called us to do, so we feel defeated and inadequate and never reach our full potential in Christ. The only reason is because we are listening to the wrong voices, but not the Master’s voice, who says that we can do all things through Christ.

It is good to get in the Word and learn what it will take to fulfill the will of God for our lives.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).

Promises

Whether there are 3000, or 7,000 promises in the Word of God, one thing I know for sure; their fulfillment in our lives is dependent on our obedience to God’s word. If we are lacking in obtaining the promise of God in our lives, it may be that we have not fulfilled our part of the equation to release its fulfillment. So as a rule, I must stop blaming God when those things I desire do not materialize. Have I listened? It takes me a long while to have the light bulb moment where I figure things out. Consider this: it says to “Study to show yourself approved;” but if I don’t study, my GPA will plummet in short order, every time.

If you do desire to have the peace of God in your life, you must stay in the word and do what it says in Philippians 4:8-9:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).

Priorities

I want to take better control of my time. It seems that lately I’ve been consumed with demands on my time, yet I feel that the best that I can give will never be enough unless I make the time to put God, worship and family as top priorities.

When all is said and done, the time that I give to my priorities will matter ten years from now, and I won’t be just scratching my head woefully considering where the time went. Those things that remain in my life, will have lasting value to me.

March 15, 1995, I decided to do what I could do, because what I thought I wanted to do, God said, “No,” for a season. He has restored some of those desires, but I’m glad he set me on the path where I could be used more effectively. If God hadn’t said, no, to my will, the Lattereign would never have been started. I am learning that God knows the plans that he has for us: ^“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2).

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12: 22-34).

Lives in Perspective. Only God can be all things to all people. The rest of us need to realize that we are not supernatural. Learning to decide on what is a priority that will be needed, versus something that sneaks into our lives,  to try to derail us, robbing us of time, is my greatest challenge. Do I dare to admit that I have a hard time saying, no? I’m not speaking about the things that are priorities in my life, but of the random things that gobble up “free” time. (Is our time ever free?) The older I get, the easier it is becoming to choose my chores and to put life, and living it more abundantly, in perspective.

After much prayer, I had this epiphany: It is better to do one or two things well, than it is to do ten things poorly.

I have learned that I can’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate, in other words never take on more ministry than you can adequately support in prayer. I heard that at a conference some years back, and it has taken up residence in the back of my mind for all of these years.

In this week’s Lattereign, we are encouraged to cast away our fear and just believe that God’s promises are true. Fear Not Believe Only