Peaks and Valleys

Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. (KJV) (Ecclesiastes 8:15) 

God wants us to eat, drink and be merry. He wants us to embrace life. But He also knows that life on earth comes with challenges, roadblocks and hardships. It’s a perfectly designed system of peaks and valleys, and it's our memory of the valleys that lifts us up when we experience the peaks. Without those valleys, the route to our Heavenly Father would take longer to reach.

Light of the World

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (KJV) (Matthew 5:14) 

Jesus' death on the cross and His subsequent rise is wonderful news. With this comes the hope that we, too, can join Christ where there is no more pain and suffering. Until that day, we must show the world the light that Jesus brings to us. Yes, it can become tiring and can be a heavy burden to bear, but, oh what a joy it is to carry the torch that brings light to so many others.

Greed

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. (KJV) (Proverbs 21:26) 

It's very difficult to see greed in the mirror. Stop trying to diagnose greediness, especially in others. Instead, start combatting it in yourself by putting effort into giving.  Surely you will see your heart will soon follow.  Take a moment and figure out who or what organization would you love to bless?

Its Fruit

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. (KJV) (Matthew 12:33) 

We all know what a bad piece of fruit looks like. It's unappetizing and mushy. It gets picked over at the grocery store. God desires more for you, and the fruit of your efforts should be good. What does bad fruit look like? One example is taking advantage of the poor. Conversely, good fruit can be seen when you display integrity, especially when no one is looking. Do your fruits get picked over because they are bad?

Get Wisdom

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (KJV) (Proverbs 4:5) 

Choosing to follow God will impart wisdom to you through your relationship with Him. Stay tuned into God's word by reading the Bible. When you find yourself drifting away make an effort to stay connected. Make it a priority and do whatever it takes.

Keep On Asking

"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." (NLT) (Luke 11:9) 

The power of persistent prayer is incredible. Strength rises up in your voice as you continuously seek God's answer to your prayers. Rest assured that He will always answer: through fulfillment of your prayer, a firm “no,” or by guiding your heart in a different direction, causing you to no longer seek the answer to that prayer. Go ahead and pray a specific prayer daily.

Guard Your Heart

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (NLT) (Proverbs 4:23) 

Solomon, the wisest man, told us to guard our hearts. It can be easy for our hearts to be deceived if we lack awareness. The best solution is to surround ourselves with Godly people and listen to their advice, as it's difficult to see deception ourselves. Is there an area in your life where more than one person has been trying to tell you something?

Take Courage

But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage! I am here!" (NLT) (Mark 6:50)

What do you fear? Is it financial ruin, loneliness, pain, poor health, or the collapse of your family? When you feel afraid, and fear has its strong grip on you, remember this: God is with you. Acknowledging this will allow you to conquer your fear and steady your steps.  As you move forward, step by step, your fear will fade away as you recognize that your strength is with God.  He is with you.