Memorizing Scriptures To Improve Your Walk with the Lord

I highly recommend that husbands and wives memorize Scripture together and singles memorize with a friend. It can help with our daily joys and challenges. Let me give you an example:

 

My husband and I are going through a difficult time with loved ones walking away from God, personal health problems, and a number of other challenges. So we've started memorizing passages such as these:

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

 

“In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 

 

We want to remind ourselves that our present sufferings are insignificant compared to our eternity with Christ and remember we can have peace in the midst of them. 

 

Years ago, I memorized Philippians 4:6-7 and it's a great passage no matter what you're facing:

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

God's Word is alive (Hebrews 4:12). It affects our hearts and minds like nothing else (Isaiah 55:11). 

 

What Scriptures do you need to memorize this week? See some ideas below.

 

Do you want to better understand God's Grace?

See the Scriptures in We Need It: Grace

 

Do you want to start your day with encouraging Bible verses about your relationship with the Lord?

See 8 Statements Christians Should Make Each Day 

 

Are you having trouble handling correction? See Accepting Correction --10 Scriptures

 

Are you want to be more thankful?

See 10 Scriptures about Thankfulness

 

Would you like to pray Scripture? 

See 10 Good Prayers from the Psalms 

 

Do you need to improve the way you communicate?

Our Words Matter: 26 Scriptures 

 

Do you need encouragement to live your faith more fully?

See the Scriptures in Works is Not a Dirty Word

 

Do you want to develop more self-control?

Scriptures for Developing Self-Control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Aspects of Christian Growth

When we're saved, we're forgiven and redeemed, but we're still sinners, and we need to be drawing closer to the Lord each day.

1. Christian growth is a PROCESS: It's called sanctification, and it's the "working out of our salvation" (Philippians 2:12-13).

It doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't happen unless we're committed to the process. 

2. It's PRODUCTIVE: There should be outward signs of inward changes (Galatians 5:24).

It changes our hearts, minds, and behavior in noticeable ways.

3. It's PURPOSEFUL: It improves our witness, making us salt and light in our world (Matthew 5:13-16).

God has wonderful purposes for us (Ephesians 2:10)! 

4. It's PERSONAL: It involves dealing with personal sins and being humbled personally (1 John 1:8-10; James 4:8-10).

One obvious sign that we're seeking to draw closer to God is conviction of sin. God's conviction is constructive, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have an "ouch factor." 

If you haven't felt God's conviction about sins in your life for a while, I encourage you to take time this week to evaluate your Christian growth and seek the Lord in prayer and Bible study. 

For more insights, see 3 Important Aspects of Growing in Our Faith in Christ and 3 Steps to Greater Maturity in Christ. 

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10 Reasons You'll Love the Book, Wisdom for Life. A collection of 100 one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and a great gift for people who love God's Word.

Full description of the Book, Lies in Disguise. A much-needed book to uncover half-truths that misuse Scripture and weaken Christian faith.

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How A Centimeter Can Affect Our Walk with the Lord

A centimeter is less than ½ inch. Seems insignificant, doesn’t it?

But sometimes, something very little can cause a big problem. I’ll explain why this is significant to me, but first let me apply it to something more important: God’s Word.

When it comes to the teaching/presentation of God’s Word, if we overlook small errors, we'll end up overlooking large errors (Luke 16:10). In fact, most false teachings are based on small errors mixed with truth.

Millions are excited by popular books, movies, and teachings that make the gospel look attractive. And they are ready to defend small errors as being unimportant, as long as some of the Word is getting out to a wide audience in an attractive way. 

But why would we want to change God's perfect, pure, firm, and righteous gospel even a tiny bit (Psalm 19:7-11)? 

I had a hip replacement last year, and one of my legs is now 1 centimeter longer than the other. No big deal, right? Wrong. Every step I take is slightly crooked, and I need shoe inserts to adjust that slight difference, or every muscle and joint in my body feels miserable.

My problems are insignificant compared to the way our walk with the Lord is damaged by accepting small errors in presentations of God's Word. We may not feel the pain, but it affects our entire relationship with the Lord.

I will deal with my crooked leg length the rest of my life, but all we need to do regarding our walk with the Lord is respect His Word enough to defend it against "small" all errors. 

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 For more insights on this subject, see Attention to Details and For the Want of a Nail.

Lies in Disguise is designed to help Christians recognize and address tiny and large half-truth errors that many Christians believe. Why? To help us avoid false teachings and keep our walk with the Lord straight and steady. Click the image to find out more: chapter titles, reviews, and where to purchase it.

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When God Says Your Worship Is Meaningless

God says seeking reconciliation with others takes priority over worship: 

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 

When Christ gave this command, before the New Covenant was put in place by His death, making offerings was a form of worship. Christ was saying that genuine worship requires a heart seeking His truth and obeying His commands. And refusing to seek peace with others makes our worship simply external.

We can sing beautiful songs of praise, lift our hands, or bow in worship, but if we refuse to make genuine attempts to reconcile with others, our worship is meaningless.

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

True faith forgives and loves even when it's difficult (1 John 3:14; John 13:35; Romans 12:10).

Romans 12:14-21 tells us to bless those who persecute us, do our best to seek peace, seeking to “overcome evil with good.”

If someone has something against you and refuses to discuss it, you can do nothing but pray and treat them kindly. But if anyone is seeking to work through relationship problems and you refuse, your disobedience makes your worship of God meaningless (1 John 3:14).

Don't let this happen, dear Christians. True faith does the hard things out of love for Christ.

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See Weak Faith and Broken Families and Biblical Problem Solving.

And please check out Lies in Disguise. Among other half-truths, it offers insights into some of the half-truths that have encouraged relationship problems.  

 

 

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3 Lies That Take Our Focus Off God

Many devotions focus on knowing how special we are to God. But I think our real problem is realizing how special God is to us.

These lies encourage a focus on ourselves:

1. I can't love others until I first love myself.
This comes from a false interpretation of Mark 12:30-31. 
See Do We Really Need to Love Ourselves before We Can Love Others?

2. I can't serve others until I feel whole and confident.
Serving others is often the best way to gain confidence and joy (Philippians 2:3-4). 
See Beatin' the Blues.  

3. God wants me happy.
God wants us sanctified and mature, which brings joy, but not always happiness (Hebrews 12:1-3).
See Should Happiness Be Our Goal?

Here are three solutions to these three lies:

1. Focus first and foremost on loving God (Matthew 22:36-40).

2. Treat others as we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

3. Quit thinking so much about ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4).
 

Our spiritual health is dependent on our understanding of our Creator, so let's seek to develop an increasing awe and love for Him. 

 

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10 Reasons You'll Love the Book Wisdom for Life

Full description of the book Lies in Disguise 

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