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Real Dudes,
Who or what is consuming your thought life? How often do you think about your best friend? How often do you think about your significant other? How often do you think about God? In Psalm 10:4 below, we read that those who are considered to be wicked/evil/prideful never make time to think about God. If God doesn’t get any, or very little of our time, then what makes us any different from them…what sets us apart? If thinking about God is a struggle for you, then maybe try setting an alarm on your phone that reminds you to have some you-and-God-time throughout your day. Be intentional about training yourself to think about Him more often. Hebrews 3:1 below says to “fix your thoughts on Jesus.” If you fix an item to another item, then it’s tough to separate the two. Therefore, fix your thoughts on Him, keep your thoughts there throughout the day…make room for Him each day. And make it nearly impossible to stop thinking about Him. Excited about how this could make a huge impact in your life. Hope you accept the challenge. Praying that your relationship with God grows stronger and stronger along the way. Cheering each of us on!!! Practicing His Presence, Nate Hebrews 3:1 (NIV) 3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Psalm 10:4…
Hymn: Have You Any Room For Jesus
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Real Dudes,
I recently met up with a gentleman for lunch. He was sharing with me that an individual at his place of work “has the ability to alter the atmosphere.” Some research I did pointed out that a personality that can significantly alter the atmosphere is typically described as highly charismatic, influential, and often extroverted, meaning they have a strong ability to impact the mood and energy of a group or situation through their presence, actions, and communication style. The key traits of such a personality might include:
My challenge for each of you is to pray for self-awareness and to ask the Lord to examine your life and motives.
Practicing His Presence, Nate Real Dudes,
In the last blog posting I touched a little bit on how Satan is a thief. Today I’d like to focus on how he’s also an accuser. We read this in Revelation 12:10 (CSB)
I heard a message not too long ago from Psalm 51 (see entire chapter below). In verse 3 David points out that, “my sin is always before me.” That phrase got me thinking…is David just pointing out that he’s constantly thinking about his sin? I mean, he just asked the Lord in verses 1 and 2 to blot out his transgressions, and to wash and cleanse him thoroughly from all his sins. One author points out that “there are a number of biblical passages that obviously have continuous activity in mind…To have something ‘continually before’ one means to be constantly aware of it. Thus David’s sin, in his penitential psalm, is continually before him.” An article from gotquestions.org points out that the phrase, “‘my sins are ever before me’ is a phrase from Psalm 51:3, where David is expressing a deep sense of conviction and awareness [acknowledgement] of his own sin, meaning he is constantly mindful of his wrongdoing and feels the weight of it on his conscience, even after seeking forgiveness from God; it highlights the honesty and humility of confessing one's sins fully to God.” Here’s what I’m wrestling with in my mind. If David asked the Lord to do away with his sin, then why would he in the same breath want to keep his sin always and continually before himself? Yes, it’s possible that David asked for that so he wouldn’t want to go back to any of his past sins, but God forgives and forgets (Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 38:17; 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34; Philippians 3:13; Hebrews 10:14-18)…He washes us white as snow (Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7)…and He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Psalm 32:5; Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9). In Psalm 51:7-10 David goes on to express his understanding that God can hear him, purge him, blot his sins out, cleanse him, and renew him. All of which would indicate that David would not want his past sins to be constantly in his sight or memory. Maybe David is saying that up until this point of being forgiven he was constantly reminded of his past, but from this point on it is all to be forgotten. He could also be expressing that he’s so aware of what has tripped him up and he needs to be on high alert so he doesn’t revert back to some areas he’s weakest at. In James 1:13-15 (CSB) we read the following, “13 No one undergoing a trial should say, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. Satan is not omniscient, nor is he omnipresent. What Satan is intentional about is remembering which sins we allow ourselves to be tripped up by…what we reveal to him. And for him, he knows which bait to use in order to lure us in with. And when we take the bait, hook line and sinker, then he believes that’s his opportunity to run to and accuse us before the Lord. My point is this, as someone seeking forgiveness, seeking a fresh start, wiping a slate clean and trying to move on, I’m not sure that I would request for my sin to always be right in front of me. The temptation seems like it would be too tough to resist and my tendency would be to return to what I know once brought me comfort and joy…though false comfort and joy, it was still my safe place in a sense. It’s like telling someone not to think about something, it doesn't matter what it is, the tendency is to want to think about that thing. Can’t get my mind off of it. And after a while I need to have it again. It’d be like holding a beer can in front of a recovering alcoholic. Would they be strong enough to resist the temptation or would they cave? So is it David keeping his sin always before himself, or could it be that Satan has learned David’s weakness and will constantly be dangling that sin in front of him to see if he’ll take the bait? Very possible. Christ’s opposition was continually seeking ways that they could find one fault in him…“when would He trip up?”…and then come in for the kill.
Just remember this truth, that “the context of Revelation assures believers of ultimate victory through Christ, who intercedes on their behalf, as seen in Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25.” https://biblehub.com/revelation/12-10.htm The last part Revelation 12:10, the verse I started with in this blog, says what about Satan…he “has been thrown down.” Men, we have victory in the Lord. We will all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but that doesn’t mean we’re defeated…just means that, as believers who are still living in the flesh, we’re still growing. Seek forgiveness, and thank Him for being so merciful to you when you don’t deserve it. Don’t allow Satan and his flowers to get in your head. Rather, we should “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, CSB). Want Satan to get behind you? Want your sin to be a thing of the past? Then let me encourage you to begin a study on what it looks like to submit to God…trust me, you’ll never regret that decision. Here’s an article to consider and begin with https://www.gotquestions.org/submit-to-God.html Practicing His Presence, Nate For further study from gotquestions.org…What does it mean to forgive and forget?
Psalm 51 (NKJV) A Prayer of Repentance To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 51 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. Real Dudes,
I was watching The Voice the other night and a coach reminded one of the contestants that “comparison is the thief of joy.” Does the Lord want us to compare ourselves with each other? Do you struggle with comparing yourself with others…either you’re better than them, or they’re better than you and now you’re in your own head. Does He want our joy to overflow in all circumstances? Are you allowing anything or anyone to steal your joy today? Consider the following passages below concerning comparing and joy and ask the Lord to bring anything to surface this morning that only He can help you have victory over. Comparing:
Joy:
Men...give Satan no foothold in this area of comparing in your life. Praying for each of us in this area. Practicing His Presence, Nate |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. 
#girldad including granddaughter
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