Mind Clutter
Sunday, 3rd June, 2007
By Bob Gass
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek." Psalm 27:4 NIV
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If you are really serious about developing your Spiritual life, begin by assessing what stands in your way. That requires honesty. The first challenge is how to deal with the stress in our lives and the resulting clutter it produces in our minds. Dr. Howard Hendricks gives us four sources of mind clutter.
Let's examine them carefully:
(1) Saying yes to far too many things! Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer once said, "Much of our activity is little more than a cheap anaesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life." All our "going and doing" fails to address our core of emptiness.
(2) Not stopping to recharge our batteries! We dutifully pull out our day-planner and fill in the spaces between activities. But let's not fool ourselves; avoiding overlapping activities isn't planning. As a result we're a stressed-out, short-tempered, horn-blowing crowd, commuting between poorly planned activities that add little to our Spiritual well-being.
(3) Failure to enjoy what we accomplish! Solomon wrote, "A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul" (Proverbs 13:19 NKJV). With always too much to do, we dash off to the next obligation, often without finishing the previous one, or taking time to stand back and savour a job well done. No wonder we worry that our existence seems meaningless.
(4) Owing more than we can repay. Next time you're faced with a credit purchase, wait! Don't necessarily say no. Just present your so-called "need" to God before presenting it to the bank and see what He says about it.
If you're really serious about developing your Spiritual life, deal with your mind clutter!
Daily Bible Reading:
John 5:1-15, Isaiah 54:9-17
Read similar devotionals:
Abiding (3)
CopyrightTerms & ConditionsPrivacyAdvertiseContact UsUnsubscribe
The Vine - copyright © 2000 - 2007 Steve Neill and others. All Rights Reserved.
By Bob Gass
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek." Psalm 27:4 NIV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are really serious about developing your Spiritual life, begin by assessing what stands in your way. That requires honesty. The first challenge is how to deal with the stress in our lives and the resulting clutter it produces in our minds. Dr. Howard Hendricks gives us four sources of mind clutter.
Let's examine them carefully:
(1) Saying yes to far too many things! Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer once said, "Much of our activity is little more than a cheap anaesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life." All our "going and doing" fails to address our core of emptiness.
(2) Not stopping to recharge our batteries! We dutifully pull out our day-planner and fill in the spaces between activities. But let's not fool ourselves; avoiding overlapping activities isn't planning. As a result we're a stressed-out, short-tempered, horn-blowing crowd, commuting between poorly planned activities that add little to our Spiritual well-being.
(3) Failure to enjoy what we accomplish! Solomon wrote, "A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul" (Proverbs 13:19 NKJV). With always too much to do, we dash off to the next obligation, often without finishing the previous one, or taking time to stand back and savour a job well done. No wonder we worry that our existence seems meaningless.
(4) Owing more than we can repay. Next time you're faced with a credit purchase, wait! Don't necessarily say no. Just present your so-called "need" to God before presenting it to the bank and see what He says about it.
If you're really serious about developing your Spiritual life, deal with your mind clutter!
Daily Bible Reading:
John 5:1-15, Isaiah 54:9-17
Read similar devotionals:
Abiding (3)
CopyrightTerms & ConditionsPrivacyAdvertiseContact UsUnsubscribe
The Vine - copyright © 2000 - 2007 Steve Neill and others. All Rights Reserved.
My Comforter
Lord, you've been with me through it all
through all my heartaches and pain.
You picked me up and reassured me in troubles,
and lighted my steps all of the way.
You never once deserted me
as I strayed down the path of wrong.
Instead you stayed beside me always
and led me back where I belong.
As my mind would boggle with confusion
and through the sleepless nights I thought.
You would come sit quietly beside me
and calm me with the peace you brought.
You've blessed me with all I need Lord
my home, my family, and my friends.
You have loved me unconditionally
from the beginning of time to the end.
You even sent your Son to die
so that I may be set free.
Thoughout my life there's been no greater blessing
than the gift of salvation you've given to me.
Thank you for all you've done for me Lord,
I could never fully repay you in time.
In exchange for you giving your Son's life,
all I can offer to you is mine.
by Casey Patton
MySpace AvatarsLyrics
through all my heartaches and pain.
You picked me up and reassured me in troubles,
and lighted my steps all of the way.
You never once deserted me
as I strayed down the path of wrong.
Instead you stayed beside me always
and led me back where I belong.
As my mind would boggle with confusion
and through the sleepless nights I thought.
You would come sit quietly beside me
and calm me with the peace you brought.
You've blessed me with all I need Lord
my home, my family, and my friends.
You have loved me unconditionally
from the beginning of time to the end.
You even sent your Son to die
so that I may be set free.
Thoughout my life there's been no greater blessing
than the gift of salvation you've given to me.
Thank you for all you've done for me Lord,
I could never fully repay you in time.
In exchange for you giving your Son's life,
all I can offer to you is mine.
by Casey Patton
MySpace AvatarsLyrics
Touch Points for Women I
What makes me Acceptable to God?
The word of the Day is: Acceptable
King James Dictionary
Accept’able, a.
That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present.
Agreeable or pleasing in person; as, man makes himself acceptable by his services or civilities.
In Greek the word acceptable is: a)po/dektov
The transliterated Word is: Apodektos
Phonetic Spelling is: ap-od’-ek-tos
Parts of speech is: Adjective
The Old Testament Hebrew is: awcr
The transliterated Word is: Ratown
Phonetic Spelling is: raw-tsone’
Parts of speech is: Noun Masculine
Definition
pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will
goodwill, favour
acceptance
will, desire, pleasure, self-wil
In the KJV the explanation of the word acceptance is mentioned 56 times they are:
KJV (56) - acceptable, 8; acceptance, 1; accepted, 4; delight, 5; desire, 3; favour, 15; pleasure, 5; selfwill, 1; will
Leviticus 22:20
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
Deuteronomy 33:24
And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
Psalms 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 69:13
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
Proverbs 10:32
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh forwardness.
Proverbs 21:3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ecclesiastes 12:10
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Isaiah 49:8
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish F237 the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages
Luke 4:19
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ephesians 5:10
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Wisdom of Solomon 3:14
And blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given the special gift of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind.
New International Version
Exodus 28
38 It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.
Leviticus 1
3 " 'If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.
Proverbs 21
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Romans 15
16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 8
12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Our sin separates us from a holy and perfect God. But faith in Jesus removes our sin and makes us holy and acceptable in God’s sight.
We all can understand what the Scriptures are teaching us regarding the word acceptance. Most of us see and hear people everyday. We meet many different people in our walk through life. We have a decision in our lives to make. If Jesus met you one day in passing, would he Accept you?
The question is:
What makes me acceptable to God?
Are the things that you do in your day to day lives accepting to God? I truly believe if each of us thought about our lives and what we do for Christ Jesus some would have to think hard about it, and some wouldn’t have to think but answer. Can we just put off what we could do today on another day, like tomorrow? Do you think that God won’t know? Do you realize that God has known each of us since before he touched our Mother’s womb?
Can we be so convinced in our mind that he shall accept everything we do? What about the person who says, “Oh, yes he accepts me because I have done this……..and this……..and that for him”!
Are they so sure in their heart that he will do just that? I have to wonder if I will be accepted by him myself? Why? Because there isn’t a day that goes by that I know because I am made of flesh that I will sin every day. I do know that he loves me for me and he does know that I sin each day. That I know that I can go to him and ask for forgiveness in no matter what it is.
I have to ask myself each night before I close my eyes, “Lord am I acceptable in your sight from what I have done, said, seen, thought in this day”? For it is my Faith through Christ Jesus that tells me what I need to do on a daily basis. Whether in word, thought or action I do know that I can go to him and he will tell me what to do.
My Son told me one time when I was going through some hardships in my life, that if I would think of the words “What Would Jesus Do”? When I came to a decision in my life that I would know what to do. For it is my faith in him who carries me through everyday.
Since then I have done that, and he doesn’t even know that God used him in that moment in my life when I needed to hear those words.
So next time that you ponder something, think about this:
What makes me acceptable to God?
My Prayer for you today :
Dear Father God:
May you open our hearts up today and may we be acceptable in your sight . Father, I ask that you may bless us with wisdom as to know that your love for us is never ending. May we begin a new life in your presence to tell other’s of you. Father, we give you all Praise, Honor and Glory! Thank you Father…..Amen.
The word of the Day is: Acceptable
King James Dictionary
Accept’able, a.
That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present.
Agreeable or pleasing in person; as, man makes himself acceptable by his services or civilities.
In Greek the word acceptable is: a)po/dektov
The transliterated Word is: Apodektos
Phonetic Spelling is: ap-od’-ek-tos
Parts of speech is: Adjective
The Old Testament Hebrew is: awcr
The transliterated Word is: Ratown
Phonetic Spelling is: raw-tsone’
Parts of speech is: Noun Masculine
Definition
pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will
goodwill, favour
acceptance
will, desire, pleasure, self-wil
In the KJV the explanation of the word acceptance is mentioned 56 times they are:
KJV (56) - acceptable, 8; acceptance, 1; accepted, 4; delight, 5; desire, 3; favour, 15; pleasure, 5; selfwill, 1; will
Leviticus 22:20
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
Deuteronomy 33:24
And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
Psalms 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 69:13
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
Proverbs 10:32
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh forwardness.
Proverbs 21:3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ecclesiastes 12:10
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Isaiah 49:8
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish F237 the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages
Luke 4:19
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ephesians 5:10
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Wisdom of Solomon 3:14
And blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given the special gift of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind.
New International Version
Exodus 28
38 It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD.
Leviticus 1
3 " 'If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.
Proverbs 21
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Romans 15
16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 8
12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Our sin separates us from a holy and perfect God. But faith in Jesus removes our sin and makes us holy and acceptable in God’s sight.
We all can understand what the Scriptures are teaching us regarding the word acceptance. Most of us see and hear people everyday. We meet many different people in our walk through life. We have a decision in our lives to make. If Jesus met you one day in passing, would he Accept you?
The question is:
What makes me acceptable to God?
Are the things that you do in your day to day lives accepting to God? I truly believe if each of us thought about our lives and what we do for Christ Jesus some would have to think hard about it, and some wouldn’t have to think but answer. Can we just put off what we could do today on another day, like tomorrow? Do you think that God won’t know? Do you realize that God has known each of us since before he touched our Mother’s womb?
Can we be so convinced in our mind that he shall accept everything we do? What about the person who says, “Oh, yes he accepts me because I have done this……..and this……..and that for him”!
Are they so sure in their heart that he will do just that? I have to wonder if I will be accepted by him myself? Why? Because there isn’t a day that goes by that I know because I am made of flesh that I will sin every day. I do know that he loves me for me and he does know that I sin each day. That I know that I can go to him and ask for forgiveness in no matter what it is.
I have to ask myself each night before I close my eyes, “Lord am I acceptable in your sight from what I have done, said, seen, thought in this day”? For it is my Faith through Christ Jesus that tells me what I need to do on a daily basis. Whether in word, thought or action I do know that I can go to him and he will tell me what to do.
My Son told me one time when I was going through some hardships in my life, that if I would think of the words “What Would Jesus Do”? When I came to a decision in my life that I would know what to do. For it is my faith in him who carries me through everyday.
Since then I have done that, and he doesn’t even know that God used him in that moment in my life when I needed to hear those words.
So next time that you ponder something, think about this:
What makes me acceptable to God?
My Prayer for you today :
Dear Father God:
May you open our hearts up today and may we be acceptable in your sight . Father, I ask that you may bless us with wisdom as to know that your love for us is never ending. May we begin a new life in your presence to tell other’s of you. Father, we give you all Praise, Honor and Glory! Thank you Father…..Amen.
