Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

The word "intentional" came to mind.

Done on purpose; deliberate.

Willful, purposeful, intended.

I want to become more intentional in

my Bible reading, my prayer life,

my relations with others,

my love, my commitment, my witness.

Lord, help me not to waste time this new year.

And show me what the waste in my life is

in Your eyes.

Matthew 16:24 says,

If anyone would come after Me,

he must deny himself

and take up his cross and follow Me.

Yes, I want to "come after" Him.

Then I must deny myself.

It's not optional.

I must.

Deny myself in what areas?

Instead of Twitter and Facebook,

go to the Bible first.

I say I want to be a man of prayer.

Then, BE a man of prayer.

Pray more often.

Pray more disciplined.

Take up my cross?

What cross might that be?

I'm tempted to Google that portion

and see what others have to say.

Better to let the Lord show me what my cross is.

I'm remembering that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

So I'm thinking my cross will not be a bad thing, a thing to be shunned.

Not like His cross.

Only He could carry that cross.

And He carried it for me.

No, my cross is different.

But it does involve death, right?

Whoever wants to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. Matthew 16:25

You have not followed My decrees or kept My laws

but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.

Ezekiel 11:12

I venture to say that all of our concepts are twisted.

Tainted by the world around us that barrages us constantly.

That's why we need our daily bread.

The washing of the Word.

The time alone with Him.

I will give them an undivided heart

and put a new spirit in them;

I will remove from them their heart of stone

and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19

I want a heart of flesh,

one that is soft and pliable in the hands of the Lord.

One that's ready to do His will.