Rejoicing In The Word For Ladies – A New Year’s Devotional (Part 3)
Day 1:The actual goal of Scripture memorization is not recitation, and the purpose of meditation is not deeper thinking skills. The goal of memorization and meditation is transformation of my heart and mind. The goal is Renewal! “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth” John 17:17.
Day 2: “A man is what he thinks about all day long.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson “O how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” ~ Psalm 119:97 “My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.” ~ Psalm 104:34 “Thy testimonies are my meditation.” ~ Psalm 119:99b “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy Word.” ~ Psalm 119:148 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” ~ Josh. 1:8 Day 3: Part of the spiritual discipline of renewing the mind is found in Romans 12:3: “To every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly…” All spiritual fruit grows in the soil of humility. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” Phil. 2:5-8. As we read in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The perspective of magnifying Christ and submitting self is essential to a life that is transformed in Christ. Day 4: It is my heart’s desire and prayer that this devotional collection has been the same encouragement and challenge to you as it has been to me. I am inspired to be renewed daily in the Word! I think Philippians 3:13-15a is a great passage to carry through the rest of the year. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark (transformation/ renewal) for the prize (Christlikeness) of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.” (V.K.S.) |