Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Galatians 6:3-5, “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”

Have you noticed one’s pride is fragile and can often get in the way in our relationships? Feelings of pride come into place when comparing ourselves to others and seeing someone else’s flaws. It has to do with the sense you are more important than someone else; therefore, you should get more attention. Don’t we all view with disdain certain boisterous people and think, “Whoa! They sure think they are something!”

Philippians 2:3b-4 has the same idea as Paul is teaching in Galatians 6, which states: “In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” We all want to have significance and be recognized for performing our work or creating and making something expertly. That is not wrong. But it takes carefully scrutinizing our work, and asking ourselves if Jesus was pleased with our actions, attitudes, and behavior? If each area can line up to those standards, then satisfaction and having the inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing ourselves to anyone else can be rightly achieved in a self-deserving feeling of accomplishment well done.

Each person has to bear his or her own burden of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible and give an account before God at judgment day (Rom. 14:12). No one is exempt. The AMP version states Galatians 6:4-5 this way: “But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work (examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior), and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another. For every person will have to bear (with patience) his own burden (of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible).”

 The MSG version of Galatians 6:3-5 states concisely also what must be remembered and I am pointing to myself: “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” So you need to, I need to, sink ourselves into what you believe God has given you to do and see that you do it well despite if anyone notices or appreciates it. When you do your very best, feel that joy and relish that moment. When you fall short of your expectations, abide in our God’s loving acceptance and comfort, and ask God to sustain you in His grace. We all struggle with falling into the trap of comparisons. Today’s devotional thoughts are a peak into this very subject of my new book that is now out on Amazon: “Eliminating The Greener Grass Trap. Quitting The Habit Of Comparisons.” Check it out!

Listen to Matthew West – You Are Known (Audio) YouTube song.

Galatians 5:25-26, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Paul had just said in Galatians 5:16 to “Walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Do you see yourself as a Spirit-filled believer? What does that look like? I think we all know what it does not look like. Do you always submit to the Holy Spirit’s promptings? It sounds pretty simple, but do you always have a Spirit-controlled attitude? I confess I do not all the time, and then suffer from having regrets and replay in my mind what I wish I would have said instead in those conversations. My expectations in the relationship is involved leading to satisfactory or unsatisfactory results in a point in time. Paul is saying that if we are going to be walking in the Spirit then we must have patience and love in our feelings with one another, reflecting the fruit of the Spirit. People will always disappoint us the longer we know them. But the longer we know the Lord, the more He will impress us with His goodness, unconditional love, and faithfulness.

In verse 25, Paul used the Greek word stoicheo and is a different verb than in verse 16. It means “walk in a line behind a leader.” When going into a new meeting with my work, I picture myself marching behind my spiritual leader, the Holy Spirit; therefore I can hold my head up high, straighten up and pull back my shoulders, and stand up straight! No slouching with poor posture because I have a connection with my divine redeemer, shepherd, comforter, and deliverer; therefore, I will follow the divine wisdom He will give me in carrying out the work He has given me to do. He will go before me because He is my leader, leading the way. I just need to follow Him and keep my eyes focused on Jesus.

A cross-reference verse to Galatians 5:26 is Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” There must have been some abrasive and robust personality types within the Galatian churches since Paul warned them about not being “conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” The definition of causing provocation means – inciting in making someone annoyed or deliberately angry. Resentment then usually occurs. Think about that the next time you see an argument starts to happen. Be on guard and be very careful about submitting to that challenge. Personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage is how we are to walk in the Spirit. Each of us is an original. God doesn’t need duplicates.

March in line, behind your Heavenly leader. God has a purpose for you, so stand up straight, put on humility, and have God-confidence. He is establishing your path. Follow and keep your eyes focused on Jesus.

Listen to Casting Crowns -Only Jesus (Official Lyric Video) 8/21/2018.

Galatians 5:16-17, “But I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

Do you have spiritual mentors or a close friend, that when you leave the conversation with them, you think, “Now they are walking with the Lord. I feel closer to Jesus and love Him more after talking to her or him.”

I have to ask myself, do I always listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and promptings in the path and nature of Jesus Christ such as showing some practical expression of love, a moment of intercessory prayer for someone, or an encouraging word, or compassionate act of mercy He brings to my mind? Paul stated in Romans 13:14, which is a parallel verse, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

How is the Holy Spirit teaching you about Jesus as you are moving through today’s battles?  Martin Luther has said, “I have been assailed by many violent passions, but as soon as I took hold of some Scripture passage, my temptations left me. Without the Word, I could not have helped myself against the flesh.”

How do we acquire the influence of the Holy Spirit upon our lives? It takes hearing God’s Word, reading God’s Word, and obeying God’s Word, with discernment in identifying His promptings versus mere emotional drifting feelings. Galatians 5:22-23 is a list of the qualities that is evidence the Holy Spirit is leading you: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law.” Having patience has been more challenging for me during this current pandemic situation. Life will always have challenging circumstances, injustices, and people not treating each other rightly. Therefore, we must respond immediately to the Spirit’s signals – but am I listening? Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit.”

What verse has the Holy Spirit been prompting in your mind recently? The AMP version states Galatians 5:22-23 this way, “But the fruit of the Spirit (the result of His presence within us) is love (unselfish concern for others), joy, (inner) peace, patience (not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” I need to sit and pause right now, taking in these words – especially on “patience (not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting).” So my question for myself remains, am I listening to the Holy Spirit and putting into action in what He is telling me in my heart to do? My work day is filled with needing to show love, peace, joy, and patience with my co-workers and even with some of my more challenging customers. That is what putting kingdom principles within the work day or even with family requires instead of reacting impulsively and in the flesh. It isn’t always about quoting Scripture verses, yet being prepared to share your faith when given opportunities to do so. Again, I ask myself, am I listening and doing what the Holy Spirit is telling me to do at any given moment and how am I acting while having to wait for answers is my challenge. What is yours?

Listen to Casting Crowns Nobody (Official Music Video).

Galatians 4:3-5, “In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive the adoptions as sons.”

There are several beliefs regarding what Paul was referring to as “the elementary principles of the world” in Galatians 4:3. One position is that he was referring to the Mosaic Law, and the full context of Galatians was Paul teaching against legalism and not paganism.

Another view is that Paul was referring to breaking free from what is stressed in pagan religion just as much as in Jewish law, that is the principle of cause and effect. In today’s times and culture, one might call it “karma.” It is a false belief system and philosophy that we need to stay away from. The term “karma” is not a term used in the Bible and comes from Hinduism and Buddhism. It means we get what we deserve; when we are good, we deserve to receive good things, and when we are bad, we deserve to receive bad things. It also has to do with reincarnation, which says what you do today determines your afterlife. The phrase, “what goes around comes around” reflects this thinking. Sound familiar doesn’t it? I do not think I will be using that phrase anymore because it contradicts the understanding of God’s grace.

Truth from Scripture:

• Hebrews 9:27, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.
• Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

Paul told the Galatians to go beyond being slaves “to the elementary principles of the world” and into an understanding of God’s grace in coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ. He was telling his version of the Christmas story, which was God’s plan of redemption.

Colossians 2:8 states, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Here is a excerpt from Chuck Swindoll, December 25, 2019, from Insight For Today on Galatians 4:3-5: “As they were in Jesus’s day, so our times are desperate. Moreover, they often are a distraction from the bigger picture. Just as the political, economic, and spiritual crises of the first century set the stage for the “fullness of time” to occur . . . so today, in our own savage times, our God is weaving His sovereign tapestry to accomplish His divine will. Times are hard, indeed—but they never surprise God. He is still sovereign. He is still on the throne. As the psalmist reminds us: “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3.”

It is a good time to reflect – what is God doing in your life during these difficult days? I have to remind myself that God has a bigger purpose and I must continually recalibrate my beliefs and thoughts around the truth found in His Word no matter what is going on around me. How about you?

Listen to Oh My Soul by Travis Cottrell//New Song Cafe

Galatians 3:5-6, “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by  works of the law or by hearing with faith – just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness?”

I think of the obedience to God that Abraham is known for (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, Romans 4:9-10, Romans 4:22, and Galatians 3:6), because he believed God’s promise. Paul used Abraham as an example to the Judaizers, and quoted the law, since they were the very ones that wanted to take the believers back into the law. Paul showed them that salvation is by faith in Christ and not by works of the law. Abraham was viewed as the Jewish Christians spiritual ancestor which Paul knew from his own Jewish upbringing and training. “It mattered a great deal to the apostle that God saves people by grace, not on the grounds of their human achievement, and he found Abraham an excellent example of that truth.” (Morris)

Then I think of Noah, who kept building the ark as God had commanded him to do. Noah was obedient and believed in God’s promise to protect him and his family. What if Noah would have stopped building that ark because he did not see a current reason for using it? He kept to the task because God had told him to do it, so he was faithful to God in his obedience. Both Abraham and Noah not only believed in God, they believed God and trusted God is all-sufficient, and heard with faith. God has been impressing upon me during these past few weeks, that I must do the same, because He is faithful.

Our responsibility in our role in our work, in our family, in a ministry we are involved in is to be obedient to God in living out Biblical values in faith. What He has told us to do we are to do it with zeal. It is not about what we can do, but what great things God can do. We need to lead people to Christ through how we serve others all for God’s glory. We must be faithful, reliable, trustworthy, doing more than just enough in our work so our co-workers, or acquaintances we come across see it is because we believe in faith and with faith, in our God that we serve. God has given each of us spiritual gifts to be used in our holy calling, to help others, faithfully showing grace, as God has bestowed grace upon us in various ways (1 Peter 4:10).

When we have challenging times, our prayer should be, “God, here is the dilemma I have right now. What do you want me to do?” God does not ask what our forecast or goals are. He does not ask what our method is. He does not even ask what our motives are. Instead, He simply says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Then wait, in faith and with faith, out of your obedience to God, for the answer to happen and God’s glory to be revealed. It may not be as you expected, but God is faithful. Tell God, “I believe what you say!”

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Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Paul used strong words rather than gentle words with the group of Galatians in Galatians 3. Phillips translation says: “O you dear idiots of Galatia.” The Message’s paraphrase says: “You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.” In Galatians 3, Paul went straight to the subject in being direct in his confrontation and his defense of the doctrine of justification by faith alone, due to God’s grace, with the people in Galatia. Paul wrote with a personal tone, from his autobiography, example, allegory, satiric rebuke, and exhortation-he used it all. He had no tolerance for false doctrine and people that promote such. The Judaizes had turned the people in the church into fools in bewitching them to believe they needed something else besides faith – they needed to follow the law of Moses, and this was pure foolishness. When we take our focus off of Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us, then we too may forget how we first came to Christ, in believing faith, therefore we are empowered day by day by the Holy Spirit and are complete in Him.

So I ask you, how have you acted foolishly recently? Living godly is not just for Sundays. Can you identify the underlying reason you didn’t live out your faith as the bright light it should be before others at times? I just had a situation last week, within my work, where I am sad to admit, this happened to me. Whenever the stress of a crisis consumes me, instead of keeping my eyes focused on God, my provider, Jehovah Jireh, I fail to wait for God’s wisdom and face to shine upon me that would have delivered me. My own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure, and unfortunately, leads to making mistakes in relationships and other consequences. I had to apologize this past Monday morning for a work related incident I highly regretted from the previous work week, with the president of the company I work for. My motive was not wrong in the situation, but my tone and audio level in the heated argument we had over the phone, while I was trying to explain and justify my actions in the situation certainly was not the best. I needed to set things right in how I reacted. I knew I didn’t need to consult with anyone, as the Holy Spirit was prompting me to call and apologize for losing my temper, referencing the previous week’s incident. I felt like an idiot all weekend. When I called him early Monday morning, to apologize, I took him by surprise and he was very gracious. We ended up laughing together on the phone, as he shared with me other catastrophes that had occurred due to being short handed in Customer Service and other sales issues that had seriously frustrated him, right before our heated conversation over the phone last week that then tumbled into our current conversation. I felt highly relieved. I felt freedom from the air being cleared and the reset button being reset in our relationship. I could now remove the dunce hat from my head, from obeying the Holy Spirit’s promptings I had felt all weekend.

Receive the Word of God by faith. Hear it and recognize you also have the freedom of the power of the Holy Spirit upon your life right now by obeying God’s will in faith, and not by following a list of rules. Having the Holy Spirit is not complicated or requires any hocus pocus magical moment. God provides His own presence, His Holy Spirit, working things in your life you could never do for yourself.

I like to use, and highly recommend one of the Bible aps of reading God’s Word out loud to yourself. Let it seep into your soul and calm your thoughts. Receive it, and ask the Holy Spirit to bless your day by hearing the reading of God’s Word pouring into your life so that you can walk in the wisdom of God, keeping Jesus Christ as the clear focus throughout your day, shining on your life continually, as Proverbs 28:29b declares, “But he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Listen to You Cannot Be Stopped (Lyrics) by Phil Wickham and and Chris Quilala, 4/19/2019 by Aspire Christian Music.

Galatians 2:20-21, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Do you think during your day, very often, about the fact that Christ is living in you? Paul was saying that in his old life, he was self-centered, which was filled with envy, jealousy, and arguing. Paul was saying that it was in the past tense before his salvation. But in Christ, he now no longer lived for “I” and instead only lived to please Christ. Success was not his idol. People praising Paul was not his idol. The number of followers was not his idol. He lived to serve and glorify God. Paul did not have a problem with EGO-Edging God Out, all because of the grace of God, shown upon His life.

Paul lived by his faith in God alone and wrote the book of Galatians about his personal experience with grace, doctrinal instruction about grace, and gave the practical application of grace. Paul understood the right balance between Christian liberty and the grace of God. Paul preached it is how you live that matters in your character and what is in your heart, rather than merely what you eat or don’t eat.

One of the primary purposes for starting, the Fellowship of Women in the Workplace, was to bring Christian women in the workforce together in having a common desire and support in how to blend our faith into every aspect of our life within our work role since Christ lives in us. Too often we have our Christian experience over here, and our work-life over there, and don’t incorporate the two together. That shouldn’t be. Our faith and values need to be lived before others in every aspect of our lives, including the professional environment.

I sometimes feel like my life is all being put into a blender. The good things, the wrong things, home life, family life, my work life, my writing, and God mixes it all up together, due to His grace. Sometimes it goes in there at high speed, and other times at a low speed. My life is not as compartmentalized as it is more multiple integrated. I do not have an eight to five job. I get calls or texts from customers not only during daytime working hours but sometimes in the evening and on weekends, and it requires my response, and that is OK.

Dear friend, if you are feeling your blender is overflowing, take heart. God wants to bless you. Pray for it. Watch for it. Pray and put your faith and trust in God, moment by moment to work through you, in making the best leadership decisions that you can as you glorify God due to His grace and mercy bestowed upon your life, even when you have blown it. Some days you may feel like David before Goliath instead of a Proverbs 31 woman. It is how our life becomes integrated with God establishing our steps (Prov. 16:3) in achieving the Lord’s purpose for us.

Note the words found in The Message in Galatians 2:20,” My (Paul) ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God.” But by the grace of God I go. How about you?

Listen to Surrounded (Fight My Battles) by Michael W. Smith.