THE POWER OF SHARED FAITH

'Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?' Amos 3:3 NKJV

If your attraction to partners is found only in the way they look, imagine how they might look twenty-five years from now. Regular exercise and good diet will only take you so far; then Mother Nature and Further Time begin to take their toll. The truth is that looks may bring you together, but only commitment and a shared faith will keep you together! 

The Bible says, 'Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 NLT). That doesn't mean the two of you must hold identical views on every issue and practice your faith in similar ways. But you need the same values and views regarding the fundamentals of your faith - how you view God, the role of the church, and personal practices. 'Can two walk together unless they are agreed? Faith is the indescribable strength, that secret weapon of the soul that shows us how to persevere even when the facts seem damning and the truth unbearable. It's what keeps us going when we're not sure we can continue. It's the light that leads us out of the darkness, and the map that guides our way. Without faith, we would probably pull over to the side of the road, give up, and watch everyone else pass us by. 

But when we trust in the Lord and believe that He will guide us, there is almost nothing we cannot withstand and walk through together.

KIDS AND KITES

'A man shall leave his father and mother.' - Mathew 19:5 NKJV

If you're a parent, letting go of your children is often one of the toughest phases of parenting. 

Erma Bombeck compared it to flying a kite. Mum and Dad run down the road hoping to catch a breeze. Eventually, and with much effort, they manage to hoist the kite a few feet in the air. Just when they think it is safely underway, great danger looms. It dives towards electric lines and twirls perilously near the trees. It is a scary moment. Then, unexpectedly, a gust of wind catches the kites and carries them upward. Mum and Dad begin feeding line as rapidly as they can. The kite then becomes difficult to hold. Parents reach the end of their line and begin to wonder what to do next. The little craft demands more freedom. It rises higher and higher. Dad stands on tiptoe to accommodate the tug; it is now grasped tenuously between his index finger and thumb, held upward towards the sky. Then comes the moment of release. The string slips through his fingers, and the kite soars majestically into God's beautiful sky. The kite is now a mere pinpoint of colour in the sky. The parents are proud of what they have done - but sad to realise that their job is finished. It was a labour of love. 

But where did the years go? Parenting is an exhilarating and terrifying experience, and one that was ordained from the beginning. With the ultimate release, your task as a parent is finished. The kite is free, and so, for the first time in twenty years or so, are you. What's next? Ask God; He has a plan for your life.

PATIENCE, LOVE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT

'I came so close to the edge.' Psalm 73:2 TLB

If you'd met Asaph, who wrote some of the Psalms, you'd probably have thought he hadn't a care in the world. But you'd have been wrong: 'I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.' Then at the end of the psalm he does a one-eighty, and writes, 'My health may fail, and my spirit grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever' (v. 26 NLT). Despite his problems, he chose to speak words to encourage. 

When you have an opportunity to encourage someone, do it. You never know what a person is going through - that's true whether they live in a mansion or a mud hut. Here's an important principle to keep in mind: people tend to become what the most important people in their lives think of them! So, think the best, believe the best, and express the best towards them. You say, 'But they need to stop making the same stupid mistakes!' Change happens by inches, not miles. Even when it seems simple, it's rarely easy. The only way we can break old habits is to form new ones, and that takes time and practice - lots of it. You can't tell people something once and expect them to get it; they need to hear it over and over before they can make the adjustment. And how you tell them can determine whether they freeze in fear or soar above the obstacles. 

Be persistent. Never give up trying to help them improve. Acknowledge every step of progress they make. The way to get lasting results is through patience, love, and encouragement.

CHARACTER (2)

'When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy.' James 1:12 NCV

Because he was handsome, Joseph attracted the unwanted attention of his boss's wife. Day after day, she tried to seduce him. Now fast-forward to later in his life. If Joseph encountered that level of temptation when he was just a household slave, can you imagine the level he was exposed to when he became Egypt's prime minister? Acting with integrity in big ones.

In the hour of temptation, you will be called upon to choose character or compromise. Every time you choose character, you grow stronger, even when it comes at a cost. Observe:

1) Character is more than just talk. Do you remember the old show-and-tell method of teaching in school? If you're all talk and no show, you lose credibility.

2) Talent is a gift, but character is a choice. Generally speaking, talent is something you're born with, and you have little say in it. But character is a choice you get to make each day, and usually it's made when only God and you know about it.

3) Character brings lasting success. It's said that early Stradivarius violins were made from wood taken from the side of trees that had faced the brunt of a storm. Why? Because weather-beaten wood produces the sweetest music. Are you getting the idea?

4) Temporarily you may rise above your character limitations, but you won't be able to sustain it. 

Eventually you will be seen for what you are. So, the word is: don't just work to build your career; work to build your character.

CHARACTER

'A principled life can stand up to the worst.' Proverbs 11:4 MSG

Abraham Lincoln said, 'Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.' It's easier to focus on our talent because, generally speaking, it produces results that others reward and celebrate.

In other words, there is an element of ego connected to our gifts. Character is built in private. Your reputation is what people think you are, but character is what God (and you) know you are. If you want to go the distance, focus more on character than talent. The writer of Proverbs says, 'Live right, and you will eat from the life-giving tree. And if you act wisely, others will follow' (Proverbs 11:30 CEV). If you're praying for greater results, being must precede doing. To achieve greater goals, you must become a person of greater character. When you consistently display character, competence, and purpose, you make a powerful statement to those around you and draw them closer to you. Great things are rarely accomplished alone, so if you want to attract good people, you have to become a better person yourself. This is particularly true if you're a person of great ability. Your talent may lift you up before others, but your lack of character will bring you down. 

The Bible says, 'A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst' (Proverbs 11:4 MSG). A wise leader is willing to admit, 'I'm not perfect, but I know who is. And I'm doing my best to become more and more like Him in my professional and personal life.'

WINNING THE BATTLE OVER APATHY

'Stir up the gift of God which is in you.' 2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV

Paul told Timothy, 'Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.' That scripture means, even though you're gifted, you can become apathetic if you don't keep doing the right things. 'Therefore we must give more earnest heed to the things we have hard, lest we drift away' (Hebrews 2:1 NKJV). The word 'drift' is not only slow and subtle, it's deadly. Let's look at two of the things that can rob you of your passion, enthusiasm, motivation, and focus.

1) Lack of goals. 'Without a vision the people perish' (see Proverbs 29:18). What used to enthuse you? What destroyed your interest in it? Is it a desire you could revive? Put it down in writing. Ignore the potential cost or reasons it might not work. Just indulge your mind in the luxury of feeling optimistic and excited about something, even a small thing.

2) Wrong goals. Are you pursuing a goal you feel was imposed upon you by someone else? Or, like Jonah before he was swallowed by the whale, possibly you're rowing against the tide of God's will for your life. Check with Him and see if this is so. Did God really lead you to pamper yourself with that extravagant item that's now requiring you to work two jobs? Or maybe the time has come to an end for a goal that was part of God's plan for a specific season of your life. 

Moving on is sometimes difficult, but oh, the joy and peace of knowing that you are in the centre of God's perfect will.

WHEN YOU FEEL ANGRY

'Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.' James 1:19 NLT

The Bible gives us three keys to handling our anger the right way. Let's look at each one and see what we can learn:

1) 'Be quick to listen.' Don't react, and don't rush to judgment. Slow down and try to get the facts, then prayerfully and carefully consider how God wants you to respond. 

2) 'Slow to speak.' If you're unsure, or you don't know, just say so. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, 'It's better to say nothing and appear to be a fool than open your mouth and confirm it.' You need to be in control, or to look like you have all the answers, can come back to bite you. What you don't say, you won't have to explain or apologise for later. 

3) 'Slow to get angry.' Note, the Bible doesn't say that you should never get angry. It says you should get angry about the right things, in the right way, at the right time. Solomon says, 'Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool' (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NLT). That's why it's so important to deal with your hurts. An unhealed wound causes pain, which often manifests itself in anger. The trouble is, we carry our anger around with us and vent it on others. As a result, they distance themselves from us, or distrust us, or deny us the intimacy and closeness we desire with them. The Bible says, 'The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook transgression' (Proverbs 19:11 NKJV). 

Christlike character grows through exercising patience, love, and restraint.

MEDITATE ON THE SCRIPTURES

'I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.' Psalm 119:15

If you want to grow spiritually. In fact, you will never outgrow your diet of Scripture. There is no substitute. There is no supplement. 

The poet T.S Eliot said, 'Everything we eat has some...effect upon us. It affects us during the process of assimilation and digestion; and I believe that exactly the same is true of anything we read.' We are what we read. But let's take that a step further. Reading without meditation is like eating without digesting. If you want to absorb the nutrients, you can't just read it; you have to chew on it. Meditation is the way we metabolise Scripture. That's how it gets into our spirit and our soul. The French writer Jacques Reda had a particular habit. He would walk the streets of Paris with the purpose of seeing one new thing every day. It was how he renewed his love for the city. We renew our love for God in a similar way. Our love grows as we see new dimensions of His personality, and His personality is predominantly revealed in the pages of the Bible. What if we approach God's Word the way Jacques Reda walked the streets of Paris? Here is the secret of spiritual growth: you can't merely read the Bible; you have to meditate on it. 

Reading provides breadth to our understanding, but meditation provides depth. If all we do is read Scripture, our understanding of God and our experience with Him is one-dimensional. The Bible is a kaleidoscope. Each time you turn it, another beautiful pattern of truth is revealed.

SET HEALTHY BOUNDARIES

'Our word to you does not waver between "Yes" and "No".' 2 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

Paul writes, 'Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say "Yes" when they really mean "No"? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver' (vv.17-18 NLT). 

Paul had learned to set boundaries on his relationships, and you must do the same. A wise man said, 'Never complain about what you permit. 'Unless you set boundaries, you have no right to complain about people who take advantage of you and waste your time. 'Jesus...does not waver between "Yes" and "No"...he always does what they say' (v 19 NLT). And as His follower, you must learn when it's appropriate to say yes and when it's appropriate to say no. When people back you into a corner, confront them promptly, privately, and personally. And if they won't listen, take someone with you. And if they won't listen to both of you, take it to the church leadership (see Mathew 18:15-17). Be clear about what you will and won't tolerate. In the words of the country song. 'You've got to stand for something or you'll for anything.' 

Get comfortable voicing your wishes and preferences without fear of rejection and alienation. Make this your prayer today: 'Lord, let me serve and give to others from a pure heart rather than a need for love and acceptance. On the authority of Your word, I command the spirit of fear that has prevented me from setting healthy boundaries to leave now. I place my trust in You. I will not fear what people can do to me (see Psalm 56:11), in Jesus' name, amen.'

CONTRARY WINDS

'The winds were contrary.' Acts 27:4 KJV

When you set out to do anything for God, the Enemy will make sure you encounter 'contrary winds'. In fact, if you're not sailing against the wind, chances are you're headed in the wrong direction! 

The Bible says Jesus was 'tempted of the devil'  (Mathew 4:1 KJV). Satan never let up, including the night before Jesus was crucified, when 'Satan entered into Judas...one of the twelve' (Luke 22:3 NLT). Reimar Schultze says, 'Wherever you go today, Satan will...try to get you at some street corner, at the office, or in the field. He will make you fall if you leave home without your spiritual armour on; if you leave your belt of truth...in the closet, your breastplate of righteousness...by the door, your gospel shoes under your bed, or if you leave your shield of faith, the sword of the spirit and the helmet of salvation behind you...If you say at daybreak, "I will pray whenever I get a chance today," you just gave away your victory. Before long, the wrong words will come out of your mouth; you will look at forbidden fruits and display an improper attitude. The most foolish thing (you) can do is to leave home unarmed and spiritually naked.

A fool says, "I have no time to attempt to repair the damage prayerlessness...produced...following Jesus is not a walk in the park...Every good thing in the kingdom...from Adam on has come to us through men and women who stuck it out when the going got tough. The biblical history of the church ends with (these victorious words)... and so we came to Rome" (Acts 28:14 NLT)

HUMBLE YOURSELF

'Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.' Luke 18:14 NLT

Jesus said: 'Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: "I thank you, God, that I am not like other people - cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income." But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." 

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be exalted' (vv.10-14 NLT). You can appear to be the most devout person in church yet have a heart filled with pride. And the worst part is that you don't know it. For example, when you take all the credit for things God enabled you to accomplish and acquire, that's pride. When you compare yourself with others, that's pride. When you think you can do the will of God without the power of God, that's pride. When you exclude people who don't fit into your peer group or social circle, that's pride. And it will cost you, because 'God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.' (James 4:6 NIVUK).

So if you want to walk in His favour today, then humble yourself before Him.

DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE?

 'He chose us.' Ephesians 1:4

When it comes to God's will for your life, He decides it, and you discover it. It's not something you can change, a topic for debate, or a plan you get to have a say in. The truth is, you can miss God's will and be miserable, or do things His way and experience 'glorious, inexpressible joy' (1 Peter 1:8 NLT). The choice is yours.

'But I don't know God's will for my life,' you say. Then pray this prayer: 'Father, I'm tired of going through life with no real purpose because it brings no glory to You. You created every living thing, including me, that they may bring You pleasure (see Revelation 4:11). I know that You have a specific job for me to do. Your Word says You formed me in the womb to be Your servant (see Isaiah 49:5). I'm getting lots of input from other people, but I need to know the path You have chosen for me. Help me to stop ignoring and minimising the gifts and talents You have invested in me, acting like they're of no significance. I know we are all called to serve, and I need Your help to discern who, where, when, and how I should serve. I want to do what You have destined me to do and not be sidetracked by wrong priorities, busywork, or other people's desires and demands.

At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and say, like Jesus, "I brought glory to You here on earth by doing everything You told me to" (see John 17:4). In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

FINDING COMMON GROUNDS

'I try to find common ground with everyone.' 1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT

To influence someone, you must first connect with them. And to do that, you must look for common ground. Paul writes, 'I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.' 

In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul's words: 'Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralised - whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!' (vv 19-23 MSG). Note the words 'I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view'. When it came to preaching the truth, Paul wouldn't yield an inch. But when it came to reaching and influencing people for Christ, he tried to remove every roadblock between them and Christ. And you must be willing to do the same. 

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. That's why you must approach them heart-first, not headfirst. Before someone can receive the truth you have to share, they must be convinced that you love and care for them. And that means finding common ground.

MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

'We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God.' Psalm 48:9 KJV

Hopefully, by now you are convinced that the power that comes from meditating on God's Word is a power you need working in your life. But maybe you're a beginner, and you need a starting point. You're thinking, 'Yes, I know I need to spend more time meditating on God's Word, but how do I do it? Here are a few ideas to get started;

1) Meditate on God's blessings. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits' (Psalm 103:1-2 NKJV). Meditation leads to a thankful heart.

2) Meditate on your relationship with God. 'You receive the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God' (Romans 8:15-16 NKJV). 

3) Meditate on God's love for you. 'Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me' (Psalm 63:3-8) NKJV).

You can meditate on God's promises to protect you, or guide you, or instruct you, or correct you, or bless you. The point is, you need to get started!

DO WHAT GOD SAYS

'The Lord came to Abram in a vision.' Genesis 15:1 NKJV

When God gives you a vision for your life, He doesn't give you all the details up front. He simply says, 'Don't be afraid; just do what I say, and I will guide you and prosper you.' 

What did Abram's vision involve? 'The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation' (Genesis 12:1-2 CEV). How old was Abram? 'Abram was seventy-five...when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran' (Genesis 12:4 CEV). What was Abram leaving? 'Abram was very rich...and had a lot of silver and gold' (Genesis 13:1 CEV). How did Abram respond? 'By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going' (Hebrews 11:8 NKJV). Abraham couldn't have told you where his final destiny was or how he would get there. He just knew God told him to leave the safe harbour of where he was. Understand this: what you're willing to walk away from often determines what God can entrust to you. You say, 'But I need to have information.' You will know as you go! 

With each step of faith you take, God will reveal another detail. He will inform you on a 'need-to-know' basis. So, is the God who said to Abram, 'Go to the land that I will show you,' saying something similar to you today? Don't be afraid; just step out in faith and obey Him.

PRAYING GOD'S PROMISES

'Let my teachings become part of you.' John 15:7 CEV

According to one count, there are 3,573 promises in the Bible. That's almost ten promises for each day of the year. When you know which of these promises apply to you, and you fulfil the conditions that go with them, you can literally begin to pray God's promises into existence in your life (see John 15:7). Will your prayers be answered overnight? Some will, others won't. 'Be ...followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises' (Hebrews 6:12 KJA). 

The most powerful prayer you can pray is, 'Lord, you promised in your Word that you would...and today I am praying and believing you for it.' Here is how to pray:

1) When you need guidance and direction. 'I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye' (Psalm 32:8 NKJV).

2) When you need deliverance from a situation, or to be set free from a habit. 'Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me' (Psalm 50:15 NKJV).

3) When you need the strength to stand. 'Fear not; for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand' (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV). 

4) When you don't have enough to meet your needs. 'My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:19 KJV).

If you meditate in God's word every day, each time a need arises, you will know which of His promises to claim in prayer (see 2 Peter 1:4).

MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

'In His law he meditates day and night...and whatever he does shall prosper.' Psalm 1:2-3 NKJV

Thomas A Kempis wrote, 'If you wish to grow in yourself to be caught up in the workings of the world, you must find time alone, away from the noise and confusion, from the allure of power and wealth.' You say, 'Does that mean God doesn't want me setting goals and achieving things in life?' No, quite the opposite! 

The Bible says, 'In His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper' (vv.2-3 NKJV). What's the secret of a tree's fruitfulness? Having deep roots that are connected to life-giving streams of water. And as the demands on your time and energy become greater, you must discipline yourself to spend even more time in Scripture, not less. When your inner life is not in order, your outer life becomes dysfunctional and begins to fall apart. And working harder will only make it happen faster. You will be like the pilot who announced to his passengers, 'Folks, there is bad news and good news. The bad news is, our instrument failed, and we don't know where we're going. The good news is, we're making great time!' 

What's the answer? David says: 'I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts, and contemplate your ways. I will delight myself in your statutes; I will not forget your word' (Psalm 119:14-16 NKJV).

GOD WILL RESCUE YOU

 'We stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God,' 2 Corinthians 1:9 NLT

Are you feeling hopeless about the situation you're in and don't know which way to turn? Maybe you're struggling to find a reason to keep going, but you're so tired and overwhelmed that you just want to give up. 

If that's the case, you're in a vulnerable place. Look out - Satan will try to convince you there must be sin in your life, or that you're out of God's will, or that He is unhappy with you because you have disobeyed Him in some area you're unaware of. Don't buy it! You can be in the centre of God's will doing everything the right way, and still experience adversity. The apostle Paul writes: 'You ought to know...about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety' (2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NLT).

Two elements are at work in your life today. First, God is teaching you to lean on Him instead of on yourself. Second, people around you are being strengthened and encouraged as they see the grace of God at work in your life.

THE ART OF BEING A SHEEP

'The Lord is my Shepherd; I lack nothing.' Psalm 23:1 NIV

Perhaps you memorised Psalm 23 as a child. The vivid visual images remain with us lifelong. Author Hannah Whitall Smith said, 'What we all need is just to get back into the nursery again, and take up our childish verses once more, and, while reading them with the intelligence of our grown-up years, to believe them with all our old childish faith.' 

As adults we become jaded, losing the simple joy that stress-filled lives require. We need to remember these three things:

1) Who our shepherd is - 'The Lord'. He is the source of everything we will ever need, beginning with salvation. Jesus said: 'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep' (John 10:11 NKJV).

2) What the shepherd's job is - protector and provider for the sheep. And He knows how to handle wayward, headstrong, vulnerable sheep and care for them. Long before Jesus came as our shepherd, the Father said, 'I will rescue [my flock] and no longer will they be mistreated...I will give you a shepherd from the family of my servant King David...All of you, both strong and weak, will have the same shepherd, and he will take good care of you' (Ezekiel 34:22-23 CEV).

3) What the sheep's job is  - to trust the shepherd completely. Attempting to do His job will exhaust and defeat us. We must believe 'with all our old childish faith' that Jesus is a dependable, committed, and capable shepherd - and then act like we believe it. 

Knowing that His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives lifts our present worries and dispels all our future concerns.

YOU ARE A WONDER

'I praise you because I am...wonderfully made.' Psalm 139:14 NIV

Despite your aches and pains, you are a living, breathing, walking, talking wonder. The Psalmist said, 'You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made' (vv. 13-14 NIV). 

One author explains: 'Most of us take our eyesight for granted, but even the simplest of processes is divinely complex. The retina, for example, conducts close to ten billion calculations every second, and that is before an image even travels through the optic nerve to the visual cortex. The human nose can detect one-millionth of one milligram of garlic floating in the air and distinguish among ten thousand distinct odours. The hairs blanketing your body magnify the sensation of touch so that you can discern a thousandth of an ounce of pressure on the tip of a half-inch hair.' Amazing, isn't it? Trillions of chemical reactions are taking place in every cell of your body every second. You are inhaling oxygen, metabolising energy, digesting food, maintaining equilibrium, purifying toxins, producing hormones, exhaling carbon dioxide, repairing tissues, and circulating blood. As you read this, millions of electrical impulses are firing across billions of synaptic pathways, and you don't even think about it. 

But you should praise God for the gift of life and the multitude of His blessings you enjoy. And you should do one more all-important thing: discover your life's purpose and dedicate yourself to fulfilling it. It has been said that the two most important days in a person's life are the day they're born, and the day they discover why they were born. Think about it.