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I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV).

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I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV).

enter by narrow gate

It’s A Tight Squeeze

July 11, 2013 by Prudence 2 Comments

IT’S A TIGHT SQUEEZE

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 New King James Version).

During the course of our Christian walk, we are going to face boulders in our path and major hills and valleys along the road.  The Bible does not say the Christians life is easy, in fact, Jesus tells us it is difficult and the gate is narrow.  He also says there are few who find it.  The Bible tells us how to get through our various trials and the kind of attitude we should have.  It does not tell us we get a free ride now because we are washed in the blood of Christ.  Yes, God opens doors and His favor can shine upon us, but I have found the bigger the blessing or opportunity, the greater the obstacle course is to receiving it. I’m not saying this is always the case; I have found God will also bless and favor completely unexpectedly as well.  He does everything according to His purpose.  We have to stay focused on Him, on His will and on the path we are walking on.

My friend, if you are traveling a road which seems easy and well-paved with little to no obstacles, go to the Lord in prayer and ask if maybe your feet haven’t strayed.  Ask Him to show you the correct path and gate to head towards.  Get yourself grounded in the Word, be vigilant in prayer, cultivate that relationship with Him and your feel will not stray.

Dear Lord, thank You for this day.  Thank You for this opportunity to praise You and to bow at Your feet in worship.  Forgive us if we have strayed far from You, draw us back to You, bring us back to the sheep fold.  Lord, we know that it isn’t easy to follow your path, and Your word tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials, but sometimes it can be hard to be joyful in the midst of our storms and this is where we need to lean on You.  Thank You for being our solid rock to lean against and for being our umbrella when the rain falls.  We love You and we need You more than we need anything on this earth.  We give You all the glory and honor, in Your name Jesus we pray, Amen.

Today’s Attitude of Worship: If you are going through something right now, rejoice!  If you have trials and tests, rejoice!  In all things give God praise and glory and thanksgiving!  Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and walking that narrow path – you may not be liked by everyone; you may get passed over for that promotion you wanted; you may not have all that you think you should, but if you keep your eyes focused on Jesus and walking that narrow path, you will have what God wants for you!

Additional Scriptures:   James 1:2, 12, 19-20

Shalom,

Prudence

Posted in: Christianity, Today's Bible Treasure Devotionals Tagged: enter by narrow gate, narrow path, trials and tests

The Road Less Traveled

August 13, 2012 by Prudence 1 Comment

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14 New King James Version).

One of my favorite poems is The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.  It speaks of a traveler who comes to a fork in the road and has to choose which road to take.  Ultimately, he decides to take the lesser worn of the two and doesn’t regret the choice he made.

As Christians, we too, have choices like this to make, not just once, but perhaps hundreds of times during the course of the day.  Sometimes we must take the less popular choice, but it is often the most rewarding.  Imagine coming to a fork in the road and choosing the well worn and trampled path.  There may not be much to see alongside it; the wildlife probably are scared to come out because of all the travelers.  The flowers would be crushed underfoot before they even have the chance to bloom.  The less traveled road would be teeming with life. Wildlife would be less likely to encounter a lot of travelers, therefore having the freedom to roam unhindered.  Wildflowers would line the pathway, and the birds flying overhead would be filled with song.

How we walk along with Christ depends on which road we choose to travel down.  The world’s pathway is wide, welcoming and easy to walk down.  There’s “fun for everyone” in the world system, its enticements and delicacies waft through the air drawing you closer.  What the road doesn’t show is the curve ahead, behind which lie sorrow, bitterness, envy, emptiness and pain.  The road less traveled may be harder to travel, but when we choose it, we have a travel partner.  He knows the road and carves out the best footholds for us.  He gives peace and joy; while we may not always see what’s behind the corner, it’s always for our good.  The less traveled road may be the unpopular choice, but it’s the choice Jesus would have us make.

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for this wonderful day!  Thank You for this blessing of life and this blessing of opportunity!  Father, may we take the less traveled road, the road that does not seem worn and wide.  May we make choices that are worthy of You, that honor You as we walk under Your banner.  Grant us discernment to distinguish the world’s enticements from Kingdom things. Father, we love You and we offer ourselves in worship to You.  Use us today, Lord, to help someone choose life!  We give You all glory, all honor and all our praise.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Attitude of Worship: If you are faced with a choice, and the popular choice is not a Kingdom choice, pray for strength to choose the unpopular.  Christianity is not a popularity contest, it is our pathway to the home awaiting us in heaven.

Additional Scriptures: Luke 13:24; Micah 4:2

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. ~Robert Frost

 

Posted in: Christianity, Today's Bible Treasure Devotionals Tagged: enter by narrow gate, Jesus' way not easy but best way, making Godly choices, Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

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