Being grateful for the words He has gifted us in the Bible is something we cannot overlook. We must be invested in consuming and learning His words every day to live. Are we truly living without His words in our life? Or are we just running to try to keep up with what we think life is? We will find progression in His words as they become imprinted on our souls, hearts and minds. To overlook the power of His word is to overlook life itself. Our time is valuable and He wants to spend it with us. We have the opportunity every day to invite Him into our lives through the simple act of reading the words He has given us. When we praise Him for our progress we will be released from our selfish ambition and the control the world places on us to “succeed.” We will succeed each day more fully by being with Him. Our peace will come over all we do.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:4 NIV
Progress requires us to be cognizant that we are in consistent training. Scripture is our guide and is useful in, “Teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training.” It is through training that God can grow our abilities and callings. He wants to equip us for the work He has for us. However, we cannot be equipped without learning His words. It is His word that informs us of our next steps. His words will transform our perspective and give us the strength we need in this confusing world. This world is full of human knowledge that we all readily consume. It is only His words that can give us the knowledge of righteousness that we need to know His ways. When we know His ways we can have freedom in this life we could not have otherwise.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- Write down how you are progressing in your life. Then write down how you can thank God for that progress.
- Are you aware you are in training? Write down the ways God gives you opportunities to practice and train to be better in areas of your life that you know need refining.
A Story of Progress:
I think ambition used to make all my decisions for me. I have been ambitious since I cannot remember. I have wanted to succeed in this world in every way. However, my perspective of success used to be very limited. I understood it only through the lens the world had given me.
That lens meant that I should be financially independent and have it all figured out. That I would have a plan for any adversity that came my way and I would never worry. Instead, what happened was the more independent I became or maybe stated better, the more self-reliant I became, the more hampered with stress and worry I became.
I finally gave in to not having all the answers. I started learning God’s word. I realized being self-reliant was futile. I should be dependent on God. Everything is His anyway. With this new perspective I have been able to find continual peace. I do not stress and worry like I used to. Those are fleeting feelings now. I am grateful for this progress. I never want to know a world where I am independent again. This is why I stay in His word every day. This kind of progress always fills me.
- Anonymous
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
