Living Today for Tomorrow

 It's the paper you pushed on till 3am to finish because you wanted an A instead of a B. It's the math homework you finished the last problem on because you wanted to go the extra mile and get 100% rather than a 90. It's saying "Wow! I'm so proud of you!" and giving your child a genuine smile and hug when they show you their latest drawing, to show them you want to be actively involved in their life. It's the listening to someone to show them you care when they're struggling, and crying with them because you've allowed yourself to be put in their shoes so you can understand their pain.  It's the taking a little time out of "your day" to talk to and inspire someone who looks up to you. It's pushing past your pride to say something nice to someone who has hurt you. It's holding your temper when your toddler has broken your favorite ceramic mixing bowl. It's pushing past your laziness to read your Bible, and begin praying to God even when you don't feel like it.

What is?

•  The little choices you make in your day. They are the things that will "make or break" your future, who you are, and who you become. 

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:34 KJV)

Your Heart- A Vessel

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." (Galatians 5:16, 17 KJV)

What a great verse for the day! This isn't just talking about sexual lust, Y'all. This is talking about *anything* you want to do that does not honor God. I find so many complaining about sins they just can't seem to shake- "I can't keep my anger under control", "I can't seem to stop going to bad websites", "I can't respect my parents", "I can't love my wife like I should". 

See this passage from Galatians^? You can.

I think the "secret" to defeating those sins is revealed here in these two verses. 

So what is holding you back from finding true victory? 

Is it friends, music choices, or just plain ol' laziness? Remove these things from your life, but you must replace them with things that will help you to grow. Colossians 3 talks about putting off the things of the old man, but it doesn't stop there. You can't just stop "doing" something. The passage goes into detail about what we must put on in order to live a successful Christian life. Read your Bible more, find a pastor/speaker that really ministers to your heart then listen to their lectures, and read books that answer your spiritual questions but also convicts you in areas of needed growth. 

Our hearts are vessels that will pour forth whatever we put into them. 

"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it  spring  the issues of  life." (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV)

• Filling your mind and life with books full of fluff and fantasy (I'm not saying a bit of fiction is wrong- that's not my point), songs that are lust-filled and vulgar, and friends who are caught up in a materialistic and narcissistic culture? That's where you'll find your thoughts, words, and actions reverting to.  

• Filling your mind and life with God's Word, sermons that inspire you to grow in your walk with Christ, and friends that give you a godly and strong vision? That's where you'll find your thoughts, words, and actions reverting to. 

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

                                                    Matthew 6:21-22 (KJV)    

You see, it's no different what we put into our hearts than what comes out. Plumb the depths of your soul, and ask God to reveal to you what keeps you from tasting the sweet nectar of life that only comes from walking with Him. When you do this you will find favor with God, and in so doing, man as well.