Spiritual Growth; What God has said.

Staying Focused through the Distractions

Matthew 4:1–4 NASB95

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”

We need to take Jesus seriously and follow His example. Staying Focused on God despite the distractions around us.

We should stay docused on the words of the Bible. The Bible shows who God is and teaches us who we can be once we know more about God.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 NASB95

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

God's word (AKA the Bible) should be taken and examined, accepting that it is good.

God’s word doesn’t always pop out at us, but like runway lights they are there to help guide us. Sometimes we find ourselves reading a passage that connects with what we are going through, and we are encouraged by the words we are reading. Other times we find ourselves reading the Bible and it might not directly connect with what we are going through, but if we read the Bible prayerfully allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide we will find that there is still wisdom to gain from those Holy Words.

Psalm 119:105–112 NASB95

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me Your ordinances. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.

Sometimes I think we can struggle with the Bible and it’s authority especially when the world around us caste’s doubt upon it. But thankfully we don’t just have God’s words, we have God’s promises recorded and fullfilled. We can see God’s promises of faithfulness throughout the Old Testament, then in the New Testament, we see people living and shating their experiences of these promises. I believe that when we read about God’s promises and then we see God’s promises fullfilled, we can trust God’s hart for us. We have been promised a life full of purpose and can learn from many people in the Bible who were given the same promise.

Isaiah 41:8–10 NASB95

“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend, You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’