TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
IRON GAZE
1ST MARCH 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 4:20-21(NKJV )
“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;”
Who am I?
What can I do?
What am I capable of?
How far will I go?
These are questions life throws at us everyday. We feel great about these questions and thoughts in the times or seasons when things are going as planned, when there’s money in the bank, and set goals and dreams are coming to pass.
But when events do not turn out so well, then we start to have the doubts, doubts about our identity and abilities.
We become uncertain and worried about the present and the future.
But there’s a danger in this roller coaster experience of thoughts and feelings. As humans, we are naturally wired with emotions and because of this, very often, our decisions are primarily driven by emotions.
So in those seasons when we feel inadequate and incapable, or lose our sense of identity and self worth, we make decisions and take actions based on those feelings which might ultimately change the course of our lives or hinder us from moving in the direction God is leading us.
This is why our text today is so important. Both for our identity in Christ and our perspective towards all God’s promises.
Proverbs 4:21 says “Do not let them depart from your eyes”.
This means under no circumstance should we take our eyes off who we are in Christ and what God says about us, whether in the worst of seasons or in the best of seasons. Our gaze is to be set like that of the soldier looking to his commander. Nothing distracts his attention.
God orders our steps and directs our lives by His Spirit through His word and not through our feelings. When circumstances or brief moments of light affliction makes us feel differently about what God said to us, we stand the risk of making decisions that will deviate us from God’s plans for our lives.
But just as Paul prayed in Colossians 4:12- It is my prayer for you that you stand perfect and complete in all of God’s will.
But you must know that keeping His words constantly before your eyes will guarantee this.
REFLECTION
Am I quick to define my life from circumstances or from my identity in Christ?
DECLARATION
-I am in Christ. This is where my identity takes shape from.
-Seasons and circumstances don’t define my identity.
-I don’t make decisions out of feelings and emotions but by the leading of God’s Spirit.
-My focus on God’s words and perspective of me is unyielding. I am blind to every other reality.
-Today, faith is stirred up in me to keep my gaze fixed on Jesus.
-I walk in the reality that Christ has qualified me for all of God’s promises.
-I stand perfect and complete in all of God’s will for me.
-I rejoice today because testimonies abound for me.
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to The Believers Heart – Instruct Your Heart >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud