But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (1 Cor 1:30)

I pray you had tremendous worship in your local church this past Lord’s Day. Carry your worship with you into the week to face your daily struggles and stresses. Remember He has overcome the world and you can have victory over sin through Christ Jesus who strengthens you. He gives us strength to conquer sin and live victoriously. But there are days when we are combated with sin and become victims rather than victors. There are times when it is difficult to overcome certain sins and destructive behaviors. In those moment we feel less like a child of God and more like failures and disappointments. But God’s love for you does change even though you may struggle with sin. Your position in Jesus Christ does not change. Our scripture passage teaches us “of Him are ye in Christ Jesus.” This scripture literally states that “Christ made us right with God” (NLT). Your position has changed that you are “made alive together with Him” (Col 2:13) though your flesh remains alive with its lustful passions and desires. To overcome our struggles with sin and change our behaviors for sinful pleasure, we must comprehend the new position we have in Christ. At the cross Christ not only died to forgive your sin, but to change your nature. You are no longer a sinner but a saint. God sees you as His child and “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:7). “In Christ Jesus,” God is able to “supply all your need according to His riches in glory” (Phil 4:19). The saint who continually struggles in sin is one who fails to seek God for their needs. My friend, accept the new life and new nature you now have in Christ and begin to see “old things are passed away, behold all things become new” (2 Cor 5:17). “Set your mind on things above” (Col 3:2) where Christ is, endeavor to “press toward…upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14) and commit yourself to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim 6:12). Christ died for the sin of the world that we should no longer live for the lustful passions in sin, conformed to the desire for pleasure that is bound in sin. The struggles we have with sin are real, but “in Christ Jesus” we are more than conquerors. Father, thank You for the forgiveness of my sin and the gift of salvation to live victoriously over sin through Christ Jesus. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.  

My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. (Ps 5:3)

There is no greater way to begin each day than with prayer unto the Lord. David was a man after God’s own heart. David was not perfect, but he had great responsibility. He took his responsibility seriously and directed his attention to pursue God with a heart that longed to know Him personally and passionately. He began each day with prayer that would “look up” to the Lord. Our scripture passage today reminds us to begin each day with our first thoughts and the first words spoken for the day, to direct them to the Lord. David said to God “my voice shalt Thou hear in the morning.” He began each day with prayer to God because his heart was devoted to God. He spoke out of his mouth that which was in his heart. Praying and calling out to God were natural for David because of the meditation of his heart. He remembered God “in the night” (Ps 63:6) when he lay upon his bed. He meditated upon all God’s work (Ps 77:12; 119:27). He meditated on the complete counsel of God’s word (Ps 119:15, 148) and “the glorious splendor of Your majesty” (Ps 145:5). David set his heart on the things of God, to know the will of God, to follow the way of God such that God testified “I have found David…a man after Mine own heart” (Acts 13:22). My friend, what are your thoughts as you begin this day? Meditate on the things of God and “look up” to “our Father who art in heaven” and gives freely all that we need and ask for each day. Begin this day in prayer. In all your ways acknowledge Him. Adore Him, for He is worthy to be praised. My friend, what an awesome privilege we have as a child of God that we can turn aside with Him and pray “in the morning” and begin the day with His communion, His care and confidence that “my help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). Father, thank You that I can come to You, depend on You, cast my cares upon You and find rest in You. I begin this day with all my prayer and praise unto You. In the Blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.