Keep your foot (give your mind to what you are doing) when you go (as Jacob to sacred Bethel) to the house of God. For to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools (carelessly, irreverently) too ignorant to know that they are doing evil. Ecclesiastes 5:1
People who take a positive attitude and say, "I can do it. I am going to do it right now. It is no problem. Everything will work out fine," are wonderful to be around and work with because they tackle things and get them done.
If you put off something you should have done already, it will start to threaten you with fear. Don't allow an assignment to get out of proportion in your mind. Keep your mind on what you set out to do today. If you get interrupted, make yourself come back to that task and finish it up. Nothing is so hard that you can't handle it, if you will keep a positive attitude and do it God's way.
Have a Plan
Make me go in the path of Your commandments, or in them do I delight. Psalm 119:35
Go to sleep at night with a plan in mind for the next day. Don't be vague about what you hope to accomplish. One morning I was lying in bed when the Spirit of the Lord said to me, "Stop being ambiguous." The dictionary defines ambiguous as "doubtful or uncertain," and "capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways."
Don't be double-minded. Don't just wait to see what happens. Wake up with a plan that puts God first in all you do. God's Word is a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path. Talk to Him before you even get out of bed; ask Him to make clear what you need to achieve today.
Develop Self-control
He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. Proverbs 25:28
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.
It develops as we spend time fellowshipping with God and practicing obedience to Him. Sometimes we would rather that God control us and make us do the right thing. But He wants us to rule over our spirit.
Proverbs 16:32 says, "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his (own) spirit than he who takes a city." It takes self-control not to get offended, not to become angry every time somebody doesn't do something the way we want it done. Self-control is needed over our thoughts, our words, and our appetites. But once we master out own spirit, we are considered to be powerful in the eyes of God ---stronger than one who takes a city.
Don't Be Lazy
Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29
Proverbs 24:30-34 gives a clear warning about being lazy. Laziness allows everything in our lives to get overgrown or broken down. We are to observe the fate of a lazy man and receive this instruction: "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep --- so shall your poverty come as a robber."
God will help you with anything in your life that has become overgrown or broken down. If you put your trust in Him, He can turn your mess into your message. Set your way to follow God drom this day forth. Guard against the spirit of laziness. Get rid of procrastination, and do whatever God has been telling you to do.
Appreciate Correction
Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding (drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences), for the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold. Proverbs 3:13-14
Ask God to reveal areas in which you need to apply self-control. You can even enjoy the journey to becoming all that He has in mind for you to be, if you learn to appreciate godly correction from others. Remember, God loves you just the way you are, but He corrects those He loves
Proverbs 3:12 The Lord corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son of whom he is proud.
Only mature Christians enjoy the meat of God's Word, and He has much to share with His grown-up sons and daughters. There will always be more to learn, so don't make excuses for your weak points. Accepting the truth will set you free
John 8:32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
God will give you strength to overcome in those areas in which you are weak.
Fruit of the Spirit
If we live by the (Holy) Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.) Galatians 5:25
People crave love, happiness, and peace. They try to buy these things and pay therapists to help them find them. All these qualities are available by trusting as their Savior, Jesus, who sends the Holy Spirit to help them walk in obedience to God. Living the Spirit-filled life will eventually produce those things that people want most in their lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the (Holy) Spirit (the work which His presence within accomplishes) is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (and even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law (that can bring a charge)."
Let the work of God's presence within you shine through you to others today.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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