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Philippians 3:7-15; Psalm 37:1-8; 5:1-3; 119:147; 143:8-10; Proverbs 8:17; John 15:4-8, 16; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:8-10; 4:20-24

"God has something special for you in 2002!" The great secret of seeking the face of the Lord early is presented in a number of scriptures. The way our day goes depends on how we start it. If we begin by seeking God in prayer and the Word, we will be a step ahead of it, instead of being run over by it.

Paul speaks in Philippians about establishing our own righteousness. He understood the beauty of grace — that it is a gift which cannot be earned. Rather than trying to earn or establish his own righteousness, he lived in appreciation of the grace. He knew his finish line was the return of Christ and spoke of forgetting the things that were behind and pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. When we seek to know God and are pressing toward the mark of the prize, God will help us. To discover and receive God’s best, we must seek the heart of God.

Nothing is sweeter than fellowship with the Father and the fruit of the spirit in our lives. With each new day, we can delight in the Lord. If we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will spend time with Him — arising every morning will be joyful and the desires that are formulated in our hearts will be the ones God puts there. It starts with trusting God and then we commit our ways unto Him.

As we begin each day, we should seek God by (1) talking with Him in prayer and (2) communing with Him via His Word. It is so much easier to do this early than to spend the day trying to catch up. Psalms contains numerous scriptures about the joys of arising early and seeking God in prayer and with His Word.

Jesus Christ taught his disciples that as they abided in him as he abided in God, they would bring forth much fruit. He said, "Without me ye can do nothing." If we step outside of abiding in Christ, we will be doing the works of the flesh, not enjoying the fruit of the spirit. If we are walking by the flesh (as described in Galatians 5), the old nature will become manifested. Yet Galatians 5 also speaks of the fruit of the spirit. As we seek the face of God and walk in His ways, accepting His grace and mercy, fruit will follow. Jesus Christ said we will be known by our fruit. Living this way, we will have the following: Love — not hatred and bitterness; Joy — not complacency and negativity; Peace — not anxiety and strife; Long-suffering — not intolerance; Gentleness — not unkindness; Goodness — not hard-heartedness; Faith — not fear and dishonesty; Meekness — not pride and envy; and Temperance — not a lack of self-control.

It is a choice to trust God. We were once in darkness, but are now in light. We can walk in that light putting off the old man and putting on the new as we seek our Father each new day — in prayer and in His Word.


#257 Each New Day -- Jan. 6, 2002 ©2001 / Steven A. Michels 47:58 minutes
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"Each New Day" -- Rev. Steven A. Michels Philippians 3:7-15; Psalm 37:1-8; 5:1-3; 119:147; 143:8-10; Proverbs 8:17; John 15:4-8, 16; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 5:8-10; 4:20-24 "God has something special for you in 2002!" The great secret of seeking the face of the Lord early is presented in a number of scriptures. The way our day goes depends on how we start it. If we begin by seeking God in prayer and the Word, we will be a step ahead of it, instead of being run over by it. Paul speaks in Philippians about establishing our own righteousness. He understood the beauty of grace — that it is a gift which cannot be earned. Rather than trying to earn or establish his own righteousness, he lived in appreciation of the grace. He knew his finish line was the return of Christ and spoke of forgetting the things that were behind and pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. When we seek to know God and are pressing toward the mark of the prize, God will help us. To discover and receive God’s best, we must seek the heart of God. Nothing is sweeter than fellowship with the Father and the fruit of the spirit in our lives. With each new day, we can delight in the Lord. If we delight ourselves in the Lord, we will spend time with Him — arising every morning will be joyful and the desires that are formulated in our hearts will be the ones God puts there. It starts with trusting God and then we commit our ways unto Him. As we begin each day, we should seek God by (1) talking with Him in prayer and (2) communing with Him via His Word. It is so much easier to do this early than to spend the day trying to catch up. Psalms contains numerous scriptures about the joys of arising early and seeking God in prayer and with His Word. Jesus Christ taught his disciples that as they abided in him as he abided in God, they would bring forth much fruit. He said, "Without me ye can do nothing." If we step outside of abiding in Christ, we will be doing the works of the flesh, not enjoying the fruit of the spirit. If we are walking by the flesh (as described in Galatians 5), the old nature will become manifested. Yet Galatians 5 also speaks of the fruit of the spirit. As we seek the face of God and walk in His ways, accepting His grace and mercy, fruit will follow. Jesus Christ said we will be known by our fruit. Living this way, we will have the following: Love — not hatred and bitterness; Joy — not complacency and negativity; Peace — not anxiety and strife; Long-suffering — not intolerance; Gentleness — not unkindness; Goodness — not hard-heartedness; Faith — not fear and dishonesty; Meekness — not pride and envy; and Temperance — not a lack of self-control. It is a choice to trust God. We were once in darkness, but are now in light. We can walk in that light putting off the old man and putting on the new as we seek our Father each new day — in prayer and in His Word.