14 May: Avoiding Lost Potential

In the end, most of us want to be remembered for our continual rise through a remarkable journey. Today’s chapter is a story, etched now into history, showing what NOT to do…

READ JUDGES 16   Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Very few of us like to live or work with someone who continually makes bad choices or has bad behaviour. Worst still is when they continually say sorry but go on as before, and seemingly without a backward glance. So I wonder what the story’s end would have been, had Samson, in today’s chapter, taken stock of his past mistakes, then truly repented (with heart-felt remorse) so that he’d be better equipped to make a 180˚ lifestyle change. I wonder if our Maker recorded this story, then miraculously preserved it for three millenniums, so that by heeding its warnings, we’ll reach our full potential.

Like Samson, all of us do things wrong.[a] But the good news for us is that, through implementing true lifestyle-changing “repentance”[b]making a 180˚ lifestyle change – we can avoid lost potential. When all I see is the struggle, haunted by “ghosts” from my past; when I’m bound up in shackles of all my failures, and wondering how long it’ll last; it’s then that Father God looks at this prisoner and says, “Stop fighting the fight when it’s already been won”…

Read More? …CLICK on “14 May – Additional Notes”

But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.

Wanting to connect with the One who made you to be like Him? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[c]

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

   1.   Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”

I’ll sing to You Lord, for You’re highly exalted… You, Lord, are a warrior; the Lord is Your Name! [Exodus 15:1&3]

   2.   Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”

  • The World: Pray for the people of El Salvador[d]
  • Your Country: Blessing on your country
  • Yourself: Sensitivity to “sin”
  • Your concerns for today
Yes, Lord my God, give attention to Your servant’s prayer and my plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that I’m praying in Your presence today. [2 Chronicles 6:19]

   3.   Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”

Good and upright are You, Lord. This is why You instruct sinners in Your ways. You guide the humble in what’s right and You teach them Your way. [Psalm 25:8-9]

   4.   Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but delivers us from evil.”

You’ll keep me firm to the end, Father God, so that I’ll be blameless on the day of our Lord. You are faithful and You’ve called me into fellowship with Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [1 Corinthians 1:8-9]

 “For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”

When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[e] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year!  THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: An Assured Future

Each one should use whatever gift you’ve been given to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace as it comes in its various forms. [1 Peter 4:10]

[a] Romans 3:10-12 (Referring to Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20)

[b] Isaiah 30:15 and Matthew 3:1-3

[c] Matthew 6:5-15

[d] http://www.operationworld.org/node/169

[e] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31

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