The Daily Dose

Blind spots

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”  Matthew 7:3

I think we all know about blind spots.  Most commonly are the ones we experience when driving.  It is the area where a person’s view is obstructed in both mirrors and windows.  Other blind spots we can experience in life are spiritual.  They are things you don’t even know that you don’t know. An example of this is when Paul went to Ephesus and asked the disciples there if they had received the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:1-2 says, “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So, they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”  They didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit.  That is for sure a blind spot.

Today’s scripture is talking about pointing out other people’s problems when you have your own bigger issue.  Jesus says it’s like having a plank in your own eye and you’re trying to remove dust from someone else’s field of vision.  That plank is causing a blind spot in your vision that you have no idea even exists.  Imagine seeing someone walking around with a plank in their eye.  They would be running into things and hurting themselves and others all the while never even knowing why they cannot move forward in life.  It is really a ridiculous and sad picture. 

The truth is we all have blind spots because none of us can know everything.  That is why we help each other out.  The problem is some of us don’t like help.  We enjoy pointing out where others are missing it, but don’t want to hear about areas where we can improve.  Instead, let’s become people who help one another.  Get yourself an accountability partner that can speak encouraging words into your life and you into theirs.  Make a plan ahead of time to help each other grow and to listen when there may be an area where growth is needed.  Don’t be like the hypocrites of Jesus’ day, decide today to look inward and recognize how you can better love others into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today I want to encourage you to ask your Heavenly Father to expose your blind spots.  Ask Him to reveal any place you may be missing it in life.  Areas that you don’t know exist, but they are blocking you from moving forward in your walk with the LORD.  Then be willing to listen and ask Him how to eliminate the “spot” once you identify what it is. Thank Him for the grace to grow through the issue and come out on the other side in a position to help others.  Also, consider who you can connect with that you trust to speak gently into your life.  Come up with a plan to personally grow into all that God has planned for you to become!

Today’s scripture reading:  Matthew 7:1 – 6

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 

2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 

4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 

5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Don’t Worry

“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Matthew 6:15

Don’t worry?  Is this even possible?  In the world we live in today, how can we not worry? Worry about how to make ends meet? Worry about our children growing up in godless society? Worry about contracting the latest variant?  Certainly, God understands that things are a little stressful in day to day living right now?

Well, according to this passage, and this is Jesus speaking, we should not be worried about life.  In fact, this isn’t even a suggestion, it is a direct order.  He said don’t worry about if there will be food on the table of if you will have clothes to wear.  The reason is because life is so much more than eating and the latest fashion.  He goes on to say that God takes care of the birds and the flowers so how much more valuable are people to God than these?

Then Jesus repeats His admonishment “Don’t worry about what you are going to eat or wear. ” He said that is what the gentiles, the people without a relationship with God, worry about.  So, He gives us the key to success in life to having those needs and desires met. It is:  Seek first, that is before anything else, God’s kingdom and His righteousness in Christ Jesus.  As you do that, then all of the above things will be added to you.  That is a extremely awesome promise!!

Lastly, He sums it all up by saying “and don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of its own things.  Live in today!”

Today I want to encourage you not to worry about the things you have need of.  Instead, start the day off seeking God’s kingdom plan and receive His righteousness to accomplish it.  As you begin to line your life up with God’s agenda, all the other things will be added to you and fall into place.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 

29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Who do you serve?

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.  Matthew 6:24

Who do you serve?  You have probably never thought of it and maybe a better question would be what do you serve?  Ideally, your answer would be God, but realistically, it would probably be safe to say: yourself, your employer, your friends and family or your bank account.

In order to truthfully answer this question, let’s take a look at life’s priorities.  In my case, my priorities are my family members.  I have a job, but since it is part time, our household does not solely depend on my income.  I can also identify that I spend a significant amount of time studying and pursuing God, His goodness, love and purpose for my life.  However, if I am being honest with myself, I would have to admit that I am mostly interested in me and what belongs to me.  Do I serve me? Sometimes.  When it comes down to the decisions I make in life, my desire is to follow God’s plan because I know there is success there.  Do I always do it perfectly? No way!!  However, my heart’s desire is to honor God and be successful in the things He has called me to, so I attempt to follow every direction He speaks to my heart and through His Word.

Today’s scripture only gives two choices.  God or mammon.  Other translations would say God or money, but mammon is the name of the spirit of covetousness.  This is good news, because money is not evil.  In fact, we need it to accomplish well, anything.  The key is not to trust or depend on it.  We trust God to provide, and we trust God to meet our needs.  Mostly, that happens by our faithfully working in the employment that He has given us to supply those needs we have such as: home, food, clothing and transportation. 

I believe the question to ask yourself is: Are you working hard for the money? Or are you working hard to honor and represent your Heavenly Father at the job He has given you to provide money.  Chase after God, not after a paycheck.  When you follow what He has planned for you, you will live the richest and fullest life ever imaginable.

Lastly, this passage says if you try to serve both God and mammon, you will hate one of them and love the other or cling to/be loyal to one and despise the other.  Wow!  This is enlightening.  It explains why there are so many people out there that hate their jobs but will not let go because the are working for the money.  Likewise, there are many that are thankful for the employment and work hard with a good attitude because they recognize that it is a gift to have the opportunity to choose where and how you will serve the Master.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart and your life.  Ask yourself “am I working hard for money or am I working for my Father in heaven by being a good employee with a good attitude and work ethic?”  Be honest with yourself and make an adjustment if you need to.  Mostly, be thankful for all God has provided for you and be faithful to work where you are as unto God, not your boss.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:22-24

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 

23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Invest in your future

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

I love this passage in Matthew that talks about your “treasure”.  In the past, this was also one of those elusive scriptures to me because I never considered that I had a “treasure”.  Treasure to me always seemed like something in a fairy tale or pirate story.  Silly right?  Finally, I realized that my treasure is what I value most.  When I began to think about what was valuable in this world, like material things, as opposed to things valuable in heaven such as people and the good we do for others here on earth, then I started to get it.  That’s when I began to recognize how important it is to invest in my future . . . my eternal future.  But how?

Let’s examine the verses a little closer.  It says that your heart will follow where you put your treasure. So once again it is a step of faith. The first act is to intentionally lay up your “treasure” (what is most valuable to you) in heavenly things.  So first of all, determine what your treasure is.  The passage is talking some about your financial treasure because it refers to “things”, but it is not limited there.  Your treasure is where you put your time and energy also, which are even more valuable than your money because they are not replaceable.  Put your money, time, resources and efforts into the things of the Kingdom of God and before long that will be what you are most interested and love. . . where your heart is.   You will notice your heart following your “treasure”.  You will become increasingly interested in growing your heavenly account each day.

Lastly, Revelation 14:13 says “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” It is very interesting that though we cannot be saved or get into heaven by “good works” or anything we do, this passage indicates that good works are still important and will actually follow you into eternity.  That is, work that is done for the kingdom of heaven here on earth.  We’ve all heard the saying “you can’t take it with you”. Well according to God’s Word, there is something you can take with you, other people and good things done for others in the name of Jesus.

Today I encourage you to start investing in eternity and look for others you can bless and pray for.  Reach out and ask God to lead you to those good works that He planned for you to do before you were born (Eph. 2:10).  Then begin to walk in them.  Instead of checking the stock market or your bank account each day to see how your investments are doing, start checking your heavenly account and adding to it daily.  Soon those will be the only investments you are interested in looking at because your heart has followed the faith you put behind your resources.

What about fasting?

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  Matthew 6:16

Here is yet another thing Jesus is telling His disciples that is to be done in secret.  Fasting.  Notice, He doesn’t say to them “If you fast?” like it is an option. He says “When you fast” because it is something they did regularly.

So, what is fasting all about?  Well, let’s start by identifying what fasting is not.  Fasting, at least godly fasting is not about a diet or weight loss.  Fasting is not something you do as a ritual or commandment of God.  Fasting especially isn’t something you do to try to get God to answer your prayer request.

Fasting is a time of separating from the things of the world to “tune in” to the things of God.  It doesn’t have to be food, but certainly can be.  It could be things such as social media, tv/movies, news, or gaming. It can be anything that uses the time that you can turn your attention to God instead.  The things you fast aren’t bad things, it’s just a time you purpose in your heart to spend with God in the space you usually spend with those other things.  Fasting can also be a time when you decide to reach out to others more or in a different way than you usually do, a time of giving of yourself.  When fasting foods, it can be for a time of cleansing in your body for more healthy living.  

The timing is also flexible.  It can be one day as the Israelites did weekly on the sabbath or three days as Esther did to seek God’s wisdom.  Daniel fasted twenty-one days, he still ate food, he just fasted “pleasant foods.” Lastly, Jesus and Moses fasted forty days.  Fasting is not a ritual practice, it is a spiritual discipline.  In fasting, your physical body is forced to submit to your spirit and must obey what you tell it to do instead of your sprit giving into the demands of your flesh to be comfortable.  It is not something you do to try to get God to move closer to you or to move on your behalf.  Fasting is for you to move closer to God and to act on His behalf. 

I know this is not so interesting to some, but it is truly a powerful act of worship.  By putting your flesh in subjection to your spirit, your spirit becomes dominate and more discerning of the things God is speaking to your heart.  Today I would ask that you consider and pray about fasting.  Read about it in the Word and listen to what God has to say about it.  It is not a bad thing, for sure, and it is not obsolete.  The same results can be had today that were given all through Bible times.  If nothing else, in fasting you show yourself just how serious you are about the things of God, and Jesus promised when done in secret you will see the rewards of it openly.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:16-18

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 

18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Pray in secret

_{But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6}

Apparently, in Jesus’s day, the religious leaders liked to get attention by praying loud and long, but Jesus said that is not an effective way so pray.  He tells us to go to a quiet place and pray in secret, not out on the streets to show how spiritual you are.  He also tell us not to repeat the same things over and over again or use a lot of words.

Then Jesus gives us a format of praying.  A structure and order of how to have a fruitful prayer life.  Ironically, today, this prayer is repeated over and over even after Jesus said vain repetition is not the way to pray.

So He breaks praying down into sections in verses 9-13.  He said, pray in this way/manner:

Start with praise and worship: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed is Your name

Pray for God’s will: Your kingdom come. Your will be done in the earth just as it is in heaven.

God’s provision: Give us today and the “bread” we need today.

Receive and give forgiveness: forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Deliverance from the enemy: do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.

End with thanksgiving: Yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever.

Using this format, our prayers can look something like this:  

Precious Heavenly Father, Holy and Wonderful is Your name (Psalms 139:14.  Thank you for bringing Your kingdom to this world through doing your will here today.  Thank you for providing all that we need today to live life abundantly as you have planned (John 10:10).  For your forgiveness in Christ Jesus our Savior and Empowering me to extend that forgiveness to those who hurt or offend me (Eph. 4:32).  Keep me far from temptation and deliver me from any traps the enemy tries to catch me in (1 Cor. 10:13).  Because this is Your world and kingdom, Thank You for having all the power and glory for all eternity!  Amen

Of course, your prayer will not be just like that, but you pray from your heart in the areas Jesus highlighted.  That doesn’t mean those are the only areas you pray about.  We bring all things to our Heavenly Father to receive His wisdom and instruction.

Today I want to encourage you to spend some time praying in your secret place.  Set aside special quiet time to talk to your loving Father.  Take time to listen to the soft words He whispers to your heart.  Then write down those things so you can be praying oven them in the coming days.  Make your time with God the most precious time of each day and He will see you in secret, but your reward will be open for all to see the goodness of God’s love working in your everyday life.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:5-15

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Be good to others

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  Matthew 6:3

Have you ever done something good or nice for someone and then nobody even notice or acknowledged it.  Maybe you felt slighted or maybe you let others know, because you wanted them to know see a good person you are?  If you have, you are not alone.  In fact, most people want to be notice when doing good and most people are willing to let everyone they talk to know just how wonderful they are.  You might even go so far as criticize others for not thanking you or rewarding you because of your good behavior.

Well, in today’s text, Jesus is teaching that charitable (good) deeds should be done in secret.  What?  Nobody should know about them?  That’s right.  Jesus said that if you are doing good things just so others will notice you or when others are looking, that is all the reward you will get for those deed.  He will not acknowledge them, and they will have no eternal value.

However, He continues in this teaching by saying, when you help others in secret, just because you care about people, then He will personally reward you openly.  The important part is putting your focus on helping others, not on how good you are. 

The fact is that when you do good things just so other can notice you or compliment you, your works are full of pride and selfishness.  Your goodness has little to do with who you are helping and is all about you stepping in to look like a hero that everyone should admire.

Lastly, maybe you are someone who is going through a crisis and think “I can’t even think about doing a good deed because of my situation.  I am stuck in a mess, and that is all I have time to focus on right now.”  In reality, turning your attention to help or encourage someone else in their struggle also comes with the reward of giving you a different and new perspective on your own circumstances.  When you purposefully put aside your own concerns, and secretly decide to comfort a friend through their dilemma, your problem will no longer be the main event in your life.  It has to take a back seat to the person you are helping, and now your purpose in life, at least for a little while becomes supporting others in their struggle. In helping others, you are helping yourself.

Today I want to encourage you to do good for others.  Watch for opportunities to step out and help people throughout your day.  Not because you want to be the hero and recognized as a do-gooder, but because you care about people and want to show them how much God loves them by loving them, yourself.  Then keep it a secret.  Pray for those you have helped in private and then watch how your reward and recognition comes directly from heaven.  Your heavenly Father is depending on you to help grow His kingdom, and it can only be done when you make others your focus.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:1-4

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Be children of God

That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  Matthew 5:45

Have you ever thought about this?  Why does God let His sun rise on evil people just the same as it does on the good?  What about the rain?  He sends rain on the just and the unjust.   Have you ever considered that God doesn’t send different outward circumstance for different people.  That’s because He loves us all and He wants good for all people.  The truth is that all people belong to God, but His enemy stole them away from Him.  Now He has made a provision to get them all back.  The only problem is that we are the ones that have to choose to step into His provision to be saved from that enemy.

Today’s scripture is about loving people that are not God’s people, but they are God’s creation.  Jesus told His disciples to love their enemy and bless those who cursed them and do good and pray for those who hated and used them.  He said this is how you can be identified as a child of God.  Because if you only love those who love you, you are no different than everyone else.  If you only greet and associate with other believers, there is nothing different about you.  However, when you love all people because you are a child of God, not because of how good someone is, you are different because you love like God loves, unconditionally.

This message is the same for us today.  What sets us apart from the rest of the world?  It is the way we love all people.  Not just the nice and good looking ones, but all people no matter what race, no matter what their past is and no matter how bad they are.  They are still God’s created beings in His image and He wants them all back from His enemy.  That is what He has called each one of us to do . . . love them with the God kind of love, so they will know that the God of creation wants them to chose to come back to His love and goodness and save them.

Today I want to encourage you to love your enemies. Bless those who curse you and do good to those who hate you.  Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you so that you can be seen by the rest of the world as a child of God.  Become the ambassador He has assigned you to be and show the world around you that the God of heaven loves them and want them back in the family.  The family of God!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Be Generous

And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  Matthew 5:41

Generosity!  It is the ultimate example of what our God is.  He is extreme generous in all the He is and does.  His love is overflowingly generous in that He didn’t even spare His only son to show how much He loves us all.  He never holds back and His desire is that we would be that kind of example to the lost world around us.

Jesus tells us in this section of Matthew 5, to give what we are asked for and beyond.  He encourages us to always go the extra mile.  Whatever you think you can do easily, stretch beyond that point to become excessive in all we do for others.

Whether it is helping someone out financially or giving of material possessions, always go above and beyond what is requested.  We should always have the mentality of exceeding the expectation.  You can even go as far as returning things in better condition after you have used or borrowed something.   This is the God way of doing things.

Here is the list of things that Jesus taught in these five verses:

1. Do not resist an evil person
2. When slapped on one cheek, offer the other cheek
3. If someone wants your shirt, offer your coat too
4. Anyone who wants to borrow from you do not turn them away or consider if they will pay you back

The way I approach this is with love.  I consider giving of any kind, a gift of love.  I don’t worry about if I will be treated right or appreciated.  Love is my motivation, so it doesn’t matter who or what the circumstances are.  It is not about who the person receiving is, it is all about who I am.  I cannot be offended because I expect nothing in return.  I like to use the verse in Romans 13 that says own no man anything but to love them.  I know this verse is talking about staying out of debt financially, but I believe it is relevant to consider that because of God’s great love for me and the world, I own that love to the world around me and therefore I choose to be a generous lover of all people!

Today I want to encourage you to be generous.  Be generous with your time. Be generous with your resources and be generous with your love for others.  Show the world around you how great and loving your Heavenly Father is by being that example of love to everyone you meet.  Let the love of God abound in your richly and be a generous giver to your world.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 5:38-42

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 

39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 

40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 

41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 

42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

No smoke screen

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.  Matthew 5:37

When I was young, other kids would often say, “I swear on a stack of Bibles.”  Meaning they were being as honest and authentic as they could possibly be.  Like one Bible was not enough to stress their point.  Today’s scripture says don’t swear by anything because you don’t even have the power to change any natural thing because it all belongs to God.  It goes on to say if you say “yes” when you mean yes and “no” when you mean no, others will trust your word when it comes to important things, because you were trustworthy in the little things.

I like the way the message translation breaks this passage down.  It says:

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

So, the passages is telling us don’t say things you don’t really mean or intend to do, just to make yourself look super spiritual or putting on the pretense of caring.  I know in my own life, I tend to want to excuse or justify my responses to ensure that I am clearly communicating without offending others or making myself look bad.  But the truth is, I only need to be clear and not misleading in my answer.  That doesn’t mean I have to be rude, I just give the answer “yes” or “no”.  No excuses, no flattery and no smoke screen. Simple as that.

Today I want to encourage you to be upfront with others.  Don’t but on a façade to pretend you are something that you are not.  That will only get you into trouble.  Be authentic and real with people and clearly communicate your intentions without being underhanded and sneaky.  Give clear and concise answers like yes and no, but don’t feel like you have to justify or excuse your response. Lastly, don’t make up and promise to do things for others that you don’t intend to do like praying for them or blessing them.  Just be honest and loving and you will stay far from the intensions of the evil one every time.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 5:33-37

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 

34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 

35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 

36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 

37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.