Hey, Family Church!

God wants to meet your needs right where you are. Today can be a new beginning, a season of refreshing and strength. He will help you make big decisions, get you unstuck, and lift you out of depression.

1. KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS. When I hear someone say, “This one thing I do,” I pay attention. Paul is not focusing on the past but instead on what God has ahead. What are you looking at? What are you desiring? With so many things vying for our attention, distractions are inevitable, but God wants us to grow in maturity and recover quickly. “Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you” (Proverbs 4:25).

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

2. LAY ASIDE ANYTHING THAT IS SLOWING YOU DOWN. In airplanes, “parasitic drag” is any resistance that doesn’t contribute to lift and hinders a plane. I don’t want parasitic drag in my own life. I don’t want a bad attitude in my spirit. So let’s choose to stay merciful. Let’s refuse to harbor resentment. Let’s throw off anything that entangles us so that we can run our race with strength!

3. MAKE SURE JESUS IS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE. If He isn’t first, bump Him up to the number one spot in your life. We maintain consistent personal fellowship with Jesus by staying in the Word and letting it build up in our hearts. There are no shortcuts. Staying in the Bible and praying throughout our days will push the reset button on our love walks and on our attitudes.

Press on!
Pastor Jeff Perry

PRAY THIS PRAYER: 
Heavenly Father, I really enjoy You. My relationship with You is so important. You are the object of my affection. Everything else is secondary – You are primary. Please help me to prioritize accordingly: to set my sights on You, to make You my aim. Help me to lead a godly life in obedience to the Bible. Help me to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be guided by Your voice, walking in love and walking by faith. Order my steps and open doors of opportunity to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!