You are not the Lone Ranger  

Proverbs 22:17-19 –  Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;   apply your heart to what I teach,  for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord,   I teach you today, even you. In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

As leaders, sometimes it is so hard to accept that we don’t know everything, and the world does not rest solely on our shoulders. God openly invites us to listen to His word and open our hearts to His knowledge. It’s been a recurring theme in this devotional that God stands ready to give you counsel. Proverbs 4:10-13 says, “Hear, my son, and receive my sayings. And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you down the right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life,” We all need the Lord, no one can do it alone.

Let go of the past and live for today 

Isaiah 43:18-19 – “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Bad memories belong in your garbage can. You can’t change them and stewing on them will only keep you stuck up in the past. God invites you to live for today and for every day in your future. When you have  Jesus in your heart, He promises “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2nd Corinthians 5:17). God does not care about what happened in the past. He also doesn’t really care about any material thing you can offer him. He wants your heart and he wants it gladdened and full of his love and mercy. Don’t weigh your heart down with trivial shame of the past.

Do you want to let your pastor know that you appreciate him or her? Click HERE to nominate your pastor for Clergy Appreciation Month!

Toby Mac’s oldest son, Truett, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 21 years old. A rep issued a statement saying that the cause of death has not yet been determined and said that Toby canceled his concerts in Canada and is traveling back to be with his family. The rep also asked that everyone be respectful of their privacy and allow them to grieve. We will share more information as it becomes available. Please keep Toby Mac and his family in your prayers.

Thanks for checking out the blog!

-Hannah and Todd