Driving Notes

Today, we continue our devotions from the book “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman.  Our topics include the security and defense against worry that come when we walk with God.

Proverbs 2:1-5 reads:

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.

Security and wisdom are like conjoined twins. One cannot accomplish anything without the other. The more we know and understand God’s work, the more secure we can feel in our walk with God.

So many times, we fail to see God’s wisdom and we strive to satisfy our passions and desires without regard to the future or the consequences of our decisions.

In this life, tests will come in all shapes and sizes. Some will require us to endure. Some we will anticipate but others will blindside us. All of them ask us to make the right decisions. Regardless of the task, God instructs us to come to him for the wisdom we so desperately need.

Psalm 145:17-21 says:

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Worry is a killer in the spiritual life of a Christian. When worry walks in your door, doubt will soon follow.

God is a great provider. Do not look to God merely hoping for what you need, but rather expecting. Put your hope in his great love, and worry will eventually disappear as you take your concerns to him.

God has the power and the wisdom to take care of those worries. Trust that he always has your best interest at heart.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd

Today, we continue our devotions from the book “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman.  Our focus today is on the important role of parenting.

Today our topics include children and worship – and the joy they both bring.

Children are a joy from the Lord!

Matthew 5:13-16 reminds us that we are the salt of the earth.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Jesus wants you to take your role as a parent seriously. As salt, our behavior is to be distinctly different from those who do not know God.  It must not reflect the same kind of behavior that corrupts a godless culture.

Do your children see that you are burning with the light of heaven? What good works do they see you doing that reflect well on your heavenly father? How does your faith cause you to behave differently from anyone else?

Let your light shine brightly for God and he will bless you beyond what you can imagine!

God fills fathers with joy when they worship Him

John 4:23-24 gives us a clue to what God seeks:

²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

God is looking for men who eagerly worship Him…according to the truth of the scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit.

In order for us to have an intimate relationship with God, it is essential that we come to him with an open heart.  We must be willing to surrender our life and worship Him in truth and in spirit.

Bringing glory to God will refresh our spirit and draw us closer to the heavenly father.

Make worshipping God a part of your character-building walk with him.

The impact that you will have on those you love will fill your heart with a deep sense of satisfaction; and give you a peace that passes all understanding.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Todd