Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
James 4:13-14

Good fishermen will leave out early in the morning, when it is dark, calm and quiet outside. Fishermen don't sleep in and they don't waste time hitting the snooze button. They make the most out of all the time that is available in their day. Their wake up call might come so early, in fact, that they could get a glimpse of a morning fog.

Just like that momentary fog on the water, our time here on earth is evaporating. Are you spending your life putting off the things God wants you to do, thinking that there's plenty of time? Or are you seizing every moment and making good use of every minute?

In the verses above, James is telling us that time has no guarantees. He's challenging us to focus on what we can do today.

What are some of the things you have been procrastinating? Who has God laid on your heart and asked you to reach out to? Don't delay. Life is too short and too uncertain. So take every opportunity you can to find and fulfill your God-given purpose here on earth.

By Ed Young

An Ordinary Man By Ed Young

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
James 5:17-18

Elijah, although ordinary, was used in extraordinary ways. Through a simple but powerful prayer, he changed the spiritual direction of an entire nation. Elijah knew how God was going to use his power to influence this nation and he was committed to doing whatever God asked him to.

God can use you in the same powerful way. But you've got to take the time to listen to God when he speaks. Can you hear him? Or is the hustle and bustle of life drowning him out? If you do hear his voice, are you committed to doing whatever he asks?

Because we are all such self-involved creatures, it's easy to forget that our purpose for being here is not for our own personal fulfillment and happiness. We were put on this earth to bring God glory, not ourselves.

If you're living with a self-centered attitude, your potential is sadly limited. But if you commit to do whatever God asks you to, then any ordinary life can truly be used in amazing and extraordinary ways.

Confidence in Prayer by Ed Young

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1 John 5:14

The Bible not only has answers for life, but also tells us step-by-step how we can get even more out of life. God takes an interest in you as a person and is standing by, ready to hear your prayers, if they are the right ones.

How can you be confident that you're praying the right prayers? You have to know God well enough to know what he would ask for. Prayer isn't asking for what you want. It's putting yourself in a position to want what God wants. And that happens as you begin to know God better. As you get to know him better, you will be given the wisdom to know how to pray according to what he wants you to have.

Be confident in knowing that God hears your prayers. Rather than worrying if he hears you, work on getting to know him better. Show interest in who he is. Read his Word. Continue to pray. Because as you do, you will discover that God has more blessings for you than you could ever imagine

Waiting on God

READ | Psalm 33:20-22

Because our God is an all-knowing, wise, and loving heavenly Father, we’ll always benefit when we follow His schedule. However, waiting on Him can feel difficult.

Throughout the Bible, we read of people who experienced delays before God acted on what He had promised. In the following examples, notice how patience and obedience led to blessing:

1. Noah was told to build an ark because a flood was coming. When the rain did not arrive, his neighbors must have thought him a fool. Yet Noah trusted God and continued to work (Gen. 6:12-22).

2. After reluctantly agreeing to approach Pharaoh about releasing the Jewish slaves, Moses learned it would take a number of warnings before God’s plan would be fulfilled (Ex. 7:1-7).

3. Jesus’ disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).

When I was a young boy, I learned the importance of patience. After having me plant some seeds in her garden, my mother explained what would happen. First, green sprouts would appear, and then the plants would develop. I kept a close watch on that area, but nothing seemed to be happening. One day I decided to dig up those seeds to see if there was any progress. I found no plants at all. My impatience did not produce any fruit.

The Lord has a plan for each of us, and the timing of every detail is always right. Are you living according to His schedule?

Received by Dr Charles Stanley

Do you need to be uplifted

Psalm 40:1,2 - "I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and
heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

There are 7 (count them!), 7 actions in these two versions: two for us
and 5 for the Lord. Having gotten ourselves in difficult situations (such
as a slimy pit full of mud and mire) our actions are to wait patiently
and to prayerfully cry out to the Lord. Look what the Lord then does: He
turns to us, hears our cry, lifts us out of the pit, puts our feet on a
rock and gives us firm ground on which to stand. Is that a great ratio or
what? We do two actions and He does five in return! What a mighty God we
have! Have a blessed week in Him, waiting patiently while crying out to
Him in prayer. He WILL answer with plenty of action! That is His promise!

In Touch bible study

Defeating False Teachers

Read 2 Peter 2:1-3

Outside a grocery store one evening, I watched two young men confronting
soppers with an erroneous statement about scriptural teaching. Anyone who
seemed vague about Christian faith was invited to learn "what God really said"
at a bible study. I was not invited. Infact, the men abandonded me quickly
whe I used the Word to defend my beliefs.
A false teacher wants to create uncertainty in his listeners. In order
to gain followers, he must persuade his audience that he possesses knowledge
they lack. The people who accept this misleading information as asolute truth
will usually return to the false teacher for more. Having followers strokes
his ego and provides "proof" that he is right.
Thise who have a sound doctrine won't be led astray. That's why it is so
important for our faith to rest on biblical truth--for example, Jesus Christ
died for the sins of mankind, the Holy Spirit dwells in believers, and
Christians will be resurrected bodily. Defeating false teachers take smore
than "my pastor says..." When confronted, we must defend our faith with
Scripture we ourselves have studied. By regularly reading and applying God's
Word, we will be better prepared when confronted with untruth.

EARLY LIGHT
Building a sound doctrine protects believers from misleading messages and
arms them to defend the faith. Do not be caught unprepared. If you haven't
already started, begin to study the Bible today. Should you need help, ask
your pastor or a godly mentor for guidance.

Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

--Psalm 119:130
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find, we just need to know where to begin our search -- the reading of God's words. The right way is very seldom just the property of the bright, wise, and scholarly. It is very clear if we will but look for it!

MY PRAYER...
Holy Father, thank you for making your will known through your words in Scripture. Bless me today as I open your word. May I find not only the answer to my questions, but may I find you and your precious will. Through Jesus I pray. Amen