Happy New Year! After a week of vacation, The Up Daily Devotional is back. The start of a new year tends to make us reflect on our goals for the coming 12 months. I’d like to put a bit of a different spin on this trend. If you are in Christ, you are already new, … Continue reading In Christ you are already new
goals
PRay the long game
The past few devotionals have been focused on perseverance and playing the long game. With that in mind, let me introduce what I think is a helpful play on words: Pray the long game. Playing the long game (without the ‘r’), is about saying and doing things in the here and now which will help … Continue reading PRay the long game
If you’re singing the same song
“…make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). You can only have harmony if you’re singing the same song. That kind of seems obvious, doesn’t it? A song has a melody. A harmony is a different series of notes, but they complement … Continue reading If you’re singing the same song
A time to re-evaluate success
What if you had a faulty understanding of success? If so, you’d probably have the wrong goals. And each day you’d probably miss the mark. In Deuteronomy 8:2 Moses was speaking to the Hebrews after they had wandered through the wilderness for forty years: “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way … Continue reading A time to re-evaluate success
How to handcuff the present
I’m no stranger to nostalgia. I like looking back and remembering the good ole days. But is there a point when looking back too much is harmful? I believe that if you glorify the past you handcuff the present. In other words, if you put too much stock in what has happened in the past, … Continue reading How to handcuff the present
What is your (real) goal?
On Monday we talked about idolatry. When many of us hear that word, we think of ancient peoples bowing down to man-made statues. But our understanding of idolatry might be too narrow. Here’s how I define modern idolatry. It’s giving first place priority to something or someone who isn’t God. With that definition in mind, … Continue reading What is your (real) goal?
A God-sized dream
We all have dreams… Dreams to be a certain kind of person. Dreams to make such-and-such contribution to your community. Dreams to achieve this or that… That’s great. But I think it’s helpful to occasionally look at yourself in the mirror and ask whether your dreams are too small. That’s right, too small. Life has … Continue reading A God-sized dream
Distraction is deception
In yesterday’s devotional I said that you need to deliberately establish godly priorities and put them into your schedule. Why? Because at first you make your schedule, and then your schedule makes you. In other words, the routines you establish shape who you become. So today I’d like to further motivate you with one more … Continue reading Distraction is deception
Put them into your schedule
I’ve always said that September is the REAL New Year’s. We may not count down from 10 to 1 at midnight, but it’s when we set in motion the patterns and practices that will drastically shape the next 12 months of our lives. That’s why you need to deliberately establish godly priorities and put them … Continue reading Put them into your schedule
Do you need to modify your methods?
Do you ever feel like you’re stuck? Like what you’re doing on a day-to-day basis isn’t getting you closer to your goals? If so, you’re not alone. But don’t fear. There’s hope!
