What is shaping you?

It is inevitable that you will be shaped by what you are most influenced by; that could be the world but I pray it is God's Word. The world will shape you in such a way that God and His Word will look boring to you. How can it be that the God of the universe, who created all things and by whom all things are held together, the One who knows the very details of every living creature great and small, the One who controls every act of nature from the things you see to the depths of the ocean where you cannot see, who has spoken to us and given us His written word, be boring? It must be that you have left His word sitting on the shelf thinking that it is not relevant for your present day life. John Piper says it best, "Without Bible reading, meditating, memorizing, you starve the grace that God puts in you designed to thrive on the Word of God." I encourage you this week to hold fast to the Word of God. Do not absorb more from the world than the Word. Instead, fix your attention on Him.

Resolutions by Edwards

One of my favorite preachers and authors is Jonathan Edwards. When he was 20 years old, he wrote, over a period of several months, 69 resolutions. I love to read these over for they remind me how temporal things are around me and they encourage me to be more heavenly minded. One of my favorites is #53 and it says,

"Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him, that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer." July 8, 1723

As the new year begins, may you set your mind on heavenly matters and let the distractions of this world pass you by.