TOPIC: Do You Need an Upgrade?
SCRIPTURE: But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”— 1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)
MESSAGE: So many of us rush to get every new upgrade available for our computer and phone. We spend money, wait in lines, and do whatever it takes to have the newest and best. We can be very aggressive about having the best equipment available, but are we as aggressive about having the upgraded life Jesus offers us?
The Bible says that the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter every day (see Proverbs 4:18 NIV). This means God is always pulling us toward better and better things. He continually offers upgrades, and we need to be determined to have every one of them.
Living the best life God has for you will require some effort on your part. You’ll need to educate yourself on the life He offers and what it truly means to be born into His family. As a child of God, you have an inheritance and certain rights and privileges, but if you don’t know about them, you’ll never enjoy them. We educate ourselves through studying God’s Word, reading good books that explain biblical principles, spending time with Jesus, and staying in community with other people who are growing in their walk with God.
Simply going to church once a week doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll experience the upgraded life that Jesus wants you to have. It helps, but you’ll have to also seek God diligently for yourself on a daily basis, not just once or twice a week. God has provided countless tools to help us grow, but it’s our job to take hold of them.
READ: Our Daily Bread 24 August 2020 Devotional – How Did I Get Here?
I want to challenge you to set aside 45 minutes to an hour a day and call it your “God time.” Make it a goal, and if you need to start with less time, that’s okay, because the more time you spend with God, the more you’ll want. During that time you can study your Bible, talk to God about what’s on your mind, listen to a Bible teaching, read a book that will help you understand God’s Word better, or simply sit in God’s presence and receive His love. If you do this consistently, you will find over time that you’ve changed and are enjoying your life so much more.
Any good relationship requires quality time; so does your relationship with God. God has so many wonderful things in His plan for you, and as you get closer to Him, you’ll learn what they are and how to access them. You can’t use what you don’t know you have! For example, you have a Helper—the Holy Spirit—and He’s with you all the time. Anytime you need help with anything, all you need to do is ask. This and countless other blessings are yours in Christ, so get busy learning about them and start enjoying the upgraded life Jesus died for you to have.
Prayer Starter:Father, thank You for wanting me to live an abundant life, and for being there to help me grow. Today, I invite You to teach me and show me the upgrades You want to make in my life so I can start to take hold of them. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
From the book Healing the Soul of a Woman – by
Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional 24 August 2020 – Joyce Meyer is an American Charismatic Christian author and speaker and president of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Joyce and her husband Dave have four grown children.