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How to Live Ready

August 4, 2017

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:16-18

1. AVOID STRIFE. Strife is a weed and can quickly take over to become a lifestyle of resentment, jealousy, unforgiveness, and quarreling. But God is calling us to pull up any weeds of strife — forgiving quickly, resolving issues, walking in love, and stopping quarrels before they start (Proverbs 17:14).

2. PURSUE LOVE. What amazing fruit we can bear as, above all, we keep fervent in our love for one another. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), so 24/7, in all of our relationships, we must stay committed to choose love over strife.

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” John 4:34-35

3. LIFT UP YOUR EYES. If life has pounded on you, lift up your eyes and remember the people that God has called you to reach, the lives that are attached to your obedience. Even if you don’t feel equipped, the anointing of the Lord is on you to walk in love. Keep your eyes on God and believe He’ll get you where you need to be.

God bless you!
Pastor Jeff

DAILY CONFESSION:
I am a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so I abandon the quarrel before it breaks out (Proverbs 17:14). Faith works through love and I operate through love in everything I do (Galatians 5:6). By my God I can run through a troop and leap over a wall (Psalm 18:29).

read·y, adj.
Prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action. Prepared for immediate use.

Copyright © 2017 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. “Ready.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam- Webster, n.d. 02 August 2017.