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The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

“Homily Grits Devotional” http://www.homilygrits.com/

Written by the wise 84 yr old Robert VanHoose…

June 25
Read Galatians 5:19-24,

Proverbs 4
“Fierce Competition”

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” 1 Corinthians 9:25   (NKJV)

We live in a very competitive world.  Businesses rise and fall by how well they compete.  Games and sports are energized by competition and the joy of winning.

Although the war for our souls has been won, we are engaged in mortal combat with the forces of evil that compete for our mind’s attention and hearts affection.

God’s house too often has to compete with the golf course, sporting event, mattress, day on the beach, or other pursuits on Sundays.

The competition for our purse strings, our talents, and the time of our lives is really all about who is on the throne of our hearts.

We are all much better at making excuses instead of making time for God.  The time and energy we spent on trivial pursuits should make us all realize how short we fall in keeping God on the throne.

The pursuit of pleasure through indulgences of every kind too often win out over our pursuit of righteousness and being conformed into the image of Christ.

Every time we give into doing life our way instead of God’s way, we are losing out competition being waged to keep us from growing into the fullness of Christ.

God has given us the winning edge in the competition of life.  The Holy Spirit is our sustainer and helper who guarantees our arrival in the winner’s circle when we call on Him to help win the daily competition of life.

Father, help me to harness the power of the Holy Spirit that you might win the daily competition for my time, talents, and treasures.  In Jesus’ name, Amen