—-I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.–Job 23:12

Most of us know what we ought to do–we just don’t do it. If I asked you to take a pen and paper and jot down the most important daily duties most Christians would have the same items on their list. There might be a slight variance as to the order of importance, but we would all have the same things in our top three or four. So, how are you doing by way of giving attention to those things? Are you majoring on minors?

We seem to forget that choices have consequences. Do you really believe that you can neglect the reading and study of God’s Word, prayer, etc. without any ill effects? You know better. You are smart enough to realize that there is a high price to pay for ignoring matters of such great importance. We reap what we sow– for good or bad. Do you have some reason to believe that you will be an exception to the rule? Do you think God will waive the rule for you because you have special circumstances?

You’re not the only one who finds it difficult to keep your priorities straight. Every Christian is engaged in a warfare–“the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh–“(Gal. 5:17). In other words, all progress must be made in the face of opposition (Rom. 7:14-25). Our failure to do our daily duties can be attributed to a lack of discipline, and the remedy for that is to be filled with the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Any life not under the control of the Holy Spirit is out of control, and that’s a dangerous place to be.

This is a matter we all wrestle with. Keeping first things first isn’t always easy–but it’s crucial that we do! These things are important for a reason– they are essential to success in life. Several years ago one of the men in our church, a young man, told me he was going to quit taking his blood pressure medicine. He said he felt good and was convinced that he didn’t need it any longer. I warned him and tried to persuade him to do otherwise, but he was adamant. In just a few weeks he suffered a massive stroke and died. Dear friends there are some things essential to our welfare and survival — certain foods and meds that we cannot live without. We neglect them to our own peril. You wouldn’t do that, so why then would you neglect things that are of even greater importance? It is absolutely essential that we hear from God every day— and He communicates with us through His Word. It is better to not eat a bite of food all day than it is to not hear from God. Without a word from God we get weak and go wayward. Without a word to God we get weary and go wrong. Put first things first and everything is better. Job discovered that long ago. He could not have survived his trials without hearing from God–neither can you.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me – Philippians 4:13

It is not uncommon in human experience to run up against things that are bigger than we are, that we simply cannot overcome in our own strength. It may be a lust that threatens to consume us, an addiction that repeatedly overcomes us, a resentment that is growing inside us, or a sorrow that seems to paralyze us.

It is also not uncommon to try to grit our teeth, hunch our backs, and seek to make it through by shear determination. We tell ourselves we can overcome if we just try hard enough. Isn’t that what being a good Christian means?

Yet here is the mighty apostle Paul admitting that his strength does not come from himself, or from his own willpower. He is not trying to do it on his own. Rather, he is looking to Jesus Christ for the power and deliverance he needs.

How can you make it through this trial? Through Christ. How can you overcome that temptation or addiction? Through Christ. How can you rise above your grief or depression? Through Christ. There is nothing that you cannot do through the strength that Christ has promised to you. Turn to Him, beloved, and find for yourself the confidence, the joy, the strength that Paul found through Christ. –From “A Good Thing”

—yet return again to me, saith the LORD.–Jer. 3:1
The last words of this verse, “saith the LORD”, should get our attention. When God speaks we do well to listen. Not doing so has been man’s biggest problem from the beginning and it accounts for the mess we’re in today. What God says is of great importance. Whether it is a command to obey, a principle to follow, a promise to claim, or a warning to heed, we ought to listen. Since He is all-knowing, and ever loving, caring more for us than we care for ourselves, we ought to give heed to what He says.

Yet, although He has our best interest at heart, we often fail to listen and wander away from the path of His will. Even though we are saved we sometimes revert back to our old manner of life. The Bible calls it “baclsliding”, and it puts us in great danger. When we turn back to the ways of the world God would be perfectly justified in bringing His wrath down upon our heads, destroying us. Yet out of the depths of His grace He says, “return”. No wonder we sing “Amazing Grace”. To think that God would receive us back is simply amazing.

But there is another word that makes this all the more amazing–it’s the word “again”. Were this the only time we found this word in the Bible it would be wonderful, but again and again we see the word “again”. To think that God would repeatedly seek us, invite us, receive us, forgive us, and restore us should move us to tears and cause us to shout with joy. It is a demonstration of the fact that God is loving, kind, gentle, and long-suffering. It is an awful insult to God when we resist and reject God’s offer to be restored. To think He would give us another chance is amazing.

Now notice another important word. It tells us to whom we are to return–“me”, says the Lord. It’s not just getting back to the church, or back to good deeds, or back to the Bible. It’s a matter of getting back to God. He wants you and you need Him. He is calling for you as a shepherd calls for the sheep gone astray. If you refuse His tender voice He will resort to more drastic measures to get your attention. It pays to pay attention when God speaks. God amazes me in many ways, but He is never more amazing than when He demonstrates His grace by forgiving, receiving, and restoring those who have gone astray.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.— Ecc.6:9

It is a bitter disappointment for a man to long for what he has not–for what he cannot have. That is, 
  to sigh for plenty–in the midst of poverty;
  to aspire for luxury–and have nothing but simple fare;
  to have dreams of grandeur and ambition–and yet to walk in humble life;
  to aspire to eminence–and then return to our mundane occupations.
All this is indeed lamentable to the heart!

Oh, how “desire” wanders, refusing to be satisfied with present comforts! Memory revels in the past; and hope dwells upon the future. The soul thus feeds on shadows–and leaves reality behind. There is bitterness in this, more than the tongue can tell.

Philosophy says, “Do not repine at your lot, but make the best of it.” This is cold comfort, after all.

Blind fate says, “Hush! it is your destiny.” Neither is this a cure for wandering desire.

The Christian has a remedy which never fails, when properly applied–the Savior’s presence. This . . .
  turns poverty to riches;
  invests the humblest meal with luxury;
  makes crowded cities as pleasant as the mountain top;
  imparts refreshment in the midst of labor;
  fills voids with Christ’s fullness; and
  gives us the presence of the best of friends.
“– I am with you alway (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion)–even unto the end of the world. Amen” — Matthew 28:20

Children of God! your heavenly Father says, “All things are yours!” (1 Corinthians 3:21)–and so they are, in the degree and manner that is good for me. All the gold in the world is Christ’s, and as His child, He gives me just as much as suits my best interest. If more were good for me—would not my loving Savior give me more–money, or material things, or health, or friendship?

Come back, then, wandering desire! Do not roam abroad over that which is not yours–that is forbidden ground.

What is your present lot? Scan it well; look at it through the lens of faith–and you will see a blessing in it. You will find a Father’s love, a Savior’s presence, and the Spirit’s comforts–wrapped in the garb of present things, and rays of glory coming from them all. Is not what I now have, better than the cravings of wandering desire–with such realities, better, far better, than the shadows of wandering desire!— George Mylne, 1859

“—be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

—- he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.—Prov. 15:15

Have you ever enjoyed a meal so much that you wished you never got full and that you could just keep on eating? In other words, you wanted the feeling to last forever–you wanted to experience endless enjoyment. Most of us would have to plead guilty.

Here Solomon speaks of something that causes life to be “a continual feast”. That something is “a merry heart”— described as a good “medicine” in Proverbs 17:22. Is that not what Paul had in mind when he spoke of being “content” regardless of circumstances in Phil. 4:11-13 ? Just imagine enjoying life 24/7. Sounds great, but for many it seems out of reach, beyond the realm of possibility. They have tried and failed, and have given up on the idea. They feel doomed to gloom, destined to despair. Others are more determined. They keep hunting for happiness, but the only time they are happy is when their lustful appetite is being fed. Few there be who are delighted when their desires are denied or delayed.

But, instead of relying on our feelings or what others tell us, let us find hope for happiness in the truth of God’s Word–He can’t lie. Were it not possible to have a merry heart that makes life “a continual feast” God would not have written these things. Let that be your assurance of hope. The fact that you’re not there yet doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. Just seeing the possibility of this becoming a reality in your life should inspire you to keep hoping for happiness. God can make it happen, and He will make it happen if you meet His conditions. Seek to do His will and happiness is sure to follow. Christians can be contented and cheerful regardless of circumstances. For them life can be a “continual feast”. Pleasing Christ is the key to finding perpetual pleasure.