Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Jesus’ followers were waiting for the Holy Ghost to come and fill them with power. While they were waiting, they determined that it was appropriate to appoint a man to replace Judas who had hung himself after he had betrayed Jesus. The followers appointed Justus and Matthias. Now the decision came, both these men were qualified, but they could not know the hearts of these two men, they needed God’s help in selecting.

Most likely, Jesus’ followers were all shocked at the betrayal of Judas. They had spent three years with him but they never saw it coming. These men realized that what they thought they knew about Judas was just a veil compared to the real Judas.

The disciples could see what these two men had allowed them to see. These two men had evidently proven themselves faithful as followers of Christ. However, only one of them could be anointed as a disciple. Jesus’ followers did not know what these men would do tomorrow let alone in ten years. All Jesus’ followers could do was pray that God would show them which man to select.

How often do we have to make selections in our lives? Do we stop and take the time to pray and ask God what we are to do? All around us there are people who appear to be good, but inside, they are hypocrites. We need God’s discernment if we are going to stay out of a lot of trouble.

Maybe you are about to go into a business arrangement with someone. They are a good friend and you really think that this will be a great deal for both of you. However, have you stopped and prayed that God reveal to you whether this individual will remain true for many years to come? Right now their heart seems right, but will money become their god and will it ruin your relationship?

If you are single and looking for a spouse, can you ever really know the heart of the person that you are seeking to marry? Yes they may be spiritual today, but when things get tough, how will they respond to the trial in five years? You do not and cannot know the answer to that question. However, if you take the time to pray and seek God’s will, you can ask HIM to reveal what you should do. God knows the hearts of men and HE knows who will be faithful and who will break your heart.

When it comes to making decisions about other people, these types of decisions need to be made with a lot of prayer. We can never know the heart of the other person and as such, we need to allow God to direct our paths. We should come before God and reveal to HIM just how feeble we are without HIM. Until we learn to ask God for direction when it comes to others, we will never be ready to receive HIS perfect direction for our life.

We need to be patient and understand the bigger picture of God. Just because we think we know it all, there is a level that is completely out of our control. We can never really know the heart of man and we must learn to patiently wait on God to reveal to us how we should interact with others. Until we are willing to let go of our own ideas and allow God to direct our every step, we will never be ready to be all that we can be through HIM. We will never learn all the lessons that HE has for us until we are willing to be patient and allow HIM to direct our steps.

Genesis 50:25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

Joseph was about to die. However, before he died, he communicated to those who were left in his family that there was going to come a day that God would direct them to go back to the promise land. Joseph understood the promise of God to Abraham that the promise land belonged to the children of Israel. Just because Joseph spent most of his life in the land of Egypt, Joseph never forgot who he was or the promises of God.

Joseph lived in the land of Egypt for 93 years. However, even though he was a great Egyptian who saved the lives of many Egyptians, Joseph understood that he was an Israelite first. Joseph understood that while he lived in Egypt, Egypt was not the place that God had for him. As such, as a remembrance to the children of Israel, he commanded them to keep his bones and to bury him in the promise land once God finally permitted them to return.

In the same way that Joseph understood that his real home was back in the promise land, so likewise must we understand that this earth is not our home. God has promised us a better place. Jesus has promised that HE has gone to prepare a place for us. While we may have been born in this world, while we may have lived our entire lives in this world, and while we will die in this world, our focus is not to be on this world and the things that this world has to offer us.

Instead, our focus is supposed to be upon the things of God. Our focus is supposed to be upon those things that God has promised us. If our focus becomes where we are at today, we will quickly become distracted with the things of this world and lose track of the promises of God.

Joseph was most likely a very wealthy man. Egypt had given him great power and great wealth. However, Joseph understood that it was God who had directed him to live out his life in the land of Egypt. Joseph understood that it was God who desired the children of Israel to live in Egypt and it was God who in accordance with HIS perfect timing called them back to the promise land. Joseph did not attempt to go back to the promise land late in his life, instead, he reminded his children that someday, God would make clear to them that it was time for them to return.

Heaven will someday be your home; however, do not spend so much time thinking about heaven that you fail to be a faithful steward for God right where HE has placed you. Heaven will someday be your home; however, do not spend so much time enjoying the things of the present life that you forget about the things of God and the promises that HE has given unto you.

Temperance is a gift from God. God has promised his children that they can add to their faith, virtue, and knowledge temperance. Temperance enables the believer to have a proper prospective for their life. Temperance enables you to live in this world without being of this world. Temperance enables you to say no to the things of this world so that your spiritual hearing will be properly prepared to hear the voice of God.

Your life is a tool in the hands of God. The question is, is your life a tool that God reaches for a lot in order to bring about much good, or is your life a tool that is dulled by the things of this world that God passes you by and uses others. Joseph was a man who was used mightily of God because he understood and hung onto the promises of God. Joseph understood the promises that God made to him but he also did not forget the promises that God made to Abraham.

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Jacob has just died and Joseph’s brothers have come to him in a desperate act to persuade him from not seeking revenge upon them for selling him as a slave some 39 years before. Joseph replies with great maturity in reminding his brothers that while they meant evil against him so many years before, God had HIS eye upon the life of Joseph and God used the evil of his brothers to bring about HIS perfect will.

Have you ever received something special from someone that you did not expect? Maybe you had been praying for a particular need for some time and all of a sudden, God used this individual to answer your prayer. Were you quick to share with that person how God had used them to meet a need in your life? When God is blessing, it is easy to draw people’s attention to God and HIS goodness to you.

Nonetheless, it is completely different to see the blessing of God upon your life when people are doing terrible things to you. You know the feeling, someone betrayed you or someone turned their back upon you when you needed them. Did you see the evil of this person as a blessing from God? Did you thank God for the evil actions of someone who hurt you very much?

Many terrible things had happened to Joseph and he was able to forgive and move on with his life. Joseph did not allow the bad things that had happen in his life to control him, instead, Joseph chose to do that which is right in the eyes of God and focus upon serving God today where God had placed him today.

Job was a wise man when he recognized that he had received many good things from God and that God had the right to allow evil things to also occur to him. Job boldly proclaimed that he came into the world with nothing and that when he died, he would leave with nothing.

People naturally like to complain. It does not take very much work to find something to complain about. Nonetheless, it sometimes takes herculean effort to find something to praise God for. The sin nature of man naturally sees what is wrong and we tend to dwell upon it.

Joseph understood that he could spend the rest of his life dwelling upon the years that he was a slave and a prisoner or he could spend the rest of his life serving God where God placed him that day. Because Joseph chose to dwell in the present rather than in the past, he was able to forgive his brothers for how they had hurt him.

Do you desire to have true freedom in life? If so, you need to add temperance to your life. Temperance is one of the precious promises that God has given to HIS children to assist them in their daily walk. By adding temperance to your life, you are able to overcome the temptation to be controlled by the things of this world. By exercising self-control, you are able to resist the urge to complain about the bad things and praise HIM for the good.

You can dwell in the past and allow bitterness to control you or you can see the evil in the past as just one of the ways that God directed you to where HE has placed you. Remember, you need to bloom right where HE has planted you. The grass may appear to be greener on the other side of the fence but you are on the side of the fence that God needs you at.

Genesis 46:3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Jacob was fearful about going down to Egypt. This was a huge transition for him and his family. God appeared unto Jacob in the night and spoke with him. God comforted Jacob and assured him that it was a part of HIS perfect will for Jacob to go to Egypt. God even went so far as to assure Jacob that God would continue to bless Jacob and his family while they were down in Egypt.

It was God who called Abraham to make the big move into the Promise Land and now it was God instructing Jacob to move out of the Promise Land. When speaking to Jacob, God informs Jacob that HE is the God of his father. The same God who promised his grandfather to bless him if he moved to the Promise Land was the same God who was going to bless Jacob for leaving the Promise Land. The same God who promised to bless Isaac if he did not go to Egypt during a famine was the same God who was promising to bless Jacob if he went to Egypt during a famine.

Following the perfect will of God can be very difficult at times. God does not always do what seems natural to you. Sometimes the will of God seems opposite to what HE has instructed you in the past. In order to follow the perfect will of God, you must learn to hear HIS still small voice. You must learn to hear God so that you are no longer following your natural thinking but instead are following the plan HE has for you.

When you chose to follow the perfect plan that God has for you, God will be with you and HE will bless you. The blessing of God does not mean that you will be rich and famous. God blessed the nation of Israel in the land of Egypt even though they became slaves. God was with the nation of Israel and HE enabled them to be fruitful and multiply. When they left the land of Egypt, God opened the door so that they were able to pillage the Egyptians.

As long as you think that the blessings of God means that you will be rich and famous, you will have a hard time hearing the direction of God. God is not Santa Claus, HE is not a genie who will grant you three wishes; the blessings of God may include riches and honor, but the true blessing of God is joy and peace that comes with being in the center of HIS will.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same God who was with Abraham, and Isaac was going to be with Jacob and his descendants while they were in Egypt. Esau was not able to avoid intermarrying with the local Canaanite women and we know that Judah also married a Canaanite woman and had his sons marry a Canaanite woman. If the nation of Israel stayed in the Promise Land, they would soon become so intermarried with the Canaanites that it would be impossible for them to destroy the Canaanites so that they could own the land.

Jacob had a personal relationship with God so he was able to hear the voice of God and following the perfect will of God. Jacob understood what God desired him to do and he obeyed. Do you have a close walk with God that you regularly hear HIS voice? Have you removed from your life the distractions of this world so that God is the most important person in your life?

Jacob was not moving to Egypt to gain material wealth; he was moving to Egypt to be in the center of God’s will. You need to add temperance to your life so that your motives with God are pure. As long as you are serving God for the right reasons, you will find the true blessing of God – the peace of knowing God is with you even when you are in the midst of the storm.

Genesis 46:2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

Jacob had just received word that Joseph was alive and that he was the ruler in Egypt. Jacob could hardly believe his ears but when he saw all the gifts from Joseph, Jacob determined that he was going to see Joseph before he died. While Jacob was on the way to Egypt, God appeared to him during the night. God told Jacob that he was not to fear going to Egypt.

Even though Jacob had determined to go see Joseph, something in Jacob was causing him to fear this trip. Maybe Jacob was only going to go and see Joseph for the five years of famine and then he was going to return. God knew what was going on in the mind of Jacob and God came to Jacob and ministered unto him so that Jacob was assured of the perfect will of God.

God had told Abraham that his descendants would inherit the Promise Land after a many years in which they dwelt in the land of Egypt. Apparently, Jacob knew about this promise of God and as such, Jacob was a little apprehensive of taking his entire family to Egypt if it was not the perfect timing of God. Jacob had probably heard what had happen to Abraham when he went to Egypt during a famine. Jacob had probably also heard how God had stopped his father Isaac from going to Egypt during a famine.

Jacob was an old man, and he was picking up all of his stuff and moving to a strange land. Jacob did not know what would happen. Jacob was cutting all ties he had in the Promise Land and he was afraid because he did not know the perfect will of God regarding this situation. Jacob was simply following his heart to see Joseph once again. Was he doing the right thing?

God understood that Jacob needed guidance and that is one reason why God appeared to Jacob during the journey. God could have appeared to Jacob before he packed all his belongings but God chose to wait until Jacob had started. Jacob was ready to hear from God and when he heard the voice of God, he quickly responded.

God should be a part of our daily lives. We should be quick to incorporate the direction God has for us in our daily lives. If we go a prolonged period of time without hearing from God, we should be concerned. Until we hear from God, we should not be quick to make a major change to our lives.

God desires to direct us in the way that we are to go. As we put the things of God first in our lives, we will learn to hear HIS still small voice. There is great peace that comes when you make a major change and you know that this is a part of the perfect plan of God.

God desires to have fellowship with you. If you desire to hear God, you need to remove those things from your life that distract you from hearing the voice of God. Add temperance to your life so that you can say no to the things of this world that eat up your time so that you do not have time to draw closer to God.

Jacob had a close relationship with God. Jacob was not surprised with God came and spoke to him that night. Jacob needed direction from God and God did not let Jacob down. The things of this world may be the only thing preventing you from having a relationship with God similar to the relationship that Jacob had with God.

Genesis 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph has just revealed himself to his brothers. He has explained how there is going to be five more years of famine. Joseph twice has told his brothers that God sent him to Egypt in order to save many people’s lives. In this passage, Joseph is once again reminding his brothers that it is God who has directed his path and given him the blessings of position and prestige.

God had protected, provided, and directed Joseph. Joseph saw the hand of the Lord in his life and he was quick to direct his brother’s attention to God for what God had done in his life. It was God who sent Joseph to Egypt and it was God who placed Joseph in a position of influence with Pharaoh. It was nothing that Joseph did or his brothers did that resulted in the position and prestige that Joseph now found himself in.

As you go about your daily life, you have the option to take credit for what you have done or to give God the glory for what HE is doing through you. If you are giving God the glory, this means that your life is a testimony to HIM of what God can do through those who trust in HIM. If you are faithful in sharing with others the power of God, God can use you and HE has incentive to continue to bless you so that the world can hear that there is a living God.

Even when things were difficult for Job, Job refused to curse God. Job understood that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Job understood that he came into this world with nothing and that he would leave the world with nothing. The things of this world were only things in his hands for a limited period of time to use to bring glory to God.

Joseph understood the importance of giving God the glory. Joseph was diligent to work both during the times of plenty and the times of great difficulty. It did not matter if he was in prison or if he was second in command over all of Egypt, Joseph gave God the glory. Because of the faithfulness of Joseph, God made sure that Joseph was in a position of great influence so that the people who heard the testimony of Joseph would know that God was real and powerful.

God has a purpose for your life, do you see it. When was the last time you looked back on your life and saw how God put everything together in a perfect way that you never would have imagined? Have you ever wondered why God allowed something to happen to you only to see several years later how your prior experience worked beautifully into his perfect plan for your life? Were you quick to give glory to God?

You are not God and you do not know what HE has in store for your life. Learn to be like Joseph and Job and give glory to God in both the good and difficult times. It takes temperance to restrain yourself from complaining when things are difficult. You must exercise self-control over your mind and not allow Satan to tempt you with thoughts of blaming God for your difficult situation.

Joseph gave glory to God not only privately but more importantly in public. Joseph did not allow others to inflate his ego but instead, spoke in such a way that God received the glory that he was due. It is not easy to follow the example of Joseph but it is not impossible. God is able to give you the grace necessary so that you do not sin against HIM in your mind or with your mouth. The battle of the mind is great but through Christ you can overcome.

Genesis 41:29-30 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

The Lord brings rain on the just and on the unjust. The Egyptians were not a God fearing people. Yet, for seven years, they received a wonderful blessing of great plenty. However, the seven good years would not last forever; the seven good years were followed with seven years of severe famine.

The purpose of this famine was not to punish the nation of Egypt for worshiping false gods. The purpose of this famine was to bring the nation of Israel out of the Promise Land and into Egypt. God had told Abraham that his family would have to leave the Promise Land for a period of time before they would be permitted to come back. Jacob would not naturally leave the Promise Land absent the direction of God. God used Jacob’s inability to properly provide for his family as the incentive to get the family to Egypt where they would see Joseph and be well provided for.

At this time in our history, there is great financial uncertainty around the world. Some say that this financial meltdown is a punishment from God because we are not fully serving HIM. While this may be the case, a quick look at the American financial markets reveals that there is a severe financial downturn in the market every 20 – 30 years. While God may be using this downturn in the economy to punish the non-believers, it could be that God’s purpose of the downturn is to remove worldly possessions from those who are called by HIS name so that they will hear HIS still small voice and follow HIS direction for their life.

The Church is very weak at this time and is not acting as if they are the light of the world. The Church is not exercising temperance to put aside the things that the world has to offer in order to properly reflect the light of God. God desires that HIS church hear HIS voice and obey HIM. God desires that HIS Church be in this world but not of this world.

When the Church is enjoying the spoils of this world, it will not be very active in pursuing the things of God. Sometimes, God brings a time of famine into the land, not to punish the evildoers but to punish the Church so that they will return to their first love.

Examine your life today. Is there things that God needs you to remove from your life so that you can serve HIM where and how HE desires you to serve HIM. Just because you can afford many of the possessions that this world has to offer, it does not mean that God desires you to be just like the world buying and selling trying to keep up with the Jones. Instead, God desires that you exercise temperance so that you are more attuned to HIS still small voice and more receptive to do what HE commands of you.

Scripture shows us that there were seasons in the land of Egypt. There was a time of great prosperity and there was a time of severe famine. Just because God allows prosperity upon the heathen, it does not mean that God is blessing them. Remember, God can give great wealth to the heathen but send leanness to their soul.

Do not worry about what is going on in the lives of others, instead, you need to be concerned with what God is trying to show you today. Examine your life and see if there is anything that is coming between you and God and if there is, get rid of it.

Genesis 38:7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD slew him.

We do not know exactly what type of wickedness that Er committed but we do know that God chose not to tolerate the wickedness and made an example of Er to all those around him. Er was the great-great grandson of Abraham. While we do not know for sure, it appears that Er most likely was alive at least during the last few years of Isaac’s life.

God had chosen the descendants of Abraham and more particularly the line of Jacob as his chosen people. Because God had chosen them and desired to have a close relationship with them, he would not tolerate wicked behavior. The Canaanite people could serve their false gods and commit their wickedness and appear to get away with it, but God could not allow those who were called by HIM to continue to thumb their noses at HIM.

Whom the Lord loves HE chastises. God desired to show HIMSELF strong in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob along with their descendants. God desired to direct, protect, and provide for HIS chosen people. Er made a choice that he would rather do that which is right in his own eyes then to follow the Godly example of his fathers. Er’s mother was a Canaanite and his wife was a Canaanite so Er decided to act like a Canaanite. Er did not seek the Lord’s direction or HIS provision and God killed him in such a way to send a warning to the family of Jacob that this type of wickedness could not be tolerated.

When you chose to serve God, you make a choice to draw closer to HIM. Most of us really do not fully understand just how much God really loves us and desires to have a personal relationship with HIM. God desires that we forsake the things of this world in order to put HIM first in our lives. God has told us to love HIM with all of our heart, mind, and soul. When we chose to pursue the wicked things of this world, we put God in a position that HE must disciple us. HE must disciple us because we have chosen to be called by HIS name and our wicked behavior will result in damaging HIS name.

No one made Er commit the great wickedness that he committed. It was Er’s choices that resulted in his death. Had Er chosen to add temperance to his life and to pursue the God of his fathers, God would have had no need to take his life and make him an example for many generations as to what happens to one who chooses to turn his back upon God.

God has given us a free will to do that which is right in the eyes of God or to do what is right in our own eyes. However, regardless of whether we chose HIM or not, there will always be consequences for sin. If we do not want to be punished for violating HIS perfect law, then we should choose to add temperance to our life. By exercising self-control from doing what we want when we want, we can avoid many of the consequences that sin has to offer.

Er chose to serve HIS own selfish desires and it ended up costing him his life. The wages of sin is death and his sins resulted in his early demise. In the same way that God did not tolerate Er to violate HIS perfect law, so also, you are not guaranteed to live a long life if you continue to make decisions that are contrary to the law of God. Every day you have a choice to make, are you going to live for God or are you going to live for yourself. The more your behavior damages the name of God, you should be prepared to suffer severe consequences.

Genesis 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Not everything God shares with you is public knowledge to the entire world. Jesus cautioned us to not cast our pearls before swine. There are simply some things that God shares with you that if others hear will not cause them to draw closer to God.

Joseph was a young man who had just received a great vision from God. God had just revealed to him part of his life purpose. Joseph was so excited that he had to share it with those around him who just happened to be his brothers. His brothers were not excited to hear that God was speaking to Joseph and their hatred for Joseph grew even more.

When God speaks to you, you must carefully listen to God to understand what the purpose of the message is. If God has spoken to you so as to encourage all those around you, then by all means do so. However, when God speaks with you, it is like a pearl, and that pearl may just be something God has given you to treasure for a while. Going out and sharing the special truth with those around you might be like taking a precious pearl and casting it in a pig sty and telling the pigs to keep the pearl safe.

The dream of Joseph was designed to encourage Joseph that God had a special purpose for his life. Neither Joseph nor his brothers had any idea about the suffering that Joseph was going to endure before the Lord brought Joseph’s dream to past. However, God had big plans for Joseph and as such, Joseph had to endure great trials to prepare him for God’s wonderful plan. God desired to keep Joseph’s attention upon the ultimate goals so HE gave Joseph a wonderful pearl to hang onto when the going got tough.

Joseph was going to face many trials between when Joseph first had the dream and when it was fulfilled. There was going to be countless times where Joseph probably wanted to give up hoping that God would bring his dream to past. However, Joseph remained faithful and God rewarded Joseph by bringing to past the fulfillment of the dream.

What pearls has God shared with you recently in your quiet time with HIM? Have you written down the promises of God so that you will remember them when times get tough? If you lose the promises of God, what good was the time you spent with God obtaining the promises, it is the same as throwing away the pearl of great price because you do not see its value.

The world will bring plenty of distractions to you causing you to lose focus upon the special promises of God. If you add temperance to your life, you will have the strength to say no to the things of this world and yes to the things of God. By focusing your attention upon the kingdom of heaven, the things of God will hold greater importance in your life and you can share them with those who will appreciate the value of the treasure.

Even though Eli was not serving God with his whole heart, Eli understood the importance of hearing the voice of God. Eli never questioned that Samuel had heard from God. Joseph’s brothers had not asked him what he had dreamed the night before, Joseph simply opened his mouth and shared. A little discretion and a little patience on his part could have helped create a little family harmony. Your life is no different, when God gives you a pearl, take the time to carefully evaluate whom you are to share this pearl with.

Genesis 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

When Jacob fled from Esau after stealing his blessing, God met Jacob at Bethel. Now many years later, God is directing Jacob back to Bethel. Bethel was a place where Jacob met God and now God desires for Jacob to be refreshed.

When Jacob first encountered God at Bethel, it was during a real difficult time in Jacob’s life. Jacob had now seen God make him very wealthy, seen God protect him from Laban, seen God protect him from Esau, and had even seen God protect him after his sons destroyed an entire town in revenge for the rape of their sister. God desires that Jacob renew his relationship with HIM so God calls Jacob back to Bethel.

As a Christian, it is good to sometimes go back and remember the promises of God for your life. As you sit down and start recounting all the ways that HE has directed, protected, and provided for you, your faith in HIM should grow.

When was the last time that you sat down and started to recount all the promises that God has made to you and reminded yourself of all the ways HE has fulfilled what HE has directed you to do? If you do not take the time to remember the times that God has made HIS presence known unto you, how do you think you are going to make it through the next difficult trial in your life? God has not abandoned you in the past and HE will not do so in the future. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

When Jesus was on this earth we see that on many occasions HE went to a desolate place so that HE could be alone with God. Jesus the Son of God who lived a perfect life still set aside time to fellowship with God. As Jesus was preparing to die, HE yielded HIS right to do anything but the will of God. Jesus understood what God desired HIM to do and Jesus gained the resolve necessary by focusing HIS attention upon the purposes of God for HIS life.

Satan desires to change your focus from the perfect will of God by distracting you with the cares of this world. As you start focusing upon the most recent problem you lose focus on God and your faith is weakened. However, when you renew your mind with the promises of God, God will renew your strength so that you can overcome the trials that you currently are facing.

When was the last time you said no to all the commitments that the world throws your direction so that you could go to a place just to get alone with God? You must add temperance to your life if you are going to say no to the things of this world so that you can prioritize your time with God. Until you start restraining yourself from all the things that this world has to offer and start renewing your mind with the things of God, you will never have the true freedom that God designed for those who are called by HIS name.

Jacob was about to renew HIS relationship with God at Bethel. It had been several years since he returned to the promise land and it was time for HIM to change HIS focus back to God. God had a purpose for the life of Jacob so HE made sure that Jacob understood the direction that God had for him. Jacob was obedient to the voice of God and was flexible to change his plans so that his actions conformed with what God desired him to do. The true blessings in life can come when we are ready to focus our attention upon our Creator.

Genesis 34:13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

Shechem saw Dinah and his lust for her was so great that he raped her. Afterwards, Shechem requested Jacob to name a dowry and he would pay it. The sons of Jacob saw the evil that Shechem had committed and they lied to Shechem pretending that everything was ok even though it was not. The sons of Jacob had no intention of letting their sister marry the man who had raped her; they were going to obtain revenge.

We need to remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord. It does not matter what wrong others have done to us, this does not give us the permission to play God and be the judge. Jacob did not have to allow Dinah to marry Shechem; nonetheless, once he decided that a marriage could occur, he needed to keep his word. The problem is that the sons of Jacob did that which is right in their own eyes and they lied to Shechem and then had him killed.

Two wrongs never make a right. The sons of Jacob deceived Shechem into thinking that he was going to be able to marry Dinah. The sin of deceit was being passed down from generation to generation. First Abraham lied when he said Sarah was his sister. Isaac then lied by saying that Rebekah was his sister. Jacob had a long list of lies that he told including telling his father that he was Esau. Now the sons of Jacob were telling Shechem that he could marry their sister if he circumcised himself only to kill him once he was in a position that he could not defend himself.

As long as you are living according to the principles of the world, you will find yourself making your own rules by which you live by. Most people would not condemn the sons of Jacob for deceiving Shechem after he had raped their sister. In fact, most people would justify the actions of Jacob’s sons as reasonable behavior. However, we must remember that our ways are not God’s ways.

God holds you to a higher standard. God expects that your yes be yes and your no be no. As long as you are seeking to be your own judge for your actions, you will find that situational ethics will always dictate that there are times when you can stretch the truth. However, this is not God’s perfect plan and this behavior will never result in God’s best for your life.

When you add temperance to your life, you must say no to the temptation to take matters into your own hands and be your own judge. Instead, you must daily choose to do that which is right and allow your tongue to glorify God by speaking the truth to everyone regardless of what they have done to you.

Bad things do happen to good people. When bad things happen to you, this gives you the opportunity to turn to God and allow HIM to direct your path. God does not make a mistake. Just as God did not make a mistake when HE allowed Joseph to be falsely accused of attempted rape, so likewise, God could have turned the evil of Shechem into something that glorified him. Instead, Jacob’s sons tried to play God and simply made a bigger mess out of things.

It is not always easy to do the right thing. However, before you open your lips and commit yourself to something that you may latter regret, take the time to talk to God and allow HIM to direct your mouth. You will not find yourself in nearly as much trouble if you hold your tongue then if you open your mouth and have to latter retract your words.

Genesis 32:1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

Scripture does not reveal to us what if anything was said to Jacob by these angels of the Lord. What was important that we know is that God made sure that Jacob knew that HE was with him.

God had spoken to Jacob and directed him to go back to his father. Jacob obeyed and Laban came after him. However, God spoke to Laban and prevented Laban from doing anything to harm Jacob. Jacob was about to hear that Esau was coming to met him. This was going to be a real trial in the life of Jacob. God desired that Jacob understand that HE was with him and that HIS grace would be sufficient.

When we hear God and we are obeying HIM, it does not mean that life will be easy and free of trials. When we are in the midst of obeying God, it is very likely that our faith will be tried and we will start doubting the things that God has shown us. We do not necessarily need to hear the voice of God again, but it is always reassuring to feel the presence of God while we are in the midst of the storm.

God sent a messenger to Jacob. Most likely the angel spoke to Jacob and delivered some tidings from God. However, whatever the words that were stated were, that was not what Jacob remembered, what Jacob remembered was that God was with HIM and that God sent to him a messenger as he came home.

Have you ever been following the direction of God and had a time where you started doubting the direction that God had given to you? Satan does not want you fulfilling the perfect will of God for your life and as such, HE is going to bring trials into your life to test your faith. Satan hopes to discourage you from fully obeying God. God will not leave you nor forsake you. HE will do things for you to assure you that you are in the center of HIS will.

Not every experience with God needs to be like Moses experienced with the burning bush. Not every experience with God needs to be like Elijah on the mountain. Not every experience with God needs to be like Samuel in the temple. Jacob did not need a major encounter with God. He had already heard God and he was about to wrestle with God for a blessing, in this passage, all he needed was just a little encouragement that he was doing the right thing.

Jacob had recently heard from the Lord and he was obeying. Jacob recently saw how God was moving on his behalf in speaking to Laban. Jacob was about to have a major encounter with God. Jacob was in a time of his life that he was really in-tuned with God. This minor encounter with an angel occurred because Jacob’s focus was upon the things of God.

Have you ever wondered why there are times where you do not feel that you can really hear the voice of God? The problem most likely is coming from your own life. You have allowed some of the distractions of this world to clog up your spiritual hearing so that you miss out on some of these minor encouragements that God has for us.

You must learn to diligently add temperance to your life. You must understand that there is more to life than just obtaining the things of this world. As you learn to demonstrate self-control and allow more time for God, God will bless your temperance and HE will make HIS presence known unto you.

Genesis 25:22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

For a period of time, Rebekah had been unable to conceive children. Once she was able to conceive, the babies struggled within her to such an extent that Rebekah turned to the Lord for direction. Rebekah understood that these children were a gift from God and since she was having a problem with her pregnancy, she turned to God for direction as to what she should do.

It is not our natural reaction to turn to the Lord for direction. We are a prideful people and we often try to first solve our problems with our own strength. We forget that God is in control and if HE has allowed something difficult to occur to us, he has a solution. The trials that we face are for a purpose and the sooner we learn that God is allowing something to happen to us, the sooner we can move onto the next lesson.

Because Rebekah and Isaac had spent so much time asking the Lord for children, when they had problems with their children, they naturally turned to God for the solution. When your focus is upon God to direct, protect, and provide for you, then when trials enter your life, you are more inclined to turn to God for the solution. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If your treasure is the things of God, then your heart naturally will be looking to God rather than your own strength.

Hannah was another woman who prayed earnestly for God to give her children. God answered her persistent prayers. However, Hannah understood that the child God gave her was not her own and as such, she was willing to fulfill her promise and give Samuel back unto the Lord.

If you understand that what you have is not yours, then you are more apt to have a closer relationship with God. It is amazing what God can do through you if you would only put HIM as the center of your life. God is not the center of your life if the second something goes wrong, you start relying upon your own strength to get out of the problem. God has many blessings in store for you if you would only get out of your selfish state and start learning to rely upon HIM.

Your response to the trials that occur in your life will reveal to all the state of your relationship with God. Rebekah trusted in God so thus when she had a trial, she went and inquired of HIM. Rebekah understood that it was God who opened her womb to have children and it was God who would direct her in how to survive her difficult pregnancy.

We need to follow the example of Rebekah in this passage. Rebekah did not allow her trials to remove her focus off of God. Instead, Rebekah used her trials to draw her closer to God. When we add temperance to our life, our focus changes from our problems to the ultimate solution, our relationship with God. Until we learn to rely completely on HIM, the world will try to distract our attention with all that it has to offer. By saying no to the world, we can trust more fully in God and experience the peace that passeth all understanding.

Job understood that it was God who gave him great wealth and thus God was able to take it all away. Rebekah understood that it was God who gave her children and thus it was God who should be turned to when there was a difficulty with the pregnancy. It is God who has led you to where you are at today and as such, when you face a trial when you are in the center of the will of God, then it is God whom you should turn to for direction during this difficult time.

Genesis 24:66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

Abraham had sent his servant to go and find a wife for his son Isaac. Upon his return with Rebekah, the servant takes the time to tell Isaac how God had directed his path. The servant had seen God work through him in a powerful way and the servant desired to share the work of the Lord.

God does not make mistakes. God is directing our steps and HE desires that we learn to give HIM the praise that HE deserves. Often we are so busy with our life that we fail to see exactly how God has quietly been directing our paths. Because we fail to see the hand of God in our life, we fail to share with others the power of God. Because others do not hear from our lips how God is alive and active in our lives, their faith in God is not as strong as it should be.

God did not bring Isaac and Rebekah together by accident. Isaac and Rebekah were going to have their good times and their hard times. However, when times became difficult, they could go back in their minds and remind themselves of how God brought them together. The servant of Abraham made sure that both Isaac and Rebekah knew that their coming together as husband and wife was not by some accident but was because God had directed their paths together.

Unless we stop and take the time to see how God has been guiding our paths, when the difficult times arise in our lives, we will fail to have an anchor that we can turn to so that we have hope to weather the trial. When we have taken the time to acknowledge God for different steps in our lives, when the trials come, we are less likely to abandon our faith. Praising God for HIS direction in our lives is one tool that we have to ensure that we remain faithful in the fight.

You may not have a powerful story like the nation of Israel did when they saw God part the Red Sea. You may not have a powerful story like king Hezekiah did when he saw God move the sun backwards. You may not have a powerful story like Isaac and Rebekah did when they saw how a simply offer to water camels resulted in a marriage. While you may not have some great and powerful story of how God has directed you, God still has directed your path and it is up to you to see the hand of God in your life.

God moves in many different ways. You cannot limit God. God spoke to Joseph through dreams yet he spoke to Samuel in a clear voice. God led the nation of Israel by a pillar of fire and he got the attention of the apostle Paul with a blinding light. God called Moses into the ministry by using a burning bush yet he called Elisha into the ministry by having Elijah put his cloak upon him.

It does not matter how God is directing you, you need to stop and take the time to acknowledge the hand of God. Satan desires to distract you with the things of the world so that you fail to make time to give God the glory for what is going on in your life. If you do not add temperance to your life, you will fail to see the hand of God and then you will fail to acknowledge HIM for HIS direction in your life.

If you do not take the time to establish mental altars in your life of acknowledging the direction of God in your life, then when the trials come, you will flounder in the faith. The servant of Abraham made sure to acknowledge the hand of God so that Isaac and Rebekah would always remember that theirs was a match made in heaven.

Genesis 24:40 And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:

The servant of Abraham has arrived at the house of Rebekah but before he eats, he insists that he share with her family what the Lord has been doing and how the Lord had guided him to their house that night. The servant is quick to acknowledge that it is the God of Abraham who has directed him to their house to request that Rebekah become the wife of Isaac.

In this passage, the servant is quoting Abraham. Abraham had instructed the servant that God would send an angel to guide him to find the wife for his son. Abraham understood how God guided him to the promise land and Abraham understood the importance of Isaac having a godly wife. When Abraham sent the servant, he believed that God would lead the servant where he should go to select the perfect woman for Isaac.

Abraham had seen how the Lord had led him and Abraham had faith that the same God who led him from place to place was able to open the eyes of his servant also. The servant may not have had the same relationship with God that Abraham had, but Abraham blessed this servant and encouraged him to simply rely upon God to direct his path. Abraham was helping his servant to grow in his faith by teaching him how to follow the direction of God.

The servant was able to pray in faith because he understood that the God of Abraham was guiding his steps. The servant had success because Abraham took the time to plant and develop the seed of faith in his servant.

The conversation in this passage was a critical moment in the whole love story of Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham could have said many things including giving the servant permission to take Isaac. However, Abraham was a man of faith and he stopped and took the time to educate his servant upon the power of God to guide and direct. Because Abraham took the time, we see how God brought the servant to Rebekah in such a miraculous way.

Abraham could have been busy counting his sheep or numbering his oxen. Abraham could have been distracted by his wealth or solving problems among his servants. There were many things that could have prevented Abraham from taking the time to educate the servant in this important lesson of faith that God would be with the servant, but Abraham chose to not let those things distract him and instead made sure he invested time in the life of the servant.

There will often arise teaching opportunities where we can share with others examples of what God has done in our life to help encourage others in their faith. If we are distracted by the things of this world, we will quickly miss those opportunities and we may watch as someone fails to concur in the faith. However, if we add temperance to our life and thus are quick to see the opportunities that God is bringing into our lives to help others, than we can be encouraged as we watch others grow in the faith.

Abraham had seen the faithfulness of God so he was able to encourage the servant to be observant to the guidance of God in this important task. Because Abraham took the time to instruct the servant, not only were Isaac and Rebekah married, but also everyone involved was encouraged to here the testimony of faith of how God worked everything together.

Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Paul was a prisoner in Rome. While Paul did not have his freedom so that he could go where he wanted when he wanted, Paul understood the importance of doing the perfect will of God. Paul may not have been able to go out into the streets and preach the gospel, but God enabled him to live under house arrest and he was permitted to preach to all those who came and visited him.

Paul may have started his ministry going out into many various countries and establishing churches, but he ended his ministry in a house, relying upon God to bring people to him to minister unto. Paul did not lose faith in God as soon as he was unable to go out and be an active missionary. Instead, Paul had learned to be content wherever God had placed him and as a result, he allowed God to guide him in a new type of ministry.

Just because God is not allowing you to minister the way you think you are best capable to minister unto others, it does not mean that you cannot minister unto others. Remember, your ways are not always the same as the ways of God. God will often lead us in a new direction and it is up to us to accept the direction of God and allow HIM to be magnified in our life.

Moses was directed by God to speak to a rock so that the nation of Israel could quench their thirst. However, Moses remembered the time before where God had him strike the rock and the rock brought for water. Moses tried to do the will of God in his own strength so he struck the rock twice. Moses had sufficient faith to bring water out of the rock when he struck it twice, but he was punished by God as a result of his sin. God did not allow Moses to enter the promise land as a result of Moses violating the perfect will of God.

Joshua had been instructed by God to enter the Promise Land and take it for the Lord. God first directed Joshua to take the city of Jericho and Joshua carefully followed the directions he was given. Once Joshua saw how God had blessed him, he set his own plans for taking the city of Ai. However, there was sin in the camp and God was not ready for the nation of Israel to enter a second battle and as such, several Israelites lost their lives. Joshua learned an important lesson about not getting ahead of God and listening to God for daily direction.

It is hard to follow the example of Paul and much easier to follow the example of Moses and Joshua. God desires that you learn to hear HIS still small voice. God desires that you develop a closer walk with HIM. God desires that you transform your thinking so that you put the ways of God first in your life. As you strive to serve HIM, HE will be able to direct your paths.

As long as you keep control over the decisions that you make, you will never be ready to see the new opportunities that God has for you. If you desire to see God bringing people into your life for you to minister unto them, then you must learn to release control over your life and allow God to direct you.

The things of this world are a strong temptation to keeping you from doing the perfect will of God. You must learn to add temperance to your life so that you can have the strength to follow the perfect will of God. When you follow the perfect will of God, it does not mean that your life will be perfect just the way you always imagined it. When you follow the perfect will of God, God will be able to bless you and expand your ministry beyond your wildest comprehension.

Acts 26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

The problem with mankind is that we impose our limitations upon God. We read the stories about Peter walking on water and it is such a difficult topic to grasp that the same God who enabled Peter to walk on water is the same God that we serve today. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We serve a God that nothing is impossible.

In this passage, Paul is speaking with king Agrippa. Paul is trying to explain to Agrippa how God who can do the impossible raised Jesus Christ from the grave. When people die, they are dead; you do not see people rising from the dead very often. The resurrection is an essential element to the Christian faith and thus Paul needed to explain to Agrippa the impossible so that Agrippa could fully understand what was necessary to believe in order to be converted.

Paul was not taking anything for granted. Too many of us when witnessing to someone will simply state the fact that Jesus lived on this earth, that he died, and that he was raised from the dead. We state it as a fact, and do not take the time to break it down so the unsaved person can understand the perfect plan for God.

If someone were to come up to you and say, two hundred years ago, there was this man who jumped off a certain cliff that was 300 feet above a canyon. That this man jumped on a full moon and that half way down he grew wings and was able to fly. They now tell you that based upon those facts, that if you jump from the same cliff at night, this man would come back and catch you in mid flight so that you would not be harmed. Do you realize how much faith it would take to believe such a story and act upon it?

We serve a God who does the impossible who demands of us that we learn to walk by faith. When we try to impose our earthly limitations upon a heavenly God, we diminish not only our faith, but also greatly hamper our ability to trust in HIM. God desires that we learn to rely upon HIM for our protection, provision, and direction. However, if we cannot fully trust in HIM for our salvation, how can we trust in him for our protection, provision, and direction?

Christ taught us that one must have the faith of a little child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Christ understood the impossible task it is to convince an educated mind to fully comprehend a heavenly God in an earthly world. Christ understood how difficult it is to truly walk in faith. However, regardless of how difficult it is, this is still the assignment that God has given to us in that we are to walk in faith.

You will never understand all that God can do for you if you are looking at all this world has to offer you. As long as you are controlled by the things of this world, the things of God will seem like an impossibility. When you add temperance to your life and put aside the things of this world in order to pursue the things of God, you will start to understand the impossible things that God can do through you.

If you desire to see God do the impossible, then you must learn to have complete faith in HIM. You must put aside your worldly perspective and start drawing closer to HIM so that you can understand just exactly who HE is. God can do the impossible when HE is protecting, providing, and directing you in the way you are to go. There is nothing that is too hard for God if you will just let HIM.

Acts 23:12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

You can abstain from the things of this world in your own power, or you can do it in the power of God. In this passage, we see a group of Jews who agreed together saying that they would not eat or drink until they killed Paul. Had these men actually fulfilled their promise, they all would have died before Paul was killed several years later.

These men thought that by abstaining from the things of this world, God would bless them and enable them to fulfill the desires of their heart. However, God was not in this plan to kill Paul and as such, these men were acting completely in the flesh. It did not matter that they were doing something good in fasting; their wrong purpose and their wrong attitude totally destroyed any grace God would have given them by abstaining from food and drink.

How often do we act just like this group of Jews? We establish in our mind that we want something, and because we want it enough, God will give it to us if we are diligent to pray for it three times a day. God is not looking for how many sacrifices you are making in order to determine if you are going to receive the desires of your heart. Instead, God is looking at your heart and whether your desires are in line with HIS desires.

You can fast for forty days for God to give you something, but if it is not the perfect will of God, your fast will be in vain. This is what these Jews discovered; they may have fasted to see a certain result, but because they were fighting against God, their fast was in vain.

In Isaiah 58, we are told “Is not this the fast that I have chosen?” There are many benefits to fasting when God directs you to fast. Isaiah then lists many benefits to following a fast that God has called you to. Some of the benefits include but are not limited to the loosening the bands of wickedness, to undue heavy burdens, thy health shall return, you shall call on the Lord and HE shall hear you, and the light of your life will shine.

Fasting is an act of temperance; it requires the abstaining from the things of this world in order to pursue the things of God. However, do not be like the Jews in this passage who were not directed by God to fast. As a result of their choices, not only did they go without food for some period of time, but they also did not gain the spiritual benefits from their fast.

Look at your life and the sacrifices you have made for God. Are these sacrifices that God has asked you to make or are they sacrifices that you chose to make because you think God would be pleased with you. If this is not something that God has chosen for you, you might want to reevaluate the decisions you are making because you are setting yourself up for a great disappointment. God is not interested in your sacrifices; God desires that you learn to hear HIS still small voice so that you can fulfill HIS perfect will.

When you chose to abstain from the things of this world in order to draw nearer to God; make sure that is your reason. Do not try to manipulate God by thinking that if you do enough things for HIM, then surely HE must have to do something you want HIM to do for you. Your abstaining from the things of this world should be so that you can draw closer to HIM and be in a better position to hear HIS still small voice. Just because you make enough sacrifices, it does not mean you are entitled to any special blessings from God.

Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

Paul was preaching in Jerusalem because he knew it was the will of God. Paul had already told the believers that after he went to Jerusalem, God was going to send him to Rome. Paul was in prison because the Jews did not accept the testimony that Paul was sharing with them. Paul appears to have been a little discouraged. He must have thought that because God had sent him to Jerusalem, God was going to bless him and cause a great revival to break out.

Yes God had called Paul to Jerusalem, but it was not the perfect will of God that a great revival break out at this time. God had other plans for Paul and God came to Paul this night to encourage him to remain faithful to him. Just because God had sent him to Jerusalem, it did not mean that God was going to bless everything Paul did.

\Just as Paul had been steadfast about going to Jerusalem, God now needed Paul to be steadfast about going to Rome. Paul was not going to be in Rome the next day; it was going to be a long journey full of many trials. God came to Paul this night to give him the encouragement he needed to remain faithful regardless of what circumstances he faced.

In the same way that Paul was directed to Jerusalem, so also God will direct you. However, you need to be careful that just because you understand the will of God, you need to make sure that you do not maintain the wrong attitude. Remember, God is still God and this means, that HE not only directs you in the way you are to go but also controls whether your way is prosperous. It is not you who determines whether it was worth your while to obey God, your obedience is better than sacrifices.

If you try to obey God from this world’s perspective, you will often find yourself discouraged. You cannot obey God and expect that you then get whatever you want whenever you want it. God is not Santa Clause. It is a part of the will of God that you go through certain trials and temptations. As you learn to overcome these trials by the strength of God, then you find true rewards in your life.

Paul must have felt this trip to Jerusalem was a failure. No souls apparently were saved and the religious leaders were just as stubborn as usual. Paul had all these wonderful opportunities where believers had requested that he stay with them rather than go to Jerusalem. Had Paul stayed, surely his life would have been more valuable than sitting in this prison doing nothing. However, God had another plan for Paul and as Paul was sitting in prison, he was able to start writing many of the epistles that are still read today.

You do not know what God is doing through you but you can rest assured that if you continue to obey HIM, HE will write the last chapter in your life. Do not focus your eyes on the things of this world when you obey God; you cannot afford to obey God for the wrong reasons.

God did not want Paul to be discouraged but wanted Paul to be looking ahead at how Paul could obey God today. You too need to say no to the things of this world and look for ways that you can obey God today. Add temperance to your life so that when trials come your way, you do not have a worldly outlook on your life. Say yes to the things of God so that regardless of what is going on around you, you are able to say that God is in control.

Acts 19:21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

Paul understood that he needed to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome. However, what Paul did not understand is the path that God would have him take in order to get to both Jerusalem and Rome. God had shown Paul two cities that he needed to go to, but God did not show Paul the trials that he would face in order to fulfill the perfect will of God.

Joseph understood at a young age that God was going to make him a great ruler. Joseph understood the perfect will of God for his life, but Joseph did not understand the trials that he was going to face in order to become the great leader God desired him to be. Joseph did not know that he was going to be betrayed by his brothers. Joseph did not know that he was going to be a slave. Joseph did not know that he was going to be falsely accused of attempting to commit rape. Joseph did not know that he was going to spend several years in prison.

David understood that God had anointed him as king of Israel. David did not know that God was going to allow him to face many difficult trials before he eventually ascended to the throne. David did not know that Saul was going to chase him all over the country side to try to kill him. David did not know that on several different occasions, he was going to have the ability to kill Saul.

God will sometimes reveal to you something that HE desires you to do. However, God does not always reveal the trials and temptations that you will face along the way. Imagine climbing up a mountain and as you look ahead of you, you see not only the top of the mountain that you are climbing, but you also see the top of the next mountain. However, from this perspective, what you do not see is the trail that you must cross to get form one mountain top to the next.

God will show us the way that we are to go so that we can remain faithful to HIM when difficult times surround us. God is faithful to be a light unto our path and show us the way. It is our duty to be faithful every step of the way.

When God reveals to us the direction that we are to go, HE does not reveal to us the temptations that the world will put in our path to try to distract us from doing the perfect will of God. It will be up to you to resist the temptations of the world and continue to be faithful in pursuing the things of God. The strong the hold of the things of the world, the harder it will be for you to remain faithful to the perfect calling of God.

You need to remain faithful to the perfect will of God for your life. This means that when the world tries to tempt you with the things that it has to offer, that you learn to say no to the world and yes to God. Adding temperance to your life will give you the tools that you need to say no to the lusts of the world. Adding temperance to your life will give you the strength to continue to pursue the things of God.

Paul was about to take a very difficult journey. Because he understood that God wanted him to preach the gospel in Rome, this gave him the strength to say no to various good opportunities that came his way. Because God gave Paul vision of where he was going, Paul was able to stay focused on the perfect will of God for his life.

Acts 18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

Paul had patiently waited in the city of Corinth for the Lord to allow him to preach the gospel. When Paul reached Corinth, he understood that it was not the perfect timing of the Lord so he made tents while he waited for direction. Once Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul felt pressed by the Holy Ghost that it was time to preach. However, the response of the people was not good and Paul wiped his feet and left.

Paul was obeying the commands of Christ that when they were rejected that they were to wipe their feet of any dust on them and leave a city. Paul had waited all this time for the perfect timing of God and he was disappointed that all he found was opposition. Paul was ready to give up and move to another town.

What Paul apparently did not know was that his preaching had caused some to accept Christ as their personal savior. We know that the chief ruler of the synagogue believed. Paul had seen surface resistance and what he did not know was that God was working in the hearts of men. Paul was ready to give up but God was just beginning.

Paul had been pressed in the spirit to preach the first time, now God spoke to Paul in a vision to clearly present the plan that God had for the city of Corinth. This was not the time to depart; this was the time to press on. This was not the time to quit; it was the time to receive a great harvest.

We must be careful that we do not give up too early. Discouraging things can occur in our lives from time to time but that does not mean that God is not in what we are doing. As Christians, we need to be careful to hear the still small voice of God so that we can fulfill HIS perfect will. Just because we are facing a difficult time, it does not mean that God is not in what we are doing.
David had been anointed king, but he still had to run for his life for approximately 13 years. How many times could David have started to question the anointing of the Lord? How many times could David began to doubt if he would ever live to see the fulfillment of the promises of God. The Bible is full of examples of people who suffered great difficulties as a result of doing the perfect will of God.

The things of this world can easily discourage you. We are not in a season where people are living in the fear of the Lord. This means, when you are following the perfect will of God that there will be times of discouragement where you may want to just give up.

Paul experienced a death of a vision. He waited and waited for the perfect timing of the Lord and then was discouraged when he saw no fruit. God spoke to Paul a second time and it is when Paul was faithful to continue to serve God despite the initial rejection that Paul finally saw the fruit that he desired.

Discouraging things will occur in your life. If you have a right relationship with God, HE will be able to guide you in the way that you are to go. This means that you cannot afford to allow the things of this world to control you. Instead, you must add temperance to your life and say no to the things of this world so that God can direct, protect, and provide for you. Until you are ready to do the perfect will of God, the things of this world could easily persuade you to do otherwise.

Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Several of the prophets and teachers in Antioch had been fasting for the purpose of ministering unto God. As these men put the things of God as a priority in their life, they clearly heard the voice of God. They heard the voice of God as a multitude. This means that there was a wonderful confirmation knowing that it was not just Barnabas and Saul who heard the calling, but all the men together heard the calling of God and knew that God had a special purpose for these men.

These men had fasted for the purpose of ministering unto God and they had heard the calling of God for the life of Saul and Barnabas. In this passage, we see that before they sent Saul and Barnabas away, that they fasted and prayed some more. Whether this is a separate fast from the fast in which they ministered unto God we do not know, what we do know is that they fasted for the purpose of sending Saul and Barnabas out to do the work of God.

The prophets and teachers already knew the will of God so why would they need to fast and pray? These men were not fasting and praying to receive confirmation of the will of God, they had heard God speak through a multitude of men. There are several reasons for this time of fasting and prayer. It could have been a sacrifice of praise to God for calling these men out to go and serve HIM. It could have been a time of asking God to protect these men as they went out and started several churches. It could have been another opportunity to live their lives in a manner that was pleasing to God.

While we do not know why these men fasted and prayed before sending Saul and Barnabas out, we do know that they did fast and pray. Remember that the believers were first called Christians at Antioch. One of the reasons for this title was because of how much they strived to live their lives in a manner that was pleasing to the Lord. From this passage in the book of Acts, we see that these Christians were quick to abstain from the things of this world in order to put the things of God as a priority in their life.

Fasting is a time when one abstains from food. There are many reasons why people fast. Some people fast for health benefits that they might receive. Others fast as a way to show their spirituality as the religious leaders did during the time of Christ. Some people fast as a way to demonstrate their repentance for their sins as the nation of Ninevah did after hearing the sermon of Jonah. Others fast in order to hear the voice of God and to receive direction for their lives as Elijah did after he saw God bring fire out of heaven and rain from a cloud the size of a fist.

Yes there are many reasons why you can fast for your own benefit, but in these verses, we see the importance of fasting not for your own benefit but for the benefit of God. These men were saying no to the things of this world in order to draw closer to God. By putting the things of God first in their life they received direction that they were not even asking for; by putting the things of God first, they received purpose that they were not even seeking.

Fasting and praying are tools that help demonstrate that you are adding temperance to your life. When you fast and pray, you are saying no to the things of this world and saying yes to the things of God. The more that the things of this world do not entangle you, the clearer the voice of God will be in your life and the easier it will be for you to go where God needs you.

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

In Antioch there were a group of prophets and teachers who were ministering unto the Lord and while they were fasting, God showed this group of men that God had a special plan for Barnabas and Saul. These men were not fasting because they wanted to hear the voice of God, they were fasting as a part of their ministering unto the Lord and as they put the things of God first, God made clear to all HIS perfect will.

Barnabas and Saul had just gotten back from a short term missionary trip where they had taken a special love offering from the Christians in Antioch to the Christians in Judah. Barnabas and Saul went back to serving the church and ministering to the local Christians. They were not proud of their past service to the Lord but instead were humble and willing to serve those who God brought into their lives.

It was as Barnabas and Saul served the local church that we see God opened the door for them to go out and do great things for HIM. Barnabas and Saul were sacrificing their desires for the things of this world so that the things of God might be more visible to them. These men were not fasting so as to see what they could get from God, but they were fasting so that they could see what they could give to God.

How many times have you opened up the Bible and asked God to direct you in the way you were to go? It sounds like a good thing to be doing, seeking the will of God. How many times have you opened up the Bible with the intent just to minister unto God with your actions? Too often, our relationship with God is all about us and what we can get from this relationship.

You have met people who are always takers in a relationship. They never give back but are always taking to the point that eventually, you need a break from that person. In order for a solid relationship to exist, there needs to be both giving and receiving. While there are going to be times that you come to the Lord for direction, protection, and provision, there also needs to be times where you come before the Lord just to praise HIS holy name.

Think about two friends who both want a special treat of ice cream. One of the two friends goes home and spends the next 3 hours begging his parents for an ice cream treat while the other does his chores and does a bunch of extra clean up around the house. Both sets of parents know that their child desires an ice cream treat, but which set of parents is more likely to give the ice cream treat to their child?

It is important to say no to the things of this world, but it is more important to do so for the right reasons. God has asked you to add temperance to your life and this means you can obey HIM because you have to, or you can do it because you desire to minister to HIM and to put the things of God first in your life.

It is amazing the doors that God can open up to you as you put the things of God first in your life. Yes there will be times where you need to put aside the things of this world in order to receive direction, protection, and provision from God; but there will also be times where you should put aside the things of this world just because of your love for HIM and your desire that God be magnified through your life.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.

God had just appeared to Ananias and told him to go and pray for Saul that he might receive his sight. Ananias did not want to have anything to do with obeying God. Ananias heard the direction of God but he loved his life more than he desired to obey God. God was asking him to do a difficult thing which surely would result in his death.

God had already told Ananias that Saul was blind and that he was praying. God had already told Ananias that HE had already shown Saul that Ananias was the man who would appear. Nonetheless, Ananias was ignoring the words of the Lord and simply was being distracted by what he believed. Ananias heard the name Saul and immediately figured that any contact with this man would be a suicide mission.

Ananias most likely would have heard the stories of how God Peter and John from prison and how the religious leaders could not do them any harm because God was protecting them. Ananias was living during a time where many powerful miracles were being conducted all around him. Nonetheless, Ananias was questioning the direction of God because he was not comfortable with what God was telling him to do.

God did not give up on Ananias but firmly told Ananias that he had chosen Saul to do great things and to suffer much. Ananias was smart enough not to argue with God twice and he obeyed God. Ananias went to Saul, healed him, filled him with the Holy Ghost, and baptized him.

How often are we like Ananias where we hear the direction that God has for us and we immediately question it? The reason we question the direction of God is because it is not what we would have initially picked. The ways of God are not naturally our ways. God was asking Ananias to do something that seemed to put his very life on the line. As a Christian, Ananias had dedicated his life to the Lord and should have been willing like Stephen to lay his life down so that God might be glorified through him.

It is real easy for the things of this world to become more important than the things of God. Anything that comes between us and serving God is a stumbling block. Jesus once was approached by a man who felt the calling to follow Jesus. However, the man requested that he first be allowed to go and bury his father. Jesus told this man that he should let the dead bury the dead. Apparently, the father was not dead yet, so this man was simply putting off following God until some undetermined time in the future. God was calling this man now, but he was putting a relationship above the calling of Christ.

You are to add temperance to your daily life. This means that you must demonstrate self-control and not allow the things of this world to control you. Yes you live in this world but the world is not to control you. If God asks you to give up a major position or do something that seems to put your life at jeopardy, you need to quickly obey God just as Abraham did with Isaac.

What a blessing that Ananias was about to miss out on because he was not willing to fully trust God. What blessings have you missed out on because you started second guessing the will of God for your life? Trust in the Lord with all your heart and be quick to put the things of God first in your life.

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

How often are we just like Saul? Saul was busy doing that which was right in his own eyes. The Lord was trying to get his attention and Saul kept crowding out the Lord by doing what he thought the Lord would want him to do. The Lord was persistent and eventually the Lord got the attention of Saul when he appeared on the road to Damascus.

God was speaking to Saul but finally the Lord spoke loud enough that Saul got the picture and he finally asked the Lord what the Lord wanted Saul to do. No longer was it what Saul thought God wanted him to do, but Saul was going to serve the Lord by doing what the Lord wanted him to do. Finally Saul was going to abandon his own path and start serving God as God desired.

God does not want to come with a bolt of lightning to get our attention. God desires to have a relationship with us so that we learn to hear HIS still small voice. However, if we continue to ignore the Lord and continue to put the things of this world as a top priority in our life, God will have to take some of those things away in order to get our attention. The continual ignoring of the voice of God can actually be hazardous to your health.

Balaam was a man who was on a mission. God was trying to get the attention of Balaam but Balaam continued to do what he wanted when he wanted. If it were not for his ass, Balaam by his own stubbornness would have driven that ass right to his death. God used the talking ass to open the eyes of Balaam so that Balaam would do the perfect will of God.

What is it about the things of this world that we are so attached to them? We become so attached to what this world has to offer that we fail to hear the direction that God would have us to go. God desires to change our direction to teach us to grow closer to HIM, but we continue to ignore the Lord and do what we want when we want to. As such, we force God to do bigger things in order to obtain our attention.

Saul was not hearing the voice of God until God blinded him on the road to Damascus. All of a sudden, upon losing his sight and hearing this voice coming from heaven, God had the attention of Saul. Saul had been deprived of something that God had given him but he had taken for granted, his sight. Now that he had lost his sight, he felt he had no choice but to hear God and to do what God desired him to do.

One reason God desires that we add temperance to our daily life is so that the things of this world will not control our lives. The less we are entangled by the things of this world, the easier it will be for us to hear God and to do what HE commands us to do. If we continue to do what we want when HE wants it, we will force God to take the things of this world away from us so that we will once again give God our full and undivided attention.

The things of this world should not control us. Instead, we should daily be active in seeking to do the perfect will of God so that HE might be glorified by our lives. As we resist the things of this world and pursue the things of God, we will learn the still small voice of God and the power of God will be evident in our life. Why run from God and force HIM to add trials to your life so that HE can draw you closer to HIM. Do not cling to the things of this world but instead cling to the things of God so that HE might be magnified through you.

Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

Philip was preaching in Samaria and God was blessing him. People were being saved and baptized by the work of his hands. The apostles heard of the work of Philip and they came down and laid their hands upon the Christians so that they received the Holy Ghost.

Now in the midst of all this blessing, God tells Philip to go to the desert. God does not tell Philip why or for how long, all God tells Philip to do is go. Because the things of God were the most important thing to him, Philip was ready and willing to immediately obey God. Philip did not have to conduct a yard sale to get rid of all his worldly possessions. Philip did not have to throw a big party among all his life-time friends to say goodbye.

Philip was willing and able to get up and go as the Lord requested. The Lord knew that Philip was in a place where the Lord was blessing him. Although it sounded like a deserted place, God was sending Philip to reach one soul who would be in a position to reach thousands. God needed a man who was willing to obey without asking any questions.

If the things of this world had controlled Philip, he would not have been in a position where he could have just got up and immediately obeyed God. Philip was more concerned about the things of God then he was about the things of this world and thus, when God told him to go, he went.

How many opportunities have you missed to serve God as a result of your possession? You have accumulated possessions in this world and while you proclaim to be serving God, these possessions have slowed your ability to put the things of God first in your life. Yes there are certain possessions that might be necessary for you to properly fulfill the will of God for your life, but these possessions cannot control you.

Temperance needs to be a part of your life. Temperance requires that you do not allow the things of this world to control you. You know the commands that you are to love the Lord with all your heart. This means that nothing comes between you and your relationship with God.

If you expect to hear the direction that God has for you like Philip did, then you must be like Philip and be willing to drop everything in order to go where HE wants you to go and do what HE wants you to do. Not only must you be flexible, but you also must not allow the things of this world to start taking a priority in your life so that you are hesitant to obey God.

God had Philip leave a place of prosperity in order to go into the desert. God knew what was going to happen but Philip had to completely trust God. God desires that you get to the place where you are required to completely trust HIM. If the things of this world are more important to you than the things of God, you will find yourself missing many opportunities that God could have used you to do great and wonderful things for HIM.

What in your life is coming between your relationship with God? Is it a possession? Is it a relationship? Whatever is coming between you and your ability to obey God needs to be addressed. You need to pray and ask God to forgive you for allowing something to come between you and HIM. You need to start applying temperance so that the things of this world are in their proper order and so that God can return to being number one in your life.

Acts 3:22-23 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Peter and John have just healed a man born lame. Because of the power of God demonstrated through their lives, Peter now has the opportunity to preach to the Jews to point their attention to Jesus. In these two verses, Peter is preaching from Deuteronomy 18.

Jesus was the prophet that Moses was warning the Jews about. The problem came that when Jesus actually showed up, the Jews had a misconstrued idea about what Jesus was going to do and as such, they crucified the one whom they were warned that they were waiting for.

A study of the prophets reveals that the Jews had an unreasonable expectation as to what Jesus would be doing for them. The religious leaders had added to the word of God in order to fit their own personal believes and as such, they guided the Jews away from the truth. Thus, when Jesus came, they were blinded by their own ignorance.

You too can make the same mistake that the Jews made 2,000 years ago. You can become so caught up in the things of this world that you fail to understand the voice of God. The world is full of things that can distract you from fully understanding the direction of God. As such, you must put aside the lusts of the flesh in order to pursue the things of God.

It does not matter what your sin is, sin will cloud your spiritual vision and cause you to miss hearing the direction that God desires you to go. Until you learn to demonstrate temperance in your life so that you are not quick to yield to temptation, your spiritual vision will be cloudy.

How was it that Daniel was able to not only interpret the dream of Nebuchadnezzar but also tell the king what his dream was? Daniel was only able to do this mighty miracle because he was able to hear the voice of God. Daniel had made a series of choices to ensure that he did not compromise his relationship with God and as such, when his life was on the line, Daniel heard God and not only saved his own life but was able to rise in a position of authority so that God could use him to touch the lives of others.

Daniel could have made a little compromise and eaten the food that the king had set before him. However, Daniel demonstrated temperance by restraining the lusts of his flesh in order to please God. This inward character of Daniel resulted in him understanding the voice of God and thus opened doors that he never would have imagined.

The lusts of the flesh will blind you to the truths of God. If you are focused upon the things of this world, you will never fully understand the higher way of God. If you do not understand what God has for you, how do you expect that you can obey God and live a life that is pleasing to the Lord?

The world has so much to offer you that will cloud your ability to properly see the direction that God has for you. It is your responsibility to apply moderation in your life so that the world does not control you. God has so much more to do through you if you will only listen to HIM and stop allowing the lusts of the flesh to control your life.

Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

I want to know and I want to know now. Are we really any different from the little kid who is throwing a temper tantrum in front of his mother when it comes to things of God? We insist that God reveal to us HIS direction for our life and that HE do so now. We expect God to instantly answer any prayer that we have because in reality we desire to be in control over our own lives.

The followers of Jesus were no different. They desired to know when Christ was going to establish HIS kingdom here on this earth. On several occasions, Jesus had told the disciples that no man would know the day, yet here we see the disciples in an attempt to figure out what Christ was doing trying once again to learn when Christ was going to establish HIS kingdom.

Christ did not want HIS followers to be worried about those things that were not within their control. Christ desired that HIS disciples focus their attention upon teaching the world the commands of Christ. If HIS disciples would simply focus on loving the Lord with all their hearts and love the Lord with all their heart, then God would take care of the followers and would guide them in the way that they were to go.

The followers of Christ were getting their priorities out of order. They were focusing upon things that were not pressing and because they had their focus upon the wrong things, they were missing very important things that Christ desired them to do. How many times did Christ need to instruct HIS followers that it was not for them to know things that God did not desire for them to understand.

When we understand the direction that God has for us, than we need to focus our attention upon what God wants us to do. Do not allow your focus to be placed upon things that are outside your control. When you allow your curiosity of things that God does not need for you to know at this time to consume your thoughts, than you are demonstrating a lack of self-control and your lack of temperance with reduce your ability to fulfill the things that God has for you to do.

You do not need to know what you want when you want. God will reveal HIS perfect will to you in HIS perfect timing if you will but be faithful to HIM and seek to do HIS perfect will. By demonstrating self-control, you are allowing God to be God and you are putting yourself in a position that God through you can do many wonderful things. You are not God, you claim to have yielded your life to the Lord, now demonstrate the words of your mouth and start living according to the direction that HE has already shown you.

Why do you think your prayer life lacks the power of God? You see certain people who seem to have the power of God in their life. Your problem is that you do not have self-control. When you pray, you allow yourself to become lazy or you spend your time praying about those things that are not a part of the will of God for your life. If you want the power, then you need to start focusing your attention upon the things of God so that the will of God can be done through you.

Until you learn to demonstrate self-control and learn to rely upon the power of God in your life, you will be just like the disciples wondering around asking God for things that HE will never tell you. Instead, you need to focus upon the will of God for your life so that you do not waste your time with the Lord pursuing things that you will never obtain.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is one of those passages that are extremely difficult to fully comprehend. How is it that you can be happy when you are suffering because you have chosen to do the right thing? When others persecute you because of your faith, all sorts of unjust things are happening in your life and being happy is not your natural response. You must remember that the ways of God are not always your ways. Your definition of happiness is not necessarily the definition that Jesus uses in this passage.

Elijah was a man who was persecuted because he was a servant of God. It was because of this persecution that he experienced the hand of God in his life. Elijah saw God miraculously provide for his daily needs. If Elijah had not been persecuted for righteousness sake, his relationship with God would not have been as strong because he then would not have had the daily need that only God could provide.

Later on in the life of Elijah, we see how Elijah was used of God to bring fire out of heaven and rain from a small cloud. Even though all the people saw the hand of God in his life, Elijah still had to flee for his life. Elijah was upset that he was being persecuted, yet it was during this time that he received new direction from God. Yes Elijah had to endure a 40 day fast and a long journey, but he once again found his relationship with God growing.

Elijah never would have received the blessings from God which included HIS protection, provision, and direction had he first not suffered persecution. Elijah may have complained and he may have been upset, but true spiritual happiness was the result of his persecution. Seeing God protect you, provide for you, and direct you is very important aspect of your life: would you rather lack direction, lack provision, or lack protection?

There are great rewards that come from persecution. When the early New Testament church was persecuted, we see how God used this to help spread the gospel around the world. The Christians who were persecuted and fled where then blessed because they obeyed the Great Commission to go into the whole world and preach the gospel. If it had not been for the persecution, the church would have grown stagnant and remained comfortable in their current position.

You must remember the promises of God. God has promised you that you will be blessed when you suffer persecution. If you allow your persecution to be the center of your attention, then you may lose sight of God and HIS provision, protection, and direction for your life. God does not make a mistake and this persecution is brought into your life for a purpose. When you listen to the words of Christ and you learn not to worry about things that you cannot control, then when persecution comes, your attention will be drawn to God and HE will be able to bless you in ways you never imagined.

Stop and take the time to add knowledge of the ways of God. As you study the scriptures, you will understand how God used persecution for the furtherance of HIS kingdom. Until you take the time to understand who God is, you will lack the ability to fully appreciate the trials that God has brought into your life. If you desire the blessings of God, you must release your control over your life, and you must allow God to use these difficult times for HIS glory.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

You have heard about those individuals who are deep in debt because they spend a large portion of their budget on the local lottery or gambling. These individuals are always trying to get rich quick. It does not matter what the scheme, they are always in the middle of it. Every now and then, one of these individuals will succeed and be rich, but because they have no diligence, or understand how to invest their money, they quickly spend their great wealth and are living back in poverty once again.

If you take the time to add knowledge of the ways of God, you will understand that you are not to lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. Instead, your focus must be upon the things of God. You cannot serve two masters, either you serve God with all your heart, or you serve the gods of this world. You cannot serve both God and mammon.

God desires you to remain faithful in the position that he has placed you. Do not be looking for the next great opportunity to strike it rich. God will make it clear to you when HE is ready to move you on to the next challenge. However, until HE makes it clear that it is time to move on, do not waste your time pursuing the next best thing.

God will direct you in the way you are to go. When God was leading the nation of Israel in the wilderness, he led with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God made it crystal clear when the nation of Israel was to move and when they were supposed to remain. When God was ready for Abraham to move from his community, God came to him and told him it was time to move on. God was faithful to Abraham in directing him in where he should go. Furthermore, God blessed Abraham because of his obedience.

Joseph desired to get out of prison; he wanted to get home to be with his family. Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of the baker and the butler. Joseph asked the butler to remember him and get him out of prison. However, God was not ready for Joseph to be released and so God had the butler forget about Joseph until the time was ripe. Just because Joseph was not released from prison, this did not stop him from being faithful in where he was at. Joseph rose to a position of great authority within the prison because he understood that he needed to be faithful.

God desires to bless you were you are at today. However, if your focus is not on where God has you today, then you will miss the blessings that God has for you today.

Where is your focus? Are you focused upon serving the Lord where you are at today? Are you focused upon being faithful? Joseph had a vision that he was going to be a great leader, but he first had to be a slave and then a prisoner. You do not know what all God has in store for you, but you need to be faithful where HE has placed you today so that you can reap the rewards of HIS blessings both now and in the future.

Take time to add knowledge of the ways of God to your life. As you study the ways of God, you will learn how God desires you to act so that HE is glorified by your life. God has blessings in store for your life but HE requires that you first be faithful to HIM wherever HE has placed you. If your focus is upon future wealth or what God might have in store for you in the future, your focus is not proper and you will miss out on the blessings of God.