Day 12 - Integrity (Mark 11:23-25)

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Mark 11:23-25

 

Our lives are filled with ups and downs, victory and defeats.  Some are seen as small pebbles and others are seen as mountains.  Let your righteous heart ask for the mountains to be moved and believe it is done.  A righteous heart cannot hold any wrong doing against someone else.  We must learn to forgive, just as we wish for our Heavenly Father to forgive us.

Day 11 - Integrity (1 Timothy 4:12)

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

 

 

A Man of Integrity, no matter how young or old, must set an example for the believers!  We must do so in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.   Just as our true testimony is important, so is our conduct.  We  must have a true walk of faith.  As I have said before, someone is always watching what a Man of Integrity does.  Sometimes they only watch for the mistakes, but we must be willing to show them The Way.

 

JESUS said that HE is The Way, The Truth and The Life, and no one can come to the Father, except through HIM.  All the world will see the Love of JESUS through our speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.

Day 10 - Integrity (Romans 12:2)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

 

 

If we only limit ourselves to the pattern of this world, then we limit our knowledge and growth to just what the world has to offer.  But if we allow our minds to be renewed in HIM, then we are able to test and approve what GOD's good, pleasing and perfect will is for us.  With the world, The Sky is the Limit!  But with GOD, There is no limit to the spiritual growth and knowledge we can receive. 

 

Men of Integrity must forsake the wisdom of the world and look to seek the wisdom of GOD!

Day 9 - Integrity (1 Peter 3:15)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

1 Peter 3:15

 

 

Now we know the definition of sanctify is to set apart something or someone as sacred.  So the first part of this verse is telling us to have a special place for GOD in your heart!  Well . . .why not set aside your whole heart for HIM!  Then it tells us to always be ready to give a defense to everyone who ask you a reason for the hope you have!  In other words, do you have an answer for why you believe in God? Why did you accept Jesus as your savior? or Is the Holy Spirit real? 

It is in our testimony that we are able to share our faith!  It is through our living testimony that we are able to answer the "Why", but a Man of Integrity will ensure that his testimony lines up with HIS Word.  Always be ready to share the truth of GOD with your reason for the hope that is in you, and we should do this with meekness and a reverential fear of our Lord.

Prayer Request

Men, one of our brothers is scheduled for a job interview tomorrow (16 Jul 13) at 10am.  Please lift him and all other men who are in need of employment.  I will be reading the following scriptures during his scheduled interview time.

Psalm 37:3-8

 ³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. ⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. ⁷ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. ⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.

Proverbs 3:3-6

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, ⁴ And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 16:1-3

¹ The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. ² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. ³ Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

3 John 1:2

² Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

 

Rejoice In HIS Blessings

Bro Marvin

Day 8 - Integrity (Psalm 34:4-7)

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.  They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
(Psalm 34:4-7)

 

 

Many times our greatest fear is failure.  If you think back, most of the things you never tried to do was because you didn't want to fail.  I have never met a man who was afraid of trying hard, but I have spoken with hundreds of men who are afraid of failing.  They are afraid of failing themselves, their family, and GOD.

 

Remember this, "Failure is a stepping stone to success, not a sitting room for hopelessness".  Don't magnify your fear to the size of impossibility when Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:26 that "... with GOD all things are possible."

 

This quote says it best, “Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But Fear is a choice.”

 

Men, it is time for you to Face Your Fear(s).  A Christian man of integrity has not been given the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)

Men, don't ask GOD to lead you to a safe place; ask HIM to lead you to the right place!  It is very seldom these two places are in the same location!

Day 7 - Integrity (Colossians 1:15-16)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

(Colossians 1:15-16)

Day 7 focuses on purpose!  Have you asked GOD what your purpose is?  I find it beneficial to live a life of integrity when I feel a sense of purpose.  When you start to understand GOD has a purpose for you . . . man!  Notice I did not say when you know what your purpose is, but as soon as you realize GOD has a purpose for you, things will began to change.  You will wake up every morning knowing that GOD has something for you to do "This Day!"  I have learned that the only thing I need to know about my purpose is "This Day!"  Therefore my prayer always includes, "... Dear GOD, whatever you have for me This Day ..." 

Here is the bottom line, GOD created you and everything in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible for a reason.  Think about it . . . if GOD has a purpose for the very dust of the ground, don't you think HE has a purpose for you, whom was created by the dust of the ground!

This Day, may be the first day that you recognize that GOD has a purpose for you, so walk a Purposeful Life of Integrity!

Here is how GOD gave me the desire to fulfill my given purpose each day.

A man was walking a long road and he felt he was not achieving anything, nor could he feel a sense of purpose in this world.  So he shouted to the heavens, "GOD, what is my purpose!"  As he continued to walk, he kept asking GOD to let him see his purpose.  Was he going to heal someone with the touch of his hand or save a life?  Maybe he was going to lead 5,000 souls to Christ in one sermon!  At this point, it didn't matter to the man.  What every his great purpose in life was, he wanted it to start now!

GOD finally spoke to the man's heart and told him to pick up a small piece of paper, but the man continued to walk and petition to GOD what his grand purpose was.  The very next day, GOD told the man to pick up the small piece of paper, and again the man ignored the command because, he didn't want to deal with the scraps, he wanted to know what his great purpose was.  Day after day, GOD told the man to pick up the small piece of paper, and the man continued to refuse.  As always, GOD did not give-up, so the man was going to give-in!  The man finally pick up the small piece of paper, then GOD continued to command him to pick up the other scraps of paper.  Before long, the man realized that once he picked up the pieces a page was created.  The more pieces, the more pages, until he had a chapter!  The more pieces, the more pages, the more chapters, the more volumes.  The man soon realized that it was the small things that lead to the great things.  He realized that he had to fulfill every purpose given by GOD.  You can't just walk around waiting for the grand purpose! You must fulfill every purpose GOD has for you each day!  That man in this story is me!  It wasn't until I realize GOD's purpose for me is in every moment of the day, and not just for one moment of a life, I began to enJOY not knowing my full purpose.  I am blessed to know that HE has a purpose for me!

Dear GOD,

I know You woke me up with a purpose!  It may be to smile, hug, or give a kind word.  It may be to save a life.  Whatever it is that You have for me This Day, please let me fulfill the purpose You have created me for.  It is in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen!