January 8, 2013

Stay Engaged

Written by Boyd Bailey

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- January 8, 2013

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” 2 Samuel 11:1

A leader’s success, if not stewarded wisely, can lead him or her into failure. Many times success gives a leader more options and increases their autonomy. It’s precisely at this point of enlarged personal power that an ego needs the checks and balances of wise counsel and loving accountability. Responsible leaders stay engaged in the everyday activities of real life, so they don’t act unrealistically. Humility is the fruit of those who serve their fellow humans.

Are you now disengaged from a community that invites vulnerability? The lure of success is to see others as inferior to your intellect or to disrespect them as “just the help,” instead of honoring other team members as the reason for your success. Avoid using people to enable your bad habits or to cover up your secret sins. David forgot that God had brought him from his humble beginnings as a shepherd, and he became enamored with himself as King. But, humility’s grateful attitude engages others.

“I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” Romans 12:3 Message

Therefore, when work responsibilities intensify, be even more intentional to engage with your spouse and children. Lack of engagement can lead to estrangement. Prayerfully place guardrails around your schedule, so that you are not alone with a person of the opposite sex, where you might be tempted by sex. Emotional intimacy with needy co-workers is a recipe for relational disaster. Stay emotionally engaged with your spouse and be discreet at work about your personal problems.

Above all, as our discretionary time is on the rise, we are wise to lift the level of our time with the Lord in His word. Satan plays mind games to make us think we are smarter than we are, or strokes our ego with the lie that we are the exception to God’s expectations. So, we stay engaged in our prayer time and are quick to confess and repent of our sin. When our heart is engaged with Christ’s heart it is very, very difficult to drift into sin. So, seek God and stay engaged with Him!

“The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” Psalm 25:14

Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep me engaged in worshiping You and serving others.

Related Readings: Psalm 34:4-11; Proverbs 22:1; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Acts 9:31

Post/Tweet today: Lack of engagement with God can lead to estrangement from God. #engage

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© 2012 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.

Wisdom Hunters Resources / A registered 501 c3 ministry

info@mail.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com / www.wisdomhunters.com


Comments

  1. extremely good…perfect timing as always on a lesson needed to be learned.

  2. Josh Browning says:

    Did not receive in my email today.

  3. Bethany says:

    Josh, Sorry for the inconvenience. There seems to have been a slight hiccup on our end that we are working through fixing now. You should receive the daily devotional promptly.

    Thanks for your patience!

  4. Jose Ortiz says:

    I all ways look forward to read devotional, it help me what I go threw every day I thank God for you been obeying….

  5. Howard G. Guetherman says:

    I, like Josh Browning, did not receive this article in my emails today. (01/08/2013) – I went to your website to get it. I will let you know if this situation happens again on Wednesday January 9, 2013. In the meantime, may God Bless you and your service.
    Your Brother in Christ:
    Howard

  6. Bethany says:

    Thanks for letting us know Howard! We are working on getting this fixed! We hope the problem will be fixed by tomorrow!

    Have a blessed day!

  7. Eric says:

    Did not receive the devotional reading today. I went to the website to read it. Is there a problem?


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