Dear friends, keep building on the foundation of your most holy faith, as the Holy Spirit helps you to pray.          Jude 20 (CEV)
Jude wrote a letter that the Bible originators put into 25 verses. That’s it. No multiple chapters. 25 verses. When you have something to say that God has given you it doesn’t always have to take many words to say it! So Jude says I am to “build myself UPâ€. How do I do that?
A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray.
A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold. Proverbs 25:11-12 (HCSB)
God’s words are gold. Songs of worship to God are gold. Fellowship with others who have their eyes on God, not themselves, is nourishing to my spirit. I am built up!
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:4-7 (The Message)
When I come to Jesus to spend time with Him – He is always awake and alert! Have you ever come to Jesus and heard Him say, “Jody, now is not a good time. Come back later. I’m busy. I have too many people asking for my time right now.†No! Jesus is always ready to talk and always ready to encourage me!
Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. 9You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.                         Philippians 4:8-9 (CEV)
It seems to me that if I spend an hour watching the world’s news then to balance that out I need to spend two hours with God. If I spend my work day hearing the complaints and grousing of others – then I need to make sure that my car is equipped with praise and worship CDs. And when I get home – realize that my spouse and children have also been in the mud of the world so let’s put the worship music on at home and speak in joy with one another. It’s a choice to tear down or build up.
[Jesus said,] “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”                         Matthew 7:24-27 (HCSB)
I want my life built on the Rock of Jesus Christ. So I need to spend my time wisely every day with Him and use His words as the foundation for each and every day.
