Is It Possible to Continue to Love God More Each Day?

Pushing up against the edge of what’s acceptable seems to be a human condition. TV news reported on a mother who lost custody of her children because of drug and alcohol abuse. The temptation to push the acceptable boundaries is common to everyone regardless of social status.

Israel’s King Saul is such a tragic personality that it’s difficult not to feel sorry for him. Did Saul perceive God as existing only beyond himself rather than residing within his heart and mind? He knew God existed and should be worshipped, but not as God who lives within the heart and mind.

Saul consistently pushed the boundaries beyond the edge of what pleased God which prevented him from feeling secure in God’s love. A way to honor and please God is to continually push to understand and love him more each day.                     

                                                      

Then you are approved with no need to feel rejected because you have been forgiven and cleansed of all sin.  

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

~2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version

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How Can the Tendency to Procrastinate Be Overcome?

You may have seen the cartoon strip where a person is asking a friend, “Would you like to join the procrastinator’s club?” The friend replied, “Catch me next year, OK?” Putting off indefinitely is the typical procrastinator’s attitude. Good intentions do not compensate for the tendency to delay.

God’s word in 2 Timothy 2:15 faces off with the tendency to procrastinate. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who feels no shame when he is examined.” This means doing the right thing now instead of putting it off.

This may mean committing to being a more productive employee or living up to your potential as a student or changing the way you behave as a parent or spouse. Taking actions on what you know to do now will help you live without regret. Change is challenging, but with God’s help all things are possible.  

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Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord.

~Colossians 3:23 Amplified Bible

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Give God the Best of Yourself

It's relatively easy to communicate about love primarily because it's an emotion we attribute to people and things. Love is a crucial emotional need that helps people thrive from infancy throughout each developmental stage of life. Love is tough but can be wounded, yet restored within the bounds of forgiveness.

God's word is clear about his love being long-suffering and patient. That being true, we are commanded to love him as he loves us. This does not mean we are to love him with a loose definition of the word, but with our complete being. In other words, we are to give God our absolute best  each day.

We realize that loving God with all our heart, strength, soul, and mind is difficult to grasp. However our hope does not depend on our own righteousness, but on the righteousness of Christ Jesus who compensates for our deficiencies. As you allow yourself to be loved by God, you will grow to love him more completely.                      

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I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

~Proverbs 8:17 English Standard Version

 

Do your best to present yourself to God an approved workman who has nothing to be ashamed of, who properly presents the message of truth.

~2 Timothy 2:15 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.