Discover Life's Greatest Treasure

What do you treasure most in your life? Most people say their family. Isaiah 33 speaks of the majesty of the Lord God this way. "How great is God? He always protects His people and gives them wisdom and knowledge. Their greatest treasure is their reverence for the Lord."

How does reverence for God become your life’s greatest treasure? First, submit  to him completely and then change what you’ve put in place of the reverence that belongs to God. When you make reverence for God your greatest treasure, he gives you strength and wisdom for making this your life’s priority.

Getting rid of sin and evil in your life is difficult, but it’s necessary for reverence of God to have first place. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to "Rid yourself of everything that gets in the way, especially the sin that holds on to you so tightly." This is possible as you keep your eyes completely fixed on Jesus and keep your heart and mind receptive to his cleansing power. You can do that. God will help. 

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The God who said, “Out of darkness the light shall shine!” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of Christ. Yet we who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us. We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair.  

~2 Corinthians 4:6-8 Good News Bible

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Keeping Emotions in Check

Effective communication builds a bridge to healthy family relationships, workplace success, and lasting friendships. Lack of communication leaves problems unresolved, creating a climate for negative emotions to erupt. Appropriate, beneficial communication positively affects one's frame of mind, disposition, and mood.

Improving communication skills is possible by making important personal changes. The first step is being aware of what affects you emotionally. Certain people and groups can have a negative impact on our disposition, so be alert and honest with yourself in order to utilize appropriate exits when needed.

A second step is to reveal hidden thoughts and feelings to a friend or counselor. Good, basic communication depends on patience, a clear mind, and a calm spirit. Hebrews 12:1 encourages you to "put into submission what hinders or entangles you in sin and then you can run the race of life by constantly fixing your eyes on Christ Jesus.” 

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A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them.

~Proverbs 29:11 God’s Word Translation

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Stay the Course with Steady Steps

Troubles can be aggravating and discouraging. There are times when it seems the only solution is to run away. Everyone has done that, if only by pretending trouble does not exist even when it faces them head on. Focusing on trouble with an unhealthy attitude can create unexpected problems. 

 

          Getting rid of Joseph by selling him as a slave appeared to be the best solution for his brothers. They would be free of the recipient of their hatred, yet not be free from the lies they had to tell their father. They set a trap for themselves because Proverbs 11:17 warns that whoever pursues evil finds death.

          God has a better technique for managing troubles of any magnitude. Listen to Psalm 119: "Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping the course you set for me; then I'll never regret comparing my life with your guidance. I thank you for speaking from your heart to mine because I desire to learn your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me, O Lord."  Will you do that?

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Since we have such a huge crowd of people of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up, and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.

~HEBREWS 12:1 The Living Bible

Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

~PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 Good News Bible