Daily writing prompt

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

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The gift of being told no to harmful things is great and wonderful. So much pain in our lives could be avoided if we were simply willing to follow the warnings of the gift of no. When your conscience says no that’s a gift that has the ability to save you from much self-caused misery. When the Bible says no, it’s a present that if received will protect you in many ways.

An unguarded heart is attracted to harmful attachments. That’s why God says no to certain things. That’s why the Bible says: “Above all else guard your heart for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

God wants your heart to be noticeably full of joy. (John 15:11) His nos are because He knows the things that will steal your happiness and will seal you in misery. That’s why God wants you to, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Proverbs 4:26)

Keep your eyes focused on how God has called you to live. If you’re a Christian, you are called to live in this world but to not to be of the world. (John 17:14-16) Your citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3;20) You’re not supposed to live like the world lives or to think like the world thinks. (Romans 12:2) As an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) you are called to clearly represent Jesus in all you think, say, and do and you’re supposed to see persecution as a blessing. (Matthew 5:10-12)

You can only faithfully live out your calling as a Christ-follower by being consistently led by (Romans 8:14) and empowered by (Romans 8:9-12) God the Holy Spirit. You can’t do it without His presence continually living and working within your heart. (Zechariah 4:6) Open wide your heart, your mind, and your eyes to the Spirit’s wisdom and revelation so that you can know Him better and daily experience “the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Search the Scriptures, day and night, (Joshua 1:8) to learn how to (Romans 15:4) make more room for God the Spirit in your daily life and in your church. Train yourself not to grieve, sadden, (Ephesians, 4:3) or quench Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Become addicted to reading the Bible as a love letter from God and consistently doing what it teaches in your daily life. (2 Timothy 3:16) Doing that will help you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-3)