All Christians are subject to moral fatigue—tiring under the burden of doing what’s right. The culture does not always commend moral efforts, but on the contrary, it is often the decent people who are marginalized or made fun of because of their efforts to follow their faith. Even family can contribute to one’s weariness by not appreciating, but ignoring another loved one’s integrity. So, how do Christians remain faithful when their moral fortitude begins to fade?

Like a fatigued farmer who engages the elements and still sows seed in prepared soil, in spite of the harsh conditions—so committed Christians stay true to sowing to please the Spirit—regardless of rejection and the temptation to quit. Each follower of Jesus will enjoy heaven’s great harvest or will be embarrassed and judged for lack of a fruitful life. So we sow to please the Spirit—even when it seems unproductive—for here is faith’s test.

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

There is a recompense of reward reserved for those who persevere in righteousness. It may be in this life or the one to come, but we can be assured that Almighty God’s justice will prevail. If the Christian life was always easy everyone would want in, but the Lord in His infinite wisdom made the way of His will a faith journey that requires spiritual standards. The folly of the flesh leads to fatigue, but the Spirit’s insights leads to stamina.

Are you morally fatigued? Do you question if doing good deeds really matters? If so, ask yourself why you do what you do? If it is to please the flesh then you will live in chronic weariness, but if your motive is to please the Spirit you will find energy beyond yourself. A life well lived finds a way to remain faithful, especially when obedience doesn’t seem to matter. Christ’s followers who sow to please the Spirit are hopeful of a coming harvest.

Therefore, stay faithful as you sow to please the Spirit: sow seeds of forgiveness and receive a harvest of intimacy; sow seeds of acceptance and receive a harvest of friendship; sow seeds of prayer and receive a harvest of faith; sow seeds of generosity and receive a harvest of abundance; sow seeds of abstinence and receive a harvest of purity; and sow seeds of faithfulness and receive a harvest of eternal rewards. Spiritual sowing and reaping builds moral muscle. Strong are the saints who are faithful—while waiting on the harvest.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Where am I morally tired and vulnerable? What good moral seeds can I sow to the Spirit?

Related Readings: Job 4:8; Psalm 126:5; Proverbs 11:18; Hosea 8:7; 10:12; 2 Corinthians 9:6; James 3:18

Additional Resource: eBooks- Wisdom for Fathers, Wisdom For Mothers, Wisdom for Graduates, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God… click here: http://bit.ly/jHlNX0 Most titles also available from iBook store for iPad

Additional Resource: Hard copy of the 365 day devotional: Seeking Daily the Heart of God and the 90-day devotional book Infusion… click here: http://bit.ly/bQHNIE

Releasing on Labor Day the 90-day devotional book, Seeking God in the Psalms.

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Hope from heaven is a dependable handle to hang on to through the ups and downs of life. Like a skilled mountain climber we hook our rope of trust to the face of the solid rock, so we have secure support. It does not mean we are absent of fear, but it does mean in the middle of our fears we can have faith in Holy God to handle the inclement conditions.

The wisdom of the Lord is not illusive, but available to all who humble their hearts and take the time to invite in His influence. Truth is sweet to the soul and it will nourish your heart like spiritual nectar. Belief is a worker bee on behalf of God that takes the pollen of providence and produces the sustenance of salvation. You may have tried religion and found it lacking, but do not give up on God—enter into a growing relationship with Jesus.

“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 19:22-23).

Hope keeps your heart fertile to grow the seed of God’s word. Perhaps past regrets have choked out your confidence in Christ, if so—determine not to give up—but to give Him another chance. You may be like Paul, Moses, Naomi, Hannah, Sarah and Abraham who saw the Lord use them much more in the second half of their life than the first half. As long as there is breath in your body, you have the potential to be a bold witness for God.

Jesus does not cut off those who trust Him, but leads them down the path of productive Kingdom living. Lift your eyes off yourself and look to Him and seek out how to serve those in need. Make sure you follow Him by faith—do not ask Him to follow you. Hope in the Lord adds fuel to your fire of faith. It is your soul’s internal combustion for the cause of Christ. Finish well by not giving up, but by giving all you have for God!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

What is the Lord calling me to give over to Him and to not give up on Him?

Related Readings: Psalm 119:116; Isaiah 57:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 John 3:3

Additional Resource: eBooks- Wisdom for Fathers , Wisdom For Mothers, Wisdom for Graduates, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God… click here: http://bit.ly/jHlNX0 Most titles also available from iBook store for iPad

Additional Resource: Hard copy of the 365 day devotional: Seeking Daily the Heart of God and the 90-day devotional Infusion… click here: http://bit.ly/bQHNIE

Releasing on Labor Day the 90-day devotional book, Seeking God in the Psalms.

Support Wisdom Hunters: Learn how you can help us reach other Wisdom Hunters with your monthly donation… click here: http://wisdomhunters.com/support-wh/

The power of someone saying ‘no’ need not be discouraging, rather use it as a lesson in determination. ‘No’ is sometimes necessary to get our attention and give us the perspective we would have missed rushing through life. If everything were a ‘yes’ we could certainly take people and things for granted, and run the risk of our faith becoming flabby. It is when we exercise discipline, creativity and prayer that we encounter God.

For example, you may want to spend money right now, but your budget shouts back ‘no’, because money is tight. Instead of circumventing your circumstances with credit, become creative. Perhaps you can help someone steward one of their assets better by allowing you to use their beach or mountain home. Or, as a parent your ‘no’ to your child is for their protection. It is better for them to suffer a minor pain of disappointment now than significant life altering harm in the future. Furthermore, and most importantly, a ‘no’ is meant to move you toward knowing God. His ‘no’ is your heavenly attention getter.

This is Jesus’ point, He said one verse earlier, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). So negotiate God’s ‘no’ with persistent prayer. It is in prayer that you prevail and your character changes. Constant prayer over familiar issues like finances, relationships, work, health and family transforms your trust in God.

A ‘no’ is preparation so you can handle what God has in store for you in the future. Your boss may have said ‘no’, but you will gain skills and confidence in the interim as you persevere and innovate. Go back and pray about creative and cost effective ways to do an even more incredible job at half the cost. Your spouse may have said ‘no’, but don’t go behind their back and do it anyway. Honor them by standing down to the ‘check in their spirit’. At the very least you have expressed to them value and trust. Pray about how to proceed.

It is humbling to your heart, but it brings clarity to your head. It is inconvenient to your schedule, but it saves you time in the long run. There is some suffering for a season, but nothing compared to the hassle of grinding it out your own way without wisdom from above. So, stay in the fray of faith building. ‘No’ today is access to a better ‘yes’ tomorrow.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

What “no” have I received for which I need to be patient and wait on God’s timing?

Related Readings: 2 Samuel 22:7; Psalm 57:2; Luke 18:7; Hebrews 10:36; 11:27

Additional Resource: eBooks- Wisdom for Fathers , Wisdom For Mothers, Wisdom for Graduates, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God… click here: http://bit.ly/jHlNX0

Additional Resource: Hard copy of 365 day devotional: Seeking Daily the Heart of God and 90-day devotional Infusion… click here: http://bit.ly/bQHNIE

Support Wisdom Hunters: Learn how you can help us reach other Wisdom Hunters with your monthly donation… click here: http://wisdomhunters.com/support-wh/

No one knows when Jesus will return–we know He will, but we don’t know when. He came the first time as a suffering Servant to save the world of their sin and He will come a second time as the reigning King over all. He ascended from the world in a blaze of glory, while promising to descend one day in that same glory. Jesus’ estimated time of arrival is a divine secret reserved for the Lord God Almighty.

In fact, Jesus will return when we do not expect Him to return. The Almighty’s ambiguity about the second coming of Christ is meant to move us to faith and action. It is vain to speculate about something that we are incapable of knowing—instead this mystery is a test of our faithfulness until He comes, or until we go to be with Him. Predicting the date of Christ’s return distracts foolish prognosticators, whose pride misses the point.

“Command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer… Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:3b, 4b).

But there are benefits to a sense of urgency around the second coming of Christ. It keeps us from complacency and from getting caught up in the culture. The Lord does want us engaged in the eternal and not on the earthly—He wants to catch us being obedient, motivated by love for Him and people. Wise actions accompany a faith seeking soul.

The Almighty wants you occupied until He comes—occupied that is—on His agenda. As a Kingdom builder for Christ, pray each day how and where He wants your brick of belief to be placed for His glory. Fear will only frustrate you to flail about, or paralyze you in complacency. Instead, use your God-given talent and trust Him to achieve great things.

“He [Jesus] said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:12-13. KJV).

Replace retirement worries with reallocation of your time in service that leads to righteous outcomes. Steward your health, family, finances, faith, relationships, time, gifts and skills as a conscientious manager for your Master Jesus. You are the bride of Christ waiting patiently at the altar of love and obedience—this is no secret with your Savior.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:19-21).

How would the Lord have me occupy my time, as I prayerfully wait on His return?

Related Readings: Zechariah 9:14; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Additional Resource: eBooks, Wisdom For Mothers and Wisdom for Graduates, get your copy… http://bit.ly/jHlNX0 Kindle edition… http://amzn.to/lUaFRJ

Additional Resource: Kindle edition of Infusion… click here: http://amzn.to/dRobnw

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