We have God-given desires that are natural and are vital to life. For example, we have the desire for food. Without that desire we would die. We also have the desire for rest. Without that desire we would die. Yet, both desires can become sin when we take them beyond God’s intended purpose. If we take our desire for food too far, we commit the sin of gluttony. In like manner, if we take our desire for rest too far, we commit the sin of laziness.

King David experienced a fatal attraction. His lust lassoed him into a sinful spiral. Not only did he commit the sin of adultery, but he committed murder to cover up the affair. David could have won the victory over sin by avoiding the temptation from the start.

Arm yourself with the knowledge of the predictable process of temptation. We idolize something we desire. The next step is that we rationalize why we should have the desire fulfilled. In other words, we talked ourselves into compromising convictions. Then we strategize by coming up with a plan to obtain the object we are idolizing. Ultimately, we capitalize on the opportunity by seizing what we have desired. Remorse and guilt follow.

Look back over poor choices you have made in your lifetime. See if you can identify this predictable process. Here’s the key to victory: The sooner in the process you avoid the sin, the more likely you will overcome the temptation.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 133:  2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 20)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Sin is an offense to God. Sin is absent in heaven and yet fully present on earth. Sin saturates the landscape of life on this broken planet. The curse of sin can only be reversed through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. When a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, sin is removed and the righteousness of Christ is imputed. The new Christian is placed positionally right with God.

Without purity, there is no power in prayer. As a child of God, it is imperative to stay close and clean by confessing sin instantly and receiving God’s forgiveness intentionally. You have to combat the impact of memory. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3 ESV). David had to navigate the reality of his memory. Even after confessing his sin of adultery and murder, he had to acknowledge that his sin was ever before him via memory.

What hinders prayer? The most vicious impediment to prayer is sin. Sin violates the covenant relationship you have with God. Sin grieves the heart of God and quenches the Spirit of God living in you. Husband, when you do not live with your wife in an understanding way, your prayers are hindered.

• “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

The purity of your relationship with God and the purity of your relationships with others has a direct impact on the effectiveness of your prayer life.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 132:  Psalms 65-67, 69-70)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Trust is a fragile item in the life of a believer. Trust is like the petal of a rose. Trust can beautify a difficult path and create an aroma pleasing to Christ. Trust can also wilt when betrayed. Like a gem in the hand of a jeweler, trust in God can lead to an irresistible life in which God’s glory radiates.

Where is the trust? In our society draped with affluence, it is so easy to trust in materialism. If we can only acquire one more object of our affection or jump into one more activity that produces an adrenaline rush, then we will be fulfilled…so we think. The things of this world just don’t deliver what they promise. The chariots of our culture and the horses of our entertainment are not trustworthy.

• “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

Only God can deliver on the magnitude of His promises. God always lives up to the level of His nature and character of perfection. There is no lack! There is no discrepancy! God is all sufficient and more than enough!

Place your trust in the Lord. Anchor your faith to the Rock of ages. He is the source of your strength and empowers you to fulfill God’s agenda. As your faithful Shepherd, the Lord will help you overcome obstacles and live in victory.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 131:  2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 19; Psalm 20)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

The atheist is a fool and believes there is no God. The agnostic believes that there may be a God, but that you cannot know Him. In both cases, the reality is that there is no one who seeks after God. God is the Seeker and pursues us with His redeeming love. Before we had the capacity to know God, in His mercy, God took the initiative to make Himself known. God took the initiative to demonstrate His love for us by allowing His only Son to pay the penalty of our sin in full. Jesus became the sacrificial lamb that was slain for the sins of the world.

• “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12 (ESV)

As Dr. David Fleming says, “You cannot be wrong about Jesus and right with God.” It does matter what you believe about Jesus and it does matter whether you believe in Jesus. Eternal life is found in Jesus alone by grace alone through faith alone. Do you have the Son? Have you transferred your trust from yourself to Jesus alone for salvation?

The bad news is that Jesus is the only way. The good news is that Jesus is the only way. Jesus is our only hope. What will you do with Jesus? Even an atheist can become an authentic Christian by receiving the gift of eternal life found in Jesus alone.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 130:  Psalms 50, 53, 60, 75)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

What does your love look like? Is your love reserved for those who can benefit you or do you lavish your love on those who can do nothing in return? Unleash God’s love by living a life of love that benefits others.

King David unleashed God’s love by blessing the most unlikely person. Mephibosheth was Saul’s grandson and Jonathan’s son. Mephibosheth was lame in both his feet. King David gave all that belonged to Saul to Mephibosheth and offered unlimited seating at the King’s table. That’s right! Mephibosheth would now eat at the King’s table.

• “‘So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 7:12 (ESV)
• “‘I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’” Matthew 25:43 (ESV)

When you unleash God’s love to benefit others, you are continuing the ministry of Jesus. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Value others the way you want to be valued. Serve the underprivileged. Go beyond yourself to bless and benefit those who can do nothing in return for you. As you love others you will be loving Jesus. As you honor others you will be honoring Jesus.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 129:  2 Samuel 8-9; 1 Chronicles 18)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

We acknowledge verbally in our pledge of allegiance that we are one nation under God. How accurate is that statement? Are we really one nation under God? The Psalmist affirms that a nation is blessed whose God is the Lord. God has chosen them as His heritage. Would the United States of America fall into that category?

We desire the blessing of God. Do we choose to bless God as a nation? We want God to open the floodgates of heaven and pour out his abundance upon us, but are we ready to open our hearts and surrender to the Lordship of Christ as a nation?

• “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. ⁶ Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord.” Psalm 36:5-6 (ESV)
• “‘O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!’” Psalm 39:4 (ESV)

Affirm the steadfast love of God. Acknowledge the faithfulness of God. Consider the righteousness of God and the soundness of His judgements. Rejoice in the redemptive activity of God.

God is sovereign. He rules and He reigns. The Lord God knows the measure of your days and how fleeting you are. Stay humble before the Lord and acknowledge your dependency upon Him. Set the example by honoring Him with your life and validating your faith by your love. Pray for national revival and let it begin in you.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 128:  Psalms 25, 29, 33, 36, 39)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

King David expressed utmost gratitude for what God had done for him. Cultivate gratitude. Put gratitude in your attitude. Consider Jim Elliot’s insight, “One of the greatest blessings of heaven is the appreciation of heaven on earth.” Be thankful. Be appreciative. Be grateful.

As you cultivate gratitude, you will notice that your perspective on life will become healthier. Your interaction with others will be seasoned with grace. Instead of being critical of others, you will become compassionate towards others. Gratitude will enable you to enjoy what God has given you and will enable you to appreciate the blessings God has lavished on you.

• “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” Psalm 105:1 (ESV)
• “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’” Revelation 7:11-12 (ESV)

Cultivating gratitude will unleash God’s love in you and through you. Be thankful for what God has done to reconcile you to Himself. Be appreciative of God’s invitation for you to join Him in His activity. Be grateful for the opportunities God gives you to spread the love of Christ.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 127:  2  Samuel 6-7; I Chronicles 17)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Through the experience of surviving a Jet Ski accident at age sixteen, God called me to preach. My entire life was redirected. I had always dreamed of becoming an architect to design and build great buildings. God had a different plan for my life. He refocused my life on building lives for eternity. I had the joy of being an interim pastor the summer before I entered college. My first business card had a tag line which stated, “Serving the Lord with gladness.”

My mother and mamaw modeled the value of serving the Lord through the local church my entire life. My mother played the piano and my mamaw played the organ. My junior year in college, I met Tonya and we got married a year and a half later. Tonya has faithfully modeled the value of serving the Lord with gladness through the local church. Our desire is to model that consistently before our children.

• “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV)

Where do you serve? How are you exercising the spiritual gifts God has given you? God has saved you so that you can serve Him with gladness. He made you and you are His.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 126:  Psalms 89, 96, 100 – 101, 105, 132)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God never intended for you to walk through adversity alone. Maybe you have heard someone say that God will never put more on you than you can handle. That’s not true. God will not put more on you than you can handle with His help. When you come to know Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, you find the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul (1 Pt. 2:25).

The Christian life is not a solo flight. God does not launch you into the world and expect you to live the Christian life on your own. God provides refuge when you need to retreat, strength when you need to endure, and help when you need relief. Your Heavenly Father knows exactly what you need and the exact moment you need it.

Are you in need of help? Are you hurting, lonely, or discouraged? Share your heart with God in prayer and anticipate His response. No need to count sheep, just talk to your Shepherd. He will lead you beside still waters. His goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 125:  Psalms 1-2,15, 22-24, 47, 68)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Obed-edom must have been a very special man to be chosen to bring the ark of God into his house. For three months, Obed-edom took care of the ark of God. He was entrusted with the sacred ark. The Lord’s favor was upon Obed-edom’s household and all that he had was blessed by God.

• “Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. ²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (ESV)
• “For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (ESV)

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have been entrusted with the gospel. You have been chosen by God to declare His glory among the nations. You have the privilege and the responsibility of making Jesus known. Now that you know Jesus personally, make Him known intentionally.

What are you doing with the gospel entrusted to you? How are you communicating the saving news of Jesus Christ? Think about the opportunities God has given you to make Jesus known. Seize the divine appointments God orchestrates for you to join Him in His redemptive activity. God wants to use you in spreading the fragrance of Christ.

Does your life draw people to Christ? Commit to point people to Jesus. You have been entrusted with the cure for the cancer of sin.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 124:  1 Chronicles 13-16)

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell