Precision Pursuit
Day 3 | Set Apart
A closer walk with God changes the atmosphere around your life.
I used an analogy once so I’m not sure if it stuck. Let’s give it a try here.
Water can exist in different states: Liquid, Solid, Gas. In all cases the water is the same substance. The difference is the atmosphere.
When you change the atmosphere, it changes everything.
As we draw closer to the Lord, there is a shift. You may look the same but it drastically changes us.
When I was in the Navy all my evals were a perfect 4.0 except one. It was a 3.8.
My work ethic was the same. My knowledge was the same. Why the decrease?
I asked a chief from another division. He immediately gave an answer that changed my perspective and helped me to become set apart.
He said you are hanging around the wrong guy.
His negative attitude is reflected on you. You can’t see it, but it’s there. This impacts promotions, opportunities, and my future.
It didn’t take me long to separate myself.
Even as I look back, hanging out with the wrong people or wrong atmosphere impacts us.
There are fewer temptations when we remove ourselves from places of bad influence.
We will watch crime shows and often the shooting happens at an hour where if you were home at a decent time, this wouldn’t have happened.
Don’t get me wrong, bad things can happen at most any time but let’s be honest the odds are lessened.
If you are cold on a winter’s night and want to get warm, you get closer to the fire.
Have you ever seen an on-fire Christian?
I can recall in my teens a friend got saved, and everything was always about Jesus. I’m a church goer and I’m like come on.
Truth be told, he was on fire, I was somewhat neutral.
The Bible tells us we should be hot or cold, not lukewarm. So, there is some relevance on getting close to the fire.
The Bible also speaks of a fire that is shut up in my bones. This describes my friend at the time.
Are you hot or cold?
Do you realize how life changing it can be to pursue God wholeheartedly?
The closer we get the hotter we become for him.
This requires effort. Stepping forward. Not looking back. Changing our atmosphere which will change our attitudes.
Your attitude will impact your altitude.
Let’s draw near.
Precision Practice
It’s time to quit playing church and get involved.
It’s time to set aside things that hinder and warm up by the fire.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made and designed for worship.
Pursue a relationship. Not for the purpose of receiving but emptying out yourself so you can give.
Precision Passages
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Jeremiah 20:9 NKJV
(9) Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 NLT
(33) Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”