Have you given much thought lately about your walk with God, or the lack thereof?  We are all creatures of habit, and as many of you know, old habits are hard to break.  Hard, but not impossible, because with enough desire we can change old habits that have held us back in the past, and create good ones.  Many have told me they would like to have more time to spend with God, but just can’t seem to squeeze any more into their day.  I have the answer for them!  Instead of squeezing any more INTO their day, they need to squeeze some things OUT of their day.

I’d like you to take a moment to think about something important. We can all afford a “moment”, right?  Where will you be ten thousand years from now, and why?  God has said in John 3:16-17;
Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

You can readily see from all these verses that it is NOT God’s will that any perish, be condemned, nor lost, but that ALL should come to repentance.  Yeah, I know, nobody wants to hear the “repentance” word because we’re all having too much fun, right? Wrong. Most of you are NOT having too much fun.  In fact, many of you are not having a good time at all, and you’re wondering how to cure that problem. God has your answer.
Repentance may not be what you think it is, and in fact, many of you may not even know what repentance really means.  It means to turn from a certain way and go another. If you have been abusive, stop it and be kind toward people instead.  If you are critical and judgmental, stop it and be an encourager instead.  If you are a liar, stop it and tell the truth.  If you are living in sin (you know if you are, there are no HIDDEN sins), then stop it.   If you speak against the Kingdom of God, stop it and start speaking God’s Words over your life instead. If you are sick, stop being sick.  If you are poor, stop being poor.

About now you’re saying, “I have control over the first five items, but NOT over the last two.” Oh, yes you do!!  You see, God has given you the ability to speak things into existence, just like He does, after all, you’re created in the image of God, according to Genesis 1:27.  Now I know I’m going to lose some of you here, because you’re rooted in the traditions of men, and not in the Word of God.  But hear me out’ after all, you want a better life, don’t you?  You’re sick and tired of being sick and broke, right?  Again, God wants you to repent, not just of the things you’re doing wrong, but also everything you’re doing against yourself.  God wants you blessed!  And living blessed is not living under the curse.  There is a difference, y’know.

Maybe you’re thinking, .“My life isn’t all that bad. I’m getting by, I have a place to live, some food in my belly, and a job and the necessities of life” Well, if “getting by” is your idea of “life more abundantly”, then this isn’t for you after all.  But before you write me off, look at what Jesus said in John 10:10; The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. God DOES have better than “getting by” on His mind for you.  Indeed, God DOES want you to live and abundant life, to the fullest, with peace and joy, enjoying perfect, and unbroken fellowship with you.  When?  On Sunday when you go to church (if you go at all)?  NO!  He wants fellowship with you moment by moment.

If you’re sick, God has your cure in Christ Jesus.  Sickness was never God’s idea for mankind, it came as a result of rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden. We have lived with sickness and poverty ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  But the Lord Jesus took the curse of our rebellion upon Himself, and redeemed “whosoever will” FROM THE CURSE.  Are you a “Whosoever will”?  That’s something YOU have a choice about.  If you get your heart right with God,  your words will start lining up with God’s Word, and as you speak His Words, circumstances you thought were impossible to overcome will move out of your life.

The Bible distinctly tells us by the stripes Jesus bore on His body, we are healed. Either you believe it or not. That’s your choice, not God’s.  He already made His choice clear to us, and if you do things His way, sooner or later your body will follow suit and get well.  I say “sooner or later”, because that’s your choice too, depending how much diligence you’re willing to put forth in order to line your life up with God’s Word.  I know this works, because I’m living it, and wasn’t taught this by another person, but by applying myself to the Word of God, and yes, when I first began, it seemed impossible that terminal cancer could be forced from by body by only the Word of God.  But cancer and every sickness left me, and I’ve never been sick again, and for those of you who don’t know me, it’s been since July 1993.

Ok, how about the poverty thing?  That’s your choice too.  God has a lot to say about prosperity in His Word, but the traditions of men have taught many that God wants you sick and broke.  That’s HOGWASH!  If God had wanted mankind sick and broke, He would have created Adam and Eve sick and broke.  Think about it!  God created Adam and Eve perfectly formed, put them in the best place on the face of the earth, and even showed them where the gold was.  Does that sound like your life?  No?  Why not?  Could it be you’re not in moment by moment fellowship with God?  God’s blessing comes with a cost.  It cost God the life of His Son Jesus.  What’s it going to cost YOU?  Well, for one thing, you’re going to have to repent of your stinking thinking that God wants you living under the curse.  Forget all that trash you’ve been taught by people who have no more relationship with God than a rattlesnake.

God is FOR you and not AGAINST you.  But you have a part in this, called “REPENTANCE”.  And it’s not a one-time thing, but rather a moment by moment way of life, constantly considering your ways compared to the Word of God, and bringing your thoughts, words, and deeds into line with the Word of God.  Now, God doesn’t wave a magic wand over you.  Change may not come overnight, because as it is said, Rome wasn’t built in a day.  No, it probably took all weekend.  But change will come as you start squeezing the things out of your life that are not producing God’s fruit in your life.  Like I said earlier, what really matters is where you’ll be ten thousand years from now, and it will be YOUR CHOICE, not God’s.  After all, He will let you keep doing things your way, even if it means you’ll spend your life sick and broke.  But know this: God has a good plan for your life, if you’ll just follow Him.   Sometimes His ways seem the opposite way to achieve the desired results, like telling people “GIVE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU…” Give?  I’m already so broke I can’t even pay attention. Well, it seemed backwards to me too, but I did it anyway, because God said so, and it works.  Been there, done that.

How can you do your daily tasks and still have unbroken fellowship with God?  First off, ditch the thought that you don’t have time for God.  If not for Him, you would not be here in the first place.  He will provide everything you need on this earth, and if there’s something you need that isn’t here, God will simply create it.  But because most people are seeking more and more of everything, their days are so crammed full that there is no time to enjoy anything.  The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:24-33;
Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

When I first read all this, it seemed so backwards to me. Then I realized that I was the one who had it all backwards.  I was seeking my own first, as most of you are, if you’re honest enough to admit it.  And all the time, God was telling me, Jerry, I have a better plan than yours, to bless you beyond all you are seeking.  Let me help you here…. And so, for the last twenty one years, I’ve had a moment by moment relationship with the LORD, and sure enough, He DOES have a better plan.  And He has a better plan for YOU, too!