“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.”
Proverbs 12:24 (NKJV)

SEPTEMBER 2 - Diligence is defined as the determined pursuit of a worthy goal. We do not accomplish anything in life without diligence. It is the fuel that propels us above the rest. It refuses to quit or give up. Diligence stays active until completion or attainment of a desired goal. Diligence says:

• We must continually press toward God’s will for our lives.
• We cannot settle for second best.
• We must refuse the temptation to quit or stop trying.

The enemy disguised as inaction, however, is not going to back down without a fight. Whatever we desire, Satan attempts to stop us from achieving it. Only those who remain diligent and persevere rule in the end.

Jesus died so we could have an abundant life. That life is only achieved by those who are unwilling to stop when the times get tough. If we want to stand head and shoulders above the rest, we must refuse any backward motion and continue to press in when all others quit.

Father, I thank You that I do not cast away my confidence. I choose to diligently do Your Word, and I endure until the end, knowing that there is a great reward that lies ahead.

Family Scripture Reading

Proverbs 14

Featured Resource

Living In God’s House - CD

God has great plans for your life. But none of those plans can be accomplished apart from God. Only when you abide (live) in Him can you see your divine purpose fulfilled.

In the same way that different people choose different places to live, Christians seem to choose different levels of abiding (living) in Christ. The degree to which we choose to live in Him determines how far we go or grow in Him.

If you choose to live in the “outhouse,” you may not have the pressure or maintenance of an intimate relationship, but neither will you have the rich amenities and lavish abundance of living in the “castle.”

After listening to this powerful and creative message, you will be ready to upgrade your living arrangements and move up to abiding intimately with Him!

Posted under Diligence

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”
Proverbs 21:5 (NKJV)

AUGUST 12 - As buses and trucks spewed out exhaust and a dusty haze clouded the street lights, she wouldn’t give up; neither would she listen to excuses. Attending church since a mere toddler, when the young mother moved into a new neighborhood in the city, she diligently questioned her neighbors, faithfully searched the area newspaper, and patiently checked the telephone book, praying that God would lead her small family into the right place to worship. It took a little discipline, hard work, and time, but it was well worth it, since years later, those very same children repeated their mother’s diligence, searching for a place to worship in whatever city they lived. Diligence requires discipline, hard work, and time. In other words, it requires a marked effort. For us to delight in the promises of God, we must continually apply diligence to our efforts. God’s system is not arranged in such a way that a one-time action produces lasting results. God’s way of progress requires diligence, faithfulness, and patience.

The same principle applies for any endeavor. We cannot expect to be physically fit by exercising one week out of the year. To see positive results, we must continue for several months, and for lasting results, we must make exercise a part of our daily lifestyle! All of us want to achieve more and do great things, but we only experience true greatness by diligently applying God’s principles to our lives. Diligence bridges the gap between discipline and reward. Anyone can discipline himself for a day, but only discipline coupled with diligence causes us to lay hold of Heaven’s reward.

I refuse to have a slack hand knowing it leads to poverty. I walk in plenty and not in lack because I diligently apply God’s principles to my life.

Family Scripture Reading

Proverbs 11

Featured Resource

The 10 Critical Laws of Relationship - Book

Why am I here? Is there a purpose for my life? Is there a specific assignment that I am supposed to fulfill? How do I discover this assignment? And once I do, how can I ever make it come to pass?

Do you find these questions stirring within you? If so, you have found the right book, because Dr. Robb Thompson has discovered a dynamic key that will revolutionize your life. Here is the key: The single most important factor that defines your future is the relationships you embrace. Those closest to you determine the outcome of your life.

The Ten Critical Laws of Relationship will enable you to maximize every relationship in your life. You will begin to recognize the special people God strategically assigned to your life to be divine links to your future and to advance you to a higher level of personal effectiveness.

Learn these laws. Practice them, and you will unlock the door to your purpose, your assignment, and your future!

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 The Law of Agreement
2 The Law of Access
3 The Law of Covenant
4 The Law of Single Purpose
5 The Law of Exclusivity
6 The Law of Transparency
7 The Law of Mutual Benefit
8 The Law of Sacrifice
9 The Law of Synergy
10 The Law of Ascent
Conclusion

Posted under Diligence

“‘Yes,’ Adam admitted, ‘but it was the woman You gave me who brought me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘How could you do such a thing?’ ‘The serpent tricked me,’ she replied. ‘That’s why I ate it.’”
Genesis 3:12-13 (NLT)

FEBRUARY 24 - Enclosed in glass, the illustrious sign stated, “The Buck Stops Here.” Many of you are no doubt aware that plaque sat humbly on President Harry S. Truman’s desk in the White House. The motto boldly implies that I alone take sole responsibility for my life, refusing to blame anyone, or anything, for my present state of being.

The Israelite kings held several crucial responsibilities: commander of the army, supreme judge, absolute master, and imposer of taxes. Some kings blamed others for their rebellion, as in the case of Israel’s first king, Saul. King David accepted complete responsibility for his sin, becoming one of the greatest kings ever.

Nevertheless, it all began in the garden; a victim mentality ruthlessly befell humanity. To this day, that mentality afflicts mankind. People believe they are not accountable for their own failure. They blame dysfunctional parents, overwhelming circumstances, insensitive teachers, and anyone else who had a particular role in their life. This conveniently removes the guilt of unfulfilled responsibilities from them.

Winning in life is not hard. Doing it God’s way may take longer than we prefer, but it is the safest route. God gave men the power to choose their thoughts. Therefore, we cannot fail without our consent, and we cannot succeed without our participation. We must use the seed in our own hand. Success is not an accident, but neither is failure. Follow the example of King David and stop blaming others. Make the decision today by saying, “The Buck Stops Here.”

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that You cannot be mocked. Whatever I sow is what I reap. I thank You for giving me the power to create my future with my seed.

Day 24: Audio Confession

Family Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 3

Featured Resource

Excellence In Seed, Time, And Harvest -Book

Perhaps you’ve sat in church and heard the minister say, “You just can’t outgive God!” Then you looked at your checkbook balance and wondered, “Can I really trust God to take care of all the bills I have to pay, if I give what is in my heart to give?”

Or maybe you heard about someone getting blessed with an unexpected check in the mail. You were happy for that person, but a nagging question kept eating away at you on the inside: “Lord, when is a breakthrough going to happen for me?”

If these scenes sound familiar, this book is for you. Author Robb Thompson wants to show you how to use the power of the seed to break out of the socioeconomic box in which you’ve been trapped for so long. Dr. Thompson shares scriptural principles of excellence designed to help you create a bright future of abundance and prosperity — as you purpose to make giving your new way of life!

Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 God’s Will for our Finances
2 The Power of the Seed
3 Your Giving Determines your Future
4 Scriptural Principles for Prosperity
Confession of Faith for an Excellent Giver

Posted under Diligence, Responsibility, blame