Depending upon where you are in the world,  We just stepped into the new month of November! Consider where have you been, where are you now, and where are you going. Where is Jesus in each of these? How has redemption changed your life and how can it be understood in light of your plans for the next stage of your life?Certainly God’s desire is to be the center of our lives. We were created to love, glorify and praise Him all the days of our lives. This we are to do out of our own free will beginning with our response to salvation through Jesus Christ.

However, there is much more that He wants to do in our lives. But we have to move God from the marginal consultant we call on in times of need, to the center of our lives. He wants us to experience the love that has given us all things with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:32). God has given us an advantage over this world and all the things in it that we cannot control.

When we do not make a commitment to God our lives will seem to exist somewhere in between the truths we know about Him and the pressures of the world.

He has given us an identity and an experience.
He has given us His very own wisdom.
He has given us His very presence.
He has given us an open door to conversation with Him.

Would you like August to be much better for you? Below are some things that you can do!

1. Make a commitment to be a disciple of Christ in God

a. Who are you?

i. Exodus 20:2-3 You are redeemed!

2. Make a commitment to pursue the wisdom of God

a. Who is God?

i. Jeremiah 29:11 You have been given a future and a hope/an expected end.
ii. Proverbs 29:18 If you have no vision you will perish.
iii. Romans 12:2 You are able to know and prove God’s will for you.
iv. Ps 119:105 Make God’s word a lamp unto your walk.
v. James 1:5 Ask God for wisdom and He will give it to you liberally.
vi. Proverbs 12:15; 15:22 Seek the wisdom of others.
vii. Proverbs 3:5-6 Acknowledge God and He will direct your paths.

3. Make a commitment to trust in the Holy Spirit

a. Who or what leads your life?

i. John 16:13 He will guide you in truth.
ii. John 6:45 He will teach you.
iii. 1 Cor 2:10-13 He will reveal biblical truth to you.
iv. Romans 8:26 He will pray for you.
v. Eph 3:16 He will strengthen you.

4. Make a commitment to prayer: Speak with God

a. Philippians 4:4-7 His peace comes through His direction.

5. What makes us unsure?

a. Sin – rebellion – when we are not in alignment and we take our hands off the wheel we will turn off the road.

b. Your lack of knowledge –not studying.

c. When you do not give time to God in prayer

(Refer to this article periodically and work through the questions alone with God. What is God showing you through these scriptures and questions that will help you with your recovery for the new month of August and for the rest of this year?

 -David Gibson, used by permission.

David Gibson is a writer, essayist, and blogger of Bible teachings for life application. He is also a Christian conference and retreat speaker, an adjunct professor of World Religions, and the former host of radio’s “Walking with the Master”. David is an ordained pastor and was a pastoral counselor in the NJ prison system and a NJ psychiatric hospital. He received his Clinical Pastoral Education at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He was freed from his addictions over 25 years ago.