Manly Minute - June 30th

YOU'RE NOT WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE

Pt 1 by Sean Griffith

As men we can all relate at some level to having a few shortcomings - only a few mind  you (wink).  Some of these shortcomings have plagued us for many years.  The temptation is to say, “That’s just who I am”.  I would argue that this is not who you are!  Paul says in Romans 7:22, “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”  Hear that. It is not you, but the sin living in you.  Those who have been rescued by Jesus (Rom 7:25) are no longer slaves to sin that leads to death, but slaves to righteousness which leads to life and holiness.  

Say this out loud right now: “I am a righteous, holy man of God”!  You may not feel like it often, but through Jesus Christ, this is who we are!  The enemy wants us to dwell in our guilt and shame; God wants us to sincerely repent and move on, striving towards the man of God He knows us to be.  The next time that shortcoming pays a visit, you remind yourself that “this is not who I am” and speak out, “I am a righteous, holy man of God.”  The more you recognize and speak out who you are (slave to righteousness) and who you are not (slave to sin), the more you will live the way God calls us to live.  

Over the next weeks we will take a closer look at some of the more common shortcomings men face, and speak God’s truth into these areas of our lives.  Be encouraged righteous, holy men of God!

Manly Minute - June 23

MEAL BLESSINGS
By Sean Griffith
It only takes a few minutes to bless your family in the morning or at the dinner table. Here is how it works: simply read a chapter of Proverbs and pick one verse that jumps out at you.  Take a moment to meditate on its truth and consider what nugget of wisdom the Lord would have you gleam from it.   Later, with the family, ask one of them to read the verse and ask what everyone thinks it means.  In order to make it personal and practical, ask everyone how they think it could be applied to your family. Close with a simple prayer thanking the Lord for His wisdom and ask Him for His help applying this truth.  You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to lead your family in the way of the Lord. So, I encourage you men to take five minutes with the family daily to bless and lead them. 

Recap

1. Choose a proverb that speaks to you.
2. Ask someone to read it at a set time (breakfast, dinner, before bed, etc.)
3. Ask what everyone thinks it means.
4. Ask how you could apply it.
5. Prayerfully thank God for His wisdom and ask for His help applying it. 

God Bless,

Pastor Sean