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Day 30: Rubber Hits the Road

by | Jan 4, 2023 | Journey Devotional | 0 comments

The fastest production car on the planet won’t do anybody any good until the rubber hits the road. The same thing can be said about the spiritual principles talked about on this journey. Until the rubber hits the road, until these principles are actually put into practice, they won’t do you any good. After what many people refer to as the greatest speech ever given was recorded in Matthew 5-7, Jesus said this:
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
Jesus was telling everyone listening that, unless you act on what you’ve learned, you aren’t going to get anywhere. James, the half-brother of Jesus put it like this:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25 (NIV)
We’ve talked for 30 days about how to move closer to God, and now it’s time to make sure we’re actually doing that. Let’s get extremely practical and get these spiritual vehicles out on the road. Now that you’ve crossed the finish line, go back to the starting point of this devotional and read it again! Or pass it along to someone you care about who needs to start moving closer to God. Don’t consider yourself finished with this journey, but simply at the end of lap 1. You’ve got countless laps to go. As you’ll find, getting closer to God is a lifelong journey that will change you, change those around you, and will propel you into a real and authentic connection with God Himself.

 

Movement Day 30

 

TO DO:

Write down your plan of attack on the following items:
  1. When and where will you have a daily prayer time? Get it on the calendar.
  2. When and where will you daily spend time in the Bible? Get it on the calendar.
  3. Are there relationships you need to avoid or end? When will you begin to proactively cultivate relationships that are going in the same direction toward God?
  4. When, where, and how will you begin serving others? Write it down.
  5. When, where, and how will you start giving back to God? Write it down.

With whom can you begin sharing your story and inviting to church? Have you signed up for Freedom Life Church’s next baptism?

TO READ:

PROVERBS 30– Write down one thought.

TO REMEMBER:

This is a lifelong journey, and although you’ll never fully arrive until the day you die, as you continue to move closer to God, you’ll continue to experience the blessings of God along the way.

These six spiritual vehicles will never be outdated, and the importance of each will never diminish in your life. God wants to be closer to you. He wants to change your life along the way. He loves you just the way you are, right here, right now. And He has a specific plan for your life.

Now is not the time to stop pursuing God. Instead, it’s time to put the pedal to the metal and put the six spiritual vehicles on the road every day of your life. Do so, and you can expect to have what Jesus calls, “the best possible life.” It’s one that is focused on constantly growing closer to God, and Him revealing more and more of himself to you.

STAYING ON THE JOURNEY TOWARD GOD

VEHICLE No. 1 [PRAYER]
Talk to God daily.

VEHICLE No. 2 [THE BIBLE]
Continue reading through the New Testament and reading a chapter in Proverbs a day. Branch out into the Old Testament and ask God to keep speaking to you every single day.

VEHICLE No. 3 [RELATIONSHIPS]
Constantly monitor your relationships and make sure they are pushing you closer to God.

VEHICLE No. 4 [SERVING]
Your local church is key here. Volunteer in and out of the church and keep looking for opportunities to use your blessings to bless others.

VEHICLE No. 5 [GIVING]
God will amaze you in so many areas of your life as you continue being a faithful giver to His kingdom.

VEHICLE No. 6 [SHARING]
As you attempt to share what God is doing in your life. He’ll use you in crazy ways to influence people all around you. And this process will change you!