Jesus warns us…
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life–to God!–is vigorous and requires total attention.”
–Jesus, Matthew 7, Msg

I want to be fit and healthy after years of shortcut eating of unhealthy foods. So, as a quick fix, I will starve myself today and hope for a slim, energetic healthy body that will fit into clothes I had twenty years ago tomorrow. Right? What? You mean that doesn’t work? You mean I have to focus on healthy eating and exercise EVERY day? Yes! No shortcuts. (Get it?)

ATTENTION!
No “how to” book is going to help you reach God’s best for you. God’s Word will. Yes, only God, focus on God, going down His winding, less traveled road with total attention and quick obedience to God will get you where you want to be…where God is. Final destination. HIS Word is not a quick “how to” book, but a way to abundant holy living, thinking, growing and maturing. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and takes us to higher ground thinking and behaving. When we figure this out, turn to Him with love in our hearts and a desire to want what He wants, sweet peace floods our souls and problems suddenly have solutions.

Dear Heavenly Father, We love you back! We trust you with our very lives…that You created, with purpose and peace, through all of life’s stuff. Thank you! Our total attention is on You, like a servant in the King’s court with their eyes on the One who summons and sends. We wait for You. We do not want to run ahead or lag behind. We will go when you say go and stay when you say stay. We will speak when you say speak and be silent when you say be quiet for now and just be a difference in the world for Me. Thank you for loving us so much to want the best for us. Continue to be “God with us”, Emmanuel, this day. In Jesus Name, Amen