hard work – Heather C. King

verses-about-diligence 16

Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV
Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—
Deuteronomy 6:17 ESV
You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
Proverbs 10:4 ESV
A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Proverbs 12:14 ESV
From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
Proverbs 12:24 ESV
The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
Proverbs 13:4 ESV
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Proverbs 14:23 ESV
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5 ESV
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Jeremiah 31:16 ESV
Thus says the Lord:
“Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the Lord,
and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
Romans 12:8 NIV
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Galatians 6:9 ESV
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
1 Timothy 4:15-16 NIV
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Hebrews 6:11 NIV
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
2 Peter 1:10 ESV
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
2 Peter 3:14 ESV
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Hiding the Word:

Last night I watched the opening ceremonies for the Olympics for the first time in my life.

Yes, I did say, “in my life.”

Shocked?

We let our daughters stay up a little later than normal and watched the London extravaganza as a family, which meant I watched for two minutes and then explained for a few seconds what was happening on the TV screen.

We didn’t need network commentators. We had our own running commentary/question and answer time right in our living room.

When I first mentioned the Olympics to my older daughter she declared without a second’s pause, “I want to be in the Olympics!” as if it’s little more than signing up for a relay race at a Fourth of July picnic. I tried explaining repeatedly that these are the best athletes in the world, but I still don’t think she fully understands.

So we had the same conversation we had when she announced that the girl who got many lead roles in community theater productions was “lucky.”

Yes, there’s talent, but not really luck. Mostly there’s hard work, discipline, training, starting small and reaching goals and then setting new goals. It involves daily sacrifices of what you’d rather be doing, what everyone else is doing, what is more fun and seems temporarily more satisfying.

Sometimes we similarly assume that someone with a deeper relationship with God is “lucky.” She’s not as busy as we are. She doesn’t like TV as much or is more of a reader naturally so Bible study isn’t such hard work. Her life isn’t as crazy and stressful.

It’s a myth.

Wherever you have depth of Bible study and prayer and intimacy with God, you have discipline and sacrifice, yes daily sacrifice for the sake of what matters eternally.

Here’s a Scripture verse to meditate on all this week, reminding us that while physical feats of strength and skill at the Olympics are laudable, we are all told to train for godliness.

^“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come”
(1 Timothy 4:7-8)

Heather King is a wife, mom, Bible Study teacher, writer for www.myfrienddebbie.com and worship leader. Most importantly, she is a Christ follower with a desire to help others apply the Bible to everyday life with all its mess, noise, and busyness. To read more devotionals by Heather King, click here.

Heather C. King – Room to Breathe

"He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul" Psalm 62:1-2 (MSG).

Tag: hard work

Bible Verses About Diligence (for the days you feel discouraged and like giving up)

Weekend Walk, 07/28/2012: Olympic Dreams

My devotional for today:

Like this:

My devotional for today:

Like this: