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Those of us who live here at the ocean, often see sailboats tacking across the water. Tacking is a sailing term which means to change the direction of a sail boat when sailing. Webster defines it as "turning the bow to the wind and shifting sails as to fall off on the otherside at about the same angle as before." Well, to help you with this, I will be using some sailing terms that form a picture for you. 

Let's say you are on a ship in the Artic and there are icebergs everywhere. Your goal is to reach San Francisco without getting sunk by an iceberg. Your challenge is not WHERE to navigate, but HOW to navigate. In the same thought, we are told to have a daily quiet time--medidate, read your Bible, pray and etc. We know that. The problem is that we don't know HOW to do these things so that we really grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

I would like to suggest a 20-minute plan for you, especially, if you are a newbie at this:

Bible study is where God speaks to you. Bible study and reading the Bible is much like a ship captain who studies his or her navigational charts, which determine the course and direction to go. These charts tell the captain what to do. Bible study is where we let God speak to us from His Word -- the Bible. My suggestion is to read the Bible text three times and here is why: First time is to get a general idea of what is taking place. The second time you read it is see who specifically and what specific detaisl are in involved. The third time is to let the passage come alive for you. How do you get God to speak to you? Ask questions about the text.  Here are 10 suggested questions you can ask to anchor you into the God's Word:

  • Who is involved herer?
  • What is really happening?
  • What is the setting and how does it impact the text?
  • What is an example for me to follow?
  • Is there a command for me to obey?
  • Is there an error, or mistake  (i.e., icebergs) mentioned for me to avoid?
  • Is there a sin for me to forsake?
  • Is there a promise from God to me to claim?
  • Is there something new that I learned about God?
  • What is something in the text I do not understand or does not make sense to me?

The next 5 minutes, you pray. This is where you send signals to God and He sends them to you. Ships and boats cary flags they use to signal to others of their intent. You may be wondering, "Well, how do I pray this long?" That is a very good question. I would like to suggest an acronym that has been around for years: A-C-T-S. It goes like this:

  • A = Adoration > This is where you praise God for who He is. Sometimes using Scripture helps here. You could say, "Thank You that You are my Shepherd and I have everything I need" (Psalm 23:1). Or, "Jesus, You are King of kings and Lord of lords, the only real Ruler" (1 Timothy 6:15). The point is you acknowledge God for Who He is.
  • C = Confession > David writes in Psalm 66:18, "If I had ignored by sins, the Lord would not have listened to me" (GNB). Why do we do this? Because God is holy and righeous and we are not consistently. Our sins separate us from God (ex. isaiah 59:2). Think of sins like "mines" in the waters of life you are navigating.  What confession of sin does is remove those mines. Just as sail boats near wind to tack across any water, you will need AIR as well spiritually at this part. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise and do what is right. He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing" (GNB). Your A.I.R. is this:
    • A = Acknowlege your sin. This is where we agree with God that we have disobeyed Him. No excuses. No renaming it something else. If God says it sin, you call it that. "Lord, I have sinned against You."
    • I = Identification > This is where you name your specific sin. Why? So that we feel the regret and shame of how we have disobeyed against God. You say, "Lord, I lost my temper . . ." or "Lord, I used these words that do not bring glory to You." When you were a child, and your parents corrected you, they may have made you look them right in the eye asking, "Why did you do this?" This is similar. Naming our sin forces us to face our sin against God. Simply praying, "Lord, forgive me of my sins" only does not. Naming our sin means we agrew with God and are taking responsibility for it.
    • R = Repentance > this is an old word and it in simple terms means "to do a 180 degrees." This is where we show the sincerity of our confession to God. This is where our acknowledgement and identication become actions. Repentance involves several steps also:
      • Claiming by faith God's forvgiveness (ex. Psalm 103:12). You thank God for forgiving you.
      • Erecting ways to not repeat the same sin. Maybe you need to apologize so someone for something you said or did. Maybe you need to get an accountability partner to help you. Maybe you need to install some online protection software that either keeps you from going to certain site and then reports them to someone you trust or stops you all together. This is probably the toughest part. If you fail to do this, you will fail again and hit a mine in the water of life you navigate.
      • Aceept the consequences that come from your sin. God forgives the sin but He does not remove the conseuences. He makes us live with those for good reasons. For example, if you lied on your tax returns and are audited, you will have to pay penanlties and interest. If you are unfaithful to your spouse, you may have to go through a divorce or for while have a very strained relationship.
  • T = Thanksgiving > This is 2-5 minutes. Take a moment and thank God for who He is; answered prayers, thank God for your life; His purpose for your life; your health; your job; your job; your talents, skills and abilities. These are just suggestions and obviously there unlimited things to thank God for in your life.
  • S = Supplication > This is the last 5-8 minutes. Doing this part, you first pray for others and then pray for yourself. Be sincere (es., James 5:16). Imagine God working in that person's life. Be faithful to keep praying for them until God answers. Organize your prayer list such as:
    • Mondays -- Tasks God wants you to do.
    • Tuesdays -- Close friends
    • Wednesdays -- Your church staff and church leaders
    • Thursdays -- Lost friends
    • Fridays -- Your family
    • Saturday -- Church services
    • Sundays -- Those in power and government

Here are a few suggestions about this: First, make sure your requests never violater God's will or anything God's Word prohibits. Second, your requests should include self-involvement. For example, a student could ask God to help them study for a test rather than to get an "A" on it, especially if they do not study for it. Or, ask God to help you have an opportunity to share your faith with someone you know who is lost rather than asking God to use your pastor. Third, make sure your requests for yourself includes requests for spiritual growth and maturity and deliverance from temptation. Fourth, make sure you ask in faith (Hebrews 6:1, 6). 

I realize this devotional is longer but I wanted to give you as much to help you get started "tacking" safely and correctly in this ocean called life. Thank you for taking the time to read this and puting it to use now and in 2024. I love you!

Pastor Kelly

Scripture to Meditate On: Psalm 91:1, "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty" (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: "Jesus, I am about to venture into developing a new discipline in my life -- a daily quiet time with You. I do not want to be destroyed by "spiritual icebergs and mines" in the ocean of life. I want my life to bring You glory and honor. I ask You to help me do this. To convict me when I do not and to use my as a force for You in this world. I want not only to be blessed, but to be used by You to bless others as I each day turn to you as my Captain in the waters of life. Thank You so much. In Jesus' name, Amen!"

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