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Happy Easter everyone!

In Touch Daily Devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley Wednesday August 23, 2006 No Substitutions Allowed Jonah 1-2 The story of Jonah's resistance to the Lord's calling is legendary. But isn't it unfortunate that God had to go to such extreme measures to get His prophet to obey? Jonah did what we all sometimes try to do — namely, substitute our plan for God's. There are times when we know what the Lord has in mind, but resist anyway. Then whenever we pray, it seems He brings up the issue we have been trying to avoid. The pressure to act never lets up until we decide either to do what God asks or to quit praying. So we proceed, but not according to the plan laid before us. Instead, we choose a course that fit our desires, and we try to drown out God's voice in a flurry of activity. Maybe we even get involved in some ministry, hoping that He will be appeased. All of that busyness and service from wrong motivation will bring only misery. Anything short of complete obedience is disobedience; if getting us to learn this principle requires that we be swallowed up by whale-sized trouble, God will allow it in our life. The Lord is not interested in our convenience or comfort; He is focused on conforming His children to Christlikeness and using them to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Substituting our shortsighted plan for His is selfish. When we resist God's perfect plan for our life because of what it might cost us in wealth, time, or social status, we fall deeper into the belly of strife and distress. But the moment we repent and commit to obey, we are purged from the self-imposed prison of disobedience. Following the Lord's plan for our life is the way to peace and joy.

Tomorrow Is Not Promised Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are and who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential strength, will power, or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whether they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere, safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and downfalls you experience create who you are, and even the bad experiences can be learned from, In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart... If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them. Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again... Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen, let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high... Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself... For if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live in it! "Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last... Tomorrow is Not Promised." ~ Author Unknown ~