For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Let's see, which one of these characteristics should I make every effort to improve today? Self-control might be a good place to start. Nope, too tough, I'll just seek forgiveness when I blow it or I'll explain to the Lord why I had every right to lose it under the circumstances. Something just does not seem right about this line of reasoning.
No, if I think that it is MY effort, that's a works orientation when I need to be seeking a Spirit-led transformation. I need to be prayerfully seeking to become a man of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love. It is not about what I do but about what I am.
Lord–make me, mold me, use me!
Today's readings in the Psalms:
Morning: Psalm 28
Mid-day: 119:113-120
Evening: Psalm 103
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Voices Together is available as an annual daily devotional and can be purchased at theFellowship Of Ailbe bookstore. A weekly edition, formatted as a bi-fold insert and suitable for distribution can be downloaded at https://www.ailbe.org/resources/item/5828-2015-voices-together-weekly-devotionals. The next edition is available by Thursday of the prior week.
