Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 120 – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – Growing As Disciples
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
Don’t Lose Heart
Don’t lose heart. Why should I not lose heart? That is a good question. I will tell you how you will certainly lose heart. How is that? If your heart and mind and life are focused on this life and the things of this earth, you will certainly lose heart. Why is that? This sin broken world is full of pain and suffering and sickness and death. When sin came into this world it ceased to function according to its original design. Nothing in this world has been left untouched by sin. Does any of this surprise you? No, not at all. Look at your own body. You are no longer as young as you once were. Outwardly, your body is wasting away. You are growing old. Yes, I am. If you were to focus on the passage of time and the condition of your body, you would certainly lose heart. Yes, that is true. Look at the changes that have been occurring all around. Friends have come and gone. Love ones have passed away. You have experienced significant loses. There is no doubt about that. Look at what were once your prized possessions. Most are long gone from rust and decay. Are we coming to the encouraging part yet? If we keep going, I might continue to lose even more heart. I want you to see that nothing from this life will keep you from losing heart. I get that. You have me convinced. That’s good.
Maybe I should ask a better question. What’s that? How can I be kept from losing heart? That is a far better question. I will help you with the answer. I’d like that. Focus your heart and mind and life on me. Focus your heart and mind and life on what is unseen and eternal. Focus your heart and mind life on the fact that I am renewing you inwardly day by day. I am doing a work in you every day as you love and follow and serve me. This life and all that is in it will pass away. The troubles of this life are but for a moment. One day you will come to live forever with me in the glorious splendor of heaven. Follow me to where I lead. Do what I give you to do. Bear fruit for my kingdom. Bring glory to my name. Allow me to use you for my purposes to fulfil my plans. Do all these things and you will never lose heart. I will do all that you are asking of me. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, it is obvious that my body is wasting away. That does not discourage me. I know that I am not meant for this life. No, day by day you are renewing me inwardly. You are helping me to keep my focus on you and what is unseen and eternal. Thank you for that. Amen
Key Question… What are you now doing solely because your focus is on the unseen and eternal?
Living It Out… Fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal as the Lord renews you inwardly day by day.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is renewing you inwardly day by day as you fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been renewing you inwardly day by day.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal.
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.
Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.
By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved Copying not permitted www.GrowingAsDisciples.com
