Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. (2 Peter 1:5-8, CEV)
1. WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LIVE FAITHFULLY
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. (2 Peter 1:3-4, NLT)
SO LET’S MAKE WISE CHOICES
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision–you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. (Philippians 3:15-18, The Message)
2. EE THE BIG PICTURE
“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” God will test us when our character is not ready to fulfill our dreams.（Psalms 105：19）
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Many are the plans in the mind of a person, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)
BECAUSE THAT’S HOW GOD SEES
Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, GNT)
Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time [kairos], because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16, CSB)
3. TAKE TIME TO THINK
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8, NASB/CSB)
THEN LIVE FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE
His purpose in all of this was that the nations should seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him–though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. (Acts 17:27-28a, NLT)
