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Read: Genesis 1:9-13, ⁹ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, iand let the dry land appear: and it was so.

¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

¹¹ And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

¹² And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

¹³ And the evening and the morning were the third day.

“Everything, absolutely everything … got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” (Colossians 1:16 MSG)

When you put your trust in Jesus Christ, you learn God’s purpose for your life.

Most people don’t know the purpose of their lives. If you don’t know your purpose, you end up drifting through life. You get bounced around. You don’t control your life; your life controls you!

There’s only one way you’re going to learn the purpose of your life. You’ve got to talk to your Creator.

Sometimes people will say that if you want to know your purpose, look within. I did that. It didn’t work! You can’t tell you what your purpose is because you didn’t create you. Only the Creator can tell you what purpose you were created for. You will never, ever know the purpose of your life until you believe in Jesus Christ, because he is your Creator.

The Bible says, “Everything, absolutely everything … got started in him and finds its purpose in him” (Colossians 1:16 MSG).

Today so many people are confused about their identity and their purpose. They say, “I don’t know who I am, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing with my life.” That’s because they’re looking in the wrong places. There is only one place to find your identity and purpose in life, and that’s through a relationship with your Creator, Jesus Christ.

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for …. part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone” (Ephesians 1:11).

…What I have forgiven…has been for your sakes…to keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. 
—2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Suppose we receive a package from an overnight carrier. After we open it, we stare at a beautiful, oversized envelope, with our name written on it in exquisite calligraphy. Inside, the invitation starts with these words:

You are invited to enjoy a life filled with misery, worry, and confusion.

Which one of us would say yes to such an outrageous invitation? Don't we seek the kind of life that keeps us free from such pain and distractions? Yet many of us choose such a life. Not that we blatantly make that choice, but we sometimes surrender—even temporarily—to Satan's invitation. His attack is ongoing and relentless—the devil is persistent! Our enemy bombards our minds with every weapon at his disposal every day of our lives.

We are engaged in a warfare—a warfare that rages and never stops. We can put on the whole armor of God, halt the evil one's advances, and stand fast on the Word of God, but we won't put a complete end to the war. As long as we are alive, our minds remain Satan's battlefield. Most of our problems are rooted in thinking patterns that produce the problems we experience. This is where Satan triumphs—he offers wrong thinking to all of us. This isn't a new trick devised for our generation; he began his deceptive ways in the Garden of Eden. The serpent asked the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1a). That was the first attack on the human mind. Eve could have rebuked the tempter; instead, she told him God would let them eat from the trees, but not from one particular tree. They couldn't even touch that tree, because if they did, they would die.

But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing the difference 'between good and evil and blessing and calamity(vs. 4-5).

This was the first attack, and it resulted in Satan's first victory. What we often miss about temptation and the battle our enemy levels against us is that it comes to us deceptively. Suppose he had said to the woman, "Eat of the fruit. You'll bring misery, anger, hatred, bloodshed, poverty, and justice into the world."

Eve would have recoiled and run away. He tricked her because he lied and told her what would appeal to her.

Satan promised, "You will be like God. You'll know good and evil." What a marvelous appeal to the woman. He wasn't tempting Eve to do something bad—or at least he phrased it in such a way that what she heard sounded good.

That's always the appeal of sin or satanic enticement. The temptation is not to do evil or to cause harm or bring injustice. The lure is that we will gain something.

Satan's temptation worked on Eve. And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate (3:6).

Eve lost the first battle for the mind, and we have continued to fight for it since that time. But because we have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can win—and we can keep on winning.

Victorious God, help me resist the onslaughts of Satan, who attacks my mind and makes evil seem good. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Read: Genesis 1:6-8, ⁶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

⁷ And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

“‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.” (John 6:5b-6 NIV)

Do you remember the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish? I think it’s amazing that out of 5,000 people, only one person brought a lunch. I’m thinking a lot of people were hiding a picnic basket under their robes because they didn’t want to share with anybody else. But one little boy offered the bread and fish that he packed for his lunch. He gave Jesus what little he had, and God used it not just to feed a lot of people but also to show them how much he cared and how powerful he is.

God always starts with what you have. You may not have much time. Your finances may not be worth much. You may not think you have much talent.

But you can give God everything in your life. Give him your heart. Give him your reputation. Give him your past, your present, and your future. It may not be much, but you can give him your five loaves and two fish.

In John 6:5-6 Jesus asks, “‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do” (NIV).

Jesus wasn’t sweating how to feed 5,000 people. He already had in mind what he was going to do. He saw the need long before they did. And he had a plan.

You need to understand this truth today: God always has the answer before you even know the problem. God is not sweating your unsolvable problem. It’s not too late in the day for Jesus. He saw your problem long before you did. He knew it was coming, and he already had a plan for it. God knows the solution to your problem before you even recognize it’s a problem.

So why are you worrying? Just admit you have an unsolvable problem, and then give God everything you have.

You have wondered in your heart why I have been silent. I have not been silent, Dear One, but the cares of this world have been drowning Me out. I am leading you out of this loud place and drawing you close to Me. As a mother soothes her newborn babe, so I am quieting you with My Love. This stillness you are experiencing is My Presence. 

In this quietness and confidence is your strength. I am keeping you hidden, Beloved. The devil has gone about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But you need not fear, My Child. My Spirit is drawing you close and teaching you to wait upon Me. You are being revived, healed and restored under the Shadow of My wings. Lay back in My Everlasting Arms, Dear One. Rest in My Holy Stillness, My Love, as I renew your strength. Listen for My still small Voice. I am He who is gentle and humble at heart. I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are My Beloved and I am yours. Be still, and know that I am your God............................................................................................................................................ 

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love;

When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.
—Psalm 94:18

Some people seem to start their day on the "wrong foot." They feel all right when they wake up, but as soon as something goes wrong, they lose their footing and walk with a "loser's limp" the rest of the day. Once they are off to a bad start, it seems they never catch up.

If someone offends us early in the morning, our anger can keep us defensive all day. If we start the day rushing, it seems we never slow down. But to¬day our feet can be firmly planted in God's Word.