Linda Bailey is currently away. Her new devotionals will begin again on the 1st February, 2010. In the meantime, here is a Daily Devotion that has been significant for one of my readers..

Now, I'm pretty sure that the intentions for my day are quite different to what John Bon Jovi had in mind when he was singing this song, however it really seems to help motivate me.

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Reference:  v.7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (NIV Bible)

Explore:  I have never really been a huge Bon Jovi fan however growing up in the late 80s to early 90s it was hard for me to not hear their songs.  I surprised myself, just last week, when a friend of mine sung the first lines of one of their songs and I joined in to finish off the verse.  (It's amazing how much our memories can hold, even after many years.)  But one line of a Bon Jovi song often rings in my head.  Every time I am feeling lethargic but I really need to get up and get moving, I hear the words in my head, "Gonna live while I'm alive, I'll sleep when I'm dead."  Now, I'm pretty sure that the intentions for my day are quite different to what John Bon Jovi had in mind when he was singing this song, however it really seems to help motivate me.  While rest is important, there are often times when I need a bit of a boost to get me up and going.  It seems that it's at these times that Bon Jovi lyrics come in handy!

Application:  While the Apostle Paul did not have the privilege of living in 1992 to hear this song, it seems he had his own motivational statement.  He committed himself to his cause so that near the end of his life he could proclaim, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."  Now, they're the kinds of words I'd like to utter before I leave this world.  In this one sentence it says that life and faith are challenging but it gives us the hope that we can get through.  As hard as it will be to shake catchy lyrics out of my head, next time I need motivation I will look to this verse, and hope to live another day to fight the good fight.

Prayer:  Lord, You are worth fighting for.  Embolden us to stand up and live for You in every area of our lives.  Amen.

When has life and faith seemed like a 'good fight' to you?