“A disciplined daily walk is the best protection to keep us from falling into sin.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2013-02-15) from his book, Be A People Person: Effective Leadership Through Effective Relationships (p. 104). David C. Cook. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I know this is a thought that isn’t for everyone but it is a good reminder for those who want to be successful in their walk with God.  If that is you then read on.

The whole paragraph says, “You will find that leaders who are effective are leaders who are disciplined in their daily lives. A disciplined daily walk is the best protection to keep us from falling into sin.”

John then asks a question and then answers it, “Why is this so essential to your personal credibility? Because the Word of God convicts our hearts. Psalm 119: 11 says, ‘Your word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.’ It also helps us think like God. The things that we think on are the things that we become. If we are not spending time with God, we’re spending that time with whatever it is that has become more important to us. When this happens we quickly become insensitive to his Spirit and therefore, we no longer have the strength to resist temptation and do spiritual battle. It boils down to a simple fact: Sin will keep us from the Word or the Word will keep us from sin.”

Some get into the Word in the morning, others read it a night and others don’t know where their Bible is.

John says, “A person of integrity is one who has established a system of values against which all life is judged. That system of values is determined by a person’s walk with God.”

He later says, “When we, as Christians and leaders, begin to put on a facade, we’re in trouble. When we attempt to ‘talk the talk’ without ‘walking the walk,’ we are destined for failure. We can avoid this pitfall by keeping our walk with God close and consistent.”

Two good question for me to ask are ones that a good friend of John asks him every time he sees him.  He doesn’t ask them for a history lesson; he just wants to know what God is teaching him each day.

So I ask these questions of you and me, “Do you have a word from the Lord that is up to date?” or “What have you been learning recently from the Lord?”