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Transcript

Walking Toward the Light · Men's Morning Devotional

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Gentlemen, every day is a battle.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: They prepare before it begins.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the men's morning devotional.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get into God's word.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: It's time to man up.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: Good morning, men.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome back to our men's morning devotional.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Danny Woodgos, and I hope you're starting your day strong and ready for what God has for you today.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: Here's your man up moment.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_01: You don't have to see the whole road, just keep walking toward the light.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_01: Proverbs chapter 4, verses 18 and 19 says, The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day, but the way of the wicked is like deep darkness.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: They do not know what makes them stumble.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: I love the picture Solomon gives us in verse 18.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_01: The path of the righteous is like the morning sun shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: Think about what happens early in the morning.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: The sun doesn't come up and suddenly everything is completely bright.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: It starts slowly, a little bit of light appears on the horizon, and then little by little everything becomes clearer.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: That's the picture Proverbs gives us of a life walking with God.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_01: And I think sometimes we need to hear that as men, because we can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to have everything figured out.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: We want to know the plan.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: We want to know what's next.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: We want to know how we are going to provide, how we are going to lead our families, what decision we are supposed to make, or how we are going to get through the season we are in.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: But God doesn't always show us the whole road.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes He just gives us enough light for the next step, and that's okay.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_01: Because notice what the verse says the path is shining ever brighter.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: That means there is progress.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_01: Following Jesus doesn't mean you become the man you're supposed to be overnight.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_01: God works in us little by little.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: You learn, you grow, you make mistakes, you get back up, you become wiser, more patient, a better husband, a better father.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_01: As you continue walking with God, things that used to be confusing start becoming clearer.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: Things you used to struggle with don't control you the way they used to.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: And you begin to recognize God's voice more clearly.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: That's growth.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: But here's the key: you have to keep walking.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_01: Jesus called his disciples and then spent years walking with them.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_01: They didn't understand everything immediately.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: They made mistakes, they doubted, they argued.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: Peter even denied Jesus.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: But Jesus continued teaching them, correcting them, loving them, and preparing them.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: Those same men eventually became men who carried the gospel into the world.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: That's what Jesus does.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: He takes men who are willing to follow him and transforms them as they walk with him.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: So, man, don't get discouraged because you haven't arrived yet.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_01: Keep praying, keep opening your Bible, keep fighting temptation, keep serving your family, keep choosing integrity, keep following Jesus.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_01: And maybe today it feels like the opposite is happening.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe instead of the sun rising, it feels like the sun is setting on you.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: Things that used to be clear suddenly aren't so clear anymore.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_01: Difficulties have come your way and you don't know exactly what God is doing.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_01: If that's you today, don't stop walking.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: The darkness you're experiencing doesn't mean God has left you.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_01: It doesn't mean your story is over.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: Night doesn't last forever.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: The morning is coming.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_01: So when you can't see the whole road, trust the one who can.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_01: When life gets dark, keep walking.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: When you don't understand what God is doing, keep following Jesus.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_01: Because just as surely as the night comes, the morning will come too, and the sun will shine again.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_01: Here's your man up challenge.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_01: Take a minute today and think about one area where God has helped you grow over the past year.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_01: Just thank him for that progress.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: And then ask him, God, what is my next step?
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: Let's pray, God, thank you for continuing to lead us even when we can't see the whole road.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_01: Help us not to become discouraged when growth feels slow or when life feels dark.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_01: Show us how to walk with you and just show us the next step.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: We want to follow you and we want to be more like you.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_01: In Jesus' name I pray.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: Now go live it.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Share this devotional with another brother.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.