The word vital means “necessary to life, existence or continuance.” When something is vital, it is indispensable and essential. Your heart is the most vital organ of your body. It is essential and indispensable. Without it, you cease to exist and function. Jesus very clearly expressed the vitality of remaining in Him. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6) and without Him we can do nothing (John 15:4). Far to often we approach God casually and treat our time with Him as optional. Just as your heart is not optional, total reliance and dependance on Christ is not optional.

As we mature as Kingdom-minded believers, we must embrace the reality that our success in life is tied directly to our obedience to the Father. This was the pattern that the Old Testament prophets and Jesus Himself demonstrated. Prophets lived their lives on assignment. Jesus lived His life on assignment. As Christ’s ambassadors, we must see everyday as an assignment from God tied to our greater purpose and destiny in the earth. Failure to receive our marching orders may result in spiritual imprisonment, injury or even death. The time we spend with God is when we receive our directives for the day. This time cannot just be quiet; it must become vital.

2 Corinthians 3:1-2 suggests that we are living epistles. How does God write on the tablets of our heart? During our vital time with Him. When Moses trekked up the mountain to spend vital time with God, the Lord revealed His law (Word) and His glory. That intimate time with God resulted in the glory of God resting upon him so strongly that we glowed. The residue of God’s glory was so powerful that Moses had to wear a veil to keep from blinding the Israelites with fading glory (2 Corinthians 3:13).

I believe that God wants to provide us with the same type of encounter He gave Moses, who was simply a man just like us. Every morning He calls us up to His holy mountain for a sacred meeting and intimate conversation. Instead of giving us stones with His law etched on it, He writes on our hearts with the Spirit of the living God.

When we leave that sacred moment people see the glory upon us because we are living epistles with unveiled faces. Today, don’t just spend quiet time with Him. Make it vital; your life (and the lives of others) depend on it.

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

The definition of power is the ability to do or act; the capability of doing or accomplishing something. According to this description, all power is designed to accomplish something! When God created us, he designed us to be productive. In Genesis 1:28, He instructed us to: “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” This verse speaks to the intended dominion given to mankind divinely by God.

According to Ephesians 1:15-21, God has given us power. The question becomes, if God has given us all of this POWER, then why do so many believers live POWERLESS lives?

Click here to watch the message, Where Is The Power!?!

The recent scandal involving a well know evangelical bishop has sparked controversy across the nation. As television commentators begin to analyze and scrutinize the private details of a person’s life, what should be our response as believers?

This timely message will encourage you seek the face of God and not just His hand.

More Than a Sandwich – 9.12.10 from Dexter Upshaw on Vimeo.

We had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves. Just hanging out with friends was a much needed respite for me. As an extremely focused and determined individual, it’s very hard for me to take a break and relax. Many thanks to the friends that invited us to a night out.

To add icing on the cake, I bowled perhaps the best game of my life. Seriously. 127 points.

Now, I know that all of you semi-professional bowlers out there are thinking, “Whoop-de-do. I can bowl a 130 in my sleep.” Much power to you. However, for me, this was definitely one of my personal bests. I’m proud of my performance even if it seems novice to the pro.

You see I am a normally streaky, inconsistent bowler. I go back and forth between pummeling pins too hard or causing the ball to mysteriously veer to the left over and over again.

Unfortunately bowling is usually an emotional roller coaster for me. One moment I’m on cloud nine, doing the moonwalk back to the bench in celebration of my first strike…seven frames into the match. More often than not I am perplexed as to why the ball refuses to roll in the direction that I send it.

I must say, my friends, tonight was different. I walked up to each bowl relaxed and confident. The ball released from my hand at just the right speed and my aim was on point. I felt like a new man.

This evening’s success at the lanes reminded me of what causes me to be successful in life endeavors. Here is wisdom that tonight’s game taught me:

(1) Relax. What’s the opposite of being relaxed? Tense. I am a horrible bowler when I am tense. Being tense causes me to rush my bowls, forget my form and lose my focus. I perform much better when I let the game come to me. The same applies to my business, my ministry and even my marriage. Living life wound up and on edge promises spotty results. Learn how to take a deep breath, relax and tackle the challenges of life.

(2) Use just the right speed. Muscling the ball down the lane demolishes a few pins while failing to touch the others. Rolling the ball too lightly results in diminished impact. When I deliver the ball at just the right speed I increase my chances of hitting all of the pins.

Being successful in life is about working at just the right speed. How many times have we burned out because we tried to do too much at once? Conversely, how often have we missed opportunities due to laziness and lethargy?

Everyone has a productivity rhythm; I am still learning mine. Be strategic with your time and diligent with your efforts in order to maximize your results.

(3) Follow through. Sloppy follow-through causes the bowling ball to travel towards unintended destinations…like the gutter. How you end is really more important than how you begin. We are often guilty of generating great ideas but failing to see them through completion. Make the extra effort to finish what you started.

Follow these suggestions in life and you will see your ability to bowl strikes increase. And you never know, you may even beat my score.

13 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Today’s 5 minute devotional is for anyone who finds themselves discouraged by the struggles of life. The secret to happiness is learning how to be content in good times and bad times…

Study the scripture for yourself: Philippians 4:12-13 — http://read.ly/Phil4.12.NIV

Why so much negativity? Remember that life and death is in the power of your tongue… Make an effort to be positive, rather than being negative.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. – Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. – Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. – Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

I was riding home on the subway and an encounter with a homeless man reminded me of the significance of grace. Before you judge a person or their situation, remember that you too could be in that situation, if not for the grace of God…

Click here to watch my video post.

When was the last time you asked God what His will was? Our scripture focus for today is Romans 12:1-2:

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

In order to know the will of God we must:

1. Surrender our all to Him
2. No longer conform to the pattern of this world
3. Be transformed by the renewing of our minds

This is Part 1 of a three part series. Please feel free to leave comments below! Click here to watch the entire series.