Instructions Included...

Welcome to the Fabulous You daily devotional! We are so excited about this daily endeavor of reaching out to all of you to encourage, uplift, and to inspire you to be the fabulous you that God created you to be! Each day will be written by one of the three conference speakers, Ashley McDougal, Kasey Scott or myself. We’ve also asked some speakers from past conferences to write as well, including Rhonda Roughton of INK Ministries and Michelle Odom of JM Ministries. You will definitely enjoy each day!

2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Have you ever pulled out a game to play and when you go to read the instructions they’re not there? Typically what happens is one participant will say what they think the rules are and everyone will pitch in their ideas of how to play. Almost always the rules are changed and adapted as you play, usually to benefit the person offering the adaptation!

This is similar to most peoples’ approach to the Bible. While we have the “full instructions” to live by, we pick and choose the scriptures we want to live out. The scripture in 2 Timothy tells us however that for Christians, all scripture is to be used. We are supposed to use it as a measuring tool and apply it to our lives. Yet we want to look at the scriptures that are just going to pat us on the back, or encourage us when we are feeling down and out. We like to cut out, read over, or hand out to others, the scriptures that are corrective!

The truth is there are things in our lives that we are comfortable with that God has called us to put aside. Yet, we are attached to them. We protect them, hide them, excuse them and coddle them. We pull the scriptures that are useful in our argument to support our choices and throw out the scriptures that corrects them. We approach life like we approach the game with no rules.

God has called us to live a life that is set apart, that is beyond approach, a righteous life, a Holy life. This means that we have to live by all the scriptures (not just the ones that benefit us). It means that sometimes, we have to make the hard choice, even in the midst of our friends or coworkers. We have to put aside those habits we make excuses for having in our lives. God desires the best we can offer Him, and doesn’t He deserve the best?

So, as you go through your day today, take some time to step back and take an honest look at yourself. Are you really giving Him your best? Are you applying all the scripture to your life? Spend time with God today asking Him to open your heart to His word and to help you apply it to your life. Live a life inspired!

Crystal Owens

Crystal is a speaker for the Fabulous You Conference. She’s married with 2 girls. Crystal is currently teaching a weekly adult Bible study and a monthly Bible study for Women.