Nate's Daily Devotionals (old)

Dopamine plays a key role in deciding what be desire Our brain places priorities based on things that release the most dopamine We release dopamine when we anticipate things that will make us happy The highest dopamine is released when we get an unexpected reward for something Homeostasis means that our bodies require a balance This means we develop a 'tolerance' for dopamine Things that are hard and release dopamine become even less attractive to do since we are used to getting a high level The answer: Dopamine Detox Pick a date to be free from all dopamine  For one day: NO: Internet Phone Computer Music Masturbation Junk Food Yes: Walk Meditate Reflect Journal Track low dopamine activities Reward yourself with high dopamine activities AFTER 1 hour low dopamine = 15 minutes high dopamine

Chapter 2: The Power FOR Marriage Often I find myself serving others to gain a moral high-ground. This is not service, but rather it is just manipulation . At the root of this, is a self-centred pride issue. However, the gospel message liberates me to receive anything when I give to others. The death of Jesus, who joyfully and willingly sacrificed his life to clean my slate allows me to freely give and  freely receive Self-centredness makes you blind to your own sin while being hypersensitive by that of others We need Christ's Spirit to constantly be filling our souls so that we have enough love to allow us to love our spouse even when I'm not getting much affection or kindness I only find happiness after I put the happiness of my spouse ahead of my own - however this needs to be in a sustained way , that is in response to what Jesus has done for me Understand what Jesus has done for me --> liberated from needing to be defined by things of this world --> freely g

Acts 7 Stephen goes before the Sanhedrin and retells the story of Abraham to Moses He highlights that the pharisees have always persecuted God's elected people and even though they say they are for God, their actions show that they are actually against him They have failed to obey his commands Stephen showed such great humility to even those that were trying to stone him - he understood that all of us are sinners and tried to show mercy and grace even to those trying to kill him

Ezra 7 Ezra comes to Jerusalem and the hand of the Lord was on him (v6) Ezra observed the Law of the God (v10) King Artaxerxes gives Ezra authority to establish the Mosaic Law Ezra's mission was to teach God's statues and rules (v10 v11-28 shows how Artaxerxes supports Ezra by commissioning him and providing further for the temple It clearly shows how the hand of God was over Ezra at this time

Genesis 7 Noah is told to go into the ark and take 7 pairs of every kind of clean animal Noah obeyed to all the commands God had given him God flooded the entire earth - with the water was higher than all the mountains Everything on dry land died and every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty years Matthew 7 Judging Others Do not judge others because however we judge others, that too is how we will be judged Jesus tells the people why do we rebuke others when we are too guilty of the same sin - we are being hypocrites when we criticise others but fail to see our own sin Ask, Seek, Knock God is a God who answers prayer - v7-8 God is also a God of love and he cares for us - v9-12 The narrow road The Christian life is not easy, it is narrow and difficult but it leads to life (v14) However, the gate to worldliness and self-righteousness is easy to fall into but it leads to death and destruction (v1

Ezra 6 Details of the temple that is to be rebuilt is in exact measurements This shows God's precision and how detailed his holy place is It also demonstrates the holiness of God himself After they had finished building the temple, the people if Israel celebrated with joy The people praised God for allowing them to rebuild the temple and for allowing its completion Acts 6 They chose Stephen who was a man of God and was holy and righteous Stephen is captured and they produced false witnesses against him However, when they looked at Stephen he looked like an Angel