The UCB Word For Today: Recent Episodes
United Christian Broadcasters
With daily readings based on Scripture, articles, and things to pray about, the UCB Word For Today is designed to help you get into the habit of spending time with God every day.
Every plague God sent on Egypt mocked one of their gods. For instance, the Egyptians worshipped a goddess with the head of a frog, so God sent them a lot of frogs.. Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses and said, ‘All right, I give up.’ But when Moses asked him, ‘When do you want me to get rid of the frogs?’ Pharaoh’s response was classic; he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ He must have been insane! Why would you wait any longer to have the frogs removed? But we do the same, don’t we? We procrastinate by putting off the changes we know would be good for us. Maybe we’re unconcerned. Maybe we’re too lethargic to change. Maybe we’re fearful because we don’t know what the changes will entail. Maybe we’re just too proud and stubborn. Whatever the reason – we procrastinate. NASA space engineers tell us most of the fuel that is used in a rocket launch is burned during the initial few seconds of lift-off. It takes enormous energy and thrust to move the rocket off the launching pad. Once it’s moving and headed for orbit, it needs much less fuel and is simpler to control and direct. It has conquered inertia. It’s one thing to know God can solve your problem and change your life. It’s another matter to overcome your inertia and let Him begin to do it now! We keep saying, ‘One of these days…’ The truth is, Jesus Christ has the power to make changes in your life today. He will give you the power to begin and the power to keep going. It’s not too late. He can put your life back together again. So the word for today is – do it today!
A good leader is like a ship’s good captain; they plan the whole trip in their mind before they leave the dock. They have a clear vision of their destination, they understand what it will take to get there, they know who needs to be on board for the trip to be successful, and they recognise obstacles long before they appear on the horizon. And because they prepare well, good leaders can take their people just about anywhere. Moses was such a leader. He spent forty days praying and fasting on a mountain, refusing to leave until he understood what God wanted him to do. Then he came back and communicated it to the people so they could participate in the vision. In Leadership Promises For Your Week, Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘As a good leader, Moses methodically arranged the tribal camps in the wilderness (see Numbers 2:34). We would do well to…organise as he did. 1) Give time for planning and organising. Determine your primary purpose. 2) Understand where you are before trying to develop a strategy. 3) Prioritise the needs and goals of the team by asking the right questions. 4) Write goals that are realistic, measurable, and convicting. 5) Clarify goals and communicate with your team. 6) Identify possible obstacles. Have an open system approach to your planning. 7) Budget your cost and time by scheduling everything you can and setting deadlines. 8) Study the results. Evaluation prevents stagnation and exaggeration.’ If you want God to bless your plan, you must have a plan He can bless. And it must come from God Himself. So, talk to God today about His plan for your life.
On a cold day, have you ever tried breathing on your hands to restore warmth and life? That’s like what happens when you meditate on God’s Word, because ‘all Scripture is God-breathed’. Imagine yourself at a party where people are blowing up balloons and popping them with pins. A scientist could figure out which balloon was yours because your DNA (the genetic configuration that makes you unique) is in your breath. Now apply that principle to reading the Bible, and you will understand how vital it is to your spiritual life. John tells us ‘the Word was God’ (John 1:1 NKJV), so anytime you ingest God’s Word, you’re ingesting His attributes. That’s why the Enemy will try to keep you so busy that you have no time to read your Bible. The truth is, many of the issues we struggle with could be resolved or eliminated altogether if we developed a hunger for God’s Word. Job said, ‘I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food’ (Job 23:12 NKJV). Jeremiah, who was so dejected that he became known as ‘the weeping prophet’, said, ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart’ (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV). Jesus experienced every test and trial known to man; He even went toe-to-toe with the Tempter. What was the secret of His strength? He said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Today get God’s Word into you – it’s His DNA.
In Scripture, to be faithful means to be steady, stable, dependable, and consistent. Do those attributes describe you? They should, because faithfulness pays big dividends with God. ‘A faithful man will abound with blessings’ (Proverbs 28:20 NKJV). Jesus said, ‘Many are called, but few chosen’ (Matthew 20:16 NKJV). Why is that? Because talent may open the door and get you the job, but character and faithfulness will keep you there. When it comes to faithfulness, God will test you in two ways: 1) Your faithfulness in someone else’s vision. ‘If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?’ (Luke 16:12 NKJV). If you’re critical, caustic, complaining, competitive, or constantly comparing yourself with others, you will be disqualified for what God has in mind for you. Faithfulness calls for serving with love and humility. 2) Your faithfulness in small things. ‘His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things…For to everyone who has, more will be given…but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away”’ (Matthew 25:23, 29 NKJV). God wants to know He can trust you. You prove that by how well you serve others and by your faithfulness in small things. These are proven biblical principles that don’t just work in spiritual matters, but in everyday life. So today, take a few moments to prayerfully ask yourself the question, ‘Am I faithful?’ When you are, God will bless you.
Paul writes: ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [mature], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you’ (vv. 14-15 KJV). Paul describes the Christian as a marksman. In Paul’s day, the mark would have been hit by an arrow, but in our day, the mark could also be hit at a firing range. If you have ever fired at a target, you know this: 1) Your aim must be unbroken by distractions. When you have the bullseye in your crosshairs, something as insignificant as taking a breath at the wrong moment can make you miss the mark. So what is Paul saying? Simply this: ‘Forget what’s behind you and around you and stay focused on winning the prize.’ He is not referring to your salvation. Jesus already purchased that and gives it to you freely by grace. No, he is talking about fulfilling your God-given destiny and obtaining the reward that waits beyond it. 2) Your bullet has to have the right amount of powder. Otherwise, it will start dropping off before it hits the mark. Are you getting the idea? Your powder is your power! And where does your power come from? The Holy Spirit! Jesus said: ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem [at home], and in all Judea and Samaria [on the job and in your relationships], and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8 NKJV). So the word for today is – aim for the mark.
The Bible says, ‘By faith Jacob, when he was dying…worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.’ Picture this: each time Jacob had an experience with God, he took a knife and cut a ring around his staff as a reminder of what happened. The rings started at the bottom and worked their way to the top. One would surely have symbolised the night he wrestled with God and his name was changed to ‘Israel…a prince…with God’ (Genesis 32:28 KJV). Another would have represented the night God showed him a vision of a ladder extending into heaven with angels on it. In short, Jacob’s staff represented a lifetime of experiences with God. So, it’s not surprising that he died worshipping God – and leaning on his staff! Now consider the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. Her son suddenly became ill and died, so Elisha sent his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff to let the woman know he was coming. But when Gehazi placed the prophet’s staff on the dead boy, nothing happened. Only when Elisha himself came was the child restored (see 2 Kings 4:32-35). The fact is, you can’t lean on anyone’s staff but your own! You can’t stand on anyone else’s experience with God but yours. When it’s time to face life’s challenges – including death – you can only lean on the faith you have developed during your personal walk with God. That’s why it’s essential to be faithful and consistent in your spiritual journey. By leaning on his staff when he was dying, Jacob, in essence, declared, ‘The God who preserved, protected, and prospered me thus far will take me the rest of the way.’ What blessed assurance!
In What the World Owes to Christians, Dr Victor Pierce, an Oxford scholar, shares the story of the typewriter. ‘The typewriter was a forerunner to the modern word processor. But how did a Christian come to invent it? To write sermons. Seriously! Christopher Sholes was concerned about his pastor who’d been busy all week visiting victims of an epidemic, comforting the bereaved and conducting funerals. Consequently he had no time to write his Sunday sermons. One day Sholes, discussing with a friend what could be done, said, “It seems a pity there ain’t some quick method of writing for busy folks like parsons.” His friend replied, “Why not invent a machine?” Sholes responded, “I’ll try.” That rainy afternoon was the beginning of months of hard work. Finally a group assembled one day to see him tap out on paper, in capital letters, C LATHAM SHOLES, NOV 1867. Six years later the Remingtons recognised the typewriter as something that could revolutionise business. In those days clerks were mostly men, but the Young Women’s Christian Association started offering courses in typing for women. Initially it created a scandal, but as the first typists to be trained were women, employers rushed to hire them. Hence the typewriter and the YWCA determined that a woman’s place was not only at home, but could also be in the office.’ Is it okay for me to pray for God to bless my business? Yes! God wants to bless your business so that you can help carry out His, which is the business of reaching the world with the gospel.
One God-given idea can change so much. Braille sure did! In 1824, Louis Braille, a Christian, invented a system of raised dots on paper so that blind people could read. He invented 63 symbols representing every language, hence God’s Word was placed into the hands of the visually impaired for the first time. And communications? In part, you owe your mobile phone and your computer to a Christian named Samuel Morse. How different the world was before him! First-class news took two weeks to reach the USA. And reports of a major victory could take six weeks to reach Britain. One day a friend said, ‘Morse, when you were experimenting did you ever come to an absolute deadlock, not knowing what to do?’ Morse replied, ‘More than once.’ His friend asked, ‘What did you do then?’ Morse shared a secret, ‘I got down on my knees and prayed for light, and light came, and when my inventions were acknowledged by flattering honours from America and Europe, I said, “Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but unto Thy name give the glory.”’ That’s why the first message sent by transatlantic cable read, ‘What God has wrought.’ Now add another Christian named Louis Pasteur, the French scientist who showed us that infection is the result of things we cannot see, namely germs and viruses. He introduced sterilisation methods that eventually saved the lives of multitudes. Think God has run out of good ideas? Not a chance! Ask Him for one for your life, your ministry or your business!
Good ideas come from God, so ask Him for one. The world’s been blessed by those who did. Consider anaesthesia: how would you like to be operated on without it? That is the way they did it until a Scottish doctor named James Young Simpson introduced something he called ‘artificial sleep’. As a student at Edinburgh University he was attracted to surgery because he was troubled by the pain and mortality rate experienced during operations. As a result of reading ‘And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam’ (Genesis 2:21 NKJV), Simpson thought chloroform might be the answer. He first experimented on himself. Finally, in 1847, the first three operations with chloroform took place. One of the patients, a young soldier, enjoyed it so much that he seized the sponge and inhaled again. ‘It was just too good to be stopped,’ he said. At first Simpson encountered opposition. Some thought it was a sin to interfere with nature. ‘Hand me the Bible,’ said Dr Simpson. ‘This is how God operated on Adam.’ Simpson made speeches, wrote letters and pamphlets and tried to convince those who opposed him that this was the way forward. In a setback, when three deaths attributed to chloroform were reported from other hospitals, Simpson was able to show them that they were not applying the anaesthesia correctly. The tide turned when Queen Victoria gave birth to her eighth child under chloroform and declared that she was ‘greatly pleased with its effect’. Today ask God to give you an idea that blesses others. Then act on it!
When food in your fridge goes bad, you know it the moment you open the door. And your life is like that. When there is something wrong inside, the people who come in contact with you often sense it. Jesus spoke some of His harshest words to Peter: ‘Get thee behind me, Satan…for thou savourest [smell] not the things that be of God, but those that be of men’ (Matthew 16:23 KJV). What was Peter’s sin? Pride. He openly contradicted Jesus (see Matthew 16:22). There are sins of the spirit and sins of the flesh. Peter’s was a sin of the spirit, whereas David’s was one of the flesh that manifested itself in adultery and murder. Later David wrote, ‘Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me’ (Psalm 19:12-13 NKJV). Now, God doesn’t want you to become self-absorbed and introspective to the point where you live in condemnation. But He does want you to be sensitive to sin and deal with it immediately. Scripture gives us three ways to stay clean in a spiritually polluted world. 1) Walking in the light (see 1 John 1:7). That means striving to be honest before God and man. 2) Being accountable. That can mean having someone in your life who is mature enough to deserve your confidence, gracious enough to put up with your inconsistencies, and honest enough to confront you (see Ecclesiastes 4:9). 3) Dealing with your sin right away (see Psalm 32:3-5). The moment that brings consciousness of sin should lead to confession of sin resulting in cleansing of sin. Then you must get back up and go on with God!
There is a natural mindset, and there is a spiritual mindset. To live victoriously, you must develop a spiritual mindset. The Bible says: ‘The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God…and cannot understand them because they are [spiritually] discerned…But we have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:14, 16 NIV). As you programme your life in accordance with God’s Word and consciously submit yourself to do His will every day, He will plant His thoughts in your mind. What an advantage! For example, someone criticises you and your feelings get hurt. In that moment the Lord speaks to you and says, ‘Yes, your feelings are hurt, but part of it is just wounded vanity and we can deal with that. I love you despite all your baggage. Your standing with me isn’t at risk. The person who criticised you may see a flaw. But nobody thinks you’re perfect anyway, and it’s better not to have to pretend. Here is a chance to grow. Use it!’ Even though there are elements of pain in these kinds of thoughts, instead of paralysing you, they energise you. They’re true, they give you ground to stand on, and you realise that if you can keep your mind centred on them, the right feelings and actions are more likely to flow from them. Now you’re starting to live out the promise, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’ (Isaiah 26:3 KJV). Instead of focusing on your critics, focus on God, on your spiritual growth, and on what you can learn from the experience.
If a thief came to your door, would you invite them in? No, you would call the police and have them arrested. And that’s what you need to do when wrong thoughts come to your mind! Take them captive – before they take you captive. And you must do it the moment the first one tries to enter your mind. When you entertain a thought, you empower it, and it will overcome you. The Bible says, ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7 NIV). On your own you don’t have the power to resist Satan, so don’t try it! But the moment you call on God and submit your will to Him, you’re more than a match for Satan. You get to decide who will control your mind: ‘The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace’ (Romans 8:6 NIV). When a thought keeps turning over and over in your mind, ask yourself, ‘What direction is this thought leading me in? Is it towards spiritual death, or towards “life and peace”’? Think about it: you don’t buy insurance after a storm has flattened your house. If you’re wise, you do it before the storm comes. So instead of failing and saying, ‘I’ll never be any different,’ look back and ask yourself, ‘What was I thinking that led to my failure? Was I in the wrong company, or the wrong place, or the wrong mindset? Have I been reading God’s Word and praying regularly? Have I built my life around people who strengthen me?’ In the long run, monitoring your mind pays great dividends!
How can you tell when you’re depending on people rather than God? When you get upset with your boss because you didn’t get the raise you think you deserve. When you become angry with a loved one because he or she turned you down for a loan. When you do things like that, you’re sitting at the wrong door waiting for your blessing! Yes, it hurts when your efforts aren’t acknowledged. But you must understand this: God will use people as instruments to bless you, but He alone must always be the source of all your blessings! Ponder these Scriptures: ‘You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NIV). ‘When God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them…this is a gift of God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NIV). ‘She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her…silver and gold’ (Hosea 2:8 NIV). What was her problem? She ignored God and forgot that He was her true source. We generally pursue and nurture relationships that are rewarding – and that’s important information. Why? Because only when you recognise God as the source of all your blessings will you commit to nurturing your relationship with Him. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33 NIV). When you pursue God, sow generously into His kingdom, and expect Him to meet your needs – your efforts will be blessed.
When it comes to making commitments and keeping them, Solomon doesn’t mince any of his words: ‘Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think…When you tell God you’ll do something, do it – now. God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it”’ (vv. 2, 4-6 MSG). That means don’t be impulsive, listen as much as you speak, get as much information as you can, then consult God in prayer before you make a commitment. People often say what they think others want to hear, but that can get them into a lot of trouble. Don’t promise something you can’t deliver. And don’t make excuses. Nothing diminishes your influence like trying to reverse a mistake with a lame excuse. When you make a commitment based on emotion, you will only follow through if you feel a certain way. True commitment doesn’t work like that. It’s not a feeling; it’s a character quality. Human emotions constantly fluctuate, but commitment has to be rock solid. Real dedication shines through in times of trouble and adversity. It doesn’t depend on gifts or abilities, but on integrity. It’s a result of choice, not conditions. And it only lasts when it’s based on values. Bottom line: ‘Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God’ (v. 2 NKJV). So look before you leap, and think before you commit.
As a parent, you’re constantly transmitting your values to your children, so do these: 1) Let them see you pray. Help them to understand that prayer is how we build a lifelong friendship with God. And they will need His friendship when you’re not around to help them. God said, ‘When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them’ (Psalm 91:15 NLT). 2) Show them what God is like. Your child’s concept of God is formed by you. Whether you’re loving and protective or distant and cold, they will grow up understanding God through the interactions they have with you. Some examples are that God is never too busy to listen, He constantly tells us He loves us, and He is never abusive. Getting the idea? 3) Help them to see God in others. When kids are encouraged to see God at work in their own lives, they begin to discern Him at work in the lives of others too. When that happens, they will value and respect others and be valued and respected in return. That will help them to be secure and successful in life. 4) Don’t send them to church; take them. Children need to believe – and belong. Teach them that just like a limb dies that’s disconnected from a body, we die spiritually unless we are connected to a local church. ‘Belonging’ means they will always have a place to go. The Bible says, ‘Obey his laws…that things will go well for you and your children’ (Deuteronomy 4:40 NCV). Helping your kids to find the right path is the greatest gift you can give them.
Unselfishness does three things for you: 1) It improves the quality of your life. It gives you an appreciation for life and a comprehension of its higher values. Seeing people in need and giving to meet those needs sets a lot of things into perspective. One leader writes: ‘There is no life as empty as the self-centred life. There is no life as centred as the self-empty life.’ If you want to enhance your world, focus your attention on assisting others. 2) It makes you part of something greater than yourself. In the mid-1980s, Merck & Company, the global pharmaceutical corporation, developed a medication to cure river blindness, a disease that infects and causes blindness in millions of people, mainly in developing countries. While it was a good product, potential customers couldn’t afford it. So, what did Merck do? It produced the drug anyway and announced that it would give it free to anyone who needed it. As a result, they gave away more than 250 million tablets. George W. Merck says, ‘We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It’s not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear.’ The lesson to learn? Simple. Instead of attempting to be great, be part of something greater than yourself. 3) It creates a legacy. Jack Balousek, former president of True North Communications, said, ‘Learn, earn, return – these are the three phases of life.’ When you think unselfishly and invest in others, you gain the opportunity to create a legacy that will outlive you. And that should be your goal.
A leader wrote these words: ‘My dad was a busy man…to get him at work you had to go through a switchboard unless you knew his private number. He gave it to a few business partners, but all of his kids had it…We knew, no matter how busy he was, we could call anytime on his direct line. I’ve the same thing…my kids know my number…they can call me anytime for anything. And you know what? No voices sound sweeter to me than my kids’ voices. When one of them says, “Hi, Dad,” it doesn’t matter what I’m juggling…they’re an absolute priority…Now multiply that out exponentially – and listen to me. Nothing sounds sweeter to God than your voice saying, “Hello, Father.” There’s nothing going on in the cosmos that would keep Him from directing His full attention to your conversation or your request.’ That means when God is your Father, you can call home anytime. He is never more than a prayer away! Jesus said: ‘Ask, and God will give to you…If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? Or if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!’ (Matthew 7:7, 9-11 NCV). You can talk to God without begging and grovelling, ‘confident that he hears…whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And…he will give us what we ask for’ (1 John 5:14-15 NLT). So, whatever is robbing you of your confidence in prayer, deal with it today.
Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 19:19 NIVUK). But in order to love yourself, you must first be able to respect yourself. And self-respect is based on personal integrity. Author Ted Engstrom tells the following story in his book called Integrity: ‘For Coach Cleveland Stroud and the Bulldogs of Rockdale County High School [Conyers, Georgia], it was their championship season: twenty-one wins and five losses on the way to the Georgia Boys Basketball Tournament last March, then a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the state finals. But now the new glass trophy case outside the high school gymnasium is bare. Earlier this month the Georgia High School Association deprived Rockdale County of the championship after school officials said that a player who was scholastically ineligible had played forty-five seconds in the first of the school’s five postseason games. “We didn’t know he was ineligible at the time; we didn’t know it until a few weeks ago,” Coach Stroud said. “Some people have said we should have just kept quiet about it, that it was just forty-five seconds and the player wasn’t an impact player. But you’ve got to do what’s honest and right and what the rules say. I told my team that people forget the scores of basketball games; they don’t ever forget what you’re made of.”’ Every honest or dishonest word and action either adds to or takes away from your character. That’s what the Bible means when it says, ‘The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.’ So today, strive for integrity in all your dealings.
In The Message paraphrase we read, ‘For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, there’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it’ll be too late to help them”’ (Proverbs 29:1 MSG). King Solomon was reputed to be the wisest man who ever lived. He wrote these words, but sadly he didn’t live by them, so he ‘crashed and burned’. And if it could happen to Solomon, none of us are immune! Character has become a crucial issue today because so many political, business, and religious leaders have fallen so publicly. As a leader, you don’t operate in a vacuum. You influence many others, and when you fall, they feel the repercussions. When a big oak tree falls, it takes the little trees with it. So how can you guard against falling? By not favouring gifts over character. Today we have an unhealthy tendency to celebrate and reward someone’s gift and overlook their character; both must be developed. Character is the sum total of your daily habits. In Psalm 15, David gives us eight traits to look for in a leader worthy of respect: 1) They have integrity. 2) They don’t take part in gossip. 3) They don’t harm others. 4) They speak up against wrong. 5) They honour those who walk in the truth. 6) They keep their promise, even at personal cost. 7) They’re not greedy to profit at the expense of others. 8) They’re strong and stable. David concludes his psalm by saying those who do these things ‘will never be shaken’. That’s how you keep from falling!
One of the truest tests of leadership is how you respond to somebody else’s success. Do you rejoice, or secretly resent them? Do you feel like their blessing somehow came at your expense? King Saul sent David out to fight Goliath. When he succeeded and the Israelites began to sing David’s praises, Saul couldn’t handle it. ‘From that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.’ Leaders who lack confidence are a danger to themselves, their followers, and the groups they lead. That’s because leadership doesn’t camouflage your flaws; it puts them on display. Whatever negative baggage you’re carrying grows heavier when you attempt to lead others. Insecure leaders generally have four common traits: 1) They don’t provide security for others. To be a good leader, you must make your followers feel good about themselves. Honour them. Reward them. Promote them. 2) They take more than they give. Insecure leaders are on a continual search for validation, acknowledgement, and love. And because of that, their focus is on obtaining personal security, not instilling it in others. 3) They continually limit their best people. Insecure leaders don’t see their best people as co-workers; they see them as potential competitors who might rise up through the ranks and threaten their position. Such leaders generally find ways to take the credit for work that was done by others. 4) They continually limit their organisation. When followers are undermined and go unrecognised, they become disheartened and eventually stop performing to their potential. When that occurs, the whole organisation suffers. Today, examine your leadership style and see if any of these shoes fit you.
Consider some of the people who are enslaved today through no fault of their own – children sold into the sex trade and immigrants sold into forced labour. That’s not the kind of slavery Paul is talking about when he writes, ‘You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.’ When it comes to sin, the Bible draws a line in the sand and tells us not to cross it. Why? Because when you cross it once, it’s easier to cross it again. Whether your ‘drug of choice’ is alcohol, illegal or over-the-counter drugs, pornography, gambling, or overeating, you start out believing you’re the master and end up realising you’re the slave. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, ‘I can stop whenever I want to.’ The Prodigal Son was forgiven and restored, but he still lost his inheritance. Spiritually, you can lose your confidence before God. Personally, you can lose your sense of self-worth. Publicly, you can lose respect and influence with others. And if you’re not careful, even ‘good’ things can hurt you. A strong work ethic can lead to neglecting your family and losing your marriage. Vegging out in front of the TV can stunt your spiritual growth. Even too much caution and thoughtfulness – good qualities – can prevent you from stepping out in faith and fulfilling your God-given potential. When God says no, He is not being a killjoy and trying to make your life difficult; He is protecting you! If something has the potential to enslave you, don’t do it. And if you’re already hooked, turn to God and He will set you free.
When our children are young, we’re so busy providing them with things like love, protection, discipline, training, and authority that it feels like these responsibilities will go on forever. But they don’t. When our children reach their late teens and early twenties, we must open the door for them to the world outside. If you’re going through this right now and feeling anxious, try to realise that you’re in one of the most challenging and difficult parts of parenting. Your tendency to hold tightly to the reins of control in order to keep your children from making mistakes is natural. But your children are more likely to make good choices if they aren’t compelled to rebel in order to achieve their freedom. The simple truth is that responsibility and maturity flourish best in an atmosphere of freedom. ‘As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother.”’ The secret of success is in granting your child autonomy at the right time, in the right amount, and with the right attitude. Your goal should be to allow independence little by little through the years, as your children are able to manage new responsibility. The final release, then, should represent a small step in the direction of freedom instead of a tumble into anarchy. In the final analysis, we all learn by trial and error. You did, and try as you may to avoid it, your children will, too. ‘So what should I do?’ you ask. Pray for them daily, release them into God’s care, and let them know that you will always love them and be there for them.
Are you at a place in your life and you’d rather not be there? Well, God has a word for you, but it may not be one you want to hear. It’s the same word Jeremiah brought to his people when they were slaves in Babylon, far from everything near and dear: ‘You’re not going home anytime soon, so change your attitude, dig in and make the best of it. Buy homes, plant gardens, let your children get married…and in addition, pray for the peace and prosperity of the city where you’re living because when it prospers, you will prosper’ (Jeremiah 29:5-7, paraphrased). The Israelites were in exile because God had allowed them to be taken captive. So, could it be that you are where you are today because God placed you there to bless those around you? Instead of putting your life on hold waiting for circumstances to change, start sowing into other people’s lives what you want to come back as a harvest in your own. Why? Because when they are blessed, you’ll be blessed too! How do we know? Because Jesus said, ‘Give, and it will be given to you…the measure you use…will be measured to you’ (Luke 6:38 NIV). Martha Washington said, ‘I’m determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be. I’ve learned that the greater part of happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.’ That sounds just like Paul: ‘I have learned [to be] content in any and every situation’ (Philippians 4:12 NIV). If you want to go from surviving to thriving, make the most of where God placed you.
At the graveside of His friend Lazarus, Jesus told his grieving sisters Mary and Martha two all-important things: 1) ‘Your brother will rise again’ (John 11:23 NASB 1995 edition). 2) ‘Everyone who lives believing in me does not…die at all. Do you believe this?’ (v. 26 MSG). So, what’s going to take you beyond death and into your heavenly home? Sterling character? Charitable giving? Going to church? No. While those are all commendable, only by placing your trust in Christ can you have the assurance of resurrection and eternal life. You see, Jesus conquered death and the grave for you. You may be reading these words today fighting tears of sorrow. Perhaps you have lost your spouse of many years, or your child to a tragic accident, or a loved one to some dreaded disease. Like no other, Jesus understands your grief. He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities (see Hebrews 4:15). Or perhaps you sense that death is near to you. If you haven’t placed your trust in Christ, you must take care of that right away. Don’t wait for a more convenient time. Do it today, and you will be saved; that means that when you breathe your last breath, you will pass from death to life – heavenly life. When you trust in Christ, there is no reason to fear what lies beyond the grave. He is already there. And He has prepared a place for you. It’s ready! Inexplicable, unending joy will be yours forever, thanks to Jesus. You can exclaim with Paul, ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV). Think about it: immediately following death – glory!
If you have ever seen a child learning to walk, you know that falling down is an important part of the process. Getting back up again is crucial to developing the child’s balance and muscle development. Likewise, a boxer isn’t disqualified because he gets knocked down; he’s disqualified because he doesn’t get back up. Boxers know they will go down, so they focus on the art of falling safely and getting up quickly. Children and boxers both learn this: it’s all about getting up again. The Bible tells us that falling is common to both the righteous and unrighteous. It’s getting up again that sets them apart: ‘If good people fall…they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that’s the end of them’ (v. 16 CEV). The unrighteous stay down – the righteous get up again! In Scripture, some of God’s greatest servants fell into personal failure. Abram lied to Pharaoh about his wife, Sarai (see Genesis 12:11-17). Jacob deceived his father and stole his brother’s birth-right (see Genesis 27:17-29). In anger, Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock (see Numbers 20:7-12). Yet instead of being disqualified, they ‘were all commended for their faith’ (Hebrews 11:39 NIV). How come? Because they acknowledged their sin and received God’s forgiveness. In other words, they fell, but they got up again. And when you fall, you can get up again too. That’s the ‘faith’ part of your journey. Staying down is failure accepted – getting back up is faith activated!
God created us to enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him and each other. That’s why Satan’s first ploy was to separate us from God – and from each other. Using things like pride, stubbornness, confusion, resentment, and selfishness, he drives wedges and polarises relationships. What starts out as a misunderstanding often ends in angry stand-offs or toxic silences that last for hours, days, and sometimes years. Furthermore, we delude ourselves by thinking it’s nobody else’s business. The fallout can’t be contained. It affects every relationship in our lives – all because we’re determined to prove we’re right and the other person is wrong. And it’s not just a psychological problem; it’s a sin problem in need of a divine solution! Here is how God handles polarised relationships. Paul writes, ‘God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’ Sin destroyed our relationship with God. Yet He took the initiative by giving Jesus ‘as a ransom [price paid] for many’ (Mark 10:45 NIV), in order to reconcile us to Himself. Reconciling means bringing back together what belongs together! Notice this: God doesn’t count ‘people’s sins against them’. Neither does He trivialise or ignore our sin debt. He cancelled it at the cross and stopped holding it against us. And it didn’t end there. He ‘made us agents of…reconciliation’ (2 Corinthians 5:19 PHPS) by calling us ‘to settle our relationships with each other’ (v. 19 MSG). Sometimes that means eating humble pie, becoming the reconciler, taking the initiative, and ending the stand-off. Are you ready to do that today?
Building a successful relationship calls for focusing on the other person’s strengths instead of their weaknesses. Concerning marriage, Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Keep your eyes wide open beforehand and half shut afterwards.’ It’s a mistake to rush into a lifetime relationship without taking time to get to know the other person. Without due diligence on the front end, you are sure to have problems on the back end. But an important relationship principle lies in learning to forgive and forget. American politician Edward Wallace Hoch is attributed with saying, ‘There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly behooves any of us, to talk about the rest of us.’ Forgetting can be harder when the offence is great. Small offences can usually be forgiven quickly; big ones involve a healing process. But until you decide to forgive and forget, the process can’t even start. Paul writes: ‘Be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other…forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything… It is what ties everything…together’ (vv. 12-14 CEV). One author puts it this way: ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can‘t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.’ In other words, when it comes to facing facts you can’t change, pray for grace and learn to live with them. Why do we need to forgive and forget? Because God says so! You are not designed to carry the physical and mental stress that comes with harbouring resentment. Added to which, ‘You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out’ (Galatians 6:1 MSG).
‘Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time…Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all…I also saw him’ (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NLT). Some of history’s greatest intellectuals started as atheists and ended up putting their trust in Christ. Why? They examined the evidence! If Jesus was who He claimed to be, God incarnate, taking upon Himself human form, dying for our sins and rising again, then they knew they had a life-changing decision to make: either accept Him or reject Him. And you must make that same decision. Peter told his listeners on the day of Pentecost: ‘You nailed him to a cross…But God…raised him back to life’ (Acts 2:23-24 NLT). They said, ‘What should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God’ (Acts 2:37-38 NLT). That day three thousand souls were won to Christ and the church was launched. Bottom line, Jesus died for your sins and rose again to represent you as an advocate before the throne of God. If you are wise you will accept Him as your Lord and Saviour knowing that He will give you an abundant life now, and eternal life in heaven.
In a ‘sting’ operation, law enforcement agents set the bad guy up in order to bring him down. That’s what God did to Satan at the cross. For three days it seemed as though Satan had won. Then Jesus rose from the dead and turned his plans upside down: ‘He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross’ (Colossians 2:15 NLT). The thing Satan feared most, the birth of a church with the power to change the world through the gospel, had come to pass. ‘The rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord’ (1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT). Christ’s enemies even tried to stop the truth of the resurrection from getting out: ‘They decided to give the soldiers a large bribe…“You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body’”…So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say’ (Matthew 28:12-15 NLT). Normally hatred for a person ends when they die. So why then do some people hate Jesus? Because the resurrection is the ultimate proof that He is Lord! Indeed, you cannot be saved unless you believe in the resurrection: ‘If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation’ (Romans 10:9-10 NKJV).
The hymnist Isaac Watts wrote, ‘See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?’ Jesus wore a crown of thorns so you could wear a crown of glory. Thorns in Scripture represent sin. In Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed, God said, ‘The ground will be under a curse…[…it] will produce thorns’ (Genesis 3:17-18 CEV). Later He told Israel that unless they purged the land of their enemies, ‘they will be like…thorns in your sides’ (Numbers 33:55 NCV). Solomon cautioned: ‘Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road’ (Proverbs 22:5 NLT). And Jesus warned, ‘You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes’ (Matthew 7:16 TLB). A well-known author writes: ‘The crown of thorns Jesus wore represented all our sins. As we were caught in the brambles of envy, anger, shame, discouragement, guilt, bitterness, and unforgiveness, so Jesus, who knew no sin, became “an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10 NIV). Not once did Christ use His supernatural powers for personal comfort. With just a word He could have transformed the hard earth into a soft bed…hurled the spit of His accusers back into their faces…and paralysed the hand of the soldier who braided the thorns. But He didn’t. Instead, “He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to Christ’s cross”’ (Colossians 2:14 NLT). And He did it with you in mind. Amazing!
David was ‘on a roll’. He kept winning battle after battle. He had the Midas touch; everything he touched turned to gold! But success can go to your head, and David wasn’t exempt. He started wondering, ‘Just how strong are we?’ At that point, he conducted a census and discovered he had ‘one million one hundred thousand [fighting] men’ (1 Chronicles 21:5 NIV). That could tempt any of us to think, ‘With an army this size, and given our track record of success, who needs to pray for God’s help or ask Him for a plan?’ That was the point at which God stepped in and judged David, and seventy thousand Israelites died needlessly (see v. 14 NIV). So here is another aspect of leadership you need to be aware of: your mistakes have the potential to hurt others. You’re not just accountable to those who are over you; you’re responsible for those under you. After all, if your good decisions have the ability to bless and guide people, your bad decisions have the potential to harm them. ‘David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong…let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people”’ (v. 17 NIV). God graciously answered David’s prayer, and judgment was lifted from Israel. So, you need God’s guidance for your own sake, the sake of the people around you, and to give you the grace to accept responsibility when you fail. Don’t try to hide your failures, blame others, or run from God. Acknowledge them, grow through them, and go on to become wiser.
Fresh from a major victory over the Philistines, King David made a major mistake. Instead of trusting God for his next battle, he conducted a census designed to measure his military power and determine his chances of winning. As a result, seventy thousand Israelites perished. This story teaches us three very important lessons about leadership responsibility: 1) As a leader, you’re Satan’s special target. He knows that in order to get to others, he must go through you, so he will use every strategy he has to bring you down. ‘Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census.’ The average board of directors would probably have considered it a good idea, but God saw it as an act of arrogance and unbelief. 2) Don’t be presumptuous. Don’t let your last victory make you overconfident about your next battle. There will never be a time when you don’t need God! The fact that God had just granted David a great victory should have made him more, not less, dependent on God. Paul wrote, ‘Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent’ (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV). 3) Listen to wise counsel. Joab, one of David’s generals, warned him he was making a grave mistake. ‘The king’s word, however, overruled Joab’ (1 Chronicles 21:4 NIV). You may have great gifts, but you don’t have all the gifts. Where you have blind spots, others often have 20/20 vision. ‘In the multitude of counsellors there is safety’ (Proverbs 11:14 KJV), so listen to the people God put in your life to guide and protect you.
We have exaggerated ideas about our capabilities. We like to think we can do it all. But no matter how disciplined you are or how hard you try, without a ‘sane estimate of your capabilities’, you’re setting yourself up to fail. John Ortberg says: ‘Willpower is…finite…You don’t get separate stockpiles for different areas…That’s why a long list of New Year’s resolutions is almost certainly doomed…It takes a whole lot of willpower to get on an exercise…programme to lose weight…If you add on the list: get on a budget…keep your office clean, and read Calvin’s Institutes every week, you set yourself up for failure…For most of us…our wills get depleted…more quickly than our bodies.’ Ortberg suggests these: 1) Schedule your most important tasks for when your willpower is strongest. For many people, that’s the morning. One study shows prisoners have a better shot at parole if their case is heard in the morning when the judge has a higher reserve of willpower and is more inclined to take a chance. 2) Spend willpower wisely by not taking on too many tasks at once, even after you have prayed about them. Generally, God works through your will, and He seldom gives you a free pass to disregard the laws of finitude He created. 3) Set goals – but not too many. Lacking a few, we drift, but having an overabundance means we worry about them, accomplish less, and suffer emotionally and physically. 4) Remember that the one act of your will that replenishes willpower instead of depleting it is surrender. God meant for prayer, solitude, worship, and meditation to be done in a way that restores us.
Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? You have, haven’t you? Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘We act impulsively and realise, after the fact, how foolish we were…On top of all that, we hurt the ones we love the most. All this stuff caves in on us…and we wonder how anybody could ever love us…especially God. When we start thinking like this, we need to turn our mind to the “one anothers” in the New Testament. Love one another, build up one another, live in peace with one another, confess your sins to one another, speak to one another, admonish one another, comfort one another, pray for one another. “Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2 NKJV). Imagine two mountain hikers. One…has a…light pack…while the other poor soul…is…loaded down…It could be a long-standing grudge…poisoning his insides…[Or,] a broken relationship with his wife or one of his kids. That pack could be loaded with unpaid bills. The question is, Where can…[he] go to unload? By sitting in church alongside a…couple thousand other folks? Hardly. What he needs…is…a place where there is person-to-person caring and…authentic sharing. Where he will feel free, without embarrassment…to tell his secret or state his struggle; where someone will listen, help him unload, and give him fresh strength. Adult fellowships…are not miniature church services. They are pockets of people who love Christ and believe in helping one another. They don’t point fingers or preach or compare. They are your brothers and sisters in Christ…Are you involved in a…fellowship group? If not, consider joining or starting [one].’ Once you begin unloading, you will discover how much easier the journey seems.
When Mary Southerland came down with a raging fever, her doctor suspected viral meningitis. ‘How long have you had the solid white coating on your tongue?’ he asked. Mary was puzzled. Why did that matter? The doctor continued, ‘The health of the tongue is a very strong indicator of the health of the entire body.’ And spiritually speaking, the same principle applies. ‘The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts…so they say good things…evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things’ (vv. 34-35 NCV). The problem isn’t the tongue itself; it’s more serious. The problem lies in your heart, your attitude, your outlook, and your temperament. Southerland continues: ‘The tongue is a spiritual thermometer that reflects the condition of the heart…Words are power tools that can build…encourage…destroy and cause confusion. We have all been hurt and even defeated by words spoken in anger or words rising out of a wounded heart…If my words are boastful, my heart is insecure. If my words are filthy, my heart is impure and if my words are critical, my heart is filled with pride and anger…Solomon said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11 KJV)…The right word, spoken at the right time and in the right way can bring order in the midst of confusion and light on a very dark path. “Good people know the right thing to say” (Proverbs 10:32 NCV). God gives us spiritual “radar” so we can assess a situation and speak the right word for that circumstance. We just need to check the “radar screen” before we speak.’
When you have been hurt, it’s easy to put up barriers. But be careful – a protective shell can turn into a ‘heart of stone’: resistant, unreceptive, impenetrable even to God. One Christian author writes: ‘The only thing more painful, and with…more serious ramifications than a broken heart, is a frozen one.…Paul warns us [about]…allowing our hearts to harden. “They are darkened in their understanding…separated from the life of God…due to…hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). A soft heart is not weak or naive. To the contrary, wisdom, experience, and faith make for a strong heart, weathered by compassion and seasoned with mercy. A hardened heart is not protected, it’s merely encased in injury, and it is painfully obvious to everyone but you…After a weekend that felt like one painful test after another, I called my best friend in tears. “Why won’t this end? How strong does God want me to be? I can’t take it anymore!” Being a godly woman…she replied, “Perhaps it’s the other way around. You have been strong enough. God wants your heart to be soft and open.” I hadn’t thought of it that way. In response to heartbreak, betrayal, or shame, it is…easy to develop a heart of stone. We think this will protect us from…more pain. The problem with stone is…it feels nothing – no pain, but no love. It is a trap that feels like self-preservation, but it is actually self-destruction. [God] wants to give you a heart of flesh. With His love you can emerge from a painful season of loss with a heart that is yielding, porous, and ready to receive the gifts He has…for you.’
Like the rest of us, Jesus sometimes got tired (see John 4:6). But He was never stressed out by the job. He was led, but never driven. He knew what needed to be done and the amount of time required to do it, and He picked a team to accomplish it. Three of them – Peter, James, and John – were in His inner circle. It wasn’t that He showed favouritism; He just recognised the particular gifts of the people He worked with and what He needed from each of them to get the job done. An important step towards accomplishing something big is knowing the kinds of people you will need. In other words, you need to know who should be on your team. Jesus spent three-and-a-half years training His disciples before delegating responsibility to them. Was He afraid they would make mistakes, outshine Him, or make Him look bad? No, He told them, ‘He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father’ (John 14:12 NKJV). Jesus was a team player who got things done through others. But even when you break a task down, strategically plan it, and recruit terrific people, you need one more component to succeed: teamwork! Teamwork is the glue that brings people together – and keeps them together. There are more than a billion Christians in the world today. And it all started two thousand years ago with one man who had a vision, a man who recruited and trained a team to fulfil that vision. If you’re wise, you will study His work philosophy.
Instead of confining Jesus to church on Sunday, let’s study His work philosophy (attitude, values, and beliefs) on how to get things done. The principles He lived by call for these: 1) Being clear about your assignment. He said, ‘I must finish the work…he gave me to do.’ Jesus understood that focus maximises skill and opportunity. So if you’re talented, energetic, and active and you’re still not seeing concrete results, your problem may be lack of focus. When Nehemiah was rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, his enemies said, ‘Come, let us meet together’ (Nehemiah 6:2 NKJV). That’s when Nehemiah sent back this message: ‘I am doing a great work, so…I cannot come down’ (v. 3 NKJV). 2) Prioritising tasks in the order of their importance. When you don’t do what has to be done according to its importance, jobs start to arrange themselves according to their urgency. And when that happens, you miss great opportunities. The Bible says Jesus ‘needed to go through Samaria’ (John 4:4 NKJV). To the disciples, this probably looked like a diversion because it wasn’t the shortest route to where they wanted to go. But there was a woman in Samaria Jesus wanted to redeem; a vessel through which He reached the entire city with the gospel. Bottom line: Jesus was clear about His priorities. Are you? 3) Creating a definitive timetable. In other words, set deadlines and stick with them. Jesus knew He had only three-and-a-half years to get the job done, and He made every day count. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, ‘I’ll get to it later.’ To succeed in life, let Jesus’ work philosophy become your master plan.
The foundation of good leadership is security. Paul told Timothy, ‘God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.’ You must know with certainty that God called you, equipped you, and guaranteed your ultimate success. And you must keep this in mind when people stop liking you, when funding drops, when morale dips, and others reject you. If you feel insecure, fear will eventually cause you to sabotage your own leadership. Confident leaders see what is, while maintaining their vision of what can be. They’re rarely content with things the way they are. As President Ronald Reagan once quipped, ‘Status quo…is Latin for “the mess we’re in”!’ By definition, ‘to lead’ is to be out in front, breaking new ground, vanquishing new worlds, and proceeding away from the status quo. Dissatisfaction with the status quo doesn’t mean having a bad attitude or complaining; it has to do with a readiness to be different and to take risks. A person who won’t risk change is someone who fails to grow. A leader who loves the status quo is someone who soon turns into a follower. Raymond Smith of Bell Atlantic Corporation once remarked, ‘Administrators are easy to find and cheap to keep. Leaders – risk takers – are in very short supply. And the ones with vision are pure gold.’ Many people are more comfortable dealing with old troubles than doing what it takes to find new solutions; risk seems dangerous to them. The secret lies in having a winning attitude – one that comes from being secure in who you are and what you have been called to do. Think about it!
Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ It takes courage to face a painful reality. It’s easier to bail out of a troubled marriage than to stay and work your way through to a better place. It’s easier to give in to despair and self-pity than go back to school and train for a new career. It takes guts to stand up for your convictions when you’re under fire. But somebody said, ‘Unless you stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.’ The truth is, anytime you’re willing to stand for something or try something new, somebody will take a shot at you. The English word courage is derived from the French word cœur, meaning ‘heart’. Hence the phrase ‘don’t lose heart’. It’s easy to be brave when you feel strong, but it’s much harder when you feel weak and inadequate. Yet, that’s when you need courage the most. General Omar Bradley remarked, ‘Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.’ And the courage he is referring to isn’t hollow hype. It has nothing to do with a ‘fake it till you make it’ mentality. Courage means saying, ‘If God promised it, I believe it’ and moving forward despite the obstacles. If you need an injection of courage today, read and meditate on these verses: 1) ‘Be strong and do not give up…your work will be rewarded’ (2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV). 2) ‘Energise the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! GOD is…on his way…He’ll save you!”’ (Isaiah 35:3-4 MSG). Now that’s courage!
Knowing the battles he would have to fight in order to conquer the promised land, God told Joshua this, no less than three times: ‘Be strong and of good courage.’ Anytime you move forward, obstacles will block your path. Count on it! H.G. Wells asked, ‘What on earth would a man do with himself, if something did not stand in his way?’ What did he mean? That adversity is your friend – even when it feels like your enemy. Every obstacle you face reveals your strengths and weaknesses. It also shapes you and makes you wiser and more confident. Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: ‘Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.’ Anytime you leave your comfort zone and step out in faith to follow God, you will be tested. But you will also reach heights you thought were beyond you and go further than others who had greater talent but settled for the status quo. In The Message paraphrase, Paul tells us: ‘Every detail works to your advantage…So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace’ (2 Corinthians 4:15-17 MSG). Courage can be defined as simply ‘not giving up’.
If you want to grow roses, you must declare war on weeds; otherwise, they will run amok in your garden. In other words, you must beware of weeds! There is a spiritual parallel at work here, and it’s this: unless you deal decisively with sin, it will take over your life. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words like this: ‘Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life – no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God.…That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time – remember, you’ve been raised from the dead! – into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God’ (vv. 6-14 MSG). So, the word for today is – say no to sin!
Panic and anxiety are often our first reactions to conflict and problems. In those initial moments, choosing peace seems impossible. Your subconscious whispers, ‘If you really care, you will worry.’ But a seasoned counsellor writes: ‘Don’t panic! No matter what the situation or circumstance, we usually have…a moment to breathe deeply and…let peace flow through our body and mind…Panic, not the task, is the enemy.’ Anxiety just empowers and enlarges the problem. Your best problem-solving resource is always peace. Fear and anxiety block solutions; answers flow more easily and naturally from a peaceful state of mind. And God’s peace is always available to us – if we choose to use it. Paul writes, ‘When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce…in us…peace.’ Refuse to let your negative emotions run amok or decide your response. Jesus said, ‘[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful…intimidated…cowardly and unsettled]’ (John 14:27 AMPC). That means you have options; you can choose between peace and inner conflict. In the same verse, Jesus also said, ‘My [own] peace I…bequeath to you’ (v. 27 AMPC), and ‘bequeath’ relates to executing a will. When someone dies, they leave their most cherished possessions to the people they love. But just because Jesus left us His peace doesn’t mean it will automatically operate in us. Plus, when we lose our peace, it’s harder to hear from God. When Paul says, ‘Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule…in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15 AMPC), the word ‘rule’ means ‘to govern and to control’. So instead of letting yourself get anxious and panicky today, choose peace.
Living by faith is something you learn to do by practising it daily. Before you became a Christian, you trusted in your own ability and intellect. But those things only took you so far and no further, right? Now you’re trusting God for the wisdom, guidance, resources, and ability to fulfil His will for your life. The Bible tells us, ‘By faith Noah…prepared an ark for the saving of his household’ (Hebrews 11:7 NKJV). Think about it: when Noah built the ark, there was no sign of rain. Living by faith doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t mean your problems will vanish into thin air. Sometimes faith changes your circumstances; other times it changes your perspective. How? By giving you the tenacity to hang in there when the cheque doesn’t come in the post, or the doctor says the condition is incurable, or your spouse asks for a divorce, or the kids are running amok, or the company where you have worked for the last twenty years closes its doors. Faith gives you the fortitude to endure, confident that God will work things out on your behalf. Paul tells us, ‘Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’ (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Living by faith means 1) obeying God and believing He will never let you down, 2) following in the footsteps of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for God, and 3) using your faith because you know it’s the only currency heaven recognises. When the Bible says, ‘The just shall live by faith,’ it doesn’t mean little, sporadic bursts of faith; it means making faith a lifestyle.
Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burned out trying – and failing – to observe a long list of rules and regulations. Here is what He told them: ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light’ (vv. 28-30 CEV). The ‘yoke’ Jesus spoke of was a harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could pull the plough in the same direction. In each team of oxen, one was the leader and the other would follow. There is an important lesson here – don’t miss it. Jesus will take the lead, but you must stay in sync with Him to enjoy His blessing on your life. He promises His yoke won’t choke you; it won’t be wearisome or confining, and you won’t chafe under it. In fact, if you want to be truly free, you must let yourself be yoked to Jesus by submitting your will to His. But it doesn’t work to accept Christ’s yoke for a while and then start pulling the other way when things don’t go the way you want. When you do, the load gets heavier and you start to feel worn out. Peace and rest come when you relax in the yoke and let Christ lead. Jesus said, ‘You will find rest.’ That means your options are to resist Him or to rest in Him! Which will it be?
Ever notice how we tend to blame our circumstances for our character deficiencies? We attribute our problems to poor upbringing, financial difficulties, or other people’s shortcomings. Your circumstances may be beyond your control – but your character isn’t. You can no more blame your character flaws on circumstances than you can blame a mirror for how you look. Integrity is always a choice, and every time you make a character-based decision, you take a step forward in your spiritual growth. Think about the times you have faced temptation and adversity. Jot them down, and beside each one, note your choice: to escape, excuse, capitulate, avoid, persevere, or overcome. What problem areas can you identify? How can you do better? If the things you listed were due to circumstances beyond your control, then choose to take greater control of your life. How? ‘By adding…self-control’ to your arsenal. Our lives resemble icebergs, in that 15 per cent is visible; that’s our reputation. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure – and success. At the end of a brilliant career, Joshua challenged Israel with these words: ‘Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD’ (Joshua 24:15 NIV). Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone: ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’ (Philippians 2:13 CEV).
After listing some of the worst sins imaginable, Paul told the Corinthians, ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (v. 11 NIV). So, before you pass sentence on someone else, remember what God has lifted you out of! Many of us think a ‘good’ sermon is one that goes over our head and hits our neighbour squarely between the eyes! In Scripture, the word restore has two shades of meaning. One is to remove a tumour. A tumour can kill you, and it needs to be removed. Paul writes, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently…in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:1-2 NIVUK). Make no mistake, sharing someone’s shame and humiliation can be a burden. Nevertheless, ‘we should do it…[giving] special attention to those…in the family of believers’ (Galatians 6:10 NCV). If you tend to be quick to condemn others – something we have all done from time to time – ask yourself this question: if people don’t find grace among the people who preach it, where can they find it? The other means to reset a broken bone. Scripture tells us, ‘Christ makes us one body…connected to each other’ (Romans 12:5 GWT). In fact, your spiritual family is more important than your earthly family because it will last forever. By lifting a fallen family member, you help heal their pain and enable them to become a vital, functioning part of Christ’s body again. So, the word for today is – be a restorer.
Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone they are condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Why should we be restorers? 1) Because God tells us to. ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves…you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else; incapable of falling like they did. You would be surprised what you would do in certain circumstances! Paul writes, ‘We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so…self-confident…You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else’ (1 Corinthians 10:12 MSG). 2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But not one time did He condemn someone who was caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. Someone has said the church is the only army that shoots its wounded. Today, others are watching us to see if the grace we preach to others is the same grace we extend to one another. Let’s not disappoint them.
When it comes to motherhood, this sign on a church bulletin board says it all: If evolution is true, how come mothers still only have two hands? Seriously, Mum, today we stop to salute you and let you know how much we appreciate you. Some days you probably wonder if what you’re doing even matters. Your work is never done…you’re always exhausted…and there’s no big financial reward. We live in an age that seems to diminish service and exalt glitz…sometimes it’s hard to value your investment. But hear this: God says you’re highly esteemed by Him, and that children are some of His most precious gifts (see Psalm 127:3). Eugene Peterson paraphrases Solomon’s words in The Message by describing a mother as someone who ‘senses the worth of her work…faces tomorrow with a smile…has something worthwhile to say, and…always says it kindly…Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise’ (Proverbs 31:18-19 MSG). Then Peterson finishes the chapter with these words: ‘Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!’(v. 31 MSG). So Mum, while your role isn’t defined by a pay cheque or a promotion, you’re vitally important to your family and your children’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Nobody can take your place! Samuel was one of Israel’s greatest prophets, but who was the driving force in his life? His mother, Hannah! When Samuel was born she said, ‘I am giving him to the Lord for as long as he lives’ (1 Samuel 1:28 TLB). Mother, you matter more than you know. God is moulding tomorrow’s leaders in your hands.
John the revelator wrote: ‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is…among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true”’ (vv. 2-5 NIV). When an atheist died and his friends filed by his casket, one of them remarked, ‘How sad – all dressed up and nowhere to go!’ Not so for the believer! As a redeemed child of God, you’re assured of a home in heaven and citizenship in ‘the new Jerusalem’. John continues, ‘The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city’ (v. 15 NIV). The city is an exact square of about fourteen hundred miles (see v. 16 NIV). It would stretch from the Carolinas to California and from Canada to Mexico. It’s approximately twenty-one times the size of the UK, ten times the size of France, and bigger than India. And that’s just the ground floor! It’s as tall as it is wide; six hundred thousand storeys high – more than enough room for billions of people to come and go. So here is the question: when you die, will you go to heaven?
The story of David and Bathsheba is the stuff movies are made of – lust, adultery, premarital pregnancy, murder, and cover-up. And it looked like David was home free, except for one important detail: ‘The thing that David had done displeased the LORD’ (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV). In the Bible, God refers to David as ‘a man after his own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT), but the same Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out’ (Numbers 32:23 KJV). So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David, ‘I made you king…So why have you treated the word of GOD with…contempt?’ (2 Samuel 12:7, 9 MSG). Then God passed sentence: ‘Because you despised me…I am going to bring calamity on you…before all Israel’ (2 Samuel 12:10-12 NIV). From that day on, tragedy and turmoil plagued David’s family. On many levels, ‘the way of transgressors is hard’ (Proverbs 13:15 KJV), not the least of which is that sometimes God takes away your peace so that you will acknowledge your sin. It took an unplanned pregnancy, the murder of an innocent man, a child’s death, a prophet’s persuasion, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit before David’s heart softened and he admitted, ‘I have sinned against the LORD’ (2 Samuel 12:13 NIV). And when he prayed those words, God treated David’s sin the same way He treats ours: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 KJV). As long as you keep excusing, defending, and rationalising your sin, God can do nothing for you. But the minute you confess it to Him, He will forgive you. Isn’t that wonderful?
A respected author, along with her husband and friends, were on a mountaintop discussing which direction to go. One man said, ‘That’s south!’ Another countered, ‘No, that’s east.’ Everybody threw in their two-pennies’ worth, until finally the woman’s husband produced a compass and said, ‘We can settle this real fast.’ Within seconds the compass confirmed they were, in fact, facing due west! The only reliable source had the final say, and nobody was about to argue with it. In the course of a day, many voices vie for your attention, and some that sound like experts can be dead wrong. Bottom line: you had better know which voice to listen to, because if you look only at your circumstances, you will become disoriented. An unexpected phone call, a floundering relationship, a lost job, or a sick child can make north look like south and east look like west. When that happens, it’s easy to lose your bearings, jump to conclusions, and end up on the wrong path. The Bible says, ‘Whether you turn…right or…left, your ears will hear a voice…saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’ There is only one true source of wisdom and truth, and Peter recognised that when he asked, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6:68 NIV). You don’t need to know every detail in advance; that’s not how God works. Often, He doesn’t show us the big picture because we would be overwhelmed and think it was impossible. He wants to develop in you an unshakeable trust in His character and goodness; an acceptance that in order to fulfil His plan, you must depend on His strength.
Paul writes, ‘God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain…he won’t stop before it is complete’ (v. 6 CEV). You will notice that Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: ‘The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing’ (John 5:19-20 NLT). Under the weight of our sins, He cried from the cross, ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46 NIV). And His words teach us three important things: 1) We can be following God’s plan and still feel overwhelmed and alone at times. 2) When God doesn’t answer, we must practise standing on the promises He gave us in His Word. 3) The pain we’re feeling will eventually give way to the joy that awaits us on the other side of it. So stick with God’s plan; as long as you do that, there is nothing the enemy can do to destroy you. The Bible says, ‘No weapon turned against you will succeed…These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD’ (Isaiah 54:17 NLT). When you feel like you have reached the end of your rope, do what Jesus did and pray, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46 NIV). In other words, turn it all over to God. Trust Him to do what you can’t do and to bring you through in victory.
God said, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22:13 CEV). God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works towards it. He ‘always does what he plans’. Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). But don’t confuse ‘good’ with ‘comfortable’. When God corrects or redirects you, it doesn’t always feel good. But it is good! David said, ‘When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me’ (Psalm 119:71 CEV). If you’re not sure of God’s plan, seek Him until He shows it to you. Other things may seem more urgent, but nothing is more important. And if you already know God’s plan, rest assured that no human action can cancel it. The psalmist wrote, ‘The LORD will vindicate me; your love…endures forever’ (Psalm 138:8 NIV). There is no situation Satan can devise for which God hasn’t already made ‘the way of escape’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV). Paul reassures us: ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [tested] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [testing] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (v. 13 NKJV). It’s in your times of testing that you discover ‘God is faithful’. He will stretch you, but never beyond your breaking point. His plan is for you to come out of this experience stronger and ready for what’s next on His agenda.
Regardless of how badly you have failed or how often you have failed – God won’t give up on you. So don’t give up on yourself! Nothing you’ve done is beyond the scope of His grace. Others may give up on you, but not God. King David fell as low as a person can get. He was guilty of adultery, deception and murder – all major offences. But God forgave and restored him. He writes about it in two psalms. In the first psalm he writes: ‘Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side…Deliver me, my God!’ (vv. 2-7 NIV). In the next psalm he writes: ‘He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him’ (Psalm 40:1-3 NIV). And the God who turned David’s greatest mess into a message, and his greatest test into a testimony, will do the same for you when you turn to Him and receive His forgiveness, mercy and grace.
God cares about you too much to leave you in any doubt about His love. The Bible says His ‘perfect love expels all fear’. If God loved us with an imperfect love, we’d have cause to worry. Human love is flawed; it keeps a checklist of our sins and shortcomings – and consults it often. God keeps no such list. His love casts out our fear because it casts out our guilt. John writes, ‘If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart’ (1 John 3:20 NKJV). When you feel unforgiven, question your feelings but don’t question God. Go back to His Word; it outranks self-criticism and self-doubt. Nothing fosters confidence like a clear grasp of God’s grace, and nothing fosters fear like ignorance of it. The fact is if you haven’t accepted God’s grace, you’re doomed to live in fear. No pill, pep talk, psychiatrist or earthly possession can put your mind at ease. Those things may help numb your fear, but they can’t eradicate it. Only God’s grace can do that. Have you accepted Christ’s forgiveness? If not, get down on your knees and do it now. The Bible says, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 KJV). The place of confession is also the place of cleansing and restored confidence towards God. Your prayer can be as simple as this: ‘Lord, I admit I’ve turned away from You. Please forgive me. I place my soul in Your hands and my trust in Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’ Now, having received God’s forgiveness, mercy and grace – live like it!
‘Ten…lepers…lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”…He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and…glorified God…So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the [other] nine?”…And He said to him…“Your faith has made you well”’ (vv. 12-19 NKJV). This story teaches us these three things: 1) Sometimes the answer comes quickly; other times it comes slowly, step-by-step. The Bible says, ‘As they went, they were cleansed.’ You don’t know which step will bring the answer, so you must keep walking in faith. Mosaic law dictated that before a leper could be welcomed back into society, the priest must pronounce him ‘clean’. Think about it: Jesus saw the change in these men before it ever took place; that’s because He has the power to make it happen! 2) Don’t give up because others reject you. As social outcasts, these men expected Jesus to treat them accordingly. But when you draw close to God, He will draw close to you (see James 4:8). Are you struggling with an issue that has caused others to shun you or cast you aside? Jesus won’t do that. He said, ‘Whoever comes to me I will never drive away’ (John 6:37 NIV). 3) Always remember to thank and praise God. Only one of the ten lepers passed the gratitude test. Would you have passed it? When you realise how much your thanks means to the Lord, you will never let a day go by without praising and worshipping Him.
When it comes to everyday living, you can walk according to the unchanging principles of God’s Word or by your constantly changing feelings. When you live by God’s Word, you have stability. When you live by your feelings, it’s like riding a roller coaster; one day you’re up, the next day you’re down. God wants to bring you into emotional maturity, but you have to cooperate with Him. This calls for a daily act of your will; choosing to do things His way rather than your own. And once it becomes a habit, you discover that life is more enjoyable. Now, you don’t let everyone who knocks on your door come in and make themselves at home, so why would you let every emotion that surfaces dictate the direction of your day or decide your responses? ‘Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life’ (v. 23 CEV). It’s your thinking that produces your feelings, not vice versa! That’s why Paul writes, ‘Capture every thought and make it…obey Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV). In other words, if a thought doesn’t line up with God’s Word, don’t give it a voice or a vote. ‘We walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). This may come as a surprise, but as a Christian, you won’t always feel God’s presence. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the Emmaus road, yet they didn’t recognise Him. Why? Because they were occupied with their feelings! How did He lift them out of their negative emotions? ‘He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself’ (Luke 24:27 NKJV). Bottom line: you must be led only by God’s Word.
Paul writes, ‘God is good. So…offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice…Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him’ (vv. 1-2 CEV). There are two ways to understand God’s sovereignty: a) through His initiative, and b) through our response. In essence, Paul is saying this: 1) Resist the pressures of a world system that pulls you in the wrong direction. 2) Renew your mind every day through prayer and reading God’s Word. 3) Recognise His will for you and live accordingly. But Paul doesn’t stop there. He writes: ‘Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honour others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of…needy people…Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you…When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone’ (vv. 9-18 CEV). God’s sovereignty doesn’t release us from personal responsibility. It doesn’t mean we should lose interest in current affairs or in making informed decisions. God still expects us to strive for excellence and show concern for a lost world. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty sets you free from playing God and enables you to enjoy walking with Him.
Are you saying, ‘If only I hadn’t said, or done…’? You’re not unique; we all have our regrets. But God wants us to learn from them, not live in them. ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ Jesus wore the crown of thorns so you could wear the crown of righteousness, and be in right standing with God. ‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 5:1 KJV). Being justified gives you the right to stand before God and claim His best. Is your business struggling or failing? Peter the fisherman experienced that too. So Jesus, the Restorer, said to him: ‘“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink’ (Luke 5:4-7 NKJV). Just one word from Jesus, and you can go from the threshold of bankruptcy to adding a second boat. Jesus actually gave Peter back more than he lost. So the word for today is, ‘Believe for more than you expected, because our God is a God of restoration.’
One day the Amalekites swept down on King David’s home town, burning it to the ground and taking its families captive. In this scene of devastation, David and his men ‘lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep’ (1 Samuel 30:4 NKJV). Now, God will let you grieve your losses because that’s healthy, but He won’t allow you to stay there too long. So God said to David, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all’ (v. 8). Did David and his men get back everything they had lost? Yes, and much more besides, for our God is not only a God of restoration but a God of abundance. You say, ‘I feel so ashamed of the years I have wasted.’ The God Who created time can give you more of it. ‘I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…the consuming locust…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the Name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame’ (Joel 2:25-26 NKJV). Notice the word, ‘plenty’. When God blesses you, it will not come from an eyedropper or from a rationed supply. No, you’ll be able to sing, ‘His love hath no limit; His grace hath no measure, His power no boundary known unto men. For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.’ Ever since Adam and Eve ‘blew it’ in Eden, God’s desire and plan has been to restore to us all that we have lost. So come to Him today and let the restoration begin.
Whatever life has taken from you, God can restore. He may not give you exactly what you want, but He will give you what’s best. And even when you fall under His corrective hand through disobedience, if you repent, He will reinstate you to a place of blessing. You say, ‘But what about the time I’ve wasted, the opportunities I’ve squandered, and the mess I’ve made of my life? Sometimes I wonder if I’ve fallen so low that even God cannot reach me.’ No, there’s hope for you. The Bible says, ‘Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear’ (Isaiah 59:1 NKJV). After wasting all that he’d inherited from his father, the Prodigal Son returned home, penniless and embarrassed. All he wanted was three square meals and a job in the servants’ quarters. But the moment he said, ‘Forgive me,’ his father called for the best robe, the fattest cow, the newest shoes, and a ring of son-ship restoring him to his rightful place as a member of the family. Even under the crushing weight of the Old Testament law, with demands that no one could live up to, God said, ‘If a man steals an ox or a sheep…he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep’ (Exodus 22:1 NKJV). Now if God would do that for those who lived under the law and on the wrong side of the cross, how much more will He do for those He has redeemed? So you can go to Him today with confidence, knowing He’s a God of restoration.
Let’s talk about how to become a worshipper. First of all, there is no one-size-fits-all. The Bible doesn’t say you must worship God in a certain way. That’s because worship is such a powerful outpouring of our hearts towards the Lord that it can’t be limited to words or defined by a song, a shout, or silence. Jesus said, ‘True worshippers are…led by the Spirit…These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him’ (v. 23 CEV). Second, God created you to worship Him. Perhaps you have never thought of this – God created us to do the one thing He can’t do for Himself – worship! John the Apostle wrote, ‘Thou art worthy…to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created’ (Revelation 4:11 KJV). Nothing brings pleasure to the heart of our heavenly Father more than the love and adoration of His redeemed children. Third, worship can be expressed by anybody, anywhere, anytime. The Samaritan woman in Scripture grew up believing that true worship must be expressed at a sacred mountain called Gerizim, whereas the Jews believed it should be practised in the temple at Jerusalem. But Jesus said it wasn’t to be confined to church or a particular day of the week. The psalmist, in his inimitable style, puts it like this: ‘Servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD’s name is to be praised’ (Psalm 113:1-3 NKJV). So, become a worshipper.
One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee when a prostitute came in. ‘The woman kissed his feet and poured…perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If [Jesus] really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him!”’ (vv. 38-39 CEV). But Simon the Pharisee got it wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know, it’s that He didn’t care! That day, He forgave her sin and sent her on her way redeemed, restored, and redirected. This story confirms what we already know; Jesus came to save sinners on the street and hypocrites in the church. No one is beyond the reach of His grace. With that in mind, think this way: 1) Never forget what God saved you from! Note what Jesus told Simon the Pharisee: ‘Anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love’ (v. 47 CEV). Remembering the sins of his past, David wrote: ‘He…brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay…set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD’ (Psalm 40:2-3 NKJV). 2) Remember that Jesus isn’t looking at your past but at your future. The crowd saw this woman as a weed, but Jesus saw her as a rose, and He watered it. Bottom line: if you need forgiveness today, come to Jesus. And if you have been forgiven, pour out your heart to Him in praise.
While holidaying in England, D.L. Moody visited a London church that was spiritually dead. The pastor recognised him and asked him to preach at the morning service. Reluctantly, Moody agreed. Afterwards, he told a friend the congregation was so unresponsive it was all he could do to finish his sermon. Later, he remembered he had committed to preach there again that night. Wishing he had never interrupted his holiday plans, he spent the afternoon dreading what was ahead. But behind the scenes, something was happening that Moody knew nothing about. After the morning service, an elderly lady met her invalid sister for lunch and told her about Moody’s upcoming visit. Her sister’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, ‘I’ve been praying God would send Moody to England! Put away the lunch, Sis. We’ll spend the afternoon fasting and praying for tonight’s service.’ When Moody took the pulpit that night, an ‘electric’ sense of God’s presence filled the sanctuary. He preached like a man on fire, and when he issued an invitation for people to follow Christ, five hundred responded. Thinking they had misunderstood, Moody had them sit down while he re-explained the gospel call. But when he issued a second invitation, the same five hundred stood to receive Christ. That Sunday initiated one of the greatest revivals ever to sweep England. What helped make it happen? Two elderly ladies who understood their church desperately needed the fire of God’s Spirit. They believed God’s promise, ‘When a believing person prays, great things happen.’ Today, tap into the power of prayer. Your prayers can help ignite the fire of God and make great things happen.
Have you ever been to a concert where they used the latest audio-visual equipment? Chances are, you were blown away by the multidimensional sights and sounds, and afterwards, left talking about the amazing skills of the performers. If the performance went without a hitch, you probably didn’t think about the sound and lighting techs. Usually we only notice them when the equipment fails. They’re the invisible element; the people who do their job by making the star look and sound great. The real accolades go to those in the spotlight. That’s the order of things in the kingdom of man. But the kingdom of God operates on the principle that ‘the last shall be first, and the first last’ (Matthew 20:16 KJV). Jesus said when you fast, pray, and give without looking for recognition, ‘your Father who sees [your actions] in secret will reward you openly’. On a big ship, only the captain and a handful of officers are visible on the bridge. But the crew below deck determine the ship’s progress for most of the voyage. And in God’s church, it’s the ‘engine-room crew’ who faithfully carry out much of the work: caretaking staff, nursery workers, bus drivers, car park attendants, nursing home visitors, prison outreach workers, and prayer warriors. While high-profile people tend to get most of the kudos, God reserves special recognition and rewards for the below-deck crew! And if you’re one of them, soon enough you will hear His public announcement, ‘Good servant…you have been faithful in a small matter’ (Luke 19:17 CEB). And when that happens, everything else will pale by comparison!
Think how ridiculous it would be for an electric company to generate power and then hoard it. Their customers would be in the dark, and the company would be out of business in short order! The same principle applies to our finances. ‘God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others…You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous’ (vv. 7-8, 11 CEV). Some people refuse to give because they’re greedy, but in most instances, that’s not so. The truth is, we’re concerned that if we don’t look out for our own interests, they might not get looked out for at all. But that kind of thinking doesn’t make sense. That’s like a farmer refusing to plant his next harvest because he is afraid to let go of his seeds. The Bible says, ‘Honour the LORD by giving him your money and the first part of all your crops’ (Proverbs 3:9 CEV). Is that because He is poor and He needs it? No! He wants us to sow into His kingdom so that 1) His work and His will can be done on the earth, and 2) you will have a harvest when you need it. Jesus said when you ‘put God’s work first and do what he wants…the other things will be yours as well’ (Matthew 6:33 CEV). When you become a conduit for God’s kingdom, ‘you will be blessed in every way’. In fact, when you consider your finances from a biblical perspective, the thing to fear isn’t giving away too much – it’s sowing too little!
The engine in your car is its power source, and it’s activated when you put the car in gear. Only then do you have the momentum you need to get where you need to go. One of the dangers in seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit is that you can reduce it to an ‘experience’, rather than ‘putting it in gear’ to accomplish great things for God. In the New Testament when someone was filled with the Holy Spirit – things happened. People turned to Christ. Healings took place. On one occasion, they had a book-burning in the town square (see Acts 19:19). They didn’t just celebrate in church – they took it to the streets! In Scripture, the first picture we have of God is of Him in His creative role. He creates us in His image, breathes life into us, then tells us, ‘Go out and become productive’ (see Genesis 1:28). If you’re praying for someone with all the answers to come along and change your circumstances, it won’t happen. You’re not a helpless bystander. What God has placed inside you will change what’s outside you – provided you put it to work! What’s within you is greater than the trouble you have been through, the situation you’re in, or the obstacles that lie in your path. When everything around you is saying no and something within you is saying yes, that’s ‘God…working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’. The ‘willing’ is your part; the ‘able’ is His part. When you get those two things working in sync, your life will change.
Helping people brings great fulfilment. When you spend your day serving others, you can lay your head down at night and sleep soundly. And even if you have spent much of your life chasing selfish gain, it’s not too late to have a change of heart. Even Charles Dickens’ Scrooge discovered you can turn your life around and make a difference for others. That’s what Alfred Nobel did. He was shocked when he saw his obituary in a newspaper. (His brother had died, and the editor mistakenly named Alfred instead in an uncomplimentary statement, because the explosives his company produced and profited from had killed many people.) So, Nobel vowed to spend the rest of his life promoting peace and acknowledging contributions to humanity. That’s how the Nobel Prizes came into being! When you get outside of yourself and make a contribution to others, you really begin to live. Unselfishness is its own reward; it’s not dependent on the response of others. This is the principle by which the apostle Paul lived: ‘I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me’ (v. 15 NLT). When you see a four-year-old, you expect selfishness. But when you see it in a forty-year-old, it’s not very attractive, is it? Of all the qualities you can pursue, unselfishness seems to make the biggest difference towards cultivating other virtues. Yes, it goes against the grain of human nature. But if you can learn to think unselfishly and become a giver, it becomes easier to develop other virtues, such as gratitude, love, respect, patience, and discipline.
In prison Sampson prayed: ‘LORD…please strengthen me just one more time…Then Samson put his hands on the two centre pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands…the temple crashed down…So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime’ (vv. 28-30 NLT). How did Samson end up in this prison? Delilah! The Bible says, ‘She pressed him daily’ (v. 16 KJV). Satan is persistent, and he waits to catch you in an unguarded moment. That’s why there are certain doors in life you should never open. If you feed the wrong appetite for a day, you can end up struggling with it for a lifetime. Perhaps you have seen the poster that says: ‘Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.’ The good news is, Samson remembered God! And it’s a wonderful day when you remember God and reach again for Him. Note the words ‘he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime’ (v. 30 NLT). Samson’s greatest victory was recorded in the final chapter of his life. In fact, he is named among the heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter eleven. Regardless of where you are today or what shape you’re in, turn to God. He will help you make a comeback. It’s not too late for you.
‘Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip’ (vv. 30-31 NIV). The truth is, without God’s protective hand on your life, you wouldn’t be here today! God is not finished with you yet. Do you remember when some of your friends (and your enemies) didn’t think you would make it? But God rescued you and placed you where you are today. After God finished wrestling with him, Jacob said, ‘My life was spared.’ And so was yours, right? That’s because there is more to come. The Bible says, ‘God…creates new things out of nothing’ (Romans 4:17 NLT). He wants to set in place in your life things that weren’t there before. Good things! But notice something very important: ‘Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak’ (Genesis 32:24 NIV). When God deals with you on important issues, He does it one-on-one, not as part of the crowd. In fact, being in a crowd can keep you from hearing His voice. Being alone with God can feel threatening because your facade and ego get stripped away. Your first impulse may be to stay with the crowd, but you soon discover they can’t calm the restlessness in your spirit. That restlessness is God calling you to a meeting! So, like Jacob, don’t be afraid to wrestle with Him until a new day breaks for you.
Have you allowed envy to form a ‘stronghold’ in your life? Do you find yourself avoiding or feeling resentful of certain people because of their success? The Bible says, ‘Envy rots the bones’ (Proverbs 14:30 NIV) and the New Living Translation paraphrases it this way: ‘Jealousy is like cancer in the bones.’ If you find yourself constantly criticising someone and craving what they have, read these words and think about them carefully and prayerfully: ‘I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen’ (Jeremiah 29:11-12 TLB). In essence, envy says to God, ‘You made a mistake when You made me like I am. I want to be like that other person, and have what they have!’ No, God has a unique calling and destiny for you. So instead of giving place to envy, let it motivate you to become the best possible ‘you’ – the person God intended you to be. If you’re fighting a losing battle with envy, here’s a prescription from God’s Word you need to take every day: ‘Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice’ (Psalm 16:5-9 NLT).
When Elijah was at his lowest point, God told him these three important things: 1) Spend more time with God. ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD’ (1 Kings 19:11 NKJV). That was where God spoke to him in ‘a still small voice’ (v. 12 NKJV). The word ‘still’ teaches us that instead of always working for God, we need to spend time with Him. If you don’t, you will run on empty, and get nowhere. When David was feeling down, he wrote: ‘Many are saying…“God won’t rescue him.” But, LORD, you are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage. I will pray to the LORD and he will answer me’ (Psalm 3:2-4 NCV). 2) Stop trying to do it all yourself. That’s the fast route to depression. Leadership isn’t just about getting the job done; it’s about developing others and getting it done through them. Elijah wasn’t alone. God told him, ‘I have reserved seven thousand in Israel…whose knees have not bowed to Baal’ (1 Kings 19:18 NKJV). Don’t just operate – learn to cooperate! 3) Realise your assignment isn’t over. God showed Elijah there were still kings to anoint, battles to win, and a successor to be prepared (see v. 16). Need a reason to get out of bed in the morning? God will give you one! When you’re ‘down’, He doesn’t get mad at you. On the contrary, His Word says, ‘He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the dimly burning flame. He will encourage the fainthearted, those tempted to despair’ (Isaiah 42:3 TLB). That’s the loving-kindness of God!
Elijah got so ‘down’ that he was ready to end it all. And it happened on the heels of his greatest victory. He had just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, when he went from exhilaration to exhaustion. We forget that even when we’re successful and love what we do, it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. So, if you’re a purpose-driven person with no boundaries, pay attention! 1) Exhaustion made Elijah lose perspective. He had just defeated 850 false prophets (see 1 Kings 18:19), and now he was running from one woman: Jezebel. General George Patton Jr. said, ‘Fatigue makes cowards of us all.’ When fatigue walks in, faith walks out! It distorts our thinking and makes us overlook God’s power and His promises. Mental fatigue coupled with physical exhaustion is a deadly combination that invites hopelessness and creates the illusion that we have no options. 2) Fear made Elijah isolate himself. Leaving his servant in Beersheba, he went into the wilderness and told God, ‘I am the only one left…now they are trying to kill me’ (1 Kings 19:10 NIV). At that moment, Elijah was in the worst possible company – his own! When you feel down, that isn’t the time to isolate yourself. That’s when you need to reach for God and the people who love you and can help you get back up. Even Paul needed help. After writing, ‘[In] Macedonia, we…found trouble all around us…fighting on the outside and fear on the inside,’ he added, ‘But God, who comforts those who are troubled, comforted us when Titus came’ (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NCV). So, who do you need to call? Who do you need to reach for? Don’t keep putting it off – do it!
Family conflict brings out the worst and the best in all of us. But conflict itself isn’t the problem – character is! Conflict just reveals what’s important to us. Abram’s priority was the family; Lot’s was ‘getting rich’. Abram’s concern was harmony; Lot’s was self-preservation. Abram was driven by his faith; Lot by his greed. Abram was a giver; Lot was a taker. But watch how the story turned out. 1) What should have happened? The junior partner should have submitted to the senior; the follower should have deferred to the leader; the less-spiritual should have acknowledged the more-spiritual. But Lot failed on all counts! 2) What could have happened? As the God-appointed leader Abram could have assumed top dog status and enforced his will, but he didn’t. He could have been concerned about winning, but wasn’t. He could have called in his debts with Lot, but refused to. 3) What did happen? First, Abram elevated relationship above personal advantage. Second, he relinquished his ‘rights’, to keep peace in the family. Third, he ‘turned the other cheek’ and deferred to Lot. The greater gave way to the lesser. The stronger made allowance for the weaker. The mature showed mercy toward the immature. Did it make Abram the weaker man and Lot the stronger? Did Abram lose and Lot win? No! God always has the last word. And it was this: ‘Look…northward and southward and eastward and westward…all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever’ (Genesis 13:14-15 NASB). Doing things God’s way is the certain road to peace and prosperity.
The conflict between Abram and Lot teaches us important principles about our families. Lot had lived peacefully in his Uncle Abram’s home. Abram had taken him along on the journey of faith, when suddenly conflict arose. And because conflict reveals character, Lot showed his true colours. Since their growing herds were too big to share the same pastures, Abram suggested they split the land between them, offering Lot first choice. Lot ‘chose for himself’ (Genesis 13:11 NASB) the best land, leaving the rest to his uncle. Lot moved to rich, sinful Sodom; Abram built an altar to the Lord. Same genes – totally different values! So: 1) Consider the facts. Abram was God’s appointed leader and Israel’s primary patriarch. God had promised him a homeland, fatherhood of a great nation, blessing and protection. And above all these, God promised that in him, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed!’ (Genesis 12:3 NASB). In practical, day-to-day terms, Abram was the senior partner and major stockholder in the family business. He had shown love and generosity to his nephew, and in the crunch, valued their relationship over personal interests. Abram, therefore, deserved consideration and deference from his nephew. But Lot never gave it to him. 2) Consider the point. For the family’s sake, Abram chose not to ‘pull rank’, or ‘insist on his rights’, or ‘show who’s boss’. He proved that God alone vindicates us! We shouldn’t even attempt to vindicate ourselves. Abram chose grace over law, humility over pride, self-denial over ‘rights,’ mercy over justice, love over lust, and character over popular opinion. Think about it!
A competition was held between two men to see who could chop down the most trees in a single day. One man was older and more experienced, while the other was younger and less experienced. And that’s where the difference showed up. The younger man spent eight hours chopping down trees, and at the end of the day he had a total of twenty-five. Believing the older man lacked stamina and youth, he sat down, fully confident he would win. Meanwhile the older man, who had taken a ten-minute break each hour, ended his day by chopping down forty trees. In shock the younger man asked, ‘How is this possible, old man? I didn’t stop. You stopped every hour for ten minutes and yet you chopped down almost twice as many trees as I did.’ The older man replied, ‘Every hour I sat down for ten minutes and did two things. First, I took time to rest and recharge my batteries. Second, I took time to sharpen my axe. Yes, you were working hard but you were working with a dull axe.’ There’s an important lesson here for you. In order to succeed at what God has called you to do in life, you must always do these two things: 1) Make time for rest and renewal. You cannot always be giving out; you must also stop and take in. That’s where prayer and Bible reading come in: they restore what life depletes. 2) Stay sharp. When your axe is dull it requires more energy and produces fewer results. So take time to rest and sharpen.
The Bible tells us: ‘Isaac’s servants dug…a well…But the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So…they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one also.…And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called it…Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land”’ (Genesis 26:19-22 NKJV). What a great example of practising forgiveness. During a drought, Isaac dug wells and his enemies moved in and claimed them. It wasn’t fair, but instead of retaliating, he moved on and dug new wells – and God blessed him greatly. The truth is this: God will fill the emptiness in your life when you forgive those who have hurt you. Let’s face it; as long as we share this planet with other imperfect human beings, they will hurt us. There is no way to avoid it. And when the hurt goes deep, it can be hard to forgive. Does that mean you should go around pretending that nothing is wrong, and denying how you feel? No, the first step towards healing is acknowledging your feelings. And Jesus gives us the second step: ‘Pray for those who mistreat you’ (Luke 6:28 NIV). When you do that, something unexpected happens. Your heart softens and you start to see the offender through God’s eyes instead of your own raw emotions. ‘But I don’t want to forgive them!’ you say. Then here is step three. Acknowledge your unwillingness to forgive and ask God to make you willing. Pray, ‘Turn thou me, and I shall be turned.’
Long after you think you have forgiven someone, you can still be harbouring hard feelings. Some indicators that you still have work to do are these: you keep thinking about the person who hurt you and become resentful. You avoid them. You rehearse the incident mentally and in conversation. You take every opportunity to remind them of what they did. Do you know what you’re doing? Justifying an unforgiving attitude! There are two things God won’t share. 1) The praise that’s due Him. ‘I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise’ (Isaiah 42:8 NLT). 2) The right to ‘settle the score’. Paul writes: ‘Never take revenge…The Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good’ (Romans 12:19-21 NLT). So forgive, hand the situation over to God, and trust Him to work it out! When ‘people insulted Christ…he did not insult them in return…He let God…who judges rightly, take care of him’ (1 Peter 2:23 NCV). Resentment chains you to the offender, and you end up as a hostage. Dwelling on something your parents or spouse did, or how a colleague took credit for your work, or what someone may or may not have said about you, makes you – not them – miserable. You walk around stewing, and they don’t even know you’re upset. Don’t give anyone that kind of control over your life. Forgive – and move on!
Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. Uncorrected vision leads to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s constant rebellion was putting them in jeopardy with God, and they needed a leader with clear vision. So, the first thing God did was give Isaiah a vision of His glory and power. Without it, he could not have done the job. Without this life-changing encounter with God, he would never have been strong enough to complete his mission. And the same applies to you. Whatever God calls you to do will require more than a job description and some basic skills. You will need a vision of His glory and limitless power to reassure you He is more than adequate for the challenge! (See Ephesians 3:20.) The second thing God did was adjust Isaiah’s vision of himself. Once your God-concept is adjusted, you’re ready for a self-concept adjustment – and not before! If you start with step two, you will quit before you begin. Isaiah cried, ‘I am not pure, and I live among people who are not pure’ (Isaiah 6:5 NCV). Isaiah realised he was no better than the people he had been called to reach. Until you see yourself realistically, honestly, and humbly in relation to God and others, your mission won’t succeed (see Romans 12:3.) The third thing God the passing hour) is…producing…an everlasting weight of glory’ (vv. 15-17 AMPC). When you’re under pressure, your faith grows – and God knows exactly how much pressure to apply! He will let you get to 1) a place where you’re out of answers and your resources seem depleted, 2) a place where you’re tired of Satan stealing what you know God promised you, and 3) a place where you’re no longer willing to let other people’s opinions control you. (Remember, with God there are no hopeless situations, just people who have grown hopeless about them.) It’s when there is nothing more you can do that you start trusting God to do the impossible. As Paul says, ‘This slight distress of the passing hour’ (v. 17 AMPC). The crisis you’re experiencing may be a blessing in disguise; an opportunity to experience God’s ‘unfolding grace’ and a greater degree of His power at work in your life.
If you’re going through a difficult time right now, let Paul’s words encourage you. ‘Surrounded and battered by troubles…we’re not demoralised; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows…we’ve been spiritually terrorised, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken’ (vv. 8-9 MSG). Who was Paul talking to? Followers of Christ who were having a rough time. Here is what he told them: ‘For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake…Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day…For…(this slight distress of the passing hour) is…producing…an everlasting weight of glory’ (vv. 15-17 AMPC). When you’re under pressure, your faith grows – and God knows exactly how much pressure to apply! He will let you get to 1) a place where you’re out of answers and your resources seem depleted, 2) a place where you’re tired of Satan stealing what you know God promised you, and 3) a place where you’re no longer willing to let other people’s opinions control you. (Remember, with God there are no hopeless situations, just people who have grown hopeless about them.) It’s when there is nothing more you can do that you start trusting God to do the impossible. As Paul says, ‘This slight distress of the passing hour’ (v. 17 AMPC). The crisis you’re experiencing may be a blessing in disguise; an opportunity to experience God’s ‘unfolding grace’ and a greater degree of His power at work in your life.
Seneca the Younger said, ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’ As you read in Scripture about the people God used to accomplish great things, you discover that much of their time was spent preparing for what seems like a relatively brief assignment. The ego in each of us craves two things – limelight and longevity! But with God only one thing matters: doing His will. When you can say like Paul, ‘I have finished the race,’ you have lived successfully. So, who does God use? Those who are prepared! Whether you’re called to business, art, education, politics, medicine, or ministry, this principle is immutable: opportunity comes to the prepared. That means every experience in life has potential value. Disraeli said, ‘One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.’ And it’s not enough to simply get prepared; you must stay prepared. Solomon writes, ‘Hold on to instruction…guard it well, for it is your life’ (Proverbs 4:13 NIV). Knowledge in most fields doubles about every five years, and unless you keep growing, you will end up with outdated skills that don’t match the challenges of the world you live in. And here is another thing: preparation doesn’t start with what you do; it starts with what you believe. When you believe that tomorrow’s success depends on today’s preparation, you see today differently. Queen Elizabeth I reputedly offered the royal physicians up to half her estate if they could extend her lifespan. But, of course, they couldn’t. That’s why the Bible says it’s important to recognise ‘how short our lives really are so that we may be wise’ (Psalm 90:12 NCV).
When you grow up with rejection, it can manifest itself in a need to isolate and withdraw or in a drive to constantly ‘prove yourself’. One man said it like this: ‘I can still hear my father yelling, telling me I’d never be any good, never amount to anything. The more he yelled, the more determined I became to prove him wrong.’ Are the wrong voices speaking to you? If they are – read on! The Bible says Enoch ‘had this testimony, that he pleased God’. How? ‘By faith’ (v. 5 NKJV). God sees you differently from how your parents or peers do. Their acceptance is often based on your performance, whereas God’s acceptance is based on your position. Paul writes, ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). God sees us wrapped in the righteousness of Christ; therefore, we’re always acceptable. That doesn’t mean you don’t work hard; it means working for the right reasons. Instead of striving for God’s approval, you serve Him out of gratitude. Once you know that your identity and worth aren’t tied to the car you drive, the home you live in, how much you earn, or the people you mix with, it changes your motivation. Instead of being concerned about the neighbourhood you live in, you become concerned about your neighbours. Instead of focusing on how much money you make, your focus becomes financing God’s kingdom. Instead of worrying about your job title, your goal becomes performing with excellence and integrity. In other words, instead of just working hard, you’re doing it for the right reasons.
The word ‘servant’ can have a negative connotation, but not in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul uses the strongest possible language, doulos (meaning ‘slave’ or servant’), to remind us that we’re supposed to be servants to God’s will. Jesus loved people so much that one day He would die to redeem them, but that didn’t stop Him from saying no when He needed to. Pleasing and appeasing people to win their approval is never a good idea because it puts someone other than God in the driver’s seat of your life. Instead of letting Himself be side-tracked, 1) Jesus refused to let other people’s idea of what was important keep Him from His mission, 2) Jesus recognised that doing God’s will was more important than trying to meet everybody else’s expectations, and 3) Jesus made prayer and uninterrupted time with His Father a top priority. Was that easy? No, and it won’t be easy for you either! Early in His ministry when word spread about His miracles, a ‘whole town gathered…and Jesus healed many’ (Mark 1:33-34 NIV). The next morning another crowd was waiting on His doorstep! And how Jesus responded this time might surprise you. ‘While it was still dark, Jesus…left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else…so I can preach there also. That is why I have come”’ (vv. 35-38 NIV). Jesus was a servant to God’s will, and you must be too.
Because they disobeyed God, the Jews spent seventy years as slaves in Babylon. They lost their joy, their freedom, and their identity; all the things that make life worth living. But God hadn’t finished with them. He told them this: ‘After…seventy years, I will be kind and bring you back to Jerusalem, just as I have promised. I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me…ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you and accept your worship.…You feel secure’ (vv. 10-15 CEV). Maybe you have veered off course. We all have at one time or another. But when you read biblical accounts of the people God blessed and used, you discover that failing isn’t unusual. Often, it’s part of the learning curve. The fact is, there is nothing in your past or present that God can’t use. When we come into this world, none of us knows exactly what we’re supposed to do with our lives. And that’s okay. Just start where you are right now. When God puts your life back on track, He starts by giving you a sense of hope, because only God-given hope will sustain you through the rough times. If you’re wondering whether you will ever get to where you’re supposed to be in life, go back and reread what God promised His people: ‘A future filled with hope’ (v. 11 CEV). And the God who gave Israel another chance will give you one, too, when you turn to Him.
The key to Bible study is to do it daily, systematically, and prayerfully. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’ This involves three things: 1) God will show you the truth about Himself. You will discover His nature, His opinions, and what He values. And if you grew up with an absent or abusive parent, you will discover that your heavenly Father is entirely different – lovingly different! 2) God will show you the truth about others. You will begin to understand and appreciate their places in your life. You will also learn to recognise and anticipate their needs and the role God wants you to play in helping them. You see, when God blesses you, it’s always to make you a blessing to others (see Genesis 12:1-2). 3) God will show you the truth about yourself. You will start to grasp and appreciate how important you are to Him. Yes, He will point out your problems and weaknesses. But He will do more than that. He will show you the possibilities He sees in you and the plans He has for you (see Jeremiah 29:11). So, set aside time each day to study your Bible. And spend part of it simply reading, without trying to delve into complex theological concepts. Read and absorb what God has to say, and let His Spirit speak to your heart. And here is an additional thought: since the Bible is the only book God ever wrote, and one day you’re going to stand before the author Himself, wouldn’t you like to be able to tell Him you have read His book?
When a well-known pastor was asked by a sceptic, ‘Do you believe there is such a thing as a real devil?’ he smiled and replied, ‘Have you ever been to an annual church business meeting?’ Seriously, if you have been a church member for any length of time, you know that strife rears its ugly head in the family of God just like it does everywhere else. Paul and Barnabas, a brilliant ministry team, allowed their differences over John Mark to separate them to where they could no longer work together. Later Paul changed his mind, but the die was already cast. He appealed ‘to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News’ (Philippians 4:2-3 NLT). Strife hinders our prayers, takes our focus off lost souls, and makes us ineffective in our ministry. We must learn to respect each other’s talents, perspectives, and positions instead of envying them. In other words, learn to disagree without being disagreeable. The Bible says: ‘Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace’ (James 3:16-18 KJV). God blesses peacemakers (see Matthew 5:9), so when strife arises in your church, make it your mission to sow seeds of peace!
King Solomon wrote: ‘Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding’ (vv. 6-9 NLT). We usually embellish the truth in order to get these two things: the attention and the approval of the listener. But eventually, it backfires. Over time, people discover your propensity to stretch the truth, and you lose your credibility with them. And once you lose that, it takes a long time to get it back – if ever. Sweeping statements like ‘Everybody does it,’ or ‘You never,’ or ‘You always’ cause people to discount you and eventually slot you as untrustworthy. It’s okay to say something with enthusiasm but avoid exaggeration. Stick to the facts and resist the urge to be the centre of attention by engaging in this form of lying. Joseph’s brothers resented the favour of God that was on his life. So, they threw him into a pit, dipped his coat in blood, then took it back home and showed it to their ageing father. They didn’t say a word. They simply let the old man conclude that his son had been devoured by a wild beast. And what’s more, they allowed him to live with that cruel lie for years. Revelation 22:15 says, ‘Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie’ is lumped together with ‘sorcerers…whoremongers…murderers, and idolaters’ (KJV). So, unless that’s the company you want to be identified with, tell the whole truth. Today make your prayer, ‘Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and…a deceitful tongue’ (Psalm 120:2 NKJV).
Do the people you work with know that you are a follower of Christ? What do they think of your attitude towards those in authority? How about the people who work under you – are you critical or complimentary towards them? How is your timekeeping? Do you arrive to work on time and give 100 per cent? Do you demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and excellence on the job? In other words, on the job, are you making Jesus look good? When you begin to think seriously about it, the eternal destiny of some of the people you work with may be riding on your performance. Right now, they may not be too interested in what you have to say when it comes to the things of God. But all of that can change in an instant. When people face a crisis in life like death, divorce, sickness, or unemployment, they want someone with real answers. That’s when they seek out the boys they threw into the fiery furnace and the lions’ den, because nobody else around them has answers that work. Jesus said: ‘You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?…Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…I’ve put you…on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God’ (Matthew 5:13-16 MSG).
Hoping to save their relationship, a woman dragged her husband to see a counsellor. During their session, the counsellor asked him, ‘Do you tell your wife you love her?’ The man growled, ‘I told her when we got married I loved her – and that if I ever changed my mind, I’d let her know.’ Seriously, people know you love them when you show them and when you tell them. The relationship between Jonathan and David was so strong that they were willing to lay down their lives for one another. Yet the Bible says, ‘Jonathan asked David to repeat his promise of love for him.’ When you lose a loved one, you realise that relationships are much more important than possessions. We tend to forget that, in our scramble to get to the top of the heap. There is something about knowing you have a short time to live that radically alters your perspective. It makes you want to fill every precious moment with important words you have left unsaid and important things you have neglected to do. Don’t let self-centredness masquerading as ambition or religious zeal stop you from expressing your love to the people in your life who need to hear it. Make that call. Send that e-mail. Buy those flowers. Say, ‘I love you.’ Most times, people don’t need our opinions and solutions; when we give them our love and support, they usually find their own solutions. Yes, it’s important to fulfil your God-given assignment in life, but not at the cost of the people who really matter. Three little words people never get tired of hearing are ‘I love you’. It’s not complicated – it just requires thought.
Healthy confrontation calls for putting the other person’s well-being above your own interests. So how do you confront someone in the right way? By doing these three things: 1) Be sure. There must be a good reason to confront. And it should be a rare event, not an everyday one. You shouldn’t relish the experience. If you do, you need to examine your motives. Are you feeling superior? Are you redirecting your anger towards this person over a completely different issue? Are you lifting yourself up by putting them down? Before confronting someone, you must answer these questions truthfully. 2) Be specific. Vagueness leads to an uncertain outcome, no matter how tactful and gracious your words may be. Make sure you know the reason for the confrontation; then make it clear to the other person. 3) Be sensitive. Every situation is different, so a season of soul-searching and prayer should precede any face-to-face encounter. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for problems, and the other person will sense uncertainty and uneasiness in your words. Don’t run that risk. If you haven’t taken the time to pray and get counsel beforehand, don’t jump into the situation on your own. We have all seen this type of Clint Eastwood ‘Go ahead, make my day’ approach. Without fail, it leaves confusion, resentment, and a trail of wounded souls. Make sure your words and tone of voice are attuned to the person you’re dealing with. And try to keep your personal agenda in check; none of this is about you! Pay close attention to timing, choose your words carefully, and, for sure, pray for guidance. Remember, Christlike confrontation brings the right result every time.
We don’t enjoy confrontation, but it’s impossible to grow without it. Healthy confrontation calls for ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) to those we value. Just as God confronts each of us in areas where we need to grow, He expects us to do the same for others. Is it easy? No. But here are some guiding principles to help you: 1) Talk to the person, not about them. Healthy confrontation should be direct and, when possible, done in private. It calls for thoughtful communication, delivered firmly but graciously. When people are hurting, handle them with care. 2) Don’t exaggerate or use spiritual hype. Give specific examples. Don’t hide behind words like ‘I believe the Lord has shown me that you’re wrong’. When Nathan the prophet confronted King David about his sin with Bathsheba, he was specific. And keep your emotions in check; allow enough time between the offence and the confrontation for a prayerful defusing of any anger you feel. 3) Don’t guilt-trip them; help them. Don’t leave somebody in a stew without clear direction on how to improve. That’s not fair, and it’s not constructive. Actually, it can lead to more intense issues and unwanted complications. The best approach is to calmly identify the problem and suggest ways it can be resolved. Your goal isn’t to expose somebody but to show them a better way. 4) Don’t be critical; be compassionate. If you miss everything else, don’t miss this! If you do, you will find yourself condemning rather than confronting. If you’re honest, you will admit that your own road to success has had some potholes – so approach others with love and concern.
own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ (Romans 8:32 NIV) Notice the words ‘all things’. We are all equal in Christ. But when it comes to your career, your value is determined by the problem you solve. That’s why we pay a cardiologist more money than a chef in a fast-food restaurant. Jesus was a problem solver. People were spiritually hungry so He said, ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35). They were sick so He ‘went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil.’ He discerned what He had, that others needed, and provided it for them. What do you have to offer? What would you attempt to do if you knew it was impossible to fail? You are not here by accident. God told Jeremiah, ‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I [set you apart], and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations’ (Jeremiah 1:5 KJV). Everything God makes is to meet a need and solve a problem. So what are you called and gifted to do? That’s where you’ll find your highest level of joy! Think of your contribution to others as an assignment from God. Paul made tents to support his ministry. So your ministry may be supported by your job. But whether you are in a full-time ministry or a part-time ministry, don’t leave this earth until you have found and fulfilled what God called you to do.
At Oscar time, Hollywood hands out awards to the best actor, producer, director, editor, costume designer, etc. But the Screen Actors Guild knows there would be no place for big stars and best movies without the supporting cast and the contributions of technical and artistic crews. The Oscars remind us that the brightest lights can only shine because of the lesser lights that go unrecognised. Scripture tells us that God also has a supporting cast; people who are happy to work behind the scenes. They’re the ones who go about their business at home, at work, and at church, serving quietly, gladly, and faithfully. Families are raised, nations are strengthened, businesses prosper, and churches grow, thanks to those who do the little things that make all the difference. The Bible is filled with behind-the-scenes people, like the unnamed ‘man carrying a pitcher of water’ who led Peter and John to the upper room for Jesus’ eve-of-crucifixion meeting with His disciples. Or people like ‘James the less’ (Mark 15:40 KJV), a relatively unknown disciple, often overlooked by men – but never by God! Whatever you do, no matter how small, take this promise to heart: ‘God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown towards His name’ (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV). So, stay faithful. Jesus said, ‘Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Revelation 22:12 KJV). The truth is that God is planning His own Oscar ceremony – and you can be part of it!
Gone are the days when gun-shy theologians bowed to the god of science. Reliable scientists are now affirming how ingenious God is and how His principles hold up under the piercing light of scientific scrutiny. Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, MD, who studies the relationship between spiritual phenomena and the brain, has demonstrated that we were designed physically and mentally to interact with God through prayer and Scripture. It’s a known fact that there are centres in the human brain that respond positively to prayer, reading and meditating on God’s Word, group worship, hymn singing, and empathy for other people. And Dr Newberg believes that practising a personal religious faith is the most powerful way to maintain a healthy brain. The brain’s frontal lobe is used in focusing attention, rational thinking, and decision-making. It responds to prayer and meditation by helping to reduce stress, strengthen our immune system, enhance memory, and increase our capacity for compassion. It helps us ward off age-related brain deterioration and live longer! Newberg’s research indicates that praying for at least twelve minutes a day slows age-related brain decline. Prayer and reading Scripture also deactivates areas in the brain associated with anger, guilt, anxiety, depression, fear, resentment, and pessimism. It seems that finally twenty-first-century science has joined ancient Scripture in echoing what the psalmist said: ‘Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous’ (Psalm 139:14 NLT). Can you think of a better reason to ‘let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’ (Colossians 3:16 KJV)?
Trials, disagreeable people, and frustrating circumstances are potentially upsetting – and the bad news is, they’re not going away anytime soon. However, the good news is, they’re not your problem! The fact is, it’s not what happens to you that determines your mood; it’s what happens in you! We imagine life would immediately change for the better if we could alter people and circumstances, but there would be new people and circumstances to deal with, right? Solomon had it right; it’s not about controlling the world on the outside – it’s controlling the world on the inside. Proverbs tells us, ‘A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls’; in other words, a city that’s open to attack. The only way to guarantee your security is to forget about controlling people and things, and to focus on maintaining your protective walls. ‘But people and circumstances can make me feel inadequate and vulnerable,’ you say. The Bible tells us that ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (1 Peter 5:5 NRSV). In fact, recognising your own inadequacies is step one on the journey to wholeness. Step two is accepting that only God can empower you with self-control (see Philippians 2:13). Step three lies in understanding that self-control doesn’t come from teeth-gritting determination; it’s a product of the Holy Spirit – a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). When you submit to the Spirit who lives in you, He will strengthen your walls and empower you to stand strong against the enemy.
When you’re anxious about the future, stop and remind yourself that two of God’s names are ‘Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22:13 KJV). Where you’re going – God already is! Jesus said, ‘The sheep hear his voice…he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice’ (John 10:3-4 NKJV). How do sheep get to know the shepherd’s voice? By spending time with him! Notice ‘he goes before them’, which means as long as you’re moving forward, God can direct you. Each time you reach a breaking point, it’s a test: you will either give up or persevere through to victory. Long-distance runners use the expression ‘hitting the wall’. When they’re exhausted and feel like giving up, they know if they push through the pain, they will get their second wind and it will carry them over the finish line. Are you taking on responsibilities that aren’t yours? Learn to establish healthy boundaries for your own sake and the sake of those who depend on you. And if you’re not sure what’s appropriate, ask God to show you how much to get involved in the lives of your friends and family. If the burden isn’t yours, set it down. If it’s too heavy, give it to God! Stand on His promise: ‘He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there’ (Psalm 22:24 MSG). Bottom line: the more you trust God, the more you lower your anxiety level.
When we’re stressed, the surge of negative emotions can be overwhelming. And unless you unburden your soul before God, it’s easy to make wrong decisions, succumb to wrong impulses, move in the wrong direction, and explode at the wrong people. The psalmist addresses this: ‘Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you.’ The extent to which you consciously lean on God, drawing strength from Him, is the extent to which you will lower your anxiety level. It’s no coincidence that many of the psalms start with David crying out to God for help and end with him rejoicing because he vented his frustrations to the right person – God! The truth is, life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent how you respond to it. Your job, your finances, your marriage, your children, your health, and your future are all sources of anxiety, so you will never be totally free from angst. But you can lower your anxiety level by following Paul’s advice: ‘All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus…Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so…we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times…but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort – we get a full measure of that, too’ (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG). To quote a well-known pastor: ‘The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry.’
Next time you’re at a supermarket checkout, notice the magazine covers. Airbrushed faces, toned bodies – ads for diets and products that promise you can look that way too. Now, there is nothing wrong with looking your best and taking care of your body. After all, it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit and you are responsible for maintaining it. But there is much more to you than clothes and a hairstyle. It’s a mistake to focus on the outside and not appreciate and cultivate the inner qualities God has given you. The Bible says, ‘Beauty is […not lasting]’ (Proverbs 31:30 AMPC). When God made you, He didn’t just decorate the outside; He gave you ‘inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind…God delights in’ (1 Peter 3:4 MSG). In fact, Paul reminds us ‘the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal’ (2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV), a gentle reminder that what Mother Nature giveth, Father Time taketh away! The truth is, Paul is not remembered for his good looks. His enemies said, ‘His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible’ (2 Corinthians 10:10 NKJV). But what he will be remembered for are these words: ‘I have fought the good fight…finished the race…kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing’ (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV). So, the word for today is – focus on the inward instead of the outward.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four kinds of soil. Here is one of them: ‘The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are…people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything’ (vv. 18-19 CEV). Observe what keeps God’s Word from working effectively in your life: 1) Worrying that God won’t take care of you. 2) Thinking if you had more money, a bigger house, a better car, or a more attractive appearance, you would be happier. Here is the question: do you remember when you thought your career, the house you live in, and the financial portfolio you acquire would make all your worries disappear? But it doesn’t work that way, does it? The more ‘things’ you have, the more you have to lose, protect, maintain, and be concerned about. Worrying about material things can ‘choke’ the life out of you! Peace and happiness come from trusting God for what you need; knowing if something is right for you, He will provide it, and if it’s not, He will give you something better. An amazing thing happens when you meditate on God’s promises. Your worries shrink, your mind and attitude are reprogrammed, and you enjoy life more. Jesus said, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:33 NLT). So today, put prayer and Bible reading at the top of your to-do list.
Patience is born of trust. David said, ‘Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire’ (vv. 3-4 CEV). God has a plan for your life. It includes things you can’t have today that you will be able to enjoy tomorrow. When spring comes, the grass grows on its own. So, stop struggling to accomplish something now that will be easy when the time is right. When you refuse to give a toddler something that’s not good for him, he stamps his foot and cries, ‘I want it now!’ So, do you give in to him? No, because he is not ready for it yet. Paul writes, ‘Patience […has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]’ (Colossians 3:12 AMPC). Not only is God teaching you how to wait but how to have a good attitude while you’re doing it. James writes, ‘Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature’ (James 1:4 MSG). God permits certain things to happen in life to teach us important principles like 1) maintaining our faith when times get tough, 2) showing grace under pressure by controlling our responses, and 3) developing new skills and better ways of thinking. The truth is, God is developing qualities in you right now that can’t be developed any other way. When He’s finished, you will have the maturity to handle what He has in mind for you. So, don’t let the enemy rattle you or the circumstances put you into overdrive. ‘Be patient and trust the LORD.’
When others don’t see your potential, Jesus does. In common fishermen, He saw the capacity to change the world. Here is something you may not have considered: there are two sides to following Jesus – you believe in Him, and He believes in you. Jesus told Simon Peter and Andrew, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to…’ Do you doubt that? So did Nathanael. When he was invited to meet Jesus, he said, ‘Can…any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see’ (John 1:46 KJV). Even after three years of witnessing Jesus’ miracles, His disciples still had doubts. Notice how often He said to them, ‘O ye of little faith’; ‘Still you do not believe’; and ‘If you believed, you would see’. Knowing they were anxious about what would happen when He left them and went back to heaven, Jesus said, ‘I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever’ (John 14:16 KJV). The Greek word for comforter is parakletos, meaning ‘one who comes alongside to help you’. The truth is, there will never be a day when you don’t need God’s help or when it isn’t available to you. Maybe you still have doubts. If so, take heart! Jesus loves doubters. Didn’t he handpick Thomas? Maybe you think you have too many weaknesses. So did Peter – but Jesus made him the head of the church. Just come as you are, and let His presence rub off on you. What do you have to lose? If you have tried it your way and it’s not working, come, give Jesus a chance!
When you struggle with a sense of rejection, it will manifest itself in things like these: 1) Perfectionism. But it doesn’t work, because other people’s needs and expectations vary so much that it’s impossible to make everybody happy. 2) Settling for less. You put up with neglect and abuse because you think it’s what you deserve. Or you’re concerned this may be your only chance at ‘love’. 3) Becoming aggressive. Rejection can feel like you’re being attacked when you’re not, so you put on your boxing gloves and come out swinging. 4) Putting up a tough front. You tell yourself, ‘I can handle it…Who needs other people anyway?’ As a result, you shut yourself off from others and your physical, spiritual, and emotional needs go unmet and you feel lonely. 5) Vowing never again to let anyone get close enough to hurt you. That sounds good in theory, but by closing people out, you close yourself in and all your relationships suffer. 6) Attracting the wrong people. As long as you behave with a diminished sense of self-worth, you will keep attracting the wrong people. The truth is, when your self-worth is based on any opinion other than God’s, you will always be vulnerable to rejection. Criticism will diminish you, failing will keep you from trying again, and what’s worse, you will never discover the unique and wonderful person God made you to be. So, what’s the answer? John tells us, ‘Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are’ (v. 1 CEV). Overcoming rejection starts with understanding and accepting how much God loves and values us.
When you’re involved in God’s work, it’s easy to get out of balance and end up enjoying the work of the Lord more than the Lord of the work. First, Jesus called His disciples to Him; then, He sent them out from Him. The power you need to succeed in your God-given assignment comes from the time you spend with the Lord, not people. One day Jesus took three of His disciples to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration. ‘His face shone like the sun…there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus’ (Matthew 17:2-3 NIV). Peter was elated by the experience: ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters’ (v. 4 NIV). Peter wanted to stay, but God spoke from heaven and said, ‘This is My beloved Son…Listen to Him!’ (Matthew 17:5 AMP). Afterwards, Jesus took His disciples back down the mountain and they began to minister to needy people. It’s good to have periodic ‘mountaintop experiences’ with God, but you can’t stay there. There is work to be done at the foot of the mountain, and we have been called to do it. There must be a balance between taking in and giving out. One day a year, the high priest entered the holiest of holies and had the privilege of seeing God’s glory. What an honour! But the rest of the year was spent outside, ministering to the people. After an encounter with God during which the building shook, Isaiah cried, ‘I am undone’ (Isaiah 6:5 NKJV). Then God touched his mouth and said, ‘Go, and tell this people’ (v. 9 NKJV). Are you getting the idea?
We have all heard people say, ‘The Lord told me,’ and it turned out not to be so. As a result, we have become doubting and cynical. What a loss! God speaks through people, and your fear of someone ‘getting it wrong’ can rob you of vital input – in some cases, the very input you need. One night, God appeared to Jacob in a dream, saying: ‘“I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and…bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Then Jacob awoke…and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”’ (vv.15-17 NKJV). In order to hear from God, you must 1) desire it above all else, 2) eliminate mental clutter, slow down, and take time to understand what He is saying to you, and 3) believe that God will actually speak to you. If you don’t believe, you will be left to the mercy of your own best thinking – or be influenced by others who think just like you. Seven times in chapters two and three of the book of Revelation, God said, ‘He that hath an ear [a spiritually developed one], let him hear what the Spirit says.’ The question is this: how can you know what you’re hearing is actually from God? Because it will always agree with His Word, and your spirit will say, ‘Amen!’
Paul writes, ‘From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh…anyone…in Christ…is a new creation; old things have passed away…all things have become new’ (vv. 16-17 NKJV). Here is an important spiritual principle. When you’re trying to help a believer who is battling adversity, addiction, or physical affliction, speak life to their regenerated spirit. Speak to the part of them that’s capable of rising up in faith and responding to God’s Word: ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17 KJV). How does faith come? By hearing what God thinks, says, and can do. Until God has been heard, the last word hasn’t been spoken. God instructed Ezekiel to stand in a valley full of dead bones and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life’ (Ezekiel 37:5 NIV). And guess what? It happened! Ezekiel said, ‘As I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together’ (v. 7 NIV). Now let’s be clear; you can’t hold on to a loved one when God in His sovereign wisdom decides it’s time to take them home to heaven, which Paul describes as ‘far better’ (Philippians 1:23). But until that happens, speak God’s Word to their regenerated spirit. Faith doesn’t deny the reality of the circumstances, but it refuses to be intimidated, limited, or ruled by them. ‘Spirit can be known only by spirit’ (1 Corinthians 2:14 MSG), so when someone is a redeemed child of God, don’t speak to their human intellect – speak life to their spirit.
Even when a surgery is successful, the patient can carry within them scar tissue that causes lingering pain and discomfort. And it’s the same in life. Some people around you wear a mask of success, but within, they carry wounds they’re unable to talk about. Comedian Jonathan Winters said in an interview that his life was scarred by cruel things his parents said to him as a child. ‘I’m no cry-baby, but I remember things with almost total recall – there’s a lot of pain there.’ His father said to him, ‘You’re the dumbest kid I know.’ And when he joined the Marines and travelled to the South Pacific during World War II, he received no support from his mother. When he returned home, he discovered she had given away his special, personal things he had stored in the attic. He was distressed, but her reaction was, ‘How did we know you were going to live?’ Winters went on to become one of the world’s most popular entertainers and comedians, but the emotional scar tissue remained. Understand this – your words can wound or heal. They can inspire someone or reinforce their sense of failure and worthlessness. Job, who suffered greater loss than most of us will ever know, said, ‘But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief’ (v. 5 NKJV). How can you help someone who is hurting? By giving them your opinion? No, by giving them the only opinion that matters – God’s! And here is what God says, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you’ (Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV).
It’s easy to develop ‘spiritual amnesia’. You forget what you used to be like. And that attitude affects the people you deal with each day. One author writes: ‘I’ve a workplace acquaintance who embodies all the negative stereotypes of evangelical Christians. She’s judgmental…her behaviour borders on bizarre…she’s completely (and purposefully) out of touch with culture. She considers any attempt to tone down her evangelism as persecution…None of us wants to be like that so we hop on the pendulum as it swings in the other direction and our efforts become so subtle, they’re imperceptible.’ How can we share our faith, while maintaining a high level of integrity? 1) Ask sincere questions and listen with a caring spirit. 2) When appropriate, tell others you’re praying for them – then do it! 3) Pray driving to work and ask God to help you see your workplace as a mission field. 4) Don’t downplay the importance of your faith. When it naturally fits a conversation, talk about church, prayer, Scripture, and Christian community. Let others see joy and purpose in your life. 5) Demonstrate God’s love for all people by initiating a company food collection for charity…or organising a blood donation campaign. 6) Strive for excellence. Be the person that your manager and co-workers rely on to do a solid job. 7) Invite co-workers to events with your Christian friends. Non-churchgoers are often open to going on holidays like Christmas or Easter. 8) When you’re not sure about when to speak, check in with God and ‘when the time comes…the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you’ (Mark 13:11 MSG). 9) Above all – maintain a humble attitude!
If you want to win people to Christ, you won’t do it with a holier-than-thou attitude. Sadly, this is how society sees many Christians; their hearts are in the right place, but their ability to relate with compassion to those outside their immediate circle does God no favours. If you want people to respond to the gospel, take a leaf from Paul’s book. He ‘voluntarily [became] a servant to…all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious…moralists…immoralists, the defeated, the demoralised – whoever’ (1 Corinthians 9:19-21 MSG). Now before you get bent out of shape about Paul being soft on sin, he adds: ‘I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become…every sort of servant…in my attempts to lead those I meet into a…saved life…I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!’ (vv. 22-23 MSG). Paul could relate to unbelievers without endorsing their lifestyle because he remembered what he himself was like before God transformed him on the Damascus road. It’s the kind of humility that only comes from looking back and remembering ‘the pit from which you were dug’ (Isaiah 51:1 NKJV). Being the recipient of God’s grace enabled Paul to write (paraphrased): ‘Here’s a word you can take to heart…Jesus…came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof – Public Sinner Number One – of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy’ (1 Timothy 1:15-18 MSG). Today, remember what you used to be like.
Your success isn’t found in your similarity to others, but in your difference. Instead of comparing yourself with somebody else and competing with them, try to discover your point of God-given difference, for that’s where you will excel. Singer Pearl Bailey said, ‘There are two kinds of talent, man-made and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent, you just touch it up once in a while.’ Paul writes, ‘God has…given each of us different gifts’ (Romans 12:6 CEV). Would you rather fight to develop skills where you have a small natural gift, or run with the talent God has given you to find out where it takes you? Dreams don’t come true because you do something well every once in a while. They’re fulfilled because you perform with excellence day after day. And that happens only if you work within an area of strength. You can’t be like the high school home-run hitter who received an invitation to spring training from a major league baseball team. After the first week, he emailed home to say, ‘Leading all batters. These pitchers aren’t so tough.’ The second week he boasted, ‘Hitting .500. Looks like I’ll be starting in the infield.’ The third week he wrote, ‘They’re starting to throw curveballs today. Will be home tomorrow.’ You can’t achieve success without consistency, and you can’t achieve consistency working outside your God-given strengths. It will take all the talent you have to achieve your God-given dream. Following that talent will give you the best chance to be consistently good at what you do. So the word for today is – build on your strengths.
Letting go of a person doesn’t mean you no longer love them; it just means the relationship is not right for you. How should you handle it? 1) A gradual separation is sometimes the best solution. There are relationships you need to get out of for your own good. But because you have a cord to cut, doesn’t mean that it should be ripped. Dissolving a relationship is stressful, so try to end it graciously. If the cord that binds you is constant phone calls, emails, and visits, that’s a good place to start. 2) Don’t keep going back. Some of us are just so ‘nice’ that we can’t end the relationship and move forward. We keep going back, second-guessing ourselves and re-evaluating our decision. Make it one time, make it right, and make it decisive. Often people will come back to entice you by suggesting you were wrong the first time. That’s why you must resolve any doubt before you make the decision in the first place. If you find yourself in a pattern of going back to old, unhealthy relationships, you may be drinking from the wrong well. You may be trying to fill an emptiness in your heart that only God can fill. When Jesus met the woman at the well, she had been through five failed marriages and was living with man number six. He told her: ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’ (John 4:13-14 NKJV).
Not everyone who starts out with you is capable of going where God wants to take you. Sometimes they don’t have the emotional capacity required. Other times their vision differs from yours. So how can you know when it’s time to exit a relationship? Avoid relationships that leave you depleted. This calls for establishing clear boundaries for the relationship up front. You don’t have time to spend your life straightening out misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and injured egos. How far are you willing to go? How much are you inclined to invest? When you overspend your budget, you go broke. Bankrupting yourself emotionally and physically to make someone else feel needed might sound noble, but it’s not. Emotionally and physically bankrupt people end up with everything from nervous breakdowns to extramarital affairs. And even when they don’t, they fail to reach their God-given destination in life because they’re dragging too much weight. When you feel a relationship is not working, pause and take a look. View the situation objectively instead of emotionally, examining all the facets of it. Sometimes certain aspects of a relationship should be terminated, and other areas maintained. It’s possible to have relationships that work in one area but not in another. Compartmentalising will save many important relationships because it requires you to see them in sections. It’s possible to remove a section and still have a lot left to enjoy. Yes, it takes work and communication, but it is often worth it. There may be common interests that need to be maintained, while others need to be invalidated before all is lost.
Having the right relationships will help you to soar in life; they’re like the wind beneath your wings. But the wrong relationships will drag you down; they’re like a ball and chain around your feet. To know which relationships are good for you and which are not, here are three guidelines: 1) When a relationship is not working, acknowledge it. Sometimes you must cut your losses. The old saying goes, ‘When you’re in a hole, stop digging!’ Accept the fact that sometimes your efforts are not enough and that you can’t help everyone. Releasing someone doesn’t mean they will never get better; it just means that God is more qualified to help them than you are. 2) There is a difference between helping someone and carrying them. This is particularly so when you’re dealing with a person who always turns to you for help and tries to make you feel guilty when you’re ‘not there’ for them. Don’t try to be someone’s God. Your constant help may actually be a hindrance – you have become a crutch and an enabler. Step back and let them learn to walk on their own. 3) Don’t allow your fear of criticism to restrain your common sense. Here is a fact of life that you must learn to live with: not everyone will be pleased with you! The truth can hurt and often alienate, but it’s still the truth. There are times when you must ‘tell it like it is’ and accept the consequences and disapproval. The only way to avoid criticism is to always say what everyone desires to hear, which is equal to living a lie in a relationship.
A little boy in Sunday school heard the story of how Lot’s wife looked back towards Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt (see Genesis 19:26). ‘That’s nothing,’ he said. ‘Last week when my mother was driving down the street, she looked back – and turned into a telephone pole!’ Seriously, God says, ‘If anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ Every pilot knows there is a point of no return. The runway has all been used up; it’s fly or die! In Hebrews chapter eleven we find a list of ordinary people who in the worst of times refused to turn back. The Bible says: ‘If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them’ (Hebrews 11:15-16 NLT). Here’s the score: if you’re beginning your walk with God, Satan will use every trick in the book to get you off track. If you’re in the middle of your walk with God, he will try to tell you that your life doesn’t count. Don’t believe him; he’s a liar! And if you’re nearing the end of your walk with God, he will try to discourage you by highlighting all your faults and failures. Don’t buy what he’s selling! Instead, stand on this Scripture: ‘I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day’ (2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV).
When a person loses his or her temper, one of the most common expressions used to describe their reaction is ‘flying off the handle’. The phrase refers to the head of a hammer coming loose from the handle as you attempt to use it. And several not-so-good things happen as a consequence. 1) The hammer becomes useless. Your message may be all-important, but the manner in which you deliver it determines whether or not you get the results you desire. Simply stated, when people don’t take you seriously, you don’t get the outcome you hoped for. 2) The hammer head does damage. By flying out of control, it’s likely to damage anything in its path. Words spoken in anger cause wounds, and sometimes those wounds can last a lifetime. James’ words are paraphrased: ‘Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger’ (James 1:19-20 MSG). 3) Repairing both the hammer and the damage may take a long time. In some cases, it simply can’t be done. Here are some Scriptures to keep in mind before you vent your spleen. Again, ‘A quick-tempered person does foolish things.’ ‘Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil’
Cyprian, a wealthy noble who lived during the third century, enjoyed galloping about Carthage in his gold and bejewelled chariot. He wore fancy clothes studded with diamonds and precious stones and lived a debauched life. In a letter to one of the Christian theologians of his time, Cyprian said he couldn’t possibly conceive how he could change his life – the life he had lived for so long. The inveterate habits, tastes, and desires that he had developed, the sins he clutched to his bosom, how could he possibly give these things up? How could he ever become like the Christians he saw? He said it seemed to him to be an utterly impossible thing. Yet in the mysterious providence and grace of God, that which seemed utterly impossible came to pass and Cyprian was transformed. God reached down and took out of Cyprian’s breast that stony heart and placed within him a heart of flesh – a heart tuned to love his God and sing his praises. Cyprian, who later became one of the great Christian leaders of the early church, said things that before had seemed utterly impossible, mysterious, and difficult to understand had all become plain. All his problems had disappeared. You say, ‘But I don’t understand the new birth.’ The good news is you don’t have to. You just have to trust in Christ and be born again. All kinds of people – the great and the mighty, the base and the low, the noble and ignoble, the savage and the sophisticate – have experienced the regenerating power of God and enjoyed a new life in Christ. And you can too.
When someone corrects you, be teachable and not unreachable. ‘Let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper’ (James 1:19 PHPS). If you do the first two things, the third one naturally falls into place. If you are quick to listen and slow to answer back, you’re going to be slow to lose your temper. ‘Whoever heeds correction is honoured.’ So use your ears more than your mouth, and be willing to accept correction. The wisest people have a ‘teach me’ attitude and are willing to learn from others. You can learn from anyone, if you just know the right questions to ask. It is important that you never stop asking questions, because the moment you’re through learning in life, you’re through! Full stop! Be teachable, not unreachable. Husband, can you learn from your wife, or does that threaten you? When she makes a suggestion, do you get defensive? Do you take every comment as a threat to your manhood? Wife, can you learn from your husband? Parent, can you learn from your children? If you want to end up lonely in life, never admit your mistakes, never learn from anyone, and never let anyone teach you anything. How long has it been since you admitted to your spouse, ‘Honey, I was wrong; it was my fault’? Some people haven’t said that in years. The Bible says, ‘Humbly accept the word planted in you’ (James 1:21 NIV). The word ‘humble’ here means ‘gentle’. When you approach God’s Word, you ought to approach it with a gentle, or humble, attitude that says, ‘Lord, I’m willing to be taught.’
When someone disagrees with you, be tender without surrender. You will never be able to please everyone. You will always meet people who like to argue and quarrel. Some people will contradict everything you say. How should you respond to them? One of the tests of spiritual maturity is how you handle those who disagree with you. Some people have a need to demolish anyone who disagrees with them. If you challenge them or offer a comparison, complaint, or criticism, they respond with a full-blown personal attack. Then what do you do? You have three alternatives: 1) You can retreat in fear. Many people choose this route because they haven’t developed the ability to respond in gentleness. So, if you’re a ‘peace at any price’ person, it will have hidden costs in your life’s most important relationships. 2) You can react in anger. Anger is often a tell-tale sign that you feel insecure and threatened by someone’s disapproval. It’s a warning light that tells you you’re about to lose something, often your self-esteem. When we become angry, often we become sarcastic and attack the other person’s self-worth. 3) You can respond in gentleness. ‘A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.’ This is the kind of response that requires a fine balance between maintaining your right to an opinion, while equally respecting another person’s right to their opinion. It requires being tender without surrendering your convictions. Sometimes you must stand by your convictions. But other times you will find you’re answering this question: ‘Is our relationship more important than the point I’m trying to prove?’
When someone upsets or disappoints you, God expects you to be gracious towards them instead of judgmental. The Bible says, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV). You say, ‘Tempted how?’ Tempted to become judgmental or ‘holier than thou’. That’s the wrong response. ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling.’ Instead of criticising their faults, you’re supposed to help strengthen their faith. You set yourself up for Satan’s attack in your own areas of weakness the moment you begin to pass judgment on someone else. What’s your reaction to people when they mess up their lives? Do you say, ‘I told you so,’ or ‘I could see it coming,’ or ‘It serves you right,’ or ‘How could you be such a fool?’ Jesus didn’t do that! His reaction to the woman caught committing adultery was full of compassion and sensitivity. He defended her publicly, then restored her privately. He was gracious, not judgmental. Why should you work at not being judgmental? Because that is the way Christ treated you. ‘Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God’ (Romans 15:7 NIV). God puts up with a lot from you, right? And if He puts up with your inconsistencies and weaknesses, you can learn to put up with other people’s shortcomings. Whenever you’re tempted to judge another person, pause and remember how much God has forgiven you. The more you recognise God’s grace to you, the more gracious you will be to others.
The Greek word used for gentleness means ‘strength under control’. It pictures a wild stallion that has been tamed. It doesn’t mean to be weak and wimpy. The only two people in the Bible who were called gentle – Moses and Jesus – were both strong. Gentleness is restraining your reactions. It’s choosing your response to people rather than merely reacting to them. For the next few days, let’s look at what it means to be gentle. When someone serves you, be thoughtful and not demanding. Paul writes, ‘Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing’ (Philippians 2:4 TLB). How do you treat restaurant servers, clerks, administrative assistants, employees, bank tellers, police officers, and others who serve you? Are you rude and difficult? Are you aloof and impersonal, as if they were just ‘part of the machinery’? Do you realise they may have had a difficult day too, or do you think only of yourself? The first way you develop gentleness is to try and understand the people who serve you. And the first place you should be gentle is at home. The Bible tells wives to adorn themselves with ‘a gentle…spirit’ (1 Peter 3:4 TLB). Peter is simply saying that gentleness can be more attractive than any clothes or jewellery you choose to wear. To husbands, the Bible says, ‘You husbands should try to understand the wives you live with’ (v. 7 PHPS). If you are normally insensitive and overbearing, you will have to work extra hard on this. The Scriptures say you must be understanding, not demanding towards the people who serve you and the people with whom you live.
The story is told of a wealthy grandfather who went to his doctor to be fitted for a unique hearing aid. The device not only allowed him to hear perfectly, it was hidden so no one could see it. When he went back for a follow-up visit, the doctor said, ‘Your family must be happy to know that now you can hear.’ The grandfather said, ‘Well, I haven’t told them about my hearing aid. I just sit around and listen to their conversations – and I’ve already changed my will three times!’ The Bible says, ‘The prudent hold their tongues.’ And this isn’t only a law of speech, it’s a law of science. The odds of putting food in your mouth grow exponentially the more times you open it. To put it another way, the potential for saying the wrong thing rises proportionately to the amount of words you say. Ever notice that the person who habitually throws in their ‘two pennies’ worth’ frequently says something that’s worth about two pence, or less? The writer of Proverbs says, ‘Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them’ (Proverbs 29:20 NIV). A man walked into a pet shop one day, where a colourful parrot was sitting on a perch. The man looked at the bird, and in a cocky tone asked, ‘Hey, stupid, can you speak?’ To his amazement the parrot replied, ‘Yes, stupid, can you fly?’ Why does God say so much about offences of the tongue? Because when you sin with your tongue, you offend Him, affect others, and hurt yourself.
A legacy, good or bad, is something handed down from one person to another. I hope, over time, God has healed your hurts and you have moved on, but what are you leaving behind? The harsh words you spoke may have been based on what was happening in your life at the time, but now you see things more clearly. It’s wonderful when you move from resenting others to forgiving them – but have you left unhealed wounds? James writes, ‘Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires’ (James 1:19-20 NLT). Your words can do lasting damage, and that should concern you. Paul writes, ‘See…that no one falls short of the grace of God and…no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many’ (Hebrews 12:15 NIV). Have you planted seeds that caused a root of bitterness to grow in someone’s heart? If possible, you must make amends by seeking forgiveness and trying to set the record straight with those you have left festering over a situation you now feel differently about. It’s humbling, but you must do it because you won’t feel right towards God until you’re right with those He loves. Jesus said, ‘If you are offering your gift at the altar and…remember…your brother…has something against you…go and be reconciled…then come and offer your gift’ (Matthew 5:23-24 NIV). Dr Dale Turner writes: ‘It is the highest form of self-respect to admit our errors and mistakes and make amends for them…A mistake is only an error in judgment, but to adhere to it when it is discovered shows weakness of character.’
Your prayer style should be consistent with the way God designed you. Yes, you can learn from people who are more experienced in prayer than you are, but you need to be careful not to make them your standard, or become a ‘clone’. It’s wrong to force yourself to do what others do, if you are not comfortable with it in your spirit. Don’t try to keep up with someone else, or copy their prayer style. And don’t feel compelled to work every prayer principle you have ever learned, every time you pray. Most of us are afraid not to be like everyone else. We are more comfortable following specified rules than daring to follow the leading of God’s Spirit. When we follow man-made rules, we please people. But when we step out in faith and follow God’s Spirit, we please Him. You don’t need to feel pressured to pray a certain way, or for a certain length of time, or to focus on specific things because other people are doing so. ‘Untie the boat from the dock,’ so to speak, and let the tide of God’s Spirit take you wherever He wills. When you are in control, you know what will happen next. But when you let God’s Spirit take the lead, you are in for a lot of surprises in life. Wonderful surprises! You need to be determined to be yourself, and refuse to spend your life feeling guilty because you’re not like somebody else. The Bible says, ‘He fashions their hearts individually.’ So when it comes to prayer, the word for today is, ‘Be yourself’.
God is far too creative to insist that every person interacts with Him in exactly the same way. He designed each of us differently. There are prayer principles that apply to all of us, but God leads each of us as individuals. We are all at different places in our walk with Him, we are all at different levels of spiritual maturity, we all have different types of experiences in prayer. Yes, we need to learn the fundamentals of prayer. But then we need to move beyond intellectual knowledge about how to pray, and take those principles to the Lord and say: ‘Teach me to apply this to my life, in my situation, to my heart. Show me how this idea is supposed to work for me. God, I’m depending on You to teach me to pray, to make me effective in prayer, to make my relationship with You through prayer the richest, most rewarding aspect of my life.’ When you say, ‘Lord, teach me to pray,’ you’re asking Him to teach you to pray in a distinctly personal way, and to enable your prayers to be easy, natural expressions of who you are. You need to go before God just the way you are, and give Him the pleasure of enjoying the company of the ‘original’ that He made you to be. You need to approach Him with your own strengths, weaknesses, uniqueness and everything else that so wonderfully distinguishes you from everyone else. God enjoys meeting you where you are, developing a personal relationship with you, and helping you grow to become everything He wants you to be.
One of the dangers of being involved in God’s work is that you can go for weeks, or even months, without praying. In a survey of a thousand pastors, half acknowledged that they often went for long periods without taking time to pray. They didn’t have a personal prayer life beyond their function in church. Amazingly, they had preached entire sermons on the topic, yet they themselves didn’t practise it. Can you relate? Jesus arose before dawn and spent hours in prayer. He even prayed all night. And it showed. His incredible success flowed out of the rich relationship He had with His Father. He made deposits every morning so that He could make withdrawals all day long. One Bible teacher writes: ‘I have gone from labouring and striving to pray for five minutes every few days to enjoying – and actually personally needing and wanting – beginning my day with prayer, then to praying throughout the day as things come to my heart, and finally ending my day communicating with the Lord as I fall asleep. I have moved from a sporadic, irregular prayer life to regular times of prayer that are disciplined without being legalistic. Where I once thought I was fulfilling an obligation to God by praying, I now realise that I absolutely cannot survive a day and be satisfied…if I do not pray. I realise that prayer is a great privilege, not a duty. I no longer approach God in fear, wondering if He will really hear me and send an answer to my prayers. I now approach Him boldly, as His Word teaches me to do, and with great expectation.’
In his book With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray writes: ‘None can teach like Jesus…therefore we call on Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” A pupil needs a teacher who knows his work, who has the gift of teaching, who in patience and love will descend to the pupil’s needs. Blest be God! Jesus is all this and much more…Jesus loves to teach us how to pray.’ If you: a) are not sure God is really listening when you talk to Him; b) don’t understand why some prayers seem to go unanswered; c) wonder if you are praying ‘right’ or generally feel frustrated in prayer; d) are eager to know what to do to feel more connected with God and gain confidence that your prayers really do make a difference, say, ‘Lord, teach me to pray.’ Although there are principles of prayer that apply to everyone, God will lead each of us individually. He wants to take you just the way you are, and help you discover your own rhythm of prayer; to develop a style of prayer that maximises your relationship with Him. He wants prayer to be an easy, natural, life-giving way of communicating as you share your heart with Him and allow Him to share His heart with you. Prayer is so simple; it’s nothing more than talking to God and taking time to listen to what He has to say to you. God has a personalised prayer plan for you, a way for you to communicate most effectively with Him. So begin by saying, ‘Lord, teach me to pray.’
When a lawyer asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, He replied that he must love God, others, and himself (see vv. 37-39 NLT). Observe that He said, ‘You must love’ (emphasis added). This tells you a lot about the true nature and behaviour of love. If love can be commanded, then it can’t be only emotional, or a matter of feelings. Genuine love is much more than feelings; it’s a matter of the will. That’s why Jesus could command us to express it. It’s a commandment followed by a commitment. Although feelings are important, true love functions regardless of how you feel. In his book The Fred Factor Mark Sanborn writes: ‘I learned a long time ago that liking people and loving them are different. Liking someone is an emotional response. Unlike love, “like” is a feeling. The tough part is that we can’t control our emotions. We can control how we choose to express those emotions but not the feelings themselves. A healthy person can choose to be angry and still choose to act lovingly…A feeling is a reaction. Maybe that’s one reason Jesus didn’t say, “Like your enemies.” He knew that liking or not liking someone was not always in our immediate control…I have learned that love is, among other things, an action. I can love someone I don’t necessarily like. I can do something or act towards that person in a certain way because I know it is the right thing to do even if I don’t feel warm and fuzzy doing it.’ And here’s the thing: when you act lovingly towards another person, your emotions begin to line up with your actions. Go ahead, try it and see!
When it comes to your tongue, here are three rules: 1) Don’t speak too quickly. ‘We all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we…could…control ourselves in every other way’ (v. 2 NLT). Because you can never be totally aware of all the sensitivities of a person, you must rely on the Holy Spirit to direct your speech in a way that doesn’t tap into their pain or other negative experiences. Everybody has a different sensitivity level, depending on their past experiences. That includes you too. So practise not being easily offended, and giving others the benefit of the doubt when they say something that could be misconstrued as offensive. 2) Don’t respond too quickly. ‘To answer before listening – that is folly and shame’ (Proverbs 18:13 NIV). Before you speak, listen carefully and make sure you understand what is really being said. And if you don’t – say so. Your need to ‘look good’ can cause you to lose respect in the eyes of the person you’re seeking to impress. 3) Don’t commit too quickly. Solomon writes, ‘Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:2 NKJV). Then he goes on to explain how we shouldn’t try to drop out of a commitment by saying we made a mistake. Your word is your bond, and when you break a promise, you hurt people and forfeit their trust. So pause before you speak, and if need be, take time to pray. Your time and your words are two things that can never be taken back, so carefully weigh what you say.
You must submit to the pruning process. ‘He prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.’ Pruning entails cutting off dead branches and cutting back living branches. Both are necessary to shape the tree and stimulate growth. Professional pruners will tell you that most people are too hesitant when it comes to pruning. But God is not. He not only cuts off that which is sinful and superficial, He cuts back that which is alive and successful; a business that’s doing great, a satisfying relationship, or a plan that seems to be working well. God doesn’t just cut off the ‘bad’, but the ‘good’, in order to give you the ‘best’. It’s not pleasant, but it’s absolutely essential for spiritual growth. What does God want in your life? ‘Much fruit’ (John 15:8 KJV). So, you are going to be pruned! You may be undergoing pruning right now, and it may not all be deadwood. God cuts off things we view as productive so that more fruit may be produced in our lives. This can be perplexing. We believe we’re being faithful, so we are puzzled, even frustrated, by His pruning. ‘Why are you doing this, God? I have given my business to you, but it’s unprofitable. I have committed my health to you, now I’m in the hospital. I’ve been tithing faithfully, yet I’m going bankrupt.’ What’s happening? ‘No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it’ (Hebrews 12:11 NIV). You’re being pruned for greater fruitfulness.
You must eliminate the weeds. In His famous parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four different kinds of soil. ‘The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature’ (v. 14 NIV). Notice, three varieties of ‘weeds’ can keep you from growing into spiritual maturity. 1) Worry. You become so preoccupied with everyday cares that you take your eyes off Jesus. 2) Riches. Making money and buying things dominates your life so much that you don’t have time for the Lord. 3) Pleasure. Pursuing ‘the good life’ can choke out your spiritual growth. It’s okay to have a good time, but you need to protect your priorities. When you have time to shop, go to the beach, play golf, or spend hours watching television yet you don’t have time to read your Bible and pray, your priorities are out of balance. You say, ‘I just don’t have time to serve the Lord. I’m too busy. I don’t have time to commit.’ Then you are too busy! You’d better do some weeding. Lots of things in life are not necessarily wrong; they are just not necessary. Maybe you need to cut back your schedule a little to remove the weeds. You have to tend your tomato plants, but you don’t have to do anything to produce dandelions; they grow by themselves when you neglect your garden. Getting the idea? If the ‘weeds’ in your life are keeping you from bearing ‘fruit’, it’s time to stop talking about it and take action.
Paul writes this: Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.…you…are complete through your union with Christ’ (vv. 6-8, 10 NLT). If you ever visit an Arizona desert, you will find that it is full of different kinds of vegetation. The contrasts are fascinating. The dried-up, brittle tumbleweed blows everywhere. Why? Because it has no roots. By contrast, the saguaro cactus bears fruit even in 130-degree weather. Why? Because its roots go out fifty to sixty feet in all directions. You must have deep spiritual roots if you are going to make it through the ‘dry spells’ of life. Anyone can survive a day or two of drought, but what about extended seasons of stress, grief, lack, illness, and adversity? Whatever your life is rooted to – is what you will draw your strength from. The psalmist writes this: ‘They delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind’ (Psalm 1:2-4 NLT). Pray, ‘Lord, root me deep in you.’
You must cultivate deep spiritual roots. ‘Blessed are those who trust in the LORD…They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by…heat or worried by…months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit’ (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT). This Scripture gives you one reason why you need deep spiritual roots: to make it through the rough times – times of heat and drought. Solomon said, ‘No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted’ (Proverbs 12:3 NIV). It’s when seasons of adversity hit your life that you discover what you’re ‘rooted’ to: God’s strength or merely your own. When the Bible speaks of ‘heat’, it’s speaking about the pressures of life. When it speaks about ‘drought’, it’s speaking about seasons of crisis and lack. What’s the answer? ‘Roots that reach deep into the water.’ What’s the result? ‘They never stop producing fruit.’ Because of their roots, the giant redwoods of Northern California can withstand the major forest fires. If you were to measure the roots of a large oak tree, they would stretch out for several hundred miles. That’s why they’re stable in the storms of life. Paul writes this: ‘I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong…you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God’ (Ephesians 3:16-17, 19 NLT).
When Jesus said, ‘I chose you…that you might…bear fruit – fruit that will last,’ He was saying, ‘Spend your life in pursuit of that which has lasting significance and eternal value!’ What does He mean by ‘fruit’? ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). Those nine qualities describe the only life that’s truly worth living. Fortunately, you’re not left to produce this kind of fruit by self-effort. Indeed, you may as well try to pick yourself up by your own bootstraps! No, Jesus said this: ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:1-2, 4-5 NIV). Who is Jesus speaking to? Believers. ‘Every branch in me’ (v. 2 NIV). Who is the gardener? ‘My Father is the gardener’ (v. 1 NIV). What’s His goal? For you to be ‘even more fruitful’ (v. 2 NIV). What’s the secret of fruitfulness? Constant contact and intimacy with Jesus. ‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit’ (v. 5 NIV). So, if you want to be more fruitful, draw closer to the Lord.
In 1643, the Houses of Parliament in England abolished the Episcopal system of government in the Church of England. An assembly of one hundred and twenty-one ministers and thirty laypeople was called to Westminster Abbey to rebuild the English church. The documents coming out of that six-year assembly are some of the most famous in church history. The first question in the Shorter Westminster Catechism reads, ‘What is the chief end of man?’ Answer: ‘To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.’ The implications of that question and answer are profound in their simplicity. And if you’re wise, you will make them a blueprint for your life this coming year. Glorify God. Obey God. Enjoy God. When you know your life is glorifying God, you enjoy His presence, but when you know your life is not glorifying God, you tend to avoid Him. And that’s bad, because without God’s presence in your life, what are your chances of true success? Not good! As you look back on last year, are there things you regret because you know that God was not glorified in them? Well, God is giving you a new year to do things differently. And if you’re making New Year’s resolutions, base every one of them on the foundation of this Scripture: ‘Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ If you follow that rule, you will stay on the right path, and you will have the peace and joy of knowing your life is pleasing to the Lord. Whatever circumstances may arise, you will face them with peace and confidence, knowing that God is with you.
God spoke through the prophet Joel saying, ‘Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and…maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days’ (vv. 28-29 NKJV). Regardless of your age or gender, God has a vision for you to fulfil. And sometimes it won’t make sense because you don’t feel qualified. In the musical Man of La Mancha, there is a scene where Don Quixote and his servant stand gazing at a dilapidated inn. When Quixote describes his vision of turrets and magnificent gates, his servant tries hard to see the same picture, but all he can see are ruins. And when he attempts to describe them, Quixote says, ‘Stop! I will not allow your facts to interfere with my vision!’ Most great achievements begin as a vision in someone’s heart. And many times people try to convince the person it can’t be done – or that he or she can’t do it. Often this confirms the visionary’s deepest fears about his or her abilities. And that’s the crucial point! If you can disregard your critics and rise above your fears, God will enable you to fulfil the vision He has given you. But keep in mind that while your vision may come to you in an instant, it can take a lifetime to fulfil. Habakkuk writes, ‘The vision is…for an appointed time…Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV). A God-given dream often defies the facts, so if you have a vision, look for supporters, not critics. And when someone shares his or her vision with you, become a cheerleader.
When you don’t feel good about yourself, you use things like work, food, relationships, money, and mood-altering substances to build a wall and keep people from getting too close. But lasting relationships can only be built when you stop hiding and become transparent with others. Another hiding tactic we employ is keeping the focus on other people by asking, ‘How come she got a new house and I didn’t?’ Or, ‘Why did he get that job and not me?’ That kind of thinking just makes you miserable. But even worse than pretending with people is pretending with God. When God asked Adam, ‘Where are you?’ He already knew the answer. So why did He ask the question? Because He wanted Adam to acknowledge where he was and what he had become. Eric Hoffer said, ‘We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.’ Until you face the truth about yourself, you will find it hard to talk to God. You will feel lonely and alienated. And you will struggle to look people in the eye in case they see the ‘real you’. It’s time to come out of hiding, get down on your knees, and say: ‘Father, I know you love me. Nothing can change that or rob me of its joy except my own doubts and refusal to believe it. You loved me before I was born, you fashioned me according to your plan, you redeemed me and gave me a special purpose in the world, and you’re working day by day to make me into a person who pleases you’ (see Philippians 2:13). The good news is – you don’t have to hide anymore!
Hebrew baby boys went through the rite of circumcision. It signified that they were in a covenant relationship with God in which He promised to protect, guide, and bless them. And in the New Testament, Paul ‘spiritualises’ this rite. ‘True circumcision…is a change of heart produced by [God’s] Spirit’ (Romans 2:29 NLT). Spiritually understood, circumcision means ‘cutting off’ anything that promotes and produces in us wrong impulses and actions. Jesus said, ‘Those whose hearts are pure…will see God’ (Matthew 5:8 NLT). When your heart is pure, you will be able to see God where others can’t and hear Him when others don’t. The word pure could be translated ‘without contamination’. It’s the difference between a clear stream and a polluted one. It means your self-centred thinking is abandoned and your carnal nature is crucified. The difference between forgiveness and cleansing is like the difference between cutting off a weed at the ground and pulling it up by its roots. Forgiveness deals with the ‘result’ of sin – that’s easy to identify. But cleansing deals with the ‘cause’ of sin – that’s not so easy to identify because it deals with your natural traits and character flaws. Forgiveness comes by confession, but cleansing comes by walking in the light: ‘If we walk in the light, as he is in the light…the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7 NIV). Do you keep asking God to forgive the same sins over and over? That’s because you need to experience true cleansing. Your heart needs to be circumcised. And that’s a job for the Holy Spirit.
Paul said, ‘Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean…it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.’ If you’re serious about spiritual growth, look for opportunities to say no to yourself in small areas. Then one day you will be able to say it when it really counts. Daniel started by saying no to eating the king’s food, and later was able to say no to bowing to the king’s idols. Zero in on the undisciplined areas of your life; the ones you keep excusing, rationalising, and delaying dealing with. Paul measured his actions by this yardstick: ‘Is it beneficial? Does it have the potential to control me?’ (see 1 Corinthians 6:12). You have a ‘right’ to eat a tub of ice cream every night. It’s permissible – but it’s not ‘beneficial’, especially if you want unblocked arteries, a trim waistline, the ability to run a marathon, or to just keep up with your kids and grandkids. You have a ‘right’ to spend your money as you please, but don’t complain when you end up strangled by debt. You have a ‘right’ to look at whatever you want on TV or the internet, but exposure to wrong influences will inevitably weaken your character, rob you of self-respect, and enslave you. Bottom line: your character is the sum total of the choices you make each day. And one more thought: when it comes to replacing bad habits with good ones, the only person who can make that happen is you!
God says in His Word: ‘I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted’ (vv. 25-26 NKJV). Today if you’re condemning yourself because you think your sins are too big to merit God’s grace, go back and reread those Scriptures carefully. Why did God say He would forgive your sins? ‘For My own sake.’ So what should you do? ‘State your case, that you may be acquitted.’ Why do we have such a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness? 1) Because in some cases we feel like we’re reaping what we have sown. 2) Because we have condemned someone else for doing the very thing we ourselves did. 3) Because we think God likes to keep us twisting in the wind for a while so we will think twice before committing the same sin again. 4) Because growing up, when we disobeyed our parents, they took away certain privileges until we had proven ourselves. 5) Because we think we have to be ‘worthy’ of God’s mercy. But when you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re implying that your transgressions are beyond the scope of God’s grace. And that’s a bigger sin – pride! And here is another thought. When you always have ‘issues’ with other people, you may be looking for someone to offend you. That way, you can point to how bad the other person is and feel better about yourself. When you adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving yourself because you know God has exonerated you, it’s easier to forgive other people’s mistakes.
The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means ‘holy day’. So, when Nehemiah announced, ‘This day is holy,’ he was declaring a celebration; a time to ‘eat and drink before the LORD’ (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV). Today, overindulgence and overspending have become synonymous with Christmas, making Christians hesitant to celebrate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘Often it is from those newly associated with our fellowship who have allowed themselves – perhaps for the first time – to enter into the wonder and fullness of Christmas joy and celebration…Christmas is more than merely “merry”. Christmas is mighty. Celebration – unfettered enjoyment, love…laughter…gifts and giving, trees and tinsel,…carols and bells…all of it – has an inherent potential for mightiness. The qualifying factor is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is present, the accoutrements of Christmas…can bless, strengthen, heal, [and] restore…When He is absent, carols ring hollow. Greetings, wishes and smiles lie on the surface, like glitter glued on a flat card. Lights and decorations…can leave the heart more desolate than ever. But where the Holy Spirit is there is power…to change entrenched habits…transform cold hearts…grudges and expectations…lift lives out of the shadow…This Christmas, let Him come upon you. Welcome the…Holy Spirit…to move upon your life, and then make your own move…into the season’s best opportunities to bask in the wonder of it all…Reach out to those around: encourage, bless, bake, give, visit, invite, share, and lift hearts wherever you can. By…New Year…you’ll find Christmas to…have been marvellously, and even miraculously, mighty.’
The word ‘celebrate’ means to rejoice, delight in, revel, and appreciate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘There is so much done in the name of Christmas that is neither pleasing nor honouring to Christ. Even so, I find myself doing battle…with…religious superstitions which argue against almost every observation of Christmas…against giving…against decorations, trees, or just plain fun, as though such participation defiled something holy. Such harsh debunking is nothing more than “holy humbug”. A Christmas tree…is a specific statement…By means of this tree we are saying: We believe in celebration. We serve the God who “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV) and who through history assigned…sacred appointments of feasting and rejoicing…”great gladness” (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV)…Although no one can make a “biblical case” for Christmas trees, we gather around ours with joy. We see in its living branches a symbol of everlasting life given us because of Jesus’ death on the tree – whose naked crossbars Xed out death and ushered in forgiveness…and eternal hope. The lights…gleam a testimony of His Light-of-the-world glory. The ornaments reflect the decorative splendour with which His kindnesses adorn our lives. The star beams hope, with a heavenward ray, reminding us that from there He shall come again to receive us.’ As you gather around the tree this Christmas, don’t forget to celebrate the One who said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me…will have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NIV).
For many people Christmas is filled with dread instead of delight. Author Jon Walker writes this: ‘I’m sitting in a fast-food restaurant observing a young girl celebrating an early Christmas with her mother. Her presents are spread out across the booth and she just said, “I miss you, Mommy.” “I miss you too, Baby,” her mother says. Beyond the booth…a woman casually, but carefully watches them. Using my journalist’s eye, I put it all together. The watching woman is a social worker supervising a structured visit for a mother and child who are doing their best to celebrate Christmas…a few minutes later foster parents arrive and take the little girl home. The mother leaves alone. There’s a darker side to Christmas we rarely acknowledge. We create this fantasy that seldom matches reality, even in the best of homes…many Christmas memories are full of tension, not tinsel…the holidays are just another excuse for Mommy to get drunk, or Daddy to be with his new family…yet another reminder that the one we love is far away or perhaps never coming back…The suicide rate is extraordinarily high in December…depression as common as “Joy to the World”…more people hurt at Christmas than we initially imagine. For those tired of the hollow hope…of Christmas, the good news is, God is with us. Jesus came to earth to “bring…good news…for all the people.” Regardless of your situation, Christmas is the best gift you’ll ever get, because: 1) it’s the costliest you’ll ever receive because it cost Jesus His life; 2) it’s the only gift that lasts forever; 3) it’s one you can enjoy for the rest of your life.’
J. Paul Getty’s estate exceeded four billion dollars. He was considered the richest man on earth. The Los Angeles Times quoted something Getty wrote: ‘I have never been given to envy, save for the envy I feel toward those people who have the ability to make a marriage work and endure happily. It’s an art I have never been able to master. My record: five marriages, five divorces. In short, five failures.’ The newspaper article continues: ‘He termed the memories of his relationship with his five sons “painful”. Much of his pain has been passed on with his money. His most treasured offspring, Timothy, a frail child born when Getty was fifty-three, died in 1958 at the age of twelve, of surgical complications after a sickly life, spent mostly separated from his father who was forever away on business. Other members of the Getty family also suffered from tragic circumstances. A grandson, J. Paul Getty III, was kidnapped and held for a ransom of $2.9 million. When Getty refused to pay, they held the boy for five months and eventually cut off his right ear. Getty’s oldest son apparently committed suicide amid strange circumstances. Another son, Gordon Paul Getty, has been described as living a tortured existence. He was ridiculed in correspondence by his father and was the least favoured son. Similar sorrow has followed other members of this unfortunate family.’ Putting money first and family second make you nothing more than a wealthy failure. So if you have been sacrificing your family for your career, start making changes! Don’t look back, rich but regretting, having lived for the wrong things.
Next to teaching your children how to walk with God, you will never teach them a more important life lesson than how to handle their money wisely. Dr James Merritt writes: ‘We began teaching our kids early these principles of industry, honesty, and responsibility. Here are a few methods we used, which I recommend to you. 1) Give your kids some jobs early on without pay, such as making up their beds, picking up their toys, and cleaning their rooms. Inspect their room each time, encouraging them as much as possible, but also letting them know the standard of quality that’s expected (no sloppy bed, toys left on the floor, etc.). This will begin to teach them the value of work, the fulfilment of doing a job well, and the discipline of following the commands of someone in authority. 2) As your kids get older, choose some jobs they’re capable of doing (polishing shoes, washing the car, vacuuming the floor, etc.) and settle on fair compensation. This will begin to instruct them in the value of money and reinforce the rewards of a job well done. Again, have an understood standard of quality that’s expected, and don’t pay them until the job’s completed properly. 3) Don’t give allowances or teach your children to expect them. Rather, teach them that money is earned through working for it. There’s nothing wrong with giving your child money out of love or as a reward (such as for good grades), but kids must learn the relationship between honest labour and just compensation.’ Bottom line: those are three principles that will stand them in good stead throughout their entire lifetime.
There are about five hundred Bible verses on prayer, and more than two thousand on handling money and possessions. It’s a make-or-break issue! It’s no surprise that money-related issues are often cited as a reason for divorce. And there’s good reason for this: money and stress often go hand in hand. The Bible says, ‘The blessing of the LORD makes one rich.’ Not only does God expect us to make money, but when we honour Him, He will help us to make more. But there is a right and a wrong way to do it. The Bible teaches that money should come by hard work. ‘He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich’ (Proverbs 10:4 NKJV). ‘Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labour will increase’ (Proverbs 13:11 NKJV). God expects those who ‘labour’ to give a good day’s work, just as He expects those in management to pay a good day’s wage. Both labour and management are to make money. Labour helps management make a profit, while management helps labour make a salary. A profit well-earned and a salary honestly made are both pleasing to the Lord. But your money must also be made by honest work. ‘He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches…will surely come to poverty’ (Proverbs 22:16 NKJV). That’s a warning to those who rip people off by charging extortionate interest rates. Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: ‘Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things GOD hates’ (Proverbs 20:10 MSG). God makes it plain: winners never cheat, and He will make sure cheaters never win!
In the 1940s, Switzerland manufactured 80 per cent of the world’s watches. Then in the 1960s, when an inventor presented a concept for a new type of watch to the leaders of a Swiss company, they rejected it. All the other Swiss companies he approached did the same. They lived by the philosophy, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’ Believing that his design had merit, the inventor took it to a company in Japan. The name of the company was Seiko, the design of the watch was digital, and guess what? Sales of digital watches soon outstripped the traditional analogue watches. One discernment-driven decision can change the course of your entire life and bless others. One expert says, ‘Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which half to believe’ (emphasis added). Here are two things you need to know about God-given discernment: 1) It’s shaped by Scripture. ‘For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word…But solid food belongs to those who are of full age [spiritually mature], that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil’ (vv. 13-14 NKJV). 2) It’s sharpened by use. The more you use it, the more seasoned you become. Will you sometimes make mistakes when it comes to exercising discernment? Yes, but like any muscle, the more you flex it, the stronger it grows. And here is an additional thought: the Bible refers to ‘discerning of spirits’, or attitudes and motivations (see 1 Corinthians 12:10). What a great advantage to have in life!
‘The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream…and…said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”’ (v. 5 NKJV). Solomon said, ‘Give…Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil’ (v. 9 NKJV). Next, we read, ‘The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing’ (v. 10 NKJV). But God wasn’t through talking to Solomon: ‘I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honour, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days’ (v. 13 NKJV). Discernment made Solomon one of the greatest kings who ever reigned. You have probably heard the saying ‘Go with your gut!’ Management consultant Robert Heller adds this advice: ‘Never ignore a gut feeling, but never believe that it’s enough.’ Discernment doesn’t rely on intuition alone, nor does it rely solely on intellect or experience. The writer of Proverbs says, ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV). There are two kinds of discernment: natural discernment and spiritual discernment. One can fail you – the other won’t. When natural discernment can’t take you a step further, spiritual discernment enables you to keep going with faith and confidence. How will you recognise the difference? James tells us, ‘The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy’ (James 3:17 NKJV). Can you imagine such a life? The good news is – you can have it!
Who said, ‘I tell you Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle the matter by lunchtime’? Napoleon Bonaparte over breakfast with his generals just before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Who rejected an offer from Alexander Graham Bell to purchase the patents for the first telephone? William Orton, president of Western Union. Who said, ‘I don’t need bodyguards’? Jimmy Hoffa, a month before his disappearance in 1975. What did all these men have in common? Lack of discernment – and it cost them dearly. When it comes to seeing life’s opportunities and solving life’s problems, you need discernment. It enables you to see what others don’t, fill in the missing pieces, and get to the heart of the matter. If you can see the root cause of a problem, you have a much better chance of solving it. That means when you stay in the area of your core gift, your discernment will be stronger. So if you want to tap into your discernment potential, work from the areas of your strength. But do more. Pray for discernment. It’s one of the nine ‘gifts of the Spirit’ promised to us in Scripture (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Some of Israel’s greatest victories were won when David was king. And when we study the makeup of his army, we read, ‘The sons of Issachar…had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.’ Discernment enables you to see doors of opportunity where others see only brick walls. It will save you from life’s pitfalls and show you what you ‘ought to do’ – so pray for discernment.
While David and his men were off fighting, the Amalekites destroyed their homes and took their families captive. First, David’s army wept. Second, they looked to David for guidance. Third, David sought God, saying, ‘“Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”’ Notice four important points: 1) Satan will attack your loved ones to get to you. It may be big stuff like your husband losing his job or your wife discovering a lump in her breast, or little stuff like low-grade family tension and lack of consideration for each other. You need to stay alert and discern Satan’s attacks so you can defend yourself against them. 2) Love people but lean only on God. The people David fought side by side with one day turned against him the next day. That’s why your strength, strategies, and solutions for living must come from God, not others. 3) Talk to yourself in the right way. ‘David encouraged himself in the LORD’ (v. 6 KJV). If you want to end up discouraged, talk about your situation. If you want to be encouraged, talk to the One who can change your situation – the Lord. The Bible says, ‘A wholesome [uplifting, positive, inspiring] tongue is a tree of life’ (Proverbs 15:4 NKJV). So learn to talk to yourself in the right way. 4) You can get back what you have lost. God told David, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’ And what God did for David and his men that day, He will do for you if you seek Him.
First, listen to the Holy Spirit within you. He will constantly remind you of God’s plan and show you how to carry it out. He will ‘teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you’ (v. 26 NKJV). What has God’s Word instructed you to do? Have you done it yet? Obedience is the doorway to blessing. Second, spend time with God in prayer daily: ‘In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion’ (Psalm 27:5 KJV). A ‘pavilion’ was a secret chamber in a king’s palace, and it was so well fortified that even if an enemy found it, they couldn’t penetrate it. All hell could have been breaking loose and it didn’t make a difference; in the secret place there was peace. Are you letting things that don’t really matter overwhelm you? Are you upset over things that should be dismissed as trivialities? Get alone with God and let Him restore your perspective. Third, never be too proud to seek advice and assistance. The Bible says those of us who are strong ought to bear the burdens of the weak (see Romans 15:1). There are times when we need to lift others, and times when we need to be lifted. Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed down by sickness for eighteen years and ‘could in no way raise herself’ (Luke 13:11 NKJV). Sometimes you need help because you can’t help yourself. David understood this, and he turned to the men of Issachar because they ‘had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV). God has provided help – reach for it!
God can make the wrong decisions of the people around you to work in your favour. So instead of looking for someone to blame, try to see the hand of God at work in your situation. Joseph discovered three things: 1) When God wants you in a palace, nobody can keep you in a prison. 2) Your future isn’t in the hands of others; it’s in the hands of God. 3) Your God-given assignment in life doesn’t call for the cooperation or approval of everyone, but it does require the cooperation of one person – you. Joseph’s brothers made a wrong decision by resenting him. Potiphar’s wife made a wrong decision by falsely accusing him. And the butler made a wrong decision by turning his back on him. But God did the right thing by him! He arranged every step Joseph took, all the way to the throne. After years apart, Joseph stood face-to-face with those who had treated him so badly, and said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). Try to understand this: the purposes of God will eventually overcome the plans of men. No one can prevent God from using you, blessing you, and giving you success, except you. So keep your heart and your attitude right! The Message paraphrases Paul’s words, ‘Long before we first heard of Christ…he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone’ (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG). So look for the hand of God in ‘all things’.
Your highest priority should always be your relationship with God and fulfilling His will for your life. Don’t let that priority ‘slip’. There is a sobering illustration of this in the Old Testament. A soldier was given custody of an important prisoner. He was told, ‘If by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver’ (1 Kings 20:39 NKJV). In spite of the warning, he allowed his prisoner to escape. How did it happen? Through carelessness and busyness. ‘“While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” Then the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it”’ (v. 40 NKJV). Keeping your spiritual priorities in place is your responsibility and no one else’s. If you don’t do it, you will pay a high price. ‘But I pray each morning,’ you say. That’s good, but do you take time to listen to God and get direction before you rush into your day? Some of us have deleted from our Bibles and our thoughts those Scriptures that command us to ‘wait on God’. There is a work going on in your life right now. You may not be fully aware of it, but without it you will never be qualified to handle what God has in mind for you. The Bible says, ‘Jesus often withdrew…and prayed’ (Luke 5:16 NIV). Spending time with God is the price you pay for hearing from Him and doing His will. Spiritually speaking, there is no shortcut to any place that’s worth going.
Many people have no one who loves them enough to tell them the truth. That’s because it’s easier to say nothing when others are messing up. But it’s not the loving thing to do! The Bible says, ‘Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship’ (Proverbs 24:26 CEV). Usually we know what needs to be said, but fear keeps us from saying it. However, if you knew the brakes on a car weren’t functioning properly, would you allow a loved one to drive it? No? Well, in a similar vein, Paul writes, ‘If someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again’ (Galatians 6:1 NCV). That’s what ‘spiritual’ people do! More often than not, when an issue arises that might cause tension, it’s glossed over to preserve the peace. We don’t want to ruffle any feathers, so it never gets resolved. Here is how Paul addresses this: ‘No more pretence. Tell…the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself’ (Ephesians 4:25 MSG). Now let’s be clear here. Frankness doesn’t give you licence to be rude and say whatever you want. Thoughtless words can wound people. ‘Never use harsh words when you correct an older man…talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers, older women as if they were your mothers, and younger women as if they were your sisters’ (1 Timothy 5:1-2 GWT). Bottom line: when a difficult issue comes up, caring means getting involved in an honest and loving way.
When you find yourself in a crisis, having the right attitude makes the difference between despair and determination. Dr Jeffrey Rossman offers these six steps: 1) Look for ways to find meaning. Resilient people use their experience to help others. ‘[God] comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NCV). 2) Examine your priorities. ‘Teach us to use wisely all the time we have’ (Psalm 90:12 CEV). How would you like to spend your time differently now? Who would you most like to spend it with? How can you use your strengths in the service of what is important to you? If you had only a year to live, what conversations would you want to have? What kind of person would you want to be? 3) Believe you can bounce back. A crucial aspect of resilience is faith in your ability to cope. Even if you have the practical skills to deal with the issue at hand, unless you believe in your emotional flexibility, you will waiver. 4) Get moving. Physical exercise boosts your energy and mood. It reinforces your ability to take charge of your health and well-being. 5) Step out of your comfort zone. ‘Keep…growing in knowledge and understanding.’ Learn a new language or computer program; begin a project at home or work. Embracing the unfamiliar strengthens your confidence and capacity to handle new situations. The more you require of yourself, the more resilient you will become. 6) Clear the weeds that are choking your optimism. When you start thinking pessimistic or cynical thoughts, step back and reframe your perspective by looking for concrete steps to solve the problem.
How you handle a crisis can determine whether you end up feeling overwhelmed or come out stronger. Dr Jeffrey Rossman suggests five ways to do it: 1) Acknowledge your feelings. David said, ‘When my spirit was overwhelmed…You knew my path.’ God already knows how you feel, and stifling your emotions just saps your energy, leaves you tense, depressed, and slows the healing process. 2) Confide in someone. That doesn’t mean pouring your heart out to everybody and anybody; it means opening up to those who love and care about you. The Bible says, ‘A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity’ (Proverbs 17:17 AMPC). Numerous studies have confirmed the power of social support to help us through crises and stay healthy. 3) Start a journal or a blog. Writing about a traumatic event is a way of letting it out. It minimises your chances of becoming sick or depressed; the more you write, the more your negative responses to the memory diminish. 4) Refuse to play the blame game: ‘It’s the other person’s fault,’ or ‘The doctor botched the procedure,’ or ‘The boss never gave me a chance.’ Blame-shifting makes others responsible for your pain, and more often than not, it results in lingering grudges that prolong your misery. Let go of toxic bitterness and judgment. Stop feeling like a doormat; you can forgive while taking steps to make yourself less vulnerable next time. 5) Forgive yourself. Surprise – you’re human like everybody else! Acknowledge you made a mistake, ask God for forgiveness, then forgive yourself and move on. God’s Word says when He forgives, He doesn’t ‘keep a list of your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 MSG). Neither should you.
There is a good chance you have never heard of these two men; they’re among the Bible’s more inconspicuous characters. In the wonderful worship choirs of King David, they were appointed to give thanks. Heman and Jeduthun were under the king’s authority (see 1 Chronicles 25:6). It was literally their job. And it’s your job too! You’re under the authority of the King of Kings who commands you to ‘be thankful’, ‘offer to God thanksgiving’, ‘come before His presence with thanksgiving’, ‘enter into His gates with thanksgiving’, and ‘in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (Colossians 3:15; Psalms 50:14; 95:2; 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV). Eugene Peterson writes, ‘The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise’ (Philippians 3:3 MSG). Have you ever been so moved that you sprang into spontaneous worship? Nothing is more thrilling. You will never know what you’re missing if you don’t praise your Creator with your every fibre. Sing, lift up your hands, cry out, laugh, whatever…if you do it in a spirit of praise, thanksgiving, and gratefulness, God will love it. Plus, thanksgiving leads to better physical, emotional, and mental health. The Creator of your soul is a master psychologist. He knows that thanksgiving is not only appropriate but therapeutic. It’s hard to be thankful and at the same time be grumpy, critical, or ill tempered.
To enjoy the benefits of a computer, you must have a password. That’s what enables you to log on, participate, download, and get the information you need. And in a similar vein, The Message paraphrases the psalmist’s words, ‘Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise.’ ‘Those who have learned to acclaim you…walk in…your presence’ (v. 15 NIV). Praise isn’t simply a reaction to coming into God’s presence; it does much more. It opens the door through which God enters your life and goes to work on your behalf. In other words, praise brings God’s presence along with His direct intervention. The name Judah means ‘praise the Lord’, and when the twelve tribes of Israel travelled, Judah led the way (see Judges 20:18). On one occasion when Judah’s enemies arrayed against them, Jehoshaphat, their king, sent a choir to the front line ahead of the army to sing the praises of God. It may sound like a strange strategy, but it brought a supernatural victory. The Bible says, ‘As soon as they began singing, the LORD confused the enemy camp…Then they turned against each other’ (2 Chronicles 20:22-23 CEV). Praise is an expression of faith; an affirmation that you believe God is in control of the situation. The Bible speaks of ‘the sacrifice of praise’ (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). That means you must praise God even when you don’t feel like it. When it doesn’t come naturally, you must choose to do it anyway. Nehemiah said, ‘The joy of the LORD is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV). Praise can heal your emotions and lift the weight of negativity you’re under. Go ahead – try it! Use your ‘password’.
From 1923 until 1955, Robert Woodruff presided over the Coca-Cola Company. He wanted the beverage to be made available to every American serviceman around the world for five cents, no matter how much it cost the company. That’s a bold goal! But it was modest compared to the big picture he saw in his mind’s eye. In his lifetime, Woodruff wanted everybody in the world to taste Coca-Cola. Observe three things: 1) Vision starts within. When you look inside yourself, what do you see? You can’t buy, beg, or borrow vision; you must look within and draw on your innate gifts and desires. What do you feel passionate about? Think constantly about? Pray about? What would you be willing to sacrifice everything for? Your most persistent desire will point you to your destiny. 2) Vision draws on your history. Moses grew up in the comfort of Pharaoh’s palace hearing the cries of Hebrew slaves. That experience prepared him to lead the exodus. Vision isn’t some mystical quality that materialises out of a vacuum; it’s interwoven with your past and the history of the people around you. If your vision is born of God, it won’t just benefit you, it will benefit others too. 3) Vision attracts resources. One of the hallmarks of vision is that it acts like a magnet – attracting, challenging, and uniting people. It rallies finances and other resources, and the greater the vision, the more potential winners it must attract. The more challenging the vision, the harder the participants will fight to achieve it. So ask God to give you a vision for your life, and watch how it all comes together.
When God wants to change the status quo, He often starts by giving someone a vision. That’s what broke a centuries-old racial barrier and allowed the Gentiles to hear the gospel preached for the first time. Did you know you can be a Christian and be prejudiced? Indeed, you can be a believer and be biased towards people you don’t really know or understand because you have spent your life avoiding them and making judgments about them. Jesus told His disciples, ‘This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come’ (Matthew 24:14 NKJV). And Peter was present when Jesus said it. But either he wasn’t listening, or he didn’t like what he heard. Back then, the divide between Jews and Gentiles was similar to the mistrust and suspicion that many British people felt towards German nationals living in the UK during World War II. God told Peter to go to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, and preach the gospel, a person Peter considered to be ‘unclean’. Prejudice is the product of a closed mind. It is contempt prior to honest investigation. It is pride that must be humbled. So how did God change Peter’s heart? It required not one, but two different visions! God gave Cornelius a vision in which He told him to invite a Jewish preacher named Peter into his home to preach the gospel. And at the same time, He gave Peter a vision in which He told him, ‘If I accept someone, don’t you dare reject them!’ The truth is, when God wants to change things, He starts the process by giving someone a vision – and that someone could be you!
Maybe you think because you haven’t been to Bible college that God would never give a vision to someone like you. But you would be mistaken. The Bible says this: ‘There was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”…And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptised. So when he had received food, he was strengthened’ (vv. 10-12, 17-19 NKJV). And who exactly was Ananias? The right man, in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude! And God used him to lead the apostle Paul to Christ. Pretty impressive, eh? But what’s interesting is this: after that, Ananias is never mentioned again in Scripture. Bottom line: he was a ‘nobody’ who played a key role in God’s plan. And if God gave Ananias a vision and used him greatly – He will do the same for you.
Paul believed he was doing God’s will by imprisoning and killing Christians. And when he discovered his true calling, it was in a dramatic way. ‘As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”’ (vv. 3-6 NKJV). That day his ministry began; one that was destined to change the world! And as his life neared its end, he could say, ‘I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision’ (Acts 26:19 NKJV). Your vision must not be born out of your need to impress others or be like them. You’re called to do God’s will, not your own or someone else’s. The Bible says, ‘Ephraim [was] oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked by human precept’ (Hosea 5:11 NKJV). Your vision must be the result of divine guidance and not ‘human precept’. You must be able to pray, ‘Lord, you gave me this vision, and I’m trusting you to provide what I need.’ The apostle John writes, ‘This is the confidence…we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us’ (1 John 5:14 NKJV).
You don’t get to decide God’s purpose for your life, you discover it. How? Through prayer. God says, ‘I know the plans I have for you’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. You may be overwhelmed with problems, but God sees your potential. David’s family didn’t think he would amount to much. But where they saw a shepherd boy, God saw a king. Looking back, David wrote: ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me…I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!’ (Psalm 139:16-18 NLT). You’re unique – and so is God’s plan for you. It’s encouraging to read stories and listen to great achievers and think, ‘If they can do it, so can I!’ However, the secret is to learn from others without trying to duplicate them. It’s not enough to have a good idea; it must be the will of God. You don’t get to decide what your vision will be; you discover it by seeking God for direction. And His Word says He will give it to you: ‘Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left’ (Isaiah 30:21 NKJV). That way you know it’s ‘from the mouth of the LORD’.
After King David’s affair with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan told him, ‘The sword shall never depart from your house’ (2 Samuel 12:10 NKJV). And it happened. His son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar, and because David had lost his moral authority at home, he did nothing about it. When his other son Adonijah staged a coup, ‘his father…never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?”’ (1 Kings 1:6 NASB1995). If ever there was a time David needed to be a husband and father, this was it. As a leader he unified Israel, won wars, and brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. But with his own family, he blew it. No wonder he ‘went up by…the Mount of Olives, and wept’ (2 Samuel 15:30 NKJV). When he heard of his son Absalom’s untimely death, he cried, ‘If only I had died in your place!’ (2 Samuel 18:33 NKJV). And when he faced death himself, instead of sending for his wife and children, his servants hired a ‘young woman…and she cared for the king’ (1 Kings 1:4 NKJV). The man who made strangers of his own family died in a stranger’s arms. It’s too late to change David’s story – but not yours! If you succeed in your career and fail at home, your achievements will be hollow. Apart from your relationship with God, your first priority should be to love your spouse and dedicate yourself to the children in your care. David wrote, ‘I’m doing the very best I can…at home, where it counts.’ Sadly, David’s best wasn’t good enough. But by God’s grace, your story can be different!
Are you being criticised? Has it shaken your confidence? God told Gideon, ‘If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp…and listen to what they are saying. Afterwards, you will be encouraged’ (vv. 10-11 NIVUK). Why did God send Gideon and his servant into the enemy camp? To hear what they were saying, and to encourage him. When they arrived, a soldier was telling a friend about his dream: ‘“A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent…collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon…God has given…the whole camp into his hands.” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he…worshipped’ (vv. 13-15 NIVUK). Sometimes when you need encouragement, it’s good to pay attention to what your critics are saying. As Dale Carnegie observed, ‘Nobody kicks a dead dog!’ You’re making a difference – otherwise, they wouldn’t even notice you. Seen through this framework, criticism can actually strengthen your faith. For every battle, God has a strategy. So don’t just pray for victory; ask God to show you the winning strategy. A God-given vision will always be greater than the person who is called to fulfil it. The Bible says, ‘Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it’ (Psalm 127:1 KJV). God knows the weight load you can handle, the materials you need, and how it will all fit together in your life. So if He’s speaking to you and, like Gideon, you’re afraid to act, stand on this verse: ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down…the [enemy]’ (Judges 6:16 NIV).
Let’s take a moment and try to understand some of the reasons for our discontent: 1) Looking for happiness in the wrong places. God said: ‘My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me – the fountain of living water. And…dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!’ (v. 13 NLT). There is an emptiness inside you that only God can fill, and He will, if you invite Him in. 2) Failure to serve others. How we treat others is often a reflection of how we feel about ourselves. Philosopher-poet Eric Hoffer said: ‘The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbour as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant towards others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves. It is not only love of self but hatred of self which is at the root of the troubles that afflict our world.’ 3) Comparing ourselves with others. Paul writes, ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice’ (Romans 12:15 NIV). When you resent someone else’s achievements or level of blessing, joy drains out of your life like a sieve. The Bible says: ‘We are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around…So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves…or trying to be something we aren’t’ (Romans 12:4-6 MSG).
God may not respond exactly when you want Him to, but He is always on time. ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly’ (Psalm 84:11 NKJV). It’s difficult to watch God blessing others while you’re forced to wait. The Bible tells us, ‘Joseph remained a slave until his own words came true, and the LORD had finished testing him.’ God’s plan was for Joseph to live in a palace, yet for years he lived in a prison, charged with crimes he never committed. But it was there he met a butler who had the ear of Pharaoh, and through this connection, he was promoted to the number-two spot in Egypt. Understand this: when you walk with God, your opportunities for advancement are regulated by His plan, not someone else’s actions. And preparation always precedes promotion. When Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, everybody admired and applauded him. But then he spent years living through a famine, and the only friend he had was an impoverished widow. Together they had to trust God for every meal. That’s when Elijah learned important lessons about humility, divine guidance, and trusting God in times of need; things that don’t necessarily make sense to your natural mind. When God is going to build something great, He takes time to lay a strong foundation. ‘Jesus grew…in favour with God and man’ (Luke 2:52 NIVUK). Allow yourself time to grow. Let Him build a foundation under you that will sustain you and the blessings He has in mind for you in the years ahead.
Fourth, change your mindset. Does risk scare you? Are you discouraged by past failures? Do you not see the potential that opportunity offers? You won’t be able to move forward until you discover what is holding you back. ‘The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.’ A snare is a trap. And when you begin to see your fears as a trap, you will want to be free from them. Fifth, don’t wait for opportunity to knock. Opportunity seldom comes knocking; you have to go look for it. Assess your assets, talents, and resources. Doing so will give you a picture of your potential. ‘But I don’t have any special talents,’ you say. Yes, you do. ‘God has…given each of us different gifts to use’ (Romans 12:6 CEV). Sixth, take the next step. It’s one thing to notice an opportunity; it’s another to act on it. Somebody once quipped, ‘Everyone has a great idea in the shower. But only a few people step out, dry off, and do something about it.’ Choose the best opportunity you see, pray about it, do the best with it that you can, and keep going until you have done everything possible to make it happen. And when you have done your best – trust God to do the rest. Winston Churchill said, ‘Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities…because it is the quality which guarantees all others.’ And where does courage come from? God! The psalmist said, ‘Trust in the LORD forever…for in…the LORD, is everlasting strength’ (Isaiah 26:4 NKJV).
Second, take action. There is an old saying ‘you can if you will’. Initiators don’t wait for others to motivate them. They know it’s their responsibility to move themselves forward beyond their comfort zone, and they make it a practice. President Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘There is nothing brilliant or outstanding in my record, except perhaps this one thing. I do the things I believe ought to be done. And when I make up my mind to do a thing, I act.’ The Bible says, ‘Trust in the LORD, and do good [take action]; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness’ (Psalm 37:3 NKJV). Third, learn from your failures and keep moving forward. The good news for initiators is, they make things happen. The bad news is, they make lots of mistakes along the way. The greater your potential, the greater your chance for failure. Senator Robert Kennedy said, ‘Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.’ Are you constantly on the lookout for opportunity, or do you wait for it to come to you? Are you willing to pray and take a step of faith, or do you endlessly analyse everything? As former chairman of Chrysler, Lee Iacocca said, ‘Even the correct decision is wrong when it was taken too late.’ When was the last time you initiated something substantial in your life? If you haven’t moved yourself forward out of your comfort zone lately, you might have to jump-start your initiative. The Bible says, ‘He is [your] help and…shield’ (Psalm 115:11 NKJV). That means God will help you to succeed. And when you fail, He will protect and redirect you.
When God gives you an unconditional promise, all you need to do is wait for it. But when He makes a conditional promise, you have a part to play in its fulfilment. Sometimes that calls for taking the initiative. For Israel, it meant being willing to face opposition and drive the occupying nations from the promised land so it could be theirs. ‘Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed”’ (vv. 7-8 NKJV). In essence, God was saying, ‘When you take the initiative, I will act on your behalf.’ And He’s saying the same thing to you today. Here is what it means to take the initiative: 1) Knowing what you want. Humourist and pianist Oscar Levant once quipped, ‘Once I make up my mind, I’m full of indecision.’ We smile, but sadly that’s the way many of us operate. The fact is, you can’t be indecisive and be effective at the same time. 2) Being willing to take risks. The difference between a believer and a nonbeliever is this: as a believer, God has promised to go before you and arrange the circumstances in your favour. ‘But I’m afraid!’ you say. Faith in God doesn’t eliminate fear – it overcomes it. So take the initiative.
Before David became the king of Israel, he spent years tending a flock of sheep in the wilderness. That’s not an impressive start. But that’s where he built his relationship with God and honed his skills as a strategist and warrior. If you want to succeed, here is an immutable principle you must understand: God will let you practise in a place where your weaknesses can be worked on, your gifts developed, and where your mistakes won’t affect too many others. One Bible teacher tells of a pilot friend who received word from the control tower saying, ‘You’re cleared for five thousand feet.’ When he got there, he was told to hold for further instructions. Then came the words, ‘You’re cleared for ten thousand feet.’ Gradually the controller took him level by level to thirty-five thousand feet where he was cleared to fly to his destination. That day, God spoke to him saying, ‘I wish you would trust Me like that. Instead, you want to go straight to thirty-five thousand feet in one thrust!’ Try to understand this: God sees the end from the beginning, and He has already mapped out your journey. He knows that if you rise too quickly, there are dangers. You may be in the cockpit – but God is in the control tower! And today He is saying to you, ‘Trust Me and I’ll get you safely to your destination.’ God’s plan for your life can’t be rushed. When you try to rise too quickly, 1) you make costly and painful mistakes, 2) you adversely affect the lives of those who depend on you, and 3) you end up in a tug-of-war with God, which you lose!
God told Moses, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you’ (v. 19 NKJV). But in order to see that promise fulfilled, Moses had to be properly positioned, so God said, ‘Here is a place by Me.’ When you function in the place where God has assigned you, you can claim His promise: ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you.’ Why would the Prodigal Son leave his father’s house when everything he needed was there? Because: 1) He wanted his father’s blessing, but not his authority. Jesus said, ‘Why do you call me, “Lord”…and do not do what I say?’ (Luke 6:46 NIV). Why indeed! Peter Marshall, former chaplain to the US Senate, once prayed: ‘Lord, help us to apply what we applaud.’ 2) He took his father’s blessings for granted. God warned the Israelites: ‘Be careful…you do not forget the LORD, who brought you…out of…slavery’ (Deuteronomy 6:12 NIV). When they crossed the river Jordan, He told them to take twelve stones, one for each tribe, and build a memorial. Why? To remind them of who they were, who He was, and His covenant with them. 3) He didn’t know the danger waiting for him out there. And as a result, he ended up in a pigpen. Understand this: the path that takes you away from God may begin with pleasure, but it always ends with pain. Ask those who have walked it, and they will tell you, ‘Don’t go there!’ Live by this Scripture: ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Stay positioned for God’s blessing.
When God gives you a promise or a vision for your life, it’s like a seed; it needs time to take root before it can bear fruit. It’s like the birth of a baby. First the seed, then the pregnancy, then the development within the womb, and finally the day of delivery. And what do the parents do during this time? Prepare! They get ready for the challenges and responsibilities of parenthood. You may think you’re ready, but God knows when you’re ready. Though he had already been anointed king, David had to wait seven years until God removed Saul from the throne. And during those years he learned valuable lessons. Here is one of them: ‘Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honour you with every blessing’ (v. 34 TLB). You must learn the difference between what you can do and what God can do. Fools rush in! If you don’t want to risk delaying the fulfilment of God’s plan for your life, don’t get ahead of Him. ‘The vision is…for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). Everything God does is by appointment. And an appointment is simply an event that has already been set. God has scheduled a time for bringing to pass two things in your life: His promises and your vision. And there is great peace in knowing that nothing the enemy does can pre-empt these two things. So, when you grow impatient, remind yourself, ‘My life can’t end without this happening. God said it, and He will do it!’
‘Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, “Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!”…“An enemy has done this!” the farmer exclaimed. “Should we pull out the weeds?” they asked. “No,” he replied, “you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds”’ (vv. 24-30 NLT). There are two important lessons here. 1) You must know God’s Word so well that error, regardless of how convincingly it’s presented, can’t mislead you. Paul warned the leaders of the church at Ephesus: ‘Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!’ (Acts 20:30-31 NIV). 2) You must stay spiritually awake and alert. Notice, the seeds that were sown that night didn’t produce a harvest of weeds until later. And at that point they could not be uprooted. Perhaps you think this is no big deal. Think again! One degree off course may seem harmless enough. But if you stay on that trajectory long enough, spiritually speaking, you will end up far from where God wants you to be and realise ‘an enemy has done this!’ So what is the answer? ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…to fellowship…the breaking of bread and…prayer’ (Acts 2:42 NIV).
In the Old Testament, when King Joash repaired the temple, we’re told: ‘The money brought into the temple…was paid to the workers…They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty’ (vv. 13-15 NIV). And because integrity was practised, the nation of Israel prospered. James Madison, one of America’s Founding Fathers and a signatory to the Constitution, wrote: ‘The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.’ Nowadays, most surveys show that trust in our political and business leaders is at the lowest point on record. We believe they have only two things in mind: to get rich and to stay in power. And sadly, good leaders receive the same broad-brush stigma. So what should you do? 1) Pray for those in authority. Prayer is the conduit through which God’s influence is brought to bear in any situation. If you believe that, you will pray. 2) Support godly leadership. The Bible says, ‘Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34 KJV). Take an interest in their decisions, and praise those actions which show God’s influence at work. 3) Get personally involved. Edmund Burke is attributed with saying, ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.’ One person, plus God, can change things. So endeavour to be that person!
Sometimes we say to people, half in jest, ‘Try to be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful!’ The idea being that if you decide not to be good, make sure you’re clever enough not to get caught. But in reality, our lack of goodness is no laughing matter. In the words of Robert Fitch: ‘Ours is an age where ethics has become obsolete. Morality is superseded by science, deleted by philosophy, and dismissed as emotive by psychology. It drowns in compassion, evaporates in aesthetics, and retreats before relativism. The usual moral distinctions between good and bad are simply bathed in a maudlin emotion in which we feel more sympathy for the murderer than the murdered, for the adulterer than for the betrayed, and in which we have actually begun to believe that the real guilty party – the one who somehow caused it all – is the victim and not the perpetrator of the crime.’ Those are sobering thoughts. Things that were once considered black or white are now categorised as grey. Goodness that used to meet a universal standard is now a matter of personal interpretation and preference. And an epidemic of public officials whose private conduct leaves us shocked hasn’t made things any better. Right about now you may be thinking, ‘I read this Devotional every day to get something that will help me feel good, and today isn’t doing it.’ That’s the whole point! In order to feel good, the Bible says you must practise doing good and being good, which makes you a ‘pleasure’ to God.
It’s easy to forget why God saved you, what He’s called you to do, and how you’re supposed to live. So here’s a memo from heaven: ‘Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honouring each other. Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always. When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out... If someone mistreats you… pray that God will bless him. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone will see you are honest clear through. Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible… never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said that He will repay those who deserve it... Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be heaping coals of fire on his head. In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. Don’t let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good’ (vv. 9-21 TLB).
John Wesley said, ‘We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.’ Why did Jesus say, ‘Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly’? (v. 24 NLT). Because He had experienced the pain of rejection and misunderstanding. ‘He came unto his own, and his own received him not’ (John 1:11 KJV). The apostle James writes: ‘How can you claim to have faith in…Christ if you favour some people over others…give special attention…to the rich…but…say to the poor…“Stand…there, or…sit on the floor”…Doesn’t this discrimination show…your judgments are guided by evil motives?…If you favour some people over others, you are committing a sin’ (James 2:1, 3-4, 9 NLT). The story is told that when country singer Lonzo Green’s nephew Jimmy asked him to tune a friend’s guitar, he agreed. The problem was Jimmy’s friend was from the ‘wrong side of the tracks’ and Jimmy’s parents wouldn’t allow him inside their house where Uncle Lonzo was visiting. So they decided to meet outside. As the kid approached, Green noticed his self-consciousness and sideways glances at the upscale neighbourhood. Lonzo, who had experienced poverty and discrimination in his own life, tuned the boy’s old guitar, played a few songs, and taught him some chords. The young man thanked him and left with a warm memory he would carry throughout the rest of his remarkable life. Eventually that boy crossed the tracks for good with his guitar and soft, polite drawl and hesitant smile, and was never unwelcome again. That’s because the boy who wasn’t allowed in the house that day was – Elvis Presley!
Concerning Jacob, the Bible tells us: ‘A man came and wrestled with him until…dawn began to break…He touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”…Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face”….The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping’ (vv. 24-28, 30-31 NLT). Imagine the importance of a hip bone to a farmer like Jacob. It was something he leaned on every day, and now he was weak in an area where he had prided himself on being strong. As a result, he had to depend on God as never before. God has children like Jacob who walk with a limp, and you may be one of them. Perhaps you have experienced a painful failure, and because a limp isn’t something you can hide, people notice it. God loves to use flawed people because when they become successful, they aren’t arrogant like others who think they deserve it. They’re a little warmer, a little more willing to reach out and embrace others. They understand that without God they wouldn’t have made it. When you limp spiritually, you have to depend on God more, and that’s not a liability – it’s an asset!
Shortly before he was executed, Paul wrote: ‘I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear’ (vv. 12-14 NLT). Later on, he wrote, ‘Always be full of joy’ (Philippians 4:4 NLT). Paul had a PMA: a positive mental attitude. He couldn’t control his environment, but he chose an attitude that enabled him to overcome it. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said: ‘Have you realised that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you’re listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?’ (emphasis added). When you meet people, do you tell yourself they will let you down? When you face new experiences, does a voice within you tell you you’re going to fail? A man came upon a Little League baseball game one afternoon when he was walking in the park. He stopped and asked a boy in the dugout about the score. He responded, ‘Eighteen to nothing – we’re behind.’ The man said, ‘I bet you’re discouraged.’ The little boy replied, ‘Why should I be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet!’ What a difference an attitude of faith makes! The last words recorded in the Bible are these: ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen’ (Revelation 22:21 NKJV). Have faith – God will give you the grace to handle it!
Are you facing a problem that prayer alone hasn’t yet solved? Do you have a loved one who has been taken captive by drugs, or alcohol, or some other destructive power? Try praying – and fasting. Sometimes the spiritual battle you’re in is so intense that it calls for denying the legitimate needs of your body and building up your faith through prayer and fasting so that you are able to prevail. Jesus had told His disciples, ‘He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also’ (John 14:12 KJV), yet when the disciples were confronted with a demon-possessed boy with self-destructive tendencies, they were disappointed because they prayed and nothing happened. And when they asked Jesus why, He said to them, ‘This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.’ When the Jewish people were threatened with annihilation, only the king could save them. So Esther said, ‘Gather all the Jews…and fast for me…I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king’ (Esther 4:16 NKJV). As a result, Haman, who had plotted their destruction, was hanged on his own gallows, and the entire Jewish nation was saved. There are times in life when you must say no to your physical needs so that you can focus on your spiritual ones. Fasting sharpens your focus in prayer, fortifies your faith, prepares you to meet a challenge, and brings miraculous results. Fasting is about having single-mindedness in your search for God’s help – and it brings great results.
If your sense of well-being comes from any source other than God – including yourself – chances are you will always struggle with insecurity. That’s why Paul wrote: ‘God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so…you’re ready for anything and everything, more than…ready to do what needs to be done.’ Another translation puts it this way: ‘God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work’ (NIV). As long as you’re trusting in yourself, or others, you will struggle with uncertainty and self-doubt. But once you start trusting in God – what He can do in you, with you, through you, and for you – you begin to feel differently about yourself. Insecurity destroys your self-esteem by making you feel unqualified and undeserving. And here is the worst part: often it means you can’t be taught, can’t accept honest criticism, and therefore you can’t grow. The thing you need most – good input – becomes the last thing you’re willing to accept because you’re afraid to let anyone know you’re less than perfect. Consequently, you find it hard to confront challenges and seize the opportunities that come your way. Deep down, you feel incompetent, unaccepted, disapproved of, and rejected. In short: insecurity is an ‘inside job’! With that in mind, take an honest look at your life right now. Go ahead; it’s safe, no one else is looking! The only person who will benefit from this is you. Then turn to God and say, ‘Lord, everything I need to succeed in life I have in you!’
Insecurity can sideline you. When you feel like you’re unqualified and unworthy of success, self-doubt can make you act in ways that sabotage your chances to be successful. The truth is, it’s impossible to live for long on a level that’s inconsistent with how you see yourself. And one of the biggest problems with insecurity is that it’s almost impossible to acknowledge, so you don’t deal with it and overcome it. Why is that? Because you’re afraid that an admission of vulnerability will 1) weaken you in other people’s eyes, 2) empower and embolden your critics, and 3) give your competitors an advantage. Insecurity makes you keep others at a distance. It means living without the counsel and support of the very people whose input can help you to succeed. Bottom line: you have a hard time trusting other people because you have a hard time trusting yourself! It’s not a new phenomenon. Recorded in the Old Testament, Zophar said to Job, ‘In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress’ (Job 20:22 NKJV). Note the word ‘distress’, then think of the word ‘stress’. Your insecurity will whisper, ‘If people really knew me, they wouldn’t love me, respect me, follow me, invite me, or invest in me.’ So…what’s the answer? Paul has it! He writes, ‘Not that we are competent…to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent.’ The first step to overcoming insecurity is to draw your self-worth from God and learn to see yourself through His eyes. And you can only do that by spending time with Him in prayer and reading His Word each day.
When we watch celebrities move through multiple marriages and hop from one relationship to another, it reminds us that you can have charisma without character, talent without trustworthiness, and skill without staying power. A cartoon in a magazine showed a couple standing before a minister during their wedding ceremony. The minister, looking at the bride, said, ‘The correct response is, “I do,” not, “It’s worth a try.”’ Love – in marriage and in any other relationship – requires unselfishness and commitment on our part. And contrary to popular opinion, it doesn’t come easily or naturally to any of us. Love is others-centred and self-sacrificing. The truth is that we’re all self-centred; in our own natural selves, we care little about making sacrifices for others unless we’re highly motivated and well rewarded. That’s why the Bible teaches us that one of the secrets of having an intimate relationship with someone else is having one with God. John the apostle writes, ‘Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love’ (vv. 7-8 NIV). And if you ask Him to do it, God will download that kind of love into your heart. Here’s how He does it: ‘God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5 NIV). This kind of love grows as we mature it. It develops as we feed it. It expands as we persist in it. Bottom line: this kind of love has staying power!
In the New Testament, God emphasised different things to each of the seven churches in Revelation. Why? Because they each had a different assignment and faced different challenges. It’s wise to read good books and listen to good mentors and teachers, but don’t assume that what God told them is what He is telling you. There are times when you need to hear from Him for yourself. You may adopt certain principles, but you must get your plan from God. That’s why it’s sometimes hard for God to get through to preachers. When He speaks to them personally, they give it an introduction, three points, and a conclusion – and preach it to others! And as a spiritual leader, there is another potential pitfall: trying to get ‘a word’ for others because they happen to be bothering you. Let God straighten them out and get back to where you belong! Paul wrote, ‘We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us’ (2 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). Your authority and anointing depend on being where God wants you to be, doing what He wants you to do. When you’re driven by ego, or other people’s expectations, or a goal God gave to someone else, you’re setting yourself up to fail. You must hear from God for yourself. If you’re assigned – you’re confined! You can’t go where you like and do as you please, so ask God to crown your efforts with success. If you’re in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, don’t let pride keep you there. Pray, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’ Then, do it!
One of Satan’s favourite schemes is getting us to use legitimate things in an illegitimate way. During the wilderness temptation, he tried to take advantage of Christ’s hunger by saying, ‘Turn these stones into…bread’ (Matthew 4:3 MSG). But Jesus knew the Scriptures, so He replied, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’ (v. 4 NKJV). Had Jesus given in to His human impulses, He would have gone along with Satan’s scheme and forfeited His heavenly Father’s supply that was just about to arrive. We all need money, but Satan will tempt you to cheat on your taxes, short-change your customers, cut corners on the job, or withhold your donation. We have all been created with the need for companionship and sexual fulfilment. But Satan will tempt you to fulfil those needs by having an affair or trapping you into online pornography. We all long to be successful in our career. But Satan will tempt you to achieve it through lying, manipulating, or blowing someone else’s light out in order to let yours shine. One of his oldest schemes is to confuse our values so that good appears to be evil, and evil appears as good. So what’s the answer? Paul says, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11 NIVUK). There is only one way to unmask Satan and defeat his schemes, and that’s through a close walk with God, a daily study of the Scriptures, and a consistent prayer life. That’s how you guard your mind, your mouth, and your morals.
Are you disappointed in people? Jesus understands, because in the final analysis, those He loved and counted on let Him down. Judas, His treasurer, sold Him out, and then sealed the deal with a kiss. Even in His darkest hour, Gethsemane, His closest disciples, Peter, James and John, couldn’t stay awake and pray with Him for an hour (see Matthew 26:40). Are you tired of all the demands? Jesus understands. ‘A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all’ (Matthew 15:30 NLT). You say, ‘But if Jesus was God how could He get tired?’ Because He was both God and man. He had to be God in order to save us, and man in order to die for us. ‘Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime’ (John 4:6 NLT). Have you been falsely accused? Jesus understands. They accused Him of being ‘a boozer, a friend of the misfits’ (Matthew 11:19 MSG). Up until the time of His death they were still trying ‘to find something false…so they could kill him’ (Matthew 26:59 NCV). And Jesus said, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord’ (John 15:20 KJV). When you decide to follow Jesus, you’re signing up for a life of advancement – and adversity! So why did Jesus go through these things? ‘Since he himself has gone through suffering…he is able to help us’ (Hebrews 2:18 NLT). He walked the path you’re on today so that you could go to Him knowing He understands, and that He is able to help.
The Lord understands what you are going through today because He has been where you are. The Bible says: ‘This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do…So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most’ (vv.15-16 NLT). That means: 1) Jesus understands your family problems. He had a family of His own. And on one occasion they said, ‘He’s out of his mind’ (Mark 3:21 NLT). 2) Jesus understands when you feel overwhelmed. ‘Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.’ (Mark 6:31 NLT). Jesus not only dealt with on-the-job pressures, He had to organise, train and correct His own followers, including a group of uneducated fishermen, a bigot, and a despised tax collector. 3) Jesus understands when you feel rejected. The town He grew up in had no use for Him: ‘He came unto his own, and his own received him not’ (John 1:11 KJV). When Philip said, ‘We’ve found the One Moses wrote of…Jesus…from Nazareth!’ Nathanael said, ‘Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding’ (v. 45 MSG). And Jesus’ family tree was nothing to write home about either. Rahab was a prostitute, Jacob was a crook, David was an adulterer – to name just a few. Yes, Jesus understands. He knows where you’re at today and He’s able to help you. So talk to Him!
When the darkness you are experiencing is God-ordained, don’t try to create your own light: ‘You who…walk in the light of your fires…will lie down in torment.’ Abraham decided to kindle his own fire when God’s promise of an heir didn’t materialise quickly enough. Tired of waiting, he decided to go it alone by fathering Ishmael, and ended up creating problems that would last for generations. God had already promised to liberate Israel, but Moses took it upon himself to do things his way. As a result he killed an Egyptian slave master and spent the next forty years in the wilderness (see Exodus 2:11-15). Peter promised to follow Jesus to prison and to death (see Luke 22:33), but because he didn’t wait for instructions he ended up lopping off an innocent man’s ear. When you’re in darkness by divine design you don’t have to be afraid, God will bring you through. Why are we so sure? Because the Bible gives us great promises like: ‘Light arises in the darkness for the upright’ (Psalm 112:4 AMP), and ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5 KJV). The forty days Moses spent alone on the mountain, Elijah’s stay on Mount Horeb, and Paul’s years in the Arabian Desert weren’t wasted experiences; they were part of God’s plan. Jesus said, ‘What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight’ (Matthew 10:27 NIV). Notice two things in this Scripture: 1) It’s in your worst moments that God gives you some of your best insights. 2) People will listen to you because you’ve ‘earned the right to speak.’ So sit tight and let God teach you things which can only be learned in the dark.
Sometimes God doesn’t tell us why because He wants us to know who. In Psalm 23, David goes from talking about God, ‘The Lord is my shepherd,’ to talking with Him, ‘Thou art with me’ (KJV). What happened in between? David learned that no matter how dark the way is, the Lord is there to guide us. He discovered that it’s better to walk through the valley with God than stand on the mountaintop alone. God doesn’t always light the path in advance, but He promises, ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee’ (Isaiah 43:2 KJV). When you feel like you’re out of your depth or in over your head, claim the promise! Job had many unanswered questions, but when he began to understand the difference between reason and relationship, he told God, ‘My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you’ (Job 42:5 NIV). When you can’t find the reason, trust the relationship. God won’t fail you. Contrary to what you may think, darkness isn’t always the work of the enemy. Sometimes it’s one of God’s best teaching tools. ‘About the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea…And when they saw Him…they were greatly amazed…beyond measure, and marvelled’ (Mark 6:48-51 NKJV). You get to know the Lord by going through storms with Him. The psalmist said, ‘the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.’ (Psalm 139:12 NRSV). So instead of running from your problems, ask God to develop your night vision, to show you ‘the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places’ (NRSV).
God promises us peace, but not smooth sailing or immunity from life’s problems. The Bible says you can ‘fear the Lord yet walk in darkness and trouble.’ Check your Bible: a) Job lived an exemplary life yet he lost everything. Troubled and perplexed, he cried, ‘[God] has blocked my way…he has shrouded my paths in darkness (Job 19:8 NIV) b) Jeremiah, after preaching to a rebellious people who beat and imprisoned him, said, ‘Oh, that…my eyes [were] a fountain…I would weep day and night for…my people’ (Jeremiah 9:1 NIV) c) Paul suffered so much he ‘despaired even of life’ (2 Corinthians 1:8 KJV). Faith is like film; it’s developed in the dark. Dark days make us lean on God in ways we normally wouldn’t. The truth is, if our faith was never tested we wouldn’t be motivated to pursue God and draw closer to Him. Edward Mote wrote: ‘When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.’ It’s easy to praise God when your health is good and your bills are paid. It’s when light suddenly turns to darkness that we discover what our faith is made of and where our trust truly lies. It’s in those seasons, that we develop night vision!
In Gethsemane, Jesus ‘came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak”’ (vv. 40-41 CEV). Jesus was just hours from the cross, and He asked His disciples to pray for Him. Imagine His disappointment when He found them sleeping! Perhaps they didn’t get enough rest the night before. Maybe they were worn out from a hard day’s work. We have all been victims of drowsiness, so we shouldn’t be surprised that they fell asleep, but we are! We’re shocked because it was such an important night. This night, more than any other, required the discipline of prayer. But the disciples missed a great opportunity to encourage and strengthen Jesus in His hour of need. They missed an opportunity to strengthen themselves as well. Satan knows if he can keep you from prayer, you will be powerless. He is the master of distraction. Think how often he has robbed you of your quiet time with God by using things like TV, the telephone, the internet, a messy house, your to-do list, your wandering mind, your heavy eyelids. Your quiet time with God isn’t something you try to ‘fit into’ your schedule; it must be something you prioritise, or it won’t happen. The King James Version says, ‘Pray, that ye enter not into temptation’ (v. 41). You don’t know what each day holds, but through prayer and spending time in God’s Word, you can prepare your heart for whatever life throws at you.
Even though the Israelites were God’s people, they ‘wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them’ (Psalm 107:4-5 NKJV). If you feel that way today, perhaps your soul needs a ‘dwelling place’. A home where it’s at peace, secure, and nurtured; a place where you can lay down your worries, weariness, and frustrations. David said, ‘My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and…flesh cry out for the living God’ (Psalm 84:2 NIV). Good news! Jesus wants to be your home! He said, ‘Live in me. Make your home in me’ (John 15:4 MSG). You can treat Him as an emergency shelter you run to in times of trouble, or you can live in Him. You say, ‘How do I make Jesus my “dwelling place”?’ Think about it: if someone gave you the gift of a beautiful home, how would you enter it? You would check to make sure the giver was serious, inspect the paperwork, then pack up, move in, and enjoy it, right? Jesus is serious when He invites you to live in Him. So by the act of faith, pack up and move in today. God said, ‘My people will live in peaceful places…in safe homes and…calm places of rest’ (Isaiah 32:18 NCV). The English poet Hartley Coleridge penned these insightful words about faith: ‘It is an affirmation and an act, that bids eternal truth be present fact’ (emphasis added). The spoken Word of God is powerful! So when you get up every morning, make this your affirmation: ‘Today, God is my dwelling place!’
Next time you walk in the woods, stop and think about what’s taking place right under your feet. As the roots of the trees connect with each other, they form a support system. One has access to water, another to nutrients, and another to sunlight. No single tree has it all, but together they can grow, thrive, and withstand the storms of life. ‘Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love’ (Ephesians 4:15-16 CEV). Some of us independent types have difficulty with this concept. We want to fly solo – until we crash – then we realise our need for these: 1) Encouragement. Even Paul needed cheering on: ‘Everyone in Asia has turned against me, especially Phygelus and Hermogenes. I pray that the Lord will be kind to the family of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up and wasn’t ashamed of me when I was put in jail. Then after he arrived in Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me’ (2 Timothy 1:15-17 CEV). 2) Sympathy. ‘Be sympathetic’ (Colossians 3:12 GWT). We all need to be understood and have our feelings validated. But sometimes we’re in such a hurry to ‘fix’ people, we don’t have time to sympathise with them. 3) Grace. ‘Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others’ (Colossians 3:13 NLT). What motivates us to extend grace to others? God’s grace to us! You will never be asked to extend more grace to someone than God has already extended to you.
A ‘servant’ focuses on doing his master’s will. And a ‘witness’ testifies to what he or she has seen and personally experienced. And as a redeemed child of God, you’re called to do both. Let’s look at each one individually. 1) You’re God’s servant. That means your ears must be attuned to what He wants you to do, when He wants you to do it, in the way He wants it done. Doing His will should be the most important item on your daily agenda. 2) You’re His witness. The value of a witness depends on how close they were to an event when it happened, and what they observed. John writes, ‘We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.…Now we testify’ (1 John 1:1-2 NLT). Remember the old adage ‘you become like the company you keep’? Well, when you spend time with Jesus each day, others will be influenced by your life. The Bible says, ‘He that winneth souls is wise’ (Proverbs 11:30 KJV). When it comes to sharing your faith, you must show wisdom, tact, and grace. Chances are, many people you meet have had at least one bad experience with Christians and church, so you must be ‘wise’. And how do you do that? By letting them know Jesus is the Great Physician who heals broken hearts. That the church is a hospital where some are doing well while others are still needing care. Properly understood and presented, this will draw people to Jesus instead of driving them away. So…what’s your assignment? To be His servant and His witness!
Mother Teresa is attributed with saying, ‘I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!’ Is that how you feel today? Like there is too much to do and not enough of you to do it? Let Romans chapter fifteen, verse thirteen, percolate in your mind: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (NIV). The way to have peace in the midst of a troubled situation is by staying filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. How do you do that? By developing a spiritual hunger and letting God fill you. He can give you a sense of serenity when you’re surrounded by stress. So, if you’re in over your head today, pray this: ‘Father, You said no weapon formed against me shall prosper (see Isaiah 54:17). I can’t keep the enemy’s weapons from being formed, but I know You will keep them from prevailing against me. You said if I ask anything according to Your will, You will grant my request (see 1 John 5:14-15). You said when I walk in obedience, I will be blessed when I come in, when I go out, when I lie down, and when I get up (see Deuteronomy 28:6; Psalms 1:2; 3:5). You told me to turn all my troubles over to You and You will take care of me (see 1 Peter 5:7). So here they are! Today I’m standing on Your promises. You said it! I believe it! That settles it! Amen.’
Goliath’s ancestors were Israel’s long-standing enemies. And when Joshua entered the Promised Land, he annihilated them all – except the inhabitants of Gath where Goliath hailed from. Why is that important to note? Because if you don’t kill the enemy and cut off his head, he’ll rise to fight you again. Maybe you’re wrestling with issues your parents and grandparents grappled with; things like addiction, marriage problems, anger, worry and depression. David put ‘five…stones from a stream…into his shepherd’s bag’ (v. 40 NLT) because he didn’t know how many he’d need to do the job. And there are certain ‘stones’ you need to take with you to conquer the giants in your life. 1) Be relentless. It may take more than a day, a month, or even a year to see results. But with God’s help you’ll win if you persevere. 2) Get God involved. God’s priority is His reputation, and David’s objective was to defend it by declaring, ‘There is a God in Israel’ (v. 46 NLT). 3) Keep praying and believing God for victory. ‘Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare’ (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). Rehearsing your hurts won’t heal them and cataloguing your problems won’t solve them. But prayer will. 4) Recall your earlier victories. David announced, ‘GOD, who delivered me from the…lion and…bear, will deliver me from this Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:37 MSG). When you’re afraid of the future, call to mind God’s past faithfulness: ‘Remember the wonders he…performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given’ (1 Chronicles 16:12 NLT). With God’s help you can conquer the giants in your life!
When he went out to fight Goliath, David said, ‘You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD…and he will give you to us!’ (1 Samuel 17:45, 47 NLT). Nobody in King Saul’s army seemed to have factored God into the equation, but David talked about nothing else. He saw what they didn’t, and refused to be intimidated by what they did. He believed that the God he served was bigger than the giant he faced. Do you believe that too? Do you see God as bigger than your problem? If you’re in a situation where there appears to be no way out, instead of wasting time and energy dwelling on your own weaknesses and shortcomings, stand on God’s Word and start talking about His power. You won’t win if you fight in your own strength, so don’t try it! David said, ‘This is the LORD’s battle’ (v. 47 NLT). And God has never lost a battle! So confront your giant in the name of the Lord and declare: ‘Giant of divorce, you aren’t entering my home; depression, you won’t conquer me; alcohol, bigotry, insecurity, lust, you’re coming down!’ The Bible says, ‘When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard [flag of victory] against him’ (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV). There are three things Satan can’t withstand: God’s Word, Christ’s blood, and the name of Jesus. When you use those things you’ll bring him down every time – just like David toppled Goliath!
The surest way to ruin your child’s prospects for a happy life is to indulge their every whim, teach them that the world ‘owes them’, cultivate in them a sense of entitlement, under no circumstances allow them to ‘work by the sweat of their brow’ and experience the satisfaction that comes from discipline, sacrifice and a job well done. In the classic Little Women, Mrs March tells this story to her daughters: ‘Once upon a time there were four girls who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents, yet they were not contented. These girls made many excellent resolutions; but they were constantly saying, “If we only had this,” or “If we could only do that.” So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy and she said, “When you feel discontented, think over your blessings and be grateful.” They decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. One discovered that money couldn’t keep shame and sorrow out of rich people’s houses; another found she was a great deal happier with her youth, health and good spirits than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn’t enjoy her comforts; a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to have to go begging for it. So they agreed to stop complaining and enjoy the blessings they already possessed.’ The question is: ‘What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits towards me?’ The answer is: gratitude!
Someone quipped, ‘When Columbus set out, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know where he was. And when he returned home, he didn’t know where he’d been.’ We all need help knowing what direction to go; whether or not to relocate, take a certain job, commit to a relationship, etc. Good news! God will direct you, and when you make a wrong turn he will redirect you. Here are three ways in which He does it: 1) Through wise counsel. Others have sat where you’re sitting: ‘Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith’ (Hebrews 13:7 NRSV). Is your business floundering? Talk to a successful entrepreneur. Are you experiencing a midlife crisis? Before doing something you’ll regret, ask for help. Solomon said, ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice’ (Proverbs 12:15 NIV). 2) Through prayer and listening for His voice. Jesus said, ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me’ (John 10:27 NIV). And Isaiah writes, ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.”’ That’s the kind of assurance you need. So, ‘Instead of worrying, pray’ (Philippians 4:6 MSG). 3) Through Scripture: Paul says, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom’ (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). One author observes: ‘The Bible is to God, what a surgical glove is to a surgeon. He reaches through it to touch deep within you.’ But that means reading it, personalising it, and acting on it.
Vincent’s passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, fed the hungry, and earned a place in the people’s hearts. His church was filled to capacity with those eager to learn about Jesus. But his superiors weren’t happy because Vincent wore cast-offs, lived in a shack, and gave his salary to the people. ‘You look worse than the people you teach,’ they said. ‘Wouldn’t Jesus have done the same?’ Vincent asked. His bosses disagreed, and he was dismissed from the ministry. He was hurt and angry. His only desire had been to build a church that glorified God, so why hadn’t God let it happen? Then one day he watched an old miner struggling under a load of coal. Moved by the sight, he began to sketch the bowed figure. And although he didn’t realise it at the time, he’d discovered his real calling. The young preacher who was rejected by his denomination eventually became an artist the world will long remember – Vincent van Gogh. David said: ‘It was my desire to build a Temple…but God said to me…”Your son Solomon will build my Temple”’ (1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6 NLT). When God gives you a red light, be sensitive to it. And when He overrules your plans to implement His own, say, ‘Amen!’ F.B. Meyer wrote: ‘Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God…get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal…Wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action – and the will of God will be made clear.’
When God gives you a green light, you must go. And when He gives you a red light, you must stop. ‘Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia. After they arrived in Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. So they went on through Mysia until they came to Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of someone from Macedonia who was standing there and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” After Paul had seen the vision, we began looking for a way to go to Macedonia…sure that God had called us to preach the good news there’ (vv. 6-10 CEV). After a series of green lights, God gave Paul a red light. Why? 1) Because the timing wasn’t right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork. 2) Because God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere. 3) Because God wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission. Note the words, ‘They tried to go…but the Spirit…would not let them.’ How reassuring! God loves you so much that He will save you from your own misguided plans. The Canadian preacher A.B. Simpson said: ‘Often there’s nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will.’ Today God may be saying to you, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted [in this situation]’ (Psalm 46:10 NKJV). Please pay attention!
Answer the following ten questions honestly. 1) Are you sometimes grumpy without knowing why? 2) Do you work hard but feel unappreciated? 3) Do you feel guilty and unproductive when you’re caught relaxing? 4) Do you increasingly find yourself shouting to make your point instead of talking calmly? 5) Can you remember the last time you laughed till you cried? 6) Are you exhausted after a day off because of all the chores you had to do? 7) Do you tend to eat more when you’re tense or overwhelmed? 8) Are you constantly on the defensive? 9) Do you suffer from unexplained headaches and stomach aches? 10) Does your to-do list have footnotes? So, how did you do on the test? Are you surprised? If you’re tuned in to yourself, you shouldn’t be. The symptoms of stress overload don’t appear overnight. When your computer starts freezing up, you know it’s time to turn it off and reboot. When a warning light flashes on the dashboard of your car, you wouldn’t dream of ignoring it. When the clock starts losing time, you know it’s time to change the batteries! The bottom line is: if you continue to ignore the warning signs, stress will eventually take its toll on your health. Jesus said, ‘Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated…disturbed… and unsettled’ (John 14:27 AMPC). In other words, work on controlling your reactions. Stop losing your peace over every little thing that goes wrong in your life. When there’s nothing you can do about the situation, learn to trust God, let it go, and keep your joy.
Here are three more important lessons from the seven sons of Sceva: 1) Those around you aren’t necessarily with you. Just because somebody hangs out with you, admires you, and tries to emulate you, doesn’t mean they’re with you. These men followed Paul, studying his every move and trying to do what he did. But they had the wrong motives. They were never ‘with’ him at all! Are you concerned about losing certain people? Are you always trying to keep them happy? Do you wonder if you can make it in life without them? John writes, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us’ (1 John 2:19 NKJV). When God removes a person who doesn’t belong in your life, trust Him; He knows what’s best. 2) Greater numbers don’t always mean greater effectiveness. These seven men together couldn’t do what one Spirit-empowered apostle did. And remember, their father was a chief priest, so they knew how to ‘do church’. They fulfilled the Scripture: ‘Having a form of godliness, but denying its power.’ 3) Success isn’t as easy as it looks. Sceva’s sons showed up towards the end of Paul’s career. They weren’t there in the beginning when he was humbled on the Damascus Road, or trained for three-and-a-half years in the Arabian Desert. These guys were looking for shortcuts. Just because someone writes a book about success, doesn’t mean you can achieve overnight what took years of life experience on the part of the author. It’s not that God can’t give you instant success; it’s that you need time, training, and in some cases a major overhaul to prepare you for it.
From the seven sons of Sceva we learn two very important things: 1) Satan knows who you are. The demons in this man spoke to the sons of Sceva, saying, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ (Acts 19:15 NKJV). Question: Do you have the kind of relationship with God that causes Satan to know your name, and acknowledge that you’re a force to be reckoned with? When God asked Satan, ‘Have you noticed my servant, Job?’ he replied, ‘Yes, and every time I come up against him I hit a force field I can’t penetrate’ (Job 1:8-12, paraphrased). Maybe you’re preoccupied with your own inadequacy, thinking you’re not up to the job, or you’re not good enough. Understand this: it’s not you the enemy’s afraid of – it’s God’s Spirit within you! 2) When ‘the evil day’ comes, you discover if you have what it takes. Paul said, ‘Take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day’ (Ephesians 6:13 NKJV). The demons in the man recognised the weaknesses in the seven sons of Sceva and stripped them of their pretence. You will only survive if your faith is genuine, because one day you’ll have to walk with God when you can’t understand or explain where He’s taking you. Your techniques and talents won’t get you through. You’re going to have to stand on His Word when it doesn’t look like it’s working for you. That’s when you discover it’s ‘“not by might nor…power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD’ (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV).
The Bible says: ‘Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and…they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known…and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified’ (vv. 11-17 NKJV). This story should act as a warning to those who think, ‘If they can do something, I can do it!’ Not so. Unless God calls and equips you to do it, the chances are that you’ll fall flat on your face! God doesn’t empower you to do your own thing; He empowers you to do His thing! The truth is, you can only use the name of Jesus effectively: a) When you acknowledge Him as your Saviour and Lord. b) When you have an intimate relationship with Him. c) When you stand on His Word and practise its principles in your everyday life. When you do that, every time you use the name of Jesus, you’re protected and indemnified by the authority that’s in His name.
One day a businessman called his wife to say that he was bringing a foreign visitor home for dinner. His wife had three children in school and one toddler at home, so she had a full workload. But she consented, and the meal she prepared was both delicious and graciously served. The foreign guest, an important official in Spain, had a delightful time and thanked the couple repeatedly for inviting him and treating him to a home-cooked meal and an evening of family warmth and fellowship. Years later, friends of this family went to Spain as missionaries. But their work was brought to a standstill by government regulations. When this particular Spanish official got word that the missionaries were friends of the couple who’d hosted him in such a gracious manner, he used his influence to clear away the restrictions on their behalf. As a result, a vibrant and growing church was built in that province of Spain and people were won to Christ. Why? Because a busy wife and mother was willing to set an extra plate for a guest at her dinner table, and that guest proved to be a ‘kingdom connection’. Like a wise businessman, God sets the goal, then determines the plan required to reach it. In His Word He tells us: ‘I am God…declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure”’ (vv. 9-10 NKJV). In other words, God connects the dots.
If you succeed in making a good living but fail to teach your children how to live ‘right’, your success will be empty, and you’ll end up living with regrets. The average child spends six to seven hours each day on the Internet, or watching television, or interacting with their peer group. And every minute of it is creating their value system and moulding them into the person they will become. So be there for them! If you have to sacrifice materially in order to develop them spiritually, it’s a trade-off you’ll always feel good about. Dorothy Lawe Nolte wrote words that every parent should carry with them: ‘If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. But, if a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.’ Solomon, who was a father, put it this way: ‘My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!’
In the late nineteenth century, a member of parliament went to Scotland to make an important speech. He travelled to Edinburgh by train, then took a horse-drawn carriage southward to his destination. But the roads were bad and the carriage became mired in mud. A Scottish farm boy came to the rescue of the team of horses and helped to pull the carriage loose. The member of parliament asked the boy how much he owed him. ‘Nothing,’ the lad replied. ‘Are you sure?’ the politician pressed, but the boy declined payment. ‘Well, is there anything I can do for you? What do you want to be when you grow up?’ The boy responded, ‘I want to be a doctor’. The member of parliament offered to help the young Scot go to university, and sure enough he followed through on his pledge. More than a half century later Winston Churchill lay dangerously ill with pneumonia; stricken while attending a wartime conference in Morocco. A new ‘wonder drug’ was administered to him, a drug called penicillin that had been discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming. You’ve guessed it: Fleming was the young Scottish lad who came to the aid of the member of parliament. And the member of parliament was none other than Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill’s father. Yes, what goes around comes around. Jesus told the truth when He said, ‘Give, and it will be given to you.’ So, when God tells you to sow a seed of kindness into the life of someone else, it’s because He has a harvest of blessing waiting for you somewhere down the road.
Thank God for skilled doctors who know how to diagnose illnesses and prescribe medications that bring health and healing. But here’s something for you to think about: what if many of our stress-related illnesses could be helped with meditation as well as medication? The psalmist wrote: ‘As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live…Those who love your instructions have great peace’ (vv. 143-144, 165 NLT). When there’s a chemical imbalance in your body it may need to be treated with medication, an altered diet, and daily exercise. But when your soul is starved to the point of dysfunction, it needs to be treated with God’s Word. We’re not talking about skimming through a few verses and rushing out into your day. Butterflies cover a lot of ground, but only bees gather honey! Sometimes you have to stay with a particular Scripture until you extract the honey; to ‘live with’ and ‘meditate’ on it till it takes root and starts to grow within you (see Psalm 119:48). It takes time to change ingrained character traits. God may work on one area of your life for several weeks, or months. New habits and ways of thinking need time to be established. You must recognise this and allow God to reveal and reinforce new truth in your life. Don’t fool yourself into thinking because you read a certain scriptural truth it will produce instant change. It must be applied daily, and that takes time and meditation.
Prolonged starvation can have a profound effect on your health. You lose your ability to think clearly. Your vision gets blurry. Your strength wanes, and you stop being productive. Guess what? It’s the same with your spiritual life. Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4 NIV). So knowing that, how come we don’t spend time reading the Bible? We know it’s essential to our spiritual, mental and emotional health. Yet we fail to do it or do it inconsistently. Why? 1) Because we’re not motivated. We haven’t experienced the joy that comes from personally discovering great truths from God’s Word. We grow complacent and settle for having our spiritual food handed to us by other people. But when you get serious about studying the Bible for yourself, you’ll never again be satisfied with second-hand knowledge. 2) Because we don’t know how. We hear a great sermon and think, ‘Why didn’t I see that?’ Because most church leaders spend hours studying the Scriptures – we don’t! 3) Because we get lazy. Bible study requires self-discipline. It takes time, effort, concentration and persistence. Most great truths don’t lie on the surface; you have to dig for them. In the Old Testament when Israel ‘sought God eagerly…he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.’ And God will do that for you too!
When you’re sick, one of the first questions a doctor asks in order to diagnose your problem is, ‘How’s your appetite?’ That’s because when you lose your desire for food, something’s wrong in your body. And the same principle applies to your spiritual health. One of the characteristics of the great men and women in Scripture is that they hungered for God in prayer and disciplined themselves to study and understand His Word. What made evangelist George Mueller so successful? During his lifetime he read through the Bible some two hundred times – and more than half of those were on his knees, praying over Scripture while studying it. When you know God that well, you’ll pray specifically and get specific answers. The truth is that you were born with a God-shaped blank inside you, and nobody but God can fill it. Greater success won’t. More money won’t. Another relationship won’t. Living in a palace and being a king won’t. That’s why King David wrote: ‘LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word…Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law…My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times…Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors’ (Psalm 119:12-24 NIVUK). The Word of God is ‘soul food’, so if you’ve been feeding your body and neglecting your soul – rearrange your priorities today.
As a boy working in the temple, Samuel didn’t recognise God’s voice when He spoke to him. But later as a prophet, his ear was the portal through which God spoke to an entire nation. Learning to recognise God’s voice isn’t a skill that’s acquired overnight because He speaks to us at different times, in different ways, and in different settings. Recognising God’s voice: 1) Calls for spiritual maturity. Jesus said, ‘The sheep follow him, for they know his voice’ (John 10:4 NKJV). Note, he said His sheep, not His lambs, know His voice. Baby sheep follow adult sheep until their senses are trained. That means there’s grace for the immature. So, if your spiritual ears aren’t developed yet, God will work with you till they are. 2) Means not being limited by your previous experiences. When God spoke to Moses, a mountain shook, whereas He spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice. Don’t limit God, and don’t try to figure Him out. He can speak to you through your Bible, through those qualified to teach His Word, through a song, through a painful situation, and through your thoughts and desires when you’re submitted to Him. The key is to stay close to God and keep your receiver tuned. 4) Means being obedient: David said, ‘I take joy in doing your will’ (Psalm 40:8 NLT). When it comes to recognising God’s voice, is your response, ‘When I get around to it’? ‘If I can fit you in’? ‘I’ll think about it’? Read this: ‘If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures’ (Job 36:11 NKJV).
Paul had one of the greatest ministries the world has ever known, yet he said of himself, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief’ (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV). When people told Paul how great he was, he stayed humble by remembering what he used to be. If you believe God has called you, your response should be to bow down in humility before Him. When the Angel of the Lord told an ageing Zacharias he would father a son named John the Baptist, Zacharias hit the floor and didn’t move, to the point where people wondered if he was dead. Ezekiel had a book in the Bible named after him. That’s heady stuff! Yet when God called him, he collapsed on the floor and God had to tell him to get up, saying, ‘Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee’ (Ezekiel 2:1 KJV). When John the Revelator saw Jesus standing in the midst of the seven churches, he wrote, ‘When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead’ (Revelation 1:17 KJV). Can you see a pattern emerging here? Paul writes, ‘Walk…with…lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering’ (Ephesians 4:1-2 NKJV). Think about the phrase ‘walking with God’. Whose company are you in? God’s! Can you think of a higher calling? And the higher your calling, the lower you must become in your own estimation. Humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself; it means thinking of yourself less. Jesus summed it up like this: ‘Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ Today, practise humility.
When it comes to being an exhorter, observe two things: 1) Exhortation is a neglected gift. No ministry is more needed in the church today, as that of encouragement. It’s so easy to find discouragement and so difficult to find encouragement. Even in the church. Most churches have what’s called a ‘cold water committee’. They’re always ready to tell you why something won’t work and point out how some programme went wrong. They seem to talk louder and longer than the encouragers, which leads to the next point. 2) Exhortation is a needed gift. No matter how well things may be going, or how well someone looks on the outside, every one of us can use some encouragement. In fact, encouragement is so important that the whole church is to be involved in it. ‘Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching’ (Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV). Church is a place where people should be picked up, not knocked down. We need to encourage people when they don’t need it, instead of waiting until they do. If you wait too long your encouragement may be too late. Don’t wait until something good happens to speak an encouraging word; make it a regular practice. ‘But I don’t know what to say,’ you protest. Ask God for wisdom and you’ll get it. ‘The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary’ (Isaiah 50:4 NIV).
An exhorter has the ability to do three things: 1) Confirm. ‘When they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God”’ (vv. 21-22 NKJV). An exhorter is a pillar of strength in difficult times. They know how to motivate the tough to get going, when the going gets tough. They throw a life jacket of faith to the believer drowning in a sea of doubt. 2) Console. ‘So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed’ (Acts 16:40 NKJV). Here the gift of exhortation is demonstrated in its finest form. Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, beaten with rods and thrown into a dungeon with their hands and feet locked in stocks. When word of it reached the church, the believers were really depressed. Remarkably, after they were supernaturally released from prison, instead of looking for consolation and comfort, Paul and Silas went to church and offered it to others. 3) Confront. ‘I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord…these women who laboured with me in the gospel’ (Philippians 4:2-3 NKJV). These two prominent women in the church couldn’t get along with one another, so Paul took on the role of a peacemaker and confronted them. He was friendly, he was fair, but he was firm. And you must be the same.
The Greek word for ‘exhort’ is parakalew. It comes from two words, one meaning ‘alongside of’ and the other meaning ‘to call’. This is the root of the Greek word paraclete, which is the name Jesus gave the Holy Spirit. The real ministry of the Holy Spirit is to exhort and encourage us in our walk with God. So you are never more like the Holy Spirit and never more in tune with His ministry, than when you are exhorting and encouraging others. An exhorter can turn a loser into a winner, a shirker into a worker, and a pessimist into an optimist. They inspire others with renewed courage, spirit, and hope. They have a ministry of affirmation and appreciation. It’s important to remember the distinction between appreciation and affirmation. We appreciate what a person does, but we affirm who a person is. Now appreciation comes and goes because it’s usually related to someone’s accomplishments, but affirmation goes right to the heart of a person because it is directed at that person’s individual worth. An exhorter has the ability to make you feel good about yourself. They uplift, inspire, motivate, and make you feel better just by being around you. The Bible says that Barnabas was an exhorter. ‘Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord’ (Acts 11:22-23 NKJV). So the word for today is: be an exhorter.
It’s estimated that the average person speaks about nine million words a year, and more than half are, ‘I, me, my, mine.’ But following Christ means dying to self, and self-centredness doesn’t give up without a fight. That’s why Paul writes, ‘Everything connected with getting our own way…is killed off for good.’ Self-interest won’t just roll over and die; it must be killed. And it’s a daily battle, because we have a tendency to cling to our own interests with a death grip. Jesus told His disciples, ‘Whoever desires to be first…let him be your slave’ (Matthew 20:27 NKJV). In those days a slave was considered to be the lowest employee among the household servants. That means you have been called to sacrifice your own interests in order to serve others. And if He has to, God will leave you with ‘a reminder’ of what it took to get through to you in your particular areas of stubbornness and self-centredness. For example, after his encounter with God, Jacob walked with a limp, but it was a constant reminder of his total dependence on God. And the great apostle Paul writes, ‘So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations’ (2 Corinthians 12:7 MSG). What’s your handicap? A habit you battle? A fear that dogs your tracks? A difficult relationship? A financial shortfall? A physical ailment? Why doesn’t God just take it away? Because He considers anything that makes you more dependent on Him and less dependent on yourself, a plus, and not a minus.
It’s one thing to know about God, but it’s entirely another thing to know Him intimately. Take a moment and examine your life today. Has your walk with God slowed to a crawl? Are you running on empty? A full tank is only possible by making regular visits to the fuel pump; that means paying attention to your fuel gauge. And a full tank doesn’t just happen; it requires vigilance, commitment and action. Your flesh will work against you every day, and adverse circumstances will come to discourage you. Even those close to you may misunderstand your new spiritual priorities. If it was easy, anyone could do it. The prize goes to those who can say like Paul: ‘I gave up all that inferior stuff so that I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him’ (vv. 10-11 MSG). The Bible tells us, ‘The man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame’ (Genesis 2:25 NLT). That’s physical intimacy! But the ultimate intimacy is not between a man and woman; it’s with God! And Paul didn’t just pray for it; he pursued it with all his heart. Nothing was more important to him. How about you? Do you sing God’s praises in church with a mind that’s elsewhere? Have you become so critical around others that you sound like an unbeliever? Have you allowed sinful habits to rob you of your confidence towards God? (See 1 John 3:21-22.) If you are, you must do something about it! Starting today, strive to become intimately acquainted with God.
To get free from debt: 1) Write down your financial goals. Decide what’s truly important – how much you’ll save, how much you’ll spend, and how much debt you can handle without jeopardising your future. One reason we never reach our goals is because we don’t set any. You must know where you’re going and how to get there. 2) Start small. Tackle one bill at a time. It’s amazing what you accomplish when you’re serious and stick with it. The Bible says, ‘At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9 NIV). 3) Stop charging what you can’t pay for. You’re incurring higher interest rates and adding to your burden. Use credit cards only if you’re disciplined enough not to go overboard. Your intentions may be good, but unforeseen circumstances can force you to carry a balance from month to month. And if your spending is totally out of control, do plastic surgery – cut up your credit cards! 4) Give more. This may sound foolish and counter-intuitive when you’re in debt. But Jesus said: ‘Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back’ (Luke 6:38 NLT). 5) Expect disapproval. When you begin to practise financial discipline, some people may not be too happy, especially if it affects them personally. But if you only do things in life that nobody can find fault with, you’ll never accomplish much. Starting today, God wants you to be free from debt – and stay free (see John 8:36).
Stubborn habits assume a life of their own; that’s why they keep growing. They have a mind that thinks for you, a voice that speaks to you, and a power that keeps conquering you. So…what should you do? Pray and proclaim God’s Word over your habit! God said, ‘I am watching over My word to perform it’ (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). Pray: ‘Lord, Your Word says that if I call on You, You’ll answer me…that You’ll be with me in trouble, You’ll honour…and…deliver me (see Psalm 91:15). You promised that through the power of Your indwelling Spirit, I can be free from this vicious cycle of temptation, sin and failure (see Romans 8:2). You said if I fully committed my life to You, I’d have the strength to resist the devil, and that he would flee from me (see James 4:7). Your Word says You’ve given me the power to pull down my old mental strongholds and take control of every wayward thought, imagination, and impulse (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). You promised that by reading and meditating on Your Word each day, I’d become a partaker in Your divine nature and overcome the tendencies of my flesh (see 2 Peter 1:4). You promised to strengthen me in my mind, my emotions and my will; that my self-worth would be based solely on Your love for me; that You’d do exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask or think – because You’re at work in me (see Ephesians 3:14-21). Today, I claim victory over this habit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.’ The word for today is: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’
It’s essential to be alone with God in order to hear clearly from Him. For a texting/tweeting generation hooked on mobile phones and bombarded by round-the-clock media, this can be a tough concept to grasp. But until you do, you’ll get nowhere spiritually. Are you serious about following Jesus? He ‘often withdrew…and prayed’ (Luke 5:16 NIV). He ‘went up on a mountainside by himself to pray’ (Matthew 14:23 NIV). How did Jacob the deceiver become ‘Israel, a prince with God’? (see Genesis 32:28). The Bible says he ‘was left alone, and a man (the Angel of the Lord) wrestled with him till daybreak’ (Genesis 32:24 NIV). The greatest spiritual victories come from the battles God calls you to fight when you’re alone with Him. He outlines and clarifies His plans for your life when there’s nobody else around. That’s because He wants you to be more influenced by Him than them. When God is grooming you for a special assignment, you’ll be required to spend time outside the company of others. In Exodus God said, ‘Moses alone is to approach…the people may not come up with him.’ After Elijah spent the night alone in a cave, God told him, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain…for the LORD is about to pass by’ (1 Kings 19:11 NIV). Daniel ‘was left alone, gazing at this great vision’ (Daniel 10:8 NIV). Jeremiah wrote, ‘I sat alone because your hand was on me’ (Jeremiah 15:17 NIV). Learn the difference between loneliness and solitude. When God sidelines you, glean all you can from the experience and move to the next level.
God rarely sends us into situations where our comfort level is high. Instead He promises to be with us in spite of our fear. It’s God’s presence, not comfortable circumstances that strengthens our faith and brings out the best in us. God told Abraham to leave a wealthy, well-known family, and go to a land he didn’t know. He explained that Abraham would give birth to a new nation that would bless the world. Abraham went, and a nation was born. God told Moses to confront Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth, and that God Himself would use Moses to deliver His people. Moses confronted, and God delivered. God told Joshua that if he’d be strong and courageous when everybody wanted to return to slavery, God would go with them and give them the land. Joshua was strong and courageous, and God Himself went with them and gave them the land. Over and over we see this pattern repeated in Scripture. David faced the giant Goliath, Elijah faced the prophets of Baal, Daniel faced a den of lions – and always there was God in the midst of their fear. And lest you think these stories of courage are all in the past, historian Everett Ferguson calculates that more Christians have been killed for their faith in the past fifty years, than in the first three hundred years of the church’s existence. So here’s Jesus’ Word to you when somebody doesn’t like you, or you get a bad review at work, or you face illness, or the economy dips and your retirement fund takes a 50 per cent hit: ‘My peace I give you.’
The Prodigal Son’s story begins like this: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them. Not long after…the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and…squandered his wealth in wild living’ (vv. 11-13 NIV). This young man’s sin was bad, really bad! In a Middle Eastern patriarchal society the disrespect he demonstrated towards his father is beyond what most of us can relate to. As the younger son he was entitled to a third of the family estate, but only after his father’s death. So in a sense he was sending a message to his dad, saying, ‘I wish you were dead’. If you think that’s shocking, his father’s response of love and grace is even more shocking. And if you’ve failed God badly, it’ll come as a real encouragement to you. When his boy came back home - broke, busted, and disgusted - the Bible says, ‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him’ (v. 20 NIVUK). In that culture fathers never ran. A proud patriarch would never hitch up his garments, bare his legs, and run – ever! The point Jesus wanted to make is this: the moment you turn around and come back to God, He will run to meet you with open arms, forgive your sin, and restore you to your rightful place in His family. So, come today!
We each give for different reasons. 1) Some people give out of guilt. They give to God’s work because they would feel bad if they didn’t. 2) Some people give out of greed. They give only to get. They stand on Scriptures such as: ‘Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you’ (Luke 6:38 NKJV). What’s wrong with this kind of thinking? It’s ‘me-centred’, rather than ‘us-centred’. 3) Some people give to get glory. Jesus said, ‘Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 6:1 NKJV). God is not just interested in what you give, but in why you give. He looks beyond the measure of your giving, to the motive behind it. If you give to God out of greed, guilt, or glory, He writes a big zero over your account. Jesus said: ‘When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly’ (vv. 3-4 NKJV). 4) Some people give out of gratitude. These are the people who ask, ‘What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits towards me?’ (Psalm 116:12 NKJV), and they give out of gratitude. That’s the kind of giver you should be.
The Bible says; ‘We have different gifts…If a man’s gift is…contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously’ (vv. 6-8 NIV 1995 edition). Every believer receives grace for giving, but some of us have the gift of giving. Who are these people? They have a gift of making money. Everything they touch turns to gold. They have the Midas touch. They know how to make wise investments and recognise a good deal. Indeed, good deals are drawn to them like iron to a magnet. They know how to get the best return on their money. If you’re one of these people, you must realise that your ability to accumulate wealth is actually a gift from God: ‘And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV). God also says, ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go’ (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV). But don’t let prosperity lead you into pride. You’re not wealthy because of your ability to wheel and deal, but because God has blessed you. And He has done it for a reason; so that you can be a blessing to others. God told Abraham, ‘I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing’ (Genesis 12:2 NKJV). That means when God taps you on the shoulder and tells you to write a cheque, don’t argue with Him. Just say, ‘How much?’ You say, ‘Why should I do that?’ Because God can not only add, He can subtract.
God doesn’t want your generosity to be restricted by fear. Either you’ll trust Him financially and experience the joy of participating in His purposes on earth, or trust your own earning ability and live with anxiety. The danger of not moving to a higher level of giving is that you can miss out on something great that God wants to do for you – and through you. Count on it; at some point He’ll challenge you to give more than you’ve ever given before. And at that moment your faith will cause you to say yes, or your fear will cause you to dismiss it as impractical. That’s a pivotal point in your life, because your response to God’s challenge will determine your future. Some levels of giving are effortless, while others make us uneasy. Sooner or later we all hit a wall called fear, and unless you recognise it you’ll never be able to break through it. As a result you’ll live with less than God intends you to enjoy. What’s the solution? Change your concept of ownership! Adolphe Monod said, ‘There’s no portion of money that is our money and the rest God’s…It’s all His; He made it all, gives it all, and has entrusted it to us for His service.’ If you believe that, there’s no reason not to give. However, getting God involved in your finances means surrendering control of your money to Him. And that can be scary. Jesus’ model for generosity was a widow who gave her last penny, without having anything to fall back on except God’s promise to meet her needs. When you reach that point, you’re on the threshold of the miraculous.
Here’s a group you don’t want to be part of: ‘In the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’ (2 Timothy 3:1-4 NKJV). There’s nothing wrong with making money. Indeed, if you honour the Lord He will help you to make more of it (see Deuteronomy 8:18, Isaiah 48:17, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:8). But here’s a Bible principle you must live by to walk in the blessing of God. When you have enough money to meet your own needs, you must be willing to say yes to God when He asks you to meet someone else’s need. If you’d like to conquer selfishness and become more generous, here are some steps: 1) Give away something that you would prefer to keep. The goal is to break your emotional attachment to material things. 2) Graduate to anonymous benevolence. Leave a needy person such as a senior citizen, a student or a single parent a cash gift in an envelope. Don’t put your name on it, and don’t tell anyone you did it. And no, you can’t claim it as a tax deduction. But God promises to return it to you many times over, and in the areas where you need it most (see Galatians 6:7). 3) Have someone you trust monitor your progress. Meet with them throughout the year and invite them to ask you not about how much money you made, but how much you’ve given away to help others. If you’re serious about conquering selfishness, these are steps you’ll be willing to take.
Here are four ways in which you can express kindness and generosity towards others. 1) Giving your time. Giving a few hours of your time to someone, especially if you’re a busy person, can mean the world to a person who’s hurting. 2) Giving your talent. Organisations like Habitat For Humanity and Doctors Without Borders marshal the talents of gifted people to relieve suffering and provide shelter to the needy. That’s scriptural! (See Matthew 25:34-46.) 3) Giving your treasure. ‘He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given.’ Can you imagine the interest God pays? 4) Giving your temperament. Everybody you meet, struggles with anxieties and fights battles they usually don’t talk about. So, your smile and word of encouragement can be like a lifeline that helps keep them afloat that day. Selfishness is so innate in each of us that it’s like breathing; we do it without thinking. So, in order to change we must rearrange our priorities and reprogramme our minds and decide, ‘I will not let this day pass until I have said or done something to help, bless, and encourage another human being.’ God told Abraham, ‘I will bless you…and you shall be a blessing’ (Genesis 12:2 NKJV). Today pray: ‘Father, I thank You for every resource and advantage You have given me. Help me always to remember that these blessings are from You, and that they are to be shared with others for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.’
On a scale of one to ten, how often do you think about the needs of others and try to meet them? Before you answer, read this: ‘Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?’ Selfishness is defined as ‘the state of being overly concerned with one’s self’. Now God is not asking you to sacrifice for others to the point where you jeopardise your own health and mental well-being, then end up resentful for doing so. Nor does He expect you to meet every need that comes your way. He’s challenging the ‘what’s in it for me?’ attitude of our age in which self-gratification, self-improvement, self-enlightenment, and self-indulgence is increasingly being promoted. Selfishness dies hard, but it’s a stronghold you must break in order to experience the peace and joy that give life meaning. B.C. Forbes, founder of Forbes magazine, said: ‘I’ve never known any human being, high or humble, who regretted when nearing life’s end, having done kindly deeds. But I have known more than one who became haunted by the realisation that they had led selfish lives.’ James writes: ‘If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead’ (James 2:15-17 NKJV). So, think more about others.
Paul wouldn’t yield an inch on Bible truth, but when it came to customs, traditions, and people’s preferences, he refused to fight about them. For example, some of the Corinthian Christians thought because certain meats were offered in worship to idols it was sinful to eat them. So did Paul handle it by standing up and declaring, ‘I’m not going to allow you to impose your unscriptural convictions on me’? No. He wrote: ‘Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as…real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble’ (1 Corinthians 8:7-9 NLT). Then he bottom-lines it by saying, ‘I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some’ (1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT). God didn’t call us to win theological arguments; He called us to win people to Christ. So be gracious towards those who don’t think like you, dress like you, or care about some of the things you care about. Be gracious towards those whose worship style and fine points of theology differ from yours. ‘Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace’ (Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT).
David, who committed adultery with another man’s wife, prayed: ‘Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!…See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you’ (vv. 16-21 NLT). How can you protect yourself in areas where you’re vulnerable? 1) By staying close to God. When you’re lonely, distancing from God doesn’t make sense. It just increases your exposure to things like infidelity, pornography, drugs, and alcohol. 2) By coming out of hiding. Get involved in some aspect of ministry. Be willing to be more transparent by getting to know others and letting them get to know you. Shakespeare said, ‘Fire that is closest kept burns most of all.’ When you spend time around people who truly care about you, loneliness ceases to be such an issue. 3) By taking the focus off yourself. Winston Churchill said, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ Victory comes by reaching out to those in need; by giving of yourself, praying for them, loving and serving them. 4) By forgiving those who’ve hurt you. Isolating yourself when you’ve been hurt just leads to bitterness. Forgive, turn it over to God, let Him deal with your offender – and get on with your life.
In Jesus’ parable of the sower, the seed landed on four types of ground, producing four different results. ‘The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted’ (vv. 15-20 NLT). The seed of God’s word cannot fail: ‘It always produces fruit’ (Isaiah 55:11 NLT). So if God’s promises aren’t being fulfilled in your life, ask yourself, ‘What kind of soil am I?’ Are you a surface person – thin-skinned and easily offended? A shallow person with no spiritual root system? Are you thorny ground? Are ‘the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things’ choking the spiritual life out of you? Or are you rich, fertile ground that produces results? Check the soil of your heart.
When it comes to knowing what God has called you to do in life, you have two options. 1) Speculation. Dr Hugh Moorhead, who heads the philosophy department at Northeastern Illinois University, wrote to two-hundred-and-fifty well-known philosophers, scientists, writers and intellectuals, asking them the time-honoured question: ‘What is the meaning of life?’ Then he published their responses in a book. Some offered their best guesses, some admitted they had made up a purpose for life, and others were honest enough to say they were clueless. In fact, a number of them asked Moorhead to write back and tell them if he himself had discovered the purpose of life. Thank God there’s a scriptural alternative to speculation! 2) Revelation. ‘No man takes this honour to himself, but he who is called by God.’ When you know God has called you to do a certain thing you can be confident He will provide the resources, wisdom, connections and strategy. And here’s the great thing – you can find all of these in His Word. The Bible is the original owner’s manual when it comes to explaining why you’re alive, how life works, what to avoid, and what to expect in the future. It explains what no self-help or philosophy book could possibly know. Paul writes, ‘God’s wisdom…goes deep into the interior of his purposes…It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest – what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us’ (1 Corinthians 2:7 MSG). You’ve been genetically wired to fulfil a certain purpose in life. And to discover it, you must turn to God’s Word and not the world’s wisdom.
The Bible says, ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ Overcoming fear begins with understanding that fear is a ‘spirit’, and it doesn’t come from God. Each time you realise that, you’re less likely to give in to it. So, what has God given us in place of fear? Three things: 1) Power. Now we’re not simply talking about self-help techniques and stress management. This is deeper than anxiety reduction to make your life more pleasant. It’s a settled conviction that goes down to the core of your being, that all things that concern you are in the hands of a loving God who has only the best in mind for you. Therefore all things will be well, and you can live free of worry. 2) Love. The Bible says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear’ (1 John 4:18 NKJV). Only when you realise that you are loved unconditionally by a God who never changes His mind about you, will you learn to love and accept yourself, and then be able to love and accept others. Can you imagine the effect that would have on your fear of people, fear of rejection, and fear of criticism? This kind of love is more than a ‘feel-good’ emotion; it’s a life-changing force. 3) A sound mind. Paul writes: ‘We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 MSG). These three things are God’s answer to worry.
Modern science confirms the truth of the Scripture: ‘There is no fear in love…perfect love casts out fear.’ Love and fear are incompatible; they can’t co-exist. Children have two basic needs: 1) A need to explore. That’s how they learn, grow and develop. 2) A need to feel safe. If they don’t feel secure, they won’t explore. Every human being needs a secure base from which to investigate and grow. Research confirms that, generally speaking, one parent more than the other will push a child to take chances, run risks and learn that a little danger is a good thing, while the other parent tends to be the comforter, the soother, the safety net. But the truth is any parent can give a child both gifts. When we’re afraid, our body activates its sympathetic nervous system. Our heart races, our breathing becomes faster and shallower and our muscles tense up. So we run to our non-anxious presence: our comforter, protector and parent. And as we are held, reassured and loved, the parasympathetic system takes over. Our heart rate slows, our breathing becomes deep and even, our muscles relax and blood flows back to our brain. In essence, a little voice inside us says, ‘I can go out and face the world again.’ It’s a fact in the physical realm that ‘perfect love casts out fear’. And it’s also true in the spiritual realm. With a God who is tender enough to love and comfort us, yet strong enough to be our rock and our fortress, we can face what life throws at us and grow stronger as a result.
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year in captivity Ezekiel received from God the name Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is there. He described their future home, Jerusalem, saying, ‘The name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.’ It applies not only to the Lord of the old covenant, but equally to Jesus, the Lord of the new covenant whose name, ‘Immanuel’, means ‘God is with us’ (Matthew 1:23 NLT). It means that at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, for all of us, he’s available and present! David discovered: ‘I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me’ (Psalm 139:7-10 NLT). The name Jehovah-Shammah signifies that God’s presence is all we need. Remember when just the presence of your mother or father was enough to comfort and bring confidence to you? Fear, loneliness and helplessness disappeared when they were there. In Israel’s worst moments God’s response was always the same: ‘I am with you.’ Those words guaranteed their needs would be abundantly met! And today God’s saying to you, ‘I’m with you, and neither death, life, angels, spirit-powers, present or future fears, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation will separate you from my love’ (see Romans 8:38-39). That’s promise enough for anybody. Take it and run with it today!
The name Jehovah-Tsidkenu: the Lord my righteousness, was given by God to Jeremiah, announcing the coming of Jesus. ‘I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line…And this will be his name: “The LORD Is Our Righteousness”’ (vv. 5-6 NLT). Before Jesus came, our righteousness was dependent on our own efforts. ‘We will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the LORD our God has given us’ (Deuteronomy 6:25 NLT). But we failed the righteousness test big time! Then the ‘LORD our righteousness’ became our solution. Here’s how: God ‘made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV). Notice, in Jesus we’ve ‘become’ [been converted…turned into] righteous before God! We’re not to try to do right just so we can feel right before God or generate a supply of good works to draw from when we need credit. We’re to draw what we need from the righteousness deposited into our account by Christ. If we need humility, purity, patience, kindness or love, it’s useless to look within ourselves. They’re just not there! We must draw them by faith from the supply stored up for us in Jesus. Guilty hearts can draw forgiveness, anxious spirits can draw peace, weary souls can draw strength, and confused minds can draw guidance from our inexhaustible supply in Jehovah-Tsidkenu. Just as you receive salvation by faith, you must draw righteousness and everything else you need through faith in what God has accomplished and stored up for your use in Jesus – the Lord your righteousness!
The name Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace, was discovered by Gideon when God assigned him the job of leading Israel against the Midianites – a position Gideon saw as far beyond his abilities. ‘How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family’ (v. 15 NIV). The Lord responded, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die’ (vv. 16, 23 NIV). A frightened Gideon believed God before the battle was even fought and the victory secured. Through the eyes of faith, he envisioned peace already secured, and built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace. We assume that we can only have inner peace when our outer circumstances are favourable. Let’s learn, like Gideon, that inward peace doesn’t depend on altering outward circumstances. It depends on believing that Jehovah-Shalom is with you, and that will bring you through the battle with inner peace. Jesus said: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace [inner, faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [outward, circumstantial]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 NIV). No matter how inadequate you feel today, remember these words: ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NIV). Your job is to ‘take heart’ because Jehovah-Shalom is with you, and to trust Christ the ‘overcomer’ to handle the circumstances for you!
Let’s look again at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. It isn’t easy to hand our battles over and let God fight for us. We feel like we’re copping out or being irresponsible. Popular thinking says, ‘Don’t just sit there, do something!’ We’re like the drowning man who can’t stop grasping at his rescuer. We imagine they need our help, and as a result we end up making their job almost impossible. The truth is – we become their worst nightmare! But just because God fights for us doesn’t mean we’re not involved. The hardest part about the order – ‘stand still and watch the deliverance of the Lord’ – is we mistake standing still for doing nothing, or being derelict in our duty. Fear says, ‘Just do something!’ Faith says, ‘Stand in faith. Let God do it!’ That’s about as far from doing nothing as you can get. It’s faith at its highest. So how come we need spiritual armour if we don’t do the fighting? Good question! Paul said, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so…you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11 NIVUK). Notice: you wear His armour – not yours. You’re to stand – not fight. ‘The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 10:4 NASB). Human methods get in God’s way; natural abilities are useless against spiritual forces. The grub of the dragonfly at the bottom of the pond may be a well-developed, vigorous grub. But once it becomes a dragonfly, the strengths of its grub-life won’t help it to live an airborne life. Whereas we once trusted in our own human effort, now we trust only in Jehovah-Nissi.
When Israel was threatened by the armies of Amalek God gave them a glorious victory. Realising that God was fighting the battle for them, Moses built an altar to Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. Fighting our own battles was never God’s idea. The Bible says, ‘The LORD is a man of war’ (Exodus 15:3 KJV). ‘The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace’ (Exodus 14:14 KJV). ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ As human beings we get exhausted and discouraged because we keep trying to fight in our own strength. We engage in fruitless cycles of repentance, resolution, struggle, defeat, discouragement, and repenting all over again. The only spiritual conflict that’s ever successfully won is the one God fights for us. He doesn’t expect us to win the battle but to let Him win it on our behalf. ‘But aren’t we supposed to fight too?’ you ask. Yes, we’re to ‘fight the good fight of faith’ (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV). Ours isn’t a battle of exhausting effort, it’s the battle of believing. ‘But aren’t we supposed to wrestle like Jacob did?’ First of all, Jacob didn’t win by wrestling, he won by being rendered too weak to keep wrestling. Secondly, his victory lay in surrender to God. Are you worn out from the battle? Are you at the end of your rope? Then you’re just where God wants you! Let go and trust Jehovah-Nissi to prevail for you, because ‘the battle is not yours, but God’s’! Stand up and declare with Paul, ‘When I am weak, then am I strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV).
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they thought of as incommunicable and inexplicable. The name means the ‘self-existing one’; the ‘I am’. He was before all things, the creator of all things; an awesome but seemingly impersonal, unknowable being. However, God wanted us to know Him in a personal way, so in Scripture He added five revealing titles to the name Jehovah, five word-portraits to help us understand and relate to Him. The Israelites usually discovered the truth of these word-portraits during times of crisis and distress. And they’ll encourage you, too, during your time of need. Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord will see, the Lord will provide. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God provided a lamb as an offering in Isaac’s place. And in response Abraham called God Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who sees and provides. But it doesn’t just apply to Abraham. The New Testament references many counterparts to the Lord who sees our needs and provides answers. Jesus said, ‘Your heavenly Father knoweth…ye have need of all these things’ (Matthew 6:32 KJV). Like a caring responsive parent, God sees His children’s needs before they do, and provides the solution. Before their shoes wear out, their father provides new ones. They don’t have to beg, bargain and plead. Maybe you’re wondering how come you don’t always get what you ask for. Because God knows what you really need – you don’t! Think about it: it’s possible for your wants to be gratified and your real needs go unmet. Remember Jehovah-Jireh sees your needs, and because He sees them He will provide for them! It’s that simple!
Paul writes: ‘Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God’ (vv. 11-13 NLT). If you let it, your body will lead you astray. It’s not that it’s evil, but it has certain appetites which are always ready to respond to surrounding stimuli, all of which are terribly appealing and temporarily satisfying. Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘Life on earth is really nothing more than a string of moments…And I don’t want my testimony for Jesus Christ to be shattered by a single moment of indulging my flesh. I don’t want one moment of rage or pride or lust to cast a shadow over a lifetime of walking with my Lord. Frankly, I fear that possibility. And do you know what? I want to fear that possibility. When I stop fearing it – I’m in grave danger.’ So how do you deal with your carnal appetites? The only way is to make God’s Word your code of conduct and refuse to compromise. And if you need a role model you won’t find a better one than Jesus. He said, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves’ (Matthew 16:24 NIV). Each day, look for an opportunity to deny yourself in some small area. You’ll be surprised how hard it is! But the payoff comes later when you need to deny yourself in a big area of life that has much more riding on it.
The psalmist said, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”’ Do you feel that way about God’s house too? And if not, why not? Paul writes: ‘God is building a home. He’s using us all – irrespective of how we got here – in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day – a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home’ (Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG). There are times when you need to be alone with God in prayer; there are times you’ll only find the answer you seek when you’re with God’s people. When those who are indwelt by God’s Spirit meet for worship, teaching, encouragement and service, God shows up in a powerful way. You grow spiritually as you experience His presence, hear His Word, and fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Every time you gather with other members of Christ’s body, it reminds you again that you’re on the winning side. It’s hard to celebrate by yourself. When you’ve something worth celebrating you generally call people together so you can share the joy, right? Jesus is so excited about His victory at the cross, that He calls us together every week to celebrate what He accomplished for us. And celebration, like spiritual growth, is a group project.
When someone you love dies, divorces or deserts you, it hurts deeply. Even Paul wasn’t exempt. Here are some of his last words: ‘Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me…Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me…Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm…The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me…But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength…he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom’ (vv. 9-18 NLT). The fact is, you can survive without others but you can‘t survive without God. That’s why He strips away things that make us dependent on people. He sends certain individuals into your life to help build your faith and develop your character, and when they’re gone, to leave you with the assurance that God is in control. The loss of loved ones: 1) develops your spiritual muscle; 2) tests your resilience; 3) shows you the scope of God’s power. When Moses died and Joshua was left in charge, God told him, ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you’ (Joshua 1:5 NKJV). That’s something Joshua could never have learned while Moses was still in the picture. And it’s a lesson you can’t learn while you’re looking to someone else for your answers. So, turn to the Lord. Let the one who said, ‘Peace be still’ to the storm on Galilee, speak peace to the thing that’s troubling you today.
To achieve success in life there are three obstacles you’ll have to be aware of and overcome: 1) Weariness. Racehorses run at approximately the same speed; sometimes the difference between winning and losing the race comes down to their ‘heart’ to win. So, look into your heart today and see if you are truly committed. ‘Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise’ (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV). 2) Fear. When it comes to commitment, there are four kinds of people. a) Cop-outs: people who have no goals and who don’t commit. b) Hold-outs: people who don’t know if they can reach their goals so they’re afraid to commit. c) Drop-outs: people who start towards a goal but give up when the going gets tough. d) All-outs: people who set goals, commit to them and pay the price to reach them. Which one of the four are you? Fear and faith will always be present in your life, and the one you choose will determine whether you succeed or fail. 3) Complacency: Successful businessman Ray Kroc said, ‘As long as you’re green, you’re growing. As soon as you’re ripe, you start to rot.’ If you’re wise, you’ll take regular rest periods to refresh, renew, and refocus. But you must not settle for yesterday’s successes, or coast on today’s momentum. Be like Paul: ‘I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).
Love is not just a noun; it’s a verb. It’s not what you think or feel; it’s what you do. When Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta in 1948, one of the first things she did was pick up five abandoned children and bring them to her ‘school’. Before the year ended she had forty-one students learning about hygiene in her classroom, which was in a public park. Soon her work became known as ‘The Missionaries of Charity’. Within two years their attention was turned to the care of the dying, and a beggar found dying on a rubbish heap was picked up and brought to her. Hunger and suffering had reduced him to a virtual skeleton. Mother Teresa took him home and put him in bed. When she tried to wash him, she discovered that his body was covered with worms. Pieces of skin came off as she bathed him. For a brief moment the man revived. In his semi-conscious state he asked, ‘Why do you do it?’ Mother Teresa responded with two words that were the hallmark of her life: ‘For love!’ Busy person, it’s easy to see people as irritants and inconveniences standing in the way of your getting things done. What’s hard, is to rise above your self-centred feelings and love them. Maybe you think this is no big deal! Think again. The Bible says, ‘Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love’ (vv. 7-8 NKJV).
Before the Passover meal, all the disciples forgot to wash Jesus’ feet. Bad performance! And after Jesus explained how the bread and wine symbolised his upcoming crucifixion, they started arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. Bad performance! Jesus also knew that within hours they’d fall asleep on him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Bad performance! And He knew Peter would deny him. Bad performance! So how did Jesus grade them? He didn’t! He doesn’t grade people. And you don’t have to either. You’ll find wonderful rest in your soul once you stop grading people, and instead start loving them from where they are to where they need to be. Rather than rebuking the disciples, Jesus compliments, rewards, promotes, and puts them on heaven’s roll of honour. Even after they failed to wash his feet he still desired to eat Passover with them (see Luke 22:15). Nourished by their love, He said, ‘Ye are they which…continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom…that ye may eat and drink at my table…and sit on thrones’ (Luke 22:28-30 KJV). On his most agonising night He passed out gifts, and gave his very young disciples more than He ever gave anybody in terms of honour and glory. In His eyes they were all great. He didn’t grade them on their performance, but on their love that motivated them to forsake all and stick with Him through thick and thin. Reimar Schultze says, ‘Don’t set up standards for yourself. That can kill you. As Jesus loved His disciples then, so He loves them now. So stop fussing and nit-picking at yourself and others!’
The Bible says that you are to be gracious in what you say. That means your goal in conversation should always be to bring out the best in others, not denigrate them or cut them off. Good communication makes good friends, so you need to be clear when it comes to your personal boundaries, beliefs, values, and desires. It may well be true that more problems are forgotten than are ever solved, but healthy relationships sometimes call for healthy confrontation. And there’s a right time and a right way to do it. When you have to deal with a difficult situation, pray and stand on this Scripture: ‘My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give understanding.’ Your words are the vehicle through which your thoughts are conveyed, and your tongue is the driver. So if you don’t want to end up on the wrong road, or end up in a wreck, pray: ‘Lord, give me words of wisdom. Help me to say the right thing, in the right way, at the right time.’ The Holy Spirit is a great driving instructor! He will guide you, instruct you, and keep working with you until you get it right. He will help you grow in grace until you reach the place of maturity in your relationships where you’re able to say, ‘My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge’ (Proverbs 8:8-9 NLT). When you can say that, you know you’re making progress!
When you don’t understand what’s happening in your life, start with what you know for sure; namely, that God is good all the time, and His ‘love for those who respect him continues forever’ (Psalm 103:17 NCV). He’s not fickle. He doesn’t bless you one day and curse you the next: His ‘mercies…are new every morning’ (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV). But there are things God chooses to reveal to us, and ‘secret things’ He doesn’t – for our own good. Writer Beth Jones says: ‘If God keeps a secret from us, it’s for our benefit and the benefit of others …For example, He doesn’t go around blaming, tattling or disclosing our sins, weaknesses, unbelief, carnality, selfishness or pride to others. When things happen, God knows why…Secret things belong to the Lord. And when He reveals something to us, it’s because He wants us to walk in that truth by faith. For example, He reveals His character and His will in His Word…so we can live by faith knowing that He’s good, fair, kind, generous, merciful, faithful, gracious, patient, and He’s in the saving, healing, redeeming, restoring, sanctifying, and blessing business. Things revealed belong to us. When we don’t know why …here’s what we know for sure. God’s Word is truer than our circumstances or experiences…and just because He knows everything about us doesn’t mean He tells us about everything. We also know that when things look bad, God is still good. He’s a giver, not a taker…a blesser, not a curser…and no matter what happens or doesn’t happen, at the end of the day – we still win!’
Admission to certain social clubs depends on your family of origin: blue blood, or blue collar. Sadly some employers and some churches do that too. But God doesn’t. Imagine you were Joseph. You share a father with your siblings, but four different mothers have given birth along the way. Your dad’s a con artist. He has been one his entire life and everyone knows it. The whole community knows he cheated your uncle out of the inheritance, and then hid behind his mother’s skirts before running off like a coward to avoid being killed. Your great uncle tricks your dad into marrying your mother’s sister, perhaps by getting your dad so drunk during the wedding feast that he didn’t know which sister he married. So he ended up marrying the plain one instead of the pretty one. But that didn’t faze him, he just married both of them! The one he really loved couldn’t have kids, so he slept with the nanny. He enjoyed it so much he started sleeping with most of the kitchen help too. No wonder you always thought that your brothers looked like the cooks! But big doors swing on little hinges, and Joseph’s life is described in one verse: ‘The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.’ Successful in spite of family dysfunction and betrayal. Successful in spite of slander and thirteen years of false imprisonment. And with God on your side, you can overcome your beginnings and succeed too. That’s why the most important thing you can do is to build, maintain, and prioritise your relationship with God.
Jim Penner says: ‘It was a cold snowy day as my mother drove my sister and me to church. Living at the bottom of the Rocky Mountains I’d become accustomed to slipping and sliding. I remember my mother being tense…and hoping she’d have enough traction to make the curve without ploughing into the semi-truck ahead. Her tyres were bald – new ones were low on our priority list that included food and shelter. As Mom placed a cheque in the offering that day, I remember thinking there were better uses for those funds. Yet here she was tithing! Surely God would understand we had so many needs at home. But there was a contentment about her…a peace that passed understanding as she gave to the Lord cheerfully and gratefully…After the service a church elder walked over to her and said, “I see your tyres are bald…come by my shop tomorrow and I’ll give you some snow tyres.” Mom said, “But I can’t pay you.” “No problem,” he replied, “I just want to help.” That day I witnessed two levels of giving: Mom with her offering, and a kind man who wanted to help another human being.’ Big things come from little things, and ‘he who sows bountifully will…reap bountifully.’ As John Mason observes, ‘The miraculous realm of God always has to do with multiplication…Suppose a kernel of corn produces one stalk with two ears, and each ear has 200 kernels. From those 400 kernels come 400 stalks with 160,000 kernels…all from a single kernel. Some blessings are material, some spiritual. We don’t always know what we need most, but God does, and a generous spirit opens the floodgates of heaven.’
Pessimism affects you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Negativity is directly related to heart disease, immune system deficits, and the ability to cope with physical pain. The famous Mayo Clinic conducted a thirty-year study of eight-hundred patients – and the results are telling. The pessimists’ risk of early death was 19 per cent higher than that of the optimists in the group. In Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, Dr Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania concluded that optimism and pessimism affect your health almost as clearly as physical factors. Have you ever said, ‘I’m sick to death of this’? Then do something about it – quickly! If you hold onto that thought for too long – it may come true. One of the great findings of modern medical science is that the words we speak don’t just affect others, they affect us too. Indeed, sometimes they affect us even more! Words are powerful. You believe and internalise what you repeatedly say. That means you have the God-given ability to change your perception of your own abilities from limited to limitless. Let’s be clear about what that does and doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean you can play the guitar like Eric Clapton or paint like Van Gogh just because you decide to and want to. But it does mean you can do whatever God has told you to do in His Word. Whatever He calls you to do, He will enable you to do. And that’ll happen when you line up what comes out of your mouth with what’s written in His Word.
Positive self-talk isn’t a new concept; it’s a scriptural one. Paul writes, ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true…honourable…right…pure…lovely, and admirable…things that are excellent and worthy of praise.’ Here are three ways you can do that: 1) Avoid comparisons. Each of us has a different skill set. You’re unique. The way you do things may differ from the techniques of others, but that doesn’t make it wrong. As the old saying goes, ‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat.’ (Try not to imagine how that adage originated!) Comparison is unwise, unfair, and fosters negativity. Unless you’re the reigning world champion, there’ll always be somebody better than you at a specific skill. So what? You don’t need another tiara! 2) Tack on hope. The Bible says, ‘Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping – believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”’ (Romans 4:18 NLT). And the psalmist said, ‘I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God’ (Psalm 42:5 NIVUK). There’s power in the word ‘yet’. It can miraculously transform your ‘I can’t’ perspective, into ‘I can with a little more time’. The difference is subtle but profound. 3) Act positively to actually become positive. In Winning the Stress Challenge Dr Nick Hall cites a study confirming that signals transmitted to a person’s brain when they’re behaving a certain way, provoke similar physical and mental changes to those elicited by real emotional responses. In other words, putting on a happy face can truly make you feel happier. Try it!
Let’s begin by acknowledging that sometimes life is hard. And some of us have it harder than others. That’s why the Bible says there is ‘a time to cry and a time to laugh’ (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NLT). But what if you just keep ‘crying’ about life? How can you reduce the strain and drain produced by negative self-talk? Here are three ways: 1) Cut and paste. Train yourself to recognise negative inner chatter the minute it starts and delete it immediately. If you have to, take a chainsaw to it. If it helps, make a ‘time out’ signal with your hands as a physical reminder to yourself. But don’t stop there. Replace those negative thoughts with scriptural self-talk. ‘Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles’ (Proverbs 21:23 NKJV). 2) Tweak your tone. You know how the doctor says, ‘This may sting a little,’ as he jabs a needle into your arm? Borrow his technique and reduce big ugly blackhead wordage to smaller, unintimidating blemish terms. ‘Impossible’ is a brick wall compared to ‘this may take some work’. Wouldn’t you rather tackle a project that’s ‘challenging’ rather than ‘unmanageable’? 3) Be your own BFF (Blessed Friend Forever). Using your BFF voice, intentionally over-dub that negative droning voice inside you. Speak to yourself like you would to your very best friend. The Bible says, ‘David encouraged himself in the LORD his God’ (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV). Reboot your mind. Reprogramme your thoughts. There’s power in God’s Word. So, whatever He says about you, start saying the same thing and watch your life change for the better.
When you can’t choose or control your circumstances, you can still decide how you’ll respond to them. Paul was in prison when he wrote, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ (v. 4 NKJV). We’re addressing those who have a perpetually pessimistic outlook on life and talk negatively most of the time. This is serious stuff! ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit’ (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). That means you can talk yourself to death or talk yourself to life. This is scriptural truth! The trouble is we don’t always recognise when we’re engaging in negative self-talk, because it’s habit forming. We unconsciously develop a compromised view of ourselves when we constantly think and say things like, ‘I’m such a loser,’ or ‘This is too hard; why even try?’ We settle for defeat when with a few minor attitude adjustments, we could open the door to amazing possibilities. The worst part of negative self-talk is that we don’t just limit ourselves; we limit God (see Psalm 78:41). As His redeemed child, there resides within you the power to think better, talk better, and do better. ‘Does the Bible say that?’ you ask. Yes, Paul says, ‘To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…be glory…forever’ (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV). It’s time to draw a line in the sand and declare, ‘Whatever God says about me, I will say too!’ And here’s a great verse to get you started: ‘I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.’
Paul and Barnabas had travelled and ministered together, encouraged one other, endured persecution side-by-side, and won many to Christ. But even the best of relationships can go awry, and they were no exception. ‘Tempers flared, and they ended up going…separate ways.’ Paul and Barnabas never intended to hurt each other. They were both good men, and God’s Kingdom was their top priority. God chose Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, and the Bible calls Barnabas ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith’ (Acts 11:24 NIV). Both agreed on the major issue: namely, re-visiting those churches where they’d ministered earlier. They just differed on how to go about it. Barnabas wanted to take John. Paul didn’t; he wanted to take Silas. And it often happens that we agree on what needs to be done but differ on how to accomplish it. Natasha Robinson says it’s important to: a) Recognise when God brings a relationship to a close and not to try to turn ‘seasonal’ people into life-long friendships. When He sends certain people into your life, He doesn’t intend them to become permanent partners. Yet because you love them and get attached it’s hard to let go, even when it’s time. b) When you part company, make a clean break and don’t let anger make you sin. We’re emotional creatures. It’s easy to get bitter and want to tell your side of the story, and consequently end up causing division. Speak ‘the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15 KJV). Refuse to bad-mouth the other person and God will honour you. Even if they speak out against you, God knows, and He’ll handle it.
Author Betty Mahalik says in this day and age we’re surrounded by messages that scream, ‘My life would be perfect if only I’d a different job…house…car…nose…spouse…bank account (you fill in the blank). Or if I could be like some celebrity whose life appears well ordered and perfect. Well this week I stopped playing “my life would be perfect if,” and started playing “my perfect life”. What’s the difference? Three things: 1) Being in the present; 2) An attitude of gratitude; 3) Taking action with what’s available now…When we’re caught up in the “my life would be perfect if” trap, we lose touch with the present and can no longer practise gratitude. Think about it: it’s difficult to be grateful for what you don’t have…and what you don’t have is always somewhere in “future-ville”. Look around you…do you have a roof over your head and food to eat? A few good friends or close relationships? Then appreciate them…You’re probably sitting there thinking “Yes, but I want more money, a better relationship, more time to travel, to be thinner, happier, or whatever”…stop focusing on what you lack and start focusing on what you’ve already got.’ The Bible says, ‘Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.’ If you demand perfection-or-nothing, you’ll keep ending up with nothing. The fact that ‘God…made us what we are’ (Ephesians 2:10 TLB), means while our best is always commendable, none of us will attain perfection this side of heaven. And that’s okay, because Christ has clothed us in His righteousness and made us ‘complete in him’ (Colossians 2:10 KJV).
A pastor tells of being in a church for twelve years. He had a custom during Sunday morning service of calling the children forward just before his sermon so that they could go to a ‘children’s church’ especially for them. The children would march past the pulpit and he would make it a point to smile at each of them. In return he received smiles. ‘It was one of the high points of the service for me,’ he recalled. But one day he apparently missed smiling at a child. A curly-headed four-year-old ran out of the processional and threw herself into the arms of her mother, sobbing as if her heart was broken. After the service he went to find out what happened. The mother explained to him that her child had said, ‘I smiled at God, but he didn’t smile back at me!’ The pastor reflected, ‘To that child I stood for God. I had failed with my smile, and the world went dark.’ As you go through this day, commit yourself to using the smile strategy. You say, ‘I’ve got more troubles than Job, so I’ve got nothing to smile about.’ Job experienced more troubles in a year than most of us will experience in a lifetime. But though he was down, he lifted others. Though he was in despair, he encouraged others. How did he do it? ‘They longed for me to speak as people long for rain…When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them’ (vv. 23-24 NLT).
David said, ‘I’d rather scrub floors in the house of…God than be honoured as a guest in the palace of sin’ (Psalm 84:10 MSG). Along those lines Joni Eareckson Tada writes: ‘Elsie runs a Christian home for young girls who’ve left lives of prostitution and drug dealing on the streets of Hollywood. She walks the streets, shares the gospel, and leads these girls to Christ. If these new converts truly desire to change their lives and commit to new responsibilities, they’ve a place in Elsie’s home. Pam is one such convert…A Christian with a sweet spirit, she bears scars from knife fights and heroin needles. Her arms are marred with tattoos. I sensed her joy and deep appreciation when she explained her role…“I scrub the toilets and bathrooms…That’s my job and I love it!” This young woman was so grateful to have structure in her life, safety in her surroundings, and an honest-to-goodness job of service in Christ’s kingdom…that a day of ministry in Elsie’s home was far better than a thousand days lived in the sordid pursuit of self-destructive pleasures…Her humble spirit towards her job…her delight in cleaning toilets sprang from a keen awareness of her role in the body of Christ. Few believers have a background like Pam’s, but every day each of us rolls our sleeves up to accomplish menial, basic tasks – changing oil [in the car], changing ink cartridges in printers, or changing [nappies] (perhaps on an elderly parent).’ So, how’s your attitude towards menial work? When you ‘serve the LORD with gladness’ (Psalm 100:2 KJV) you find joy in everyday tasks because you remember who you’re working for.
J.C. Penney has died and gone to heaven, but hundreds of department stores across America still carry his name. When he started out in life he was interested in one thing only: making money. Working as a clerk for six dollars a week, his consuming ambition was to be worth a hundred thousand dollars. When he reached that goal he felt temporary satisfaction, but soon set his sights on being worth a million dollars. Then tragedy struck his life. His wife caught a cold that developed into pneumonia, of which she subsequently died. He recalled, ‘When she died my world crashed about me. To build businesses, to make a success in the eyes of men, to accumulate money – what was the purpose of it all? I felt mocked by life, even by God himself.’ Before long he was ruined financially and in deep depression. It was at that point he turned to God and experienced a miraculous conversion. He said: ‘When I was brought to humility and the knowledge of my dependence on God…it was like a light illuminating my being. I cannot otherwise describe it, than to say it changed me as a man.’ Have things fallen apart in your life today? Are you down, wondering if you’ll ever be able to get back up? Turn to God; He’s only a prayer away. And David the psalmist prayed that prayer: ‘This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.’ And what God did for David, He will do for you today.
Two things about prayer are truly amazing: 1) God listens when we pray. 'You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it’ (see Mark 11:24 NLT). You may not have much clout anywhere else, but when you pray God listens. 2) We seldom pray. We've the greatest privilege imaginable – access to the control centre of the Universe – yet we rarely use it. And our lack of prayer surprises God. Through the prophet Ezekiel He lamented: ‘I sought for a man among them who would...stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one' (Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV). Upon learning that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed, Abraham didn't rush to warn the cities. No, he chose to' ... [remain] standing before the Lord' (Genesis 18:22 NIV). When God said the golden calf warranted a nationwide death penalty for Israel, Moses interceded and saved them. One paraphrase of Exodus 32:11 says, 'Moses tried to calm his GOD down' (MSG). An obscure priest by the name of Phinehas begged God not to send the plague, and it was checked (see Psalm 106:30). You say 'Why place such a premium on prayer?' Simple. Because when we work, we work; but when we pray, God works! Scripture attaches breathtaking power to prayer. ‘When two of you get together on anything…and make a prayer of it, My Father in heaven goes into action' (Matthew 18:19 MSG). Does any other activity promise such results? Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? No, but He did call us to 'pray without ceasing'.
God told His people: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV). So, if you’re asking God for a vision, or to enlarge the one He’s already given you, you need to make room mentally. ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left’ (Isaiah 54:2-3 NIV). Somebody said dreams always come a size too big so you can grow to fit them. Don’t settle for mediocrity in your work, your relationships, or your walk with God. Mark Twain said: ‘Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the wind. Explore. Dream. Discover.’ Even if you come from a background of addiction, poverty, depression, abuse, and low self-esteem, God can enable you to rise up and put an end to that old mind-set of defeat. In biblical times, animal skins were made into wine containers. At first they were flexible and easy to work with, but over time they grew rigid and lost their ability to expand. That’s why Jesus said, ‘No one pours new wine into old wineskins. [It] would…burst the old skins…New wine must be put into new wineskins’ (Matthew 9:17 CEV). Throw out your old wineskins! God won’t infuse a fossilised mind with fresh ideas, but He will change your life when you line up your thinking with His.
The Bible says: ‘As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted…prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away’ (vv. 2-3 NKJV). Notice three things: 1) Barnabas and Saul were in church when God called them. And the Holy Spirit still speaks to us when we gather to pray, worship, and hear God’s Word. One reason we don’t have clear direction for our lives, is because we aren’t in the place where God can speak to us objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit. 2) Their calling was confirmed by proven leadership. Those who laid hands on Paul and Barnabas confirming their calling, were leaders who took time to pray, fast, and seek God’s will. Such people are a gift. They won’t necessarily tell you what you want to hear, but they’ll tell you what you need to hear. They’ll counsel, correct, and comfort you when you need it, and confirm God’s will for you. So, do you have such relationships in your life? If not, get busy and find some. 3) God doesn’t play hide-and-seek with His will for your life. God called Paul and Barnabas by name. Yes, He knows your name, where you live, and the circumstances you’re in. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress (to hide it from the Midianites) and Peter was out fishing when God called them. Your lack of ‘ministry’ experience doesn’t limit God. That’s because He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. So wait on God, and when the time is right He will call you.
Excellence requires two things: extra time and extra effort. It calls for going ‘above and beyond’ what is required of you by others, because you consider it a matter of character and integrity. Now we’re not talking about striving for perfection. That can drive you crazy, and everybody else around you. Perfectionism is based on self-centredness. It seeks approval and applause. Your goal should be to perform every assignment or endeavour as if God Himself required it of you and will be evaluating and rewarding your performance. The old adage, ‘Out of sight, and out of mind,’ does not apply to God; He is mindful of your every activity. ‘Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ’ (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV). That means doing the best possible job, even when the boss is not around. And here’s an important thought: avoid people with poor work habits, or who pooh-pooh your efforts to be excellent. Do you really want to be like them? Are you achieving the kind of results in life that you desire for yourself? If God is your heavenly Father, then you carry His name. ‘O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth’ (Psalm 8:1 KJV). Today pray: ‘Father, give me the desire for excellence in all my endeavours. Help me to live with a constant awareness of your evaluating and loving eye, so that I may do everything as unto you and not unto man. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.’
Even though Daniel lived in captivity, he refused to settle for mediocrity. This brought him to the attention of the king of Babylon who said, ‘I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.’ What a CV. What a reputation. And what a rebuke to those who ‘just want to get by’. The Bible says, ‘Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people’ (Proverbs 22:29 NLT). The way to get noticed and to get ahead in life is to study, grow, and sharpen your skill set. Question: Do you have a mediocre attitude towards your work, your relationships, and your life in general? If so, consider the level of frustration you’d experience if the people who served you had a ‘that’ll do’ attitude. What if a waiter served your food cold and your drink in a dirty glass? Do you think you’d complain? If so, imagine how people feel when you give them shoddy workmanship and a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude. They say ‘excellence is its own reward’. Yes, you’ll be rewarded for excellence, but your biggest reward will come from knowing you did your best. Aristotle said, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.’ Observe the lives of people who excel in their fields. Study their habits and learn from them. Identify their character traits and seek to develop them. Bottom line: only when you have done your best, can you trust God to do the rest.
How you approach reading the Bible is crucial. You must do two things: 1) Approach it with integrity. When a new Christian in a Bible study group said, ‘I’ve had a hard time believing some parts of the Bible,’ the others smiled and applauded. They didn’t do it because unbelief is good news; they did it because he’d finally been honest enough to admit his doubts. Don’t worry; God’s not upset with you. Until you’re willing to talk about your doubts, you can’t resolve them. When Thomas questioned the resurrection, Jesus showed up just to convince him. And He will show up for you too! It’s a mistake to try to force yourself into believing something or avoid reading it so you don’t get disturbed. Jesus said, ‘When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you’ (John 16:13-14 NIV). 2) Read it with expectancy. Once you’ve been to a book signing, met the author and got his autograph, you feel very different about the book. You treasure it. And when you read the Bible with an expectant heart, the author shows up. As you read His words you begin to sense His presence and realise He is speaking to you personally. Jesus said, ‘The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life’ (John 6:63 NIV). When you come to the Scriptures with a hunger and an expectancy, you never go away disappointed.
The Bible says: ‘Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace’ (vv. 5-6 NIV). In other words, the Holy Spirit is the non-anxious presence of God working in your life. You either give your mind over to the control of external influences and circumstances, or you give it over to the control of the Holy Spirit. What would a life like that look like? Well, imagine not being so fearful anymore. Imagine facing financial difficulties or an irate boss with inner poise and resolve. Imagine receiving bad news and generating constructive ways to solve the problem rather than spiralling through the worst-case scenarios. Imagine facing rejection and obstacles without giving in to discouragement. Imagine acknowledging the mistakes you’ve made and moving confidently into the future. And imagine doing all this with God as your partner. Imagine people around you coming to you when they’re upset or discouraged because your peace of mind is contagious. That’s part of what God’s called you to do every day. When you bump into people who are stressed and transmitting that stress to others, you’re supposed to be a peace disseminator. Jesus carried peace with Him wherever He went. When the disciples were terrified by the storm, He simply said to the waves, ‘Peace, be still!’ (Mark 4:39 NKJV), and it happened. Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms; it comes from knowing Jesus is on your boat, and with Him on board no storm can take you under.
Here’s a true saying: ‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.’ That doesn’t mean being a doormat for people to walk on or being spineless with no convictions and opinions. True humility is acknowledging God as the source of all you have, and all you need, and always remembering to give Him credit for both. The Bible says, ‘God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’ (Genesis 2:7 NKJV). God’s intention for mankind was to live in Paradise and enjoy His presence every day. But we disobeyed Him and decided to live by our own rules instead of His. And the result? God said, ‘For dust you are, and to dust you shall return’ (Genesis 3:19 NKJV). Let’s face it, on our best day we’re just dignified dirt! In fact, one estimate suggests that each of us is worth less than four pounds. So when you die and your components return to dirt, that’s your physical value. Pretty humbling, eh? So when you drive your luxury car, remember that less than four pounds is driving it. Less than four pounds is living in the suburbs. Less than four pounds is wearing designer clothes. Less than four pounds has more money in the bank than you’re actually worth. Paul defines humility in these words: ‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves’ (Romans 12:3 NLT). Do you want to know what makes you valuable? ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1:27 NKJV).
The ship Paul was sailing on to Rome was wrecked by a storm named Euroclydon, meaning typhoon, tempest, or cyclone. Here are some valuable lessons we can learn from his experience. 1) God can make a bad situation work for your good. Because of this shipwreck, Paul ended up on Malta, where the people heard the gospel for the first time. Plus, when he and his followers ‘departed, they provided such things as were necessary’ (Acts 28:10 NKJV). Sometimes your problem can provide a platform for God to work in ways that’ll amaze you. Your future isn’t, nor ever will be, in the hands of people. It’s in God’s hands, and what He owns He protects and provides for. 2) To reach your God-ordained destination you’ll have to sail through storms. Paul said, ‘All hope that we would be saved was finally given up’ (Acts 27:20 NKJV). There’ll be days when you wonder how you’re going to make it, but by God’s grace you will (see Psalm 37:34). 3) Storms reveal how well you know the Lord. Paul said, ‘Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul”’ (Acts 27:23-24 NIV). In hard times you discover the strength of your connection to God. 4) He can bring success from what looks like failure. Notice two particular things in this story: a) You may have to throw some things overboard to reach your destination (see v. 18). b) Despite your best efforts, occasionally you’ll run aground (see v. 26). That’s when you must remember what God promised you – and stand on it (see v. 25).
When you consult God before making decisions, it keeps you out of all sorts of trouble. Joshua learned this the hard way. He had just conquered Jericho, the biggest city in the Promised Land. Flushed with victory, the Israelites felt like they didn’t need to consult God concerning their next move. But over-confidence can be deadly! The Gibeonites, one of the enemy nations in the Promised Land, realised they couldn’t win against God’s people, so they sent negotiators in to make peace with them. And it worked. Even though the Gibeonites were lying, Joshua presumed they were telling the truth and signed a treaty. And it proved to be one of the biggest mistakes of his life. From that day on the Gibeonites became a constant thorn in Israel’s side. Joshua lived to regret that he ‘didn’t ask God about it’. Some of the oldest hymns contain the greatest truths. Here’s one: ‘O what peace we often forfeit; O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.’ Are you a ‘make-it-happen-in-your-own-strength’ kind of person? There’s a fine line between God-given assurance and self-sufficiency, and when you cross that line it can cost you dearly. If you’ve a tendency to move too quickly or operate in your own strength and skill, read these words carefully and prayerfully: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes’ (Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV).
The Christian life comes with blessings – and battles. You can’t have one without the other. Paul describes it this way: ‘In everything and in every way we show that we truly are God’s servants. We have always been patient, though we have had a lot of trouble, suffering, and hard times. We have been beaten, put in jail, and hurt in riots. We have worked hard and gone without sleep or food. But we have kept ourselves pure and have been understanding, patient, and kind. The Holy Spirit has been with us, and our love has been real. We have spoken the truth, and God’s power has worked in us. In all our struggles we have said and done only what is right. Whether we were honoured or dishonoured or praised or cursed, we always told the truth about ourselves. But some people said we did not. We are unknown to others, but well known to you. We seem to be dying, and yet we are still alive. We have been punished, but never killed, and we are always happy, even in times of suffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything is ours’ (vv. 4-10 CEV). God will fight for you on your battlefield, take you through your storm, and turn your season of adversity into a season of advancement. When your faith is under fire it attracts His power and brings His grace into your situation. The Bible says, ‘Even Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered’ (see Hebrews 5:8). So rejoice, you’re not losing – you’re gaining!
Think about these questions and answer them honestly. 1) Do you believe you can be successful and spiritual at the same time? Some folks equate poverty with humility and conclude that successful people can’t be humble. Not so. ‘As long as [Uzziah] sought the LORD, God gave him success.’ Success doesn’t give you the right to look down on others but, when successful people speak, others listen. Leaders like Joseph and Daniel influenced entire nations for God. The fact is, we’ve a message of hope others need to hear, but without adequate resources, how will they hear it? (See Romans 10:14-17.) If you’ve been settling for less, pray for greater faith and start aiming higher in life. 2) Are you afraid of success? Perhaps you fear the pressures and the price tag that accompany it. Leadership is lonely; maybe you’d rather be with the crowd. Or maybe you’ve been knocked down and you’re afraid to get up again. When Thomas Edison was asked about his success, he replied, ‘I start where other men leave off!’ John Foster Dulles, former U.S. Secretary of State said, ‘The measure of success isn’t whether you’ve a tough problem to deal with, but whether it’s the same problem you had last year.’ Paul wrote, ‘We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going’ (2 Corinthians 4:9 TLB). 3) Are you satisfied with the way things are right now? If you’re not, accept responsibility for your life and take a step of faith. Ultimately the only one who can stop you from becoming the person God intended you to be – is you! Bottom line: God wants you to succeed.
‘Jesus was teaching them God's message. Four people came, carrying a paralysed man. Since they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug a hole in the roof right above where he was speaking. When they got through, they lowered the mat with the paralysed man on it. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralysed man...“stand up, take your mat, and go home”’ (vv. 2-5, 11 NCV). If your loved one needs a miracle today: 1) Use your faith. Even though you’re praying for someone who may have little or no faith of their own, God will honour your faith on their behalf. ‘When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralysed man...“stand up.”’ 2) Refuse to give up. Do what these four friends did. The crowd was a problem – so they went around it. The roof was a problem – so they broke through it. They refused to give up or get discouraged. Bottom line: if what you’ve tried so far hasn’t worked, ask God and He will show you the way. Doctors can treat people, but only God can heal them within and without, so bring your loved one to Him in prayer. 3) Look for faith partners. It took four people to get this man to Jesus, so don’t do it alone. Find someone who’ll agree with you in prayer. Jesus said, ‘I promise…when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you’ (Matthew 18:19 CEV). So, keep praying and believing God for a miracle!
Your areas of vulnerability will change as the seasons of your life change, but the truth is that you’ll always be tempted in some way. But the good news is that you can be tempted and triumphant. Jesus showed us how to do it. When He faced the tempter in the wilderness He stood on God’s Word. Here are some Scriptures you can stand on when you’re tempted. 1) ‘The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials’ (2 Peter 2:9 NLT). 2) ‘This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and…find grace to help us when we need it most’ (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT). 3) ‘Put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm’ (Ephesians 6:13 NLT). 5) ‘The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you’ (Romans 16:20 NLT). 6) ‘I give unto you power…over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you’ (Luke 10:19 KJV). 7) ‘The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
In the Old Testament God marked His priests by putting blood on their right ear lobe, their right thumb, and the big toe of their right foot. That meant they were called to honour God in their hearing, their skills, and their daily walk. You can’t just do your own thing; you’re called to walk according to God’s Word. When you don’t, God will call you to repentance. And if you don’t repent, He will discipline you. ‘Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves’ (Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV). Note two important phrases: 1) ‘Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline.’ Your ‘Nobody’s-going-to-tell-me-what-to-do!’ attitude will rob you of God’s best and prevent Him from using you effectively. ‘God opposes the proud, but shows favour to the humble’ (James 4:6 NIVUK). 2) ‘Do not lose heart when he rebukes you.’ Instead of seeing God’s correction as rejection, see it as proof that you’re His child…that He has a plan for your life…and that it begins when you humble yourself and do what He tells you. God’s patience is amazing – but He won’t wait forever. He said of Jezebel, ‘I gave her time to repent…and she did not…I will cast her into a sickbed’ (Revelation 2:21-22 NKJV). On the other hand, when Ahab, Jezebel’s wicked husband, humbled himself, God healed and restored him. Humbling yourself before God will turn things around in your life when nothing else will work. So, the word for today is: make things right with God!
Dr Joyce Brothers once joked, ‘My husband and I have never considered divorce…sometimes murder, but never divorce!’ Getting married is easy; living together successfully is hard. So how do you do it? By identifying issues that must be resolved, working on them, and learning to live with the rest! Snoring, endless hours of watching TV sports, not communicating, dirty socks on the floor, unmade beds – your partner’s habits can drive you crazy. And since Jesus said, ‘Let no one split apart what God has joined together’ (v. 6 NLT), how should you handle conflicts when they arise? 1) Attack the problem instead of each other. 2) Keep your voice low, stay calm, and your partner is more likely to pay attention. 3) Choose the best time to address the issue, not when the kids are hungry or you’re both tired. 4) Remember, men and women see things differently. So, when your spouse expresses their point of view, don’t sigh and roll your eyes. What marriage therapists refer to as ‘active listening’, calls for affirming your spouse through paraphrasing, validation, and positive feedback. 5) There’ll be times when each of you will have to compromise. 6) Choose your words carefully. ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up’ (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). ‘Encourage one another’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). ‘Forgiving one another’ (Ephesians 4:32 NLT). ‘Pray for each other’ (James 5:16 NIV). ‘Spur one another on towards love and good deeds’ (Hebrews 10:24 NIVUK). ‘Carry each other’s burdens’ (Galatians 6:2 NIV). ‘Giving preference to one another’ (Romans 12:10 NKJV). Now work on your marriage!
There are two kinds of criticism: 1) Unfair criticism. There’ll always be people who love to rain on your parade; people who try to build themselves up by tearing others down. Mark Twain said, ‘Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.’ 2) Constructive criticism. Solomon said, ‘Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear’ (Proverbs 25:12 NIV). There’s a major obstacle you must overcome in order to reach your highest potential. What is it? Our natural reluctance to discover anything unflattering about ourselves. When you erect defences against your inadequacies and try to hide your faults, you close the door to a vital source of self-knowledge. And in so doing, you deny yourself the joy of growing. Every one of us can improve what we’re doing or the way we’re doing it. In fact, if you’re still celebrating what you did last year – you’re not making enough progress this year. After winning his third world championship, instead of having a big celebration, bull rider Tuff Hedeman moved on to Denver to start a new season – the whole process over again. His line of reasoning was: ‘The bull in Denver won’t be impressed with what I did last week.’ Whether you’re an untested rookie or a veteran, if you want to be a champion tomorrow, you must be teachable today. Or as Solomon puts it: ‘Whoever learns from correction is wise’ (Proverbs 15:5 NLT).
The Bible says: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). That Scripture is easy to quote but hard to live by, especially when tragedy and loss touch our lives and we don’t understand why. There are times when we pray and God gives us answers, and there are times when we pray and He gives us peace. ‘Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). In times of pain and loss, here are two Scriptures you can stand on: 1) ‘The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us.’ When it comes to understanding things – we have our territory and God has His. And ours is limited to what He decides to reveal to us. Paul, who wrote half the New Testament by divine revelation, acknowledged, ‘We know in part’ (1 Corinthians 13:9 NKJV). At best, we will always be limited in our understanding. 2) ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28 NKJV). Sometimes God explains things to us, and other times He stamps them ‘Will explain later.’ So when you’re tempted to throw up your hands in despair and say, ‘Who knows?’, remind yourself, ‘God knows!’ And today remind yourself that He’s working things out for your good and His glory.
Sometimes God uses failure to get our attention and draw us closer to Him. In John 21 the disciples ‘went out in the boat, but…caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”’ (vv. 3-7). Notice three things: 1) Jesus can do what you can’t do. As long as you think you can handle things on your own, He will let you try. As long as what worked for you in the past is still working, you won’t reach for His help. It’s only when you run out of answers you discover: ‘“You will not succeed by your own strength or…power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD’ (Zechariah 4:6 NCV). 2) God can do more than you can do. He told the disciples, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’ It didn’t sound right, but by obeying Him they entered a level of blessing and abundance they never dreamed possible. 3) God wants a relationship with you. After eating breakfast with the disciples, Jesus told Peter, ‘Take care of my sheep’ (see John 21:17). Now fishermen don’t take care of sheep – shepherds do! So what just happened? Jesus introduced Peter to his true calling – and He will do the same for you!
Solomon said, ‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.’ Note the progression of events that led to David’s downfall: ‘He saw a woman bathing…inquired about the woman…and took her’ (2 Samuel 11:2-4 NKJV). He saw…he inquired… he took. If you’re hankering after someone who’s not yours, pull your eyes away immediately. ‘Take captive every thought…make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). Police your mind. Instead of filling it with fantasies from magazines, television or the Internet, fill it with God’s Word and memories of your best moments with your spouse. Work on strengthening your marriage bond. Decide to love even when you don’t feel like it, and your love will begin to blossom. Jesus said, ‘Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart’ (Matthew 5:28 NIV). Why did Jesus say this? Because every lustful glance threatens your relationship. The less you desire your spouse, the more you’ll look for reasons to justify your fantasies. And the saddest part is, you’ll never know how good your relationship could have been. After David was confronted, cleansed and corrected, he said, ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee’ (Psalm 119:11 KJV). If you have a problem with lust, find a pastor, a counsellor or a friend who can help you. The Bible says, ‘A brother is born for adversity’ (Proverbs 17:17 KJV). Sometimes the difference between victory and defeat is spending a few minutes on the phone talking and praying with someone who understands. The question is – do you really want to do right?
Albert Schweitzer once said, ‘I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.’ Are others naturally attracted to you? Are you well liked? If not, it may be because of: a) Pride. Nobody wants to follow someone who thinks they’re better than everyone else. b) Insecurity. If you are uncomfortable with who you are, others will be too. c) Moodiness. When people never know what to expect from you, they stop expecting anything. d) Perfectionism. Others respect the desire for excellence but dread unrealistic expectations. e) Cynicism. People don’t want to be rained on by someone who sees a cloud around every silver lining. So, how do you build people up? 1) Change your focus. If you’re self-centred, you can’t strengthen and encourage others. So observe your interaction with people during the next few days. As you talk to them, notice how much of your conversation is about you, then determine to tip the balance in favour of focusing on others. 2) Try to make a good first impression. The next time you meet someone, learn their name, focus on their interests, listen to them without interrupting, and be encouraging. If you can do this for one day, you can do it every day. The Bible says, ‘Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”’
The apostle Paul writes, ‘Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: ‘Say only what helps, each word a gift.’ Think of the people you most enjoy spending time with. How would you describe them? Grumpy? Bitter? Negative? Of course not! They’re celebrators, not complainers. They’re passionate about life. As you live this day, realise that everyone you meet, you will leave: 1) better off; 2) worse off; 3) unaffected. The way to build others up is to see them as opportunities instead of obstacles or obligations. One leadership expert writes: ‘One of the best things you can do for people – which also attracts them to you – is to expect the best of them. I call it putting a “10” on everyone’s head. It helps others think more highly of themselves, and at the same time it also helps you.’ A survey of one hundred self-made multi-millionaires showed only one common denominator. These highly successful men and women routinely looked for the best in people. Benjamin Disraeli, one of Britain’s finest prime ministers, put it this way: ‘The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.’ And you do that by appreciating, encouraging, and helping others to reach their potential. Napoleon described leaders as ‘dealers in hope’. He understood that hope is one of the greatest of all possessions. If you can be the person who bestows that gift on others, they’ll not only be attracted to you, they’ll be forever grateful.
‘Jesus said to his disciples: “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out…But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back…with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke…he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”…“Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”’ (vv. 35-41 NLT). Following Jesus doesn’t exempt you from life’s storms, so you need to: 1) Remind yourself who’s with you – Jesus! Think about it: if Jesus can calm the storm, surely He can prevent it. But He permits us to go through storms to prove that we don’t have a problem He can’t solve. You may be powerless in the situation, but He’s not, and through it you’ll come to know Him in a way you never have before. His goal is to bring you out stronger on the other side. 2) Trust what He has told you. When Jesus tells you, ‘Let’s cross to the other side,’ there’s not a wave big enough to take you under. The truth is, ‘We cannot stand in the storms of life based on someone else’s faith. We must be fully assured in our own hearts and minds’ (see 1 John 5:14-15). What has God promised you? Stand on it!
When you’re under pressure and tempted to move too quickly, if you stop and pray you’ll hear God saying: ‘You shall not go out with haste…for the LORD will go before you, and…be your rear guard.’ What an awesome promise! God goes before you to prepare the way and comes behind you to correct your mistakes and redirect your steps. When you’re about to make a wrong turn His Word says, ‘We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps’ (Proverbs 16:9 NLT). If you let Him, God will overrule your decisions and reroute you when necessary. When you don’t have what it takes to get the job done, His promise is: ‘The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring…you will be known as a rebuilder…and a restorer’ (Isaiah 58:11-12 NLT). When you’ve run out of answers and don’t know what to do, He reassures you: ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’ (Psalm 32:8 NLT). When the load you’re carrying is too much to bear you’ll hear His voice saying: ‘Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall’ (Psalm 55:22 NLT). But in order to hear His voice you’ll have to reorder your priorities, sacrifice lesser things and tune out other voices. But you must do it, because nothing is more important than knowing in your heart that God is guiding you.
The storms of life will test whether or not you’ve done a good job with your family. And an important key to succeeding at home is communication. So, ask yourself these four questions: 1) How well do I communicate with the people I love? You may unwittingly have adopted a style that doesn’t work well for you. For example, do you retaliate? That has a degrading effect. Do you dominate? That has an intimidating effect. Do you isolate? That has a frustrating effect. Or do you co-operate? That has an encouraging effect. If you’re in the habit of using any communication style other than a co-operative one, you must work to change it if you want to build a good relationship with your family. 2) Have I identified my communication killers? The Internet, mobile phones, texting and TV are among the chief culprits. Would it surprise you to know the average couple spends less than an hour a week in meaningful conversation, and approximately five hours a day watching television? 3) Do I encourage everyone to speak their mind? And when they do speak freely do you criticise, pout, or retaliate? Differences of opinion can be healthy. The Bible says, ‘Iron sharpens iron’ (Proverbs 27:17 NKJV). Handled respectfully, different opinions can make things better for everyone. 4) Do I think creatively? Do you spend time together as a family? Do you call your spouse during the day and try to meet sometimes for lunch? Do you drive your kids to school or extracurricular activities so you can talk to them? Communication can happen anywhere, but it only happens when you make it a priority.
Let’s face it, we don’t have to look very far to find things to complain about. God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Paradise where they had everything they needed to be happy. But what did they focus on? The one tree they couldn’t have! God miraculously divided the Red Sea, guided the Israelites through the wilderness and provided food from heaven each day so they’d never go hungry. And did they appreciate it? Yes, for a while. ‘They…sang his praise. But…soon forgot what he had done’ (Psalm 106:12-13 NIV). This is why Paul writes: ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…Then the God of peace will be with you’ (Philippians 4:8-9 NLT). General Robbie Risner described the seven years he spent as a prisoner-of-war in a Vietnamese camp as ‘the essence of despair’. But he survived. How? He pried the cover off a floor drain in his cell and saw a solitary blade of grass, the only smidgen of colour in his colourless world. Calling it ‘a blood transfusion for the soul’, Risner began each day in prayer, lying on the floor with his head down the vent focusing on that single blade of grass. When things aren’t going well in your life you have to choose what you’ll focus on: fear or faith, despair or hope, problems or solutions. Even when the problem isn’t solved to your liking, when you focus on God, He lifts you above your circumstances and gives you peace in the midst of them.
Sunday school teacher Ranai Carlton writes: ‘I was trying to teach the children that we all need God’s forgiveness. So, I asked one of the girls, “Lisa, when is a time you might need God’s forgiveness?” Her blank stare prompted a response from my son, “It’s okay, Lisa. You don’t have to tell her.” Then he turned to me and said, “We don’t have to tell you our problems. This isn’t the Oprah Winfrey Show.”’ You don’t have to tell others about your sins, but you do have to tell God. David said, ‘When I kept silent about my sin…Your hand was heavy upon me’ (Psalm 32:3-4 NASB). Confession does four things: 1) Lets you experience God’s forgiveness. He already knows your sin, but He can’t forgive you when you blame-shift and make excuses. ‘If we confess…he will forgive our sins.’ The first move is up to you. 2) It restores your emotional and physical energy. Nothing’s more draining than denial, and nothing’s more invigorating than a clean slate. David said, ‘My strength…failed because of my guilt’ (Psalm 31:10 NASB). Reflecting on his affair with Bathsheba, he said, ‘When I kept silent…my vitality failed…I acknowledged my sin…You forgave the guilt’ (Psalm 32:3-5 NASB). 3) It lets you move on. Confession lets you hit the ‘reset’ button and start again. It’s important to draw a line between the past and the future in case you’re tempted to regress. 4) It lets you grow. Thomas Edison said failure taught him 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb. Making failure work for you instead of against you, starts with confessing it to God and accepting His forgiveness.
Scan any tabloid or watch any TV talk show and you’ll discover that ‘meddling’ has become a multibillion-pound business. But it’s not the kind of business a follower of Christ should be in. And while mothers-in-law sometimes have a reputation for being meddlers, they haven’t cornered the market. Men, relatives, co-workers, and well-meaning friends also tend to interfere. Unlike gossips, meddlers like to elicit personal information directly from their subjects. ‘How can you afford such an expensive car?’ ‘What size is that outfit you’re wearing?’ ‘How much did you pay for your house?’ ‘How long can you afford to be off work?’ Often these kinds of questions serve no purpose other than to satisfy a shallow mind. Yes, some people genuinely want to help, or even pray about your situation – but not meddlers. So learn to keep your inquisitiveness within the bounds of what’s appropriate. Solomon said, ‘He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears’ (Proverbs 26:17 NKJV). A dog’s ears are among the most sensitive areas of its body. And if you pull them, the dog may bite you. Likewise, when you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, it may get bitten off. God classifies meddling as a sin – right up there with murder and stealing: ‘If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs’ (1 Peter 4:15 NLT). A wise person quipped that the reason people who mind their own business are so successful is because they have so little competition. So don’t meddle!
The story of Rebekah teaches us a very important truth about life: when opportunity knocks, make sure you’re ready to answer the door. Rebekah didn’t think about the extra effort and time required to water ten thirsty camels. She didn’t say, ‘I don’t do that kind of work, that’s not in my job description.’ She lived by the principle: ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might’ (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV). She didn’t suddenly develop a work ethic when Eliezer showed up, she practised one every day. And there came a day when it paid off. Faithfulness in small things brings great rewards. God is your boss; He’s watching your attitude and actions in small things. Big moments don’t come to people who wait for them; they come from faithfulness in small moments, in daily routines and non-glamorous service. And you’ll notice something else. Rebekah didn’t quote the Torah or ask Eliezer what his religion was. Instead of trying to be ‘super spiritual’ she decided to be nice. As a result she got his attention, earned his respect and ended up in the family of Abraham. It doesn’t get any better! When Rebekah took Eliezer home to meet her family they wanted her to wait for ten days before going to meet Isaac. That was customary. But Rebekah said, ‘I will go’ (Genesis 24:58 NKJV). When God opens the door don’t delay. And don’t say, ‘Others are more qualified than me.’ If God has called you then you’re the right person, so step over your fears and move in the direction He is leading you.
One day Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac. Standing by a small town well, Eliezer prayed, ‘Let the woman who offers to water my camels be the one you have chosen.’ Suddenly Rebekah shows up and says, ‘I will draw water for your camels also’ (see Genesis 24:13-14). Rebekah had no idea that Eliezer would change her life. She didn’t know that her act of kindness would open the door to great blessing. In the Old Testament it was customary to offer water to a stranger. It was called the law of hospitality. The Hebrews believed the words: ‘Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels’ (Hebrews 13:2 NKJV). But who on earth offers to water thirsty camels? One camel can drink forty gallons, and Eliezer had ten of them. That’s a half-day project! Rebekah was generous to a stranger, seeking nothing but the joy of serving. What she didn’t know was, these camels would transport her back to Isaac, make her his bride, shower her with great wealth and put her in the lineage of Christ. So if you want to succeed, show up on time, stay focused, work hard, and be a problem solver instead of a problem causer. Live by Christ’s saying, ‘Go the extra mile’ (see Matthew 5:41). The key to success in life is in doing not only what is expected, but in doing a little more. Yes, camels are obnoxious and ugly, but out of that ugly situation came the most beautiful thing that ever happened to Rebekah.
When you’re trusting God for a miracle, nothing will drag you down faster than unbelief. Plus, it’s impossible to know what God is doing based on how things look on the surface. ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). So in order to stay strong, it’s important to fill your mind with the right things: ‘the best, not the worst;…things to praise’ (Philippians 4:8 MSG). One pastor writes: ‘There were times Jesus didn’t allow unbelief around Him, like when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. When He heard the little girl had died, Jesus told her father, “Do not be afraid…only believe” (Mark 5:36 NASB)…You can believe, or you can be afraid. You can’t do both; and people who truly believe bypass human reasoning. When Jesus dealt with the spirit of death that day, there was no room for contaminated faith. So when He went to Jairus’ house, “He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter, James and John” (v. 37). He took those who believed in miracles, and when “they came to the house…and…saw…people loudly weeping…He said…‘Why make a commotion…The child has not died, but is asleep.’ They began laughing at Him. But putting them all outside, He took…the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was…Taking [her] by the hand, He said…‘Little girl…get up!’ Immediately the girl got up and began to walk”’ (vv. 37-42 NASB). Humanly speaking, your situation may look impossible, but when you throw out the naysayers and the doubters and believe what God says, you’ll get results.
Unless you’re willing to change, in a few years from now you’ll be exactly the same as you are today, except you’ll be older, with less time and fewer options. The Bible says, ‘Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.’ How do you become willing to change? Recognise that change will happen whether you like it or not. If you do that, you’ll be prepared. One author writes: ‘The only thing certain about tomorrow is that it will be different from today. If you doubt that, consider this: My grandfather had a farm, my parents had a garden, and I’ve got a can opener! It’s a different world than it was twenty years ago, and it will be different in another twenty. But the good news is that the world changes so fast that you couldn’t stay wrong all the time if you tried!’ The difference in who you are today and who you’ll be twenty-five years from now depends largely on three things: the books you read, the relationships you build, and the time you spend with God. Do you want to be wise? The Bible says, ‘The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). Do you want to be happy? ‘Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding’ (Proverbs 3:13 NKJV). Do you want to feel fulfilled in life? ‘Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV).
The Lazy B ranch sits on two hundred and sixty square miles. Most of it is scrub brush, and it’s been in the Day family since 1881. When Harry and Ada Mae Day had their first child, a baby daughter, they travelled two hundred miles to a hospital for the delivery and brought her home to a difficult life. The four-room adobe house had no running water or electricity, and there was no school within driving distance. You would think with such limited resources, the little girl’s future might be limited. But Harry and Ada Mae were determined their children would have the best education possible. They subscribed to metropolitan newspapers and magazines, and read to their child hour after hour. When her daughter was four years old, Ada Mae began her on the Calvert method of home-schooling and later saw that she went to the best boarding schools possible. One summer they took their children on a car trip to visit all the state capitals in America west of the Mississippi River. When young Sandra was ready for college, she went to Stanford University, then on to law school, and eventually she became the first woman justice to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States of America. So the word for today is – invest in your children. And be willing to start small, otherwise you won’t start at all. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have, use what God’s given you and He will bless it. Stand on this Scripture for your children: ‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’
We pride ourselves on our ability to judge people and situations based on appearance – and lots of time we’re wrong. Goliath issued the same challenge to Israel for forty days: ‘Send me your best fighting man, and I’ll kill him. I’m the champion. I’m the greatest.’ That kind of fear-based thinking applies to every giant you encounter in life. Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘Fear and worry…don’t come just once; they come morning and evening, day after day, relentlessly trying to intimidate. They come in the form of a person, a pressure…a worry…fear that hammers on your heart…day in and day out, yelling across the ravine in your own personal valley. Few things are more persistent and intimidating than our fears and worries…especially when we face them in our own strength.’ When picking Israel’s next king, God told the prophet Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or…physical stature.…For the LORD does not see as man sees;…man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’ (v. 7 NKJV). As human beings, we look at what’s on the outside and form opinions based on what we see. Goliath was a giant with a booming voice and lots of bravado – three traits designed to instil fear into the bravest heart. But God was neither impressed nor intimidated by him. And what’s more, He gave David the ability to see Goliath through His eyes. Fears are like babies; the more you nurse them, the bigger they grow. Once you start seeing the giants in your life from God’s perspective, they lose their power to immobilise and intimidate you. So refuse to be fearful.
How much time do you spend worrying about things that usually never happen? Be honest! And has anything improved as a result of your worrying about it? Of course not! Paul writes: ‘The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’ (Philippians 4:5-6 NIV). He then encourages us by saying that when we do this, the peace of God will fill our hearts and minds (see Philippians 4:7). The instant you begin to worry or feel anxious about something, take your concern to God in prayer. Release the weight of it, and totally trust Him to either show you what to do, or show you that He will take care of it Himself. Prayer is powerful against worry. When you’re feeling pressure, it’s always best to pray about it instead of fretting and talking about it. Will this be easy to do? No, if you’ve worried all your life, then worry has become a habit. But with commitment, perseverance, and God’s help, you can conquer worry. Here are two keys to doing it: 1) Instead of trying to get rid of your negative thoughts, which only keeps you focused on them, fill your mind with positive thoughts. Scriptural ones! (see Philippians 4:8). 2) Take action quickly. As soon as you begin to worry, say, ‘No, I’m not going to worry about this because it does no good.’ You may wonder, ‘But who’s going to take care of the problem?’ God! His Word says, ‘The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us.’
Jesus said: ‘I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly’ (vv. 28-30 MSG). Note the words, ‘I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.’ It’s good to know we don’t have to worry about things, figure everything out, or carry the burdens in our lives. It can actually be quite refreshing to realise that we don’t need to know everything about everything! We need to get comfortable saying, ‘I don’t know the answer to this predicament, and I’m not going to worry about it because God’s in control, and I trust Him. I’m going to relax in Him and live freely and lightly!’ When we’re overburdened with the cares of life – struggling, labouring, and worrying – we need a mental and emotional break. Our minds need to rest from thinking about resolving problems, and our emotions need to rest from being upset. Worry robs us of rest and its benefits. So the next time you find yourself worried and anxious, remember, you can ‘live freely and lightly’. All you have to do is rest in the assurance of God’s love, provision, and guidance. If someone asks you what you’re going to do about your problem, tell them you’re not thinking about it right now. If they ask you why, tell them you’ve turned it over to God, and you’re trusting Him to work it out for you.
Notice two things about the Lord’s Prayer. It begins with the words ‘Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name’ (Matthew 6:9 KJV), and ends with ‘Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen’ (v. 13). God wants you to begin and end your prayers thinking of Him. Why? Because it does you twice as much good to focus on God as it does to focus on anyone or anything else! When you magnify an object, you enlarge it so that you can see and understand it more. When we magnify God, we do the same thing. We enlarge our awareness of Him, so we can understand Him more. This is what happens when we worship Him – we take our minds off ourselves and set them on God. We put the emphasis on Him. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases the final words of the Lord’s Prayer this way: ‘You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes’ (Matthew 6:13). Could it be any plainer? God is in charge! Speaking of Jesus Christ, Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words like this: ‘God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the centre of all this, Christ rules’ (Ephesians 1:20-23 MSG). So when you magnify the Lord, you’re saying: ‘You not only rule the universe, you rule my heart!’
The Bible says, ‘A good leader motivates, doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit’ (Proverbs 16:10 MSG). Jesus was a good leader. He loved people, but He never used them for His own ends. He was busy, but never too busy to stop and help them. In relating the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus said: ‘As he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him…bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him’ (Luke 10:33-34 NIV). Note the words, ‘took care of him’. To lead someone, you must be able to influence them, and you do that by taking the time to nurture them. At the heart of the nurturing process is a genuine care for others. If you want to help and positively influence people, you can’t dislike or disparage them, because they’ll sense it. You must love and respect them. The old adage ‘Fake it till you make it’ won’t work; people know whether or not you care. Maybe you’re wondering why you need to assume a nurturing role; after all, isn’t that something they should get somewhere else, like from their family? Many of the people you come into contact with every day are desperate for encouragement, and, sadly, if they don’t get it from you, there’s no one else who will give it to them. When you become a nurturer in the life of another person, you have a real opportunity to influence them for good and for God. So become a nurturer!
Have you ever been guilty of accusing someone before you knew all the facts? If so, be aware that you’re tugging on the same end of the rope as Satan, the official ‘accuser’ of God’s children. The Bible says: ‘The accuser of our brothers…who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down’ (v. 10 NIV). Emotional and spiritual maturity demand that you first seek to understand, rather than making a hasty accusation. Look at the example God gave us in the garden of Eden. He could easily have said, ‘Adam and Eve, you unappreciative sinners, I should never have trusted you in my garden!’ God’s non-accusatory style in confronting Adam and Eve about their sin supplies a powerful model for those of us who tend to speak before we’re in possession of all the relevant information. The Bible says: ‘The LORD God called to Adam…“Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”’ (Genesis 3:9-11 NKJV). Notice God already knew the answers to all three questions He asked. Nevertheless, He gave Adam an opportunity to explain his side of the story. And in Adam’s case, he couldn’t. However, the divine principle still stands: asking a clarifying question and listening carefully to the response are key steps in overcoming your tendency to criticise or accuse. Have you ever been unjustly accused? If you have, don’t do it to others. Ask, and listen!
One of the most prevalent themes in the Bible is perseverance. The apostle Paul writes: ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’ Again he writes: ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9 NIV). And James adds: ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him’ (James 1:12 NIV). The dividing line between winning and losing isn’t talent; it’s tenacity. Being tenacious means this: 1) Giving it everything you have, not more than you have. Some people inaccurately believe that being tenacious demands more than they have to offer. As a result, they get discouraged and stop pushing themselves. But being tenacious means giving 100 per cent – not more, and certainly not less. 2) Working with determination instead of waiting on destiny. Persistent people don’t rely on luck, fate, or destiny for their success. They recognise that trying times aren’t the times to stop trying. 3) Stopping when the job is finished, not when you’re tired. To succeed, you often have to push beyond what you think you can do. Remember, victory isn’t determined until the last step in the race has been run. So draw on God’s grace, refuse to give up, and keep going until you cross the finish line and win the prize.
The ability to bring out the best in others is important for two reasons. First, we usually see in people what we expect to see. Second, they generally rise to our level of expectation. Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘I’ve never known a positive person yet who didn’t love people and try to see the best in them. And one of the most effective ways to help you see the best in others is to do what I call putting a “10” on people’s heads. Here’s what I mean: We all have expectations of others, but we can choose whether those expectations are positive or negative. We can think that others are worthless or wonderful. When we make the decision to expect the best and actually look for the good instead of the bad, we’re seeing them as a “10.”’ Try to imagine how the Philippian believers felt when Paul said, ‘I thank my God every time I remember you.’ When you have faith in someone, you give them an incredible gift, maybe the best gift you can give another person. Give them money, and they may soon have spent it. Give them resources, and they may not use them to the greatest advantage. Give them help, and within a short period of time, chances are that they’ll find themselves back where they started. But demonstrate faith in them, and they become confident, invigorated, self-reliant, and motivated to obtain the skills they need to succeed on their own. Then later if you do share money, resources, and other kinds of help, they’re better equipped to use them to build a better future.
If after praying, your emotions are still in turmoil – pray more. By cultivating the discipline of frequent prayer, you’ll discover the ability to remain calm and quiet. As you wait before the Lord, you’ll find relief from fear’s grip on your spirit. You might be tempted to think your prayer was ineffective, or you somehow failed because your anxiety returned – perhaps as soon as you said ‘Amen’. Just take persistent anxiety as a signal that you need more time with God; reviewing all the details of your problem, telling Him how much it plagues you, and sometimes even admitting that you’re afraid He won’t handle it soon enough. Having a deep, persistent concern for a problem isn’t the same as worry. Worry is choosing to fret instead of turning it completely over to God. So if you tend to worry a lot, pray a lot. Pray, ‘Lord, this is Your problem to fix. You take control. Let me know what You want me to do if I’m to be involved in the solution. By leaving it with You, I’ll consider it solved.’ At that point discipline your mind not to worry, and not to continue seeking answers or trying to find the solution. You have solved the problem by giving it to God, and your major responsibility now is to wait for His leading. When He wants you to act, He will make it clear. As you wait before Him, He will direct your thoughts to the next step you should take. And if there’s nothing He leads you to do – do nothing more. He will take it from there.
Betrayal is worse than gossip. A gossip may not necessarily harbour ill will towards his or her victim; but a betrayer knowingly divulges information in a breach of confidence. They commit ‘relational treason’ by violating the trust someone has placed in them. Judas was in a position to betray Jesus with very little effort because he was familiar with His comings and goings. The Bible says, ‘Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples’ (John 18:2 NIV). Judas used his inside knowledge of Jesus’ tendencies to hurt Him. Then later his behaviour engendered such self-loathing that he committed suicide. Acts of betrayal eat away at your self-esteem and sense of dignity. So, have you ever breached a confidence? If so, why did you do it? What was the reward? Did you gain some inside advantage? What were you envious or resentful of at the time? Was there an unresolved conflict between you and the other person? Have you repented of what you did? Conversely, has someone betrayed your confidence? If so, were you reaping what you had sown? What valuable lesson did you learn from it? Have you freed the offender in your heart, and no longer desire retribution? If not, you’re still bound to them and they’re controlling your life. Drop it! Remind yourself that, ‘All things work together for good to those who love God’ (Romans 8:28 NKJV). Strive to become a trustworthy person others can depend on to guard their secrets. And if you’re blessed to have a trustworthy friend yourself, thank God for them!
Taskmasters don’t come much tougher than Bob Thompson. For forty years he pushed his highway workers hard six days a week from April to December to finish the job before the first frost. Their loyalty, sweat, and hard work helped make him a very rich man. Thompson remembered this and returned the favour. When he sold his company, Michigan’s largest asphalt and paving business, he gave his 550 current and retired employees $128 million (about £96 Million) from his gains. Even surviving spouses got cheques. Some ninety employees became instant millionaires. Thompson started the Thompson–McCully Company with $3,500 (about £2,600) his wife, Ellen, earned from substitute teaching. The first five years in business were challenging. Thompson didn’t take a salary. So why later did he give away so much of his fortune? ‘It was the right thing to do,’ he said. ‘You realise the people around you have gone through all the pain and suffering with you. I wanted to pay them back.’ When the cheques were handed out, Thompson wasn’t present. He said, ‘I didn’t want to be there because it gets too emotional.’ This man practised what the apostle Paul talked about: ‘Teach those who are rich…to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.’ Doing good isn’t a moonlighting occupation, it’s a full-time job. The person of character is guided by the North Star of goodness that leads him or her to ask in every situation, ‘What’s the right thing to do?’ And the answer is always: ‘Do the right thing by others.’
Lesson five: Stand on the promises of God. In their previous fishing attempt, the disciples were trusting in their own experience and ability. But this time they were trusting in Christ’s promise: ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch’ (v. 4 NIV). Now, Jesus didn’t specifically say, ‘Peter, if you go fishing with me, I promise you a big catch.’ He didn’t need to say it because Peter realised that when Christ told him to go fishing, and then got into his boat, and then told him exactly where to put down the net, there was no way it was going to come up empty! Peter expected God to act. He expected Him to keep His promise. When you get God’s presence in your boat, God’s plan in your head, and God’s promises in your heart, you can’t fail. Maybe you’re saying, ‘That sounds great, but you don’t know my circumstances. Right now I’m defeated by the problems I’m experiencing. I’m having some hard times.’ If you’re feeling beaten by your circumstances, do this: read your Bible, find a specific promise from God, and start claiming it. Start expecting God to act, and you’ll find that His promise will inject new hope into your situation. Just because you haven’t solved your problem doesn’t mean the solution doesn’t exist. With God, success often begins at the point of failure. It’s after you’ve ‘fished all night and caught nothing’, that He steps in. So the word for today is – don’t give up! Try again. This time do it with Jesus in your boat, and He will make all the difference.
Lesson four: God’s plan for your life always involves risk. Why? Because He wants you to live by faith. Why do you think Jesus said to Peter, ‘Launch out into the deep’? Because that’s where the big fish are. Most people live out their days in the shallow waters of life. They exist on a superficial level. There’s little depth to their lives; they’re content to play around the edge, never getting out into deeper water. Why? Because it’s safer in shallow water. They think, ‘If I get out into the deep water, there might be some waves. They might rock my boat, and it might overturn. So I’ll just stay back here where it’s comfortable, and fiddle around.’ We barely get our feet wet because we’re afraid of getting in over our heads. We think, ‘If I really get serious about my commitment to the Lord, He may make me a fanatic. My family might get really upset. What will my friends think? What if God asks me to do something I’m unable to do?’ So we’re content to stay in the shallows – and we miss out on so much. Understand this: God’s plan for your life is a good plan, one that will work for your benefit (see Jeremiah 29:11-14). He says, ‘Let me get into your boat. Let my presence be with you wherever you go – in your business, in your career, in your family, in your marriage, in every area. Let me direct you. Cooperate with my plan, and I will bless you beyond your wildest dreams.’ Why not take Him at His word today, and launch out in faith?
Lesson three: Cooperate with God’s plan for your life: ‘He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking’ (vv. 4-6 NKJV). Jesus taught the disciples where to fish, when to fish, and how to fish. And He will teach you how to succeed in life too. But like Peter, sometimes your plan has to fail before you become willing to accept God’s plan. And if that’s what it takes, God will let you fail. Notice two things: 1) Peter didn’t argue with Jesus, he simply obeyed. As a professional fisherman, he may well have thought, ‘Lord, who are you to tell me how to fish?’ He may even have thought if he didn’t catch anything at night when the fish were usually biting, he surely wasn’t going to catch anything in the middle of the day when the sun was glaring down on the water. But he didn’t argue; he just obeyed. You must too. 2) He didn’t listen to his feelings. No doubt he was dog-tired from working all night. But he didn’t ask, ‘What’s the use? Why should I keep on going?’ Instead of being led by his feelings, he exercised faith in the promise of Christ – and the results were amazing. And if you’ll put your faith in Jesus today, He will do the same for you.
Lesson two: God is interested in your success. Peter knew Jesus was a great teacher and that He could even heal the sick. What he was about to learn, however, was that Jesus wants you to succeed in your career. Peter probably had the best nets, owned a good boat, and knew exactly where to catch the most fish. And his income depended on a good catch. But after fishing all night and catching nothing, Peter made the best move of his life: he got Jesus involved in his business! Did you know that God wants you to succeed? Don’t you want your children to succeed? So does God. The question is: do you take God to work with you? Is your business available to Him to use at any time? Is He able to minister to people through you? Too often we try to separate the secular from the spiritual; we have our Christian life nicely partitioned off from our career. But this prevents God from blessing your business or job. When you realise this, if you’re wise you’ll begin to operate according to the principles of Scripture. Here’s one of God’s success principles for your business or career: ‘Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do’ (Joshua 1:8 NLT). God, who’s the CEO of the universe, says: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go’ (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV). Today claim that promise!
Lesson one: Invite Jesus into your boat. That’s the starting point! Always! Nothing has greater influence on your personal success than whether or not you have Jesus Christ in your life. By himself, Peter fished all night and caught nothing. But when he brought Jesus on board, he caught more fish than he had ever caught before. Now, Jesus never performed a miracle without a purpose. He always used His miracles to illustrate principles. So this incident teaches you what to do when you’ve failed, or when your best is not good enough. For Peter, his boat represented his livelihood. When you’re a fisherman, your boat is your business! It’s significant that Peter invited Jesus into his business, and Jesus used it as a platform for his ministry. Are you willing to do what Peter did? If you are, the Lord will bless your business. Indeed, He’ll bless anything you give Him. If you give Him all your life, He will bless all of it. But if you give Him just part of it, He will bless just that one part. And here’s another thought: having Jesus in your boat eliminates the fear of failure and reduces your worries about the results. When Peter made Jesus his fishing partner, the results were incredible. But don’t miss the sequence. First, Peter used his boat for Jesus’ purposes. Then Jesus blessed Peter’s boat and used it to take care of all Peter’s needs. Jesus said, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:33 NLT). Did you get that? ‘Everything you need.’
In 1987 the Minnesota Twins baseball star Kirby Puckett saw a childhood dream come true when he led his team to a World Series Championship. Greg Gagne, the Twins’ shortstop, described the scene in the clubhouse after their win. He related the hugging, the shouting, the laughing, the obligatory dousing of champagne over the players’ heads, and the presentation of the trophy. But the memory that would stick with him forever, he said, took place ten minutes into the celebration when he noticed the normally ebullient Puckett sitting silently on a stool away from everyone else. Gagne wove his way through the media, players, and coaches, sat down beside Puckett and asked him what he was thinking about. With deep sadness in his eyes, Puckett said, ‘If this is all there is to it, life is pretty empty.’ Can you relate? You may have a great job, an excellent salary, a fine house, a wonderful family, good health, and even a low golf handicap – but no real peace. If so, you’re not alone. There are multitudes of people out there just like you. King Solomon’s fame spread throughout the world. In his day he had more money than Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk combined. Yet he wrote, ‘When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless’ (Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV). What answer did Solomon come up with? ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
Do you have a hard time refraining from offering unsolicited advice? Do you routinely use expressions like ‘You should’, or ‘You shouldn’t’? People tend to resent someone who always assumes that they know what’s best for them. Even when you feel like you’ve earned the right to speak into someone’s life, proceed with caution. Saying ‘Have you considered?’ sounds a lot less controlling, and will be more readily received, than telling somebody ‘You must’, or ‘You mustn’t’. As one author writes: ‘Even if you have knowledge and insight into a certain situation, sometimes it’s prudent to keep silent and give another the joy and fulfilment of explaining it.’ Being an ‘expert’ on almost every topic is a sure indication of pride, and it’s repulsive to God and man. Even if you’re brilliant but humble, your very presence can cause those with low self-esteem to feel uncomfortable and inferior. Displaying intellectual superiority simply alienates people, and can cause them to look for areas of weakness in your life in order to cut you down to size. If you tend to be a know-it-all, you may need to do some honest soul-searching. Is your display of knowledge a disguise for insecurity? Do you long for attention or appreciation from others because you’re not getting it from the source you desire? Try this: listen attentively, ask for ideas, resist correcting and disputing, and limit your opinion to one or two points. You’ll be surprised how quickly your relationships will start to improve. People enjoy a dialogue, not a monologue, so live by this time-tested scriptural principle: ‘The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge.’
Senator Bill Nelson trained for and flew on a six-day space shuttle mission aboard the Columbia just prior to the Challenger disaster. In his book Mission he explains how difficult it is to maintain a proper orbit in space. There’s no resistance in space, so an astronaut can literally turn that huge orbiter over by himself. To maintain a proper orbit, the onboard computers constantly make course and altitude corrections by firing small rockets which make minute adjustments, while larger jets burn fuel to make major adjustments. These rockets are critical, for if they don’t consistently fire at the right time, the space vehicle can veer from its orbit and go tumbling into outer space or crashing into Earth’s atmosphere. There’s an important lesson here for each of us. Left to ourselves, we tend to veer out of our spiritual orbit into lukewarmness and indifference. Or worse – we end up in sin and rebellion. That’s when the rockets of prayer and Bible study, ‘fired’ on a continuous and consistent basis, help us to keep our course correct, and prevent our lives from spinning out of spiritual control. Bible study and prayer go together. You should pray before you read the Bible to ask God to help you understand it. And you should pray after you read it to ask God to help you apply what He has told you. Like a faraway lover, God’s love letter to you is the Bible, and prayer is the telephone you pick up and talk back to Him. That’s why it’s crucial to maintain your daily prayer and Bible study.
If you have children, you’ll never have a more important job in life than being a parent. And as long as your children are under your roof, you are responsible to God for them. With that in mind, do these: 1) See who influences your child most. Your son or daughter will gravitate towards certain kids for a variety of reasons. These are the ones they ‘hang out with’. They text them, talk with them on the phone, invite them to the house, sit with them in church, and so on. You can’t monitor every relationship your child has, but you need to know the ones who influence them most. 2) Get to know their close friends. Notice the way they talk, dress, show respect or a lack of it, and how they play and interact with your family. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about their parents, the church they attend and, if they’re old enough, their relationship with Christ. 3) Check your child’s overnight accommodations. If your son or daughter is invited to a friend’s house, talk with the parents and become aware of any activity that might be planned outside the home. Make sure they have adequate supervision. Tell your children you expect them to show courtesy and respect, and ask them to inform you if there’s a problem of any kind. 4) Look out for warning signs. When your child is running with the wrong crowd, chances are you’ll observe signs like indifference towards spiritual things, an openly defiant spirit, and an attraction to music, dress, and entertainment you don’t necessarily approve of. ‘Isn’t that very demanding?’ you ask. Yes, and it’s also very loving and protective!
Are you are easily hurt? Do you hurt other people without intending to? Three things cause that: 1) We speak out of our own hurt. German poet Hermann Hesse wrote: ‘If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn’t part of ourselves doesn’t disturb us.’ It helps to remember that people often lash out in response to what’s happening inside themselves. 2) When we’re hurting, we get touchy. Let’s say you ignore a splinter in your finger, and it gets infected. Someone brushes up against it, and you howl with pain, ‘You hurt me!’ However, the real problem is the splinter you neglected to address. Hurting people overreact, over exaggerate, and overprotect. They also over-influence. Counsellors who deal with couples in crisis say that emotionally one spouse ‘throws up’, and the other ‘cleans up’. Usually the one with the most pain does the most damage. 3) Getting over our hurt takes time. Quick fixes don’t work. The kindest thing you can do when someone’s hurting is to show them you care. And if they’re willing, to help them work through their issues and get beyond the pain. Good things can come from bad situations. A cleaning company working on a sewer line under a city street found sixty-one diamond rings, numerous vintage coins, and silverware. It was an unpleasant job – but the workers were allowed to keep the valuables they found. You may have to deal with some pretty nasty stuff, but in the process, you may discover some treasures you didn’t know existed, and after all your hard work, end up with a great relationship.
If you habitually put your foot in your mouth, there’s a scriptural remedy. ‘Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone’ (v. 6 NLT). Notice this: to speak effectively requires you to be ‘gracious’ in your dealings with others. And while honesty is always the best policy, it’s not a licence to say whatever you want. One of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to deal with others tactfully and with sensitivity when you find yourself in a difficult situation. You would think exhibiting graciousness would come easily to those who claim to be filled with the Spirit of God, but the evidence shows otherwise. We tend to perpetuate the communication style of the family we grew up in. You say, ‘But sometimes you need to be brutally honest!’ Extending grace and being truthful are not mutually exclusive. You can learn to tell the truth tactfully. The Bible says, ‘For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ’ (John 1:17 NIV). Jesus never allowed courtesy and kindness to prevent Him from telling the truth, but He never did it in a mean-spirited way. Nor should you. Sometimes we claim to be ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15), when the truth is that anger, frustration, disappointment, and retaliation are what’s truly in our hearts. What’s the remedy? Before you speak, take a moment to review the words in your mind, and try to evaluate their impact. Then choose to yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Doing that will help you develop the emotional discipline necessary for stifling tactless remarks.
Did you know that before it snows, certain fir trees retract their branches so that the weight of the snow they’ll have to bear will be reduced? This withdrawal response is programmed into their branches. God has enabled these trees to anticipate the problem before it occurs, thereby reducing the risk that they will break in a storm. And you need to do the same thing in your marriage. You can’t avoid problems and crises, but you can prepare for their arrival. Most of the stress points in our families are common, and therefore predictable. Christian psychologist Doctor James Dobson writes: ‘One of my good friends spent a considerable amount of time with his wife, preparing for the moment when their grown kids would move out of the house. They talked often about the empty nest, and discussed ways their friends had coped with it. They read books about that phase of life, and applied what they had heard to themselves. As a result, their transition to the empty nest was smooth. Into every marriage, a little snow will fall. Blizzards will blow, and storms will howl. But an effort to anticipate these times will help you and your mate stand up under the weight of the winter storm.’ Here are three ways in which you can be ready: 1) Sharing goals beyond parenting to which you’re both committed. 2) Sharing feelings and needs, and having them validated. 3) Sharing in prayer together each day. Did you know that 90 per cent of all Christian couples don’t pray together? Be sure and make it your goal to be part of the 10 per cent who do.
A branch doesn’t bear fruit by trying, working, or straining. It bears fruit by simply ‘abiding’. What does this mean? How do you abide in Jesus? Let’s illustrate it this way: when you put a tea bag in a cup of hot water, something happens. As the tea bag abides in the water, the tea begins to flavour the water until it takes on the taste of the tea bag. And the longer the tea bag abides in the water, the stronger the colour and flavour of the tea. That’s what happens when you abide in Christ and He abides in you. The longer you abide in Him and the deeper you go with Him, the more His presence will begin to permeate your life. The branch doesn’t produce the fruit; it bears the fruit. It’s the vine that produces the fruit. And Jesus said, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’ (v. 5 NKJV). Without the vine, the strongest branch is as defenceless as the weakest branch. So what does it mean to abide in Christ? 1) Studying His Word. ‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you’ (v. 7 NKJV). As you study God’s Word, you are changed by His Spirit. 2) Obeying His will. ‘If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love’ (v. 10 NKJV). The closer you get to God, the more you’ll want to do what He says. And when you do what He says, you’ll begin to walk in His blessing.
Jesus said: ‘My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch…that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit’ (vv.1-5 NIV). What does God want from you today? Spiritual fruit! And He will do two things to produce it in your life. First, He will show you the habits, relationships, and activities that make it impossible for you to bear spiritual fruit, and then begin to cut them off. But He can only do that if you let Him. Second, He will reveal to you the things that drain you spiritually and keep you from bearing more fruit. And His favourite pruning knife is His Word, which is ‘sharper than any double-edged sword’ (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). As you read God’s Word, He cuts away the bad so that it doesn’t impede the good. Then He prunes the good so that it doesn’t obstruct the best. This explains why He allows difficult times to come into our lives. As one pastor puts it: ‘Trials may simply be pruning shears in the hands of the divine Gardener – tools He uses to cut away dead wood, fruitless branches, and sap-sucking shoots so that we might bear more fruit.’
Are you so eager to stay in everybody’s good graces that you comply with their every demand? You’re not alone – good people burn out every day because they can’t set boundaries. And once that happens, it’s hard to fix because none of us, not even those ordained by God, can break His natural laws without suffering. One Bible teacher writes: ‘Once when I was complaining about my heavy schedule, I heard God’s Spirit say, “You’re the one who makes the schedule; if you don’t like it, do something about it!”’ Paul told Timothy, ‘Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work…as an athlete…follows the rules or is disqualified’ (v. 5 TLB). Not every problem is spiritual, some are physical. Furthermore, you can’t blame the devil for things that are your own fault. We resent people who pressure us, yet we keep doing what they want, which feeds our silent anger. You’re allowing yourself to be pressured by not taking responsibility for your own life. The fact is, many well-intentioned people are walking around each day stressed out and depressed because they can’t say no. They forget that Jesus is their example, and that He had regular times of rest and renewal. The answer lies in 1) putting your life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 2) learning to put first things first, 3) realising you, too, have needs, and 4) not expecting everybody to understand when you set boundaries. The Bible says, ‘A friend loveth at all times’ (Proverbs 17:17 KJV), not just when you comply with their wishes. So to fulfil God’s will for your life, you must learn to set boundaries.
One of the most powerful tools God has given you for conquering fear and worry is memorising Scripture. Your memory is like a muscle; the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. Seneca, the ancient Roman teacher of rhetoric, would impress his class of two hundred by asking each student to recite a favourite line of poetry. He would then recite all two hundred lines from memory – in reverse order. Saint Augustine had a friend who could recite all the poet Virgil’s words – backwards! Okay, maybe those guys were gifted – but there are lots of things each of us can recite from memory too. Things like birthdays and anniversaries, addresses and phone numbers, National Insurance numbers and bank account numbers and driving licence numbers. These items have two characteristics in common: we use them frequently, and we need them constantly. In other words, we have memorised them because we use them so often, and we can’t get along without them. Similarly, you can begin to conquer your worries by confronting them each time they arise with a Scripture you have memorised. It’s powerful! It’s effective! It works! Why? Because God’s power is greater than your problems, and God’s Word is greater than your worries. Understand this: God is committed to keeping His Word. So when you speak scriptural words instead of anxiety-ridden words, God goes to work on your behalf. He has made you this promise: ‘I will hasten my word to perform it’ (Jeremiah 1:12 KJV). So if you’re serious about wanting to conquer stress and worry, begin to memorise and verbalise God’s Word each day.
When it comes to dealing with your fears and worries, you have two choices; cast them on the Lord, or keep them and try to handle them yourself. When the communists overran China, missionary Isobel Kuhn was forced to escape on foot across the snow-covered mountains into Burma. There she was stranded at the world’s end, with no money and no way to get home. ‘I cannot tell you the dismay and alarm that filled me,’ she wrote. But she made two decisions. ‘The first thing is to cast out fear,’ she said. ‘The only fear a Christian should entertain is the fear of sin. All other fears are from Satan, sent to confuse and weaken us.’ So Isobel prayerfully trusted God, and rejected panic. Second, she sought His guidance as to the next step, and eventually she arrived home safely. Here’s an important key to victory: instead of living with your fears and allowing them to take root within you, identify them and confront them the moment you become conscious of them. Next, turn each fear into a prayer and give it to God, refusing to take it back, confident that He will handle it for you. And don’t just do it with some of your fears and worries, do it with all of them. ‘Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully’ (v. 7 AMPC). You’ll never be entirely free of fear and worry, but by God’s grace you can do a lot better than you’re doing right now.
Lesson one: sometimes the best resolution to a conflict is a separation, even if it’s temporary. When emotions run high, you need space to think clearly. And God can use this time of separation for His glory. Because Paul and Barnabas parted, the gospel was preached in even more cities. But when a temporary separation is the best option, you need to agree on how long it will be. In some friendships, one person may have outgrown the relationship. But this should be handled with love and wisdom, realising that we can all learn from our mistakes and grow through them. Later Paul wrote, ‘Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry’ (2 Timothy 4:11 NKJV). Lesson two: when you realise that you’ve been wrong, you need to acknowledge it. For a single, focused leader like Paul, this called for humility. Indeed, it’s a comfort to us to know that someone as anointed and brilliant as Paul could rethink his position and come to a different conclusion. Mistakes may be bad; but they’re not as bad as the pride that seeks to defend and perpetuate them. Lesson three: you must learn to disagree without being disagreeable. It’s noteworthy that nowhere in Scripture do we find a time when Paul talked publicly about their disagreement. Both Paul and Barnabas focused on their respective missions. The only behaviour you have the power to change is your own. And this should be your reason for doing so: ‘We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ’ (Ephesians 4:15 NLT).
Paul and Barnabas were a great missionary team. On their first tour, a young man named John Mark had joined them. But it seems he had grown homesick and returned to Jerusalem. On their second missionary tour, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again, but Paul said no. ‘Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark…Paul chose Silas’ (vv. 39-40 NLT). Can you imagine it; two spiritual giants couldn’t resolve their conflict! Yes, it happens in the best of circles. Paul was the totally focused, no-nonsense type. Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of encouragement’, was the long-suffering and lovable type who believed in reconciliation and refused to strike anybody off his list. There are two valuable lessons in this story about handling disagreements. 1) When it comes to our friends and family members, we all have blind spots. Rare is the leader who has the objectivity to look beyond a blood bond and focus on what is best for the organisation. As a result, the vision God gave them often suffers. 2) Sometimes you need a wise and trusted third party to help resolve the problem. When it comes to trouble in the church, Jesus laid down clear guidelines. First, you must go privately, one on one, and deal with the issue. Second, if that doesn’t work, you should take one or two others with you and try to resolve it. Third, you must take the situation to mature spiritual leaders and get their input (see Matthew 18:15-18). That’s the scriptural way to handle disagreements, and it must be our way too.
You may doubt your own ability, but never doubt God’s – or His promises and His willingness to fulfil them. The psalmist wrote, ‘You have magnified Your word above… Your name’ (Psalm 138:2 NKJV). The only thing in the universe that God has placed above His name is His Word. So fill your mind with it, speak it daily, and don’t ever question it. Doubt often originates from our inclination to portray ourselves as self-confident. Self-confidence is a concept touted by the world; it encourages us to rely on our own skills and abilities. But the Bible says, ‘Those who trust in themselves are fools’ (Proverbs 28:26 NIV). Reportedly, the verse at the centre of the Bible is: ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man’ (Psalm 118:8 NKJV). So centre your confidence around God, not yourself or anybody else. Do you doubt yourself and your own worth? Do you question your ability to pursue your career? Do you doubt your aptitude to form healthy relationships? Despite having lived with Jesus for almost three years and hearing His promise that He’d rise again from the dead, Thomas still said, ‘Unless I can see his wounds and touch him, I will not believe’ (see John 20:25). Did Jesus turn His back on Thomas because of his doubts? No, He never rejects a sincere, doubting heart! Jesus showed up in person and resolved all of Thomas’ doubts. And as you read His word and seek His face, He will alleviate your misgivings and qualms too. When you stop living in the ‘sense’ realm and learn to ‘walk by faith’, your doubts will begin to die (see 2 Corinthians 5:7).
Some people say that Jesus Christ never existed. A Christian minister writes: ‘While sceptics may choose to reject the Bible’s moral message, they cannot deny its historical accuracy. Over 25,000 archaeological finds demonstrate that the people, places, and events mentioned in the Bible are real and are accurately described [25,000, no less!]. No archaeological finding has ever refuted the Bible. In fact, the descriptions in the Bible have often led archaeologists to amazing discoveries. Non-Christian journalist Jeffrey Sheler, author of the book Is The Bible True?, concluded, “In extraordinary ways, modern archaeology is affirming the historical core of the Old and New Testaments, supporting key portions of crucial biblical stories.”’ Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection are irrefutable historical facts. Josephus, among the most renowned of Jewish historians, is attributed as writing this: ‘Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works – a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this date.’ Jesus not only lived, but He died that you might have eternal life. Receive Him today as your Saviour.
How can we trust the Bible when men wrote it? Answer: Do you write the letter or does the pen? The pen is merely the instrument you use. In the same way, God used men as instruments to write His ‘letter’ to humanity. That’s why Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible, than in any profane history whatsoever.’ That’s why Billy Graham said of Scripture: ‘If I didn’t believe that the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ held the answer to this world’s baffling problems, I would go back to the farm and the rural life that I love and spend my days in peaceful solitude.’ There’s a reason why Abraham Lincoln said, ‘I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.’ Josh McDowell, a Christian apologist says: ‘Here’s the picture: 1,500 years, 60 generations, 40 authors, different walks of life, different places, different times, different moods, different continents, three languages, writing on hundreds of controversial subjects. Yet when they are brought together there is absolute harmony from beginning to end…There is no other book in history to even compare to the uniqueness of this continuity.’ You can trust your Bible. Its prophecies have been fulfilled, its promises have been time tested, and its principles for living really work. Do you know why the Bible was written? John gives us the answer: ‘These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life’ (1 John 5:13 NKJV).
Isn’t the church full of hypocrites? The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word for ‘actor’. Hypocrisy is ‘the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold’. The true church of Jesus Christ is made up of true believers; hypocrites are ‘pretenders’ who sit among God’s people. Jesus even had one among His twelve disciples – Judas. Let’s be honest; people have left the church because of hypocrisy. There are more actors in the church than in Hollywood. Hypocrisy runs rampant in the modern church – but be careful if you judge it. Remember the old bumper sticker: ‘Christians are not perfect, just forgiven’? Before you take it upon yourself to pass judgment upon people who make mistakes and struggle with weaknesses, read these words: ‘You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?’ (vv. 1-4 NLT). Don’t worry about the hypocrites in the church; God will sort them out, the ‘wheat’ from the ‘tares’ (see Matthew 13:30).
What about suffering – doesn’t that prove there isn’t a loving God? Adam was given a choice: to obey God or disobey Him. He chose disobedience, and God said, ‘Cursed is the ground [earth] because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life’ (Genesis 3:17 NIV). Note the word ‘painful’. Think how many people are living with cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, emphysema, Parkinson’s disease, and other debilitating illnesses. Did God ‘blow it’ when He created humanity? Sadly, many use the issue of suffering as an excuse to reject any thought of God, when its existence is the very reason we should believe in Him. In the beginning God created perfect humans, and they lived in a perfect world without suffering – it was heaven on earth. When sin came into the world, death and misery came with it. What’s the ultimate answer? ‘We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found…at peace with him’ (2 Peter 3:13-14 NIV). Suffering reached its zenith when Jesus said from the cross, ‘It is finished.’ Those words mean ‘paid in full’. They mean when you accept Jesus as your Saviour, you will go to heaven when you die, and you will live in a glorious earth made new without sin or suffering. ‘No eye has seen…no ear has heard…no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love him’ (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV). If you’re not sure this is true, today put your trust in Jesus.
Dad, your children deserve a father who will model the Christian life before them, teach them the truth of God’s Word, and show them how to receive the gift of eternal life. And it could be that in your family this beautiful tradition will begin when you commit your life to Jesus Christ. Author and Bible teacher Gordon MacDonald tells the story of three mediaeval stonemasons who were working on a building project, when a passer-by asked them what they were doing. ‘The first replied that he was laying bricks. The second described his work as that of building a wall. But it was the third stonemason who demonstrated genuine esteem for his work when he said, “I’m raising a great Cathedral.” Pose that same question to any two fathers concerning their role in the family and you are liable to get the same kind of contrast. The first may say, “I’m supporting a family.” But the second may see things differently and say, “I’m raising children.” The former looks at his job as putting bread on the table. But the latter sees things from God’s perspective: he’s participating in the shaping of lives.’ R.A. Torrey, the great Bible teacher, once said, ‘A man’s success as a Christian leader cannot be determined until one sees his grandchildren.’ Dad, think about that – you’re not just raising sons and daughters, you’re raising future fathers and mothers. You’re shaping lives today that tomorrow will be shaping the lives of generations to come. And in order to succeed you must take God with one hand and your children with the other.
In the Bible an altar represented different things. It represented sacrificing to God by giving Him the best of the sheep in your flock. It represented worshipping God and putting Him above all else in life. It represented humility, acknowledging your need of God and your total dependence on Him. But it’s also possible to build an altar ‘for ourselves’. By doing so, we rob God of His rightful place in our lives and begin to put ourselves first. In other words, we build an altar to self-interest, self-promotion, self-preservation, self-aggrandisement, and self-exaltation. That’s why Jesus sets the following standard for discipleship, and it’s a high standard: ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’ (Matthew 16:24 NKJV). Your ‘cross’ has only one purpose, and that’s for ‘self’ to die on. Paul writes: ‘For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live’ (Romans 8:13 NKJV). Note the words ‘put to death’. Your flesh, or your ego and carnal nature, will not willingly roll over and die; it must be crucified each day. And the power to do this can only be accessed by spending time in prayer with God and renewing your mind constantly with the Word of God. So today the choice is yours; to build an altar to the Lord, you must first put ‘self’ on the altar. Are you ready to do that?
God instructed the Israelites, ‘If there is among you a poor man…you shall open your hand wide to him’ (vv. 7-8 NKJV). Giving is the loftiest level of living. Generous people focus their time and effort on what they can give to others, not what they can get from them. And the more you give, the better your attitude becomes. Many people don’t understand this concept. They think the amount you possess determines the amount you should share. It’s not what you have that matters; it’s what you do with what you have. And that’s determined by your attitude. A famous saying puts it this way: we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. And serving others is something you can start doing today. Whether it means spending more time with your family, mentoring an employee who shows potential, helping people in your church or community – it’s about putting your own desires on hold to bless someone else. The Bible says, ‘Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!’ (Proverbs 31:9 MSG). The only way to maintain an attitude of generosity is to make a habit of giving of your time, attentiveness, money, and resources. Author Richard Foster says, ‘Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon [of] greed.’ Think about what you’re already giving, what you’ve been asked to give, and what you would like to give. Your reasons for granting or denying a request for financial help may be valid, but are they godly? Think about how it feels when you give, and let that be your guide.
At creation God said something interesting about us: ‘Let them rule.’ In other words, He invested you with full authority for managing your life. You serve as His agent on earth to make sure His will is done. But beware. Satan will try to get you to hand your rule over to him, or deceive you into believing you have no power and he has it all. Or else he’ll encourage you to rule your life based on your own skewed judgments and distorted views. It’s not until you rule with wisdom and walk according to the precepts of God’s Word, that you enter into a complete and comprehensive realisation of His design for your life. God reigns over all, but He has given you dominion in your sphere of influence. ‘The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, but the earth He has given to the sons of mankind’ (Psalm 115:16 NASB). God empowers you to make right choices and decisions, and tailors His reactions to your actions. Sometimes we sit around waiting for God to act, when the truth is, He’s waiting for us to make a move. One pastor writes that God ‘has maintained a base of sovereign boundaries, a sphere He will not allow [people] to trespass on…[but] simultaneously opened up a field where we get to call the plays, leaving Him to respond accordingly.’ For example, if you want to reap bountifully, you must sow generously. If you want to be forgiven, you must forgive others. And if you want to walk in His blessings, you must walk in obedience. You are called to ‘reign in life by…Jesus Christ’ (Romans 5:17 KJV).
Pastor Andy Stanley writes: ‘As you move forward in your relationship with God, occasionally He will test your grip on your wallet. It’s a faith thing…every so often, God will prompt you to step out of your generosity comfort zone. And if you really want to keep God in control of your finances, you need to follow. There’s a line you must be willing to cross. You must be willing to go where you can’t rely on your own financial stockpiling, but only on the Lord Himself as your provider. I’m not talking about acting irresponsibly with your money. I’m talking about an attitude in which God’s voice is louder than the soundtrack of “what ifs” in your life. You can think of that line as the “what if” line. You’ll know you’re getting close to it when your desire to follow your generosity is met by thoughts like, What if the interest rates change? or What if inflation picks up?…that line is different for everybody…As frightening as it might feel at times, God gives us financial seed for one purpose: sowing. Unless we open our palms and let the seed fly, we will never know what fruit He might bring from it.’ Here’s a biblical principle that you can always be certain of: ‘Whoever sows generously will also reap generously’ (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV). When you take that step of faith and cross the ‘what if’ line, God promises, ‘You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion’ (v. 11 NIV). Go ahead; start to sow and watch what happens.
Jesus gave this advice to a group of people who were anxious about their finances: ‘Don’t worry about these things…your heavenly Father already knows all your needs…and he will give you everything you need’ (vv. 31-33 NLT). He will do this from day to day, if you live for Him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern. What do you fear most? Not having enough money, or not having God’s blessing on your finances? If your fear of not having enough is trumped by your fear of missing out on God’s involvement in your finances, you’ll invest in something that can’t fail – God’s kingdom. You’ll sow generously, and as a result you’ll experience a peace that can’t be explained rationally and a joy that comes from knowing God is your backer, your banker, and your blesser. The Bible talks about ‘casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). None of us can escape financial uncertainty. As one pastor writes, ‘When the unexpected rolls around, we will be affected. Our net worth, and possibly our income, will be impacted.’ And at times like that when everything seems up for grabs, we long for the assurance that we’re not alone. We want to know with certainty that when we cast our financial cares on our heavenly Father, He will, in fact, take good care of us. Ironically, financial peace of mind doesn’t come from hoarding and withholding, but from giving when it doesn’t seem to make sense. It’s your willingness to give now that guarantees God’s promise to give back to you when you need it. That’s why it’s imperative to sow generously any time you can.
Jesus said, ‘Don’t you have a saying, “It’s still four months until harvest”?…open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.’ Someone close to you today may be in desperate need of God’s love. Wouldn’t it be worth risking rejection to find that one who’s ready and willing to respond? The fact is, you may be the only Christian they will meet – or meet today. So if you don’t tell them, who will? Generally speaking, there are five reasons we don’t share our faith more often. 1) We think it’s the preacher’s job to do it (see Acts 1:8). 2) We aren’t certain about our own salvation (see 1 John 5:13). 3) We’re afraid of being rejected (see Luke 12:8-9). 4) We’ve never taken personal responsibility for learning how to share our faith (see 1 Peter 3:15). 5) Our love for Christ has grown cold (see Revelation 2:4-5). Josh McDowell tells of a corporate headhunter who liked to get potential executives relaxed, then look them square in the eye and ask about their purpose in life. Most were shocked and fell apart under the question. One day after talking for a while to a man named Bob, the headhunter leaned over, looked into his eyes and said, ‘And what’s your purpose in life?’ Without blinking, Bob replied, ‘To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.’ The headhunter said, ‘For the first time in my career I was speechless.’ Today, someone’s eternal destiny may rest on your willingness to share God’s love with them. That’s your God-given assignment – so tell them about Jesus.
The Bible says: ‘If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires. The Spirit and your desires are enemies…always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should’ (vv. 16-17 CEV). Sound familiar? Here are four keys to winning the daily battle between your old and new natures. 1) Be honest. Acknowledge that your flesh will always crave satisfaction in the wrong things – and it never takes a day off. 2) Be humble. Acknowledge that you’re powerless to win the battle without God’s help. By committing yourself to God, you draw on His strength in those first crucial moments of each test. And your ability to do that will grow as you practise this spiritual discipline. The closer you draw to God, the stronger you become when faced with temptation and trouble. 3) Be disciplined. This is a personal matter; no one else can do it for you. Paul writes, ‘You must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives’ (Romans 6:12 MSG). If someone else has to restrain you, it doesn’t work! 4) Be alert. As a soldier David should have known better, but Satan caught him off guard with his defences down. As a result he ended up committing adultery with Bathsheba, then having her husband put to death in an attempt to cover it up. Maybe you think it couldn’t happen to you. Paul, the greatest of the apostles, wrote, ‘I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize’ (1 Corinthians 9:27 NIV).
The secret to surviving hard times doesn’t lie in what you know, but who you know. You say, ‘Right now I’ve got more troubles than Job.’ Well, when the bottom dropped out of Job’s world, he said: ‘He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread’ (Job 23:10-12 NIV). And Paul’s life wasn’t a picnic either: ‘I have been in danger from rivers…from bandits…from my fellow Jews…from Gentiles; in danger in the city…in the country…at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have laboured and toiled and…often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and…often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches’ (2 Corinthians 11:26-28 NIVUK). Reading that list makes us ask the question, ‘How did he do it?’ Paul knew the secret to surviving hard times. What was it? He allowed his troubles to drive him closer to the Lord: ‘I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV). Do you want what Job and Paul had? Then draw closer to the Lord – that’s the secret!
It’s never okay to explode at those God has entrusted to your care. The Bible says, ’Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry and don’t give the devil a chance’ (Ephesians 4:26-27 CEV). Satan would like nothing better than to gain entry to your home and turn it into a living hell, and every time you fly into a rage, you lose ground to him. That’s why the Scriptures say, ‘It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.’ The key to managing your anger lies in finding healthy ways to express it so that it doesn’t end up hurting more than helping. It’s important to share your feelings, but you must always do it in the right way. Ultimately it’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong, or who can shout the loudest. It’s about finding the solution that’s best for everyone. Understand this: nobody can be everything you want them to be all the time. It’s impossible to have a long-term, loving relationship without learning to accept human weakness. So instead of dwelling on one another’s shortcomings, focus on your collective strengths as a family. Clinical neuropsychologist Paul Pearsall says, ‘Most of us would give our own life for…a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.’ Learn to control your temper; your family is worth it. After all, who else loves you regardless of what you do? And where else can you go to find the comfort and strength that comes from that kind of support system?
They say, ‘The apple never falls far from the tree,’ and Jacob certainly proved that. Nearing the end of his life when he should have been preparing to bless his sons Simeon and Levi, he told them, ‘I…curse…you because of your…anger’ (Genesis 49:7 CEV). But their behaviour should have come as no surprise. The fact is, Jacob had already shaped them by his own example when he deceived his father (see Genesis 27) and his father-in-law (see Genesis 30). And his mother facilitated the deception. Behavioural patterns are passed from generation to generation. Your attitudes and actions will either blight your children or bless them. The Word of God says, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6 KJV). Your children inherit more than just your looks. They end up with the values you taught and the emotional disposition you displayed. Don’t involve them in your marital disputes. The Bible says, ‘Anger rests in the bosom of fools’ (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NKJV), and kids are easy targets for misdirected rage. Even when your outbursts aren’t aimed at them, they still suffer the effects. For example, your boss disciplines you at work, and because you can’t retaliate, you come home like a bear with a headache and make everybody around you walk on eggshells. Lower the decibel level! Don’t let your anger run amok. King David shone on the battle front but struggled on the home front. Perhaps that’s why one of the last psalms reads like this: ‘Help me to guard my words whenever I say something’ (Psalm 141:3 CEV).
Building a good relationship at home is like building a wall: It's done brick by brick. And the mortar that holds it together is unconditional, uncondemning, unselfish love. The only way you'll know how good a job you've done is when it's tested by the storms of life. One of the most important keys to succeeding at home is – communication. So: 1) Become creative. Spend time together as a family. Call your mate during the day and try to meet sometimes for lunch. Drive your kids to school or extracurricular activities so you can talk to them. Communication can happen anywhere, but it won't happen unless you make it a priority. 2) Identify communication killers. Internet, mobile phones and TV are the chief culprits. The average couple spends less than one hour a week in meaningful communication; they spend five times more each day watching television. This is a 'screen test' you'll have to pass if you want to succeed at home. 3) Encourage every member to speak their mind. And when they do, don't criticise or retaliate. Differences of opinion are healthy. Handled right, they can make things better. 4) Be conscious of how you interact with your family. You may have unwittingly adopted a style that stifles communication. Stop and consider; do you: a) retaliate - that has a degrading effect b) dominate – that has an intimidating effect c) isolate - that has a frustrating effect d) cooperate - that has an encouraging effect. If you're in the habit of using any communication style other than a cooperative one, start working immediately to change it. You'll have to, if you want to build a good relationship with your family.
A man who worked in an office loved to play a particular trick on new employees. He would approach them and whisper, ‘They know what you did,’ then walk away smiling. First, the person would look bewildered. Then they would get anxious and wonder, ‘What have I done?’ Then they would think, ‘Who are they?’ ‘What do they know?’ and ‘What are they saying about me?’ And since even the most innocent have a knee-jerk tendency to conceal and protect, the new employee would walk around all day anxiety ridden. That’s exactly how Satan works! He casts aspersions! But there’s good news: ‘The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony’ (vv. 10-11 NIV). There’s an unfailing strategy for silencing the voice of the accuser. What is it? Remind him that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed you from all sin. Just as Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness, you can defeat him every time by standing on the truth of God’s Word. It’s not God who makes you feel condemned. He wants you to know you’re loved, forgiven, and fully accepted. Paul writes, ‘Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?…Christ…is at the right hand of God…pleading…for us’ (Romans 8:33-34 AMPC). So stop beating yourself up. Jesus came to save you and let you know that the penalty for your sin has been removed and its power over your life has been broken. God sees you today as righteous – and that’s how you need to start seeing yourself (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
They say a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out. And once you get into a rut, it’s hard to get out, especially if it’s comfortable. But you’ll never become what God wants you to be, or all that you could be, as long as you resist change and insist on staying as you are. There are two kinds of change. 1) The change you personally must make. Astronaut James Irwin said: ‘You might think going to the moon was the most scientific project ever, but they literally threw us in the direction of the moon. We had to adjust our course every ten minutes, and landed only fifty feet inside of the five hundred-mile radius of our target.’ On that mission every change, no matter how small, was essential to success. Let’s face it, we dislike change, so we try to resist or postpone it as long as possible. Yet in the end it’s the only thing that brings growth. The Bible says, ‘Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honoured’ (Proverbs 13:18 NIVUK). Wise people are willing to change their minds, the foolish never do. 2) The change only God can make. His goal for your life is to develop in you the character qualities of Jesus. And since that cannot be accomplished through self-effort, His Word says: ‘But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory…by the Spirit of the Lord.’ What brings about change? Drawing on God’s power each day.
Richard C. Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate, said: ‘Want to be a winner? Compete against yourself, not somebody else…Outrunning your rival doesn’t mean you ran your best race. You can win over another and still not fulfil your potential…To be your best, you must compete with yourself. It’s life’s biggest contest. A loser is a winner – however many his losses – if he conquers himself. A winner is a loser – however many his victories – if he loses the battle with himself. Alexander the Great conquered the world, and cursed his own lack of self-control. Victory over others may in fact be the very thing that contributes to the winner’s failure to conquer self. Winning makes him proud, arrogant, independent, thoughtless – and sometimes cruel. To put it another way, it isn’t what happens to you that makes the difference, but how you handle it. The one who stops maturing spiritually because he thinks he knows more Scripture than others or has more success in ministry, is still far from being what Christ planned for him.’ Compared to others you may look good, but God’s plan is to produce in you the character qualities of Christ. ‘This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind…Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and…how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right’ (vv. 2:21-23 MSG).
God reveals His will in several ways. One is by giving us a sense of ‘peace’ that we are doing the right thing. Paul writes, ‘Let the peace of God rule in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15 NKJV). That means you should follow ‘the peace rule’. Again he writes, ‘The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds’ (Philippians 4:7 NKJV). You don’t need all the answers to have peace about it. General Eisenhower was faced with the responsibility of making one of the most far-reaching decisions ever posed to a single man: changing the date of D-Day at the last moment. If he got it wrong, thousands of Allied soldiers could die. Talk about pressure! But he was the supreme commander and the only man who could make the decision. Looking back on it, he wrote: ‘I knew I did not have the required wisdom, and turned to God. I asked Him to give me wisdom. I yielded myself to Him, and He gave me clear guidance. He gave me insight to see what was right, and He endowed me with the courage to make my decision. And finally He gave me peace of mind in the knowledge that, having been guided by God to a decision, I could leave the results to Him.’ Are you feeling anxious because you are being called upon today to make a decision; one that will not only affect you but others too? The word for you today is – pray, trust God for guidance, ask Him for peace, act, and trust Him for the right result.
You can be addicted to a lot of different things like alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, and even food. But did you know you can also be addicted to approval? When Moses chose seventy leaders to help govern Israel, he told them, ‘Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any [man]’ (Deuteronomy 1:17 NIV). That is advice Peter should have taken. ‘Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group’ (Galatians 2:12 NIV). When your identity is wrapped up in other people’s acceptance, you set yourself up for approval addiction, because your sense of self-worth is always on the line. A notable French author said, ‘We’re so accustomed to wearing a disguise before others, that eventually we’re unable to recognise ourselves.’ That’s not how God wants you to live! No one’s approval or disapproval can affect you – unless you give it credibility. Jesus spoke without feeling the need to create an impression; therefore, He was free to speak the truth in love. Someone wisely pointed out, that when we are young we worry about what people think and try to please them. When we are middle-aged, we get tired of trying to please everybody. And as we get older and wiser, we realise, most of the time, they weren’t even thinking about us at all! Guess what? There are times when pleasing God means you won’t be able to please people – and you must accept that!
What are the first moments of your day like? Do you turn on the TV, or rush into the bathroom, or allow your ‘to do’ list to come rushing in? Instead, try lying there quietly and allowing God to speak to you. With your mind a blank slate and your heart open, He will give you insights, ideas, solutions to problems, and the knowledge that He will be with you today. Author Colleen Townsend Evans writes: ‘Silence need not be awkward or embarrassing, for to be with one you love without the need for words is a beautiful and satisfying form of communication. I remember times when our children used to come running to me, all of them clattering at once about the events of their day – it was wonderful to have them share their feelings with me. But there were also times when they came to me wanting only to be held, to have me stroke their heads and caress them into sleep. And so it is, sometimes, with us and God our Father. At times your most powerful prayers will be thoughts rather than words. Your words are limited by your vocabulary, but your thought life is an arena of infinite capacity in which God can give you life-changing concepts.’ Paul writes, ‘We have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16). So be still and let Him think His thoughts through you. John writes, ‘You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things’ (1 John 2:20 NKJV). God can cause you to ‘know’ what you need to do, so give Him the first moments of your day.
To strengthen your marriage you must realise three things: 1) Marriage is one of Satan’s favourite targets. He was angry because Job’s family was a source of delight to God. So when your home is harmonious and blessed, he’ll try to attack it. He wants to be the third party in your relationship; to agitate and disappoint, using your weaknesses. He inspires unrealistic expectations and diverts your focus from servanthood to self-absorption. He fuels your imagination through unhealthy relationships until God’s presence ceases to be the goal of your union and the prevailing atmosphere in your home. Beware of his inroads and become protective over your family. 2) Your mind-set determines your mood. Thoughts have presence. The moment someone walks into a room, you can sense conflict or contentment, jealousy or joy, etc. Attitudes are contagious; like a thermostat, they determine the climate in your home. One man noticed that certain TV shows nurtured a sexual restlessness within him, to the point where he found himself comparing his wife with the sensuality of the performers. A woman identified the timing of unexplainable jealousy towards her husband after watching her favourite soap opera. Every emotion has a birthplace, so be sensitive to any changes in your home environment and inner life. 3) Understanding comes by listening. Love is about listening more and talking less. Listen long enough for hidden emotions to be expressed. Listen carefully enough to gain understanding. Listen accurately so you can assess your spouse’s true needs. The questions you ask can reveal how much you care, so ask them softly and repeatedly, and pray and process before you respond. That’s how to strengthen your marriage.
One day a clergyman was walking down the street when he saw a group of boys surrounding a dog. ‘What are you doing?’ he demanded. One of the boys replied, ‘He’s a neighbourhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So we’ve decided whoever can tell the biggest lie will get to keep him.’ The preacher declared, ‘You boys shouldn’t be having a contest that involves lying!’ Then he launched into a sermon beginning with, ‘It’s a sin to lie,’ and ending with, ‘When I was your age, I never told a lie.’ There was dead silence for a minute. Then just as he was beginning to think he’d got through to the boys, one of them gave a deep sigh and said, ‘All right, give the preacher the dog!’ Seriously, here’s the downside of lying: 1) You always have to remember what you said, and your memory just isn’t that good, so chances are you’ll be exposed. 2) You have to live with yourself knowing you lied and violated your character. That’s hard to do. 3) When you decide to pray, the first thing that will come to your mind is the last thing you’ll want to discuss with God: your lies. 4) Contrary to what you may think, forbidden fruit isn’t sweet, it’s sour. ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit’ (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). You’ll have to live with the taste of that lie in your mouth. Wouldn’t it be better just to be honest?