UCB Word For Today

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Too often people are devalued or dismissed because of what they have been through in life. Sometimes it’s because of what they have done to others, sometimes it’s because of what others have done to them. If you have been to a second-hand shop, you know there are valuable items at deeply discounted prices; you just have to know what you’re looking for. Jesus does. In His eyes you may be ‘down’ but you’re not ‘out’. Peter’s sorrow over denying Jesus ran so deep that he decided to go back to his old job as a fisherman. Can you imagine the gossip around the harbour? ‘That’s the guy who turned his back on Jesus.’ Were Peter a pastor, we would have called for his resignation. At the very least, he would have nothing to say that we would be interested in listening to. Yet, he was the first person Jesus went looking for after the resurrection. And when Jesus saw Peter, He never mentioned it – not even once. But three times He asked him, ‘Do you love me?’ When Peter answered yes three times, Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep,’ referring to his future as pastor and head of the church (see John 21:15-17). Jesus looked beyond Peter’s failed past and saw his future. Peter’s failure was not a surprise. Jesus had told him, ‘When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.’ The weakness he had overcome and the restoring grace he had experienced became some of his greatest teaching tools in helping others. Yes, God will reprove you, but it’s to restore you and use you for His purposes.

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In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul reflects on the cost of serving Jesus: ‘From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness’ (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 NKJV). What enabled him to live above his problems rather than be crushed under them? A God perspective! ‘Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal’ (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV). Paul processed things differently. When he had nothing materially, he believed, ‘My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). When facing the executioner’s chopping block, he wrote, ‘Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better’ (Philippians 1:23 NKJV). Today ask God to give you His perspective on things!

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One day Peter looked at John and asked Jesus, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered…‘What is that to you? You must follow me’ (v. 22 NIV). When others disappoint you, remember that you have disappointed others. When others give you bad advice, remember that you have given others bad advice. There is only one person who won’t disappoint you and will always point you in the right direction. Jesus. He doesn’t merely know the way, He is the way. ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NIV). When you follow even the best of Christians, they will sometimes cause you to stumble or be confused. But when you follow Jesus, He will illuminate every step you take. Christ’s own disciples would have disappointed you. Peter was racially biased and sometimes honoured Jews over Gentiles. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on those in a village that refused overnight accommodation to Jesus and His disciples. Thomas doubted the truth of the resurrection and said, ‘Unless I feel the imprint of the nails in His hands, I will not believe He is alive’ (see John 20:25). Yes, people will disappoint you. But Jesus won’t. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith’ (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV). The only people who can let you down are the people you lean on. So, the word for today is – lean less on people and more on Jesus.

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Paul warned his spiritual son and successor, Timothy: ‘Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!’ (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV). As you read this list, you realise Paul could easily have been describing the generation we live in today. So, what’s the answer? Men and women of God who know how to skilfully wield the sword of His Word. And if youare one of them, rest assured Satan has targeted you. He wants to blunt the sharp edge of your sword so that your message is ineffective. It’s an old trick that the Philistines, Israel’s archenemies, used to keep them in captivity. They got rid of all the blacksmiths in the land (see 1 Samuel 13:19). Consequently, the Israelites had no way to sharpen their swords, defend themselves, and throw off the yoke of oppression. Are you getting the message? God’s people tend to grow dull and need to be sharpened spiritually. And pastor, as a spiritual blacksmith, it’s your calling to sharpen them. And it’s Satan’s job to try and stop you any way he can (see 1 Peter 5:8). So, live on your knees and live in God’s Word. The hour is late, and the need is great. Pastor, God is counting on you to keep your sword sharp.

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In Scripture, the number forty denotes testing, trials, and temptation. God told Noah, ‘I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made’ (Genesis 7:4 NIV). Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days: ‘For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand’ (1 Samuel 17:16 NIV). On the threshold of His ministry, Jesus was attacked by Satan for forty days: ‘Jesus…was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil’ (Luke 4:1-2 NIV). But day forty-one was coming! After forty days of rain, God gave mankind a new beginning. After forty days of Goliath’s threats, God gave David a spectacular victory. After forty days of temptation, ‘Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside’ (v. 14 NIV). So, the word for today is – hang in there; day forty-one is coming! Don’t give in to fear and despair. Don’t give up, and don’t run. God has ordained victory for you. You may have taken a few hits and carry a few scars, but God will bring you through and make you stronger and wiser if you trust Him and stand on His Word. The Bible says, ‘Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4 KJV). The power at work within you is greater than the circumstances that surround you and the foes that oppose you. So, the word for today is – rejoice – day forty-one is coming!

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The story is told of a man in a supermarket pushing a trolley with a screaming baby. He kept repeating softly, ‘Keep calm, George. Everything’s going to be okay, George.’ A lady watching with admiration said to the man, ‘You are to be commended for your patience in trying to quiet little George.’ The man replied, ‘Lady, you’ve got it wrong; I’m George!’ If you’re a parent, you can relate. Instead of saying, ‘Fathers, do not exasperate your children,’ doesn’t it sometimes seem like the Scripture should read, ‘Children, don’t annoy your fathers’? But it doesn’t. That’s because parents are called to be an example of God’s love, and children learn best from observation. Shopping at the supermarket is an opportunity to show your children the proper way to behave. There is no greater role model for children than a parent. And there has never been a greater need for godly parents than today. Colossians 3:21 says, ‘Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged’ (NKJV). That means being a model of patience and love to your children. From potty training to education – parents are put in place by God to be a tool that transforms the teachings of the Bible into a living witness to their children. In a time when we’re paying a high price for the lack of real fathers in the home, Scripture reminds us, ‘The father shall make known Your truth to the children’ (Isaiah 38:19 NKJV). Father, commit yourself to following the Lord, and leaving footprints for your children to walk in.

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Because God’s Spirit lives within you doesn’t guarantee His poweris at work in your life. God’s power is available, but you must plug into it. Jesus associates our spiritual life with a vine and its branches: ‘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). In this comparison, the branch is completely dependent on the main vine; it cannot yield fruit on its own. Growing fruit is an internal job. If someone tied apples onto the branches of a dead tree and said, ‘Look at this fruit tree,’ what would you say? You would probably say, ‘You tied those things on.’ That’s similar to when a Christian says, ‘I’m going to tie on a bunch of fruit in my life – a little patience now, a little goodness later, a little self-control at another time. I will do it by myself.’ Impossible! It’s the fruit of the Spirit, not the efforts of the flesh. Jesus said, ‘He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.’ How can you tell you’re abiding (or residing) in Christ? Consider your prayer life. Your prayers reveal your dependence on God. What do you pray about? Whatever you pray about is what you’re relying on God for. The Bible says, ‘Never stop praying’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT). Pray about your decisions, needs, temptations, interests, plans, schedule, problems, purchases; specifically, pray about everything! Doing this is what it means to ‘abide’ – being aware that God is always with you, practising His presence.

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When the pressures in your life begin to mount, the first thing you will be tempted to drop is your time alone with God, praying and reading His Word. And what’s more, Satan knows if he can keep you from it, he has won the battle, and he will get no opposition from you. So, how can you overcome this problem? 1) By making a covenant with God. Think about it: why do we make marriage vows? So we will think twice about breaking them! It’s the same in your devotional life: ‘When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it.’ 2) By scheduling it. Block out time to meet with God each day, just like you would for a doctor’s appointment or a business meeting. Can you think of a more important appointment? Surely not! 3) By being prepared for the devil’s excuses. Adopt the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared! Dr Robert G. Lee used to say, ‘If you wake up in the morning and don’t meet the devil face on, it means you’re headed in the same direction!’ 4) By leaving your Bible open the night before to the verses you intend to read the next morning. When you wake up, it will remind you that the most important thing you have to do today is meet with God. What if you miss a day?Don’t worry – and don’t go on a guilt trip. If you miss a meal, you don’t give up eating, right? It just means you eat a little more at the next one and move on from there.

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Dr Stephen Olford said, ‘I want to hear the voice of God before I hear anyone else’s in the morning, and his is the last voice I want to hear at night.’ Whatever time you set, morning or evening, be consistent. Make an appointment with God like you would with anyone else. And keep it. Don’t stand Him up! ‘How much time should I spend?’ you ask. 1) Begin with a few minutes and let it grow. Don’t start with a two-hour quiet time, or you will get discouraged. You will create memories of failure rather than memories of success. You must grow in this relationship like you do in any other one. 2) Don’t take your watch with you. That can ruin your quiet time faster than anything else. Decide what amount of time you can give to God’s Word and prayer – then do it! Sometimes you will spend longer than you have set aside, and other times it will be shorter. Remember, you’re talking to the God of eternity; don’t insult Him by continually looking at your watch. With God, quality is more important than quantity. It’s what you do while you’re with Him that’s important, regardless if it’s ten minutes or one hour. 3) Have a special place. ‘The next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord’ (Genesis 19:27 NIV). Your special place should be somewhere you can pray aloud without embarrassment, somewhere you’re comfortable. Just don’t do it in bed – that’s too comfortable! As time goes by, your special place will come to mean everything to you because of all the wonderful times you have there with the Lord.

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To grow spiritually, you must get alone with God. When you come into His presence, you should have these attitudes: 1) Anticipation. Expect to give and get from your time together. Make it a time of intimacy. It’s impossible to have a love affair in a public place; intimacy calls for being alone with the one you love. The Bible speaks about Christ as the groom and us as His bride (see 2 Corinthians 11:2). Think of the anticipation and excitement shared in such moments. 2) Reverence. Don’t rush into God’s presence. Prepare your heart by being still before Him and letting the quietness clear away the thoughts of the world. Remind yourself who you’re meeting with – God! The One who is ‘worthy…to receive glory and honour’ (Revelation 4:11 NIVUK). 3) Alertness. Go to bed early so you will be in good shape to meet with God in the morning. He deserves your full attention. Give Him the best part of your day – when you’re the freshest. Follow Christ’s example: ‘The next morning [Jesus] was up long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.’ Hudson Taylor astutely observed that you don’t tune up the instruments after the concert is over, you tune them before you start. 4) Willingness. It’s crucial that you don’t come to your quiet time to decide what you will or won’t do, but with the purpose of doing anything and everything God wants you to do. John says, ‘We will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him’ (1 John 3:22 NLT). When you get alone with God, make up your mind to do whatever He says.

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When it comes to life’s great achievers, the apostle Paul is in a league of his own. But he takes one entire chapter of the Bible, Romans 16, to acknowledge all the people who helped him to succeed in his calling. The chapter could be captioned ‘I couldn’t have done it without you!’ He starts by talking about Phoebe, ‘who is worthy of honour…for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me’ (vv. 1-2 NLT). President Lyndon Johnson said, ‘There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.’ When God created Adam, He said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper’ (Genesis 2:18 NKJV). And He created Eve. From the beginning of time, God teaches us that very little of significance is ever accomplished by an individual acting alone. Look below the surface, and you will invariably find that all the single-handed feats are really team efforts. Daniel Boone had at his disposal companions from the Transylvania Company while blazing the Wilderness Road. Wyatt Earp’s two brothers and Doc Holliday assisted him. Charles Lindbergh had the finances of nine businessmen from St Louis and the expertise of Ryan Aeronautical Company, which built his plane. Even Albert Einstein acknowledged: ‘Many times a day I realise how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labours of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.’ The secret to success in any endeavour can be summed up in these three words: connect…commit…communicate.

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A pastor writes: ‘When God created man, He made him “in His own image”. That was God’s original plan, and it has not changed. He wants to make us like Himself…godly. He does it by working on our character through His Word, through His Holy Spirit, and through circumstances. The Greek word for “character”…means “tested and proven reliable”. It brings to mind the work of a blacksmith, describing something that has gone through the fire, has been beat on…but has stood the test.’ Notice, one of the first things God said to man was, ‘Be fruitful.’ And Jesus tells us how: ‘If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit’ (John 15:5 CEV). But fruit takes time to ripen. When you try to rush the process, it doesn’t taste as good. Have you ever tasted gassed tomatoes? You might buy them at the supermarket. If farmers pick ripe tomatoes and ship them, they could get smashed en route to market. So, they may pick them green, spray them with ethylene gas before they go to market, and the gas quickly ripens green tomatoes into red. Nothing is wrong with those tomatoes, but if you have ever tasted a vine-ripened tomato, you know there is no comparison. Similarly, it takes time for spiritual fruit to grow in your life. You can’t take a crash course and graduate with spiritual maturity. It requires a lifetime of walking with God, leaning on Him, learning from Him, and loving Him with all your heart. God wants to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life, so cooperate with Him.

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Every day, people ’read’ you. The question is: what kind of message are they getting? Here is what they’re supposed to get: ‘We…are being transformed into his image’ (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV). ‘We have renounced secret and shameful ways’ (2 Corinthians 4:2 NIV). ‘If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIVUK). In other words, your letter should make it clear that you’re no longer the person you once were because 1) Christ has changed you spiritually. Once you didn’t enjoy God’s Word or obey His commands. Now you hear, receive, love, and obey His Word and revel in it (see Psalm 119:97-106 AMPC). 2) Christ has changed you morally. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul lists many of the sins that once characterised our lives. He mentions those who are immoral, thieves, greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers, etc. Then comes this wonderful verse: ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified [set apart for God’s use], you were justified [just-if-I’d never sinned]’ (v. 11 NIV). In other words, God has transformed your character qualities. 3) Christ has changed you mentally. ‘Be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2 NIV). Now you look at life, yourself, others, your challenges, your options, and opportunities in the light of God’s thoughts instead of your own. You see possibilities where before you saw only problems. Your mind, which was once frazzled by worry, is now filled with confidence and peace. In essence, your letter should transmit this message to the people you meet: ‘Christ has changed my life for the better, and if you let Him, He will change yours too!’

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You have probably heard the old saying about doctors and their prescriptions, ‘They can read writing, but they can’t write reading.’ A letter must be easily read and understood. Incomprehensible writing distorts the message and discourages the reader. The purpose of a letter is to convey the writer’s thoughts. When it doesn’t, the reader stops reading or fails to get the message. And since ‘you are like a letter written by Christ’ (v. 3 CEV), here are some common distortions you need to avoid: 1) Dishonesty on the job. That includes things like inflating your expenses, stealing company time, and taking home items you think won’t be missed. 2) A bad attitude. For example, resentment when a friend, fellow worker, or boss asks you at an inconvenient time to help them and go the extra mile. 3) Substandard work reflected in shoddy products and services. 4) Unreliability and inconsistency. Can you be counted on to be where you’re supposed to be and to fulfil your obligations? 5) Being a killjoy. Christians who lack a sense of humour and act like they are joy impaired hurt the cause of Christ instead of helping it. 6) Touchiness. How do people ‘read’ you? Do you wear your feelings on your sleeve? Are you easily upset? Do you overreact to unintended offences? 7) Temper tantrums. Are you crabby, grumpy, and complaining when things don’t go your way? 8) Self-righteousness. This can make you speak in supercilious, religious tones that turn people off. Remember, you’re ‘known and read by everyone’ (v. 2 NIV), so make sure your attitude and conduct reflect well on your faith and your Lord.

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Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers: ‘You are our letter…for everyone to read and understand…a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are not written with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by the Spirit of the living God’ (vv. 2-3 CEV). Usually, when we get letters through the post, we sort it into two piles: important letters and junk mail. How do we make that determination? By answering these two questions: 1) Who is the letter from? The source determines your interest level. And you are a letter to the world from Christ, and about Christ, ‘for what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ (2 Corinthians 4:5 NIV). Religious people often promote their denomination, but we’re called to promote Christ – and Him alone. Are people really interested? Yes, Jesus promised, ‘I, when I am lifted up…will draw all people to myself’ (John 12:32 NIV). Nothing is more needed today than a living portrait of Jesus reflected in the lives of His redeemed people. So, deliver your love letter to whoever crosses your path. 2) Who is the letter addressed to? The Bible answers that question: ‘Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16 NKJV). Dr David Yonggi Cho built the world’s largest church in Seoul, South Korea: almost a million people. That’s bigger than many towns and cities. But as a young Buddhist, he was led to Christ by a lady he only met once. What if she had decided to remain silent? Your life is a letter from Christ with the potential to change someone else’s life, so make sure you deliver it.

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One Bible teacher writes: ‘Satan doesn’t mind when we build, as long as he’s the head contractor. He’ll make sure we smear God’s name all over our dreams, then when they fail, it’ll look like He failed. Romans 8:14 says, “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (KJV). It’s important to know God’s plan, as well as when, where, and through whom He wants it accomplished. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of ministry and run ahead of Him. The key is to stay in constant communication and let Him lead you step by step so that everything is in place for a successful outcome. Like the military, the troops may be informed about the mission, but they must wait for their commander to tell them when and how to accomplish their assignment. A soldier doesn’t attend one briefing and then run off and accomplish the plan alone. He stays in contact with his commanding officer, who coordinates the mission and leads him and his fellow soldiers to victory. It’s vital to stay in touch with headquarters so you know the master plan, stay on course, and achieve victory.’ If you’re inclined to go it alone, make this your prayer: ‘God, it’s foolish to get ahead of You – but putting that into practice isn’t easy. Show me how I can spend more time with You and become more sensitive to Your voice. If I go off on my own, have Your Holy Spirit check and correct my spirit. I don’t want to build in vain. I want my ministry to be an extension of You, so You get the glory.’

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As a new creation, you’re no longer controlled by your old behaviour but by your relationship with Christ. Jon Walker writes: ‘A few miles from my house there’s a convenience store that went through a makeover. However, the employees may have missed the makeover memo. The kid behind the counter wore a new uniform…but he also wore the same sullen look I’d seen before. It made me think about how we try to put new wine into old wineskins. Jesus says we’re bound to fail because “the wine will burst the skins, and both…will be ruined” (NIV). But don’t we [do the same] when it comes to our Christian walk? The new wine of honesty-at-work, poured into the old wineskin of cutting corners. The new wine of unconditional love, poured into the old wineskin of hatred for the family two doors down. The new wine of worship, poured into the old wineskin of idolising money, power, music, or the latest video game. The new wine of Bible study, poured into the old wineskin of “gotta-go-pop-tart-for-breakfast” busyness. The new wine of humility, poured into the old wineskin of conceit. The new wine of forgiveness, poured into the old wineskin of bitterness. The new wine of others first, poured into the old wineskin of selfish ambition. The new wine of joy, poured into the old wineskin of jealousy and factions. The new wine of peace, poured into the old wineskin of discord.’ If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to ditch the old wineskin and let God make you a powerful, new, clean vessel.

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You say, ‘If Christ lives in me, why do I still think and act the way I do?’ A Christian leader explains: ‘The answer is illustrated in a story about a lady who had a small house…at the turn of the century. She was quite wealthy but also quite frugal…People were surprised, then, when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home. Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked her if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. “I’m wondering if you can explain something to me,” he said. “Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?” “Certainly,” she answered. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn them off.” She’s tapped into the power but didn’t use it. Her house is connected but not altered. Don’t we make the same mistake? We, too – with our souls saved but our hearts unchanged – are connected but not altered. Trusting Christ for salvation but resisting transformation. We occasionally flip the switch, but most of the time we settle for shadows. What would happen if we left the light on? What changes would occur if we set about the task of dwelling in the radiance of Christ? No doubt about it: God has ambitious plans for us. The same one who saved your soul longs to remake your heart. His plan is nothing short of a total transformation.’ ‘He decided…to shape [our] lives…along the same lines as the life of his Son’ (Romans 8:29 MSG). Today, use your God-given power.

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Jesus was rough on Pharisees: ‘People look at you and think you are saints, but beneath the skin you are total frauds’ (Matthew 23:28 MSG). They put on a good front but were devoid of grace, mercy, and compassion. And Jesus called them on it! Because we live in an appearance-focused society, Jesus warns us about the dangers that come from dwelling on the outer life at the cost of developing the inner life. So, how do you keep that from happening? 1) Follow Jesus’ example. He spent His life ministering to the hurting, the forgotten, the lost, and lonely. 2) Keep in mind that even though you’re a Christian, you will still struggle in certain areas, and don’t try to act like you ‘have it all together’. 3) Ask God to reveal behaviour patterns that are appearance oriented instead of heart oriented. 4) Surround yourself with transparent people who encourage you to be real and correct you when you need it. Marybeth Whalen writes: ‘The painters painted the wall leading downstairs…A week later I discovered, while the wall had been repainted, the habits hadn’t changed. The kids were still dragging their dirty hands behind them, making what was white and clean, grey, and dirty. Like that wall, if I’m not careful I can cover up what’s there…wear the Christian tee shirt, carry my Bible, smile like everything’s great, and talk a good game about my walk with the Lord. But deep inside the ugly habits are waiting to be revealed the moment life gets messy. I can become a modern-day Pharisee who focuses on the whitewash and ignores the dirty stuff underneath.’ So, be real.

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Be careful to make the distinction between the ‘earthen vessel’ and the ‘treasure’. Paul says, ‘We have this treasure’; he doesn’t say, ’We are this treasure’! Anytime you allow people to think of you as the treasure, God is not pleased, and you’re setting yourself up to fail. When God deposits a treasure within you, it means two things: 1) He expects a return on His investment. 2) You’re called to a higher level of responsibility and accountability. Sometimes people think leaders are immune to life’s tests and trials. Not so! Because someone has talent doesn’t mean they don’t struggle in certain areas. Their struggles may be unseen, but they’re real. Let’s face it; God uses people we would have censured and thrown away, like Rahab working as a prostitute in Jericho. But when she placed her faith in God, He used her to help win the battle of Jericho. Then He included her in the family line of Christ (see Hebrews 11:31). And how about Jephthah? He was born to an unwed mother, rejected as illegitimate by his half brothers and sisters, and ended up living in a cave with a gang. Yet God used him to deliver Israel and become one of its youngest leaders (see Hebrews 11:32). God specialises in restoring broken vessels. He takes things that aren’t productive – marriages that don’t work, people with problems – and teaches them how to be victorious and fruitful in His service. Knowing that gives you the strength and tenacity to face whatever comes because you understand that when God places His treasure within you, He protects it, uses it, and blesses it.

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Try to imagine the abundance God has prepared for you (see 1 Corinthians 2:9). Then decide that the language of your heart will be the ‘much more’ of faith, not the ‘much less’ of unbelief. Observe: 1) Your salvation supersedes your sin. No matter how sinful your history, ‘if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God…which is by…Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many’ (Romans 5:15 KJV). Rejoice! You’re ‘much more’ forgiven. 2) Christ’s life in you continuously saves you. If He lives in you, His salvation remains actively at work in you. ‘If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life’ (Romans 5:10 KJV). 3) The Holy Spirit will be in you abundantly. ‘If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?’ (Luke 11:13 KJV). He gives the Spirit ‘much more’ to His children. 4) You can triumph in life through Jesus. ‘Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ’ (Romans 5:17 KJV). By God’s grace, you can walk in ‘much more’ victory. 5) All you need, He will provide. ‘If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father…give good things to them that ask him?’ (Matthew 7:11 KJV). As you develop a ‘much more’ mentality, you will begin to enjoy the ‘good things’ God provides.

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Here is an expression used throughout Scripture to describe God’s provision for us: ‘much more’. It assures us there is no need we will ever face that can’t be met through His abundant resources. Our tendency is to approach our needs with an attitude of ‘much less’. It assumes that God is unable or unwilling to meet them. No, God wants us to adopt a ‘much more’ attitude. Much less is the language of visible things; it allows circumstances and lack to govern our lives. Much more is the language of unseen things; it invites us to live in the assurance of God’s abundance. There is an inspiring illustration of this principle in 2 Chronicles 32. The Assyrian King Sennacherib’s forces were threatening Israel with annihilation. After he told them to look around and see what he had done to the people of other lands, he added, ‘How much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?’ (v. 15 KJV). But instead, King Hezekiah fixed his eye of faith on God’s resources and encouraged the Israelites: ‘Be not afraid…for the king of Assyria, nor for all the [visible] multitude that is with him: for there be more [invisible] with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God’ (vv. 7-8 KJV). Although the Assyrians had a vastly superior army, verse eight says God’s people ‘rested themselves’ (stopped worrying), believing the hand of God was much more effective than the arm of the flesh! And it’s time you developed a ‘much more’ mentality in your life because our God is ‘able to do exceeding abundantlyaboveall that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).

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If you cry easily, it could be that God has given you a ministry of tears. What isthat? Author Liz Curtis Higgs explains: ‘I cry easily and often. Happy tears, sad tears, over-the-top tears, Hallmark commercial tears – you name it…I cry at church…When I hear a wondrous truth spoken or a glorious song lifted in praise, when I see a new believer step forward or an old saint read the Scriptures, I’m so overwhelmed with God’s presence that tears flow down my cheeks…While I’ve made peace with [it] many women are ashamed of their tearfulness. A dear woman in Missouri thought her tears were a stumbling block to serving God…She explained, “I want to help hurting people, but the minute I hear their stories, I start weeping.”…I gave her a big hug [and said,] “You have a ministry of tears! The Bible tells us to ‘mourn with those who mourn’ (Romans 12:15 NIV), and to ‘comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV). Your tears don’t hurt, they help!” God can use anything we surrender to him. Laughter and tears. Joys and sorrows. Victories and mistakes. Strengths and weaknesses. We minister to others best when we offer our true selves – “as is” – not waiting until we’ve cleaned up our act or dried up our tears, but right now, leaks and all.’ One day ‘God shall wipe away all tears’ (Revelation 21:4 KJV). But until then, our tears are so precious to Him that, like fine wine and priceless perfume, He preserves them in a bottle (see Psalm 56:8).

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Psychologists say the strongest influence on our present is often our past. But Paul tells us to forget the past, and focus on ‘what lies ahead…press on to…receive the heavenly prize’ (v. 13-14 NLT). One counsellor writes: ’I know you’re tired…overwhelmed…as though…this hard time will last forever. It won’t. You are almost there. You don’t just think it has been hard; it has been hard. You have been tested and retested on what you have learned. Your faith tried in fire. More problems occurred than you anticipated…You did not plan on this, yet it has been good. Part of you, [your spirit], has sensed this even when your head told you that things were out of whack…that there was no plan, that God had forgotten you. Each incident – the most painful, troubling, most surprising – has a connection.’ ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28 NIV). The counsellor continues, ‘Things were meant to happen this way. You didn’t believe it would take this long, but it did. You have learned patience. Many moments you thought you were forgotten. Now things are coming into place. You are almost at the end of this difficult portion of the journey. You have been climbing a mountain. It has not been easy, but mountain climbing is never easy. Now, you are near the top. A moment longer, and victory shall be yours. Steady your shoulders. Breathe deeply. Move forward in confidence. The time is coming to enjoy all which you have fought for…Your struggle has not been in vain. For every struggle on this journey, there is a climax, a resolution…There will be more mountains, but now you know how to climb them.’

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Read this: ‘I remember when I took your new car on the road and wrecked it. I thought you would be livid and come down hard on me, but you didn’t. I remember when we went to the beach, and you didn’t want to go because you said it was going to rain. We went, and it rained. I was sure you would rub it in and say, “I told you so!” But you didn’t. Then there was the time when I spilled blueberry juice down the front of your new white tuxedo. I knew you would be upset and blame me. But you didn’t. And remember that formal evening? I was mistaken and told you it was casual. You wore blue jeans and felt like a fish out of water. I was sure you would storm out in anger and leave me standing there. But you didn’t. I wanted to tell you how much I loved you and how much I appreciated you for all those things when you returned from Afghanistan. But you didn’t.’ Don’t spend the future regretting unspoken words someone needs to hear. ‘Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.’ Few things are more effective than the right word at the right time. By the same token, words of kindness withheld are a heavy burden to live with. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad’ (Proverbs 12:25 ESV). Don’t let shyness or fear of rejection keep you from saying what needs to be said. Tell them while you still can.

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To be used by God, you must know two things: 1) Who God is. A little girl in Sunday school was asked by her teacher what she was drawing. She replied, ‘A picture of God.’ The teacher said, ‘But nobody has ever seen Him.’ Confidently she replied, ‘They will when I’m finished!’ Please understand this: the only God some people around you will ever see is the one they see in you each day. And to know God, you must spend time with Him. Not leftover time, but quality time, daily time, prioritised time! 2) Who you are. When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt, he asked God two things: a) ‘If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” they will ask me, “What is his name?” Then what should I tell them?’ (Exodus 3:13 NLT). ‘God replied to Moses…“Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you”’ (v.14 NLT). In order to know who you are, you must first know who God is – then you will have credibility. b) ‘What if they won’t believe me or listen to me?’ (Exodus 4:1 NLT). ‘Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake!…“Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe”’ (vv. 2-3, 5 NLT). Moses already had what he needed! And so do you. Bottom line: to be used of God, you must know who He is and who you are.

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An unknown author wrote these poignant words: ‘Their wedding picture mocked them from the table, these two whose minds no longer touched each other. They lived with such a heavy barricade between them that neither battering ram of words nor artilleries of touch could break it down. Somewhere, between the oldest child’s first tooth and the youngest daughter’s graduation, they lost each other. Throughout the years each slowly unravelled that tangled ball of string called self, and as they tugged at stubborn knots, each hid his searching from the other. Sometimes she cried at night and begged the whispering darkness to tell her who she was. He lay beside her, snoring like a hibernating bear, unaware of her winter…She took a course on modern art, trying to find herself in colours splashed upon a canvas, complaining to the other women about men who are insensitive. He climbed into a tomb called “The Office”, wrapped his mind in a shroud of paper figures, and buried himself in customers. Slowly, the wall between them rose, cemented by the mortar of indifference. One day, reaching out to each other, they found a barrier they could not penetrate, and recoiling from the coldness of the stone, each retreated from the stranger on the other side. For when love dies, it is not in a moment of angry battle, not when fiery bodies lose their heat. It lies panting, exhausted, expiring at the bottom of a wall it could not scale.’ So, the word for today is – don’t let a wall build up between you.

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When we try to impress the people, we consider to be important, we become trophy collectors. ‘I’m more important because I know this famous person’ is how our thinking goes. And all kinds of objects can become trophies: our grades in school, the houses we live in, people we have impressed, our looks, clothing brands, compliments, and promotions. There are even websites you can visit to look for a trophy wife – a woman whose beauty is a tribute to her husband’s wealth and influence. A trophy is anything you own that causes other people to look at you and say, ‘Wow!’ But living for trophies leaves you empty, unhappy, and tired. They bring a momentary happiness that can be addictive, but the enjoyment always dwindles. It’s notable that in heaven, when images like crowns are used, instead of wearing them, people are casting them at the Lord’s feet. When you give the triumph, admiration, and honour away, they bring you joy. When you collect them, they dull, fade, and become a burden. That’s why the Bible says: ‘The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created”’ (vv. 10-11 NKJV). Anything good you have, anything good you are, and anything good you will receive in the future all come from God. So, be sure to give God all the glory.

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Do you think of yourself as a person who has faith in God? Do your thoughts and words reflect that? We can deceive ourselves into thinking we have great faith, but if challenges easily defeat us, then maybe our faith isn’t as great as we thought it was. Jesus said, ‘The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.’ You can learn a lot about yourself by listening to what you say. Do your thoughts and words show your dependence on God, recognising that His abilities, not yours, enable you to do anything you need to do? To get your words right, you must get your heart right. And to do that, you must line your thinking up with God’s Word. That means being willing to face anything He wants to show you and asking Him to change you. If you’re trusting in your own strength, start trusting God instead. If you’re attempting to do things through your own abilities and becoming irritated, let God know that you want Him to work through you, and allow His sufficiency to be yours. Paul writes, ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God’ (2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV). Your words are like containers, so don’t fill them with things that disable you. Instead, stand on this Scripture: ‘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’ (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV). When you speak, always agree with God’s Word.

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You can learn to love by thinking loving thoughts. By focusing on the other person’s needs, pains, difficulties, goals, and desires, not just your own. The old saying goes, ‘It’s easier to understand someone when you walk a mile in their shoes.’ Hurting people tend to hurt other people. If someone is hurting you, that person may be doing so because they are hurting. How can you love them? By looking beyond their faults and seeing their needs. The least lovable people are often those who need love the most. The people we would prefer to ignore are the very ones who need huge doses of love. If a person can’t find love, they will seek attention. And if they can’t obtain positive attention, they will work at attracting negative attention. Unintentionally they are saying, ‘I will be noticed, one way or another.’ Make love the master of your will, not the slave of your emotions. We can’t change our feelings, but we can change our thoughts. When we change how we think about someone, we will steadily change our feelings about that person. When rather than thinking about a person’s faults, we start thinking about their needs, it will change the way we feel. You say, ‘If I act lovingly towards someone I don’t even like, wouldn’t that be hypocritical?’ No, it’s called ‘loving by faith’. When you love by faith, you act yourself into feeling the right way towards that person. Try it and find out for yourself!

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To say yes to the will of God, you will have to say no to other things. And some people won’t like it, especially if they are used to getting their own way. People will make demands on you based on their needs and be oblivious to or uncaring about your needs. So, you have a choice: be led by God or by others. No one was busier than Jesus or had a greater assignment. Yet we read, ‘When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth”’ (Mark 1:37-38 NKJV). Was Jesus saying no to meeting unmet needs? Yes, He knew what His priorities were, and He remained focused. That way, He was able to say to His heavenly Father at the end of His life, ‘I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do’ (John 17:4 NLT). If you have a hard time saying no, stop and mentally picture what you think will happen when you say no. The only way to conquer your fear or insecurity in this area is to begin to take small risks until you are finally comfortable giving a firm no. When a person gets into debt through reckless spending, you’re not doing them a favour by saying yes to bailing them out. You’re enabling them! By saying yes to someone who refuses to learn a new skill set they’re capable of, you’re promoting ‘learned helplessness’. So, learn to say no.

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If you are impulsive, you tend to lack discipline. You can be thoughtless, or insensitive to others, or driven by appetite. You may have a hard time with delayed gratification. You have a low frustration tolerance. You get bored easily. You can fly off the handle. If this describes you, here are six principles you should try to incorporate into your life:1) Ask counsel from wise friends before plunging forward with an idea. ‘The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge’ (Proverbs 18:15 NKJV). 2) Cultivate friendships with people who are not only wise but strong enough to hold you accountable. ‘Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed’ (James 5:16 KJV). 3) Spend time praying about a potential open door before assuming that your intuition is a divine command. ‘He shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way’ (Psalm 25:8-9 NLT). 4) Study and read about an area of need before you commit yourself to action. ‘Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps’ (Proverbs 14:15 NLT). 5) When you come to the end of a season of activity, spend some time in reflection so that you can become a wiser person before you go on to the next thing. ‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty’ (Proverbs 21:5 NLT). 6) Make a commitment and stick with it, even when the next impulse, which looks so much more fun, comes along.

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God wants you to have a peaceful state of mind. His word says: ‘Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]’ (v. 15 AMPC). No position or possession is worthwhile if you don’t have peace; money, status, popularity – it’s all meaningless if you lack peace. You simply cannot put a price on the value of peace. Many of us spend our lives trying to climb the ladder of success, but every time we go up one more rung, we lose more of our peace and joy, not to mention time spent with our family. Our lives are consumed with the pressure and stress of trying to hold on to what we gained. But we are never truly successful unless we have peace. Some of us work several jobs to acquire what the world dangles in front of us, saying, ‘You must have this to be truly happy.’ We get those ‘things’, but we still don’t have any peace. Romans 14:17 tells us, ‘The kingdom of God is not meat and drink’ – it is not things that money can buy or status can secure – but it is ‘righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost’ (KJV). God wants you to have your needs met abundantly and to be in a position to bless others. But don’t seek to have anything if you cannot have it peacefully.

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The third thing that defines Jesus’ relationship with His Father is this: obedience. Jesus said, ‘I judge only as I hear…for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.’ Note the words ‘as I hear’. When you know you have heard from God, you have confidence to handle whatever life throws at you, and to take on any assignment He gives you. Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. In it you will find a statement that’s crucial to experiencing God’s miraculous power in your life: ‘Whatever He says to you, do it’ (John 2:5 NKJV). That means you must be willing to obey God when what He tells you to do doesn’t seem rational, and when it’s not popular, and when it’s inconvenient, and when it’s costly, and when it requires you to walk an unfamiliar pathway. And you will only reach this level of obedience when you’re committed to a life of intimacy with God and dependency on God. And here is something you need to know: intimacy, dependency, and obedience are not cultivated by you trying to love God more, but on having a revelation of God’s amazing, undeserved, unfailing love for you: ‘God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins’ (1 John 4:9-10 NLT). So, pray for a revelation of God’s great love for you.

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The second thing that defines Jesus’ relationship with His Father is this: dependency. Corrie ten Boom used to say, ‘I am just the glove, Jesus is the hand that fills it and works through it.’ That’s a picture of Christ’s relationship with His heavenly Father, and it’s a blueprint for the kind of relationship you can have with God. In the Bible you will notice two all-important things about Jesus: 1) He never seemed to suffer from the fear of failing, like we so often do. Why? Because He prayed regularly and got direction from His Father. Knowing He was acting on the Father’s word and operating in the Father’s will, He never doubted. Until you have heard from God, you are a question mark. But once you have heard from God, you are an exclamation mark. 2) Jesus knew He couldn’t accomplish anything of significance without His Father’s direction and power, so He never attempted to. We, on the other hand, say we trust God but act like everything depends on us. And the result? We fall flat on our faces and keep wondering why. Every action of God in your life is intended to increase, not decrease, your dependence on Him. Someone wisely said, ‘You’ll never know that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you’ve got.’ To bring you to the place of total dependence on Himself, God will allow your ego to be crushed and your self-sufficiency to be stripped away. At that point you make a life-changing discovery: when you have nothing left but God – God is enough!

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These three things define the relationship Jesus had with His Father, and they are a blueprint for the kind of relationship you need to build with God: intimacy, dependency, obedience. First: let’s look at intimacy. Jesus said, ‘For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.’ You only reveal yourself, including your innermost thoughts and secrets, to someone with whom you are intimate. And when you become intimate with God, He will share with you things that others are not privy to. David’s greatest passion was to know God intimately. In Psalm 25:4 he writes: ‘Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths’ (NIV). Then he follows up by saying, ‘The Lord confides in those who fear [honour] him’ (v. 14 NIV). Having an intimate relationship with God involves three things: a) Desire. The truth is that you are as close to God right now as you desire to be; otherwise, you would rearrange your priorities to make it happen. b) Discipline. This calls for spending time alone with God in prayer and Bible reading each day. When you pray, you’re talking to God. When you read the Bible, God is talking to you. c) Delight. ‘Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart’ (Psalm 37:4 NKJV). Something wonderful happens when you ‘delight yourself in the Lord’. His desires become ‘the desires of your heart’, so He can trust you with them. Do you want a more intimate relationship with the Lord? If you are willing to pursue it, you can have it.

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The greatest chapter in the story of Elijah’s life took place on Mount Carmel. That’s when he called down fire from heaven, defeated the prophets of Baal, and turned the hearts of the Israelites back to God. The word ‘Carmel’ means ‘fruitful ground’. But before Elijah could get to Mount Carmel, he had to go through two places: First, God led him to the brook called Cherith. The word ‘Cherith’ means ‘to make covenant with’. It was here that Elijah discovered that God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God who can sustain you through the hardest of times. It was here during a drought and famine that ravens brought food to him each day and he drank from the refreshing waters of the brook. But the Bible says, ‘After a while…the brook dried up’ (1 Kings 17:7 NKJV). Now, when God allows your brook to dry up, it’s in order to drive you back to your true source, which is Himself, that you may get further instructions. Second, God led him to a widow in Zarephath. The word ‘Zarephath’ means ‘to refine as in a melting pot’. Gold is not pure in its original form. It must be refined, and this is accomplished by heating it to the boiling point. The heat separates the raw substance from its impurities, which surface and are skimmed off. And God will do the same for you by using the heat of trials to separate the gold from the dross in your life. He knows the experiences you need to reach Mount Carmel, the place of fruitfulness, so trust Him. He knows what He is doing.

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When Peter stepped out of the boat at the command of Jesus, he was doing something he had never done before; something miraculous – walking on water. As long as he remained in faith, he was successful, but when fear gripped his heart, he began to sink. The Bible says, ‘When he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him’ (vv. 30-31 NLT). Peter’s mistake was that he became preoccupied with the storm. When he focused on the circumstances around him rather than on the Saviour close to him, he lost his faith and began to doubt. Abraham faced a different but equally difficult set of circumstances: fathering a son when he was almost one hundred years old. But the Bible says, ‘Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God’ (Romans 4:20 NLT). Abraham was aware of his situation, but unlike Peter, he was not preoccupied with it. It was his determined and focused faith that propelled him forward to success. And you can learn from Peter’s mistake and Abraham’s example. You can be aware of your circumstances, but not preoccupied with them. You can purposely keep your mind on Jesus, trusting in faith that He will provide the miracle you need. So, the word for today is – keep your eyes on Jesus, stay focused on what He has promised you in His Word, keep walking by faith, and you will get to where you need to be.

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With its walls torn down, Jerusalem was defenceless against her enemies. So, Nehemiah assembled a team to rebuild the walls. He had no training for this job. He wasn’t an architect or a builder. Jerusalem was far away, and he had never been there. Any way you look at it, he was unqualified for the job. That’s a common denominator with many of the people God has used in a remarkable way. Noah was a farmer, called to build a boat in the desert. David was a shepherd, called to topple a Philistine champion. Nehemiah was a cupbearer, called to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. When it comes to doing God’s will, God-ordained passions are considerably more important than any human ability we can contribute. In fact, God often uses us at our point of greatest inability. That way He receives all the credit. But understand this: when God gives you a ‘burden’, or a ‘passion’, or a ‘vision’, you have a choice to make. Nehemiah already had a good job. Being the king’s cupbearer was like being his right-hand man. He didn’t simply enjoy job security, he enjoyed the perks and privileges of his position. He would have been comfortable staying right where he was. But if he had chosen to do that, he would have missed God’s will, missed having a book named after him in the Bible, and you wouldn’t be reading about him right now. Are you feeling unqualified? When God calls you, He equips you, resources you, guides you, and guarantees your success.

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Whether you know it or not, you have an ongoing conversation with yourself. How does it sound? Do you encourage yourself? Or do you condemn yourself? If you are positive, then you strengthen your positive self-image. If you are negative, you weaken your self-worth. If you’re serious about improving your life, then you must improve the way you think of yourself. And to do that, you must change the way you talk to yourself. And the older you grow, the more responsible you are for the way you think, talk, and believe. Don’t you already have enough problems? Why give yourself more by discouraging yourself with negative self-talk? Turn into your own encourager. Each time you do a good job, compliment yourself. Each time you choose discipline over an indulgence, don’t tell yourself that you should have done that anyway; appreciate how much you are helping yourself. Each time you make a mistake, don’t rehearse everything that’s wrong with yourself; tell yourself that you’re paying the price for growth and that you will learn to do better next time. The psalmist recognised the importance of his self-talk: ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.’ ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits’ (Psalm 103:2 NKJV). ‘I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust”’ (Psalm 91:2 NKJV). The word for today is – improve your self-talk.

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When you have been abused, rejected, or abandoned, it’s easy to become shame based and end up with a very poor self-image. The devil knows this, so he will attack your personal confidence whenever he can find an opening. He wants you to believe that you are a failure, because without confidence you will never step out and try to do the things you truly want to do. He does not want you to fulfil God’s plan for your life. If he can make you believe that you are incapable, then you won’t even try to accomplish anything worthwhile. And even if you do make an effort, your fear of failure will seal your defeat, which, because of lack of confidence, you probably expected from the beginning. This is often referred to as the ‘failure syndrome’. You fail because of wrong beliefs, and you continue to have wrong beliefs because you fail. It’s hard to know which came first, but you find yourself in a trap you cannot seem to get out of. What’s the answer? As a redeemed child of God, the Bible says that you are ‘in Christ’. Jesus defeated Satan and triumphed over him at the cross. And because you are ‘in Christ’, His victory is your victory. You can break out of the failure syndrome and begin to succeed in life. Here is why: ‘Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.’ Note the words ‘despite all these things’. Regardless of what has happened to you in the past, God has a wonderful future in mind for you.

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A PhD student at Princeton University once walked into Albert Einstein’s office and asked, ‘What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?’ The brilliant scientist replied, ‘Find out about prayer.’ Einstein wasn’t the only person who was curious about prayer. Jesus taught about it, and the reason was because the disciples asked Him to. They may not have desired to write dissertations on it, but they wanted to know how to pray. It’s the only time in the Bible where one person clearly teaches another person how to pray, and all because of a request from the disciples. ‘Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray”’ (Luke 11:1 NIV). The disciples had been observing Jesus as He prayed. Apparently, the way He prayed was so distinct from the way they prayed that they said, ‘Show us how to pray the way you pray.’ Before Jesus fed the multitude supernaturally, or selected His twelve disciples, or calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, He took time to pray. And the results of His prayers were so amazing that the disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Prayer is not primarily about telling God what you need; it’s about getting closer to God. As one pastor writes: ‘It’s almost as if God is saying, “Don’t bring me your shopping list. I already know what’s on it. We will deal with that later. Bring me your heart. Bring me your love. Bring me your undivided attention.”’ Prayer is not mainly about getting things from the Lord; it’s about spending time with the Lord.

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Demonstrating an uncommon level of honesty, a well-known pastor says: ‘Prayer is the biggest struggle I have…It’s difficult to maintain a consistent prayer life, and especially difficult to sustain the conviction that it does any good at times.’ Prayer doesn’t come naturally for the majority of us. We know it’s supposed to be a dialogue, but often it feels like a monologue. There is nothing worse than trying to talk with someone who won’t talk back. We don’t like to admit it, but often what we are really wondering about prayer is, ‘How can I pray so that God will give me what I want?’ One little boy was asked if he said his prayers every night. He replied, ‘No, some nights I don’t need anything.’ Prayer is not about the particular words you use or the length of time you spend praying. It’s about getting acquainted. It’s about building a relationship. If you have something to talk to someone about, you may say, ‘We need to find somewhere we can talk.’ You want to make sure you’re heard, and that you hear what the other person has to say. When you eliminate the noise of this world, you maximise your ability to hear God. It shows God you’re taking your relationship with Him seriously. The psalmist said, ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Do you have a ‘secret place’ where you can be alone with God? It can be anywhere. But you need a place where you can go and show you mean business with God.

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The Bible says, ‘Terah took his son Abram…and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there’ (v. 31 NIV). A Christian author writes: ‘Terah accompanied Abram for part of the journey to Canaan, but then he stopped…Terah and his family begin their story in Ur, the great centre of wealth and education and the land of idols. Then they begin on this road, which passes through the city of Harran and then down into Canaan…For Terah, the father of Abram, the road ends in Harran. Now we know from other passages in the Bible that Harran was a city a lot like Ur. There was a lot of wealth there. There were idols there. What’s going on? It may well be that…Terah thinks to himself, “If I were to go any farther than this, I could lose everything I have. For sure, I would have to give up my idols.” So he chooses comfort. But Abram chooses to say yes to his calling.’ That’s a choice you will have to make too. And you will have to make it more than once. As your circumstances change, and the seasons of your life progress, you will have to decide whether to walk with God into the unknown or settle for the security of what you know. Terah settled; Abram moved on. What are you going to do? You don’t have to do anything to be worthy of God’s love and grace; those are gifts. But to walk in God’s blessing, you have to choose your calling over your comfort.

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Jesus begins the parable of the talents with these words: ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like’ (v. 14 NKJV). And one of the strongest points He makes is the importance of being faithful. Whether God gives you five talents, two talents, or one talent, the thing that matters to Him is your faithfulness. ‘His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord”’ (v. 21 NKJV). You will notice that He did not say, ‘Well done, popular servant’, or ‘brilliant servant’, but ‘faithful servant’. Christ is talking about those who are often unnoticed but indispensable to His purposes. He is talking about those who blow no trumpets, wave no banners, and demand no applause. He is talking about those who show up day after day and use the talents God gives them, to do the job He has assigned to them. Unnoticed by people, but noticed and rewarded by God! ‘For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown towards His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister’ (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV). These words describe those who shun the limelight and are happy to serve in the shadows. They describe those who not only start the race but run the race day after day, who don’t stop until they reach the finish line. Others may not think that you make much of a difference, but God does. While others make much out of skill levels and success levels, God measures you by your faithfulness.

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Before his 1971 fight with Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali said: ‘There’s not a man alive who can whup me. [He jabbed at the air with his blinding left.] I’m too smart. [He tapped his head with his glove.] I’m too pretty. [He showed the cameras his profile, like a bust on a pedestal.] I am the greatest! I am the king! I should be a postage stamp – that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked!’ Guess what happened in that fight? To the amazement of all, especially himself, Ali lost to Frazier. When confidence in your own ability and resources becomes pride, and then becomes arrogance, you’re heading for trouble. The Bible says, ‘Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall’ (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV). So, how do you find balance? By remembering that every gift, ability, talent, and resource that you have comes from God. Confidence is essential to success. There is nothing wrong with recognising the gifts God has given you. But the difference between self-confidence and Christ confidence is found in who gets the credit. A good way to keep this thought in the forefront of your life is to practise the art of thanksgiving each day. It’s hard to be too self-confident when you acknowledge that you are nothing without God’s grace, which is His unmerited, unearned, undeserved favour. The Bible says: ‘All of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time’ (1 Peter 5:5-6 NKJV).

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Are you thinking that if you had more money or greater success, you would be happy? Tennis star Boris Becker said: ‘I had won Wimbledon twice before, once as the youngest player. I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed…It’s the old song of movie stars and pop stars who commit suicide. They have everything, and yet they are so unhappy. I had no inner peace.’ Solomon made the same discovery. ‘I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.’ Solomon tried religion, education, money, public works projects, fame, creative writing, and sensual pleasure: ‘I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labour…Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless’ (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NIVUK). Finally, in the last chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon finds what he is looking for: ‘Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind’ (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV). Solomon discovered that life is not built on things but on relationships. And the first and foremost relationship you must have is a relationship with God. You say, ‘How do I find God?’ Through Christ! Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ (John 14:6 NKJV). Today, you can have a life-changing relationship with God by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.

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Jonathan was the rightful heir to the throne of his father, Saul, but David had been called by God to succeed Saul as Israel’s next king. From day one, they were on a collision course. They had everything to lose by becoming friends, because ultimately only one of them could reign. So how did they handle it? Were they competitive, or suspicious, or jealous of one another? No, because neither was interested in promoting himself. The Bible says, ‘Jonathan made a solemn pact with David…by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt’ (1 Samuel 18:3-4 NLT). These were his most treasured personal possessions. He was willing to risk his life for David despite his father Saul’s warnings that Jonathan’s throne would never be established as long as David was alive (see 1 Samuel 20:31). Likewise, David jeopardised his life fighting the Philistines to help Saul and Jonathan establish their kingdom. The point of the story is this: a true friend is ‘there for you’, even when they would rather be somewhere else. As one celebrity said, ‘Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.’ Solomon said, ‘A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.’ When was the last time you thanked God for the true friends in your life? What is it that makes them so special? Don’t assume they know how much you appreciate them. Tell them! And one more thought: if you want to have true friends – become one!

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The Prodigal Son eventually came back home and was restored to his place in the family. When he lost everything and ended up feeding pigs, the Bible says, ‘He came to himself’ (Luke 15:17 NKJV). It’s hard to watch someone you love suffer, but sometimes they need to hit the bottom in order to turn around. The Prodigal’s breaking point became his turning point. ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned”’ (v. 18 NKJV). Notice his father was a good parent with a rebellious child. If that describes you, here are three pieces of sound advice: 1) Don’t blame yourself and beat yourself up. 2) Don’t judge your children’s weaknesses from your position of strength. The reason they cannot see is because they are spiritually blind. But God can open their eyes. Jesus said, ‘No man can come to me, except the Father…draw him’ (John 6:44 KJV). You do the praying, and let God do the drawing. 3) Keep your heart and your door open. When the Prodigal Son finally came to his senses, he knew where to go; back home to the father who loved him. You cannot save your children from the consequences of their actions, and you may not be able to lessen the pain they’re going through. But if you pray, keep your heart and your door open, God can bring them back. ‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’ That’s a promise you can stand on today.

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When you experience tragedy or loss, unless you get help, you can shut down emotionally and remain stuck. And when you focus on the pain of the past, you risk forfeiting the blessing God has for you in the future. If anyone had reason to give in to despair and quit, it was Joseph. Those who should have loved him resented and betrayed him. He was slandered, lied about, and falsely imprisoned. How did he survive it? Four times in Genesis 39, the Bible says, ‘The Lord was with Joseph.’ Having a sense of God’s presence will sustain you through things that would otherwise destroy you. Joseph knew it was in forgiving and forgetting rather than holding on to resentment that he was setting himself free and positioning himself to fulfil his divine destiny. How do we know this? Because of what he named his two sons. ‘Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”’ Who enabled Joseph to forget the pain inflicted on him by his family? God! What enabled him to overcome the injustices inflicted upon him by others? A daily sense of God’s presence. And today, God’s presence will do that for you too. His promise to you is, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned…For I am the Lord your God’ (Isaiah 43:2-3 NKJV).

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The woman Jesus met at the well had been married five times. She had tried multiple relationships in an attempt to fill the void within her. But it didn’t work for her, and it won’t work for you. Neither will climbing the corporate ladder, or acquiring more and more stuff, or achieving fame. Note what Jesus told this woman: ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again’ (v. 13 NKJV). When you’re in the desert without water, there comes a point at which you start seeing mirages and believing things that are not real. And when your soul continues to be parched and dry, you start reaching for things that are not real and cannot satisfy it. Jesus didn’t bring up this woman’s past to embarrass her. He referenced it for one reason only: to let her know that He could heal the wounds of her past and give her hope for a better future. And He did. Not only did He transform her, but she also became the first person to introduce the gospel to Samaria. Perhaps you think you’re beyond hope and redemption. David wasn’t, and he committed adultery and covered it up with murder. Peter wasn’t, and he denied Jesus. Thomas wasn’t, even though he is still remembered as a doubter. Paul wasn’t, and he killed Christians before he became one. Your unfulfilled desires and your unquenched thirst are a plus, not a minus, if you let them drive you to the feet of Jesus. Here is His promise: ‘The water that I shall give…will become…a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’ (v. 14 NKJV).

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You will go to heaven because you trusted in Christ’s righteousness, not your own. You say, ‘But isn’t doing the right things important?’ Absolutely. Your reward in heaven will be predicated upon what you do for God here on earth. But your salvation depends on trusting in Christ’s performance, not your own. Satan knows this, and he will try to drive you back to performance-based Christian living. And when you fail, as you assuredly will, he will condemn you and tell you that you don’t measure up and, therefore, you are unworthy of God’s love and acceptance. Notice what condemnation does: 1) It robs you of confidence before God. You are unable to claim His promises because you feel unworthy. Thirty-one times in Scripture, it says that we are ‘in Christ’. That’s one for every day of the month. So, each day, remind yourself that you are ‘in Christ’, and because He is worthy, you are accepted. 2) It makes you irritable and unpleasant to be around. Addiction counsellors describe this as being ‘squirrelly’ or uneasy in your own skin. As a result, you begin to put out what you feel on the inside. What’s the answer? Paul gives it to us: ‘Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight…But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed…even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe’ (vv. 20-22 NKJV). Bottom line: righteousness is credited to your account through faith, not works. Today you are loved and accepted ‘in Christ’.

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When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s ninety-foot golden god, he threatened them with a fiery furnace. Here is what they told him: ‘Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not…we do not serve your gods’ (vv. 17-18 NKJV). When does God show up? When you say, ‘God is able to deliver me, but if not, I’m going to serve Him anyway.’ It’s wonderful when God provides what we need. Yet, the faith that truly pleases God says, ‘But if not, I’m going to trust God anyway.’ Peter writes: ‘There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold –though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world’ (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT). And one more thought: the Bible does not say that the three Hebrew children saw the fourth man who was with them in the fire; it says that Nebuchadnezzar did, and he described Him as ‘the Son of God’ (Daniel 3:25 NKJV). So even when you don’t know it, your faith, your life, and testimony are impacting those around you and bringing glory to God.

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Notice what Joseph told Pharaoh: ‘Collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years…gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up…Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine…that the land may not perish’ (vv. 34-36 NKJV). There are two important lessons for us in this story. 1) Don’t let your bad times eat up your good ones. And what is the best way to do that? By standing on the Word of God during times of discouragement and difficulty. ‘Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). 2) Don’t just enjoy your good times; glean from them the wisdom, strength, strategies, relationships, and resources that will sustain you in the bad times. Paul writes, ‘We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character’ (Romans 5:3-4 NLT). But when God blesses you, don’t just store it up – share it with others. Practise the law of reciprocity that Jesus taught: ‘Give, and it will be given to you…For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you’ (Luke 6:38 NKJV). What you cling to for selfish purposes, you will eventually lose. But when you give to bless others, God has promised to reward you both now and in eternity.

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Solomon says there is ‘a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace’ (vv. 2-8 NKJV). That’s a total of twenty-eight different ‘times’. But notice what Solomon does not give us – a time to give up! As long as you stay on the battlefield, God can turn your situation around and give you victory. If you’re worried today about your marriage, your children, your health, your finances, your job, and your future, here is a promise you can stand on: ‘“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord’ (Isaiah 54:17 NKJV). God didn’t say that the weapon wouldn’t be formed against you, but He said it wouldn’t prosper. So don’t give up!

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If you want to know how incomprehensively big God is, read this: ‘My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens’ (Isaiah 48:13 NKJV). Could such a God care about your daily troubles and woes? Yes. ‘Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows’ (Luke 12:6-7 NKJV). God values sparrows – more than you know. He feeds them, and supplies them with trees and twigs for nests and other sparrows to mate with. He cares so much about them that He keeps a running inventory. How about you? ‘The very hairs of your head are all numbered.’ When you care about someone, you observe details. When a baby is born, what do parents do when they see the tiny fingers and toes for the first time? They count them. For years later, every time that child comes home, if they are missing one of those ten fingers or toes, the parents notice. Even inadequate parents do this. Jesus was saying, ‘God doesn’t only number your fingers and toes. He loves you so much He numbers the hairs on your head. He notices their quantity. He notices their colour.’ Proverbs 16:31 tells us, ‘Grey hair is a crown of splendour; it is attained in the way of righteousness’ (NIVUK). The cross proves how much God loves you and how much you mean to Him, including the details of your life.

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Paul’s life changed forever when he asked the question, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Note how God answered his question: ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do’ (v. 6 NKJV). Discovering God’s will takes place in steps. Step one is awareness. You cannot change direction if you’re unaware you’re heading in the wrong direction, so spend some time thinking about where you’re presently heading. If it’s not where you need to go, then write down the steps you must take to go where you want to go, to accomplish what you want to accomplish. Make them as concrete as you possibly can. Will they absolutely be the right steps? Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. But you won’t know for sure until you start moving forwards. Step two is action. You can’t win if you don’t begin! Take initiative. Do something specific each day that will move you one step closer to your goal. Then, continue to do it every day. Step three is accountability. Few things will inspire you to see your goals through like accountability. One way you can do that is to share your goals. When you tell people what you plan to do, you feel pressure to keep working at it. Give those people permission to ask you about your progress. It’s like giving yourself a deadline so that you keep moving towards it. Writing things down gives you another form of accountability. Do you want to do God’s will? Then start with these steps.

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Gideon’s army of thirty-two thousand men is enormously outnumbered by the Midianites when God tells him, ‘You have too many men.’ He instructs Gideon to release anyone who is afraid, and Gideon loses two-thirds of his army. Now he has only ten thousand men. Again the Lord says, ‘There are still too many men,’ and reduces Gideon’s army to three hundred men. At that moment, the odds had to be a million to one. And it even gets better! God directs Gideon to attack the Midianites with trumpets and pitchers. Now for the real kicker: Israel wins! Why did God do it like that? Because if Gideon had attacked with thirty-two thousand men and won, the Israelites would have thought that God didn’t provide much help,and God would have received limited credit. But God is worthy of more. God desires and deserves complete credit. And when three hundred men defeat a massive army with trumpets and pitchers, God receives all the glory (see Judges 7). Why? The reason is a victory like that overcomes all odds. Too frequently, our prayers revolve around requesting God to increase our odds of winning. We would like everything in our favour. But maybe God wants the odds to oppose us so we can encounter a miracle of divine proportions. Faith is trusting God no matter how hopeless the odds are. Our impossible circumstances are chances to experience a new height of God’s glory. Are you facing a situation that, humanly speaking, is beyond your ability to cope with it? Read this: ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God’ (2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV).

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In 1857 David Livingstone gave this speech at Cambridge University: ‘People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa…Away with the word in such a view and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger now and then with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life may make us pause and cause the spirit to waver and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.’ When you serve the Lord, you always get back more than you give up. And if you get back more than you give up, have you really sacrificed anything at all? ‘Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life”’ (Mark 10:28-30 NKJV). The only regrets you will have at the end of your life will be that you didn’t seek and serve God more and seek and serve Him sooner.

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Paul had a succession plan for his ministry. That’s why he mentored Timothy and instructed him, ‘Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.’ The words ‘that your progress may be evident to all’ mean that growth is measurable. Question: as you look back over the last few years of your life, in what areas have you grown? Before you read on, take a moment, and think carefully about how you answer that question. In childhood, our bodies automatically grow. But some of us bring into adulthood a subconscious trust that spiritual, emotional, and mental growth follow a comparable pattern. We think that as time goes by, we inevitably improve. We’re like cartoon character Charlie Brown in Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip, who once said, ‘I think I’ve discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it.’ The problem is that you don’t get better by just living; you must be intentional about it. No one improves by chance. Personal growth doesn’t simply take place on its own. And when you’re finished with your formal education, you must take full ownership of the growth process because no one else will see to it for you. The ultimate growth manual is your Bible. It’s ‘living and powerful’ (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV). Everything you need to know and everything that’s required for you to grow can be found in its pages. So, open your Bible. Delve into it. Read it. Meditate on it. Apply its principles to your life, and you will be amazed at how you grow.

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The parable of the prodigal son is about two boys and their father’s love for each. The younger one dishonoured his father and ended up in a pigpen. When he returned home, he had lost everything – except his father’s love. So no matter who you are or what you have done – God loves you and wants you in His family. Jesus made an amazing statement: ‘When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him’ (v. 20 NKJV). Ancient Hebrew culture thought running was an undignified act for older men. Men wore long flowing robes, and had to pull them up around their waist to run, exposing their undergarments. But the father didn’t care about what people thought; he cared about his wayward son. Unfortunately, his older brother didn’t feel that way. Do you understand why a lot of younger brothers are still out in the pigpen and don’t want to enter the church? Because they’re afraid older brothers will hit them with the mean hand of judgement instead of touching them with the welcoming hand of love. The older brother desires punishment, but the father provides pardon. The older brother requires guilt, but the father gives grace. The older brother wants revenge, but the father wants reconciliation. Here is the good news: no matter how low you have fallen, know that as soon as you return, you will discover your heavenly Father facing you, extending open arms and a loving heart towards you.

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Jesus said: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other’ (vv. 10-14 NKJV). The difference between these two men is that the Pharisee was guilty of sins of the spirit, and the tax collector was guilty of the sins of the flesh. Pride shut the door of heaven to the Pharisee, and humility opened the door of heaven to the tax collector. The Pharisee said he was innocent but went home guilty. The tax collector acknowledged he was guilty and went home innocent. Notice, he doesn’t use the usual word for mercy. The word used here dates back to the Hebrew word kippur, which means ‘atonement’, as in Yom Kippur, which means ‘the Day of Atonement’. The word atonement means ‘to cover’. What the tax collector said was, ‘God, I’m admitting what you already know is true about me. I am a sinful man with a sinful heart. God, will you cover me?’ That’s all God needed to hear from him to save him – and that’s all God needs to hear from you too.

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The experiences you had before you committed your life to Christ, including things you regret, can be redeemed, and put to good use. Before Paul met Christ on the Damascus road, his life had been dedicated to the study of Old Testament law. ‘I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault’ (vv. 5-6 NLT). Looking back, Paul may have considered his years of study as a Pharisee to be wasted. But God had prepared him to show the Jews how Christ was the fulfilment of the Old Testament Scriptures he knew so well. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that God doesn’t begin working in our lives until the day we come to know Christ as Saviour. Scripture says that He ‘foreknew’ us, meaning He chose and prepared us long before we ever met Him (see Romans 8:29-30). David says that God wrote out all the days of his life before they ever came to pass (see Psalm 139:16), and that’s true for you. God is at work in your life in ways you’re unaware of. Even when you’re unable to notice Him at work, He is always active in you, causing His good pleasure. ‘For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:13 NKJV). Faith changes the question ‘Is God at work?’ into a declarative statement of faith: ‘God is at work!’

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Satan is called ‘the accuser’, and he will try to keep you focused on your past. He can hurt you every day unless you accept God’s forgiveness, forgive yourself, and move forward. At the cross, Jesus bore both your sin and shame, but Satan wants you to keep carrying them. Where can you find an answer? Look at these Scriptures: 1) ‘For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind’ (v. 17 NKJV). You say, ‘But that’s in the future.’ True. But the Bible says we have already ‘tasted…the powers of the world to come’ (Hebrews 6:5 KJV) and that our lives can be like ‘days of heaven upon the earth’ (Deuteronomy 11:21 KJV). 2) ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV). 3) ‘Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth’ (Isaiah 54:4 NKJV). You might say, ‘I can’t help but remember!’ Yes, you can! Paul, who killed and imprisoned Christians before becoming an apostle, said: ‘One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV). God can heal your memories, so let the healing begin.

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Your God-given assignment in life comes with three things. 1) A plan. ‘He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.’ As you spend time with the Lord in prayer, He will reveal His plan to you. And He will do it one step at a time. You might say, ‘But what if I make a mistake? What if I stumble?’ The Bible says, ‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand’ (Psalm 37:23-24 NLT). 2) A time frame. Not only does God have a personal plan for you, He schedules certain things to take place in your life at certain times. ‘For the time to favour her, yes, the set time, has come’ (Psalm 102:13 NKJV). That’s why you must stay in step with God and in sync with the beat of the Holy Spirit who lives within you. 3) Victory in spite of the odds and the opposition. ‘For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith’ (1 John 5:4 NLT). Keep your faith strong. Keep trusting God. You may say, ‘But the circumstances don’t look good.’ God is in control of your circumstances. He made the sun stand still to give Joshua extra time to win the battle over his enemies, and He can alter the circumstances for your good and His glory.

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In his book, How Successful People Grow, John Maxwell identifies three kinds of people: ‘1) People who don’t know what they would like to do…They lack a strong sense of purpose…They dabble. They drift. They…have no idea what to shoot for. I believe the main reason is that they don’t know themselves as well as they should and thus remain unfocused in their growth. 2) People who know what they would like to do but don’t do it…Sometimes they aren’t doing what they want because they worry that it will cause them to neglect other responsibilities, such as providing for their families. Sometimes they aren’t willing to pay the price to learn, grow, and move closer to where they want to be. Other times fear prevents them from changing courses to pursue their passion. No matter what the reason, they, too, miss their potential. 3) People who know what they would like to do and do it. [These people fulfil the Scripture: “He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”] The third kind of people know themselves, possess a strong sense of passion, are focused on purpose, grow in areas that help them move closer to their purpose, and do what they were created to do. The best word that describes them is fulfilled. Finding yourself and growing to your potential can be a bit of a catch-22. You have to know who you are to grow to your potential. But you have to grow in order to know who you are.’ The solution is – spend time with God and let Him direct you.

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If serving the Lord stresses you out, read what Jesus said: ‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 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’ (vv. 4-5 NKJV). When you see grapes on a vine, it’s a picture of effortless growth. One day when the great missionary J. Hudson Taylor felt overworked and worried, he read a letter from a friend who had found the secret of abiding in Christ. The letter profoundly moved Taylor, and he realised that his unity with Christ should create joy and fulfilment, not worry and stress. Soon afterwards, Taylor wrote to his sister, saying, ‘As to work, mine was never so plentiful or so difficult: but the weight and strain are now gone. The last month has been perhaps the happiest in my life; and I long to tell you a little of what the Lord has done for my soul…I looked to Jesus and saw that He had said, I will never leave you. Ah, there is rest. For has He not promised to abide with me? As I thought of the Vine and the branches, what light the blessed Spirit poured into my soul!’ So pray: ‘Lord, instead of me striving to see how much I can do for You, I’m going to abide in You and see how much You can do through me.’That’s a prayer God will answer.

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Jesus was both human and divine. Because we tend to think of Him as the Son of God more than the Son of Man, we overlook what we can learn from His human experience. When Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people, His divine power and prerogatives were on display (see Matthew 14:13-21). Yet after the event, we see His humanity in ways we should be able to identify with. After dismissing the crowd and sending the disciples away, Jesus withdrew to a solitary spot on the mountainside to be alone with God. After such a miracle, most of us would be celebrating. And those around us would have a hard time understanding why He sent them away. But Jesus understood that His power did not come from the crowd but from His Father, so He created time and solitude to be alone with Him. The relationship Jesus had with His Father is a picture of the relationship you, too, can have with God. Three things describe it:1) Intimacy. ‘For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does’ (John 5:20 NKJV). 2) Dependency. ‘The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’ (v. 19 NKJV). 3) Obedience. ‘I can of Myself do nothing…I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me’ (v. 30 NKJV). What do you need to send away in order to have such a relationship with the Lord?

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If you would like to start the New Year with a clean slate and travelling lighter, let go of the old grudges that are weighing you down. Philip Yancey describes forgiveness as ‘an unnatural act’. He says, ‘You don’t find dolphins forgiving sharks for eating their playmates. It’s a dog-eat-dog world…not dog-forgive-dog.’ Bitterness and hatred come naturally when you have been hurt. Forgiving is supernatural and requires the grace of God, but remember, Jesus said, ‘If you do not forgive…your Father will not forgive your sins’ (Matthew 6:15 NIV). Think about it – there is not one single, solitary reason God should ever forgive our sins, yet the offences He pardons us for every day far outweigh anything we will ever be asked to forgive our parents, spouses, and friends for. The Bible says forgive ‘each other…as…God forgave you’. Forgiveness opens the doors of a prison, where you are both the prisoner and the jailor. Grudges not only isolate you from people who were once friends, they shorten your life by producing deadly enzymes that contribute to a host of physical ailments. One man told his counsellor, ‘I wish my brother could come to my wedding, but we haven’t spoken in years.’ The counsellor asked, ‘How come?’ Pausing, the man replied, ‘It sounds ridiculous now, but I don’t even remember!’ Drifting apart is the natural result of an unforgiving spirit; forgiveness reverses the trend by healing broken relationships. It’s a scientific fact that forgiveness adds years to your life. As a rule, when you talk to individuals who have passed the eighty-year mark, you find they’re at peace with themselves because they have learned to forgive and let go.

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Sometimes Jesus rose early in the morning to pray; other times, He prayed all night long. So, your quiet time can be morning, evening, or whatever time works best for you. You’re not punching a time clock where God pays you; accordingly, He is inviting you to spend time with Him. David said, ‘I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah.’ Throughout the Psalms, this little word ‘Selah’ occurs seventy-one different times. It means to pause and think. There is no specific length of time attached to the pause. Instead, it seems left up to the individual. Selah. It’s a call to rest and reflect, to be still and breathe deeply, to settle into the moment and remain for a while. The Selah thought appears to be at the centre of quiet time with the Lord. When the Lord says, ‘Selah,’ He is saying, ‘Stop doing, and sit at My feet. Just belong to Me.’ What an invitation! It’s everything you have longed for and everything you need. And believe it or not, people who often have the hardest time doing it are involved in ministry. Like Martha, they excel when it comes to serving. And the danger is that by doing lots of things for the Lord, we feel like that excuses us from sitting at His feet and spending time with Him as Mary did. If you have been remiss, negligent, or inconsistent in this, re-establish your quiet time with the Lord and refuse to let anything keep you from it.

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When everything in the psalmist’s life began falling apart, he prayed, ‘Put me together again with your Word.’ That’s what your quiet time with God does. So, why don’t we have a consistent quiet time with God? Two reasons: 1) We think our quiet time must be a long time. Start small. Reserve five minutes to open your Bible and meditate on a brief portion of Scripture. Chat with God about it. Tell your needs to Him and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through the whole day. Good news! You have just experienced a quiet time! So, tomorrow, repeat it. As your spiritual appetite grows, you will find yourself putting aside more time – ten minutes, then twenty, and that time will keep on growing. 2) We think our quiet time must be free of all noise! Instead of avoiding hustle and bustle, Jesus wants to connect with you there. Begin to find creative ways to connect with the Lord all day long. Listen to worship music while you clean, and sing along. Pray in the Spirit. Learn memory verses. ‘Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord’ (Colossians 3:23 NKJV). Listen to the Bible while you drive – excellent apps are available. Pray while exercising – develop your faith muscle! Go with God for coffee – do your Bible study at a café. Go for a walk with Jesus – pray for others, and praise God for the outdoor beauty He created. Welcome Him into your routines, and the mundane will turn into holy moments. Give the Holy Spirit your consent to interrupt, then do what He says. To put it another way – do life with Jesus.

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One of Satan’s most successful strategies for keeping us away from our quiet time with God is reminding us of our sins and shortcomings. That’s a lie; don’t believe it. In the Old Testament, the High Priest went into the Holiest of Holies to atone for the sins of the people. When he came back out, the people rejoiced, knowing that they were fully accepted by God. With that in mind, read this Scripture: ‘[Jesus] 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 we will find grace to help us when we need it most’ (vv. 15-16 NLT). Another lie that Satan will tell you to keep you away from your quiet time is that the greatest saints in history spent hours each day praying and studying the Scriptures. That’s true, and one day you may become like them. Meanwhile, what should you do? Start small but begin! Pastor Greg Laurie sees spiritual hunger as the opposite of natural hunger: ‘When you’re hungry in the natural, you eat and are satisfied. But with spiritual hunger, it isn’t until you begin eating that you discover how hungry you really are!’ So when you fail to keep your quiet time with God, you shouldn’t feel guilty; you should feel hungry. When you ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8 KJV), you will want more and more time with Jesus – which is wonderful because He longs for time with you.

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What’s stopping you from having a regular quiet time with God? Maybe the very thought feels filled with ‘shoulds’ and ‘ought tos’; like another item to add to the unending checklist of your life. So, you think, ‘Maybe later, when life slows down.’ We need to shed the myths and impractical expectations the Enemy uses to prevent us from experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus and being known by Him. David wrote: ‘The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me…My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming”’ (Psalm 27:4-6, 8 NLT). When David wrote those words, there was no temple or ‘house of the Lord’. So, what did he mean? That God is as close to you as a prayer; that you can seek the Lord, delight in the Lord, meditate on the Lord, and talk with the Lord anywhere and anytime. The words ‘you’re my place of quiet retreat’ mean you can withdraw from people, pressures, and problems and draw fresh strength from the Lord by communing with Him in your heart and mind. It can happen anywhere and anytime.

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Paul was totally invested in what God had called him to do. Are you? When it comes to barriers to success, we are usually our own worst enemies. Taking the steps necessary to fulfil a God-given dream will cost you. You will have to work hard. You will have to make sacrifices. You will have to keep learning, growing, and changing. Are you willing to do that? Most people aren’t. Ask people when they will do what they want to do, and most will answer that they hope to do it ‘someday’. Why not now? Because you’re not ready? Perhaps you’re not. But if you wait until you are, maybe you will never do it. You only get ready by starting. And if you’re willing to start, here are some things you can count on. First, it will be different from what you imagined. Second, it will be more difficult than you imagined. Third, it will be better than you imagined. Mark Twain said that the two greatest days in a person’s life are the day they were born and the day they discover why they were born. If you want to discover why you were born, spend time with God. His Word says, ‘“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me”’ (vv. 11-13 NLT).

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There are divine purposes that must be faithfully watched over and protected in order to be fulfilled. Joseph gives us three keys to seeing God’s promises fulfilled. The first is mercy, and the second is faith. Let’s look at the third: obedience. ‘Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus’ (vv. 24-25 NKJV). Joseph obeyed God when humanly speaking the circumstances didn’t make sense. He obeyed God when his mind was challenged with doubts. He obeyed God when his emotions were in an uproar. He obeyed God when it meant leaving home to live in Egypt until Herod died. For Joseph it meant leaving behind an established trade and business, and their family and friends. It meant living in a land where he did not understand or speak the language. And he didn’t know how long they would be there: weeks? months? years? Though Egypt was a hard place to be, it was a place of obedience. And God’s promises are protected – in places of obedience. God’s promises to us are fulfilled – in places of obedience. God reveals His will to us – in places of obedience. Miracles happen – in places of obedience. Provision comes – in places of obedience. We are safe – in places of obedience. Are you waiting for a promise to be fulfilled? Are you looking for an answer to prayer? Use the keys of mercy, faith, and obedience.

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In Joseph’s life we see three keys to experiencing the fulfilment of God’s purpose and promises in our lives. The first is mercy. Let’s look at the second: faith. ‘While he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”’ (v. 20 NKJV). Joseph had intended to privately divorce Mary. Then God told him the divine plan. What was Joseph’s part? To exercise faith in a most difficult set of circumstances. To trust God when the situation could not be understood or explained rationally. God showed him four things: 1) God reminded Joseph of his identity: ‘Joseph, son of David.’ God wants you to know who you are ‘in Christ’ (see Ephesians 1:18-19). You have a special identity as a member of His redeemed family. 2) God assured Joseph that he didn’t have to be afraid. What enabled Joseph to overcome his fear and move forwards? Hearing from God. Having a word from the Lord to stand on. That’s what you need too (see Isaiah 30:21). 3) God gave Joseph direction. He was to take Mary as his wife, be a father to the child, and name Him Jesus. And what’s the lesson for you? Be teachable and follow God’s instructions. It’s by faith and obedience that you will reach your God-given destiny. 4) God assured Joseph that He was at work in the situation. When you know that, you experience peace of mind and a new perspective.

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Joseph’s life of silent action gives us three keys to living in God’s promises. Today, let’s look at the first key: mercy. We are introduced to Joseph in the middle of a personal crisis. He is in love with Mary. And he believed that she loved him…until he heard she was pregnant. How should he respond? Openly shame her? Or surrender her to a public stoning as the law of Moses required? No, he chose mercy over malice and anger and revenge. The mercy of Joseph preserved the life of Mary and protected the unborn child Jesus so that He could fulfil His destiny and become our Saviour. And this understanding, forgiving, and merciful carpenter helped to raise an understanding, forgiving, and merciful Son. A Son who would confront prejudice and hatred; who would rise above the discrimination of His culture and treat a Samaritan woman as an equal; who would release ‘the woman at the well’ from a lifetime of failure and emptiness, and also bring hope and salvation to an entire city; who would tell a guilty woman caught in adultery and about to be stoned by a religious mob, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more’ (John 8:11 NKJV). A Son who would accept sinners not as bad, but as lost. One of Joseph’s other sons, James, would one day grow up to believe in Jesus and write one of the books of the Bible in which he said, ‘But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds’ (James 3:17 NLT). Has someone hurt you? Follow the example of Joseph and show mercy.

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You can search the Gospels and you won’t discover a single word spoken by Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph. But he is irreplaceable in the story of Jesus’ birth. Here is why: God used Joseph to protect and preserve the life of the Saviour. So today, let’s look at the lesson we draw from the life of Joseph: You are responsible to protect God’s unborn purposes and promises in your life. Right now, there is a part of God’s will that is yet unknown and to be experienced in your life. A promise yet to be fulfilled. A word yet to be realised. A ministry yet to be launched. A family member yet to be saved. They are divine purposes that are presently unseen and unborn, and they must be watched over and protected so that they can come to pass. Just as Herod ordered the death of every Hebrew baby boy under two years of age in order to eliminate Jesus, Satan will do everything he can to stop God’s plan and purpose from being accomplished in your life and in the lives of your loved ones. This will help you to understand that the battle is not over your pastor your present – but over your future. What should you do? First, be on guard. ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). Second, put a prayer covering over your life and your loved ones: ‘I looked for someone…who would…stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land’ (Ezekiel 22:30 NIV).

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In training Timothy for ministry, Paul says, ‘Preach the Word!…[Whether it is convenient or inconvenient…you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong].’ Most hotels have a sign you can put on your bedroom door that says, ‘Do Not Disturb’. That sign on your door means you want to relax, sleep, or not be bothered. Hanging that sign on your hotel room door is acceptable, but putting it on your life isn’t. Have you ever noticed that God doesn’t always do things on our timetable or in ways that are convenient for us? Paul told Timothy that when it came to serving the Lord, he was called to do it ‘whether the time is favourable or not’ (NLT) and ‘whether it is convenient or inconvenient’. We need to remember that whatever God asks us to do, it’s always worth any inconvenience or difficulty we face in the process. And He will always make a way for us to accomplish His will when we are obedient to Him. The Bible says, ‘So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him’ (Romans 8:8 AMPC). Notice, this ‘life of the flesh’ doesn’t please God. This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us. What it does mean is that He is not satisfied, nor will He accept behaviour ‘catering to the appetites and impulses of their [our] carnal nature’. So take down your ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and commit to walking in obedience, for it’s the pathway of blessing.

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Your personal potential is what you may be – the person you can become. God, who sees the end from the beginning, knows your potential and will help you to reach it. But you have a part to play. You must desire growth and commit yourself to it each day. Growth is a pathway that never ends: ‘They go from strength to strength’ (Psalm 84:7 NKJV). Just as your DNA differs from every other person, so does your personal growth pathway. To discover your God-given purpose, you must grow in spiritual awareness. To become a better person, you must grow in character. To progress in your career, you must develop your skills. To be a better spouse or parent, you must grow in your relationship skills. To achieve your financial goals, you must grow in your understanding about how money works. The aspects of growth differ from individual to individual, but the principles are alike for every person. And if you’re serious about growth, you must integrate what you’re learning into your routine. You cannot change your life until you change something you do every day. Growth only takes place when knowledge becomes experience. That’s why keeping a growth journal is so important. It helps you to see how far you have come, what you have learned, the extent to which you have changed, and how far you have to go. If you continue to learn and grow daily for many years, you will be amazed at how far they will take you. ‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’

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Doing God’s will can be difficult, but it always brings a sense of fulfilment and reward. David experienced resentment from his family, betrayal by his boss, and rejection by his friends. Yet he could say, ‘I delight to do thy will, O my God.’ To fulfil your God-given destiny, you need to be passionate. Passion gives you an advantage every time. One person with passion is more effective than ninety-nine who only have an interest. Passion gives you energy and keeps you going when others give up. Indeed, it keeps you going when you want to give up! Not only will God give you a passion for His will, but you will also discover abilities you didn’t know you had. They may be undeveloped, but they’re there waiting to be tapped. Some of us have inherent abilities, and we know who we are and what to do. Others must work hard to make these discoveries. Your goal should be to waste as little of your life as possible. There is a big difference between having a God-given dream that pushes you to achieve and pulling a concept out of thin air that has no relation to who you are and what you’re called to do. Just as a soldier on the front line must stay in communication with headquarters, you must pray daily and search God’s Word. When you know that you’re doing what God has called you to do, you experience joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the midst of conflict, and confidence when everything around you is falling apart. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is more important than knowing you’re doing the will of God.

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Sometimes following God involves leaving a secure and lucrative career. Moses left a palace, Elisha left a farm, James and John left their fishing boats. But sometimes, following God means staying where you are and maximising every opportunity He gives you to promote His kingdom. When David returned from battle with the spoils, some of his soldiers didn’t want to share them with those who had remained behind. But David said, ‘The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike’ (1 Samuel 30:24 NIV). What you must seek God about is, ‘Am I called to go or to stay?’ It’s amazing how many people you meet who don’t like what they do for a living. Why do they do it? Because we all have to make a living. But what if God is calling you to do something different? It’s a risk making a change from what you’re currently doing to what you believe God wants you to do. You might not succeed. Or discover you don’t like it to the extent you expected. Or not make as much money. But the greater risk is staying when God calls you to go. Why? Regret! Knowing you never attempted to do what God had called you to do. You may say, ‘I have many unanswered questions, and there is much I don’t know.’ Read this Scripture: ‘Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These…things I will do; I will not forsake them’ (Isaiah 42:16 NIV).

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On December 18, 1933, a curious ad appeared in a Canton, Ohio, newspaper: ‘Man Who Felt Depression’s Sting to Help 75 Unfortunate Families. Anonymous Giver Known only as “B. Virdot”, posts $750 to Spread Christmas Cheer.’ All the reader had to do was describe their plight in a letter and mail it care of ‘general delivery’. The appeals poured in. Oddly, no one knew a ‘B. Virdot’, and people wondered if such a person even existed. Then within a week, cheques began arriving in homes all over the area. Most were modest, about five dollars, and all were signed ‘B. Virdot’. Throughout the ensuing years as the story was told, the identity of the philanthropist remained unknown. Then in 2008, long after his death, his grandson opened a tattered black suitcase collecting dust in his parent’s attic. That’s when they found the letters dated December 1933, along with 150 cancelled cheques. Turns out that B. Virdot was really Samuel J. Stone, and the pseudonym was a hybrid of Barbara, Virginia, and Dorothy, the names of his daughters. Interestingly, there was nothing privileged about Sam Stone. He was fifteen when his family emigrated from Romania and settled in a Pittsburgh ghetto. Sam’s father hid his shoes so he couldn’t go to school, forcing him and his six siblings to roll cigars in the attic. Eventually, Sam left home to work on a barge and then in a coal mine. By the time the Great Depression hit he owned a small chain of clothing stores, and lived in relative comfort. Nevertheless, he had a heart for others – and his actions proved it. Can that be said about you?

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A pastor writes: ‘Poll after poll has found that most people’s number one fear is speaking in public. Death ranks number two. That means some people would rather die than speak in public. Why? It’s the fear of looking foolish…But faith is the willingness to look foolish. Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish buying maternity clothes at ninety. The Israelites looked foolish marching around Jericho blowing trumpets. David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a slingshot…The wise men looked foolish following yonder star. Peter looked foolish stepping out of the boat in the middle of the lake. And Jesus looked foolish hanging half naked on the cross. But that’s the essence of faith. And the results speak for themselves. Noah was saved from the flood. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. David defeated Goliath…The wise men found the Messiah. Peter walked on water. And Jesus rose from the dead…The greatest breakthroughs, miracles, and turning points in Scripture can be traced back to someone who was willing to look foolish.’ Why? Read this Scripture: ‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”’ (Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV). So here is your choice: live by earthly thoughts and ways and be accepted by people, or live by heavenly thoughts and ways and be accepted by God. When you see it from that perspective, your choice is clear.

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There is a time to be cautious and a time to throw caution to the wind. And it takes discernment to know the difference. If you’re waiting for perfect conditions before seizing an opportunity, you will be hesitating until you die. The Bible says, ‘He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.’ More often than not, the only thing between you and the fulfilment of your dream is an excuse: ‘I’m too busy…I don’t have enough money…I’m unqualified…I’m not ready yet…I have lots of problems.’ News flash: no one is ever ready. Immediately before Christ’s first miracle, he shows a hint of hesitation: ‘My time has not yet come’ (John 2:4 NLT). But Jesus had a mother who loved Him enough to persuade Him. In his book Jump In!, Mark Burnett writes about his path to TV-producer prominence. Burnett created hit shows like Survivor and The Apprentice. He writes: ‘Nothing will ever be…perfect, and nothing can be totally planned. The best you can hope for is to be about half certain of your plan and know that you and the team you’ve assembled are willing to work hard enough to overcome the inevitable problems as they arrive.’ Note the words ‘the best you can hope for is to be about half certain’. That’s a pretty good paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 11. So, don’t ‘observe the wind’, and don’t ‘regard the clouds’. After you have prayed and prepared, it’s time to trust God and take action.

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Here is what Paul said about Epaphras, a disciple so obscure you probably don’t recognise his name: ‘Epaphras…is…always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God…he has a great zeal for you’ (vv. 12-13 NKJV). James writes, ‘Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much’ (James 5:16 NKJV). To be fervent is to be passionate! Bishop Joseph Hall, a seventeenth-century Anglican minister, was once imprisoned in the Tower of London for his faith. He lived his final years on a farm in the country writing devotional classics. Here is what he remarked about prayer: ‘An arrow, if it be drawn up but a little way, goes not far; but if it be pulled up to the head, flies swiftly and pierces deep. Prayer, if it be only dribbled forth from careless lips, falls at our feet. It is the strength of [discharge] and strong desire that sends it to heaven, and makes it pierce the clouds. It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be; nor the divinity of our prayers, how good the doctrine may be – which God cares for. Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much.’ The Lord answers the prayers of those who pray passionately. So, get serious about prayer and give yourself fully to it!

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True worship calls for being less self-conscious and self-absorbed and more God-conscious and God-absorbed. After watching him dance before the Lord, David’s wife gave him an earful: ‘How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!’ (v. 20 NIV). To which David replied, ‘It was before the Lord, who chose me…he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel – I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become…undignified…humiliated in my own eyes’ (vv. 21-22 NIV). David provides us with a picture of pure worship. Worship is undressing. It’s taking off the things in which we find our identity and security outside our relationship with Christ. It’s a reminder that our own righteousness is like filthy rags in the sight of God. Worship is not about what we can do for God but what God has done for us. He has loved us, saved us, and clothed us in the righteousness of Christ. It’s the truth that inspired hymnist Charles Wesley to write, ‘O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.’ The Bible says we can praise God in nine different ways: speaking, shouting, singing, clapping our hands, playing musical instruments, raising our hands before the Lord, kneeling, lying prostrate in His presence, and dancing before Him. David said, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth’ (Psalm 34:1 NKJV). And he tells us why. ‘I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears’ (v. 4 NKJV). So, the word for today is – worship with abandon.

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In 2 Samuel 6, David had just been crowned king of Israel. He had defeated the Philistines and recaptured Zion. Now he is bringing the ark of the covenant, the ultimate symbol of God’s presence among His people, back to Jerusalem. After years of living without it, the sight of it overwhelmed David with joy, causing him to strip off his kingly robes and dance before the ark with abandon wearing nothing but a loincloth. Yet, when you get excited about God, don’t expect everybody to get excited with you or understand your excitement. David’s wife, Michal, was such a person. The Bible tells us two things about her. 1) ‘Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart’ (v. 16 NKJV). 2) ‘Therefore Michal…had no children to the day of her death’ (v. 23 NKJV). Seemingly, worship is foolish, isn’t it? Singing to somebody you can’t see. Lifting up your hands to somebody you can’t touch. Or, in David’s case, failing to act with kingly dignity and decorum. An old proverb says, ‘Those who hear not the music think the dancer is mad.’ That’s what is going on in this story. David hears the music and worships God with abandon. Michal doesn’t and forfeits what she longs for most. Don’t miss the point here. When you discount the critics and naysayers and decide to worship God with all your heart, you begin to thrive spiritually. When you don’t, you end up spiritually barren.

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In his poem ‘The Road Not Taken’, Robert Frost writes, ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.’ Sadly today, the road less travelled is honesty in small things and honesty in all things. According to Psychology Today, 70 per cent of US high school students and almost half of college students admit to cheating. USA Today stated that 91 per cent of Americans lie regularly. Our culture says, ‘If you want to get ahead, you have to break a few rules.’ But the Bible warns that ‘the little foxes…spoil the vines’ (Song of Songs 2:15 KJV). Solomon is referring to little sins that whet our appetite, distort our values, and lead to bigger sins. Bible commentator Matthew Henry writes, ‘Adam’s eating forbidden fruit seemed but a little sin, but it opened the door to the greatest.’ Are you being tempted to compromise your character? Tempted to deceive classmates? Pressured to be untruthful at work? Caught up in an ‘innocent little relationship’? Evangelist Charles Finney said, ‘A person who is dishonest in little things isn’t really honest in anything.’ Unless the small, secret areas of your life are governed by your convictions, you endanger them to corruption from your compromises. One of the greatest promises made in Scripture is to those who are faithful in small things. ‘Well done…you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things’ (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). Guard your thoughts; they become your deeds. Guard your deeds; they form your character. Guard your character; it decides your destiny.

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Fanny became blind at six weeks old at the hands of a fake doctor. But her grandmother Eunice resolved that Fanny would never grow up feeling disabled or deprived. Eunice devoted years to training Fanny in all kinds of things – teaching her the Bible, assisting her in exploring nature, and enabling her to develop incredible powers of memory. Fanny memorised large sections of the Bible. From that treasury of Scripture, she later produced some of the best-loved hymns we sing today. ‘Blessed Assurance’, ‘To God Be the Glory’, ‘All the Way My Saviour Leads Me’, and ‘He Hideth My Soul’. In the Bible, Timothy had a grandmother named Lois, whose prayers and example helped mould him into none other than the apostle Paul’s successor. Paul writes, ‘I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother’ (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV). Never underestimate the influence you have as a grandparent. As you pour yourself into your grandchildren, you may be moulding servants of the Lord. If you are a grandparent, claim this promise from the Scriptures: ‘One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.’ Perhaps your children have disappointed you and failed to raise your grandchildren in the ways of the Lord. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up. ‘I sought for a man among them who would…stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land’ (Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV). Your prayers are God’s invitation and entry point into the lives of both your children and your grandchildren. So, ‘stand in the gap’, and believe God for the salvation of your family.

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Peter writes, ‘Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith’ (vv. 8-9 NLT). The word Christ means ‘the Anointed One’. So as a Christian, you are anointed by the same Spirit that rested upon Christ. Satan tempted Christ, and he will tempt you. Satan targeted Christ because he feared His destiny; likewise, Satan has discerned your destiny, and he’s out to stop you from reaching it. When he reminds you of the failures in your past, it’s to discourage you and keep you from reaching for the future God has in mind for you. Paul wrote, ‘He chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan’ (Ephesians 1:11 NLT). This means God has chosen you to fulfil a certain purpose, He has a specific plan for your life, and He is making everything work according to that plan. Satan also knows this, and that’s why his attack against you will never let up. C.S. Lewis said, ‘There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God, and counter-claimed by Satan.’ There is no middle ground. It is only a matter of time before you must join one side or another. And it is preferable to predetermine your position with a decisive intention than have it selected for you by passive default. So each day, when you awake, dress for battle and prepare for attack knowing that in God’s strength you will win.

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In Scripture, we are commanded to love everyone, not trust everyone. Jesus is our example in this. ‘Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did…many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature…what mankind is really like’ (vv. 23-25 NLT 2004). These words were not spoken concerning the crowd that followed Jesus but those who claimed to be His disciples. While Jesus gave Himself to them relationally and lived life with them, He knew that they were not perfect. He understood human nature, and He did not trust Himself to them in an unbalanced way. When you place in people the trust that should only be placed in God, you set yourself up for disappointment. We can only go so far in any human relationship; beyond that, we will likely be hurt. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that some people will never hurt us, only to be disappointed when they don’t live up to those standards. There are basically two types of people. The first are users. As long as your interests line up with theirs, they are trustworthy. The second are true friends. ‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity’ (Proverbs 17:17 NKJV). But because of human weakness, even true friends will let you down. So here are two good rules to live by: 1) When it comes to people, ‘trust but verify’. 2) When it comes to God, ‘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).

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You can have 20/20 vision in the natural world yet be blind in the spiritual world and fall prey to Satan’s schemes. But when you turn to God in prayer, He can open your eyes and give you a strategy for victory. Notice what happened when Elisha and his servant woke up in the city of Dothan to discover that they were surrounded by hostile armies. ‘When the servant of the man of God…went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. As the Aramean army advanced towards him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked’ (2 Kings 6:15-18 NLT). Are you fearing defeat? Are you confused and don’t know what to do? Do you feel like the odds are stacked against you, and you won’t succeed? The Bible says, ‘Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4 KJV). Get alone with God and pray, ‘Lord, open my eyes.’ And stay there until He does it. When it happens, you will discover that the forces of heaven are on your side, and the resources of heaven are available to you. How do you access them? By faith!

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The Bible says: ‘Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places’ (vv. 10-12 NLT). Note the words ‘against mighty powers in this dark world’. When Daniel prayed, he encountered those mighty powers. ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me’ (Daniel 10:12-13 NLT). Note the words ‘blocked my way’. When you are committed to walking with God and doing His will, Satan will try to block you at every turn. If he cannot keep you from spending time in prayer, he will try to block your prayers. For twenty-one days, Daniel wondered, ‘Lord, you have answered my prayers before; how come you’re not answering them now?’ But Daniel’s answer was on the way. And yours is too. Christians used to speak about ‘praying through’. It means standing firmly on the Word of God, praying in the all-powerful and all-prevailing name of Jesus, refusing to become impatient, refusing to give up, knowing God hears and answers our prayers.

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First and most importantly, Jesus brought the light of salvation to all mankind. But one of the enduring benefits of His kingdom is His impact on learning and education. The word university began with those who believed that God created the universe; therefore, His ways must be studied and known. Martin Luther highlighted from the New Testament the priesthood of all believers. In the process, he changed education because he taught that every person needs to be capable of reading and writing so they can study the Scriptures for themselves. This ushered in a goal of worldwide literacy for everyone in a society. In America, the first law to call for mass universal education was announced in Massachusetts in 1647. It was named, believe it or not, ‘The Old Deluder Satan Act’. Its wording goes: ‘It being one chief product of that Old Deluder Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures…and to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers.’ This is a lovely idea that everybody should learn: that ignorance is the devil’s tool, and that God is the God of truth. In nation after nation, Christian missionaries discovered languages that had not been written. So in acts of extraordinary sacrifice, they dedicated their lives to the chore. They assembled the first dictionaries. They penned the first grammars. They formed the first alphabets. And the first significant proper name written in numerous languages was the name Jesus.

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To share your faith effectively with others, you must overcome these three obstacles. 1) You must be sure of your own salvation. John writes: ‘He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself…And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son…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, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God’ (1 John 5:10-11, 13 NKJV). 2) You must get over your fear of rejection. That means getting to the root of your fear, which is ego. Only when self-preservation and self-interest are crucified can you make Christ known without fear. Jesus said, ‘Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me’ (John 13:20 NIV). Get over yourself! If someone rejects you, you may lose face. But if they reject Jesus, they will lose their soul. 3) You must use wisdom in sharing the gospel. ‘He that winneth souls is wise’ (Proverbs 11:30 KJV). God can work on both ends of the line. He can prepare the heart of your listener so that they’re open to what you have to say, and He can give you the right words and the right approach to talk to them. Jesus said, ‘The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you’ (John 14:26 NIV).

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A Christian leader writes: ‘The Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivari was a poor man. And yet his violins are now the most prized violins ever made because of the rich and resonant sound they produce. The unique sound of a Stradivarius cannot be duplicated. What may surprise you is that these precious instruments were not made from treasured pieces of wood; they were carved from discarded lumber. Because Stradivari couldn’t afford fine materials, he got most of his wood from the dirty harbours where he lived. He would take those waterlogged pieces of wood to his shop, clean them up, and dry them out. Then, from those trashed pieces of lumber, he would create instruments of rare beauty. It has since been discovered that while the wood floated in those dirty harbours, microbes infiltrated the wood and ate out the centres of those cells. This left just a fibrous infrastructure of wood that created resonating chambers for the music. From wood that nobody wanted, Stradivari produced violins that now everybody wants.’ You say, ‘How does any of this relate to me?’ Just as this violin maker transformed rubbish into treasure, God can transform you into what you were actually meant to be. You might say, ‘But you don’t know how low I have fallen or the things I’ve done. I doubt that Jesus could save and transform someone like me!’ Give Him a try. Put Him to the test. You won’t be disappointed. The Bible says, ‘He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.’

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Persistence and a refusal to abandon your vision kept you coming back and back and back again until you finally succeeded. Try to imagine what life would be like without the light bulb or the polio vaccine. Yet Thomas Edison and Jonas Salk lived through endless chapters of trial and failure before they succeeded. Successful people take note of their failures and learn from them. They examine them carefully, work out what went wrong, and use them to correct their errors going forwards. So often, we begin new projects with excitement and enthusiasm. The newness of what we are doing compels us to keep moving forwards. Then something goes wrong, and we stop. The project looked easier than it turned out to be, and we are not prepared to work at it and stay at it, so we give up. But quitters don’t win, and winners don’t quit. And as a redeemed child of God, you have a big plus: ‘My help comes from the Lord’ (Psalm 121:2 NKJV). Think about that! With the Lord of every situation and circumstance helping you, you will eventually prevail. You have a source of unfailing strength and guidance to draw on. Moses lived through criticism, betrayal, and constant complaining, yet he led the greatest migration of people in the history of mankind. How did he do it? The Bible gives us the answer in two phrases: ‘He was looking ahead to his reward…he persevered because he saw him who is invisible’ (Hebrews 11:26-27 NIV). So keep your eyes on the Lord, keep looking ahead to your promised reward, and you will win.

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Unexpected events can knock us off our feet. And while some of us get knocked down and out, others get back up and go on. They refuse to accept defeat as being permanent. They’re like the man who said, ‘I’m never down; I’m either up, or I’m getting up.’ They see everything that happens in life as a learning experience. Losing a loved one is heart breaking, but it can also be a wake-up call to live every day of your life to the fullest. Losing a job can be traumatic, but it can also bring to the surface talents and abilities you never knew you had. Struggling to overcome a bad habit can lead to reprioritising your life and instituting healthy habits. You can prepare for the worst by saving money for emergencies, taking classes about new products and technology, keeping your relationships and contacts current so when you need to call someone for help, someone will willingly pick up the phone. Doing so is like having a spare tyre and tools in your boot for changing a flat. You hope you never need to use them, but you keep them ready to go in the event you hit a bump in the road. Above all, keep your relationship with God in good repair! ‘The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand’ (Psalm 37:23-24 NIV).

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Just as an ECG can measure the health of our physical heart and blockages that can threaten it, it’s helpful to have an instrument that can measure the level of our zeal, commitment, and wholeheartedness when it comes to serving the Lord. The following six questions will do just that: 1) Do I talk openly and frequently about my commitment to Christ in order to create a kind of public accountability for my actions? 2) Do I accept the responsibility to grow? Do I read books and practise skills and get together with those farther down the road who can help me improve? 3) Do I complain about problems in a way that cleverly rationalises a half-hearted involvement? 4) Do I handle discouragements by talking with God and requesting strength to persevere? 5) Do I acknowledge and celebrate even my small steps in the right direction? 6) The apostle Paul writes, ‘Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.’ Zeal describes passion, persistence, and power. And these are things I am able to track and guard. Am I honest about my level of zeal these days? When my zeal is flagging, do I take steps to renew it? Think about each of these questions carefully and prayerfully. Be honest with God and with yourself. And if you don’t like the answers, decide today to take action. Spend more time alone with God in prayer and reading His Word. Having a burning zeal for God is like tending a fire; it requires constant fuelling and maintenance. And no one else can do that for you.

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The Bible says, ‘Amaziah…did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly’ (vv. 1-2 NIV). Contrast that with what God said about David: ‘I have found David…a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’ (Acts 13:22 NIV). This can be a little bewildering because when you read about David’s life, you find chapters of adultery, murder, and cover-up. He’s a disaster as a husband and inferior as a dad. But his heart is devoted to God. How do we know? Because when he makes mistakes and sins, he repents and desires to get right with God again. When David guided the return of the ark of the covenant to Israel, he danced before the Lord ‘with all his might’ (2 Samuel 6:14 KJV). He put his whole self into it. If you wonder how that dance looked, the text reveals it involved King David ‘leaping and dancing before the Lord’ (v. 16 KJV). The heart, in early history, was the core of a person. It meant not only feelings, as we many times think of the heart, but the centre of a person’s being, especially the will. So, wholehearted devotion to God reveals what you choose to embrace with all your energies. Amaziah lived twenty-nine years of his life finessing his commitment to God. He did what was right, but his heart was elsewhere. David, in spite of his flaws, pursued God with all his heart. So the word for today is – strive for wholehearted devotion to God.

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Small offences can be forgiven easily. But when someone hurts us badly and seems to be getting away with it, forgiveness is a real challenge. Until you forgive the offence and let it go, you will constantly feel the weight of it weighing you down. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to forgiving is thinking that if your feelings don’t immediately change towards someone, you haven’t really forgiven them. No, forgiveness is a decision. It’s an act of your will. You may continue to struggle with feelings of hurt and resentment. That doesn’t invalidate your decision to forgive; it just means healing takes time. And your healing begins the moment you decide to forgive. The Bible says, ‘Let all bitterness…be put away from you…And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV). Once you have done your part, which is to forgive, trust God to do His part, which is to heal your emotions and restore your peace and joy. You have the power to make the decision to forgive, but only God has the power to change your feelings towards the person who hurt you. So, trust God to change your heart. Eventually, your feelings will follow and line up with your decisions. In the meantime: ‘Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself – it tends only to evildoing’ (Psalm 37:7-8 AMPC).

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Jesus said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner…said to him, “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” The servants said to him, “Do you want us then to go and gather them up?” But he said, “No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn’”’ (vv. 24-30 NKJV). Removing the weeds (ungodly) from the wheat (godly) is not our job. We must concentrate on cultivating wheat, and let God do the dividing. Why? Because the roots of both plants (lives) will have become so closely entwined that even if you could differentiate between the two, you would uproot the wheat with the weeds. You would also uproot the wheat that was planted and would mature later. Plus, some of the wheat that has not yet formed heads of grain you would confuse for weeds. Your job is to bear good fruit, and God’s job is to divide the wheat from the tares. So the word for today is – leave the judging to God.

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Jesus told professional fishermen, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ These men knew three things about catching fish: 1) You must go where the fish are. You might say, ‘I thought we were supposed to separate ourselves from the world.’ Jesus didn’t avoid the culture; He engaged it in order to change it. And you must do the same. Jesus prayed: ‘I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world’ (John 17:15-18 NKJV). 2) You must be ready when the fish are biting. ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect’ (1 Peter 3:15 NIV). The saying, ‘When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear,’ is a true saying. 3) You must use the right bait to catch fish. Paul said, ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes‘ (Romans 1:16 NKJV). The word ‘gospel’ means good news. Honest sinners already feel bad about their sins and struggles; what they need is the power to change. And ‘the gospel…is the power of God to salvation’. Keep these three principles clearly in mind, and today go fishing for souls.

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Our inner self can be trained to wait on God, even though our outer self is stressed and anxious for answers. This is not easy to do in our fast-paced society, where the spiritual discipline of waiting on the Lord is often lacking. We want everything – right now. But if we are always in a hurry, we will miss out on the close fellowship with God that takes time to develop. He will speak to our hearts if only we will be patient to listen. After slaying the prophets of Baal, Elijah learned a valuable lesson about waiting on God. The Lord told him to go stand on a mountain. A great wind came, then an earthquake, then a fire, but the Lord was in none of these. The Bible says, ‘After the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice’ (1 Kings 19:12 AMPC). The Lord spoke in a still, small voice after the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. If Elijah had been impatient he would not have heard the Lord’s voice. David also learned to wait on God and ‘meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple’ (Psalm 27:4 AMPC). In order for us to pray effectively, we must choose to wait patiently and listen for His word. Waiting and listening takes the focus off us and places it on Him, who is the answer to all our needs. It is often in silence that the power of God is moving most mightily. So, allow the Holy Spirit to teach you how to wait in His presence.

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If you feel you’re not talented enough to be used by God, read the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Actually, there were five thousand men. If you add women and children, the number could be more than twenty thousand. And the boy’s lunch was more meagre than you imagine. A loaf was about the size of a mini pancake. The word for fish refers to sea creatures about the size of sardines. But what made that little lunch a big feast is what the boy did when Jesus asked him for it. He gave it willingly. He didn’t say, ‘Lord, you can have one fish, but I will keep the other one. You take three loaves, and I will keep the other two.’ He gave Jesus everything He asked for. Now think about the results of his act of sacrificial kindness. 1) The original lunch didn’t fill up even a single basket, but the leftovers filled twelve baskets. This illustrates the harvest law taught in Scripture. When you give to God, you always get back more than you give (see Luke 6:38). And when you withhold, you rob yourself of His blessing. ‘One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want’ (Proverbs 11:24 ESV). 2) By meeting the needs of others, his own needs were met. ‘Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted’(John 6:11 NIV). The truth is that when you give God what you have, you will be amazed what He does with it.

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When Joseph’s brothers stripped him of his coat of many colours, which represented his father’s favour, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. When he was thrown into a pit and then sold into slavery, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. When the butler he befriended in prison failed to speak on his behalf to Pharaoh, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. ‘Joseph…was sold as a slave…He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, the ruler of the people let him go free. He made him lord of his house’ (vv. 17-21 NKJV). God’s Word will stand the test of time, but in order for it to come to pass, you must stand strong in faith during your times of testing. You will be tested by the attitudes and actions of your family. You will be tested by the unfaithfulness and betrayal of friends you trusted. You will be tested by living in circumstances of adversity and hardship that seem opposite to what God promised you. You see, God is more interested in your character than He is in your comfort. The New Living Translation says, ‘Until the time came to fulfil his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character’ (v. 19). Why test anything? To find out if it’s trustworthy. And when you prove trustworthy, you can stand on the promise, ‘It will certainly come to pass’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NET). So, stand on the promise God gave you.

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The psalmist wrote, ‘Come before His presence with singing…Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name’ (vv. 2, 4 NKJV). When you approach a king, a certain protocol is required. And David gives us the protocol for coming into the presence of the King of Kings: ‘Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.’ Question: is that your personal experience in church? Or do you stand like a spectator while the musicians, the worship team, or the choir do the singing and you do the listening? We are all called to ‘enter into’ praise! Worship is not something you merely hear with your ears; you express it with your lips – and your heart. When you fail to do so, there is a connection with God that is not made. You, personally, must worship God! And regardless of how gifted and talented they may be, no one else can do that for you. You say, ‘But sometimes I don’t feel like praising God.’ The Bible says, ‘Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name’ (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). God wants sacrificial praise. What’s that? Praise when you don’t feel like it. Praise when you are going through seasons of hardship. Praise when humanly speaking, you can’t think of a single thing to praise God for. With God, the praise that costs is the praise that counts. ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth’ (Psalm 34:1 NKJV).

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The original King James Bible says, ‘O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.’ The New King James Bible says, ‘You are…enthroned in the praises of Israel.’ You say, ‘Which translation is accurate?’ Both are accurate. The word ‘inhabit’ pictures a dweller who feels right at home. And the word ‘enthroned’ pictures someone in a position of power and authority, someone who can give orders and make things happen. So God is at home in our praise; His power is released through our praise. When God created the world, He did it with words – sound. So, God’s power can travel through sound. And certain sounds move His heart. Certain sounds invoke His presence. Certain sounds move Him to action. The key to deliverance, which means to be set free, is in having an encounter with God. And songs of deliverance can set the stage for such an encounter with God. Read these three Scriptures carefully: ‘Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still’ (Psalm 4:4 NKJV). ‘Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him’ (Psalm 37:7 NKJV). ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Note the words ‘meditate’, and ‘be still’, and ‘rest’, and ‘wait patiently’, and ‘he who dwells in the secret place’. Now picture yourself ‘soaking’ in the presence of God. Your emotions are quiet, your spirit is attuned to God’s presence, you can hear what He has to say and receive from Him what you need. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with ‘songs of deliverance’.

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Even science agrees that music has healing power. Today we have music therapists who play sounds that set captives free in hospitals, special educational needs classrooms, nursing homes, and other environments. Harvard University researchers, among others, are reporting that music is a healing balm for stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and the physical stress of premature birth. They have also learned that music can improve surgical outcomes, help to restore lost speech, reduce side effects of cancer therapy, relieve pain, improve mood, and battle depression. Dr Gottfried Schlaug, a Harvard University neurologist, told the Los Angeles Times, ‘Music might provide an alternative entry point to the brain because it can unlock so many different doors into an injured or ill brain.’ His research shows that pitch, harmony, melody, rhythm, and emotion, which are all components of music, engage different parts of the brain – parts of the brain that are also important for speech, movement, and social interaction. ‘He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions’ (Psalm 107:20 NKJV). So, when music is the medium used to praise God and express His creative and life-changing Word, you begin to see its potential to bring deliverance. That was certainly so for Paul and Silas: ‘At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed’ (Acts 16:25-26 NKJV). Change your attitude. Change your environment. Change your outlook. Start surrounding yourself with songs of deliverance!

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The psalmist wrote, ‘You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.’ When trouble comes, you can turn to God and hide in Him. How? By surrounding yourself with songs of deliverance. Ruth Ward Heflin gives us the road map into God’s presence: ‘You praise until the spirit of worship comes, you worship until the glory comes, then you stand in the glory.’ And that is where ‘all things are possible’. God told Jeremiah, ‘I am ready to perform My word’ (Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV). That includes His Word when it’s set to music. The harp David used to worship God on the hillsides while he tended his flocks was the same harp God used to deliver King Saul from the spirits that held him in the grip of depression. That wasn’t the only time God used a musician to bring about a miracle. When the people of Judah faced extinction because of drought, Elijah, the prophet, said, ‘“Now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches’”’ (2 Kings 3:15-16 NKJV). God filled every one of those ditches with water and gave them a spectacular victory over their enemies. Singer Julie True says: ‘On a spiritual level, music bypasses our mind and goes straight to our heart, soul, and spirit. It touches places that nothing else can reach…Worship opens the heavens and moves God’s heart.’

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What does it mean to love God with all your strength? A pastor defines it: ‘It means expending tremendous amounts of energy for kingdom causes. It means blood, sweat, and tears. It means servanthood and sacrifice. It means good old-fashioned hard work. Energy may be the least appreciated dimension of love because it’s the least sentimental. And how we invest our energy reveals our true priorities.’ It reveals how much we love someone; in this case, God. The pastor continues: ‘Christianity was never intended to be a noun. And when we turn it into a noun, it becomes a turnoff. Christianity was always intended to be a verb. We’ve got to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We’ve got to seize opportunities to serve…At the end of the day, God isn’t going to say, “Well said, good and faithful servant”…[but] “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Nothing is more fulfilling than burning calories for a kingdom cause. Anything less than leveraging all our strength for God’s purposes is boring at best and hypocritical at worst. So many Christians are so bored…so frustrated by the gap between their theology and reality. The way to close the gap, and the way to experience that holy rush of adrenaline again, is to break a sweat serving others. It can be as simple as babysitting for a single mum who needs a night out, serving in a ministry in your local church, or volunteering at a local nursing home. It doesn’t matter how big or how small, every calorie burned for a kingdom cause earns compound interest for eternity. And it’ll fill the emptiness in your soul with pure joy.’

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The patriarch Job wrote to ‘speak to the earth, and it will teach you’. George Washington Carver is considered one of history’s greatest scientific minds. Around the turn of the twentieth century, agriculture in the southern states of America was suffering. The boll weevil was destroying cotton crops. And the soil was being emptied of nutrients because farmers planted cotton year after year. It was George Washington Carver who pioneered the idea of crop rotation. He urged farmers to plant peanuts, and they did. The plan revived the soil, but farmers were upset because there was no market for peanuts. Their plentiful peanut crops decayed in warehouses. When they grumbled to Carver, he did what he had always done – he prayed; he regularly got up at 4am, walked across the woods, and asked God to disclose the mysteries of nature to him. One of his favourite Scriptures was ‘speak to the earth, and it will teach you’. Carver literally asked God to reveal the secrets of nature, and God did. As a result, Carver discovered more than three hundred uses for the peanut. Or perhaps more accurately, the Lord revealed more than three hundred uses. They comprised everything from shaving cream to glue to cosmetics to soap to sauces to insecticide to linoleum to wood stains and to fertiliser. Carver said, ‘I love to think of nature as wireless telegraph stations through which God speaks to us every day, every hour, and every moment of our lives.’ Today God will speak to you in many different ways; you just have to be sensitive and listen.

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Guess who said, ‘You are precious to me’? God. So don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Why is this important? Because understanding who you are as a person and genuinely believing that you merit love and attention from another person is essential to your self-worth. The capability to convey that successfully and in a considerate manner is essential for any healthy, mutually satisfying relationship. A sense of self-worth is not arrogance. It helps you to set boundaries and guarantees that no matter who you meet, those boundaries will never be compromised. Often when we feel used in relationships, it’s because we have permitted those boundaries to be crossed. Or worse, we have never thought about where the boundaries should be. The way to prevent this situation is to be clear about who you are and what you are willing to do in a relationship. Disregarding the truth about another person, or yourself, may be okay temporarily, but over time, it usually leads to disaster. With a solid foundation of knowing who you are and what you represent, you will possess the bravery to ask the right questions and discern the answers. You will acquire information and evidence that help you realise who a person really is and if they fit into your life. You will be truthful with yourself and others about who you are, your needs, and the way you want to live your life. Outside your relationship with God, there is no other more important relationship than the one you have with yourself. God says, ‘You are precious to me.’ Believe it, and live accordingly.

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Impalas are one of the most powerful animals in Africa. They can leap to a height of more than ten feet and cover more than thirty feet in one jump. Yet the impala can be kept in an enclosure with a fence that’s no more than three feet high. Why? Because it won’t jump unless it can see where its feet will land. In a sense, impalas walk by sight, not faith. What does it mean to ‘walk’? To put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forwards a step at a time. What does it mean to have ‘faith’? To trust the Lord, obeying His Word regardless of how things look or feel to you. Now, faith doesn’t do away with intelligent thought and reason. But there is a difference. When intelligent thought and reason won’t take you another step, faith keeps right on going. Why? Because intelligent thought and reason hold the hand of a person and go only as far as they can travel, whereas faith holds the hand of God, the God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. That was Abraham’s story: ‘[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go’ (Hebrews 11:8 AMPC). Are you anxious about the future? Don’t be; just take the next step of faith, and you will be one step closer to the blessings and rewards that God has in mind for you.

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A Christian leader informs us: ‘There was not a bigger social happening in Jewish life than a wedding. It usually began with a ceremony at sundown in the synagogue. Then the entire wedding party would leave the synagogue and begin this long candlelight procession through the middle of town. The couple would be escorted past as many homes as possible so everyone could come out and congratulate them…They went home to a party lasting several days! There would be gift-giving, speech-making, wining and dining. Hospitality at a wedding was considered such a sacred duty that the master at the wedding could actually be sued for “breach of hospitality”. So running out of food or wine was considered a tremendous insult.’ It’s notable that Jesus’ first miracle was not healing cancer or raising the dead but resolving a domestic crisis and rescuing newlyweds from embarrassment. It’s a mistake to think that God only cares about major stuff like divorce, bankruptcy, or death. He also cares about minor stuff like broken dishes, toothaches, grumpy bosses, lost dogs, flat tyres, and late flights. The Bible says, ‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). What matters to you matters to Jesus. Notice that when these newlyweds sent out wedding invitations, they sent one to Jesus. And He showed up and met their need. Notice also how it happened. Mary, the mother of Jesus, said to them, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ What Jesus told them to do didn’t seem rational, but when they obeyed, they received a miracle. And if you will pray, trust God, and obey Him, He will work a miracle for you too.

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A minister writes: ‘Between the human race and God stands a barrier called sin. If we are going to be reconciled with a perfect God, that barrier has to be dealt with. We cannot go around it or over it. Sin demands a payment. Jesus came specifically to make that payment. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death to pay for everything we’ve ever done in the past, present, and future. If your home is on fire, you had better call a firefighter and not a policeman. If you break a leg, you had better call a doctor and not a firefighter. If your home is broken into, you had better call a policeman and not a doctor. If you are drowning, you had better call a lifeguard, not a plumber. If, as a sinful human being, you want to come to a righteous God, you had better get in touch with the Saviour, because He is the only one who can help.’ Jesus didn’t merely say, ‘Come to me, and I’ll show you the way.’ He said, ‘I am the way.’ He is the way to forgiveness. He is the way to peace and joy. He is the way to fulfilment in life. And He is as close to you today as a prayer. Here it is: ‘Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for me on the cross and paid for my sins and that through faith in you, I am made righteous and reconciled to God. I accept you today as my Lord and Saviour and receive from you the gift of everlasting life. Amen.’

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There is a story about a man who had his picture taken. When he saw it, he said to the photographer, ‘This picture doesn’t do me justice!’ The photographer looked at him, smiled, and said, ‘With a face like yours, you don’t need justice; you need mercy and grace!’ Seriously, that’s the situation we are all in. And the reason God extends mercy and grace to us is because Jesus fulfilled all the demands of God’s justice for us at the cross. Some people think that God’s grace (unmerited favour) atones for all your sins up until the moment you make Christ your Saviour. But from then on, you have to earn it and prove yourself worthy of it by your performance, like a joint effort. So instead of trusting alone in Christ’s performance on the cross, they trust also in their own performance. Here is the problem: there are three ways to sin – commission, omission, and disposition. If you commit one of these sins every day, that’s over one thousand sins a year. And if going to heaven depends on your remembering and repenting of each of them, what if you forget? Don’t worry; God has you covered! ‘If anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father – [it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action]’ (v. 1 AMPC). Only one person measures up to God’s standards: Jesus! And when you place your trust in Him, you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God.

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This happened when Chuck Swindoll was speaking in California: ‘A gentleman came to him and said, “I have waited so long for this week, I am going to eat up everything you have to say.” Swindoll thanked him. Sunday night…the man started nodding [off]. Swindoll figured that he’d had a long drive and was probably tired. It happened each night until the conference ended. As a preacher…it didn’t feel good to see someone sleeping on him. On Friday morning, the lady who was sitting next to him came to Swindoll and said, “I want to thank you for the ministry this week. Oh, and by the way, I am sorry about my husband sleeping on you…He has terminal cancer and the doctors have just given him a couple of weeks to live. When we talked about what he wanted to do before he died, he said, ‘I want to go hear Chuck Swindoll.’ But you see, Dr Swindoll, the doctors gave him medicine to keep away the pain, and the medicine makes him sleep. I wanted to apologise to you that he has been sleeping, but I wanted you to know you made this the best week of the last part of his life.” Swindoll later said he could have crawled under a rock, because he had made a judgement and without any investigation he reacted.’ Why did Jesus say, ‘Judge not, that you be not judged’? Because there may be circumstances and factors at work in a person’s life that you don’t understand. So instead of judging them, extend to them the same grace God has extended to you.

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Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth US president, was known as a reserved man who spoke very little. One day when a reporter attempted to interview him, the conversation went like this: Reporter: ‘Do you wish to say anything about the war threat in Europe?’ Coolidge: ‘No.’ Reporter: ‘Do you have anything to say about the strike in the clothing factories?’ Coolidge: ‘No.’ Reporter: ‘Do you have anything to say about the League of Nations?’ Coolidge: ‘No.’ Reporter: ‘Would you care to comment on the farm production problem?’ Coolidge: ‘No.’ As the reporter was leaving the room, Coolidge unexpectedly called him back and said with a smile, ‘Don’t quote me!’ The Bible says, ‘For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…A time to be quiet and a time to speak’ (vv. 1, 7 NLT). Never allow yourself to be pressured into saying something you don’t want to say or get drawn in when you don’t feel like talking. Silence isn’t a lack of communication; it’s a form of communication and can be a very effective one! Proverbs 29:11 (KJV) says, ‘A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.’ One thing is for sure, what you don’t say today, you won’t have to explain or apologise for tomorrow. If your tendency is to speak without thinking, or when you have nothing constructive to add, weigh the situation carefully and ask God for wisdom before deciding if you should speak or be quiet. Remember: ‘Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut’ (Proverbs 17:28 MSG).

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When William Gladstone was Chancellor of the Exchequer in Britain, he requested that the Treasury send him certain statistics upon which he might base his budget proposals. Unfortunately, the statistician made a mistake, and Gladstone was so certain of this man’s reputation for accuracy that he didn’t take the time to verify his figures. As a result, Gladstone went before the House of Commons and gave a speech based on the incorrect information given to him. His speech was no sooner published than the inaccuracies were exposed, and he became the brunt of terrible public ridicule. When the chancellor sent for the statistician who had given him the inaccurate information, the man arrived full of fear and shame, certain he was going to be fired. Instead, Gladstone said, ‘I know how much you must be disturbed over what has happened, so I have sent for you to put you at ease. For a long time, you have been engaged in handling the intricacies of the national accounts, and this is the first mistake that you have made. I want to congratulate you and express to you my keen appreciation.’ Can you imagine the sense of relief, gratitude, and hope the man felt that day as he walked out of Gladstone’s office? It takes a Christlike person to extend mercy, to listen as well as talk, and to think before jumping into action. So instead of retaliating in anger today, pray, ‘Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.’ When you begin to pray that way – and really mean it – it indicates that you’re growing in grace.

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The New Living Translation states Paul’s words this way: ‘There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.’ In doing the will of God, you should anticipate opposition from those who are not privy to what God has shared with you or instructed you to do. Indeed, if you are accepted and applauded wherever you go, you should re-examine either the assignment you believe God has given you or the way in which you are carrying it out. You say, ‘But didn’t Jesus say that His yoke was “easy”?’ Yes, and He was talking about a comfortable-fitting yoke around the neck of a hardworking ox that ploughed from morning until night. The work was hard, but the yoke was comfortable. That means when God calls you to do something difficult, He will provide you with the grace and resources to do it. You say, ‘But Satan is attacking me.’ Attack is a sign of respect; it means you represent a threat to the kingdom of darkness. And as you get closer to your God-given goal, expect Satan’s attack to intensify. But there is good news. The intensity of the attack is an indicator of the blessing God has for you on the other side of the attack. And one more thought. Your greatest rewards will not come in this life but in the life to come. And that’s good because they won’t just be temporal, they will be eternal. The hymnist wrote: ‘To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be; He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.’

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In seeking to know God’s will, there are two things you should never do. First, when the door is closed, get impatient and force it open. Second, create your own door. To succeed in what God has called you to do, follow the ‘open door policy’. The Bible describes it this way: ‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens’: ‘I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name’”’ (vv. 7-8 NKJV). Who does God open doors for? 1) People who ‘have a little strength’. So, your mistakes don’t disqualify you, as long as you’re willing to learn from them. And your inadequacies don’t limit God if you allow them to make you more dependent on Him. 2) People who ‘have kept My word’. The people God opens doors for are governed by this guiding principle: ‘Whatever God’s Word says about it, that’s what I’m going to think, believe, and do.’ If it’s not on God’s blueprint, don’t build it. If it’s not in God’s recipe book, don’t mix it in. 3) People who ‘have not denied My name’. Regardless of rejection or ridicule, these people speak boldly about the things they value most in life, including their relationship with Jesus. If you want God to open doors for you, live by these principles each day.

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Paul writes, ‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’ The giving that God rewards is purposeful giving when it’s done with a cheerful attitude. Here are three ways to do that: 1) Put people before yourself. Every one of the things of this world, including fame and fortune, is temporary. Individuals are what matter. Your job, pastimes, and other interests will die with you. People live on. The true measure of success is not in the number of individuals who help you but in the number of individuals you help (see Galatians 5:13). 2) Don’t let stuff own you. No one should ever become a slave to their stuff. No one should make their life’s work about obtaining more just to have more. If you want to be in control of your heart, don’t let belongings take control of you. The question is, ‘Do you own your possessions, or do your possessions own you?’ Givers use what they own as a resource to make this world a better place to live. And they do this regardless of how much or how little they have (see Matthew 6:21). 3) Define success as sowing, not reaping. Robert Louis Stevenson said, ‘I consider the success of my day based on the seeds I sow, not the harvest I reap.’ That should be the way we judge not only our days but our entire lives (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-10). If you live life with the intention of enriching the lives of others, your life will be full, not empty.

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If you want to become a giver, think of yourself as a river instead of a reservoir. Reservoirs continually take in water, but only to fill themselves up. In contrast, a river flows. Whatever water it receives, it gives away. Note what Jesus said about giving: ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (v. 38 NIV). When you give your time, expertise, and resources without expecting anything in return, you’re practising what Jesus preached. And here is an interesting truth: when you focus more on the wants and needs of others, more of your own wants and needs are met. In contrast, when you choose to hoard what you have rather than give, you become the centre of your own lonely universe. And you become less content, not more. As a result, you repel both people and potential blessing. Recalling God’s goodness to you leads to gratitude (see Psalm 103:1-5). And gratitude leads to giving. Ungrateful people aren’t givers. They seldom think about others; they just think of themselves. Their days comprise searching for others to assist them, give to them, and wait on them. And whenever others fail to meet those expectations, they wonder why. Their selfishness prevents them from sowing, and their ingratitude causes them to question why they don’t reap. In what way can you show gratitude? By taking a portion of the blessings God has poured into your life and pouring them into the lives of others. In other words, be a giver.

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God can make you comfortable in the most uncomfortable places. He can pull you out of situations you thought you’d be stuck in forever. He can give you peace, even in the midst of trauma. Before your life is over, you’ll live, love and experience loss. Losing some things will actually help you to appreciate the things you still have. It’s the taste of failure that makes success so sweet. How can you celebrate victory unless you’ve known defeat? You’ll live each day not knowing what tomorrow holds, but knowing that God holds all your tomorrows. They’re not in the hands of your boss, your broker, your spouse, or anybody else. Nor are they in your hands to manipulate and control. No, all your tomorrows are in God’s hands! So whatever you do; get to know Him, because you’ll need Him. And He’ll be there for you. He’ll be there when everybody and everything else has gone. He’ll be there for you in the dark places. His promise to you is, 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning' (Psalm 30:5 AMPC). However long the night, morning always comes and with it His joy. Just think, no matter how dark the night, you’ve always lived to see the morning. Right? Somehow His grace has protected you, provided for you, secured you, calmed and comforted you, and brought you through. Times and seasons change, but not God. He’s always 'the God of all comfort', and He’s watching over you today!

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One author writes: ‘One of the strategies I employ is to block enough time so that I’m not thinking of what I have to do next. I find it best to wait until I can invest more than a few minutes in being with someone so that the person is not frustrated with my divided attention and tight schedule.’ If you keep robbing your loved ones of time, there may come a day when they have no time for you. Ask yourself, ‘Is this person worth more to me than the plan, project, problem, or pressure I’m dealing with?’ Learn to enjoy the moment and focus on the person you’re with. Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to answer with more than a yes or no. Listen carefully and ask additional questions. This helps people feel you are engaging with them and caring about their replies. Yes, your thoughts may flit into the future for a few seconds, but instantly push them back into the present by rejecting those concerns. You can attend to them later. Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate. There is great pleasure in doing this after you get used to it. The poet wrote, ‘I wished to live deliberately…and not, when I came to die, discover I had not lived.’ To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, heed Solomon’s words: ‘People should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labour, for these are gifts from God’ (Ecclesiastes 3:13 NLT). If you have to do with less in order to enjoy the people you love more, do it; you will never regret it!

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The mentors you choose must be available to you. Jesus told those He mentored, ‘No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you’ (v. 15 NKJV). You need time with your mentor, asking and learning from questions and answers. Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘The greatest piece of advice I can give in the area of availability is that when you are looking for a mentor, don’t shoot too high too soon. If you are considering going into politics for the first time, you don’t need the advice of the president of the United States. If you are a high school student thinking about learning to play the cello, you don’t need to be mentored by Yo-Yo Ma. If you’re just starting your career, don’t expect to get extensive mentoring time from the CEO of your organisation. Why shouldn’t I? you may be thinking. First of all, if you’re just starting out, nearly all of your questions can be answered by someone two or three levels ahead of you (not ten). Their answers will be fresh because they will have recently dealt with the issues you’re dealing with. Second, CEOs need to be spending their time answering the questions of the people who are on the verge of learning at their level. I’m not saying you should never go to the top. I’m saying spend the majority of your time being mentored by people who are available, willing, and suited for the stage of your career.’

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Your mentor should not only demonstrate professional excellence and possess skills from which you can learn, but must also be someone who displays character qualities worth imitating. Bernie Madoff was one of the most admired and sought-after brokers on Wall Street. That is, until he ended up in prison for perpetrating a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that devastated the lives of individuals, companies, and even governments. Numerous actors, athletes, political leaders, and business executives today attempt to deny their position as role models when people are already following them and imitating their conduct. They would like people to distinguish between their personal behaviour and their professional life, but such separation cannot really be made. As you search for role models and mentors, examine their personal lives as thoroughly as their public performance. Your values will be shaped by theirs, so don’t be casual or careless about whom you decide to follow. Paul writes, ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.’ You must be sure that the person in whose footsteps you are following is following in the footsteps of Christ. Why is this so important? Because there will be an audit! Whatever you have spent your life building will be evaluated at the judgement seat of Christ, and you will be rewarded accordingly. ‘Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss’ (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 NKJV).

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A pastor advises, ‘To regain true intimacy, physical and emotional, to restore the closeness you once shared, you must be willing to allow your heart and soul to reopen.’ If you have been hurt, that’s not easy. But you must be willing to risk exposing yourself to the unknown in order to reconnect with one another. He continues: ‘To bring a marriage back from the brink of divorce is not easy; in every union, there are unique considerations that must be worked out…Whether the problems in your marriage arise from external circumstances, such as losing a job or undergoing a home foreclosure, or problems with the relationship, such as an affair or addiction issues, you can only rebuild your relationship by revitalising what you once had and reconnecting with each other…The first step in reconnecting with your mate is to practise the art of getting to know the other person.’ The Bible says, ‘Treat your wife [or husband] with understanding as you live together.’ And ‘understanding’ your partner’s needs takes time, attention, and effort. The minister adds this: ‘What typically happens when we are first trying to figure out someone is that we put them in a box based on who and what we think they are. Then we stick a label on the box that we hope will follow them for the rest of their lives. Truly knowing someone is not about deciding who they should be and then wanting them to stay that way forever. The mystery of knowing another requires commitment to lifelong learning.’ If you’re serious about rebuilding your marriage, make ‘understanding’ one another your highest priority.

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Many of the appliances in your home come with an instruction manual. Taking the time to read and understand it can save you all sorts of trouble. And God has given us the ultimate instruction manual for raising children – the Bible. It says, ‘Parents are the pride of their children.’ One of the highest callings is that of becoming a parent. It involves the most significant and life-changing decision you will ever make. Therefore, you should make it with serious consideration, prayer, and a sense of humour, and it can turn into one of the greatest joys of your life. Your children need you to establish boundaries for them and safeguard them from harm. You need to conduct yourself as their spiritual and moral compass. Today children are being inundated with television shows, advertisements, music, video games, the Internet, and magazines full of images of materialism, cruelty, sex, and drug and alcohol abuse. And a lot of the negativity they see is admired and celebrated. So much so that even possessing a strong moral centre, they may start to feel like something is wrong with them if they don’t follow along. As a parent, your job is to reinforce your beliefs again and again while equipping your children with the tools they need to withstand the pressures of life. It’s a lifetime commitment. In a sense, you will be on call every day, all day, for the remainder of your life. And since God is called ‘our Father’, He understands what you’re up against and will help you when you turn to Him in prayer. If you’re not a parent, why not take this opportunity to pray for the parents and children you know.

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Many of our failures result from our failure to pray. As we examine our mistakes, we discover a forsaken prayer altar and an unopened Bible. James bottom-lines it: ‘You do not have because you do not ask God.’ One Christian leader writes: ‘As a burned-out, frustrated young Christian, I realised one day that living in my own strength was useless. I needed to take my problems to God. In other words, I needed to pray more!’ Found in Matthew 7:7, Jesus tells us, ‘Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you’ (AMPC). Sometimes it’s only when we reach the end of our rope that we turn to God in prayer. And even then, when our prayers are not instantly answered, we give up. Over and over in Scripture, we are told to ‘wait on God’. Why? Because while we’re waiting, God is working. Sometimes He is working on the thing we have asked Him for; other times He is working on us. In such times He may be correcting our desires and attitudes or directing us towards His will. Don’t just pray; pray persistently. Don’t stress out trying to make things happen on your own. Give it all to God as you pray. Remember, He has promised that when you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13). So, put your heart into your praying, wait quietly in God’s presence, and let Him speak to you. You will be delightfully surprised at how He answers your prayers.

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Your mind is the battlefield where victory or defeat is decided. That’s why Paul writes, ‘We lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.’ You have a choice: either you lead your thoughts, or your thoughts will lead you. Either you take your thoughts captive, or your thoughts will take you captive. Where do thoughts come from? Everywhere. If you spend quality time with God each day in prayer and the Scriptures, your thoughts will be guided by God. If not, your thoughts will be guided by the world around you. You don’t have to accept every thought that comes into your head. Instead, you should measure each thought against the standard of Scripture, which calls for obedience to Christ. Here is a practical example: if someone hurts your feelings, make a decision right then and there that you won’t be upset with them for days on end. That only gives Satan the opportunity to plant seeds of bitterness (see 2 Corinthians 2:11). Instead, you can reject negative thinking and refuse to let it drain you of your peace and joy. The same is true when you are tempted. The best way to conquer a wrong thought is to replace it with a right one. As you renew your mind with God’s Word each day, your thinking will change and begin to line up with Scripture. Then, day by day, godly boundaries around your thoughts will be established and reinforced. These limits will not only keep you out of deception and defeat but help you to live a more enjoyable, godly life.

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In the Bible, when God calls someone to do something, you will notice they don’t jump up and say, ‘No problem, I’m ready.’ In story after story, they tell God why they can’t do it. Consider the following list of people. Moses: ‘I have never been eloquent…I am slow of speech and tongue’ (Exodus 4:10 NIV). Gideon: ‘How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family’ (Judges 6:15 NIV). Abraham: ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?’ (Genesis 17:17 NIV). Jeremiah: ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord…I am too young’ (Jeremiah 1:6 NIV). Isaiah: ‘Woe to me!…For I am a man of unclean lips’ (Isaiah 6:5 NIV). Esther: ‘All…know that for any man or woman who approaches the king…without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death’ (Esther 4:11 NIV). Rich young ruler: ‘He went away sad, because he had great wealth’ (Matthew 19:22 NIV). Saul: ‘The Lord said, “See, he has hidden himself among the baggage”’ (1 Samuel 10:22 NRSV). (This occurred when Samuel was proclaiming Saul as king, and the people couldn’t find him and asked the Lord where he was.) What a list of excuses: too inarticulate, too weak, too old, too young, too sinful, too dangerous, too rich, too hesitant – yet God used every one of them to fulfil His purposes. And Paul tells us why: ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.’ Today, depend on God.

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The last thing Jesus said to His disciples before returning to heaven was this: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…I am with you always.’ When God gives you an instruction or an assignment, it will always require His involvement, His strength, His guidance, and His provision. Will He use your talents? Yes. Will He use others to assist and bless you? Yes. But He will never allow you to depend on anyone more than Him. Back at the point when Jesus sends His disciples off to change the world, there are two remarkable challenges. One, there are now only eleven disciples. Throughout the Gospels, the number twelve reminds readers that the disciples have been selected to be a representation of the redeemed, restarted twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve is the number of completeness, wholeness, and readiness. Now they don’t have sufficient players. But it’s not merely that they have the wrong number. Following Christ’s resurrection, we read: ‘The eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted’ (vv. 16-17 NKJV). They already have a quantity dilemma; now they have a quality dilemma. They don’t have enough disciples, and even those don’t believe enough. Yet God used them mightily. Indeed, the accusation levelled against them by their enemies started with one of their greatest compliments: ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too’ (Acts 17:6 NKJV). So, the key to success is not in your ability but in God’s ability to work through you. That’s why you must live each day in dependence on God.

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Paul shares with us the key to his amazing success in life: ‘I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].’ There is a syndrome called ‘failure to launch’. It’s experienced by people who feel insecure about their future. They never seem to get to the place in life where they feel ready, so they miss out on opportunities. Life says, ‘Ready or not, here I come.’ Now, life’s inevitability doesn’t mean that preparation is trivial; it’s important. But feeling ready is very overvalued. We are called to ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). When God brought the Israelites into the promised land, He told them to step into the Jordan River first; after, He parted the water. If they had waited for evidence first, they would be waiting on the banks still. Faith grows when God says go and you say yes. The truth is, you don’t realise what you can do until you do it. ‘Ready’ happens quicker if you’re already moving. If you wait to move until you’re completely ready, you will wait until you die. Jesus doesn’t tell us, ‘Go; you’re ready.’ He tells us, ‘Go; I’ll go with you.’ You will grow as you ‘go’. You will develop as you ‘do’. Here is the key: the thing that makes you ‘ready for anything and equal to anything’ is ‘Him Who infuses inner strength’ into you. God designed it that way because He wants you to depend on Him.

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When you find yourself saying, ‘I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up,’ you may need to change some of your priorities and adjust your lifestyle. The psalmist said, ‘I am…wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14 KJV). God designed your body to give you warnings when you’re pushing too hard, like an ache here or a pain there. But we ignore these warnings until we become too sick to ignore them any longer. And because we live in the most medicated generation in history, we take prescriptions, pills, and potions hoping that’s the answer. But it’s a short-term cure. We can’t ignore God’s direction to take time to rest and not pay a price for it. Nobody had a greater purpose or a more important mission than Jesus and His disciples. Yet He instructed them to take time out for rest and relaxation (see Mark 6:31). Pastor, is this an area of discipleship you need to practise and teach your people? The church should not keep people so busy that it negatively affects their health and hurts their family relationships. If you are living an unsustainable life today, stop putting off making the changes you need to make. Don’t wait until something happens, like a health problem or a family problem. Make changes now to live the kind of life God wants you to live. When you live God’s way, you will discover a new level of peace in your life. ‘He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside still and restful waters.’

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It’s amazing how many of us are willing to invest time and effort into our education, career, and financial future, but not our marriage. (If you’re not married, perhaps you could remember married couples you know in your prayers today.) One of the leading causes of divorce is boredom. One minister explains: ‘Partners lose their focus, stray into affairs, get addicted to porn, or exhibit other destructive behaviour…The secret to a strong marriage is to continue to find ways to improve yourself and to share. It can be as simple as reading a book or article and sharing something interesting about what you read, or taking a course and using what you learned at home…It can be learning about your partner’s career field and taking an interest in what they do all day, showing you are engaged with who they are…Partners who want to keep growing as a couple also need to have lives of their own away from the marriage as well. Pursuing hobbies, interests, and appropriate friendships outside the marriage makes each partner more interesting and stimulating when they come back home. How wonderful to sit together at the dinner table and share exciting things you each discovered during the day. There is a balancing act in developing your own life without ignoring the life you have together. The person you marry will be around for a very long time if you do things right. Long after physical attraction and the intensity of sexual chemistry have faded, and the kids are grown and living on their own, you and your partner will want strong connections so you can continue to grow and enjoy life together.’ So, invest in your marriage.

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Nothing about you surprises God. He knew what He was getting when He chose you. He ‘actually picked us out for Himself as His own’. You didn’t just randomly show up one day. And God hasn’t decided to merely tolerate you. He is not rolling His eyes when you have a problem. Instead, He will always remind you how far you have come, how well you are doing, how precious you are in His sight, and how much He loves you. God already knew your weaknesses, every flaw you would have, and every time you would fail, yet He still said, ‘I want you.’ Ephesians 1:5 says that God ‘adopted’ you as His own. He is your father, and you are His family. Yes, He will discipline you when you need it, but He will never discard you. And with Him on your side, things are bound to work out all right in the end. ‘All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son’ (vv. 3-6 NLT).

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The wise old adage goes, ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ Sometimes what people need more than your money is your wisdom. By taking the time to share with them the insights and wisdom you have learned through your life’s experiences, you’re investing in their future. What a gift! But that means you must never stop learning. Sometimes we stop learning because we become complacent. We believe we have grown enough, or we want only to make the most of what we already have in terms of skill and knowledge. That’s when we start to plateau and then decline. We lose our innovative spirit. We begin to think about being efficient instead of breaking new ground. We cut costs instead of investing in growth. Our vision becomes very limited. And instead of playing to win, we start playing not to lose. We all love doing what we’re good at, but being good at something requires us to keep our skills sharp. Less skill leads to less enthusiasm and eventually to discontent. If we reach this stage, we start looking behind us because that’s where our best days are. We think about the good old days, the glory days. At that point, we’re only a few short steps from obsolescence. Nobody wants to learn from a has-been. If you want to give until you have given all you have, you must keep growing until you can grow no more. ‘Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.’

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If you’re struggling with self-worth, the answer is knowing what you have and who you are ‘in Christ’. Paul writes, ‘I pray that…you understand every blessing we have in Christ.’ Here are some practical steps you can take to increase your sense of confidence and self-worth: 1) Don’t speak negatively about yourself. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses and flaws, start acknowledging and verbalising every good thing you ‘have in Christ’. Peter writes: ‘By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him…he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature’ (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT). 2) Avoid comparing yourself to others. One day Peter pointed to John and asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ (John 21:21 NIV). Jesus corrected him by saying, ‘What is that to you? You must follow me’ (v. 22 NIV). Instead of comparing yourself with others, work on being conformed to the character qualities of Christ. 3) Let God determine your worth. As His redeemed child, God sees you clothed in the righteousness of Christ; therefore, you are always loved and accepted by Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). 4) Keep your flaws in perspective. It’s okay to see where you need to improve, but make sure you appreciate your progress. 5) Discover the true source of confidence. If you place your confidence in God, you can’t help but have a healthy attitude. So, do your best and leave the results to Him.

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The Bible says, ‘When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road’ (vv. 17-18 NIV). There is a lesson here for you. God knows where you are on your spiritual journey, and He is directing you accordingly, even when it seems like a roundabout way. ‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives’ (Psalm 37:23 NLT). The shortest route from Egypt to the promised land was through enemy territory, and God knew His people were not ready for battle. ‘God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road.’ Getting God’s people out of Egypt proved to be the easy part; getting Egypt out of God’s people proved to be the hard part. After forty generations of depending on Pharaoh, they needed to know God, learn His ways, and trust Him. So, He arranged their journey accordingly. Are you having a wilderness experience at the moment? Be encouraged. The fulfilment of what God promised you may be taking longer than you thought, but it’s not time wasted. And God is not punishing you; He is training you for your destiny. What should you do? 1) Spend time with Him in prayer and His Word. 2) Lean less on yourself and more on God. 3) Draw on His grace and follow His guidance.

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The two parts to God’s ‘go’ are going from and going to. Ur, Abram’s home, was considered the place to be. Setting out for ancient Mesopotamia, all the trading wealth from around the Mediterranean had to travel through Ur. It was a place of immense affluence, trade, education, and technology. One author writes, ‘The first written legal code that began civilisation was there in Ur.’ So, it would have been a hard place to leave – especially if you were going to Canaan. Canaan was unsophisticated, unrefined, and underdeveloped. No one who had enough money to live in Ur, the great centre of civilisation, would move to Canaan. Here is the point: you must trust God with your future when the path He has called you to take doesn’t look like the obvious one. But if you’re willing to go, you will discover that God has blessings in mind you never dreamed of. He told Abram, ‘I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’ (vv. 2-3 NKJV). The reward God gives you will always be greater than any sacrifice He calls you to make. Has God called you to go, but you want to stay? Is He telling you to stay, but you want to go? Here is the score: if you obey God, you will never regret it. And that’s a guarantee!

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If you are battling illness today, God says, ‘I am the Lord who heals you’ (Exodus 15:26 NKJV). If you are facing a problem that seems as big as a mountain, Jesus says: ‘Whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them’ (Mark 11:23-24 NKJV). If you are in trouble today, God says, ‘I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him’ (Psalm 91:14-15 NKJV). Notice who this promise is made to – those who know ‘My name’. As a redeemed child of God, that’s you! Here are four things that God has promised you. First, to answer your prayer. Second, to be with you in your troubles. Third, to deliver you. Fourth, to honour you. These are four stages of answered prayer. Whichever stage you are in today, be confident that God loves and cares for you (see 1 Peter 5:7). And His willingness to answer your prayer is not dependent upon your performance but upon Christ’s performance on your behalf. ‘To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved [Jesus]’ (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV). Because you are ‘accepted’ in Christ, you can be sure that God will answer your prayers.

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Having a ‘statement of faith’ is a good thing because it lets people know your beliefs and values and where you stand on the issues. But it also carries with it a certain danger; you can end up believing you know all there is to know about the subject or at least all that is important to know. The Bible challenges us to keep learning and growing spiritually: ‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.’ The New King James Version says, ‘Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.’ In Scripture, the word ‘reveal’ is used thirty-eight times. Clearly, God wants us to get that there is more to know about Him than what we think we know. That’s why you must always keep your mind open. The day you stop ‘following’ God or ‘pursuing’ God is the day you stop learning more about God and growing spiritually. God has more to reveal to you! Paul writes: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us’ (1 Corinthians 2:9-12 NLT). So the word for today is – you have more to learn.

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Maybe you’re facing graduation. More frequently than ever before, people are switching to different jobs and companies and changing their whole careers. In 2014, career specialist Andy Chan observed that young adults will face, on average, twenty-nine jobs over their lifetime. In 2013 Oxford researchers predicted that about half the jobs will be replaced with technology by 2033. So, how do you adjust to a constantly changing environment? Perhaps you’re in a rut. Your life is safe but unrewarding. You want to do more or be more. Perhaps you’re facing an empty nest. You abruptly find independence and time and options that have been unavailable to you for a few decades. What’s the best way to use them? Possibly you’re retiring. What might God have next for you? Maybe you have travelled abroad and seen a great need, or have investigated a problem and want to make a difference. What should you do next? Perhaps you’re considering marriage. How can you tell if this person is the right one? What if you make a mistake? Or maybe you have been agonising over a lost opportunity in your past. Will God give you another one? In answering these questions, you must keep two things in mind. First and foremost, God is more interested in what you become than where you go or what you do for a living. His goal for your life is ‘to be conformed to the image of his Son’ (Romans 8:29 KJV). Second, you will save yourself time, trouble, and possible heartache by consulting God before making any decision. ‘For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV).

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One author pens: ‘Would you want the kind of kids you have to tell their whole lives, “Wear these clothes. Take these classes. Go to that school. Apply for this job. Marry that person. Purchase this house,” and you always have them do exactly what you tell them as long as they live? No…Why? Because your main goal is…that they become people of great character and judgment. The only way for them to do that is to make lots and lots of decisions. Of course, that means they’ll make a lot of wrong decisions. That becomes a primary way they learn. Very often God’s will for you will be “I want you to decide,” because decision-making is an indispensable part of character formation. God is primarily in the character-forming business, not the circumstance-shaping business.’ Abraham didn’t say, ‘Lord, exactly where are you taking me? How is the economy there? What are the job market and the housing market like? Do they have good medical facilities and schools?’ The Bible says, ‘By faith…Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going’ (Hebrews 11:8 NLT). Abraham decided to follow God, and trust God with everything else. And he came out on top! God does not promise to give us details but to give us wisdom. ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally’ (James 1:5 KJV). Why does God do it this way? Because decision-making is character building.

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Third, anchored by God’s promises. The third anchor that gives us confidence in a crisis is found in Paul’s words, ‘I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.’ If you have ever been betrayed by an unfaithful spouse, you may have lost trust in marriage. If you’re a victim of the mortgage crisis, you may have lost your home and your trust in the financial industry. If you voted for someone you believed had integrity only to discover they were in the pocket of special interest groups, you may have lost your trust in government. But never ever lose trust in the promises of God! Look in the face of your storm today and sing the words of this famous hymn by Russell Carter: ‘Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling winds of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God, I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.’ You may lose your cargo, you may lose your ship, you may even go overboard – but you’re going to prevail because of God’s promises to you. As the old saying goes, ‘God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!’ If you’re in crisis today, here are some Bible promises you can stand on: ‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms’ (Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV). ‘You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great’ (Psalm 18:35 NLT). ‘Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you’ (Isaiah 46:4 NIVUK).

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Second, anchored by God’s plan and purpose. The second anchor in a time of crisis is found in Acts 27:24, where Paul quotes God’s angel: ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ In other words, ‘You’re on board this ship because I have a purpose for your being here. And my eternal purpose for your life is greater than this temporary storm.’ Have you discovered your God-given purpose yet? You’re not here on earth simply to take up space; God has a specific plan for you. The storm you’re caught in right now is just a temporary setback. Absolutely nothing can change God’s plan for your life unless you choose to disobey Him. And yes, you can do that. But the Scriptures teach that no outside person or force can change God’s plan for your life or alter His divine purpose as long as you’re willing to say, ‘Lord, I want to do your will.’ As surely as God told Paul, ‘You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you,’ He is saying to you, ‘I will bring you through this storm.’ When you focus on your God-given purpose, He empowers you to overcome your problems. That’s why Paul wrote: ‘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 and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).

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While everyone else on board Paul’s ship was in a state of panic, he remained at peace. Why? Because of three great truths that serve as anchors for our souls, truths you can build your life on that will steady you in the storm. Let’s look at each. First, anchored by the presence of God. In the midst of the storm, Paul announced, ‘Last night an angel of…God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul.”’ Life’s storms can never conceal us from God. Even when we don’t see Him, He sees us. We may feel He is a million miles away, but He is with us and is looking after us. God dispatched a personal emissary, an angel, to tell Paul, ‘I am with you. I see you in the stormy Mediterranean Sea in that little ship.’ The truth is, God is with you in the storm you’re going through today, and if you need assurance of His presence, meditate on these Scriptures and stand on them: ‘“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you’ (Isaiah 54:10 NIV). “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go…I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you’ (Genesis 28:15 NIV). ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). So, anchor your soul to God’s Word today, and let nothing move you.

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A noted author states: ‘People who study entrepreneurs say they excel in something called “opportunity alertness.” They look at the same circumstances as everyone else, but they “notice, without search, opportunities that have hitherto been overlooked.” They are “alert, waiting, continually receptive to something that may turn up.”’ Paul was such a person. ‘I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord’ (v. 12 NKJV). He practised ‘divine opportunity alertness’. And you can too. For Paul, walking through the doors God opened often led to hardship. But they also led to great achievement. Open doors don’t come with a meticulous set of instructions about precisely what you should do and exactly what will occur as a result. To discover what’s on the other side of the open door, you have to go through it. Will you experience fear? Any time you attempt the untried, unknown, and undone, you will experience fear. That’s when you need to remind yourself that whatever awaits you on the other side of that door, God will be there. Here are two things you need to keep in mind. First, sometimes an open door doesn’t signify going to someplace new; it means recognising a new and previously undetected opportunity in an old place. Second, open doors never exist solely for the advantage of the people offered them. They are an opportunity to bless others (see Genesis 12:1-3). An open door never exists for your benefit alone. Has God opened a door for you? If He has, don’t hesitate or vacillate; walk through it.

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Close your eyes and try walking without sight, and you will get an idea of what it means to walk by faith. Faith in what? The unchanging character of God, goodness of God, love of God, and truth that He always has your best interests at heart. With God, information is given on a need-to-know basis. And God determines who needs to know what and when. Here is an example of this: the early church needs to decide if God is calling them to include Gentiles. After much prayer, they send out this letter: ‘It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…’ (Acts 15:28 NIV). Really? Seemed good? The future of the entire human race is at stake, and the best you can do is ‘it seemed…’? Yet the church leaders were quite comfortable sending out this letter. Apparently, God’s will for His people was that they should not be told precisely what His will was, or at least not all the details. Presumably, He knew they would grow more if they had to think and discuss and hash it out rather than get a memo. Evidently, they didn’t require certainty. They were happy to settle for heartfelt obedience. When Paul says we ‘walk’ by faith, he is referring to the slowest form of transportation known to man. He is also referring to a process that happens one step at a time. God has the satellite view; He sees your entire journey from beginning to end and plans each step. And He says, ‘Do what I have given you to do, and when you have done it, I will show you what I want you to do next.’

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One author writes: ‘Columbia researcher Sheena Iyengar has found that the average person makes about seventy conscious decisions every day. That’s 25,550 decisions a year. Over seventy years, that’s 1,788,500 decisions. Albert Camus said, “Life is a sum of all your choices.” You put all those 1,788,500 choices together, that’s who you are. Victor Frankl was a brilliant doctor whom the Nazis imprisoned in a concentration camp. They took away his livelihood, confiscated his possessions, mocked his dignity, and killed his family. They locked him in a cell with no way out…But he found a door that his guards did not know about: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” He found that when his circumstances had closed every outer door to him, they revealed to him the doors that matter far more – the doors through which a soul can leave fear and enter into courage, leave hatred and enter into forgiveness, leave ignorance and enter into learning. He discovered that his guards were actually far more imprisoned – by cruelty and ignorance and foolish obedience to barbarism – than he was imprisoned by walls and barbed wire. Some people learn this and become free; some never see it and live their lives as prisoners.’ The difference is in the door you choose or the attitude you choose. That’s why Paul writes: ‘Whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure…lovely…of good report…think on these things’ (v. 8). Today, choose the right attitude!

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When Moses commanded Pharaoh to set God’s people free, Pharaoh offered him three compromises. First, he offered to let them go if they didn’t go too far away. Second, he offered to let them go provided they left their children in Egypt. Third, he offered to let them go provided they left their business interests in Egypt. In each case, Moses said no. And Satan will make you those same offers. Put distance between yourself and the world. Refuse to let it have your children. Refuse to live by the world’s self-centred and often unethical business practices. You are called to love and minister to those around you but not to become like them. One of the great gifts that God has given us is the gift of free will. You can choose! If you want to enjoy God’s blessings, you need to make lifestyle choices that line up with His will and are consistent with the values of His Word, not choices reflecting the constantly eroding values of the world systems around you. The way to succeed in life is to stand on Bible principles. Here are two Scriptures you need to meditate on and keep in mind: ‘The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow’ (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV). ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6:33 KJV). Today pray, ‘Lord, I don’t want to live by the world’s standards. I put you first in my life because I know your ways are always best.’

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One of the quickest ways to get discouraged is to try living the Christian life in your own strength. It’s like trying to lift yourself up by your own bootstraps; it cannot be done. Indeed, God designed it that way. Jesus said: ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17 NKJV). God’s commandments are never too difficult for us to follow – if we do them through Christ’s indwelling strength. And you must learn to draw on that strength daily. He is in you and with you at all times to enable you to do what you cannot do and to do with ease what you would otherwise find hard to do without Him. Paul talked about the constant struggle between his flesh and his spirit. At times it drove him to despair. Then he gives us the key to victorious Christian living: ‘I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]’ (Philippians 4:13 AMPC). Learn from the light bulb; it cannot illuminate itself. But when it’s connected to an electrical power source, all that’s required is to flip a switch. So, do it in Christ’s strength, not your own.

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Your concept of God determines your confidence in approaching Him. Do you always view Him like an auditor, and your books don’t balance? Or do you view Him like a father who loves you at all times and wants to be good to you? When approaching God, many of us consult a mental scorecard to see whether we have more wins than losses, rights than wrongs, credits than demerits. If we feel like we’re not performing well, we avoid God or make Him our last resort. That’s a mistake because God sees you ‘in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and therefore, you are always accepted and welcomed into His presence. You say, ‘Does that mean I can live any way I please?’ No, ‘the Lord disciplines the one he loves’ (Hebrews 12:6 NIV). But His correction is not rejection; it’s proof that you are truly His redeemed child. Here is a Scripture you need to meditate on: ‘Therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favour, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!’ (Isaiah 30:18 AMPC). Note God’s attitude towards you today: ‘The Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you.’ Keep that picture in mind, and begin to expect good things from God.

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When it comes to the importance of having a consistent prayer life, Jesus is our greatest example. Before He calmed the storm on Galilee, called His twelve disciples, or fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, He spent time alone in prayer. And you have been called to follow in His footsteps (see 1 Peter 2:21). In essence, our failures are often the result of our failure to pray. Jesus gave His disciples two prayer principles that will work for you. First, He said, ‘When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father’ (Matthew 6:6 NIV). In other words, find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted. After all, you are meeting with God. As you spend time there, you will grow to love this place, and it will become your ‘secret place’ (Psalm 91:1 KJV). Second, Jesus said, ‘When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him’ (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV). The words ‘don’t babble’ may sound harsh. But what Jesus is saying to us is, ‘Focus; be with Me. Open your heart. Get real. Stand on My Word and believe Me for answers.’ After the church prayed all night for Peter to be delivered from prison, the Bible says ‘they were astonished’ when God did it (Acts 12:16 KJV). You might say, ‘That’s bad.’ Actually, that’s good! It means even though your faith may be weak, when you pray, God will answer you. So, keep praying and standing on His Word.

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The Bible says, ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good’ (vv. 10-11 NKJV). Note the words ‘let him turn away’. That doesn’t mean you should be rude or insensitive, but be solution focused rather than problem focused. Your mouth is a powerful tool that can help or harm. If you can grasp an understanding of the power of the words you speak, it can change the course of your life. You can either speak positive, uplifting, encouraging things into existence in your life, or words that produce negative, discouraging things (see Proverbs 18:21). None of us want to be a mouthpiece for the devil. But the truth is, the mouth can be used for blessing or destruction, not only in our own lives but also in the lives of others. Your mouth is like a pen, and your heart is like a tablet. When you say something over and over, it gets on the inside of you and becomes you. It’s not something you have to try to do anymore; it’s who you are. Be a mouthpiece for God. ‘The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary’ (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV). ‘How forceful are right words!’ (Job 6:25 NKJV). ‘The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom’ (Psalm 37:30 NKJV). ‘Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers’ (Ephesians 4:29 NKJV). Today, speak life!

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Pornography is sweeping across the world, leaving families torn apart in its wake. Many churchgoers who are struggling to break free feel isolated and helpless. One UK survey revealed that 75 per cent of Christian men and 35 per cent of Christian women viewed pornography regularly or occasionally. When you watch it, powerful neurotransmitters such as dopamine are released, which bond you to the images you’re looking at. According to neuropsychologist Dr Tim Jennings, ‘Any type of repetitive behaviour will create trails [neural pathways] in our brain that are going to fire on an automatic sequence.’ Some churches treat this issue as strictly a moral one, failing to realise it’s also a brain problem. We advise people to try more, pray more, and love the Lord more. And that’s important. But when you fight the flesh in the power of the flesh, you end up fighting yourself. What’s the answer? Your mind has to be renewed, and that’s a process. When your brain has been trained the wrong way, it must be retrained the right way. This calls for radical commitment, such as removing pornography from your life and sometimes walking in accountability with a mature Christian friend you can turn to in times of testing. Above all, it involves reprogramming your mind with God’s Word. Paul writes: ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV). You don’t have to live in bondage to pornography. Christ can set you free.

Friday 6 September

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Gates are defensive devices, and storming those gates requires offensive measures. Think of the church as a battering ram. Instead of complaining about the culture, we need to present better options. We must produce higher-calibre films and compose more extraordinary music, write more notable books, and start superior schools and form better businesses. The old aphorism indicates we should stop cursing the darkness and start lighting some candles. In Roaring Lambs, Robert Briner writes: ‘Why not believe that one day the most critically acclaimed director in Hollywood could be an active Christian layman in his church? Why not hope that the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting could go to a Christian journalist on staff at a major daily newspaper? Is it really too much of a stretch to think that a major exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art could feature the works of an artist on staff at one of our fine Christian colleges? Am I out of my mind to suggest that your son or daughter could be the principle dancer for the Joffrey Ballet Company, leading a weekly Bible study for other dancers in what was once considered a profession that was morally bankrupt?’ Paul didn’t criticise the philosophers on Mars Hill and tell them they were going to hell. Pointing to their altar to the unknown God, he indicated, ‘I’ve come to tell you who He is, and His name is Jesus.’ What was the result? ‘Some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter”’ (Acts 17:32 NKJV). Go ahead; take a faith-based risk and see what happens.

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When making important decisions, especially when they can affect the lives of others, the Bible says you should do two things. First, count the cost (see Luke 14:28). That means you should evaluate and investigate, and you should seek guidance and counsel. ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice’ (Proverbs 12:15 NIV). How certain should you be before you move forwards? In his book, The Next Generation Leader, Pastor Andy Stanley writes: ‘Generally speaking, you are probably never going to be more than 80 per cent certain. Waiting for greater certainty may cause you to miss an opportunity.’ What are you waiting for? A guarantee that you won’t make mistakes? That you won’t be criticised or experience embarrassment? If so, you will get nowhere. When you have done all that wisdom demands, you must trust God and take a faith-based risk. If you don’t, you will end up living with regret. In a research study done by two Cornell University psychologists, they learned that time is a major factor in what we regret. We typically regret our actions over the short term. But over the long term, we are inclined to regret our inactions. The study found that in an average week, action regrets were somewhat higher than inaction regrets – 53 per cent to 47 per cent. But when people think about their lives as a whole, inaction regrets exceed action regrets 84 per cent to 16 per cent. In other words, you won’t regret the errors you made as much as you will the God-ordained opportunities you missed. So, go ahead and take a faith-based risk.

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Peter gets unfairly criticised. He is the disciple who denied Christ three times, but he is the only one who got close enough to Jesus to get caught. He is the disciple who impulsively cut off Malchus’s ear when the lynch mob came to arrest Jesus, but he is the only one who came to Jesus’ defence. He is the disciple who sank in the Sea of Galilee, but he is the only disciple who walked on water. It’s so easy to criticise people from the comfortable confines of the boat. Basically, there are two kinds of people: creators and criticisers – those who get out of the boat and walk on water and those who sit in the boat and criticise the water walkers. When everything is said and done, our greatest regrets will be the God-ordained risks we didn’t take. German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, ‘Hell begins the day that God grants you the vision to see all that you could have done, should have done, and would have done, but did not do.’ Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.’ What do you believe God is leading you to do? What is the persistent prompting of the Holy Spirit urging you to do? Do it. Failing to take a faith-based risk is like permanently misplacing a piece from the jigsaw puzzle of your life. It leaves a disappointing hole. When we reach the end of our lives, our biggest regrets will be those missing pieces. So today, go ahead and take a faith-based risk.

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A pastor describes some storms in life: ‘You come home from work, walk into the kitchen, and find a note saying, “I want out of the marriage.” A clap of thunder! You go to the doctor anticipating a normal check-up, and the lab work comes back, and you have cancer. The wind howls! You go to bed at peace, only to be interrupted by a phone call at three in the morning telling you that your father has suddenly died of a heart attack. Your ship nearly capsizes! The only predictable thing about life’s storms is their unpredictability. They sweep in when you least expect them.’ Jesus had told His disciples, ‘Let us cross over to the other side’ (v. 35 NKJV). They should have realised that when He climbed aboard the boat, it became unsinkable. Inherent in His words was a promise of safe arrival. A difference exists between hearing a promise and believing it. Too frequently, we fail to believe that Jesus will accomplish what He has promised us. The pastor encourages us: ‘In those moments, we should remind ourselves that the sun may quit shining, the wind may start blowing, and the waves may begin crashing, but Jesus never fails to keep His promises…Jesus wants you to…remember that there is no need to fear when He is near…He wants to be the Captain of your life’s ship. You may not always be aware of Jesus, but He is there just the same. For those disciples, the safest place in the world…was right there in that boat. Because safety is not the absence of problems. Safety is the presence of Jesus.’

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Growing in faith and getting to know Jesus intimately requires going through storms with Him. The disciples discovered this when Jesus said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ Next, we read: ‘A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling’ (v. 37 NKJV). Their story has a happy ending. Jesus calmed the storm, and they said in amazement, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’ (v. 41 NKJV). There are life-changing truths Jesus taught and aspects of His character that you will never understand until you have been through a storm with Him. Sometimes when storms come, we assume they are the result of something we have done wrong or that we’re not in the will of God. The disciples were in the storm due to obedience, not disobedience. They hadn’t done anything wrong; they had done something right. Understand this: even if you love Jesus with all your heart, you will still face storms. As the disciples discovered, the storm can come when you’re closest to Jesus. He doesn’t promise that the storm won’t strike your boat but that the storm won’t sink it. He doesn’t promise smooth sailing, but He guarantees a safe landing. You will face life’s troubles with either fear or faith. How are they different? Fear concentrates on the storm; faith concentrates on the Saviour. It may sound surprising, but we need storms. Jesus permits us to sail into them so that we will 1) consider His promises, 2) stay calm in His presence, and 3) have confidence in His power.

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Here is a tale of two cities: 1) Thessalonica rejected the truth. ‘Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures…saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ”…But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar’ (vv. 2-3, 5 NKJV). 2) Berea received the truth. ‘Paul…went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men’ (vv. 10-12 NKJV). This is not just a tale of two cities but two mindsets. An open mindset and a closed mindset. A closed mindset says, ‘I believe I know all there is to know about this subject,’ and an open mindset says, ‘I’m grateful for what I know, but I believe there is more to know.’ But a word of caution! Just because a speaker says something doesn’t mean you should accept it without question. A leader who seeks to honour God won’t be offended when you question what they say. The Bereans ‘received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.’ Whose teachings were they checking out? Paul’s, the author of half the New Testament! So the word for today is – always be open-minded.

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Answer: because the only kind of people God has to work with are weak people! Moses’ relationship with God is described in these remarkable words: ‘The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend’ (Exodus 33:11 NKJV). So, was Moses perfect? Far from it. He spent the first forty years of his life as a prince in Pharaoh’s palace, and the next forty years as a shepherd living in the wilderness. The Bible speaks about the strains in his marriage and his times of stress and despair. In The Ten Commandments movie, Moses is played by actor Charlton Heston, who was tall, handsome, and articulate. But Moses was actually a weak, bashful stammerer who couldn’t put two words together without verbally tripping over himself, much less speak in the courts of the most feared dictator on earth. The Bible refers to the Israelites as a ‘congregation’, which made Moses a pastor. And no pastor had more trouble with a congregation than he did. You say, ‘Why bring up Moses’ shortcomings?’ To encourage you! To let you know that your flaws don’t disqualify you and your limitations don’t limit what God can do through you. Paul writes: ‘For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…that no flesh should glory in His presence’ (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, 29 NKJV).

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Mary and Martha were similar in that they both loved Jesus. But the difference showed up when He visited their home. ‘Martha opened her home to him…Mary…sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better”’ (vv. 38-42 NIV). Jesus didn’t say that what Martha was doing was not good. He said that what Mary was doing was better. What was Mary doing? Sitting at His feet, listening to His words, loving and adoring Him. There is a lesson here, particularly for those involved in church work and ministry. Don’t get so involved in the work of the Lord that you fail to get involved with the Lord of the work. E.M. Bounds said, ‘To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.’ Question: if you are not being influenced by God, who or what is influencing you? People? Pressures? Circumstances? If Jesus had come for dinner, He may well have commended Martha and told Mary to get busy in the kitchen. But His priority, before going to the cross, was to spend time with those He loved. Here is a thought that will change your attitude towards prayer: Jesus wants to spend time with you!

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When God makes a promise to us, we have every right to expect Him to keep it. And when we make God a promise, He has every right to expect us to keep it. ‘You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways’ (vv. 27-28 NKJV). This Scripture could be your doorway to blessing and a key to the breakthrough you have been praying for. Go back and revisit the promises you have made to God. Why? Because He wants you to feel confident towards Him. ‘Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence towards God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight’ (1 John 3:21-22 NKJV). No more excuses. Accept responsibility for what you are and what you can become. Dare to pray: ‘Disturb me, Lord, when my dreams come true, only because I dreamed too small. Disturb me when I arrive safely, only because I sailed too close to the shore. Disturb me when the things I have gained cause me to lose my thirst for more of you. Disturb me when I have acquired success, only to lose my desire for excellence. Disturb me when I give up too soon and settle too far short of the goals you have set for my life’ (Author Unknown). In order to go forwards, you may have to go back and make things right between you and the Lord. If so, do it!

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Don’t allow the pain of your past to blur your vision and steal the blessing God has in store for you in the future. God says, ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing’ (vv. 18-19 NKJV). If you have been wounded by old relationships, God has new ones waiting for you. ‘The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons”’ (1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV). Grieving your losses is healthy. But when you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. There comes a time when you must stop talking about what cannot be changed. Plus, if you keep treating your friends to a history lesson, you will lose them, because your words are creating a climate that’s uncomfortable for them to be in. God’s solution to pain is purpose. God’s solution to old wounds is a commitment to walk in love. C.M. Parkes said, ‘Grief is…the price we pay for love.’ Those we love most can hurt us most. ‘Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him…“seventy times seven”’ (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV). To recover your peace and joy, you must forgive and keep on forgiving until the past loses its hold on you. When that happens, it’s a new day for you!

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Why did God use Ananias to lead Saul of Tarsus to Christ? Because he was the right man, in the right place, at the right time, with the right message, and the right attitude. ‘In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying…” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul”’ (vv. 10-11, 17 NIV). So here is the question: if God needed you to do something for Him, would you be ready? Would you be willing? This was not an easy assignment because Saul was notorious for imprisoning Christians and putting them to death. But when God told Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles’ (v. 15 NIV), he trusted God and went. Note the words ‘placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul.”’ Ananias had every right to fear Saul and even resent him. Yet he called him ‘brother’. Ananias acknowledged an old foe as now being part of God’s redeemed family. And you must learn to do that too. When God calls someone His child, you must love them, accept them, and treat them as your brother or sister in Christ. So, let’s go back to the question: if God needed you to do something for Him today, would you be ready? You can be. And you need to be.

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King Solomon is considered one of the wisest men who ever lived. He wrote three books in the Bible and is quoted regularly. And he was a lifetime learner and seeker of truth. ‘When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction.’ Note the words ‘I considered it well’. That should be your fixed attitude in life. God’s plan for you is to keep learning, changing, growing, and maturing until you draw your last breath. And that means always being open-minded. Consider the Pharisees. They were 100 per cent committed to their belief system. They were also the best-educated people in society. Yet they resisted Jesus and the truth He shared at every turn. Why? For three very common reasons: 1) Pride: ‘If what Jesus says is right, that makes us wrong.’ 2) Security: ‘If we accept what He is teaching, what will happen to our reputation and our income?’ 3) Tradition: ‘We have believed and done things this way for generations.’ Can you see where we’re going with this line of thought? And can you see how it may apply to your life? One pastor said, ‘It’s good to be saved and sanctified, as long as you are not saved, sanctified, and stuck!’ Spiritual growth requires two things: a hunger for truth, and the humility to acknowledge that you still have more to learn. Those are two qualities that God always honours: ‘The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way’ (Psalm 25:9 NKJV). So always be open-minded.

Friday 30 August

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Walking in spiritual victory calls for understanding Satan’s ‘schemes’. Here are some points at which you’re particularly vulnerable: when you feel up, when you feel down, when you’re alone, when you’re exhausted, and when you have experienced loss. There is no such thing as fair play with the devil. If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. If you give him an entry point into your life, he will use it against you. Notice the two occasions on which Satan attacked Jesus. First, at His birth. Herod put out an order to kill every Jewish boy under the age of two. That’s why as a new believer, you must develop the daily habits of prayer, Bible reading, and fellowshipping with those who can strengthen you in your walk with God. Second, on the threshold of His ministry. For forty days, Jesus did battle with Satan in the wilderness. Why did the struggle last so long? It was over His future. ‘Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him…Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region’ (Luke 4:13-14 NKJV). Attack is a sign of respect; it means Satan has discerned your potential. And the level of his attack is an indication of the level of blessing God has in store for you on the other side of it. So instead of being discouraged about the battle, see it as a sign from God that your best days are ahead of you.

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A pastor shares this: ‘The process of growing with the help of a mentor usually follows this pattern: it begins with awareness. You realise that you need help and that following yourself is not a viable option for effective personal growth. When a person comes to such a realisation, one of two things can happen. The first is that the person’s pride swells up, and he cannot bring himself to ask another person for advice…The other reaction to awareness is to humble yourself and say, “I need your help.” That decision not only leads to greater knowledge, but it also often develops maturity in you. It also reinforces that people need one another – not just when they’re young and starting out, but their entire lives…The mentors you take advice from help to shape you. If you spend your time with people who subtract from you, who belittle you or undervalue you, then every step forward that you attempt to take will be difficult. But if you find wise leaders, good role models, and positive friends, you will find that they speed you on your journey. No matter who you are, what you have accomplished, how low or how high your life has taken you, you can benefit from having a mentor. If you’ve never had one, you have no idea how much it can improve your life. If you have had mentors, then you already know – and you should start passing it on by becoming a mentor to others. Because you know that it’s hard to improve when you have no one but yourself to follow.’ So, ‘get wisdom’, and share it with those who need it.

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The further you go in the pursuit of your potential, the more ground you will have to break. This is where you can benefit from the experience of others. As the Chinese proverb says, ‘To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.’ In picking a mentor, look for two things: 1) Someone who possesses wisdom. The understanding, experience, and wisdom of mentors help us to solve problems we would have a hard time handling on our own. Wise people often use just a few words to help us learn and develop. They open our eyes to worlds we might not otherwise see. They help us navigate difficult situations. They enable us to see opportunities we would otherwise miss. They make us wiser than our years and experience. 2) Someone who provides friendship and support. Jesus told those He mentored, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). The first question most followers want to know of a mentor is, ‘Do you care for me?’ The reason for this question is obvious. Who wants to be guided by a person who isn’t interested in them? Selfish people will assist you only insofar as it advances their own agenda. Good mentors provide friendship and support, unselfishly working to help you reach your potential. Knowledge without support is sterile. Advice without friendship feels cold. Candour without care is harsh. But when you are being helped by a person who cares for you, it is emotionally fulfilling. Development comes from both the head and the heart. And only caring people are glad to share both with you.

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Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ (vv. 14, 16 NKJV). The pastor continues to explain: ‘If you are a follower of Christ, you should also be light amidst the darkness. Your job is to let Jesus shine in and through you so that those living in the dark will find the light as well. That’s why it’s not enough just to shine. Light is only useful when it encounters the darkness. The place to shine your light and show your light and share your light, is not inside the church, but outside the church. Jesus tells us to do what He did: go find dark places and start shining…You don’t have to ask people to look at you when you turn on a light in a dark room. Their heads will turn instinctively. 1) You play sports, and you begin playing for and with your teammates. You are a light in the darkness. 2) You live in a neighbourhood filled with unbelievers and begin performing acts of service for others in Jesus’ name. You are a light in the darkness. 3) You are the conspicuous Christian in your office, displaying virtue in an atmosphere of selfishness. You are a light in the darkness. Jesus called us to find people in dark places and to move towards those who need Him. As it turns out, escaping from darkness is as easy as turning on the light.’ Remember the children’s song: ‘This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.’ That’s what God has called you to do.

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The pastor continues: ‘Light is one of the things we often take for granted…We could not live without it. Plants are necessary for the existence of mankind. The entire human species and all animal life are dependent on plants for survival. Plants provide all the essential amino acids and most of the vitamins necessary for health through a light process known as photosynthesis. Plants also produce the oxygen we need to breathe. And plants must have light to grow. What is true in the physical world is true in the spiritual world. Physical life is impossible without physical light, and spiritual life is impossible without spiritual light…How do you dispel the darkness?…Would you sit down on a couch and feel sorry for yourself? Would you take a broom and try to sweep the darkness away? Would you try to shovel or vacuum the darkness out? There is only one solution to such a quandary; turn on the light.’ That’s what you do when you commit your life to Christ. That’s what you do when you obey His teachings and follow His instructions. That’s what you do when you spend time alone with Him in prayer. That’s what you do when you turn to Him during the dark times in your life. That’s when you discover His promise to be true: ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NKJV). And not only that, you begin to reflect that light to others: ‘Believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’

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A pastor writes: ‘Have you ever heard the term achluophobia? It is the fear of darkness…Being in complete darkness is unnerving. It induces a sense of helplessness. And yet physical darkness is nothing compared to emotional, relational, and spiritual darkness.’ Today you may feel like you’re in a dark place with no way out: ‘My girlfriend left me for another man.’ Or, ‘I’m probably heading towards divorce. My husband has been cheating on me.’ Or, ‘I’m depressed and cry for no reason. When will these feelings go away?’ Or, ‘I’m wrestling with a terrible illness, and I’m basically housebound. I am in a dark place and need help.’ If that’s your story, there is help, and there is hope. Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’ If you’re willing to turn to Him today, you will discover that He can illuminate your path and show you the way out of the darkness you’re in. When you turn on the light, darkness has to leave. And Jesus is the light that removes our spiritual and emotional darkness. Notice that Jesus didn’t say He is a light, or one among many, but instead the light. He didn’t say He is light just for some, but the light of the world. Regardless of whether you live in London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Toronto, or Timbuktu, Jesus is your answer. If you’re living in darkness, He is inviting you to come to Him and step into the light.

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When you commit your life to Christ, you switch sides. Now you’re up against three things. The world with its pressures, values, and agenda. The flesh, with its impulses and weaknesses. The devil, who is out to defeat you. But God would never allow us to get into a fight we couldn’t win, so let’s consider three blessings of battle. 1) It teaches you to live at high alert. It was when Samson slept that Delilah shaved his head and robbed him of his strength. It was when the servants slept that an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat and threatened their harvest. 2) It’s a sign of spiritual progress. When Israel entered the promised land, thirty-one kings and seven nations had to be conquered. Plus giants! They had to take it one city at a time and one giant at a time. And when Jesus becomes Lord of your life, He will address the unsurrendered areas of your life, and He will deal with them one at a time. And the battle will be harder and last longer when it comes to your stubborn areas. You know which ones they are, right? Be encouraged. God won’t give up on you: ‘He who has begun a good work in you will complete it’ (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). 3) It’s an indication of your value to God. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God. That’s why you’re a target of Satan. He is after the deposit of God that’s within you. So, keep fighting the good fight of faith, knowing that by God’s grace, you will win.

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The heroes in Scripture often found themselves faced with impossible odds and overwhelming situations. Think of Moses standing up to Pharaoh and David standing up to Goliath. Think of King Jehoshaphat facing the overwhelming might of three combined armies determined to destroy his nation. Here is what he said to God: ‘For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You’ (v. 12 NKJV). Now notice how God answered him: ‘“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you”…Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you’ (vv.15-17 NKJV). God will never give you a job to do that does not require His strength, His wisdom, His resources, and sometimes His miraculous intervention. Who commanded the disciples to get into the boat and go over to the other side of Galilee? Jesus. What happened? Obeying Him involved going through one of the worst storms of their lives. But as they watched Him still the storm, their faith rose to a new level and prepared them to do greater things for God in the future. So the word for today is: 1) position yourself, 2) stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, and 3) ‘do not fear…go…for the Lord is with you’.

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Have you ever wondered where your prayers go? The answer is ‘up for a memorial before God’. Notice that they are ‘before’ Him. They are in His hands and on His mind. Here when Cornelius prayed, God not only changed his circumstances, He changed history; for the first time, Gentiles heard the gospel and became part of the kingdom of God. How long had Cornelius been praying? We don’t know; the Bible just calls him ‘a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always’ (v. 2 NKJV). Prayer was not a hotline Cornelius used when he got into trouble or had a problem he couldn’t solve. He ‘prayed to God always’. He had a lifestyle of prayer. The word ‘memorial’ means God remembers what you pray about. Prayer is like putting money into your bank account. You may not draw on it today or tomorrow, but it will be there when you need it. Don’t get caught up in religious rituals. You can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything, and God will answer you. ‘Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice’ (Psalm 55:17 NKJV). When you run out of petrol on the motorway, you can’t blame the car. You got busy doing other things and neglected what was important. Prayer makes you conscious of God, keeps you connected to God, and positions you to receive what you need from God. So, keep praying because your prayers go ‘up for a memorial before God’.

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Let’s examine the story of Jesus turning water into wine. It was His first miracle, and it reveals how He works in our lives. 1) Invite Jesus. ‘There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee…Jesus and His disciples were invited’ (vv. 1-2 NKJV). When the problem arose, this couple didn’t have to send for Jesus because He was already there. Not only did they know Him, they included Him in their plans. They honoured Him. The cry of Paul’s heart was ‘that I may know Him’ (Philippians 3:10 NKJV). Why? Because when you know the Lord, you can call on Him with confidence and be assured He will be by your side when you need Him. This couple probably had a long time to prepare for this event, yet Jesus didn’t criticise them for poor planning. He came to their aid and met their need. And He will do the same for you; all you have to do is invite Him. 2) Do what He tells you, even when you do not understand it. Faith does not require explanations. It requires simple obedience and trusting in the goodness of God. ‘Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass’ (Psalm 37:4-5 NKJV). 3) Understand that God can save the best for the last. ‘You have kept the good wine until now!’ (John 2:10 NKJV). It’s not too late. What looks to you like a tragedy can become a testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life.

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Does it feel like the attack coming against you right now is more than you can bear? If so, read this: ‘Pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope’ (vv. 3-4 AMPC). Notice that you can reach a place of spiritual maturity where you automatically respond to difficulty with ‘joyful and confident hope’. It’s easy to say, ‘Don’t worry.’ But to actually do that requires experience with the faithfulness of God. When we trust God and then see His faithfulness in our lives, it gives us the confidence needed to live without fear and anxiety. That’s why it’s so important to continue to have faith in God and learn to trust Him in the midst of trials. With God’s help, we can overcome the temptation to give up when the going gets rough. God uses those hard, trying times to build in us patience, endurance, and character that will eventually produce ‘the habit of joyful and confident hope’. Always remember that when you are in a battle, you are gaining valuable experience that will benefit you later on. You will more easily trust God when difficulty comes, and you will be able to testify to others regarding the goodness and faithfulness of God. If you are in a battle right now, you can let it defeat you or make you stronger! Make the right decision, and let it help bring you to a deeper level of spiritual maturity.

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Moses fielded complaints and listened to stories of frustration and woe until he reached the place where he told God, ‘I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.’ And God agreed. He told Moses to pick seventy mature leaders, ‘and they shall bear the burden of the people with you’ (vv. 16-17 NKJV). As a result, they made it to the promised land. Like Moses, it’s okay for you to say, ‘I’ve reached my limit.’ Yes, the Scripture says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). But that’s referring to times when we face various trials and situations that God will help us through. It doesn’t mean we should take on so many responsibilities that we burn out. Sometimes it’s all too much, and it’s okay to admit that. It’s also okay to say no to some things, so you can enjoy life the way God intended. You don’t have to be like someone else or try to keep up with them. The assignment God gives you is never greater than the grace He supplies. As our faces differ, so do our gifts and capacity to handle things. We need to be who God created us to be, and we don’t have to apologise for it. We must accept responsibility for all God called us to be, and do all He called us to do. We’re not called to make ourselves sick with stress and pressure. So if you have reached your limit, go to God. He will help you find a saner, healthier lifestyle.

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God has a plan for your life. In Scripture, it’s sometimes referred to as a ‘vision’. It works like a compass that will always point you in the right direction and an anchor that will hold you steady in life’s storms. Why did God say, ‘Write the vision and make it plain’? Because sometimes, we bury our vision deep in our hearts to protect ourselves from the criticism of others. Fear causes us to set our vision out of sight so that we don’t have to think about it. Sometimes we give up on our vision because it hurts too much and costs too much to hold on to it. What should you do? First, you must have a vision that’s clear and compelling. Second, you must keep your vision before you at all times. After experiencing painful rejection by his family and false accusation by his boss’s wife resulting in thirteen years of wrongful imprisonment, the Bible says, ‘Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed’ (Genesis 42:9 KJV). Third, you must remember that God has scheduled a time for your dream to be fulfilled: ‘The vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). You must find a balance between contentment and ambition. Paul writes, ‘I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content’ (Philippians 4:11 NKJV). Paul never allowed himself to be upset with where he was at the moment; he knew that God was with him at all times, and he was always looking forward to where God would take him. So enjoy this day, knowing that God has your future securely planned.

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Have you suffered a series of defeats and setbacks? Are you discouraged because the attacks have been long and tiring? Read these words from the psalmist David and stand on them: ‘Lord, how I love you! For you have done such tremendous things for me…In my distress I screamed to the Lord for his help. And he heard me from heaven; my cry reached his ears…He reached down…and drew me out of my great trials…On the day when I was weakest, they attacked. But the Lord held me steady. He led me to a place of safety, for he delights in me. The Lord rewarded me for doing right…What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him. For who is God except our Lord? Who but he is as a rock? He fills me with strength and protects me wherever I go’ (vv. 1, 6, 16, 18-20, 30-32 TLB). You have heard it before, and you know what to do – spend more time with God in prayer and reading His Word! Instead of striving in your own strength, plug into God and start flowing in His strength. Check and see who is on the throne of your life. If it’s anyone other than the Lord, including yourself, it’s an idol that must be dethroned. How long will this battle last? God knows, and He will never permit the attack you face to be greater than the great grace He provides. Today He is saying to you, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV).

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Like a proud parent, our heavenly Father loves it when we carry out impossible things by His power and for His glory. And when you live in raw reliance upon His power, you will do things that otherwise cannot be done. When you think about it, in and of ourselves, we are incapable of loving God. We cannot fabricate love for Him. We can just respond to His love for us. Knowing this sets us free. Religion focuses on doing things for God. But true Christianity is all about receiving what Christ has done for us on the cross. What we do for God is a reflection and a response to what He has done for us. We all love miracles; we just dislike being in a circumstance where we need one. But, that is a precondition. You will never experience the power of God until you’re in a situation that requires it. If you want to be filled with His Spirit, step into a situation that requires His power. Pursue a God-ordained dream you cannot achieve in your own strength and wisdom. That’s why Paul writes: ‘I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms’ (vv.18-20 NIV). Today, God wants you to experience His ‘incomparably great power’ in your life.

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Do you remember the woman who took an alabaster box of fragrant oil and anointed Jesus with it? The Bible says: ‘Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner”’ (Luke 7:39 NKJV). Man-made religion condemned this woman because of her past, but Jesus cleansed her and made her whole. ‘Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little’ (v. 47 NKJV). Jesus knew what this woman had done, but He also knew what she could becomewhen His grace touched her life. The more you realise that you have been forgiven much, actually, of all your sins, the more you will love the Lord. God’s forgiveness does not lead to a sinful lifestyle; it leads to a life of glorifying the Lord Jesus. ‘The goodness of God leads you to repentance.’ The word ‘repentance’ means to turn around and do the opposite. Condemnation does not produce righteous living, but the knowledge of God’s grace and goodness towards us does. Simon the Pharisee thought that his acceptance by God was based on his performance; hence he became self-righteous. But Jesus set him straight: ‘To whom little is forgiven, thesameloves little.’ When you realise how much and how often God has forgiven you, you fall in love with Him and desire to please Him in all you do.

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If you are serious about overcoming temptation, here are five things you must do: 1) Think about the choices you are making, and the consequences, before you make them. Wisdom always looks ahead. 2) Believe that you can resist temptation – because you can. ‘You are of God…and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world’ (1 John 4:4 NKJV). 3) Recall how you felt when you gave in to temptation before. Guilt, condemnation, shame. These are some of Satan’s favourite weapons. When you give in to them, it’s hard to get back on your feet again. 4) Don’t put yourself in situations where you can easily fall. If you struggle with managing your money, don’t go to the shopping centre or shop online when you can’t afford to buy anything. If you struggle with pornography, remove the source of it from your life. 5) Celebrate each victory, but be sure to give God the credit for it. You will never graduate from being tempted. It’s easy to think you’re beyond stumbling, and once that happens, you make yourself an easy target for the Enemy. God wants you to trust Him for victory in every area of your life. Sheep are defenceless animals; they have no fighting skills. When they stray from the fold, they are quickly devoured by the wolf. So, they have learned that their safety and protection lie in staying close to the shepherd. And the same goes for you. Here is a promise you can stand on today: ‘The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations’ (2 Peter 2:9 NKJV).

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The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says: ‘Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently’ (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 AMPC). The words ‘means of escape’ do not promise you exemption from temptation. Satan, who is called ‘the tempter’, never lets up or takes a day off. But God’s goal is to make you strong where you have been weak, so His promise to you is ‘that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently’. Keep going! As you become stronger in the Lord, the temptations you are battling will become progressively weaker until they lose their appeal and you begin to walk in victory.

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In Scripture, Satan is called ‘the tempter’ and ‘the accuser’. First, he will tempt you, and when you fail, he will accuse you. He wants you to feel unworthy and disqualified in God’s eyes. But you’re not! ‘We do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:15-16 NIVUK). When you fail, you can go to God with confidence, knowing He will not only forgive you but provide the enabling grace to help you overcome temptation next time. We all face temptation; it’s an unavoidable part of life. Even believers who have walked with the Lord for many years deal with it. Their areas of temptation may be different from yours, but Satan doesn’t give any of us a free pass. However, you can overcome temptation. One of the first steps to conquering it is to start saying the right thing. The Bible says, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit’ (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). Your words give life to what you say. So, start speaking God’s Word. Jesus said, ‘I give you the authority…over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you’ (Luke 10:19 NKJV). Claim that promise today; for what God promises, He will give you the strength to perform.

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There is just enough ego and independence in us to want to do things our own way. And they keep getting us into trouble. Paul writes: ‘Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other’ (vv. 16-17 NIV). Note the words ‘the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit’. What’s the key to victory? First, lean more on God and less on yourself. Second, establish boundaries in your life. That’s why daily Bible reading is so important. It keeps you in God’s safety zone by telling you what you can do and what you had better not do to be safe. Roads have lines: one on each side and one in the centre. These lines provide margins for our safety while we’re driving. If we go over the line on one side, we risk going into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we risk getting hit by oncoming traffic. We appreciate those lines because they keep us safe. And it’s like that in our personal lives too. When we have clearly marked boundary lines, we feel much better and experience God’s peace. When God says don’t, He is not being difficult to get along with, He is being protective. You have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, you are precious in His eyes, and He wants only the best for you.

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The best marriages are built by couples who try to remember the qualities that initially attracted them to one another. If you want to build a happy marriage or improve a less-than-happy one, do these: 1) List your spouse’s best qualities. Write down the things you love most about him or her, and endeavour to keep those things in mind at all times. When stresses and strains surface in your relationship, as they inevitably will, go over the list in your mind, and if necessary refer to the written copy as a reminder. 2) Focus on them. Think how your spouse’s great qualities enrich your life, and how much you would miss them if he or she was not around. When you change your focus, you change your feelings. And when you change your feelings, you change your perspective, your approach, and your reactions. 3) Verbalise them. ‘Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also…praises her’ (Proverbs 31:28 NKJV). Your children learn how to build a great marriage or a miserable one by watching you. That thought alone should put the brakes on criticism and bring out the compliments! 4) Nurture them. ‘A man reaps what he sows’ (Galatians 6:7 NIV). People wither under complaints, whereas they thrive and grow through praise and encouragement. Seize any moment worth celebrating and magnify it! Paul bottom-lines it: ‘If you love someone, you will be loyal…no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him’ (1 Corinthians 13:7 TLB).

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Did you know that God’s willingness to bless you with more money depends on how well you handle what He has already given you? When it comes to money, here are some Bible principles you must live by: 1) Pay God His share first so you won’t feel ashamed of not doing so (see Malachi 3:10). 2) Pray before you buy. Ask yourself, ‘Do I need this or just want it?’ (3) Keep mindful of the amount of expenditures versus your income. 4) Be in agreement with your husband or wife regarding the household budget and your short- and long-term goals. And don’t hide or misconstrue information about your finances. 5) Commit to excellence at work – without overdoing your hours. 6) Pay off all your debt (excluding real estate). Hold on to one credit card to help you build a good credit rating. 7) Save monthly (aim for a minimum of 10 per cent of your gross pay if you are out of debt). 8) Don’t co-sign a loan for anyone, and don’t lend anyone money you can’t afford to lose. 9) Pay cash for all your ‘desires’ instead of putting them on a credit card. 10) Assign funds in your budget for fun and holidays. 11) When you get a raise, don’t adapt your lifestyle to consume all of it. Train yourself to live beneath your means. 12) Aim to set up an emergency cash supply of at least two months’ living expenses (six would be outstanding). 13) Be satisfied with what you have. ‘Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless’ (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV).

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When you sense God’s presence and know He is with you, you can handle whatever life brings. Try to imagine the assignment Moses had – liberating two million people from the grip of slavery: leading them through a wilderness where they were exposed to enemies and elements such as extreme heat and cold; feeding them, clothing them, settling their disputes, and keeping them moving towards their destiny. Here is what Moses prayed: ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us’ (v. 15 NKJV). Moses preferred to go nowhere with God than anywhere without Him. When his affair with Bathsheba was exposed, David didn’t pray, ‘Don’t take my crown from me, or my kingdom, or my army.’ No, he knew what mattered most: ‘Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me’ (Psalm 51:11 NKJV). In order to grow spiritually, you must develop an increasing awareness of God’s presence in your life. How do you do that? Instead of being a rock, become a sponge. When you place a rock in the ocean, its surface gets wet but its core remains hard and dry. But when you place a sponge in the ocean, the water alters the very essence of its being. Slow down and sense God’s presence. Begin by reading this Scripture, writing it down, repeating it over and over, and opening every pore of your soul to God’s presence: ‘The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you’ (Zephaniah 3:17 GNT).

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Failing to unlearn irrational fears and misconceptions keeps us from becoming who God wants us to be. The invalid man in John 5 is a great example of this. He had been disabled for thirty-eight years when Jesus asked if he would like to get well. However, the man believed there was only one way to be healed: ‘I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me’ (John 5:7 NKJV). This man assumed something that may have cost him thirty-eight years! He thought that, in order to be healed, he had to be the first person into the pool of Bethesda when an angel stirred the water. In a sense, he was imprisoned by that thought. But Jesus uninstalled that inaccurate belief with one sentence: ‘Take up your bed and walk’ (v. 11 NKJV). Jesus set this man free physically, and He set him free cognitively. Faith is unlearning the senseless worries and misguided beliefs that keep us captive. And that’s what we do while we study Scripture. We literally upgrade our minds by a download of the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). Unlearning something is twice as hard as learning it. Why? Because every mile you go in the wrong direction is really a two-mile error as you have to double back to get to where you need to be. Getting old thoughts out of your mind is harder than getting new thoughts into it. But it’s worth it. So, take time each day to renew your mind with God’s Word.

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To be worthy of a following, you need more than talent and a title. The essence of leadership lies in doing two things. 1) Going first! ‘Cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.’ That means if God has called you to lead, you must step out in faith and go first. That requires believing in yourself and your mission. Accomplishment requires more than just working hard; it requires believing the right thing. God told Joshua, ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go’ (v. 9 NIV). You don’t need all the answers upfront. Your confidence comes from knowing that God is with you – and ahead of you. 2) Taking others with you. ‘Leading your brothers, helping them’ (v. 14 MSG). And in case you’re wondering, ‘How long do I have to keep investing in this person?’ the answer is until ‘they also…take possession of the land that God…is giving them’ (v.15 MSG). Many people will serve when they’re compelled to, and some will serve in a crisis. But when you have a servant’s heart, you initiate service to others. You see the need, seize the opportunity, and serve knowing God will reward you. Therefore you serve with gladness (see Psalm 100:2). So here is the deal: you only qualify to enjoy the privileges of leadership when you’re willing to go first and then take others with you. But that’s not the end of the story. God said, ‘After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which…the Lord gave you’ (Joshua 1:15 NIV).

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Why do 50 per cent of marriages, including Christian marriages, end in divorce? Jesus answers that question: ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly’ (v. 10 NASB). God performed the first wedding ceremony between Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. And the honeymoon barely began before Satan entered the picture and attacked them, causing feelings of shame and separation from God. Later in Scripture, when Satan couldn’t defeat the patriarch Job through boils, bankruptcy, and bereavement, he attacked him through his wife. Your marriage is one of Satan’s prime targets, and you forget that at your peril. So how can you protect it? 1) Know your mate’s expectations: are they realistic? Were they unexpressed or unknown until conflict arose in the relationship? Disappointment often manifests itself as anger. 2) Familiarise yourself with your spouse’s family history: in many ways, he or she is a product of the environment they grew up in. The truth is, we build with the tools and fight with the weapons our parents gave us. And during quarrels and heated conversations, memories of parental anger, childhood abuse, and family arguments can influence how we react later when we get married. 3) Start praying for your mate: better still – start praying with them! Jesus said: ‘If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV). So protect your marriage – it’s one of Satan’s biggest targets.

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The Bible says, ‘“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him’ (vv. 28-31 NIVUK). When you know that you have prayed, prepared, and planned, you must step out and do it. It’s normal to experience fear when you attempt something you have never done before. Perhaps you have read the story of Peter’s attempt to walk on the water and judged him a failure. That’s not so. First, Peter gets an A for being willing to leave his safety zone and do what he had never done before. Second, he experienced the exhilaration of actually walking on water if for only a fleeting moment; no other disciple could boast of that. Third, he learned a valuable lesson: focusing on Jesus rather than your circumstances is essential when attempting the impossible. Fourth, he recognised that his survival depended solely on Jesus. ‘He was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said’ (vv. 30-31 NIV). Jesus didn’t condemn Peter for failing, He just told him he needed to develop greater faith. God won’t let you drown in your mistakes. As long as you keep trusting Him, He will keep working with you until you succeed. He is your heavenly Father, and your success is His success!

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Let’s take another look at how to conquer the fear of failure. 1) Pursue your God-given purpose in life. To truly succeed at something, you must have a passion for it. And God will not only reveal to you His purpose, He will give you a passion to pursue it. Paul had the gift, education, and connections to pursue a number of different careers. But he wrote, ‘I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!’ What do you feel passionately about? Study it; it’s a clue to your destiny. 2) Ask yourself these three questions: a) ‘What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t succeed?’ You will still have God, your talents, your family, and other opportunities. b) ‘Has this ever been done before?’ Even if not, so what? c) ‘Is this fear a signal that I don’t have the proper people, processes, or plans in place to succeed at this time?’ Then ask the really big question: ‘What are the benefits I will enjoy if I succeed?’ Have a can-do attitude. Look your fear in the face and boldly assert: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Don’t let the familiarity of this Scripture cause you to recite it by rote. Say it out loud. Really absorb the words; get them into your spirit. Know that Christ strengthens you to succeed for the glory of God. Know that when He guides you, He provides you with all that you need to succeed in whatever He has called you to do.

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Let’s look at some Bible strategies for overcoming the fear of failure. 1) Make sure that your vision and your values line up. The rise and fall of King Uzziah are told in these words: ‘Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years…He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success…But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God’ (vv. 3-5, 16 NIV). The lesson here is clear: success can be intoxicating. And intoxicated people don’t think too clearly and end up getting into all kinds of trouble. So be sure that your vision is in line with your core values. Stay in balance. Define success based on God’s Word rather than the ego-driven systems of the world. For example, receiving public recognition and praise for your accomplishments while your family life is a mess is not success. And sacrificing your integrity for profit and promotion is the worst deal you will ever make. 2) Learn from your failures and mistakes. Failure is not fatal, neither does it define who you are. It is the result of your actions but not the measure of your worthiness. Thomas Edison once said, ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.’ Humbly view your mistakes as ‘tuition paid’ on your education, then grow wiser, and keep moving forwards.

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According to psychiatric reference, approximately two thousand classified fears exist. What’s interesting is that psychiatrists say we are born with only two innate ones: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. That means we learn every other fear. And more importantly, that means we can unlearn every other fear. The majority of us are shaped, for better or worse, by a handful of experiences. These defining experiences can plant a seed of confidence or a seed of uncertainty, a seed of hope or a seed of vulnerability, a seed of faith or a seed of fear. John expresses the end goal of our relationship with God: ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear’ (v. 18 NIV). The words ‘perfect love’ do not describe our love for God, but rather God’s unconditional, unearned, unfailing love for us. A pastor writes: ‘The goal of love is fearlessness! As we grow in a love relationship with God, we unlearn the fears that paralyse us and neutralise us spiritually. That is the essence of faith. Faith is the process of unlearning your irrational fears. The only God-ordained fear is the fear of God. And if we fear [love, honour, reverence, and respect] God, we don’t have to fear anyone or anything else. Unlearning our fears is really a process of learning to trust God more and more.’ One of the greatest promises God has given to us in Scripture is this: ‘He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man to do me?”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV).

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Sometimes we want to justify what we are doing and say, ‘It feels right, so it can’t be wrong.’ However, if God’s Word says something is wrong, it’s wrong, no matter how right it feels. The old adage, ‘Let your conscience be your guide,’ is only half the truth. The other half should read, ‘as long as your conscience is grounded in and guided by the clear teachings of God’s Word.’ As a redeemed child of God, you are called to live by His commandments instead of your feelings, impulses, emotions, or popular thinking. When those things guide you, the winds of temptation can sweep you off course and shipwreck you. Paul writes: ‘Timothy, my son, the instructions I am giving you are based on what some prophets once said about you. If you follow these instructions, you will fight like a good soldier. You will be faithful and have a clear conscience. Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn’t listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so they will learn not to oppose God’ (vv. 18-20 CEV). We don’t know much about Hymenaeus and Alexander, but what we do know is sobering and instructive. They failed to develop, protect, and live by a conscience that was grounded in God’s Word and ended up spiritually shipwrecked. What a graphic image: a ship broken to pieces on the rocks because it got off course. So the word for today is – your conscience must be based on God’s Word, and you must always keep it clear!

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What kind of work environment brings out the best in you? Do you thrive on routine? Are you motivated by people’s needs? Do you enjoy tackling challenges that might discourage others? How about your relationships? Do you enjoy being part of a team, or do you work better alone? If you only come to life when you’re around people, you will probably be miserable sitting in front of a computer all day. What are your strengths? God said of Bezalel the builder, ‘I have filled him with…wisdom…He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze…skilled in engraving…mounting gemstones…carving wood’ (Exodus 31:3-5 NLT). What makes your eyes sparkle and your pulse race? Do you enjoy working with computers, cars, or animals? Maybe you’re an adept people manager, or you like fixing things, or you’re good with finances. The Bible says, ‘We are God’s masterpiece…created…anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.’ God has a purpose for your life, and you will experience your highest levels of happiness and fulfilment when you discover and begin to fulfil that purpose. You’re not just another brick in the wall or another nail in the carpenter’s toolbox! God ‘personally formed and made you’ (see Isaiah 43:7 MSG). You’re the only ‘you’ He created, and if you fail to be who you are, His kingdom won’t benefit from your unique contribution. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘Don’t compare yourself…take responsibility for doing the…best you can with your…life’ (Galatians 6:4-5 MSG). That’s the secret of happiness.

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Jesus attended church regularly. ‘He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath’ (Luke 4:16 NLT). The apostles also went to church on a regular basis: ‘They worshipped together at the Temple each day’ (Acts 2:46 NLT). And David loved God’s house. He said, ‘A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked’ (Psalm 84:10 NLT). So, do you love God’s house? You should, because there you will hear His Word explained, find strategies for living, discover your spiritual gifts, and form relationships that will sustain you in the hard times. Where else can you find all that? Yale University conducted a study confirming that people who go to church regularly are happier, healthier, and live longer than those who don’t. The survey found that church attendees had lower blood pressure, less stress, and greater immunity to disease, whereas non-churchgoers in the group had a shortened life span roughly equal to that of cigarette smokers. One of the interviewers asked an eighty-year-old woman, who happened to be running on a treadmill at the time, what her secret was. She said, ‘When you walk with God you have purpose, so you live longer. And you have peace with God, so you live better.’ Think: if you could find all that in a pill, how much would you pay for it? And would anybody have to force you to take it? No? Okay – then make sure you’re in church on Sunday!

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There are three ways whereby you can know God is real and have a relationship with Him. 1) Intellectual knowledge of God. ‘They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God’ (vv. 19-20 NLT). 2) Subconscious knowledge of God. ‘Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right’ (Romans 2:14-15 NLT). 3) Personal knowledge of God. ‘At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’ (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT). God reveals Himself to us through creation. He speaks to us through our conscience and reveals His moral character and requirements. But beyond that, we can know God personally and have a relationship with Him through His Son. Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NKJV). There is one sure way to satisfy yourself that God is real – flip the switch!

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Gideon chose thirty-two thousand soldiers to fight the Midianites. But the truth is, you don’t need lots of people in your life, you just need the right people. So when Gideon said, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may…go home’ (v. 3 NLT), twenty-two thousand soldiers left. But God told him he still had too many, and added, ‘I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.’ Consequently, Gideon ended up with three hundred soldiers – but they won the day! Don’t worry about numbers; God can still do more with less. Just be prepared to lose some friends, for where God is taking you, they can’t go. God took the same spirit that rested on Moses and placed it on seventy leaders so they could help him (see Numbers 11:16-17). That’s what you need – people with the same spirit as you. Just because somebody is talented doesn’t mean they belong in your life. If spiritual gifts are the standard by which we measure, what about Balaam’s donkey? He prophesied (see Numbers 22:21-33)! The important question is, ‘Does this person have the right spirit?’ As you work with others, recognise that we all have certain things in common. People like to feel special, so compliment them (just make sure it’s genuine). They want a better tomorrow, so give them hope. They want direction, so lead them. They’re self-concerned, so address their needs first. They get low emotionally, so encourage them. They want success, so help them achieve it. Your success depends on having the right people in your life – and that’s why you must pray and rely on God’s guidance.

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Paul writes: ‘From among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified’ (vv. 30-32 NKJV). When someone claims ‘special revelation from God’ that doesn’t line up with what Scripture teaches, don’t buy it! Do what the Bereans did: ‘They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true’ (Acts 17:11 NIV). Whose teachings did the Bereans put under the searchlight of Scripture? Paul’s! No leader, regardless of the size of their following, is beyond such scrutiny. Indeed, good leaders welcome it. ‘But doesn’t God still have more to say to us?’ you ask. Yes, and when you take your last breath, you still won’t know everything. Does God have new and effective strategies for reaching the world with the gospel in this age of technology? Yes, and we must embrace and utilise them in order to reap the final harvest. But we must never compromise when it comes to God’s Word. ‘From among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things.’ Sometimes the greatest threat to truth comes from those we know, love, and have worked with, who have wandered off track. So, what’s the answer? It’s simple. Always ask, ‘What does the Bible say?’ and make that your benchmark.

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A pastor writes: ‘According to legend, King Midas loved gold so much that when Dionysus granted him a wish, Midas asked that everything he touched would turn to gold. At first, Midas was delighted with his request, but when he discovered that his touch made food inedible and his embrace made loved ones lifeless, he stumbled upon what sociologist Robert Merton called the law of unintended consequences. Like Midas, getting what we want can result in…undesirable consequences. So much for the Midas touch. Sometimes an unanswered prayer is God, in His sovereign wisdom, sparing us the pain of unintended consequences. Sometimes God allows what His power could prevent. Most of the time that causes us a great deal of temporal angst, but someday we will owe God as many thank-you’s for the prayers He did not answer as the ones He did.’ James writes, ‘You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures’ (vv. 2-3 NIV). C.S. Lewis said, ‘If God had granted all the silly prayers I’ve made in my life, where would I be now?’ The pastor continues: ‘Many of our prayers are misguided. We pray for comfort instead of character. We pray for an easy way out instead of the strength to make it through…Many of our prayers would short-circuit God’s plans and purposes for our lives if He answered them. Maybe we should stop asking God to get us out of difficult circumstances and start asking Him what He wants us to get out of those difficult circumstances.’

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First, acknowledge your inadequacy to God. Joni Eareckson Tada says, ‘Deny your weakness, and you will never realise God’s strength in you.’ God told Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Anything that makes you lean on God is a plus and not a minus. Second, stop putting yourself down. You say, ‘But I lack the qualifications to do the job.’ God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. How? By filling them with His Spirit. ‘I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit’ (Joel 2:28-29 NKJV). God isn’t limited by age, gender, race, or academic status. The only thing that limits Him is the limit you place on yourself or allow others to. Third, don’t buy it. Advertisers spend billions of pounds to convince you that without their product you are inadequate or incomplete. Don’t believe them! Begin to say, ‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14 NKJV). Fourth, view the excellence or superior performance of someone else as a source of motivation rather than intimidation. Meanwhile, don’t lose sight of your unique giftedness. Yes, you are gifted in some area. ‘Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them’ (Romans 12:6 NKJV). Your gift may be undiscovered, undeveloped, or unused, but it resides within you. Today, unlock it and begin to use it.

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The fear of inadequacy is a state of mind in which you think your best is not good enough. Usually, it originated in childhood when our parents, teachers, and others we considered important, failed to appreciate and affirm us or compared us negatively to someone else. You will see it from Moses, who felt inadequate to be the spokesman and liberator for the Israelites, to the late pop star Michael Jackson, who exerted himself to attain physical and professional perfection. No statistics can measure the number of abandoned dreams due to this paralysing emotion. To rid yourself of it, you must learn to embrace these two truths: 1) Apart from God you are inadequate. 2) Infused with God’s strength, you are adequate to any challenge He calls you to face. Paul writes: ‘Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God. [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers…of a new covenant’ (vv. 5-6 AMPC). Many of the heroes in the Bible struggled with the fear of inadequacy, so you’re in good company! Moses told God, ‘I can’t go and talk to Pharaoh, send someone else’ (see Exodus 3:11; 4:13). The real story of these Bible heroes is that they overcame their fear and said yes to God. They stepped out in faith and said in essence, ‘Lord, I am depending on you for my success.’ Our human ego likes to look good and claim the credit. But God puts us into a position of forced dependence so that the credit for our success goes to Him.

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There is no magic trick when it comes to influencing and impacting others. The Bible gives you the formula, and here it is: 1) Try to listen carefully. The truth is that people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. They tend to filter what they hear through their own life experiences, hang-ups, and the particular problem that’s on their mind at that moment. So if you want people to listen when you speak, listen carefully to them. 2) Don’t say too much. If you tend to talk too much, or too fast, here are three tips to slow yourself down: a) Stop. Just stop talking. Inhale. Count to ten. Excuse yourself and go to the bathroom. b) Practise not interrupting. Allow the other person to finish what he or she is saying. c) Ask yourself why you’re talking so much. Is it insecurity? Or anxiety? Or a need to control? Or a desire to impress? The reason many of us try to convince, impress, or control others is because we have a hard time trusting God to work things out. Just deliver the message and trust God to do the rest. 3) Keep your anger in check. If you implement the first two principles, you will tend to do fine on number three. It will just happen. The good news is, starting today you can learn to do all three things. And if you practise them consistently year after year, when you get to the end of your life, looking back, you will be glad you took God’s Word and His wisdom seriously.

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Charles Plumb was a pilot in Vietnam, and after seventy-five combat missions, his plane was demolished by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected, parachuted into enemy hands, and spent the next six years in a Communist prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on what he learned from his experience. One day when he and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man from another table walked over and said, ‘You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!’ Plumb said, ‘How in the world did you know that?’ The man replied, ‘I packed your parachute.’ Then the man grabbed his hand and said, ‘I guess it worked!’ Plumb assured him it had: ‘If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.’ That night he couldn’t sleep, wondering about the man. What had he looked like in a Navy uniform? How many times had Plumb seen him without even asking, ‘How are you?’ – or anything else – because Plumb was a fighter pilot and the other man was only a sailor. He pondered the many hours that sailor had spent in the bowels of the ship, meticulously weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands the destiny of a stranger. As a result, Plumb routinely asks his audience an important question: ‘Who’s packing your parachute?’ All of us have someone who provides what we need to make it through the day. Paul said Phoebe ‘has been helpful to many, and especially to me’. Who helps you? Today show them your appreciation.

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Desperate situations sometimes call for desperate measures, and severing your supply line to your flesh means getting radical. Jesus puts it like this: ‘If your right eye leads you astray pluck it out and throw it away…better…to lose one of your members than that your whole body should be thrown on to the rubbish-heap. Yes, if your right hand leads you astray cut it off and throw it away…better…to lose one of your members than that your whole body should go to the rubbish-heap’ (vv. 29-30 PHPS). Jesus is advocating moral and spiritual surgery – and that’s radical! There is no way to argue, reason, or negotiate with sin. Whatever your personal battle – gambling, alcohol, drugs, wrong relationships, or internet porn – its purpose is to destroy you and it needs to be eradicated. The apostle Paul was familiar with Old Testament Scripture. He knew that when faced with similar temptation, Samson fell while Joseph stood strong. That’s why he wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, warning him about the sin that could disqualify him and keep him from winning the race: ‘Run from temptations that capture young people’ (2 Timothy 2:22 CEV). Life in today’s environment is saturated with seductive influences, which means we can’t always eliminate the source. So Paul tells Timothy – when you can’t remove the influence, remove yourself! And furthermore, run, don’t walk. You can be free, but your carnal mind will only give you a few seconds before it decides for you. So don’t hesitate, don’t deviate, and don’t procrastinate. Do what needs to be done – and do it quickly.

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The Bible says, ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper. But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy’ (v. 13 NKJV). Could this be the reason you’re not succeeding? Unresolved guilt has the ability to corrode your confidence like acid. But there is an answer: ‘Whoever confesses and forsakes [his sins] will have mercy.’ Confess it to God! He already knows what you have done – He is just waiting for you to deal with it so He can forgive you and bless you again. ‘God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]’ (1 John 1:5 AMPC). The light of God reveals things. When a light is switched on in a room, we can see dust and bugs scattering. And when God gets involved in our lives, He begins to show us things we may prefer not to see; things we have been hiding, even from ourselves. We’re often deceived, especially about ourselves. We don’t want to deal with our faults, and we don’t enjoy having them exposed. Privately we feel condemned about them, but at least we feel like they’re hidden. But anything hidden has power over us because we fear it may be discovered. Refuse to live that way. The best and most liberating thing you can do is to face what God wants to take care of and get beyond the fear of it. David said, ‘I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin’ (Psalm 32:5 NKJV).

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When you listen to or read God’s Word but don’t apply it to your life, you deceive yourself. How so? 1) You settle for knowledge rather than experience. The Bible says, ‘If anyone…knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them’ (James 4:17 NIV). How does that grab you? When you know the truth but don’t act on it, you’re not simply making a mistake or exercising poor judgement – you’re sinning. The Bible says knowledge without obedience is sin. 2) You compare yourself with others. Paul writes, ‘Don’t compare yourself with others’ (Galatians 6:4 MSG). ‘When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise’ (2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV). That enables you to remain carnal but comfortable, and the older you get, the more seasoned you become at doing it. Over time you build a reservoir of responses, and when the truth gets too close for comfort, you have 101 reasons why it applies to everyone except you. 3) The Word moves you briefly but doesn’t change you permanently. There is nothing wrong with responding emotionally to spiritual truth. But if you go merrily on your way without changing your behaviour in the slightest, your spirituality boils down to nothing more than a vapid emotional experience. 4) You substitute communication for transformation. You talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. You think if you speak eloquently and convincingly about a point of Scripture, you’re covered – off the hook. You’re not! James says, ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’

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Stress is like kryptonite (Superman’s nemesis), and it’s out to knock off your cape and diminish you to a heap of trembling, useless mush. What should you do? 1) Immerse your exhaustion. Try a bubble bath. Even simply standing in the shower can assist in washing away fatigue and reviving your breathless body tissues and brain cells. Feel the moment and focus on the water’s invigorating sensory contribution to your skin; allow it to spread resilience to your spirit. You say, ‘That doesn’t sound very spiritual.’ Job’s friend Zophar would disagree with you – he said to Job, who had more troubles than you will ever see: ‘You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away’ (Job 11:16 NLT). 2) Request help! Allocate responsibilities and chores. When everyone does their portion, no one is left depleted. ‘Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT). 3) Release perfectionism. Nobody is perfect but Jesus, and you’re not Him. Let some things go. Tomorrow, give up a few more. Over time, those chores will stop nagging at you, and you will truly feel the stress in the pit of your stomach disintegrate. You will never be totally free from stress, but you can learn to cope with it and conquer it. Jesus said, ‘I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NLT).

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Let’s look at three proven and effective strategies for dealing with stress. 1) Place yourself on your daily to-do list. Designate fifteen minutes twice a day to renew, regroup, and restore. Distance yourself from the stress source, even if that simply means stepping outside for a few minutes and going for a walk to refresh your brain. Sing your favourite song or do whatever helps you to chill. And persevere when other events threaten to crowd you out. You’reimportant – learn to value yourself. 2) Lighten up! The Bible says,‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV), and when your joy goes, so does your strength and ability to cope. Some people think Christians should always be sober, humourless, and as quiet as the grave. But Jesus arose from the grave – and that’s one of the best reasons in the world to celebrate. 3) Relax your stiff muscles with five-minute stress-relievers throughout the day. Stop thinking and move! Stretch out, bend over, roll your tense shoulders, chase the dog – get that invigorating blood flowing throughout your body while your mind takes a mini-break. Turn up the praise music and line dance while pushing a vacuum cleaner…swing dance while stirring the food on the stove…and boogie with the shopping trolley in the cereal aisle! Physical activity triggers your brain to secrete beta-endorphin, which helps calm you. You weren’t meant to live under stress. The Bible says, ‘You will go out with joy and be led out in peace.’ And that came straight from the mouth of the One who created and redeemed you.

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When you ignore the warning signs, chronic stress can take a toll on your body. So what are some of the signals? Well for starters, your stomach churns at any form of disagreement. When you can’t find an outlet for pent-up frustration, you may resort to overeating, smoking, drinking, drugs, and generally abusing your body. You isolate yourself, which affects your loved ones. Debora M. Coty writes about what she terms the ‘Three Fs: outward fussing, inward fuming, and chronic fatigue’. She jokes, ‘I knew it was time to address my stress issues when my growl grew louder than the dog’s, and my family tactfully suggested I get a rabies shot.’ However, it’s the signs you don’t see that can do the most damage. Cortisol, a hormone our bodies release in the grasp of stress, adds to out-of-control feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. And studies verify that over time, stress raises your blood pressure, contributes to migraines and tension headaches, and results in the plaque that leads to heart disease. Chronic stress has been observed to increase cardiovascular risk by almost 50 per cent! Not to mention documented connections to alcoholism, anxiety attacks, asthma, cancer, colds, depression, flu, insomnia, obesity, strokes, and ulcers. And those uncontrolled crying spells you encounter when you’re exhausted are no coincidence. Stress lowers oestrogen levels, which can activate emotional outbursts. If this describes you, take action! Rearrange your priorities, slow down, start taking control of your life, and turn to God. When you ‘prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer…You will be strong and free of fear’ (vv. 13, 15 NLT).

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How do we renew our minds? One pastor writes: ‘The way to upgrade your mind is to download Scripture. Doctors…of the National Institute of Mental Health did a fascinating study asking subjects to perform a simple motor task – a finger-tapping exercise. As subjects tapped, the doctors conducted an MRI to identify what part of the brain was being activated. The subjects then practised the finger-tapping exercise daily for four weeks. At the end of the four-week period, the brain scan was repeated. In each instance, it revealed that the area of the brain involved in the task had expanded. That simple task – a finger-tapping exercise – literally recruited new nerve cells and rewired neuronal connections. When we read Scripture, we are recruiting new nerve cells and rewiring neuronal connections. In a sense, we are downloading a new operating system that reconfigures the mind. We stop thinking human thoughts and start thinking God thoughts.’ ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). How do we fulfil that command? Paul tells us how: ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs’ (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). Whether through preaching, teaching, reading, or singing, our brains are rewired in alignment with God’s Word, and we develop the mind of Christ. We think His thoughts. As a result, we end up doing His will instead of being led by our own will. So, keep renewing your mind with God’s Word.

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Before doing battle with Syria, Joab told his brother, ‘If [they] are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you’ (1 Chronicles 19:12 NKJV). If one was overwhelmed, the other could step in and help. Spiritual warfare is different, however. We’re not wrestling with ‘flesh and blood, but against principalities…powers…rulers of the darkness…[and] spiritual hosts of wickedness’. And wrestling is a one-on-one struggle that means getting up close and personal, going toe-to-toe with your opponent. When David faced Goliath, the giant was so sure of himself that he announced to all Israel, ‘If he kills me…we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!’ (1 Samuel 17:9 NLT). Think about the long-term implications of this. If Goliath prevailed, God’s people would spend their lives serving the enemy! The stakes were incredibly high for Israel – and they are for you too. Satan is out to defeat you, and if you wrestle according to the rules of the flesh, you will lose. Just like professional wrestlers have rules they must abide by, there are fail-safe spiritual rules designed to work for you. Paul says, ‘The weapons of our warfare are not physical…but they are mighty before God for the overthrow…of strongholds’ (2 Corinthians 10:4 AMPC). The only hope you have of defeating Satan lies in prayer, Christian fellowship, God’s Word, the name of Jesus, and the blood of Jesus. These five things top the list of powerful weapons given you to defeat the Enemy. So use them today!

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As a Moabitess, the law said Ruth was unqualified to mix with Jews. ‘An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord’ (Deuteronomy 23:3 NKJV). But when God has a plan for your life, He steps in and says, ‘I have called you by your name; you are Mine…you were precious in My sight…I will give men for you, and people for your life’ (Isaiah 43:1, 4 NKJV). When Boaz began showering Ruth with kindness, she knelt before him saying, ‘Why have I found favour in your eyes…?’ (Ruth 2:10 NKJV). Notice how Boaz answered: ‘It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done’ (v. 11 NKJV). Aware that Ruth has become the object of Boaz’s affection, Naomi instructs her: ‘He is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do’ (Ruth 3:2-4 NKJV). She started at his feet and ended up by his side. ‘Do not make yourself known.’ Don’t push, don’t try to impress God with your performance, just stay at His feet and He will raise you up to His side. ‘Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time’ (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV).

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Before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent angels to warn Lot and his family to get out of town: ‘“Run for your lives!” [one warned]. “And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”…But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt’ (vv. 17, 26 NLT). By looking back, Lot’s wife disobeyed a direct instruction from God. As a result, she died – stuck in the past. There are three important lessons here for you. 1) ‘Don’t…stop anywhere in the valley!’ We all go through valley experiences in life, but we must not get stuck in them or set up residence in them. 2) ‘And don’t look back.’ The reason the windscreen in your car is larger than the rear-view mirror is because you’re supposed to spend most of your time looking through that one, and only periodically glancing in the other in order to make corrections so that you can continue to move forwards safely and reach your destination. Getting the idea? 3) ‘Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!’ When someone hurts you, you have two choices: take the high road or the low road. When you take the low road and retaliate, something within you begins to die spiritually. But when you take the high road, you grow stronger, wiser, and more mature. When you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. Always! God has better days and better things in store for you. So forgive, forget, and move forwards.

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A pastor writes: ‘The second law of thermodynamics states this physical truth: If left to their own devices, everything in the universe moves towards disorder and decay. Cars rust. Food rots…It’s also called the law of entropy. And the only way to prevent entropy is to introduce an outside energy source to counteract it. The technical term for this is negentropy. And the refrigerator is a good example. You plug it into an electrical outlet, and it produces cold air that keeps food from rotting. If the refrigerator gets disconnected from its energy source, entropy will take over again. And things will get smelly. Isn’t that what happens when we get disconnected from God? Life moves towards decay and disorder. So how do we overcome our entropic tendencies?…[Solomon answers,] “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” If sin is entropy, then investing our energies in a God-sized vision is negentropy. The word perish comes from the Hebrew word para, and “entropy” is a fair translation.’ Perhaps many church problems don’t come from an abundance of sin but rather from a lack of vision? We’re not suggesting that there aren’t sin problems or that those problems don’t need to be dealt with. But in too many instances, there isn’t enough vision to keep churches busy. Our vision isn’t big enough to demand all our energies, so we focus on petty problems to keep us busy. The same is true on a personal level. If we had a larger vision of what God wanted to accomplish in us and through us, our problems would diminish because we are consumed by a cause greater than ourselves.

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Two more reasons we resist change are these: 1) Because it feels awkward and uncomfortable. When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Can you name it specifically? If you can’t remember, your comfort zone may have turned into a rut. A sign on a wall contained two statements. The first had an X through it. It said, ‘If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it.’ The second read, ‘If it ain’t broke – break it!’ Sometimes the only way to ‘get out of the box’ is to break out. 2) Because we cling to tradition. The Pharisees could not receive the truth Jesus shared because they were bound by their traditions. And many of us still cling to tradition. We assume that if something is a tradition (a long-established pattern of behaviour), it has to be a better way. That’s not necessarily so, as change agents like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford demonstrated. Question: how many traditionalists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: four – one to change it, and three to talk about how wonderful the old light bulb was! Bottom line: when a tradition connects you to other people or to your personal history, it can be good. If it doesn’t, maybe it’s time to try something new. The Bible says, ‘The way of the righteous…shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over’ (Proverbs 4:18-19 NLT). So, what changes do you need to make in your life?

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What happens when you try to implement change at the wrong time? For that matter, when is the right time to do it? From a leadership perspective, there are actually better times than others to make changes. Dr John Maxwell, who wrote the best seller The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, says: ‘I developed the following checklist to help me navigate the process: Will this [change] benefit the followers? Is [it] compatible with the purpose of the organisation? Is this change specific and clear? Are the top 20 per cent (the influencers) in favour of [it]? Is it possible to test this change before making a total commitment to it? Are physical, financial, and human resources available to make this change? Is [it] reversible? Is this change the next obvious step? Does [it] have both short- and long-range benefits? Is the leadership capable of bringing about this change? Does everything else indicate the timing is right? Before implementing a big change, I run through this checklist and answer each question with a yes or no. If too many questions have a no by them, then I conclude that the timing may not be right.’ Timing is so important. The Bible says: ‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…He has made everything beautiful in its time’ (vv. 1, 11 NKJV). If you’re thinking of making a change, talk to God ‘the timekeeper’ and ask Him 1) what should I do? and 2) when should I do it? Then step out in faith and trust Him to guide you!

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Who among us wouldn’t like to have a success story like Abraham’s? He had fame, great riches, and ‘was even called the friend of God’ (James 2:23 NLT). It doesn’t get better than that! But Abraham’s story begins with these words: ‘By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.’ How on earth did he do it? By faith! Why do we resist change? Doubt and fear! We fear personal loss. Anytime change is imminent, the first question that pops into our minds is, ‘How will it affect me?’ For example, suppose a co-worker approaches you and says, ‘I just heard the boss is thinking about laying off some people today.’ Is your first thought, ‘I wonder what market conditions triggered that decision?’ Or is it, ‘I bet he feels bad about having to do that!’ No, probably your first thought is, ‘Am I at risk?’ That’s simply human nature. The second we face change we can quickly feel alone and helpless. Where do you find strength in such moments? In God! His promise is: ‘“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV). Relax! That which is unknown to you is fully known to God. And the One who has always taken care of you has already gone ahead to prepare the way (see Deuteronomy 31:8).

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When Christopher Columbus returned to Spain, he was considered a national hero and credited with discovering new lands. But do you think people changed their minds about the earth being flat? Not at all – they went right on believing the earth was flat. It was not until that generation passed on and the next one took their place that people realised the earth was round, just as Columbus had claimed. That’s how long it took for people to change their minds – an entire generation! We all resist change. Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘For many years, I thought leaders liked change and everyone else didn’t. As a visionary leader, I always felt that I was drawing reluctant followers into the future. But I finally realised that leaders don’t like change any more than followers do – unless, of course, it’s their idea!’ Let’s be honest; change is hard for everyone. Novelist Mark Twain said, ‘The only person who likes change is a wet baby.’ Truly, change is one of the greatest obstacles you will ever face. Why is that? After all, doesn’t progress demand change? And doesn’t growth too? We can’t move forwards and stay in the same place. So for the next few days, we’re going to talk about why we resist change so much. Acknowledging his own stubborn nature and his fear of change, on four different occasions David prayed, ‘Turn us again, O God.’ That’s like praying, ‘Lord, I need to change, but I’m afraid to change, so make me willing to change.’ And that’s a prayer God will answer for you, so start praying it today.

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Your small deeds of kindness may go unnoticed by others, but God sees them. And they can reward you in ways you never dreamed possible. Take the case of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers and lied about by his boss’s wife, he ends up sentenced to a thirteen-year prison term. If ever a person had reason to turn sour on life and God, it was him. But instead of giving in to self-pity, he focused on the needs of others. Joseph had two prison mates: a butler and a baker who had worked in Pharaoh’s palace, fallen into disfavour, and landed in a cell next to Joseph. Note what the Bible says: ‘Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad’ (Genesis 40:6 NKJV). Before God allowed Joseph to care for the nation of Egypt, He observed his care towards his fellow inmates. As a result, when one of them was restored to favour, he recommended Joseph to Pharaoh as a man qualified to meet his need. Compassion is important to God. When you see a need, try to meet it. If you dream of doing big things, start by doing small things with a good attitude. Arrive on time. Complete your work early. Don’t grumble. When you’re given a task, take it on and God will reward you for it: ‘His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord”’ (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).

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Have you tried to do right, yet things have gone wrong? When Joseph honoured God by saying no to Potiphar’s wife, he landed in prison. While there he told a fellow prisoner, ‘I was kidnapped from my homeland…and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it’ (Genesis 40:15 NLT). If that’s how you feel today, God has not turned His back on you. His plan for your life has not been derailed. ‘The Lord shall not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the thoughts and intents of His mind’ (Jeremiah 30:24 AMPC). You may be perplexed, but God is not. He is using every moment of this season and every element of this experience to prepare you. ‘They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfil his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character’ (Psalm 105:18-19 NLT). Do you remember how you felt about the tests you were given in school? At the time they felt like persecution but looking back you realise they were preparation. They revealed what you had learned. They qualified you to move to a higher grade. They helped you better understand your strengths and weaknesses. The psalmist wrote: ‘For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance’ (Psalm 66:10-12 NIV). God will use people, pain, and problems to test you. Why? So that He can bring you to ‘a place of abundance’.

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If you live long enough, life will bring you bad news. It may be the loss of a loved one, your health, your income, your marriage, your reputation, etc. The psalmist wrote, ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.’ When bad times come, you need to hold on to everything you know about who God is. You must remind yourself that He is loving, caring, and worthy of your complete trust. Sometimes God will give you the answer; other times He will give you the assurance of His presence. In changing times, you must lay hold of the unchanging character of God. As the hymn says, ‘When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.’ Does that mean denying your feelings and emotions? No. David said, ‘I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles’ (Psalm 142:2 NLT). God is not asking you to deny the pain, the loss, and the reality of your circumstances. Even Jesus offered up prayers with ‘fervent cries and tears’ (Hebrews 5:7 NIV). If you don’t pour out your heart before God, you risk hardening your heart towards Him. Saint Augustine said, ‘For they are very deep in the deep, who do not even cry from the deep.’ It’s when you hit the bottom and turn to God that you discover He is there. It’s by being shaken to the core that you develop an unshakable faith in God. When that happens, you can stand on His Word which says, ‘I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go’ (Genesis 28:15 NIV).

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Satan will use half-truths to trap you. He took Jesus to ‘the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.’”…Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God’”’ (vv. 5-7 NLT). Satan will tell you, ‘Your spouse doesn’t understand you or meet your needs, you’re lonely, go ahead and have that affair. God will understand and forgive you.’ God may forgive you, but the Bible also says, ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap’ (Galatians 6:7 KJV). When Satan comes calling, you had better know what the Word of God actually says – not just selected snippets. Paul writes, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching…in righteousness’ (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). We like to hand-pick Scriptures that suit our lifestyle and facilitate our wants. But when the Enemy manipulates God’s Word and uses it against you, you need to be able to say, ‘The Scriptures also say.’ In other words, you need to know whatelse God has to say. The Bible says Satan ‘will speak against the Most High…oppress his holy people and try to change…times and…laws’ (Daniel 7:25 NIV). He knows God’s Word is a ‘double-edged sword’ (Hebrews 4:12 NCV), but he will still try to engage you in a sword fight! Don’t let him bamboozle you with distortions and half-truths! Get into God’s Word, get God’s Word into you, and tell Satan, ‘Get thee behind me’ (Matthew 16:23 KJV).

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Author Brennan Manning tells the story of how he got the name ‘Brennan’. Growing up, his best friend was Ray. The two of them did everything together: bought a car together as teenagers, dated together, went to school together, and so forth. They even enlisted in the army together, went to boot camp together, and fought on the front lines together. One night, sitting in a foxhole, Brennan was reminiscing about the old days in Brooklyn while his friend Ray listened and ate a chocolate bar. Suddenly a grenade landed in the foxhole. Ray smiled at Brennan, dropped his chocolate, and threw himself on the live grenade. It exploded, killing Ray, but Brennan’s life was spared. Later Brennan was ordained as a priest, and at that time it was customary to take the name of a saint. He thought of his friend, Ray Brennan, and chose the name ‘Brennan’. Years later, he visited Ray’s mother in Brooklyn. They were sitting up late one night drinking tea when Brennan asked her, ‘Do you think Ray loved me?’ Mrs Brennan got up off the sofa, shook her finger in his face, and shouted, ‘What more could he have done for you?’ Brennan says that right then he experienced an epiphany. He imagined himself standing before the cross of Jesus wondering, ‘Does God really love me?’ And Jesus’ mother pointing to her son, saying, ‘Whatmorecould He have done for you?’ When Jesus said, ‘It is finished,’ the price of your salvation was paid in full. The question is – will you accept Him today as your Saviour and Lord?

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The word ‘love’ isn’t just a noun, it’s a verb (an action word). And it’s not demonstrated simply by what you say but by what you do. In a small Jewish town in Russia, there is a rabbi who reputedly doesn’t show up for several hours every Friday morning. His followers claim that during this time he goes up to heaven and talks to God. A stranger moved into town and was sceptical about all this, so he decided to check things out. He hid and watched. The rabbi got up in the morning, said his prayers, then dressed in peasant clothes. He grabbed an axe and went off into the woods and cut firewood, which he hauled to a shack on the outskirts of the village where an old woman and her sick son lived. He left them enough wood for a week, then crept back home. Having observed the rabbi’s behaviour for himself, the newcomer became his disciple. Now when he hears the villagers say, ‘On Friday morning our rabbi ascends all the way up to heaven,’ he quietly adds, ‘If not higher.’ You can’t earn salvation by doing good works, but if you are truly saved, your actions and attitudes will prove that you are truly a recipient of salvation. Paul wrote these two Scriptures to Titus: ‘In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works’ (Titus 2:7 NKJV); ‘These things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men’ (Titus 3:8 NKJV).

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When you encounter someone who tries to ‘cut you down to size’, remind yourself they are probably trying to cut you down to their size. So, what should you do? Love them, but don’t be overly influenced by what they say. As a rule, instead of staying where you’re tolerated, go where you’re appreciated! The Japanese bonsai tree is tiny, growing only about eighteen inches tall. To create a bonsai, a young sapling is pulled from the soil. Then the taproot and some of the feeder shoots are tied off. Thus, the growth of the bonsai tree is deliberately stunted. By contrast, the California sequoia tree grows large. For example, the General Sherman in California’s Sequoia National Park stands 275 feet and measures 100 feet in circumference at its trunk. If felled, it would provide enough lumber to build over 30 five-room homes! The sequoia begins life as a small seed, no bigger than the bonsai seed. So, what makes the difference? The sequoia sapling is allowed to be nourished in the rich California soil and sunshine. Now, neither the bonsai nor the sequoia has a choice in determining how large it will become – but you do! For instance, you can’t go through life blaming others – including your parents – for what they may or may not have done in the past. So, here are your options: Stay where you are and suffer, or move to a rich, fertile, nourishing environment where you can grow. Is that always easy? No. But if you believe what Jesus said – ‘My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life’ (John 10:10 NLT) – you will be willing to do it.

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Failure doesn’t mean you will never succeed; it just means it may take a bit longer. John Wayne coined a great line in the movie The Train Robbers. He said, ‘You’re going to spend the rest of your life getting up one more time than you’re knocked down, so you’d better start getting used to it.’ That’s what success is – getting up one time more than you were knocked down. You have no idea how close you may be to what you want to achieve. But if you give up, you will never know – plus you guarantee that you will never get there. Author Ben Stein said, ‘The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated. It is finished when it surrenders.’ Time magazine conducted a survey among people who had lost their jobs. Everyone expected them to be crestfallen and disheartened, but they found them to be extremely resilient. Why? The survey showed that people who had lost jobs and found new ones were better prepared to deal with adversity than those who had been with the same company for years without ever having had to deal with unemployment. When you have experienced failure, you’re actually in a better position to achieve success than people who have not. When you fail and fail again – and keep bouncing back and learning from your failures – you’re building character, strength, tenacity, experience, and wisdom. And people who develop these qualities are capable of sustaining their successes, unlike those for whom good things come too early and too easily. As long as you don’t give up, you’re in a good position. So the word for today is – ‘Stand firm. Let nothing move you.’

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Don’t allow what’s wrong with you to keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. With their feet locked in stocks, their backs lacerated with whips, and the unjust contempt of society heaped upon them, the Bible says, ‘At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.’ They decided to stop focusing on what was wrong with their circumstances and start focusing on what is right with God. They could have complained, but they made a choice to worship God despite their external circumstances. And that is often the most challenging and crucial choice we can make. It’s similar to hitting the refresh key on your computer. Doing so restores the joy of your salvation, recalibrates your spirit, and renews your mind. And it empowers you to discover something good to praise God about, even when everything seems to be going wrong. Is it simple? Definitely not. But one of the purest forms of worship is praising God when you don’t want to. ‘Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name’ (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). Note the words ‘sacrifice of praise’. And it’s a sacrifice that moves God and brings results: ‘Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed’ (Acts 16:26 NKJV). When you’re in a situation with no way out, praise opens doors. When you’re shackled by lack and limitation, praise breaks chains. So, worship your way through it.

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Dad, here are two Bible ingredients for blessing your children and grandchildren: 1) The power of prayer. In Scripture, a father’s blessing included an open-eyed prayer to God for his children. Isaac, who was a farmer, said to his son, ‘May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness – an abundance of grain and new wine’ (Genesis 27:28 NIV). Have your children ever heard you talk to God about them? Perhaps they have heard you say harsh words like, ‘How could you be so stupid? Don’t you ever think? You will never amount to anything!’ If so, apologise today and ask for their forgiveness. Let them hear you invoke God’s richest blessing over each of their lives. A father’s prayer of blessing over his family is a powerful thing – it’s life changing! 2) The vision of a glorious future. The Bible says, ‘When there’s no vision, the people get out of control’ (Proverbs 29:18 CEB). School counsellors tell us that many of their students lack vision. Why? Because they see nothing ahead for them except economic gloom, unemployment, and hard times. They need somebody to believe in them and their future…to believe they can succeed and live happy lives…that the best is still ahead for them. Isaac didn’t wait for his boys to devise their own vision for the future. He prayed openly for their future success, their rise to prominence, and for respect and favour with family and society. Your kids don’t need you to manipulate them; they need you to motivate them. And you do that by blessing them!

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In Scripture, the word confession is comprised of two Greek words: homo, meaning ‘the same’, and logeo, meaning ‘to speak’. Therefore, confessing your sin to God means saying the same thing about it as He does. It means calling a spade a spade – not a gardening tool! Nowhere does the Bible refer to our sins as mistakes, bad judgements, and slips. However, it clearly says God forgives our sin: ‘I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). So let’s be clear. 1) Confessing isn’t about apologising. Saying you’re sorry is appropriate and necessary at times. But you could never be sorry enough to deserve or earn God’s forgiveness. Confessing is agreeing with God about the nature, extent, and offensiveness of your transgressions. 2) Confessing isn’t about feelings. Some of us plunge into remorse, guilt, and depression over our sins. And when such feelings lead to confession, that’s good. But even when we don’t feel these emotions, our confession is just as genuine and effective. 3) Confessing isn’t complaining. Making a laundry list of your sins and telling God how terrible you are is more akin to complaining than confessing. Coming clean with God and agreeing with His evaluation of your sin is what He wants from you. Then, like David, you can say, ‘I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt…And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.’ So, confess your sins to God – then start acting like someone who has been forgiven!

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If you want God to restore you and make you ‘strong, firm and steadfast’, meditate prayerfully on these four Scriptures, and look for ways to put them into practice each day: 1) ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time’ (v. 6 NIV). 2) ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’ (v. 7 NIV). 3) ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (v. 8 NIV). 4) ‘Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings’ (v. 9 NIV). Now, here is the result God promises when you walk in the truth of these four Scriptures: ‘And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast’ (v. 10 NIV). Note two important phrases here: ‘The God of all grace.’ Whatever you fear and whatever you have to face, God will give you the grace to handle it. ‘After you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong.’ If you are going through a season of stress, God has promised that it will lead to a season of strengthening. So when you pray, ‘Lord, take me out of this,’ He may answer, ‘No, I will take you through it and make you “firm and steadfast”.’

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There is bad news, and there is good news. The bad news is, when David tried to hide his sin, God exposed it to the entire nation. The good news is, when he repented of his sin, God forgave him and expunged his record. And what God did for David, He will do for you. All you have to do is get down on your knees and pray, ‘Cleanse me from my sin…Create in me a clean heart, O God’ (vv. 2, 10 NKJV). If you want to know how God responds to such a prayer, here is what He said to Solomon, David’s son: ‘If you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, “You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel”’ (1 Kings 9:4-5 NKJV). Today you may feel that because of your sin you are beyond hope and redemption, that you have forfeited the opportunity to be useful to God and to fulfil your destiny. Don’t believe it! You can recover. You can be restored. You can be forgiven. You can regain your integrity. You can be healed and become whole again. You can sing: ‘There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.’ The word for today is – God will forgive and restore you. All you have to do is ask Him.

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The Bible 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’ (vv. 5-6 NKJV). God wants you to trust Him. As long as you’re struggling to figure things out on your own, you’re not trusting God and you won’t have peace. You must trust Him with your health, your money, your relationships, and your future. Everything! God never makes a mistake. All that happens in your life fits into His plan for you – even the problems and miseries and troubles you bring on yourself. He fits everything flawlessly into His plan for you (see Romans 8:28). And all He expects from you is to trust Him instead of attempting to figure everything out – that you acknowledge He is in control. When you do this, He promises to ‘make your paths straight’ (Proverbs 3:6 NIV). When we aim at directing our own lives, we follow arbitrary paths filled with indecisiveness: ‘Should I do this or that? Should I go here or over there?’ And it produces stress! But as soon as you trust in the Lord, He directs your paths and makes them successful, not stressful. ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds’ (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV). Note the order – prayer first, then peace. So if you’re not praying, you’re probably worrying. And worry is a worthless emotion – a waste! So when pressure starts accumulating, instead of panicking, start praying! Prayer is a remarkable stress reliever.

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To have peace you must focus on God’s presence. What you choose to focus on either fuels your fears or your faith. The Bible says, ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). That verse could be reduced to one sentence: ‘Get your focus in order − look at me.’ The psalmist says, ‘God is…an ever-present help in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1 NIV). Later in that psalm, He reminds us, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (v. 10 NIV). These verses were written during the time of Hezekiah. Enemy armed forces had surrounded Jerusalem and the Israelites were tense, so they prayed this prayer! And five minutes before noon, God struck the Assyrians with a plague and 185,000 of them perished. Jerusalem was saved, and everyone was joyful. This psalm helps us remember that God is our refuge. No matter how overwhelming the odds seem, He is always with you to help. This psalm informs us of two things about receiving God’s help in times of trouble. The first thing is to ‘be still’. Many of our troubles come from our inability to sit still. The second thing is to ‘know that I am God’. Did you know that in the middle of a hurricane or tornado there is a quiet centre referred to as an eye? Likewise, though everything is blowing apart around you, you can have a quiet centre. Be still and know. When you live this way, ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds’ (Philippians 4:7 NIV). When you think about it, it’s the only sane way to live!

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In order to find real peace, you must do two things: 1) Live by the principles of God’s Word. ‘Great peace have those who love your law.’ Peace arrives when you live in harmony with God. A new car comes with an owner’s manual. It tells you that for your car to performwell, you must do certain things at certain times. Likewise, the Bible is your owner’s manual for life. It contains guiding principles for finances, health, marriage, business, relationships, and considerably more. Just as your car drives more smoothly when you use it according to its design, so your life will go more smoothly when you live it according to God’s design. 2) Accept God’s pardon. Guilt is the top destroyer of peace. When we feel guilty, we feel haunted by our past. That’s why we read about people who make amends for a wrong they committed thirty years earlier. They say, ‘I was living in hell all those years and had to get it off my chest.’ The only way to have peace is to possess a clear conscience, and only God is able to give you that. ‘Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives…transgression?…You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy’ (Micah 7:18 NIV). Notice, Micah reveals God is eager – ready and waiting – to clean your slate. It’s His personality. He enjoys forgiving. He owns a big eraser. ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 NIV).

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Jesus said His peace is a gift. That means you don’t have to work for it and you cannot earn it. You cannot psych yourself up for it, and you cannot ‘try really hard’ to obtain it. No, it’s a gift you must accept by faith. Jesus also said that His peace is unique from what the world provides. In the last 3,500 years, the world has only been free of war for 286 of them – that’s less than 9 per cent. This world’s peace doesn’t last. Jesus told His disciples, ‘I give you my own peace and my gift is nothing like the peace of this world. You must not be distressed and you must not be daunted’ (vv. 27-28 PHPS). He spoke those words just before He went to the cross. So, God’s peace is not regulated by circumstances – it’s an ‘inside job’. Have you ever heard someone say, ‘I need to get away’? This is sometimes known as a geographical cure. You think if you leave where you are and go somewhere else, you will have peace. But it doesn’t work, for wherever you go, you take yourself with you. Have you ever been so tired that your body collapsed into bed but your mind wouldn’t turn off? Well, you can get away and find peace! How? Jesus gives us the solution: ‘You may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NLT). Where can you find peace? Jesus said, ‘In me!’ Today, spend time with Him.

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God will give you three kinds of peace. 1) Spiritual peace. ‘Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ That’s the foundation, the bottom line. You must have peace with God before you can have any other kind of peace. Jesus said, ‘I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give’ (John 14:27 NLT). Why? Because His peace has the hallmark of heaven on it. 2) Relational peace. Paul writes, ‘As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:18 NIV). Relational peace decreases conflict. You know from experience that relationships can be an origin of tension. For the majority of us, our greatest problems are people problems: interacting well with our boss, family, or relatives. We consistently have to deal with competition, conflict, and criticism. And these things can steal our peace. 3) Emotional peace. ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since…you were called to peace’ (Colossians 3:15 NIV). The Greek word for ‘rule’ means ‘to umpire’. What is an umpire’s role? He maintains peace. He ensures the game is played in a smooth and disciplined way. And God will provide you with an internal umpire who will keep you at peace when everything around you appears chaotic. Here is a great Bible promise: ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’ (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Do you need peace today? Turn to God; you won’t be disappointed.

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One expert points out that leaders touch your heart before they ask for your hand. That’s the law of connection. Before a leader can touch a person’s heart, he or she has to know what’s in it. And you learn that by listening. A reluctance to listen is too typical among poor leaders. Over half of all management problems are the consequence of faulty communications. And the vast majority of communication problems stem from poor listening. Many voices are clamouring for our attention. As you think about how to listen, keep in mind that you have two reasons for listening: a) to connect with people, and b) to learn about them. That includes your competitors. Sam Markewich quipped, ‘If you don’t agree with me, it means you haven’t been listening.’ Though of course he was joking, the sad truth is that when a leader views another organisation only as competition, he or she focuses attention on building their own case or championing their own objective and forgets to learn from the other group’s efforts. Now, you don’t necessarily want to base your actions on what the other person is doing, but you should still listen and learn how to improve yourself. It’s a costly mistake to get so busy doing your own thing, or trying to make things happen, that you’re not paying attention to what’s going on around you. Every day you live and every experience you have, both negative and positive, can teach you valuable lessons. But you must listen!

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God designed your marriage partner to meet your physical needs, your emotional needs, and yes, even some of your spiritual needs. Adam enjoyed perfect health, worked at the perfect job, and lived in the perfect environment. He even went for walks with God every day. Nevertheless, he was lonely and incomplete. So God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ Note the word ‘helper’. God intended your partner to help you grow and fulfil your destiny. There is an intimate physical, emotional, and spiritual bond between you. No one on earth will ever know you better than your God-given mate. He or she should be your closest friend, counsellor, and confidant. That calls for communication! And good communication is based on asking the right questions and listening carefully to the answers. It calls for turning off the TV, your laptop, iPad, and mobile phone. It means asking, ‘How are things with you today?’ then listening long enough for hidden emotions to surface. Listen until you understand your spouse’s concerns, feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams. Listen accurately, so you can assess his or her real needs – needs you are best equipped to meet. Your questions reveal your level of caring, and the answers you get in return can become a foundation for a long, happy marriage. That’s exactly what God had in mind when he said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one’ (v. 24 NASB).

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The words for you today are 1) Get ready. For forty years, Joshua had served Moses and been mentored by him; now he was ready to lead Israel into the promised land. This raises the all-important question: are you ready for the success you seek? The frustrating thing about preparation is sometimes it takes more time than the event you’re preparing for. Are you self-disciplined? Are you up to date on your career or calling? Do you have the right relationships in place? Is your home life in order? Do you have strong character? As the old saying goes, ‘You can claim to be surprised once; after that, you’re unprepared!’ One author writes: ‘Talented people are sometimes tempted to take shortcuts. Character prevents that. Talented people may feel superior and expect special privileges. Character helps them to know better. Talented people are praised for what others see them build. Character builds what’s inside them. Talented people have the potential to be difference makers. Character makes a difference in them. Talented people are often a gift to the world. Character protects that gift.’ 2) Go! God told Joshua, ‘I will give you every place where you set your foot’ (v. 3 NIV). Don’t be like Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland whoaskedthe Cheshire-Cat, ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ ‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat. ‘I don’t much care where—’ said Alice. ‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat. To succeed, you must do the right things, moment by moment, day by day, following through with them in a consistent way.

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Remember the words of the old Sunday school song, ‘The wise man built his house upon the Rock…The foolish man built his house upon the sand’? The storm hit both houses leaving only the wise man’s house standing. Jesus wasn’t simply recommending the virtues of wisdom over foolishness. The truth is, we’re all wise at times and foolish at others. And He wasn’t saying the house that survived the storm was a believer’s house while the house that perished belonged to an unbeliever. Neither was He implying that the church attender’s house withstood the storm while the non-attender’s house collapsed. His point was simpler – and more compelling. When things are at their worst and we are pushed to the wall, when we doubt our chances of survival, when we have used up our last ounce of resistance, it’s not our wisdom, salvation, or church attendance that gets us through the storm. While these are crucially important aspects of Christian life for which we praise God, many wise, faithful believers go under in life’s storms: an abusive relationship, a financial collapse, an unfaithful partner, the loss or illness of a child, a mental or physical disability. Jesus’ point wasn’t even a plea for increased knowledge of His Word. Both homeowners understood His Word, but simply saying, ‘Lord, I totally agree with you,’ won’t get you through the storm. The point Jesus was making here is that doing what you hear Him say is what will get you through the storm! God has bound Himself to honour His Word, and your obedience aligns you with it and activates His power on your behalf.

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Here is something else Joseph knew that you need to know too. You can’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness. After many years, Joseph met his brothers again when they came to Egypt for grain. As they entered Joseph’s presence and bowed before him, Egypt’s second-in-command, they were unable to recognise him. And when Joseph tried to tell them who he was, they were stunned and horrified. Here was the brother they had tried to kill years earlier, and now he was in a position to do whatever he wished with them. But instead, he forgave them. Why? Because Joseph knew he couldn’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness. So what should you do when you’re tempted to harbour bitterness? Do what Joseph did: he sustained his faith and hope in God, believed that things would ultimately work out well, and continued his spiritual life. When things go wrong, we often turn our back on the one person we need most – the Lord. When difficulties come our way, we say, ‘God, why did you allow this to happen?’ We start blaming God as if it’s His fault, instead of saying, ‘Lord, please handle this problem.’ God can take circumstances that are completely bad and turn them around. When people attempt to use situations to destroy you, God can use them to develop you. He delights in turning crucifixions into resurrections. The Bible says, ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you’ (James 4:8 NKJV). God comes by invitation, and as long as you keep talking to Him and trusting Him, He will work things out for you.

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Here are two more things Joseph understood that you need to understand as well: 1) You can’t afford to give in to self-pity. Perhaps you’re going through a trial right now and you’re an innocent party – the victim of a situation you didn’t cause. Consider Joseph’s reaction when he was in a similar position. The first thing he didn’t do was succumb to self-pity. Why? Because it’s a major contributor to depression. Often when we experience a serious problem and our self-esteem is already at its lowest ebb, we start blaming ourselves and putting ourselves down. Joseph didn’t do that. He understood that the crisis he was in wasn’t of his own making, and he tried to look at it realistically. When you’re in a storm and you allow your boat to turn sideways, the storm will capsize you. Similarly, when storms come into your life, the best way to overcome them is to trust God and face them head-on, like Joseph did. 2) Never make a major decision when you’re depressed. Many times when we’re discouraged, we’re tempted to say, ‘I’m going to give up,’ or ‘I’m going to switch jobs,’ or ‘I’m going to move away,’ or ‘I’m going to file for divorce.’ Please don’t do that! When you’re downcast and despondent, your feelings are unreliable, your focus becomes blurred, and you lose your perspective when it comes to exercising good judgement. So what should you do? Trust God to bring you through it! Say with the psalmist, ‘In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?’

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To reach his destiny, Joseph went through betrayal, temptation, slander, and wrongful imprisonment. But he came out on top. Here is what Joseph recognised that you need to recognise too: 1) God knows what you’re going through, and He cares. There is a key phrase found five different times in the story of Joseph: ‘But the Lord was with Joseph.’ Even when everything was going wrong, Joseph never doubted that God was with him. 2) You have been given freedom of choice. God gives you freedom to choose how you will react to your circumstances: faith or doubt, joy or despair, patience or impatience, etc. When you choose to ignore what’s right, God won’t force His will on you. Sometimes we bring problems on ourselves and then blame God. We say, ‘It must be God’s will,’ as if God gets pleasure out of planning our mistakes and miseries! The truth of the matter is that God’s will isn’t always carried out. Yes, He has a plan for our lives, but He has also given us free will. And because He has also given others free will, their mistakes and decisions can hurt us as well. 3) God is in control of the final outcome. He can take every negative circumstance in your life today and turn it around for your good. In the end, Joseph could say, ‘You meant it for harm, but God meant it for good’ (see Genesis 50:20). And while God was working to bring good out of his situation, Joseph had to keep trusting Him, even though at the time he did not understand what was happening – and you must do that too.

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Jesus often answered a question with a question. When asked about paying taxes, He took a coin and said, ‘“Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus answered…”Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marvelled at Him’ (Mark 12:16-17 NKJV). It seems we’re afraid of asking questions, and afraid of answering them. But God would much rather receive a genuine question born of humility than a disingenuous prayer born out of pride. We have to keep it real with God, and with one another. If we aren’t talking about real problems people are facing, we are going to lose our prophetic voice. When people ask us, ‘Who is God? Who am I? What is the true purpose of my life?' they won’t be satisfied with easy answers or clichés we have picked up along the way. God isn’t intimidated by those questions. He loves them. Like the parent of a curious toddler, God occasionally laughs at our questions. But He always welcomes them. The church ought to be a safe place where people can ask dangerous questions. But all too often we’re guilty of answering questions no one is even asking. We ought to be challenging the status quo, but all too often we’re guilty of defending it. But what if? What if we stopped force-feeding answers and learned to unleash the primal curiosity in our churches? It’s our curiosity regarding God that fuels an insatiable desire to know Him. So, let’s keep asking questions, and encourage others to do the same.

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The Bible says: ‘When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?”…The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive”’ (vv. 12-16 NIV). Do you feel fearful and inadequate? Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress (v. 11), afraid of the Midianites. Yet God called him a ‘mighty warrior’. God sees things in you that others don’t, that even you yourself don’t! Read these words carefully: ‘I am God, and there is none like Me, 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”’ (Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV). God sees things in their completed state – including your ultimate victory. And today He is saying to you, ‘Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you?’ When God sends you, your success is guaranteed in spite of all the obstacles, the enemies, and all the limitations you are so aware of. If you’re unwilling to move until things ‘look better’, you won’t win. Start where you are and use what you have, then God will give you more.

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A survey was taken of Americans over fifty years old, and half of them had less than thirty thousand dollars in their retirement fund. Since we are all living longer, that means a) a lot of people are going to be dependent on the government for their survival, and b) a lot of people who had planned on retiring are going to have to keep working. And this is not just an American problem, it’s a worldwide problem. So, what should you do? 1) Cut back where you can and start saving more. ‘There is desirable treasure…in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it’ (Proverbs 21:20 NKJV). 2) Find a financial planner to help you assess where you stand, and the level of income and expenses you’re likely to have during retirement. That way, you can customise a plan suited to your financial goals. ‘In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble’ (Proverbs 15:6 NKJV). 3) Honour God with your finances. ‘Honour the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty’ (Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV). Tithing brings God’s blessing! 4) Trust God to take care of you. ‘Don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow’ (Matthew 6:31-34 NLT).

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Some of us major in grace but neglect confronting people with the truth lest we offend them. Others of us major in truth but fail to show God’s grace to people. But Jesus was ‘full of grace and truth’, and that’s the balance you must strive for! A man with little interest in spiritual matters related casually to the Christian who lived next door. They talked over the back fence, borrowed each other’s tools, and stuff like that. Then sadly the nonbeliever’s wife was stricken with cancer and died. Here is part of a letter he wrote afterwards: ‘I was in total despair. I went through the funeral preparations and the service like I was in a trance. After the service, I went to the path along the river and walked all night. But I didn’t walk alone. My neighbour – afraid for me, I guess – stayed with me all night. He didn’t speak; he didn’t even walk beside me. He just followed me. When the sun finally came up over the river, he came over and said, “Let’s go get some breakfast.” I go to church now. My neighbour’s church. A religion that can produce the kind of caring my neighbour showed me is something I want to find out more about. I want to love and be loved like that for the rest of my life.’ Any farmer will tell you that before you sow your seed, you must prepare the ground. ‘Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them’ (Romans 12:9 NLT). When you treat people with grace, they will open their hearts and minds to the truth you want to share with them.

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Two men were travelling down the road together when a bear appeared out of nowhere. Before the bear could spot them, one guy ran for a tree at the side of the road, climbed into its branches, and hid. The other man, who wasn’t as nimble as his tree-climbing companion, threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead. The bear came up, sniffed all around him, and appeared to whisper something in his ear. The man had always heard that bears won’t touch a dead body, so he lay perfectly still and held his breath. Sure enough, the bear took him for a corpse and left. When the coast was clear, the man in the tree came down. Curious, he asked his companion what the bear had whispered when it put its mouth directly to his ear. His friend replied, ‘He told me never to travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger!’ It’s easy to be friends with someone who is successful, has it all together, and is riding the crest of the wave. But what about when that person falls, or fails, or loses their connection to Christ, or deliberately disconnects and causes all kinds of ugly consequences? The Bible says, ‘A friend loveth at all times.’ When you’re ‘up’, they’re not envious, and when you’re ‘down’, they’re not condescending. They’re compassionate and considerate whether or not you are. American writer Elbert Hubbard said, ‘Your friend is the man [or woman] who knows all about you and still loves you.’ If you have a friend like that, treasure them and tell them often how much you appreciate them.

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The Bible says, ‘Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV). You say, ‘But what they did to me was unfair, unkind, and unwarranted.’ Exactly – and God feels the same way about some of the things you have done! Any attempt to avenge a wrong is a violation of God’s Word. That includes bad-mouthing them, giving them the silent treatment, making sarcastic remarks, refusing to help them, and resorting to physical violence or verbal attacks. If you were hurt by someone at work, it includes taking company resources without authorisation, applying workplace rules more stringently to the offending employee than others, and deliberately slowing your pace to frustrate them. If you were hurt by your spouse, it includes brooding, making them walk on eggshells, and withholding your love and affection. Paul writes: ‘Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath…Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it”’ (Romans 12:14, 17-19 MSG). Repaying evil for evil won’t bring you satisfaction. Besides, have you considered that the person who hurt you may have genuinely changed? What if God continued to hold your transgressions over your head? Retaliation just destroys your peace of mind because you know it displeases God. Today pray: ‘Father, I release any desire to get even. I want to walk in your peace, extend your grace, and allow you to avenge all wrongs done against me. Amen.’ (So be it!)

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Anytime you substitute positive thinking for faith in God and obedience to His Word, you’re on dangerous ground! But don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. As a believer, you’re supposed to train your brain to trust God and think positive thoughts that are founded on His Word. A study conducted in the Netherlands found that people who are optimistic have healthier hearts than those who are grumpy. Self-described optimists died of cardiovascular disease at a lower rate than those of pessimists. Dr Becca Levy of Yale University conducted a study which concluded that ‘a positive attitude towards ageing was greater than physiological measures such as low blood pressure and cholesterol,’ each of which is believed to add a maximum of four years to a person’s life. The same study discovered that optimistic people live longer than people who always worry, and that a positive attitude can add more years to life than exercising or refraining from smoking. Additionally upholding the mind-body connection, a 2005 Associated Press article reported, ‘New research suggests that once Alzheimer’s disease robs someone of the ability to expect that a proven painkiller will help them, it doesn’t work nearly as well.’ Isn’t that remarkable? When people are able to think painkillers work, the medicines seem to help. Our minds are amazing! The Bible says, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength.’ And that’s not just spiritual strength, but physical, mental, and emotional strength. If you want to have a healthy life, you must have a healthy mind, and that starts with thinking positively instead of negatively. So, train your brain.

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When you feel inadequate for the job. Have you been given a job you don’t feel qualified to do? No problem – it’s an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on your behalf (see 2 Chronicles 16:9). Fix your mind on your all-powerful, always-present, loving heavenly Father. ‘Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken’ (Psalm 55:22 NIV). Instead of fearing the challenge, start feeding your faith. ‘Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17 NKJV). Spend more time in prayer and move closer to Jesus: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit’ (John 15:7-8 NIV). Instead of giving in to fear, stand on God’s Word: ‘Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise…the weak things of the world to shame the strong…the lowly things of this world…the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him’ (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV). ‘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). You are right; on your own, you’re not up to the task. But with God on your side, you’re more than equal to the challenge!

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When you’re controlled by materialism. The flawed philosophy behind materialism is ‘more, more, more!’ And it’s the result of ‘eye trouble’. The Bible says, ‘The eyes of man are never satisfied.’ It’s okay to want a nice home, a reliable car, and financial security – and God will provide those things when you’re a good steward of what He has already entrusted you with. But when you want more than you need or more than what’s required to fulfil His will, the Bible calls it vanity. The word could be defined as being empty, hollow, or without purpose. Solomon writes, ‘He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity’ (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NKJV). So before you ask God for prosperity, ask Him to reveal your life’s purpose because they’re directly linked. Jesus said, ‘A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth’ (Luke 12:15 KJV). God uses a different measuring stick, and His Word says He is ‘able to bless you abundantly, so that in allthings at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and…your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God’ (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-11 NIV). Is God willing to bless you financially? Yes, but only when you are willing to be a conduit and a distributor of His blessings.

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When you need to pass a difficult test or exam. The fear of failing can cause your brain to freeze just when you need your thoughts to flow freely. When you know you have done your best to study the material and prepare yourself, trust God with the outcome and stand on His Word: ‘Trust in the Lord…do good…and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself…in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust…in Him, and He shall bring it to pass’ (Psalm 37:3-5 NKJV). ‘Call to Me…I will answer…and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV). ‘He shall call upon Me, and I will answer…I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him’ (Psalm 91:15 NKJV). ‘The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name…will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you’ (John 14:26 NKJV). ‘Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight’ (1 John 3:22 NKJV). Don’t be afraid; God will go with you when it’s time to take that test or exam. Long before you prayed, He was already preparing your heart and mind: ‘Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear’ (Isaiah 65:24 NKJV). So square your shoulders and walk into that exam room knowing God is with you!

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When you have a hard time forgiving yourself. There is only one unpardonable sin named in the Bible (see Luke 12:10). And as a believer, you probably haven’t committed it, so God will forgive you for everything else. However, when God says He forgives you and you refuse to forgive yourself, it’s like opting to stay in prison after the judge has expunged your record and set you free. And worse, you’re committing the sin of pride. How come? Because when God forgives you and you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re putting your opinion above His. If you’re having trouble forgiving yourself, stand on God’s Word: ‘I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). ‘I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and…your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you’ (Isaiah 44:22 NKJV). ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and…will abundantly pardon’ (Isaiah 55:7 NKJV). ‘“Never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the Lord’ (Ezekiel 16:63 NKJV). ‘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). ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1 NKJV). Are you ‘in Christ Jesus’? Then rejoice; you no longer need to struggle under the weight of condemnation. God has totally forgiven you, so forgive yourself and move on.

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After ten years of sorrow and hardship in which she lost her husband and her support system, God introduced Ruth to her new husband, Boaz. Where? In the field where she worked each day. Who was Boaz? The owner of the field. One of the things that attracted Boaz to Ruth was her work ethic. The servant in charge of his reapers told him, ‘She came and has continued from morning until now.’ As a result, she ended up married to the boss. That’s why the Bible has so much to say about the difference between laziness and hard work, sloppiness and excellence, lateness and punctuality, honesty and dishonesty, a positive attitude and a negative one. Someone is always observing you who is capable of blessing you. Read these three Scriptures: 1) ‘Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men’ (Proverbs 22:29 NKJV). 2) ‘The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich’ (Proverbs 13:4 NKJV). 3) ‘He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich’ (Proverbs 10:4 NKJV). Notice the phrases ‘a slack hand’ and ‘a lazy man’. By expecting much and giving back as little as possible in return, you don’t just short-change the company you work for, you short-change yourself. Why? Because God promises to honour you when you give your best. His Word says, ‘Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another’ (Psalm 75:6-7 KJV).

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When you honestly evaluate your worries, you will find you are doing these: 1) Forgetting that God is your friend. The psalmist said, ‘The Lord is a friend to those who fear him’ (Psalm 25:14 NLT). Friendship with God is built by sharing your life’s experiences with Him – every activity, every conversation, every problem, and every thought. When you don’t, you end up unaware of His presence, oblivious to His voice, resistant to His correction, and out of sync with His timing. And when you live that way, there is one inevitable result – worry! 2) Taking on things you shouldn’t. Peter Marshall prayed: ‘Father…check our impulse to spread ourselves so thin that we’re exposed to fear and doubt, to the weariness and impatience that makes our tempers wear thin; [that] robs us of peace of mind; that makes skies grey when they should be blue; that stifles a song along the corridor of our hearts.’ You lose your song when you add the unnecessary pressure of maintaining your exterior image, increasing your pace to keep up with the Joneses, and trying to fix everybody or live up to their expectations. 3) Failing to understand the difference between the secular and the sacred. Either Jesus is Lord over every area of your life, or He is not Lord over any of it. We tell ourselves certain parts of our lives lie in the realm of God’s concern, but not others. The Bible says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV). To live any other way is to live a worried life!

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Missionary Gladys Aylward said, ‘The eagle that soars in the upper air does not worry itself how it is to cross rivers.’ You can’t escape worry; it will come at you from different directions and in different forms. But like the eagle, you can rise above it. Jesus said: ‘If you decide for God…it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion…Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever got taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion – do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers…The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers…don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God…fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works…Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow’ (vv. 25-34 MSG).

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There are certain doors in life that once opened are hard to close – pornography is one of them. And like any addict, once you’re hooked, you need increasing doses to satisfy yourself until finally you end up shocked and shamed by the depths to which you have sunk. And statistically speaking, the problem is exactly the same in the church as it is in society. Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Deliver us from evil,’ and some of that evil is now brought into our homes through television and the internet. Parents, protect your children from things that can cloud their minds and hurt their chances of building healthy relationships. And if you’re addicted to pornography, pray this prayer: ‘Lord, “cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2 KJV). Help me to stop setting myself up for shame and failure by the things I open myself up to (see Romans 13:14). I repent and ask for your deliverance now. Reveal to me the emotional needs I’m attempting to fulfil, and give me the courage, strength, and wisdom to deal with them in a manner that honours you. I want to follow Job’s example, because he made a covenant with his eyes not to look upon, wish for, or lust after sinful things. I can’t do it in my own strength. Fill me with your Spirit. Give me someone I can trust to be honest with me – someone who will share this burden with me in prayer and believe for my deliverance. Give me a longing for you that will surpass and destroy all lustful thoughts. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.’

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Embittered children ultimately become discouraged. A discouraged child is less hopeful, less enthusiastic, lacking in determination, and easily led astray. By destroying a child’s hope, you’re undermining their God-given temperament. Children are born with optimism, inspiration, anticipation, and possibilities. Without hope, there is nothing to inspire them. Hopelessness brings depression and darkness of heart and soul. When you embitter the children in your care, you undermine their hope. When you demoralise them, you destroy their confidence, leaving them afraid, insecure, and unable to face life. Self-confidence is necessary for a healthy self-image, for relating to others, for succeeding in their education and a career. A disheartened kid loses certainty and becomes a broken spirit. The spirit is the centre of the being. A broken spirit produces a broken person. ‘A broken spirit saps a person’s strength’ (Proverbs 17:22 NLT), leaving a child with their core disabled. Our streets are full of broken kids. Broken-spirited kids lack the resolve to achieve in life, to set goals and reach them. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). It’s your vision that gives you the inner strength to see something through to its accomplishment in spite of the obstacles encountered. It takes an intact, resilient child to overcome life’s hurdles. How can you help them? ‘Instead [of breaking their spirit], bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord’ (Ephesians 6:4 NIV). You must cherish them, teach them God’s Word even when they seem indifferent, practise what you preach, be consistent with your rules, let them see you reading God’s Word and praying regularly. Always encourage them and never, never give up on them!

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Another point of parental confusion is this: 4) Bitter versus better. What is bitterness? It is strong resentment or cynicism. How do parents create bitterness in their children? Consider the following triggers: a) Inconsistency. This happens when you are autocratic and authoritarian one day and permissive the next. What brought a strong rebuke today brings a smile of leniency tomorrow. So, your child never knows what to expect. b) Moodiness. Today you’re fun and enjoyable to be with; tomorrow you’re irritable and distant. c) Unreasonableness. There is no room for discussion, no opportunity for children to explore their feelings. ‘Just do as I say because I say it!’ So, the kid is never given the chance to think through the reasoning process. d) Abusive behaviour. It might be physical or emotional (withholding your love, the silent treatment, rejection). Or it might be verbal (yelling and using words that wound). e) Failing to walk your talk – saying one thing but doing another! You profess certain beliefs but don’t practise them. You expect your kids to be respectful while you display disrespect to others. You expect honesty from your children, but they see you cheat and lie your way through life. Children are keen observers – they may not say anything, but not much that you do escapes their attention. They see your inconsistencies – when what you say doesn’t line up with what you do. All of these behaviours can make them resentful. ‘Do not embitter your children.’ Don’t set them up to become discouraged.

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Here are some more areas where parents are often confused. 2) Discipline versus punishment. ‘Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.’ (Proverbs 22:15 AMPC). Notice God’s choice of words: ‘the rod of discipline’ not the ‘rod of punishment’. Discipline and correction are about teaching and learning; punishment is about making a child suffer for their behaviour. Children need discipline – not punishment, which is often administered by a frustrated and angry parent. ‘Do not withhold discipline from a child.’ Withholding discipline prepares them for a life of failure and suffering. Discipline is focused on improving their behaviour. It teaches right and wrong by giving consequences that directly relate to the child’s choices. It may take the form of being grounded or suspending privileges, but it should always be for the child’s benefit, never to inflict pain. 3) Love versus indulgence. Our materialistic world confuses love with indulgence. Loving parents give without spoiling, withhold for the child’s good, and motivate them by rewarding good behaviour. Indulgent parents give kids whatever they want, irrespective of behaviour, thus failing to motivate them to be responsible. Spoiled kids develop a sense of entitlement and an expectation that others exist to please them. Indulgent parents are frequently guilt driven and afraid their kids won’t like or love them. They mistake indulgence for love, and breed children who demand, manipulate, and are never satisfied. Love requires talking, listening, understanding, laughing, sharing tough times, respecting and encouraging your kids with unconditional acceptance. Such love costs nothing but is worth everything.

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Over the next few days, let’s look at some practical areas where parents are often confused. (If you’re not a parent, why not use these points to help you pray for parents you know.) 1) Guidance versus criticism. If you have a placid, agreeable, and compliant child who enjoys school, homework, and doing household chores, bringing ‘them up in the training and instruction of the Lord’ will be a joy! (Ephesians 6:4 NIV). Many of us, however, are given assertive, strong-willed kids with their own agendas. These kids know what they want, and when and how to get it. They also know what they don’t want to eat, wear, hear, say, and do! And parents or carers of these kids need help in building the kind of relationship that creates trust and allows for mutual discussion and respect in a tug-of-war atmosphere. In such cases giving guidance can easily become criticism, constantly emphasising the child’s faults: ‘You look ridiculous in that…you’re never on time…why can’t you be like…’ A much better approach is to point the kid to the solution. Even valid guidance offered negatively will damage self-worth, breed resentment, and destroy the possibility of building mutual respect. They need to hear you say, ‘I’m not on your back – I’m on your team!’ When normal conflict arises – and it will – it’s tempting to become overbearing or frustrated. When you shout, insult, or humiliate the child, you lose sight of your parental goal of guiding and training. This leaves them feeling angry, disempowered, uncertain of themselves and you – an invitation to rebellion. But if you guide your child as one who is on their team, with patient practical help, links will be forged that encourage cooperation, trust, and mutual respect.

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If you’re a parent, do you ever wish for a parenting do-over – a second chance to raise your kids? With hindsight and insight, you think you would do it right this time! Parenting is both rewarding and guilt inducing. It’s rewarding because we love our children and they bring us joy. It’s guilt inducing because we blame ourselves for their shortcomings and misfortunes. ‘Where did I go wrong as a parent?’ There is no perfect parent, and there is no universal blueprint because every child is born unique. Psychologists told us our children were born a ‘blank slate’, waiting for us to write life instructions on them. Not so! Babies are miniature people, ‘born in sin and shapen in iniquity’ (see Psalm 51:5). They are given to us to figure out as we try to mould them spiritually, morally, socially, and intellectually. By age seven, they have learned about 75 per cent of everything they will ever know. But although there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success, there are God-given principles that work whether you’re a new parent or a grandparent, or someone who works with children. ‘Teach children in a way that fits their needs, and even when they are old, they will not leave the right path’ (Proverbs 22:6 ERV). Notice some keywords here. ‘Teach’, which implies imparting information in a consistent, understandable way. Toddlers learn better with pictures. Older kids need us to use contemporary language. If they don’t ‘get it’, we probably didn’t teach it well enough! ‘Children’ means old enough to understand. ‘A way that fits their needs’ implies knowing their personality and abilities and tailoring your teaching to fit them. When God’s principles fit the child’s unique characteristics, they’re more likely to adopt and follow them.

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Second Kings 6 tells of a prophet chopping trees near a river when his iron axe head falls in. He said to Elisha: ‘Alas, master! For it was borrowed’ (v. 5 NKJV). He uses the past tense. As far as he is concerned, this axe head is gone forever. He has no expectation whatsoever that the axe head will be retrieved. He shows Elisha where he lost it. Elisha cuts a stick and flings it into the water, and something happens that most likely never happened before or since. ‘And the iron did swim.’ Notice, this isn’t a life-or-death situation. Yes, it’s a loaned axe head. Yes, it disappeared. But if that’s the worst thing you have gone through, you have led a pretty sheltered life. You could put this into the same category as Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding party. Why waste your first miracle on helping a bride and groom avoid embarrassment because they didn’t stock enough wine for their reception? This reveals something about God. He concerns Himself with the little things, like wedding receptions and borrowed axe heads. Nothing is too big for our great God, and nothing is too small for Him either. ‘Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV). Note the words ‘all your care’. If it matters to you, it matters to your loving heavenly Father. ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV). Note the words ‘all your ways’. Today God wants you to share every detail of your life with Him.

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Demosthenes, who was reputed to be the greatest orator in ancient Greece, had a serious speech impediment. Legend has it that he overcame it by reciting verses with pebbles in his mouth and speaking above the roar of the waves at the seashore. As a prisoner in the Wartburg castle, Martin Luther made use of his time by translating the New Testament into German. Beethoven wrote his greatest symphonic masterpieces after losing his hearing. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress when he was in prison. Daniel Defoe also wrote in prison, creating Robinson Crusoe. Abraham Lincoln is thought by many to be the best of the United States presidents, but he probably would not have become known as a great leader if he had not led the country through the Civil War. Often, difficult situations seem to be involved in producing great leaders and thinkers. But that is only the case when their attitudes are right. When a problem comes in contact with someone who has the right attitude, the result is often wonderful. Out of great turmoil come great diplomats, business people, scientists, educators, pastors, and others. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every opportunity has a challenge. But it’s the attitude with which you approach your problem that largely determines the outcome. When a man whose son couldn’t hear or speak asked Jesus to heal him, Jesus replied, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes’ (v. 23 NKJV). The man replied, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’ (v. 24 NKJV). And Jesus did. Plus, He healed the man’s son. If you need help with your attitude, talk to the Lord today.

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Observe: 1) The right attitude makes a difference in your relationships. Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘The most important single ingredient in the formula for success is knowing how to get along with people.’ And Paul writes: ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others’ (vv. 3-4 NKJV). If your track record with people isn’t too good, maybe you need to look at your attitude. While it’s true that some people just seem to have a winning way with others, someone with limited people skills can learn to win with others if he or she decides to change their attitude and approach. 2) Your attitude makes a difference in how you face life’s challenges. During the Korean War when US Marine Chesty Puller found himself surrounded by eight enemy divisions, his response was, ‘All right, they are on our left. They are on our right. They’re in front of us. They’re behind us – they can’t get away from us this time!’ In life, problems, challenges, obstacles, and failures are unavoidable. So, how are you going to deal with them? Will you give up? Will you let conditions make you miserable? Or are you going to attempt to make the best of things? Which path you select depends on your attitude. The old saying is true: what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Remember the times in your life when you have grown the most. Weren’t they times when you had to overcome obstacles and problems?

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It’s easier to recognise success looking back than it is looking forward. For some of us, it can be many years before we recognise our success, celebrate it, and feel secure in it. That’s because we lack a proper perspective. At its widest point, the Mississippi River requires a two-mile-wide steel span bridge to get across; while at its source, the stream is so small you can jump over it. But it’s still the same river. Most things start small! Have you ever heard the Serenity Prayer? It goes like this: ‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.’ It was first prayed in a little church in Massachusetts by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr during a Sunday morning service. Only a small group of people was in the congregation that day, but one person liked the prayer and, after the service, he asked Niebuhr for a copy. ‘Here,’ Niebuhr responded, handing over a crumpled piece of paper. ‘I doubt I’ll ever have any more use for it.’ Well, guess what? Next to the Lord’s Prayer, it’s the most used prayer in the world. Isn’t it ironic that Niebuhr’s prayer became so popular? Evidently, his perspective wasn’t too good because he didn’t know what he had. With that story in mind, read this Scripture again and really think about it: ‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’ With God’s help, you can turn your failure into success and go on to greater things.

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Everyone who ever achieved anything significant had to beat the odds. The problem for most of us isn’t the odds; it’s that we sell ourselves short. As R.H. Headlee observed, ‘Most people think too small, aim too low, and quit too soon.’ The odds in favour of David defeating Goliath weren’t good. Unless you factor faith in God into the equation, which David did. Listen to his words: ‘I’ll strike you down and cut off your head’ (v. 46 NIV). Clearly, David was aiming high. And when it comes to the thing God is calling you to do, aim high. The odds matter little. Whether you fall down along the way matters little. You fell when you were learning to walk, didn’t you? Dr Maxwell Maltz says, ‘You’re a champion in the art of living if you reach only 65 per cent of your goals.’ If the odds indicate you will make a lot of mistakes on your way to success, so be it. As long as you’re eventually successful, isn’t that what matters? Remember, ‘If at first you don’t succeed – you know you’re running about average!’ As long as you keep trusting God and trying, He will come to your aid. James writes, ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown’ (James 1:12 NIV). Paul 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). When you believe God wants you to succeed, and you persevere, you move from failure to success.

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There comes a time when we have to face our fears and take a stand for what we know is right. That’s what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego did. They risked their lives when they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. They could have rationalised, ‘I’ll bow on the outside, but not on the inside,’ or ‘I’ll just pretend the idol is Jehovah.’ But they took a stand for what is right, and it set the stage for miracles. ‘Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished…saying to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”’ (vv. 24-25 NKJV). When you place yourself in a defenceless position, it sets the stage for God to show up. But if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had bowed to the idol, 1) they would not have received promotions, 2) the Jewish people would not have gained protected status within the Babylonian kingdom, 3) idol worship would have continued in Babylon, and 4) Nebuchadnezzar would not have experienced a life-changing encounter with God. ‘Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God…who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him…there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon’ (vv. 28-30 NKJV). By honouring God today, you are positioning yourself for Him to bless and honour you.

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Many of us have a God-sized dream within us, but we’re so afraid of failing we never even try. We can’t imagine how it could possibly happen. So, we don’t act on it. Here is a challenge: don’t worry about the outcome. That isn’t your responsibility. ‘Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ You simply need to act on it. It doesn’t have to be something big; in fact, it will probably be something small. Everything that’s big starts small. But if you do little things like they are big things, God will bless them and use them. A.W. Tozer said, ‘A low view of God is the cause of a hundred lesser evils. A high view of God is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems.’ Note how Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus: ‘To make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him – endless energy, boundless strength!’ (Ephesians 1:18-19 MSG). We can’t imagine what God is capable of. This means we can’t imagine what we’re capable of if we give God control of our lives. His power initiates a chain reaction. And with His energy working within us, we can accomplish all He has called us to do.

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Are you in a situation where lying seems to be the only viable solution? Unless you want to create a problem between God and yourself – don’t do it! ‘The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.’ When you lie, you hurt God, others, and yourself. ‘Dishonesty destroys treacherous people’ (Proverbs 11:3 NLT). Lying always comes with consequences because of the following: 1) God hears you. When you decide to pray, the last thing you will want to discuss with God is the first thing He will want to discuss with you; namely, your dishonesty! 2) It robs you of your confidence before God. The Bible says, ‘If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him’ (1 John 3:21-22 NLT). 3) You risk being exposed. Remember, ‘Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed’ (Proverbs 12:19 NLT). When people discover you have lied, they lose respect for you, their trust level plummets, and a reputation that has taken years for you to build suffers a blow you may not recover from. Paul writes: ‘Since you have heard about Jesus and…learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbours the truth, for we are all parts of the same body’ (Ephesians 4:21-25 NLT).

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Under Old Testament law, God commanded Jewish farmers: ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field…You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger’ (v. 22 NKJV). Ruth was working in an obscure corner of a field owned by a wealthy man named Boaz, who is a beautiful type of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. When Boaz saw Ruth, he called her out of the corner and into the midst of the harvest field. And he instructed the reapers to drop handfuls of wheat in her path so that she wouldn’t have to work for it (see Ruth 2:16). There is a lesson here. One moment of God’s favour can change your life. And He can do it through someone He has already prepared, someone you haven’t even met yet. Ruth didn’t know it, but because Boaz was related to her mother-in-law Naomi, that positioned him to be her ‘kinsman-redeemer’ (see Ruth 3:1-9), who was someone qualified to wipe out her debt, and care for her, and meet her needs. Jesus said, ‘Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly’ (Matthew 6:4 NKJV). Be assured, God has not overlooked you. Others may not notice your faithfulness, but He does, and He will reward you for it. ‘God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown towards His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister’ (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV). One of these days God is going to say to you, ‘Come out of that corner!’

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The book of Ruth illustrates the difference between those who step out in faith and take risks, and those who give in to fear, play it safe, and miss God’s best for them. The book begins with these words: ‘There was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife [Naomi] and his two sons’ (v. 1 NKJV). Things went well for a while, then tragedy struck. First Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons. They married local girls named Orpah and Ruth and then the sons died. Overwhelmed with grief, Naomi decides to return home to Bethlehem and advises her two daughters-in-law to stay in Moab and hopefully find husbands and raise families. This is where the difference shows up in the two girls. Orpah decided to stay in Moab, even though it was a place of heartache and hard times. Why? Because it was the place she knew. It was her comfort zone. She didn’t have the faith to go forwards. Ruth was different. She said to Naomi: ‘Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God’ (v. 16 NKJV). Orpah went back, Ruth went forwards. And it paid off. Back in Bethlehem, she met Boaz, her new husband. Not only was he wealthy, but he took good care of her, and they had a son from whom descended both King David and our blessed Lord Jesus. God rewards faith, not fear. So the word for today is – it’s time to break with the past and move forwards.

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God wants us to appreciate the season we are in; to live in the ‘here and now’. Some people live only for the future. ‘I’ll be happy when…’ Other people live in the past. Solomon addresses them: ‘Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this’ (Ecclesiastes 7:10 NKJV). The New Yorker magazine once had a cartoon in which two monks in robes and shaved heads were sitting side by side, cross legged on the floor. The younger one, with a quizzical look on his face, is facing the older one, who is saying: ‘Nothing happens next. This is it.’ That’s exactly what it means to live in the here and now. We aren’t waiting for something else to occur, we aren’t distracted by anything around us, we aren’t trying to escape mentally to another time. We are fully alive because we are living in the moment! God may have done great things for you in the past, and you’re trusting Him to do great things in the future, but His presence, His power, His goodness, His favour, His blessing, and all that He is, can only be experienced in the here and now. Question: ‘Are you living in a shell to keep from being eaten alive by the pain of life? Do you guard yourself by retreating deeper into your shell, being available only to what is pleasant, predictable, and safe?’ ‘This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ Live in the ‘here and now’.

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Since God is both our Creator and our Redeemer, we are called to be ‘conformed to His image’ in both senses. So, to become more like the Creator is to become more creative. When we apply our sanctified imagination to serve His objectives, we are doing what God does best and loves most. And our heavenly Father takes deep pride and joy in it. Just as we celebrate creativity in our kids, so God celebrates creativity in us. Have you ever noticed how often Psalms tells us to sing a new song? The creative command is repeated no fewer than half a dozen times. The more you discover about God, the more you love Him. And the more you love Him, the more you need new ways of expressing your love. Most of us don’t classify ourselves as creative, but that’s because we narrowly define creativity. We think of it like we do a work of art, a new invention, or an entrepreneurial conception. But that’s a meagre slice. Creativity isn’t merely for artists, inventors, or entrepreneurs; it’s vital in all aspects of life. In the fullest sense, creativity is any use of the imagination. Yes, in the past we may have used our imagination for the wrong purposes. But at the new birth, your imagination is redeemed so that it can be used to glorify God. If God is infinitely creative and we are not just created in His image but called to be conformed to His image, then creativity isn’t optional. It’s a dimension of spiritual maturity.

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When things don’t happen as quickly as we want them to, we can become anxious, frustrated, irritable, and negative. And if you’re a ‘make it happen’ person, you can rush ahead of God and get into trouble. ‘The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take’ (Psalm 37:23 TLB). Think about it: if you’re following the Lord, you can’t go faster than the One who is leading. So, just take the next step and trust Him to work things out for you. God knows what you don’t know. At best, you are working with limited knowledge. Do you believe your steps are being ‘directed by the Lord’? Do you believe He has a plan for your life? Do you believe He cares for you and has your best interests at heart? If you do, then stand on this Scripture: ‘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’ (Psalm 37:34 TLB). God knows what He is doing. He works according to His schedule, not ours. When will God ‘honour you with every blessing’? Answer: ‘in due season’. Impatience is a sign of two things: 1) Immaturity. Babies cry until you pick them up, and children don’t want to wait for anything. But a wise parent knows that often the child is not ready to handle what they’re demanding. 2) Doubt and unbelief. ‘You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised’ (Hebrews 10:36 TLB).

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Do you get upset when you cannot control others? Or moody and irritated when people don’t do what you want? Do you react when your mistakes are pointed out? Or try to force people to comply with your demands? Do you exaggerate your pain, sickness, or need in order to gain attention or sympathy? Or criticise the opinions and choices of others, and position yourself as superior? Do you become angry and abusive when someone disagrees with you or challenges your authority? Are you reluctant to compliment others, but quick to try and fix something you think is wrong in them? Do you find it hard to say, ‘I need you’? Do you try to drive a wedge between your loved ones and anyone else who gets close to them? Do you ‘give orders’ to those you interact with, rather than using the simple courtesies of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’? If your answer to these questions is yes, then the word for today is – don’t be so controlling! The Bible says, ‘Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another’ (v. 10 NKJV). That means stopping to consider how your behaviour affects other people. You say, ‘But I just happen to have a strong personality.’ Sorry, that doesn’t let you off the hook! ‘A servant of the Lord must…be gentle to all’ (2 Timothy 2:24 NKJV). So if you’re a controller, start changing your ways! And if you’re being controlled because you fear anger and rejection, it’s time to draw a line in the sand. Seek help from a trusted friend, church leader, or healthcare professional, especially if you feel at risk. Ask God to help you stand firm and refuse to be controlled any longer.

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The first reaction recorded in Scripture is God’s reaction to His own creation. He stepped back at the end of each day, looked at what He had made, and said, ‘It’s good.’ Then on the sixth day when creation was complete, He said, ‘It’s very good.’ This is why we feel so spiritual when we watch an ocean sunset or the towering summit of a mountain. Thomas Carlyle said, ‘Worship is transcendent wonder. Wonder for which there is no limit or measure; that is worship.’ It’s standing in amazement of the Creator and His creation. It’s translating the beauty of creation into worship of the Creator. It’s thanking God for splendid sunrises and dazzling stars and unique snowflakes. It’s giving credit where credit is due – to the Creator. The psalmist captured it in the words: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God’ (Psalm 19:1 KJV). The musical group U2 captured it in the words of their hit song ‘Beautiful Day’. Such wonder is also an act of worship. One pastor writes: ‘The sunrise is so consistent that we take it for granted, but few things are as miraculous as the celestial dance that takes place on a daily basis. The earth spins on its axis at a speed of 1,000 mph. And while [it] rotates 360 degrees on its axis every twenty-four hours, it is also hurtling through space at the unimaginable speed of 67,000 mph. You may not have any big plans for today, but you will travel 1.6 million miles in your annual lap around the sun. Quite an accomplishment!’ So, take time to wonder and worship God.

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Did you know that the word ‘disciple’ occurs 269 times in the New Testament, whereas the word ‘Christian’ is found only three times? The word ‘Christian’ was first introduced to describe who they were, disciples of Jesus Christ! Dallas Willard uses the illustration of the car: ‘The disciple of Jesus is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian – especially padded, textured, streamlined, and empowered for the fast lane on the straight and narrow way. He or she stands on the pages of the New Testament as the first level of basic transportation in the Kingdom of God.’ Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment; it happens when you place your trust in Christ. But becoming a disciple is the work of a lifetime; it calls for denying yourself and saying yes to the will of God every day of your life. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Three things: 1) To listen to Him and learn. That calls for reading, studying, memorising, verbalising, and applying the truths taught in the Scriptures to your life each day. 2) To follow Him wherever He leads. This may call for changing your plans, forfeiting some of your relationships, and giving Him access to things you would like to hold on to. 3) To be devoted to Him. One day Jesus said to Peter, ‘Do you love Me more than these?’ (John 21:15 NKJV). Note the word ‘more’. To be a disciple means to love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. And it’s the most fulfilling and rewarding life you can live!

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The men and women who made the greatest impact on the world were those who were totally focused and sold out to their vision. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, once said, ‘If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.’ Jonathan Edwards, whose ministry sparked the Great Awakening in America, made this his life’s motto: ‘Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I will.’ C.T. Studd, one of England’s greatest athletes, shocked the world when he gave up fame and fortune to be a missionary to China. ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him,’ he explained. Missionary Jim Elliot, who died as a martyr in South America, said, ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.’ The day you were born, God had a track for you to run on. But to win, you must get rid of 1) anything that weighs you down, and 2) anything that trips you up. ‘Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus’ (vv. 1-2 AMPC).

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Jesus said, ‘If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.’ Roman soldiers were permitted to force a Jew to carry a burden a mile for them. They treated Jews as tools to be used. So, what do you do in that kind of situation? Jesus invites us to take the high road. A Roman soldier like these could probably be a young boy, a stranger there, probably poor himself. All he receives is local resentment. So, you finish the mile and say, ‘You look tired. Can I help you some more? Can I carry it for you another mile?’ That would blow the soldier’s mind. Nobody asked that! That’s what you’re called to do! When someone takes advantage of you, you want to think of them as unlikable rather than a real person with their own story. It’s said that a friend offered to introduce English essayist Charles Lamb to a man whom Lamb had disliked for a long time. ‘Don’t make me meet him,’ Lamb said. ‘“I want to go on hating him, and I can’t do that to a man I know.’ Understand this: you can give the gift of empathy. You can remember that the person you don’t like is also a human being. You can put yourself in his their place. You can take the time to imagine how they feel, what they have been through, and how life has treated them. When you do that, your problem becomes an opportunity to practise the Christ life. Isn’t that what you want? Isn’t that what you signed up for in the first place?

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They say, ‘The devil is in the details.’ But for a redeemed child of God, He is in the details! When you set your heart on something and it doesn’t happen, it’s only human to experience disappointment. At such moments, here is what you need to keep in mind: 1) At best, you’re always working with limited information. You may know the end result you desire, but God knows what’s best for you, and He plans accordingly. ‘I am God…declaring the end from the beginning…saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure”’ (Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV). 2) Trying to work outside of God’s will is like attempting to dig your way through a solid wall with a fork. Instead of digging your way out of a prison, you dig your way into one when you demand to get what you want. Do you really want to carry out a plan God hasn’t ordained? Can you depend on Him to know what’s best for you? ‘The Lord, the God of battle, has spoken – who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?’ (Isaiah 14:27 TLB). It’s better to be disappointed temporarily than end up with something you can’t handle. The story of Israel reads like this: ‘He…redeemed them from the hand of the enemy…Then they believed His words; they sang His praise. They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel…and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul’ (Psalm 106:10, 12-15 NKJV). Trust God, and He will give you what’s best.

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There are plenty of good leaders around – don’t be afraid to follow them. But what about the ‘blind guides’ that Jesus talks about? Here are some signs to help you identify and avoid them: 1) Inflexibility. True leaders have a teachable spirit and a servant’s heart. They rejoice in your growth and aren’t threatened by your development. They won’t try to ‘keep you in the nest’ when it’s clear that you’re ready to fly. 2) Elitism. Look out for the ‘we-alone-are-right’ attitude. When someone can’t acknowledge and fellowship with other members of God’s redeemed family, something’s wrong. The word exclusive is often another word for paranoid. 3) Money-grubbing. Here is God’s standard for leadership: ‘Not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve’ (1 Peter 5:2 NIV). The Bible also says good leaders are ‘worthy of double honour’ (1 Timothy 5:17 KJV), which means twice as much. But look out for those who teach that you must only sow your seed into their field, and nowhere else. 4) Accountability. Beware of the untouchable, ‘I-am-God’s-anointed’ types. No matter how gifted we are, we all have blind spots and need to be confronted and counselled from time to time. Solomon said, ‘Pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up’ (Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV). Here is what Jesus said about the religious leaders of His day: ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit’ (Matthew 15:13-14 NIV). When choosing a leader, you don’t need a blind prima donna; you need one with a servant spirit.

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The Bible has a lot to say about the dangers of the tongue. James devotes an entire chapter to this subject: ‘If we could control our tongues, we…could also control ourselves in every other way.’ Now there is an aspect of self-control to consider! The Greek sage Publius said, ‘I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence.’ And novelist William Edward Norris wrote, ‘If you your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care; to whom you speak, of whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.’ King David puts it this way: ‘I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle’ (Psalm 39:1 NASB 1995). That’s what it takes – a muzzle! David is talking about making a conscious commitment to watch what you say, and if you want to accomplish this, here are three principles you need to live by: 1) Think first. Before you speak, pause for ten seconds and mentally preview your words. Are they accurate or exaggerated? Kind or cutting? Needless or necessary? Grateful or complaining? What you don’t say today, you won’t have to explain tomorrow. 2) Talk less. Your chances of getting into trouble increase exponentially when you talk too much. That’s why compulsive talkers often find it hard to keep friends. Conserve your verbal energy. 3) Start today. Already you have read enough to help bring your tongue into submission. So put that muzzle on your mouth now – and watch how it enriches your life.

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When you read God’s Word, you discover how He feels about you. As a result, your memories begin to heal, your self-worth is restored, and you stop trading with a devalued self-image. When that happens, you no longer believe that ‘anybody’s company is preferable to my own’. In a survey of supposedly happy couples, over 50 per cent said they wouldn’t marry the same person again. Why? Because the answer to loneliness isn’t people; it’s purpose! The apostle John was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos when God showed him the glories of heaven and he wrote the book of Revelation. Paul was alone in a Roman dungeon when he wrote half the New Testament. God did some of His best work when He was alone with no one to applaud Him, so he praised Himself, saying, ‘It [is] very good’ (Genesis 1:31 KJV). Can you do that? It’s nice when others speak well of you, but when you can speak well of yourself, it reflects your opinion of yourself – and that’s the one you live with every day. Three cheers for those whose departure taught us how to be alone and enjoy it! Somewhere beyond loneliness, there is a contentment born of necessity. When your options close in the natural realm, you find doors opening to you in the spiritual realm. So, work on deepening your relationship with God. As you do, you will find joy, and you will also develop qualities that make you attractive to the right people. It’s why Jesus said that when you ‘seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously…he will give you everything you need’ – including self-worth.

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A respected Bible teacher says: ‘Because my family’s so large, we draw names to see who we’ll buy presents for. One Christmas when I opened my present, I was disappointed…then I looked at my twin brother who got two nice gifts. Sensing my disappointment, my wife came over to me and said, “Don’t worry. When we get home, we’ll exchange it for something you like better.” The same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We open the gifts God has given us and immediately run to someone else to see what he or she received…When we look at our gift…we’re unhappy…and immediately think…“I know…I’ll swap it for something I like better.” That’s why there are so many people running around claiming to be an apostle or a prophet or a teacher…They’re gift-swapping.’ You don’t get to decide what gift God gives you. God ‘put all the parts…in the body as he wanted them’. Sometimes it takes years for you to recognise your gift and start operating in it. Instead of coveting another person’s gift, be thankful for your own and ask God to use it to bless as many people as possible. And if you have questions about it, search the Scriptures. Paul says, ‘God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:29 NIV); ‘God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well’ (Romans 12:6 TLB); ‘Each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that’ (1 Corinthians 7:7 NIV); ‘The Spirit decides what to give each person’ (1 Corinthians 12:11 NCV). So, use the gift God gave you.

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Self-help books and motivational speakers are like cheerleaders standing on the sidelines shouting, ‘You can do it!’ They can be helpful, but if the ‘you can do it’ philosophy always held true, we wouldn’t need God. Paul understood this. That’s why he wrote, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Discovering the will of God requires faith for the impossible and a childlike dependence on Him. The Bible is full of men and women who discovered their destiny in the perfect will of God by doing things that would ordinarily have been impossible to do on their own. For example: 1) Noah and his impossible project. Noah was commissioned to build a ship the size of an aircraft carrier – by hand – and on land! 2) Abraham and his impossible promise. At ninety, after years of trying unsuccessfully to be a father, God told him his children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the sea. 3) Mary and her impossible pregnancy. Imagine telling your husband to be, ‘I’m pregnant, and the baby’s father is the Holy Spirit.’ God has always chosen ordinary people to do extraordinary things – and they all had something in common. Every one of them was called to be part of something bigger than himself or herself. And because of their willingness to yield to God and allow His purposes to be revealed in them and fulfilled through them, He used them in amazing ways. God takes pleasure in doing things through us that only He can do, so that in the end, He will receive all the glory, honour, and praise.

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Let’s read what God said to the parents who entered the promised land: ‘Take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren’ (v. 9 NKJV). Notice the progression here. First, ‘take heed to yourself’. Next, ‘teach them to your children’. Your ability to influence and mould the children you care for is based on your credibility with them. When the principles you live by produce joy, peace, strength, kindness, discipline, and success, the children who look up to you will begin to take you seriously. And you have a limited window of opportunity. There are skills that can be learned during early childhood that become much more difficult later on. Have you ever wondered why it’s so simple to teach preschoolers any language they hear? And they can learn it perfectly, without even a trace of their own accent. Fifteen or more years later, they will have a much harder time attempting to make those same sounds. This is explained by a process called ‘phoneme contraction’. The larynx of a young child assumes a shape needed to make any sounds he or she is learning to use. It then sets in those positions, making it impossible or challenging to make other sounds in later years. A child’s attitude towards parental leadership and the guidance of carers is similar. That’s why it’s essential to ‘shape the will’ during the preschool and early years by balancing unconditional love with consistent teaching and firmness at home. If you miss that opportunity, the adolescent years can be rougher than they need to be.

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If you’re a parent, are you trying to keep your children under lock and key in order to keep them out of trouble? Or if you’re a teacher or Sunday school leader, do you try to impose strict rules? It won’t work. You’re not keeping them out of trouble, you’re simply postponing it. Things like curfews, dress codes, internet use, and checking up on their friends are part of good parenting and good teaching. But when you are not around to guide them, they need sound principles to live by. And those principles can be found in God’s Word: ‘Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes’ (vv. 6-9 MSG). Isn’t it interesting how each succeeding generation views the previous one as old fashioned and out of date? And that’s not all bad. Every generation believes there is a better way to do things, and that is the foundation for progress. That’s why getting from Liverpool to New York takes only seven hours by plane instead of three weeks by sailing ship. God’s Word can stand the test of scrutiny. So instead of shutting them down, invite children to ask questions and challenge assumptions, then help them arrive at solid scriptural convictions to live by. As someone who cares for children, there is no greater gift you can give them.

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Have you sown a ‘seed’ of faith, and now you’re wondering when you will reap the ‘harvest’ God promised in His Word? If so, read on: ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come’ (vv. 26-29 NKJV). Before you reap the harvest of blessing God promised, you go through certain stages. First there is the ‘not knowing’ stage. Your seed is buried in the ground. How and when your harvest comes is entirely up to God. But you must believe that it will happen. Next comes the ‘blade’ stage. It’s just a tiny blade blowing in the breeze, but it’s enough to encourage you and let you know your harvest is on the way. Next comes the ‘head’ stage. The seed has started to sprout and look like what you prayed for. This is when you must water it with prayer, fertilise it with God’s Word, and protect it from anything or anyone that would uproot it through doubt and unbelief. Finally you enter the ‘full grain’ stage, when the grain ripens and you immediately reap a harvest. Whatever stage you’re in today, stand fast and keep trusting God. Your harvest is on the way.

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You can be sincere in your intentions – but sincerely wrong. The Bible says the rain falls on ‘the just and the unjust alike’ (Matthew 5:45 NLT). The law of cause and effect applies to everybody, and all your good intentions won’t bring you out at the right destination if you’re on the wrong road. Think about it like this: maybe you have considered investing in a particular company. You do the research, talk to the experts, and things look good. So, you proceed on the assumption that it’s a sound decision. Then the unexpected happens. A recession hits, and the market tanks. It’s not your fault; you were sincere in your decision to invest, but that doesn’t change the end result. You still lose. You can’t afford to put your trust in what ‘seems right to…man’ (Proverbs 16:25 NKJV); you must pursue those things that are right in God’s eyes. Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6 NLT). That means unless you have committed your life to Christ, you’re already on the wrong road. Turn around and ask Him to forgive your sins and put you on the road to eternal life. And if you’re a believer seeking direction, pray, read your Bible, and listen for what God has to say. The disciples on the Emmaus road said, ‘Did not our heart burn within us, while he…opened to us the scriptures?’ (Luke 24:32 KJV). Ask God to open His Word, give you ‘spiritual heartburn’, and point you in the right direction. He will!

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It’s easy to say, ‘The Lord is my shepherd,’ but how can you tell if it’s real for you or if you’re just saying the words? Here is a simple test: when you need help, who do you turn to first? Most people go to God only after they have tried everything else. And when nothing else is working, then they try praying. Think about your last crisis. Whatever or whoever you turned to first for help, that’s your shepherd. A man on a trip to the African rain forests was following a guide. As they pushed deeper into the jungle, the guide with his machete was whacking away at the thick growth that rose up like a wall before them. ‘How do you know where to go?’ the man asked. ‘Where’s the path?’ The guide replied, ‘I am the path.’ Life is like a jungle; you need a guide who knows where he is going and what he is doing. And here on earth, who qualifies for such a job? One person only – the Lord! There will never be a day when you don’t need His guidance, and you can have it if you really want it. The Bible says, ‘He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice’ (John 10:3-4 NLT). What a promise! There are lots of different voices vying for your attention, including some who care about you and some who don’t. But Jesus your shepherd is the one voice you can always trust when it comes to guidance. That’s why it’s important to ‘know his voice’.

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Life can wear you down. You can get to the place where your anxiety runs so deep, or your stress levels increase so high that you can’t think clearly. The problem or pain you’re experiencing is so overwhelming that you can’t put it into words. Good news: that’s when the Holy Spirit living within you prays for you and through you. As you bring your burden to the Lord and kneel in His presence, a wonderful thing happens. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: ‘God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us…If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves…That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good’ (vv. 26-28 MSG). Because prayer is relational, the Holy Spirit will communicate your heart to God and His heart back to you. When you don’t know how to pray – stay. Just remain in God’s presence with your heart open, and He will communicate with you. ‘You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things’ (1 John 2:20 NKJV). Before God puts the answer in your head, He puts His peace in your heart. That’s why prayer cannot be rushed. It’s why taking the time to meditate and be still before God is so important. It allows the Holy Spirit to share God’s thoughts with you so that you begin thinking His way.

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Losing your job can be devastating. This is when you must keep the right perspective. Having less doesn’t make you a lesser person. God still values you, and you must keep valuing yourself. The Christian life is one of trial and triumph. Paul writes: ‘I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength’ (vv. 12-13 NLT). What should you do when you’re unemployed? 1) Reduce your expenses to the bare minimum. That may mean riding the bus or train, making your own lunch, and using other cost-saving measures. 2) Take the stigma out of being unemployed. Don’t presume that people think less of you because you have lost your job. People generally respond to your situation in the same way you do. They will find your enthusiasm about your next move inspiring – even though you may not yet know what it is. ‘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). Getting thrown into prison led to Joseph becoming prime minister of Egypt. ‘The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you’ (Deuteronomy 23:5 NKJV). God can reveal talents within you and connections around you and open the door to a level of blessing and success you never dreamed possible. So, trust Him and keep believing that your best days are ahead.

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To have job security you should: 1) Increase your visibility in your industry. Establish contacts and relationships with others outside your company by attending local industry gatherings wherever possible. Your goal should not merely be to know enough to get by but to develop your skills so that you will get noticed and get ahead. When the time is right and you’re ready, God will open doors for you. ‘For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield’ (v. 12 NKJV). 2) Maintain a divine perspective on your job. Remind yourself that it is not the source of your security but simply one of many channels God can use to provide for you. Read the story of Elijah the prophet and how God miraculously provided for him through a raven, a brook, and a single mum with just enough food for one meal. God used four different streams to water the garden of Eden. So when you have an unmet need or a financial shortfall, ask Him to reveal different streams of income to you. And stand on these two promises: ‘My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 KJV). ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear [of losing your job], but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Fear and faith are powerful forces that seek to rule your life. One will take you in the wrong direction, the other will take you in the right direction. So, strengthen your faith by reading God’s Word, praying, and entrusting the outcomes of your life to Him.

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To have job security you should: 1) Endeavour to be as indispensable as possible. ‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap’ (vv. 5-6 NLT). Strive for integrity and excellence in your work, while learning as much as possible about procedures and processes beyond your area of responsibility. Be willing to help others – but not at the expense of your own effectiveness. 2) If the fear of losing your job stems from personality clashes with your boss, embrace the biblical principle of authority and submission. The buck stops with the person in charge. Therefore, determine to submit to reasonable instructions that are asked of you, provided they’re not illegal or immoral. When possible, confirm the instructions from your boss with a follow-up email, including your feedback on the potential outcome. Always speak with respect. Be willing to go the extra mile. Don’t make excuses or try to cover up for poor workmanship. Cooperating with your boss is crucial, so make doing so your special project. ‘Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back’ (Titus 2:9 NKJV). 3) Know your marketability. Are you in a field with a strong demand for your skills, or do you need to educate yourself in order to upgrade them? If you want a raise or a promotion on the job, you must be willing to invest the time and effort to do what’s necessary in order to earn them. ‘Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth’ (Proverbs 10:4 NIV).

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If you think the perfect life would be one in which you didn’t have to work, think again. God created the garden of Eden, then He created Adam, then He told Adam that his job was to take care of it. Why? Because work gives dignity and meaning to our lives. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Those who work…will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense’ (v. 11 NIV). For the next few days, let’s talk about how to have job security. In 2023 the unemployment rate in the UK was about 4.2 per cent (almost three million workers). With statistics like those, it’s easy to see why so many of us live in fear of becoming unemployed. The fear of losing your job is rooted in the following core fears. Lack: ‘How will I meet my obligations?’ Inadequacy: ‘I’m not good enough.’ Helplessness: ‘What do I do now?’ Loneliness: ‘I’ll be isolated from my social network.’ For some, the shame and humiliation of losing a job is as devastating as the loss of income. Fretting about being fired can become a self-fulfilling prophecy because its anxiety makes you less efficient and effective. So if you live with the constant fear of losing your job, it’s time to stop worrying and start developing a strategy that will enhance your position on the job or assure you of a soft landing if you get laid off. Your first and foremost strategy must be to trust in God’s faithfulness: ‘The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do….The Lord will again delight in being good to you…if you obey his voice’ (Deuteronomy 30:9-10 NLT).

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Here are three important principles you need to keep in mind when conflict arises: 1) Deal with the issue without attacking the person. Some of the most vicious personal attacks have been waged over religion. What a shame! Some of us would rather lose the relationship than lose the argument. 2) Sometimes it’s best to go separate ways. When Paul and Barnabas argued over whether or not John Mark should travel with them on their next missionary journey, ‘their disagreement was so sharp that they separated’ (Acts 15:39 NLT). But that’s not the end of the story. Actually, it resulted in the birth of two different ministries. So, be gracious. What’s happening right now may be God’s way of moving you into a new area of service and blessing. 3) Remember that ‘iron sharpens iron’ (Proverbs 27:17 NKJV). When iron sharpens iron, sparks fly. If you have ever been around teens, you can relate. They’re experts at coming up with unconventional off-the-wall opinions that challenge you and keep you honest. An old Quaker bought a cantankerous cow. Every milking session became a battle of wills. Determined to demonstrate grace under fire, the old man refused to react when Bessie stomped her foot, whipped him in the face with her tail, and knocked over the milk bucket. Finally, she kicked him against the barn wall, and that did it! Glowering, he growled, ‘Thou knowest I am a Quaker and cannot strike thee back – but I can surely sell thee to a Presbyterian!’ When you are the injured party, that’s when you need to draw on this promise: ‘He gives more grace.’

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Jesus said, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (v. 33 NLT). You ask, ‘When I think about God, is that the same as praying?’ It can be. We’re all familiar with the power of unspoken communication. Many of us grew up with parents who didn’t have to say a thing to make their will known. It may have been a certain look in their eye or some other unspoken signal. But we knew exactly what was being communicated and how we were expected to respond. Prayer works that way too. When you think about God, it’s prayer; and when God communicates His thoughts back to you, it’s a form of answered prayer. A little boy wanted a bicycle for Christmas, and one night he was praying at the top of his voice telling God exactly what kind and colour of bike he wanted. His mother said, ‘Son, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you.’ He replied, ‘I know, Mama, but I need to shout if Grandpa is going to hear me and buy me that bike!’ The truth is, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you, and you don’t need to try and conjure up answers to your prayers. Jesus said, ‘Your heavenly Father knows what you need before you even ask.’ So, why even take the time to pray? Because God wants you to approach Him with confidence, trust Him with all your needs, and build a relationship with Him. That’s what it’s all about!

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It’s not by accident that these two Scriptures are back-to-back: ‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender’ (vv. 6-7 NIV). Your child’s college university education, an affordable home, and a reliable car are okay to borrow money for. Otherwise, unless you can pay for something – learn to wait! Jesus said, ‘If any man would be my disciple, he must deny himself’ (see Luke 9:23). We’re not very good at denying ourselves the things we want. But unless you want your kids to inherit your debt, end up getting into debt themselves, and passing the principle of instant gratification on to their children, break the cycle now. Get out of debt and stay out of debt! Say: ‘Lord, I’m through making excuses. I take responsibility for the mess I’m in. I gave in to my impulses, overspent, ignored Your principles of good stewardship, and I repent. Give me the courage to face my debts and take an honest look at where I stand. Don’t let me live in denial. You warned us not to be ignorant of Satan’s tactics (see 2 Corinthians 2:11). He is attempting to keep me in financial bondage, and, as a result, I am unable to respond when it’s time to sow and finance Your work. Direct me to a trustworthy source that can help me develop a debt-eliminating strategy. Help me to stop having to make additional interest charges. Deliver me from emotional spending. Please, help me to get out of debt. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

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Jesus did only those things placed in His mind by His Father. And He wants you to learn to live that way too. You ask, ‘Is such a life possible?’ Yes, it’s not only possible, it’s essential to fulfilling God’s will for your life. The Bible says that Mary took time to listen to Jesus, but her sister Martha didn’t because she was too busy ‘serving’ (see Luke 10:40). You can get so busy serving the Lord that you lose your sensitivity to His voice and end up preoccupied with secondary things. You learn to hear from God by making time to hear from Him! Fifteen times in the New Testament, Jesus said, ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.’ When you became a new creation in Christ, you got new spiritual ears, but you must learn how to use them. Indeed, that must become one of the highest priorities in your life. A newborn child has the ability to hear but doesn’t understand what he or she is hearing; understanding takes time, it takes learning, it takes attention, it takes intimacy with his or her parents. When Jesus met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus following His resurrection, they didn’t recognise Him. But He loved them, so ‘he opened their minds so they could understand’ (Luke 24:45 NIV). As you look back over your life, you recognise times when God walked and talked with you but you didn’t understand what He was saying. No problem! God is patient, and He will work with you and develop you.

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The New Testament Greek word translated as ‘disciple’ means ‘learner’. By definition, a disciple is someone who never ceases to learn. He or she makes the most of the hundred billion brain cells God has loaned to them. They keep asking and seeking and knocking (see Matthew 7:7). Leonardo da Vinci carried a notebook wherever he went. Some have estimated that he left fourteen thousand pages of notes to painter Francesco Melzi in his will. Almost seven thousand pages still exist. Bill Gates bought eighteen pages for $30.8 million in 1994. The scribbles on da Vinci’s napkin varied from anatomy to botany to painting to philosophy. One thing that made him extraordinary is that he wrote most of them using a technique called mirror writing. He wrote in reverse so the words could be read solely when reflected in a mirror. In the final days before his death on May 2, 1519, Leonardo apologised to God and to man ‘for leaving so much undone’. And he resolved to keep learning until the day he died. Even on his deathbed, Leonardo was observing and relating, in scientific detail, the nature and symptoms of his illness. So, never stop learning, because it glorifies God when you do it for the right reasons. And the right reason is to know Him so that you can love Him even more. Live like you will die tomorrow – but keep learning like you will live forever. After all, as a redeemed child of God, you will.

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Anything that reveals something about our Creator is something we ought to be interested in. Scripture is in a classification all by itself as God’s written revelation. But mathematics discloses a distinctive dimension of God’s personality too. Along with art. And science. The Bible says: ‘God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight…He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom’ (1 Kings 4:29, 32-34 NIV). Solomon was interested in everything. And the breadth of his knowledge gave him such a depth of wisdom that ‘from all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom’. Who sent those men? ‘The kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.’ As Spirit-filled citizens of God’s kingdom, we haven’t been called to avoid the culture, but to inform it, instruct it, and illuminate it. ‘It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.’ God loves it when we realise something or encounter something new to us, even if our discoveries are common knowledge. Isn’t that a normal parental reaction when our children discover new things? When you keep asking the right questions, God will keep giving you the right answers.

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Here are two more evidences of Christ’s resurrection: 1) You would be hard-pressed to find a time in recorded history where someone willingly gave up their life for what they knew to be a lie. Author Paul E. Little said, ‘Men will die for what they believe to be true, though it may actually be false. They do not, however, die for what they know is a lie.’ The fact that those early disciples were willing to endure such suffering makes the foundations of Christianity unshakable. 2) Christ’s enemies went to incredible lengths to disprove the resurrection. ‘When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy [bribe] him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed’ (vv. 12-15 NIV). Think: there has never been a witness in history allowed to testify to what transpired while he or she was asleep. And for a Roman soldier to fall asleep on duty meant a certain death penalty. Indeed, if Jesus had still been in the tomb, or if they had taken his body and placed it somewhere else, why did the Jewish leaders not say so? No, they were paralysed and powerless to do anything about it. Their only option – the one they took – was to initiate great persecution against all Christians. But it failed then, and it fails now because Jesus is alive!

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Here are three more pieces of evidence that will convince any open-minded seeker of the truth of Christ’s physical resurrection from the dead: 1) The Christian sacraments. The Christian sacraments point to the death and suffering of Christ and also to His resurrection and power. These can be traced back in uninterrupted sequence to the exact time of the death of Jesus Christ. 2) Christian art. In the catacombs of Rome, from the period of the persecutions, we discover etched into the walls, depictions of the resurrection of Christ as an element of the earliest Christian beliefs. 3) The Christian church. Consider the undeniable fact of the Christian church. Numerous people do not realise the link between the church and the resurrection, but scholars do. The Christian church is the biggest institution that exists or has ever existed in the world’s history. It is five times larger than the Roman Empire at its greatest scope. In fact, more than two billion people today acknowledge their worship of Jesus Christ as the alive and risen Son of God. How did such an institution come into and stay in existence? Someone quipped, ‘The Grand Canyon wasn’t formed by a person dragging a stick.’ Neither was an institution the magnitude of the Christian church created by the fancies of idle dreamers in days past. Historians recognise that the Christian church can be tracked all the way back to the city of Jerusalem in AD 30, the time of the death and resurrection of Christ. So,, in truth we can say, ‘Christ is risen indeed!’

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Trust the fact that Jesus rose from the dead! Here are two evidences of it: 1) The Lord’s Day. For thousands of years, the Hebrew people had maintained their Sabbath doctrine. Then later, a group of early Christians who were Jews changed the day of worship from the seventh day to the first day! What could account for their deserting a tradition to which they had held so steadfastly? The resurrection of Christ, which happened on the first day of the week, His appearance to the disciples on the first day of the week, and the outpouring of His Spirit on the church on the first day of the week. So on the first day of the week, the disciples met to worship Him (see 1 Corinthians 16:2). 2) The celebration of Easter. This took the place of the Jewish festival of the Passover. So why did the Jews, who regarded the Passover to be the most important event in the history of their nation, forsake it in favour of the celebration of Easter, which was the most important festival among Christians? The salutation was, ‘Christ is risen!’ The reply was, ‘Christ is risen indeed!’ What fact, other than that of the resurrection, can explain the reality of the Easter celebration, which we can trace all the way back to the era of the early church? Paul writes: ‘For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters’ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 6 NIV).

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‘Stir up the gift of God which is in you.’ 2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV

Paul told Timothy, ‘Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.’ That Scripture means, even though you’re gifted, you can become apathetic if you don’t keep doing the right things. ‘Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away’ (Hebrews 2:1 NKJV). The word ‘drift’ is not only slow and subtle, it’s deadly. Let’s look at two of the things that can rob you of your passion, enthusiasm, motivation, and focus. 1) Lack of goals. ‘Without a vision the people perish’ (see Proverbs 29:18). What used to enthuse you? What destroyed your interest in it? Is it a desire you could revive? Put it down in writing. Ignore the potential cost or reasons it might not work. Just indulge your mind in the luxury of feeling optimistic and excited about something, even a small thing. 2) Wrong goals. Are you pursuing a goal you feel was imposed upon you by someone else? Or like Jonah before he was swallowed by the whale, possibly you’re rowing against the tide of God’s will for your life. Check with Him and see if this is so. Did God really lead you to pamper yourself in that extravagant item that’s now requiring you to work two jobs? Or maybe the time has come to an end for a goal that was part of God’s plan for a specific season of your life. Moving on is sometimes difficult, but oh, the joy and peace of knowing that you are in the centre of God’s perfect will!

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Here’s a Bible verse we should all commit to memory: ‘Keep what you know to yourself, and you will be safe; talk too much, and you are done for’ (v. 3 CEV). In other words, a tendency to speak without thinking will keep getting you into trouble. To illustrate this point, here’s a story about a vacuum cleaner salesman! He had been given a remote rural area as his territory, and on his first day on the job, he was going from farmhouse to farmhouse, trying to sell vacuum cleaners. As he arrived at one farmhouse way off the beaten track, he knocked on the door and was met by a farmer’s wife who asked him what he wanted. Without asking permission, he shoved right past her into the kitchen and said, ‘I’m selling vacuum cleaners.’ Shocked, she replied, ‘Wait a minute!’ But he demanded, ‘Madam, before you say anything, I want to show you something.’ Then he reached into his bag, pulled out a pail of dirt, and threw it across her kitchen floor. ‘If my vacuum cleaner won’t pick up all that dirt,’ he bragged, ‘then I’ll eat it!’ She looked at him and said, ‘Then you're hungry, ’cause we don’t have electricity here!’ How often we have to eat the words we so recklessly toss on the floor of everyday living! Be careful. Jesus said one day we will give an account for every idle word we speak (see Matthew 12:36). An unknown poet wrote, ‘Be careful of the words you say and keep them soft and sweet. You never know from day to day which ones you’ll have to eat.’ So it’s always a good idea to think carefully before speaking.

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It can be scary when God tells you ‘go, now’s the time to move’. So when it happens, try reminding yourself that He already knows every detail of your future. Centuries ago, when a mapmaker ran out of the known world before he ran out of parchment, he would often draw a dragon at the edge of the scroll. This was intended as a sign to explorers that they were entering unknown territory at their own risk. But many of them didn’t see the dragon as a mapmaker’s warning sign; they saw it as a prophecy. They foresaw disaster beyond the known world, and their fear kept them from pushing on to discover new lands and people. But other, more adventurous travellers saw the dragon as a sign of opportunity and a doorway to new worlds that were worth exploring. Each of us has a mentalmap that contains the information we use for guidance as we begin each day. And like the maps of long ago, our mental maps have edges to them, and sometimes those edges seem to be marked by dragons or fears. We fear failing, or being rejected, or ridiculed, or that we won’t have enough, or that we will lose what we have. If that’s how you feel today, read these words spoken by God to His people when they stood on the threshold of the promised land without knowing what was waiting for them when they went into it. ‘The Lord, He is the One who goes before you.’ So, write down your goal, map out a strategy, and set a deadline. Then commit it to God, believing that He has gone before you to prepare the way.

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Adam had the perfect job, perfect home, perfect companion, and the perfect environment; all the things we strive for. And it came about as a result of his relationship with God! God basically gave him two rules to live by: ‘From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die’ (vv. 16-17 NASB). So, the two rules are these: 1) With God, what you get back is always greater than what you give up. ‘From any tree of the garden you may freely eat.’ Adam was allowed the fruit of every tree, with only one single exception. But what we so often do – and what legalistic religion does – is look at that verse, and others like it, and focus on what we can’t do. The truth is, when our list of can’t dos is longer than our list of what we’re free to do, we’ve gone far beyond what the Scriptures intended. The Christian life should be measured by what we’re free to enjoy, not by what we’re denied. 2) When you live your life according to God’s Word instead of your own impulses, you’re blessed. ‘Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to…keep all my commands…so that it might go well with them’ (Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV). The only thing God denies us is the right to determine for ourselves what’s ‘good or evil’, because He knows we’re not qualified to do it. We must live by divine revelation rather than human ideas. In His love and wisdom, God set this limitation in place to protect and bless us.

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If you don’t feel worthy enough to go to God in prayer, stop and read these words: ‘Let us…approach God’s throne of grace with confidence…that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (v. 16 NIV). The word ‘grace’ means ‘undeserved kindness, mercy, favour, and help when you need it’. Notice these three important things: 1) When you need grace, you can approach God with complete confidence. That’s because you’re coming to a throne of grace and mercy, not a throne of judgment. All your sins – past, present, and future – were paid for the moment Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ Satan, who the Bible calls ‘the accuser’, wants you to feel condemned, guilty, and unworthy to approach God. But the moment you placed your trust in Christ, God clothed you in Christ’s righteousness. And that means you can always come to Him with confidence. 2) When you need more grace, pray more. God has all the grace needed to help you, but you need to go to Him and ask for it. A prayerless Christian is a graceless Christian. The Bible says, ‘Grow in grace,’ and if you’re not praying every day, you’re not growing in your spiritual life. So, what’s the answer? Spend more time hanging around the throne that dispenses grace. 3) God’s grace is given based on your need at that moment. He won’t give you tomorrow’s grace until tomorrow, so don’t ask for it. But don’t worry, because the supply of grace you have in Christ won’t run out tomorrow – or ever! That means you can’t go to the throne of grace too often, and God will always welcome you - He never tires of your company.

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Philosopher Henry Thoreau said, ‘Our lives are frittered away by detail…simplify, simplify.’ Jesus put it another way: ‘Do not worry about your life….Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them’ (vv. 25-26 NKJV). Charlie Shedd pastored a large church with many demands. He and his wife created this simplicity list: Make sure you need to simplify. Your problem may be inertia…because you aren’t doing enough. Selfishness never simplifies - it complicates. Remember why you’re here. Put God’s will first. You unclutter by having a pivotal purpose on which your life swings. Drop useless goals. Don’t wear yourself out on meaningless pursuits. You frustrate yourself by dedicating your life to the unimportant. You can’t do everything. If God intended you to be six people, he’d have divided you up! Leave some ‘world building’ to others. Live one day at a time. Plan and hope for the future - but don’t live there. ‘Each day has enough trouble of its own’ (v. 34 NIV). Live well today and tomorrow’s strength will come. Wherever you are - be there. Stop thinking happiness comes at five o’clock, or at the evening’s party, or when you fall asleep. Live in the present. Develop a hobby. A change of activity keeps you fresh. Time spent playing is time well spent. You can’t slow the world, so slow yourself. Learn to gear down. When you can’t alter the pace, retire to the inner sanctuary and alter yourself. Adopt the perfect pattern: Christ…whose life cut history squarely in two. Follow Him as He lives a mighty life in quiet confidence. ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5 KJV).

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To prevent Nehemiah from rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, his enemies spread rumours about him. ‘It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumours, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king’ (v. 6 NKJV). We can’t control what people think, or stop them saying it, but we can control our response. Nehemiah did: ‘I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner’ (vv. 3-4 NKJV). This story teaches us three important principles when we’re following God’s will:1) Refuse to give more attention to a critic than you would to a friend. The people who mattered to Nehemiah were the ones who were for him rather than those against him. So instead of trying to change minds, he changed gears and moved forwards. 2) Realise that with opportunity comes opposition. Paul wrote, ‘There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me’ (1 Corinthians 16:9 NLT). Opposition can sometimes be a sign that you’re heading in the right direction; if you weren’t succeeding, they wouldn’t even notice you. 3) Remember that it’s the big battles that produce the big victories. Satan won’t give up because you’ve decided to do God’s will; he’ll fight you every step of the way. But ‘greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4 KJV). Keep following God, draw on His strength, and refuse to let the opinions of others pull you off His path.

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God said, ‘Moab has been at ease from his youth; he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied [poured] from vessel to vessel…Therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent [aroma] has not changed.’ This Scripture paints two pictures for us; one is natural and the other is spiritual. In the natural picture, we see how wine is made by being poured from one vessel into another. In the spiritual picture, we see how God changes us by pouring us from one experience into another. And just as in winemaking, when the wine is poured out of one vessel into another, it leaves behind the dregs which must be removed in order to produce good vintage. Similarly, God will permit you to be poured into situations that reveal your weaknesses so that you can work on them. And no matter how uncomfortable it is or how badly you want to escape, God won’t let you until your issues have been dealt with successfully. How will you know when that’s so? Because as you enter your next experience, you will leave them behind you. In the winemaking process, the wine doesn’t spend the same amount of time in each vessel. That’s because each vessel serves a different purpose. Only the winemaker knows the purpose of each vessel, and therefore determines the amount of time needed in it. If you’re being poured from one experience into another, read this: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).

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The Bible says: ‘Someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead”…when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately’ (vv. 49-55 NKJV). There is an important lesson here for you. To experience the resurrection power of Christ, you need the right people and the right environment. Just as oil and water won’t mix, neither will faith and doubt. Notice, Jesus took Peter, James, and John into the house with Him, and put all the others outside. Might some have been offended and criticised Him for this? Sure, but when you’re in a crisis, you need to surround yourself with people who can stand with you on God’s Word and believe Him for the answer. When Jairus heard that his daughter had died, he doubtless would have thought, ‘That’s it; nothing more can be done!’ But that’s not what Jesus thought. In the original Greek text, Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid; only believe, and keep believing and she will be made well.’ You need people who will keep believing God with you for the answer.

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When Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life, he fled to a cave. And that’s when God said to him: ‘“Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice…Elijah heard it’ (vv. 11-13 NKJV). God can speak to you anywhere, anytime, through anybody, in any situation. But He will often share His greatest insights when you’re alone with Him. In order to hear God’s ‘still small voice’, two things must happen: 1) You must have silence and solitude. This calls for shutting out everything else and focusing on God. Not everyone will understand or appreciate what you’re doing, but you must if you’re to hear from Him. 2) You must get close to Him. The average person now gets fifty to one hundred texts and emails every day. Think about that. As long as you’re willing to take the time to stop and listen to others but not to God, your problems will not be solved, and your situation won’t change. The songwriter, Everett W. Sugg, put it this way: ‘Shut in with God in a secret place, There in the Spirit beholding His face, Gaining more power to run in this race, Oh, I long to be shut in with God.’

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The Bible says: ‘Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated…shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”’ (vv. 16-19 NKJV). Hezekiah heard that the things he had inherited from his forefathers would be lost and his children would live in slavery to their enemies. But instead of being concerned and praying for God to intervene on their behalf, he said, ‘At least I will have security and comfort during my lifetime.’ Why did he say that? Was he callous and indifferent? Was he being selfish, thinking only of himself and not about the welfare of his children? Was he being fatalistic, thinking, ‘The prophet has declared it, and there is nothing I can do to change it?’ Earlier in this chapter when the prophet Isaiah told him, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live,’ he cried out to God to spare his life and was given an additional fifteen years of life (see vv. 1-6 NKJV). It seems he was more concerned about his own future than his children’s future. How about you? Are you praying for your children?

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Each time we offer our bodies as ‘living sacrifices’ to God, our stubborn nature will rebel. But with Christ in control we can break its grip. ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (NIV). We have the option: be conformed or transformed! Deciding ‘l will not conform to the world’ leads to a transformed lifestyle. Your old nature naturally conforms, enslaving you to worldly influences. J.B. Phillips's translation says: ‘Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould.' Conforming to the world's values, like sensuality, pride, control, etc., will rob you of the liberating power of Christ living in you, resulting in a recurring cycle of guilt, failure and discouragement. Choosing not to conform to this world is what opens the door to your transformation, unlike conformity, which is externally initiated, your walk with God will become an outer expression of an inner change. The tadpole's life is transformed into the frog's life, and the caterpillar's into the butterfly's. You become transformed from the inside out. How does it happen? ‘Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world' (1 John 4:4 KJV). Add to your decision not to conform, your commitment to ‘the renewing of your mind’, which in Greek text means you think God's thoughts instead of your old thoughts, then watch as a Holy Spirit-empowered transformation begins to take place in your daily life.

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What does it mean to give yourself fully to God? 1) It’s an act of worship. ‘Offer your bodies…this is your true and proper worship’ (v. 1 NIV). Worship isn’t just attending a church service, singing praises and saying prayers. ‘This people…honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me’ (Isaiah 29:13 NASB). It calls for surrendering your heart to God twenty-four hours of every day; whether you're alone or in a crowd, at work, enjoying recreation, spending family time, at school, on a date or just walking the dog. If your heart isn't moving you, your behaviour will only be an act of reluctant compliance rather than one of joyful commitment. Surrendering to God isn’t a part-time thing done for your own benefit; it's a full-time act of worship done for God’s benefit. 2) It’s a response to God’s generosity. ‘In view of God's mercy...offer your bodies’ (Romans 12:1 NIV). God doesn't say, ‘If you don't surrender, I will punish you.’ There's no arm twisting. You don't submit through clenched teeth because of fear; no, it's a response to a debt. Everything God asks is initiated by His giving. Your repentance is a response to His love. Your giving is a response to His blessing. Your obedience is a response to His promises. God's grace is never ‘a deal’, it's the ‘free gift’ of His love to the undeserving (see Romans 5:18). Therefore ‘in view of’ – as a rational response to – His mercy, ‘offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.’ It’s your ‘true and proper worship’, and it will be ‘pleasing to God’ (Romans 12:1 NIV).

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Transformation: 1) Requires personal sacrifice. It’s not easy, natural or automatic. It calls for becoming a ‘living sacrifice’. The problem with ‘living’ sacrifices is their tendency to keep escaping the altar, having to be led back repeatedly to be sacrificed again and again. Salvation is an instant, once-for-all experience, but there can be no instant, once-for-all ‘living sacrifice’. It’s a day-by-day, moment-by-moment recommitment which means bringing our stubborn nature back to the altar, surrendering it to God as often as necessary. Don't wait for your old nature to improve or to agree to die before concluding your sacrifice is truly genuine. And don't let it discourage you in your battle for victory; your old nature and your regenerated spirit are mutual enemies, ‘constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions’ (Galatians 5:17 NLT). Your job isn't to obliterate the flesh, but to crucify it each time it wants to take over, refusing to let it curtail or weaken your commitment to spiritual growth. 2) Is a two-sided issue. ‘Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God’ (Romans 12:1 NIV). That involves a resolute decision of mind and will, because our bodies don't surrender themselves. Until you deliberately choose to ‘offer your [body]...to God,’ your flesh will act unrestrained. ‘In the past you offered the parts of your body to be slaves to sin and evil…In the same way now you must give yourselves to be slaves of goodness. Then you will live only for God’ (Romans 6:19 NCV). When you surrender to your lower impulses, you reap sin. When you surrender to God, you reap His blessing.

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Chuck Swindoll said, ‘We like to imagine ourselves a race of rugged individuals – the Patrick Henrys, Davy Crocketts and Lone Rangers. The truth is, we hate to appear different lest we be ostracised, branded fanatics and rejected. So, we conform. You'll see it in the child eager to please; the adolescent aligning with peer pressure; the adult breaking their back to keep up with the Joneses.’ Just being different for its own sake is likely to be worthless, even counterproductive. What God wants from us is our willingness to be radically transformed. ‘Therefore, I urge you...to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (vv. 1-2 NIV). Here are two important observations to help you reach that goal. 1) Transformation belongs to believers. The unbeliever can't break the world's control over them without Christ, but believers are promised: ‘the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world’ (1 John 4:4 NLT). God's indwelling Spirit enables you to resist the world's pressure to conform you to its ways. 2) God’s appeal is urgent. ‘I urge you.’ Words like beg, plead, beseech are used in some translations because the appeal isn't secondary or optional. It’s vital, a divine imperative! God is seeking for surrendered vessels that are ready to be transformed for His use. Are you willing to say, ‘Yes, Lord, use me’?

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Paul writes: ‘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. And may you have the power to understand…how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete’ (vv. 16-19 NLT). In spite of our best intentions, we still sin. As a result, we feel bad about ourselves. And Satan uses our feelings of guilt and condemnation to make us doubt God’s love for us. But if God loved you enough to send His Son to die on your behalf while you were a full-blown sinner, you can be sure He won’t change His mind about you when you’re His redeemed but struggling child. Feeling bad about sin is actually proof that you truly are God’s child. When you were born again, you became a regenerate spirit living in an unregenerate body. So when you permit sin to enter your life, your regenerate spirit rises up and says, ‘Get that out of here, it’s incompatible with who I am.’ It’s not that God doesn’t love you when you sin, but that sin is an unwelcome guest that makes you feel bad about yourself and robs you of confidence towards God. So if you have sinned, repent, receive God’s forgiveness, and move forwards stronger and wiser.

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A ‘word’ from God can bring you the solution you need. God created the world with a word, so imagine what a word from Him could do for your situation. The Bible says, ‘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.’ Notice the words, ‘Your ears shall hear a word.’ But if your spiritual ears are not open, trained and attuned to God, you won’t hear what He is saying to you. Furthermore, if you filter what He’s saying to you through human intellect in order to harmonise it with your own opinions, you will get nowhere. God gives a ‘word’ to those who have an open ear – and heart. When you pray, what are you looking for? A spiritual high, or a time of intimacy with the Lord in which He speaks and you listen? When you read your Bible are you seeking confirmation of your own thoughts, or are you seeking God’s will? Imagine what one of God’s ideas could do for your life! ‘The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits’ (Daniel 11:32 NKJV). If you dream of doing great things in life, get to know God. He will reveal Himself to you through His Word. You’ll hear a lot of different ideas each day; some will benefit you, others won’t. But when you get a ‘word’ from God it’s like a seed; it has the potential to produce a tree; or better yet, a whole orchard of fruit.

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Well-intentioned friends sometimes say, ‘I know how you feel.’ But deep down we think, ‘No, you really don’t.’ But Jesus does! He was ‘tempted in all things as we are,’ so He can interpret and present our feelings to God. And He does. When you pray in Jesus’ name, pouring out your heart to God, Jesus acts as your lawyer and says, ‘Father, I know what this person is feeling. I know what it’s like to be under pressure to sin. I stand with this child of Yours who needs Your help.’ You say, ‘But Jesus was without sin, so can He really feel my sin the way I feel it?’ Yes He can. In fact, because of His purity He actually feels the pain of sin even more. Perhaps an illustration will help. In our everyday world we live with germs all around us, and even on us. Because we aren’t in a sterile environment we don’t notice these germs and we learn to live with them. But it’s an entirely different story in a hospital operating room. There, any contamination from germs is a real threat that demands the attention of the entire staff. So they sterilise everything because bacteria can kill the patient. The purity of the room demands close attention to the presence of even the slightest impurity that could lead to a life-threatening infection. So Jesus’ separateness from, and sensitivity to sin, actually increases His ability to sympathise with us. Bottom line: Jesus understands what you’re struggling with!

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When we have been hurt, our first instinct is to retaliate. We know it’s wrong because the Bible says we must forgive in order to be forgiven (see Mark 11:25). We also know that bitterness can hurt us physically and emotionally. But sometimes we can’t bring ourselves to forgive, so we keep wrestling with it in our mind. Stop and think what happens in a wrestling match. You focus on your opponent, clinging to them and trying to control them. Your aim is to put them on the mat and bring them into submission, and it requires all your energy. Plus, you risk getting hurt in the process. The only real power you have over someone who hurts you is the power of forgiveness. So for your own sake, forgive them and move on! Even though you don’t feel like forgiving, pray, ‘Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.’ In other words, ‘Lord, make me willing to forgive.’ The old saying, ‘To err is human, to forgive is divine,’ is the truth. Now, small offences can be forgiven quickly, but big ones require divine assistance. And you can have it: ‘God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him’ (Philippians 2:13 NLT). Yes, you may want your offender to suffer, but when your greatest desire is to please the Lord, He will give you the grace to forgive. When you realise the blessings God has in store for you in the future, you will refuse to spend another moment stuck in the past.

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When you knowingly sin, it puts your body under stress. There is actually no such thing as a ‘lie detector test’. The fact is, the test cannot determine if someone is lying. It simply measures how a person’s response to certain questions impacts their nervous system. God designed our system to glorify Him (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So when you sin, it negatively impacts your body. Even if you have never taken a polygraph test, you can agree that when you have lied, you probably experienced an increase in your heart rate. So when God tells you not to sin, He is not trying to steal your joy but preserve it. Sin robs you of three things: 1) Comfort. ‘“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord’ (Isaiah 48:22 NLT). When you knowingly violate your values, you become uneasy in your own skin. 2) Character. Your reputation is how others see you, but your character is what you see when you look at yourself in the mirror each day. Your thoughts determine your deeds, your deeds determine your habits, your habits determine your character, and your character determines your destiny. 3) Confidence. Nothing in life is more important than to be able to approach God with confidence. ‘If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him’ (1 John 3:21-22 NLT). So the next time Satan tempts you to sin, stop and do the maths. By looking at the bottom-line result, you will be able to make the right choice every time.

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When a multimillionaire was asked how much money it takes to be happy, he replied, ‘Just a little more.’ Now let’s assume you’re not like that, and you care about others. Why are you not more involved in meeting their needs? ‘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?…let us not love in word…but in deed’ (vv. 17-18 NKJV). That Scripture could be reduced to two words: Do something! In the parable of the Good Samaritan, two different ministers walked past a dying man on the Jericho road without stopping to help. Why? Wasn’t this a great opportunity to ‘practise what you preach’? How did they become so insensitive and uncaring? Did they think, ‘The problem is too big, there is nothing I can do about it?’ Were they so focused on their church’s agenda that they didn’t want to commit the time or the resources necessary to get this man back on his feet? Jesus said: ‘But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him’ (Luke 10:33-34 NKJV). Note the word ‘compassion’. The Good Samaritan was willing to get emotionally involved. You must too. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, once prayed, ‘Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.’ The word for today is – do something!

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The Bible says, ‘Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him…“up to seventy times seven”’ (vv. 21-22 NKJV). Seventy times seven equals 490 times. And it’s your ‘brother’, someone you have to live or work with, whom you’re called to forgive. In essence Jesus was saying, ‘Forgive, and keep on forgiving if you want to have a relationship with this person.’ Let’s face it, we all make mistakes because we’re flawed in different ways. Perfection only exists in God. Recall Jesus’ words: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34 KJV). Truer words have never been spoken, and very few concepts are more significant to remember in a relationship. While it’s perfectly normal to feel anger, and a natural human reaction to feel mistreated, there is a big difference between healthy anger and the corrosive emotion of bitterness. Bitterness is relational cancer. As Dr Maya Angelou said, ‘[Bitterness] feeds upon the host. It does nothing to the object of the displeasure.’ In this case, the ‘host’ is your relationship, and forgiveness is the medication and the cure. Jesus said, ‘As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise’ (Luke 6:31 KJV). Offering the degree of forgiveness you wish to receive ensures that your relationship stays healthy and free from the disease of bitterness. Is it sometimes hard to do? Yes, but if you pray, God will give you the grace to do it!

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Paul writes, ‘I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it’ (Galatians 1:13 NIV). Clearly, Paul had no thoughts of becoming a Christian. As a Jew, he was obsessed with the law. As an intellectual, he could debate the finest minds. Articulate and educated, he was committed to the tenets of his faith. Yet he hated Christians! He watched as Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned to death. And while he didn’t personally participate, he held the coats of those who did (see Acts 7:57-59). Paul never dreamed that one day he’d switch sides. But when God has a plan for your life, He will do whatever it takes to fulfil it. By the time He places the hook in your jaw, He’s already begun to work out His purpose for you. Even while Paul held the coats of Stephen’s executioners, God had plans to use him. Just as He had plans for you when you were out partying, doing your own thing, going from relationship to relationship, or thinking only of making money. None of that stopped God because, ‘Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.’ Had Paul known God planned to meet him that day on the Damascus Road, he might have taken a different route. But ‘He was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice’ (Acts 9:3-4 MSG). This proud Pharisee had an appointment with God that wasn’t in his diary, one that knocked him off his high horse. And to bring you into submission with His will, God will do whatever it takes. So be warned! God won’t permit your stubbornness to subvert His plans for your life!

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If Job had a weakness, it was his tongue. He talked excessively. Not that you could blame him. After being hit by calamity, there wasn’t a wall standing in his house or a loved one living. And his wife, empathetic soul that she was, told him to ‘curse God, and die’ (Job 2:9 KJV). Then his four friends with the bedside manner of drill sergeants told him he had probably brought all this trouble on himself. We’re thirty-seven chapters into the book of Job before God speaks a word. Chapter 38 begins, ‘Then the Lord answered Job’ (KJV). And after God got through speaking, Job said, ‘I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything, so I will put my hand over my mouth’ (40:4 NCV). Notice, before he heard from God, Job couldn’t talk enough. But after he heard from Him, he couldn’t talk at all. The only thing Job got right was: ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him’ (13:15 NKJV). Sometimes the best way to handle your problem is to trust and not talk. To submit and not speak. Job didn’t know it at the time, but God’s plan was to give him twice as much in the end as he had lost. And it happened when he stopped focusing on his own problems and started praying for his friends (see 42:10). So, be still. Be open and willing. God is still on the throne. He is in control of every detail of your life. Even in the worst of circumstances, He has your best interest at heart. ‘The Lord will vindicate me’ (Psalm 138:8 NIV). That’s all you need to know!

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Here is a time-tested and proven formula for obtaining wisdom: 1) Acknowledge that you need it. Benjamin Franklin correctly said, ‘The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of your own ignorance.’ 2) Go to the right source. ‘The Lord gives wisdom’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). He alone can give you true wisdom, because He alone has true wisdom. Indeed, His wisdom makes ours look like foolishness. Paul says, ‘The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom’ (1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV). Think about that. If God were capable of a stupid thought, which He is not, it would still be wiser than the wisest thought we could ever conceive. 3) Ask for it. God doesn’t hoard his wisdom; He is ready to give it away. Solomon says: ‘If you call out for insight…cry aloud for understanding…look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:3-6 NIV). James writes: ‘If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all’ (James 1:5-8 CEV). Today, pray for wisdom.

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Why does the Bible talk so much about Solomon’s wisdom? Because it’s not human wisdom raised to a supernatural height; it’s supernatural wisdom lowered to human understanding. Lest you think the water is too deep and wisdom is beyond you, listen to what Solomon, the wisest man in the world, said: ‘Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you’ (vv. 6-8 NIVUK). Along those lines Haddon Robinson observes: ‘Since 1955 knowledge has doubled every five years…High school graduates today have been exposed to more information about the world than Plato, Aristotle, Spinoza, or Benjamin Franklin. In terms of facts alone, neither Moses nor Paul could pass a college entrance exam today. Yet, by everyone’s standards, even with all our knowledge…society today is peopled with a bumper crop of brilliant failures…men and women…educated to earn a living often don’t know anything about handling life itself. Alumni from noted universities have mastered information about a narrow slice of life – but couldn’t make it out of the first grade when it comes to living successfully with family and friends. Let’s face it. Knowledge is not enough to meet life’s problems. We need wisdom, the ability to handle life with skill.’ Spurgeon once said, ‘There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool; but to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.’ Bottom line: the more information you’re exposed to, the more you need to pray for wisdom.

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When King Solomon asked God for wisdom instead of power, fame, or riches, God told him: ‘You could have asked me to make you rich or famous or to let you live a long time. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom and knowledge to rule my people. So I will make you wise and intelligent. But I will also make you richer and more famous than any king before or after you’ (2 Chronicles 1:11-12 CEV). Did God keep His promise? Well, consider this: what would you get if you crossed Mickey Mouse, an oil magnate, the leader of a superpower nation, and Socrates? The most famous, richest, most powerful, wisest person on the planet! That’s a fitting description of King Solomon in his time. He ruled the world’s greatest empire. His merchant ships plied the seas, bringing him back the treasures of the earth. He designed and built some of the world’s most important buildings, including the temple. He constructed reservoirs, parks, gardens, and vineyards. He mastered commerce, science, and literature. He became a poet laureate, a distinguished writer, and a gifted musician. He learned the incredible worth of wisdom, enjoyed all its benefits, and wrote: ‘Let instruction and knowledge mean more to you than silver or the finest gold. Wisdom is worth much more than precious jewels or anything else you desire’ (Proverbs 8:10-11 CEV). There are thirty-one chapters in the book of Proverbs – one for every day of the month – so here is a suggestion: why don’t you read a chapter a day for the next twelve months and become wise?

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When King Solomon ascended to the throne, God told him, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?’ (v. 7 NKJV). Imagine: Solomon was given carte blanche by the One in whose dictionary the word impossible doesn’t occur. But there was a catch! God was testing Solomon to find out what was in his heart. An arrogant person would have asked for fame. A worldly person would have asked for wealth. A self-seeking person would have asked for power. What did Solomon ask God for? ‘Now give me wisdom.’ So, God granted Solomon’s request and gave him something more gratifying than fame, more extravagant than wealth, and more thrilling than power. As it turned out, all the material blessings Solomon enjoyed were by-products of the gift of wisdom. An anonymous thinker wrote: ‘Tell me your dreams, and I will tell you the riddle of your life. Tell me your prayers, and I will write the history of your soul. Tell me your askings, and I will tell you your gettings. Tell me what you seek, and I will tell you what you are…I do not wish to know your possessions…only your wants. I do not care to know what you have, only what you have not and desire to have; not your attainments, but what you have not yet attained and follow after; that which comes to you in your victories by day and your dreams by night, the ideal you set before you, the things you approve as excellent, what you seek after and have given your heart to, these are the measure of a man.’ So, pray for wisdom.

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The Bible says, ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (v. 13 NKJV). Our minds are like a hotel. The manager cannot keep someone from entering the lobby, but he can keep them from getting a room. And it’s the same with temptation. When God redeemed you, you became a regenerate spirit living in an unregenerate body. And you were ‘sealed [by the Holy Spirit] unto the day of redemption’ (see Ephesians 4:30). When you seal an envelope, its contents are protected until it’s delivered to its destination. Getting the idea? Satan can’t prevail against your regenerate spirit, so he attacks you through your lower nature. Paul acknowledged this: ‘I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway’ (Romans 7:19 NLT). You will never be immune to temptation, but you can overcome it. Notice three things in this Scripture: 1) ‘God is faithful.’ Like a shepherd who never abandons his sheep, when you go astray, He will bring you back to the fold. 2) ‘Will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.’ Like a good coach training you, God will permit the weight of your temptations to strengthen you but not break or destroy you. 3) ‘With the temptation will also make the way of escape.’ If you choose your own way, you will go down in defeat. God’s ‘way of escape’ is through prayer, His Word, Christian fellowship, and Spirit-filled living. That’s how to overcome temptation.

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If you’re married, think back to when you first met your husband or wife and fell in love. You thought about them day and night. You couldn’t wait to be together; you hung on every word they spoke. The relationship was stimulating and exciting because you engaged each other’s minds, excited each other’s emotions, and ignited each other’s imagination on a wide range of life’s topics. But numerous marriages don’t survive because they die of boredom. One partner gets involved in an affair, or the other becomes addicted to porn or some other deviant behaviour because they’re bored in the relationship. That’s not an excuse for wrongdoing, but boredom functions like low-grade poison; it takes an unavoidable toll on each of you. The secret to a good marriage lies in finding ways to keep improving yourself, then bringing that to the table of your relationship. Learn something new about your spouse’s work, and care about the details of their day. Have a shared dream you’re working towards and talk about it. When you’re engaged in another person’s life, you fortify their desire to share more about their day and themselves. And here is something else to keep in mind: it’s important for you to have a life outside of the person you’re interested in. Partners who want to grow together realise they must encourage each other to nurture friendships, hobbies, and interests independently. Exciting people excite each other! They understand how to develop their own lives without disregarding the shared life they have together. That’s what the Bible means when it says, ‘Always be enraptured with her [or his] love.’

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When the Bible speaks of integrity, it means having a good character. And good character sets boundaries. It may not always determine what you will do, but it always determines what you won’t do. Character lets you realise how much you’re willing to pay to get what you want. When someone in a relationship has no character, they’re dangerous. The writer of Proverbs says, ‘The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.’ Character doesn’t have to be in the spotlight, excessively running the show. And it doesn’t resort to intimidation or shaming to get its own way. The person who thinks he or she can get what they want by lying, cheating, or manipulating is sadly mistaken. Understand this: no matter where you go, the real you will eventually show up! And if you don’t work on your character, you won’t be able to build healthy relationships. Genuine relationships require integrity; someone who shows consistent character in all circumstances; someone who plays by the rules and can be relied upon; someone who offers credit where credit is due; someone who lives by faith; someone who trusts God to enable them to accomplish all that he or she was created and called to do. The Bible tells us the wicked may prosper for a season, but they will not endure. And ultimately, they will most certainly not triumph (see Proverbs 11:21). The psalmist says, ‘The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them’ (Proverbs 11:3 NKJV). So, the word for today is – work on your character.

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Do you remember the first time death forced you to say the final goodbye to a loved one? At the funeral you heard words like departed, passed on, gone ahead. These were unfamiliar terms. You wondered, ‘Departed to where? Passed on to what? Gone ahead for how long?’ When someone dies after a full life, you can accept that. But what if they die as a result of violence? Or after a long battle with illness? Now your dreams are buried as they lower the coffin into the ground. Paul writes: ‘I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him all the Christians who have died’ (vv.13-14 TLB). Those words turn our hopeless sorrow into hope-filled sorrow. How? By assuring us that we will see our loved ones again. Isn’t that what we desire to believe? We long to know our loved ones are safe in death. We yearn for the reassurance that the soul goes instantly to be with God. But do we dare to believe it? According to the Scriptures, yes! At death a Christian immediately enters the presence of God and delights in conscious fellowship with the Father and with others who have gone before. These words on a believer’s gravestone say it all: ‘The parting is for a moment, but the meeting will be for eternity.’

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In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Understand this: Satan is always trying to lead you into temptation, whereas the Holy Spirit who lives within you is always trying to deliver you from temptation. It is informative that while the devil is named the tempter, he is also named the accuser. ‘For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down’ (Revelation 12:10 NIV). There is no such thing as fair play with the devil. As soon as he gets you to give in to temptation, he will switch hats and try to convince you that because you have yielded to it, you’re beyond God’s grace and redemption. But Satan is a liar, and there is no truth in him. It’s only when you deny your sin and reject God’s mercy that you’re beyond redemption. The Bible says: ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:8-9 NIV). Some people are delivered from temptation instantly; others battle it for a long time before finding deliverance and victory. It’s never a matter of God’s unwillingness to extend grace to us but of our inability to receive it. So whether you come the easy way or the hard way, as long as your desire is to come to God, ‘He will also provide a way out’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).

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Ever notice when you’re hungry, everything on the menu looks good? Similarly, when your soul is dissatisfied, sin looks tempting. That’s why you must always be spiritually self-aware and monitor your level of soul satisfaction. On the dashboard of your car are lights that tell you how hot the engine is running or when you’re about to run out of oil. They’re sometimes referred to as ‘idiot lights’, because only an idiot would ignore them. The main light on the dashboard of your heart is your ‘soul-satisfaction’ light. That’s why in the Bible there are so many Scriptures that call us to joy: ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength.’ ‘You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand’ (Psalm 16:11 NIV). ‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation’ (Isaiah 12:3 NIV). ‘Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete’ (John 16:24 NIV). So, why do otherwise intelligent people keep getting snared? Because when we’re dissatisfied with our lives, we’re vulnerable to temptation. And the deeper our level of discontent, the more susceptible we are. We were made for soul satisfaction; we can’t live without it. And if we don’t find it in our relationship with God, we will look for it in all the wrong places. Paul says, ‘The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 14:17 NIV). Note the words ‘joy in the Holy Spirit’. The secret to joy lies in Spirit-directed living – it always has, and it always will.

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Jesus said, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers’ (Luke 10:30 NIV). Jerusalem represented the place of God’s favour, whereas Jericho was cursed by Joshua when God levelled its walls (see Joshua 6:26). The road connecting the two cities was teeming with robbers, so was this man’s intention to travel part of the way, then get off? The Bible doesn’t say, but one thing we do know is God goes to great lengths to keep us from going down the road to temptation and getting hurt. And even with all His safeguards in place, we still manage to get into trouble. First, you stop listening to the promptings of His Spirit. Second, you’re unwilling to pray about certain desires with a submitted heart. Third, you’re not interested in talking to a trusted friend who will hold you accountable. Fourth, you don’t want to know what the Bible says about the matter. You have unilaterally decided to quench the Spirit so you can indulge your fleshly impulses. Remember, there is always free food on the end of a fishhook, but while temptation promises freedom, it ends up costing you. David’s affair wrecked his family. Real freedom isn’t about having the liberty to gratify your every appetite; it’s about refusing to become a slave to unhealthy desires. The battle against temptation is noble, but if all you do is struggle to repress your desires, eventually they will wear you down. You need to maintain a clear mental image of the kind of person God wants you to be and cooperate with His Spirit to become that person.

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Imagine having to offer your child on an altar as a sacrifice to God. And God doesn’t tell you why! Here is what Abraham said to the two young men who accompanied him on the most difficult journey of his life: ‘Stay here…the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back [both of us!].’ Abraham’s commitment to God was unwavering: ‘I will worship my way through this and come back stronger!’ Worry and worship are total opposites. And we will be much happier when we learn to become worshippers instead of worriers. Worry causes an opening for the Enemy to torment us, but worship guides us into God’s presence where we unfailingly find peace, joy, and hope. We were created to worship God (see Revelation 4:11). When nothing else works, worship does because it places our entire focus on Him. God is good even while our circumstances aren’t. So, stop worrying; give your concerns to God, and live in His grace. Grace isn’t just divine favour; it’s power and divine enablement! Don’t squander another day of your life worrying. Determine what your role is and what it isn’t. Don’t attempt to take on God’s responsibility. When you do what you can do, God steps in and does what you can’t do. Present yourself and your worries to God, worship Him, and start enjoying the abundant life He provides for you. The moment you recognise you are worrying, disrupt your wrong thought patterns by saying, ‘I will not worry. I will worship you, Lord. You are good, and I completely trust You.’

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Paul writes: ‘Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]’ (v. 8 AMPC). If you are serious about wanting a better life, you must change the way you think. The best way to stop thinking about something is simply to think about something else. When you don’t enjoy a certain TV programme, what do you do? Switch channels! Does the channel you don’t like no longer exist? No, it’s there anytime you choose to switch back to it. Likewise, when you find yourself stuck in a repeated thought pattern that’s detrimental to you – one that plays like a broken record in your mind – take action. Refuse to loan your mind to the devil for his scheme. The only place a thought can live is in your mind. The only power a thought has over you is the power you give it. God says, ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life’ (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). God gives you the options, but He won’t exercise them for you. Choosing the right thought is like flipping a light switch; it dispels darkness and illuminates the room. Your most dominant thoughts will control your life, so make sure they line up with God’s Word. Today ‘fix’ your mind and change your life.

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To have a disciplined life, you must have a disciplined mind. Jesus said Satan’s threefold purpose is to ‘steal, and to kill, and to destroy’ (John 10:10 KJV). And you forget it at your own peril! In your own strength, you’re no match for Satan, but God will give you strength to overcome His strategies and exercise self-control. And the Bible tells us how: ‘Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.’ Note the words ‘set your minds and keep them set’. Many cars come with cruise control. When you reach the speed limit, you simply ‘set’ the car’s computer by pushing a lever or hitting a button and the car maintains that speed. It won’t go above it or drop beneath it. Similarly, when your mind is programmed with God’s Word, you ‘set’ your thoughts and desires on that which pleases God rather than that which satisfies the cravings of your lower nature. Self-discipline is the price of freedom. When you’re controlled by your impulses, you’re not free, you’re a slave. Even legitimate things can enslave you. The saying goes, ‘Too much of a good thing quickly becomes a bad thing!’ Paul writes: ‘Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things)…I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power’ (1 Corinthians 6:12 AMPC). So, the secret of self-control is to program your mind with God’s Word.

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Benjamin Franklin’s formula for a happy marriage was this: ‘Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.’ One of the reasons marriages end in divorce is because we see only what we want to see. And if we saw obvious faults that could destroy the relationship, we allowed our heart to overrule our head and thought, ‘He or she will change after I marry them.’ What you turn a blind eye to today, you forfeit the right to complain about tomorrow. So if you’re wise, you will do these two things before you make the decision to marry someone: 1) Discuss openly what you will and will not accept in your relationship. These things are called ‘deal breakers’. Things like abuse, infidelity, alcohol and drug abuse, anger and moodiness, and buying stuff you can’t afford. If you think breaking up with someone now is painful, wait until you’re married with children, and mortgages and families are involved! The Bible says, ‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?’ 2) If there are no deal-breaking concerns, but you basically fear the unknown, use your faith in God to bridge the gap between your doubts and the peace you wish for. Don’t invent reasons not to commit. Stop nit-picking every flaw in the other person. The Bible says, ‘His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor…Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV). Pray together and give the ‘Wonderful, Counsellor’ a chance to guide you in your relationship choice. God instituted marriage; when you do it His way, you can enter the highest halls of human happiness.

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For a relationship to succeed, both parties must be totally committed to it. Today let’s look at some more of the reasons why we may be afraid to commit. 1) Consider whether you have real feelings for your partner or whether you are biding your time until somebody better comes along. In other words, be honest with yourself because your happiness depends on it. 2) Talk about your specific fears with your partner. One writer offers these: ‘I’m afraid you will try to change me’; ‘I’ll feel emasculated if you don’t submit to me’; ‘If the marriage fails, you may take my money and leave me impoverished’; ‘You may restrict too much of my time with the boys’; ‘You may require too much of my attention.’ You must honestly share your feelings and request feedback to your concerns. 3) Try a thirty-day interval of ‘no contact’ with your romantic interest and find out how life would feel without him or her. Some non-committed relationships are merely for convenience, so assess your feelings apart from the inconvenience you will endure. Convenience is a weak foundation for a marriage. 4) Re-examine your expectations. Don’t expect your partner to fulfil every facet of your life. For example, if you have a need for high adventure that’s manifested in bungee jumping, find friends to enjoy it with, and be happy that your partner is faithful, loving, and laughs a lot. And one more thought: there is an emptiness within each of us that only God can fill. And when He does, we require less from our partner and learn how to become a better partner.

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The word commit means ‘to bind, or obligate, or pledge’. And for some of us, it evokes pictures of servitude, restraints, and the loss of our freedom. In other words, it frightens us. Many people place a high value their independence and self-sufficiency, and as a result, some of them can also become more reluctant to commit to a relationship that requires compromise and consideration of another person's views (see Philippians 2:3-4). It may lead to a desire to keep the relationship fluid and flexible, so they can stay or leave whenever they want.The partner desiring the commitment finds such a relationship frustrating and unfulfilling. So, what should you do if you’re reluctant to commit to the relationship? Two things: 1) Be honest with yourself about your fears, feelings, and motivations. David said, ‘You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom’ (Psalm 51:6 NKJV). Notice, wisdom comes from being honest about what is going on inside you. What are your memories of your parents’ marriage and how it affected you? Have you observed similar patterns of behaviour on your own part or that of your potential mate when it comes to dealing with relationships? 2) Admit the role you may have played, even as an enabler of poor behaviour, in the collapse of a former relationship. Have you changed now? Are you willing to? If so, then here is God’s promise to you of a better future: ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV).

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One of the greatest Scriptures on commitment in the Bible are the words of Ruth to Naomi: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.’ Why are we afraid to commit to a relationship? 1) Fear of losing control: ‘Why forgo my independence?’ 2) Fear of lack: ‘What if he or she ruins my finances?’ 3) Fear of inadequacy: ‘What if I can’t meet his or her expectations?’ 4) Fear of loneliness: ‘What if he or she deserts me?’ 5) Fear of pain: ‘I’ve been hurt before, and I don’t want to be hurt again.’ So, what do you do? Today the answer has become a ‘common law marriage’, but this isn't God's way. Living together without marriage is like renting a room versus buying a house. If a repair is necessary for the rented room, the renter is apt to abandon the room for another. If a repair is necessary for their home, the owners (who should have put much consideration and prayer into the decision to purchase) make the required commitment to protect their investment. A study on cohabitation found that nearly 19 per cent of couples who lived together before their engagement had suggested divorce during their marriage. In couples who did not live together first, the figure was just over 10 per cent.Contrary to what you may think, those who play around and move from relationship to relationship don’t experience lasting happiness. Whereas, those who commit themselves to God and to one another experience true and lasting happiness.

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The Bible says, ‘Peter remembered the word of the Lord…“Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly’ (vv. 61-62 NKJV). What is it that saves us? Our good works? No, it’s our faith in Christ. ‘By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast’ (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). Now you understand the words of Christ to Peter: ‘I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail’ (Luke 22:32 NKJV). When you have faith in Christ, you can bounce back. When it comes to God’s grace, there is no statute of limitations. Peter denied Jesus not once but repeatedly. Perhaps that’s your story too! This wasn’t a moment that Peter would be proud of but an experience he would grow stronger as a result of. When someone fails badly, we say that they ‘crash and burn’. And when something is burned, all that’s left is ashes. But we serve a God of restoration who gives ‘beauty for ashes’ (see Isaiah 61:3). If you had seen Peter swearing that he didn’t know the Lord, would you have picked him to be your church leader? God did. He made him the head of the New Testament church. We tell people, ‘Don’t get into messes’ and ‘Don’t sin’. And that’s good advice – God doesn’t want us sinning. But we should really say, ‘Don’t walk headfirst into sin when you know better. But when you fail, as you surely will, turn to God and He will restore you and use your failure to strengthen you.’

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Jesus knew Peter would deny Him, yet He called him to be His disciple, saying: ‘Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren’ (vv. 31-32). The mistakes you make and the messes you create usually don’t happen by accident but by choice. Yet they don’t put you beyond the reach of God’s grace. The secret of victory is to let God use your mistakes to develop you rather than let Satan use them to destroy you. Note the words ‘Satan hath desired to have you’. Satan wants to take back what he lost – you. When you doubt, he has the power to bring you down; you’re setting yourself up to fail. Have you ever seen wheat going through a threshing process? It’s not a pretty sight. And when it happens in your life, it doesn’t feel good. So the question is, if Peter, one of Christ’s handpicked disciples, could fail, how much more likely is it to happen to you? And when it does, what do you suppose the Lord wants to accomplish through it? Today your life may be a mess, but if you turn to God, He can make something beautiful out of it. And one more thought: Jesus told Peter, ‘I have prayed for thee.’ Today, Jesus is praying for you. ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous’ (1 John 2:1 KJV). So, if you have fallen, Jesus will lift you up and restore you.

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By the year 2030, one in five of us will be seventy years of age or older. That’s about 20 per cent of the world’s population. Millions of us will live to be a hundred or more. When asked at his birthday party how he felt about turning eighty, President Dwight D. Eisenhower replied, ‘It sure does beat the alternative!’ Anita Bogan died in 2007 at the ripe old age of 106. Her obituary in the Los Angeles Times read: ‘Blessed with good health and a sound mind, Bogan spent most of her old age doing what she wanted to do, with a feisty, what’s-age-got-to-do-with-it attitude. In the decades following her 80th year, she created a non-profit foundation to build senior housing…opened a floral shop, played golf daily…took cruises to celebrate her…birthdays…and inspired people. On Bogan’s 100th birthday, the Kern County Board of Supervisors declared an “Anita Bogan Day”.’ By her attitude towards life, Anita changed the way people around her viewed ageing. And the Bible doesn’t just promise long life, it promises quality life. ‘My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity’ (vv. 1-2 NIV). ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life’ (Proverbs 9:10-11 NIV). The secret of enjoying the ageing process is to build a close relationship with God and live according to His principles.

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Does the thought of ageing make you anxious? If so, it’s time to re-examine your value system. With God, the contents are more important than the package. And in order to make peace with your wrinkles, you must come into agreement with Him. Ultimately, it’s not the number of days in your life that count but the quality of life in your days. Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine. Note what the host of the wedding reception said: ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first…but you have saved the best till now’ (John 2:10 NIV). And that can be the story of your life too. You don’t have to suffer from gerascophobia, the fear of ageing. Keep fighting, keep growing, keep moving forwards. Listen to the words of Caleb: ‘For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God…Moses solemnly promised me, “The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever”…Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise – even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me…So Joshua blessed Caleb…and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land’ (Joshua 14:8-13 NLT). That’s called ‘growing older with grace’.

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The Bible says: ‘They provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power’ (vv. 40-42 NKJV). The Israelites continually provoked God’s anger and grieved His heart in the wilderness. How? By limiting Him. By limiting what He could do for them and through them. And we do the same when we fail to recognise and use the gifts He gives us and the creative ideas He places within our minds. God wants you to break out of the ‘box’ of your own history, hang-ups, and personal limitations. One of the ways in which you do that is by constantly exposing yourself to new ideas, new places, and new people. God’s Word says: ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left’ (Isaiah 54:2-3 NKJV). Note the words ‘enlarge’ and ‘stretch out’ and ‘lengthen’ and ‘strengthen’ and ‘expand’. Creativity is just teachability. So, are you teachable? The words on a tombstone read: ‘Died at forty, was buried at eighty.’ Unless you keep learning, growing, and expanding your thinking, that can be your fate too. You say, ‘But I’m not naturally creative.’ Creativity is not necessarily something you’re born with; it comes from developing your God-given gifts and seizing the opportunities He sends your way in life. Do you want to break out of the box? That’s how you do it!

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Today there is a tendency on the part of some parents to try and make their children grow up too quickly. They rush them through the milestones of childhood and thrust them into the turmoil of adolescence. This is the conclusion of developmental psychologist Dr David Elkind, who called this cultural phenomenon the ‘Hurried Child Syndrome’. It happens when parents encourage their children to act like teenagers, such as buying make-up for pre-school girls, allowing early-teenage dating, treating kids more like grown-ups, expecting them to make adult-level choices, dressing them in designer clothes, and especially, subjecting them to graphic sexuality in television, music videos, movies, and the internet. Years ago, parents understood the necessity of a safe and orderly progression through childhood. There were cultural markers that defined the ages at which specific behaviours and activities were deemed appropriate or inappropriate. Today these markers have vanished, or they have been moved downwards. And it can be a big mistake. When you treat your children as if they’re already grown, it becomes very challenging to set limits on their adolescent behaviour in the near future. How can you establish a curfew for a thirteen-year-old, for example, who has been taught to view himself or herself as an adult? In short, the ‘Hurried Child Syndrome’ deprives our kids of childhood and puts them on an unnatural timetable that’s detrimental to their mental and physical health. If you’re wise, you will heed the advice of Jacob to his brother Esau: ‘I will lead on slowly, at the pace of…the children.’

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Do you remember the old TV series The Six Million Dollar Man? He was built and equipped with nuclear-powered bionic limbs and implants. Well, he has nothing on you! You’re unique…one of a kind…a genuine marvel of God’s creative genius. For example, your tongue; four hundred little taste buds, each one capable of discerning the difference between asparagus and lemon meringue pie. And how about your intestinal system? Twenty million little mouths capable of digesting almost anything. Then, there is your cooling system. Frigidaire has nothing like it; three hundred and fifty thousand sweat glands per square inch. And how about your sensory system? A network of ten million nerves, the branches of which send and interpret messages and also formulate a response for each. You’re one in seven billion! Nobody else has your voice pattern, fingerprints, or DNA. When you were born, God didn’t stop and say, ‘What are we going to do with this one?’ No, you were given your father’s name (see Isaiah 43:1). You were bought with a price (see 1 Corinthians 6:20). You were made a member of His redeemed family (see 1 John 3:2). Your steps are ordered by him (see Psalm 37:23). He has already planned your success (see Jeremiah 29:11). He loved you when you were unlovable and chose you before you could do either right or wrong. Doesn’t that give Him the right to say, ‘I want your praise and obedience, I want you to spend time with Me, I want you to read the letters I’ve written to you, and I don’t want anybody or anything to come between us’? The word for today is – you belong to God!

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How can you be sure the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore worthy of your trust? By prophecy fulfilled! No other religion has specific, repeated, and unfailing fulfilment of predictions made many years in advance of events over which the predictor had no control. Finite human beings know the future only if it’s told to them by an infinite being. And God provided this evidence for us so we would know that the Scriptures have a divine author: ‘For I am God…Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done’ (vv. 9-10 NKJV). The Bible’s sixty-six books, written between 1400 BC and AD 90, contain approximately 3,856 verses concerned with prophecy. And here is the best part! Over 25 per cent of the entire Bible contains specific predictive prophecies that have already been fulfilled – literally. Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.’ You ask, ‘Then how come some people don’t believe the Bible?’ Because they haven’t opened their hearts to God! Paul writes: ‘No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned’ (1 Corinthians 2:11-14 NKJV).

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Have you seen the bumper sticker that reads, ‘People who think they know it all are especially annoying to those of us who do?’ You will find know-it-alls everywhere. Older people afraid of uselessness struggle to prove they still have some superior amount of knowledge. Religious people use their convictions like a club to beat others over the head. The Bible says, ‘Earnestly contend for the faith’ (Jude v. 3 KJV). But there is a difference between contending and being contentious. Paul writes: ‘Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful’ (2 Timothy 2:23-24 NIV). Note these four phrases: 1) ‘Must not be quarrelsome.’ Don’t argue, just plant the seeds of God’s Word and trust the Holy Spirit to work in people’s hearts. 2) ‘Be kind to everyone.’ There is no need to be hostile, demeaning, or disagreeable with someone who doesn’t share your viewpoint. What’s driving you towards such unkindness? Must you prove people mistaken to validate your self-worth? 3) ‘Able to teach.’ Instead of trying to force your opinions on someone, simply say, ‘Here is what I have discovered in God’s Word, and here is the difference it has made in my life.’ Your experience is never at the mercy of someone else’s argument. 4) ‘Not resentful.’ Only when your own hurts have been healed can God use you to heal the hurts of others. So, pray: ‘Father, make me an instrument of peace so that people will be open to the truths you reveal to them through me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

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One of the first signs of trouble in a marriage is taking each other for granted. And it happens subtly, like a weed growing up and choking a rose. Dr James Dobson writes: ‘One of the best ways to keep a marriage healthy is to maintain a system of mutual accountability within the context of love. This is done by protecting what I call the “line of respect”…Let me illustrate. Suppose I work in my office two hours longer than usual…knowing that my wife, Shirley, is at home preparing a special candlelight dinner. If I don’t call to let her know I’ll be late, you can bet that I’m going to hear about it when I get home. Shirley would see my behaviour as insulting – and she’d be right. So she’d say, in effect, “Jim, what you did was selfish, and I can’t let it pass.” In those few words, and probably a few more, she would have spoken her mind in love and held me accountable for my disrespect. Then we would move on together. In a healthy marriage, some things are worth defending, and mutual respect is at the top of the list. This doesn’t mean you should nag, insult, publicly embarrass your mate, or point out insignificant indiscretions that should be overlooked. But a workable system of “checks and balances” can keep your marriage on course when issues of respect are at stake. This kind of mutual accountability is the best way I know to avoid an unexpected explosion when stored resentment and anger reach a critical mass.’ So: ‘Love one another…giving precedence and showing honour to one another.’

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When your child begins to toddle and talk, plant God’s Word deep in their heart. That doesn’t guarantee they won’t go astray. Many of us got it wrong before we finally got it right. Just make sure they know where ‘the right path’ is. Picture a salmon being spawned in the River Severn, then as it matures, it swims downstream and begins its long migration to the North Atlantic. The salmon swims for thousands of miles. Then, as if by command, it begins the long journey back to its place of spawning. And it not only locates the spot where it entered the ocean, but the estuary, the river, and the exact inlet from which it had been released. In one documented story, a salmon worked its way up through a drain and pushed through a hefty, screened lid atop a three-foot vertical pipe, and ended up in the same tank where it was hatched. Unique markings on its fin confirmed this. ‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.’ That Scripture means, give your children a taste of the things of God when they’re young, and when they grow older, the world won’t satisfy their taste and they will return to their spiritual roots. Faithfully do your part, and trust God to do His. Your part now is to instruct, love, and pray for them. God’s part is to draw them back. And He will, for He loves them even more than you do!

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Do you have an ‘I-O-YOU’ attitude or a ‘U-O-ME’ attitude? What gives us an attitude of entitlement? It’s found in the middle of the word entitlement itself: ‘title’. We assume people owe us because of the title we hold in their lives: wife, husband, mother, brother, daughter, friend, pastor, donor, employee, boss, etc. We think of our title as a title deed that gives us the right to whatever advantage we expect. Paul described the essence of discipleship in these words: ‘By love serve one another.’ If you have an attitude of entitlement, here are some strategies to help you overcome it: 1) Understand the difference between your ‘rights’ and your ‘desires’. You have the right to expect your husband or wife to be faithful to you, but you don’t have the right to expect them to wait on you hand and foot. ‘For God so loved…that he gave’ (John 3:16 KJV). True love is marked by giving, not taking. 2) Live by the Golden Rule (see Matthew 7:12). Jesus said that whatever you want others to do for you, take the initiative and begin doing it for them. You say, ‘But what if they don’t return the favour?’ God will reward you anyway! ‘He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do’ (Hebrews 6:10 NLT). 3) Never assume that a person’s past kindness creates an ongoing obligation to you. God may use others to bless you, but He alone must always be the source you trust to meet your needs (see James 1:17).

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The Bible says, ‘There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches’ (v. 7 NKJV). It’s a blessing to have the things money can buy, as long as you don’t lose sight of the things it can’t buy. Money can buy whatever is for sale. But the greatest things in life, like your health and your relationships, can’t be bought because they’re not for sale. You could sum up much of what the Bible has to say about money with these three bottom-line statements: 1) What you are is more crucial than what you have. ‘Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich’ (Proverbs 28:6 NKJV). 2) What God sees in you is more crucial than what you have. ‘Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble’ (Proverbs 15:16 NKJV). 3) What others think of you is more crucial than what you have. ‘A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favour rather than silver and gold’ (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV). Don’t worry about ‘keeping up with the Joneses’. The Joneses might be one step from bankruptcy or the divorce court. Furthermore, if you did catch up with the Joneses, they would just refinance. The truth is, you will never be happy with what you have until you learn to be happy with what others have – that you don’t have. The Bible tells us covetousness is a sin. And covetousness is simply failing to enjoy what God has given you!

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Bulldozers are good at demolishing things, but they’re useless at building things. With that picture in mind, ask yourself, ‘Do I use the force of my personality and the power of my position to impose my will on people and get them to do things my way?’ If your answer is yes, then understand this: those who are the most controlling are often the most afraid of being controlled! Question: what do you fear would happen if you treated others with respect and considered their input, ideas, and choices? Is fear and intimidation the only way you can imagine of holding on to relationships? Wouldn’t you rather earn the love of others by being considerate rather than cruel, or are you willing to settle for fearful submission? If you need to, talk to a friend or counsellor and try to get to the root of the deeper issues that are driving your behaviour. Over the next week, try not to criticise or rob anyone of his or her right to choose. Remember that even God gives people the power of choice. And you’re not God. Keep this challenge going for two more weeks or for as long as it takes to get your controlling attitude under control. Paul was prolific enough to write the epistles and powerful enough to raise the dead, yet he said, ‘We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children’ (v. 7 NKJV). When people made mistakes, Paul said, ‘Restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NKJV). So, the word for today is – try to be more gentle.

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Andrew Murray wrote, ‘There is a direct connection between the degree to which you succeed in life and the time you spend meditating on God’s Word.’ God told Joshua, ‘Meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will…have good success’ (Joshua 1:8 NKJV). We live in the age of ADD. We once believed that if we had more material things, we would feel happier. But it doesn’t work. The more things we acquire, the more we have to protect, insure, maintain, stress out over, and keep up with. Jesus said, ‘One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses’ (Luke 12:15 NKJV). So, what’s the answer? ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength’ (Isaiah 30:15 NKJV). In Pathways to Power, Merrill F. Unger writes: ‘This holy exercise of pondering over the Word, chewing it as an animal chews its cud to get its sweetness and nutritive virtue…takes time, which ill fits into the speed of our modern age. Today most Christians’ devotions are too hurried, their lives too rushed.’ The psalmist David said: ‘I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me’ (Psalm 63:6-8 NKJV). Slow down. Take time to meditate on God’s Word. Your survival, strength, and success depend on it.

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Do you feel like there isn’t enough of you to go around? Like you’re on the cliff’s edge and about to go over? Perhaps because you’re doing much more than God intended you to do. You see, when God reveals His purpose for your life, He also gives you His power to carry it out. Usually it’s simple and remarkably sane. One of the surest ways to know you are walking in God’s will is that you will feel led, not driven. Are you resting less and working more? Are you praying and reading your Bible less and worrying more? Maybe, like Moses, you’re dashing from one appointment to another: eating on the run, meeting deadlines, and trying to solve everybody’s problems while your own pile up. Others may have been impressed, but Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, wasn’t. ‘What is this thing…you are doing…?’ he asked (v. 14 NASB). Not surprisingly, Moses became defensive. Too-busy people usually are. He attempted to justify his schedule, but Jethro didn’t buy it. Instead, he told Moses, ‘The thing…you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out.’ And what did he tell Moses to do? Shift gears and start sharing the load! (See vv. 22-23.) Then he bottom-lined it: ‘That will make your load lighter…you will be able to stand the strain’ (vv. 22-23 NIV). Since when did stress become a sign of spirituality, or a seventy-hour work-week the mark of efficiency? Be honest: are you too stubborn to slow down, too insecure to say no, or too proud to ask for help? If so, talk to God about it.

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The time to be careful is after you have reached your goals and you’re celebrating your victories. There are three crucial points in every battle, and believe it or not, the easiest one is sometimes the fight itself. The most difficult point is the period of indecision right before the conflict – whether to stand and fight or run away – the battle between faith and fear. But by far the most dangerous period is the aftermath. With your resources spent and your guard down, you need to watch for things like overconfidence, dulled reactions, and faulty judgment. Remember King David’s story? ‘In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle…David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened…he saw a woman bathing…Then David sent messengers, and took her’ (2 Samuel 11:1-2, 4 NKJV). Pay particular attention to the phrase, ‘Then it happened.’ David chose to stay home rather than go to battle. Who knows why? Maybe his impressive record of successes made him soft, or he got careless, or arrogant? It was only a brief affair, but it changed everything. His peace vanished, his character was ruined, and his family life destroyed. Don’t fall prey to the perils of past victories! Remember your H.A.L.T. sign. When you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, you’re in a vulnerable place and need to be extra careful. Resting on your laurels is synonymous with flirting with disaster. Trouble awaits the man or woman who dwells in the comfortable land of accomplished dreams. So, the word for today is – ‘If you think you’re standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!’

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In Scripture you will notice that God usually called busy people. Moses the shepherd was busy tending his flock. Gideon the farmer was busy harvesting his crop. Peter and John the fishermen were busy mending their nets. But there was something inside each of them that responded to God’s call. With God, availability matters more than ability. Imagine for a moment a farm worker named Saul out looking for his father’s lost mules, and returning home anointed to be Israel’s first king (see 1 Samuel 9-10). There is no telling what God will do with you! So, be faithful and nurture the dream He put in your heart, and when the time is right, He will set everything in place. The psalmist said, ‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart’ (Psalm 37:4 NIV). Don’t be impatient. If God put the desire into your heart, He will provide everything needed to bring it to pass. Jesus said, ‘Human effort accomplishes nothing…the…words I have spoken to you are spirit and life’ (John 6:63 NLT). So, water your vision with God’s Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. And if anyone tries to come between you and what God has called you to do, tell them, ‘Sorry, I have to go. I’m already spoken for. My destiny is too important to miss.’ Don’t waste another day struggling with God’s call on your life; just surrender to Him! He didn’t call you because of your great track record, great intellect, or great gift. The Bible says, ‘Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound’ (Romans 5:20 KJV). You’re ‘called…by his marvellous grace’.

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Are you having difficulty understanding God’s ways? We all struggle with that. Even though we can look back and see how His hand of blessing and guidance has been upon us, at times we still feel afraid and alone. Jesus Himself cried, ‘My God…why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46 KJV). Those words could be interpreted, ‘I may not understand what’s happening right now, but I know you’re still my God.’ What assurance! Have you ever watched a child reach for a parent’s hand and say, ‘Slow down; you’re walking too fast’? The child is afraid of getting lost or left behind. Is that how you feel today? Like you can’t keep up? That life is moving way too fast? The Bible says, ‘As the deer longs for streams of water…I long for you, O God’ (Psalm 42:1 NLT). You don’t ‘long’ for something unless you value it and need it. Only raw need will cause you to turn away from every other visible means of support and pursue God, because you know that without Him, you won’t make it. The truth is, if you didn’t need Him so desperately, you could easily become satisfied with lesser things. Three things happen when you pursue God with all your heart. 1) You enter the realm where ‘all things are possible’ (Mark 10:27 KJV). 2) You grow more Christlike, because you become like the company you keep (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). 3) You learn that certain levels of blessing are only reached when you diligently seek God (see Hebrews 11:6). Are you weary of human answers? Do you need more than just good advice? Shut yourself in with God today and let Him speak to you.

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Jesus said: ‘If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea’ (Matthew 18:6 NIV). Implicit in those words is a sobering challenge to every parent (and every person who is a role model for children): your moral authority doesn’t come from your knowledge but from your lifestyle and integrity. As your children grow up, they’re less apt to listen to what you say and more inclined to imitate what you do. So where are your footsteps leading? Remember Abraham and Lot? They shared the same family, the same faith, and had the same opportunities in life. But when it came to raising children, Abraham grew roses and Lot grew weeds. What made the difference? Abraham followed God while Lot followed his own selfish interests. ‘Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom.’ Before it was over, Lot lost his moral authority with his family. So here is the question: as a parent (or a role model), where are you pitching your tent? King David also lost his moral authority with his family. Even though God forgave his affair with Bathsheba and permitted him to remain on the throne, his sin took a terrible toll. His son Amnon raped his sister Tamar. His other son Absalom stole the throne, and his son Solomon’s wives ultimately led him into idolatry. Nathan the prophet told him, ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you’ (2 Samuel 12:11 NIV). You only get one chance to do it right, so follow God and take your children with you.

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In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes: ‘Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and…continually reminds me of what that standard demands…If I’m in the habit of always holding God’s standard in front of me, conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is will I obey?…God always instructs us down to the last detail…He does not speak with a voice like thunder – His voice is so gentle it’s easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You’re on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is – drop it and see that you keep your inner vision clear.’ Paul writes: ‘We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially towards you’ (v. 12 NLT). But what if the Bible doesn’t offer a specific answer to your question and you’re wondering, ‘Should I, or shouldn’t I?’ Here is your gold standard: ‘If our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we ask for’ (1 John 3:21-22 TLB). Can you think of a more important reason for maintaining a clear conscience?

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Your lungs need oxygen to thrive, your body needs food to thrive, and your soul needs joy to thrive. How can you tell when someone is joy-deprived? By how they look and what they say. One Bible teacher says: ‘When I began to understand John 10:10…I realised the enemy had deceived me into thinking that enjoying things was not important…I had come to believe – falsely, of course – that if I was having fun, something was wrong…I must not be working hard enough! I never saw my father enjoy life and it seemed to aggravate him when others did, so I just grew up thinking something must be wrong with it. I can remember being told to be quiet when I laughed out loud…The seventeenth-century…[writer] Madame Guyon said that the highest call for every child of God is to enjoy God. I remember what a heavy load lifted off of me the first time I read that…I was working so hard trying to please God that the thought of simply enjoying Him had not occurred to me at all. I had never heard of such a thing!…I had been a committed church member for over twenty years before I learned that God wanted me to enjoy Him and the life He had given me.’ Can you relate? If so, it’s time to make some changes in your life. Take a break without feeling guilty; you will be much more productive when you’re rested and refreshed. Recreation is not ‘unspiritual’; it’s essential to staying in balance. We live in a driven, stressed-out society, but you can change; you can be joyful if you choose to.

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What’s the proper way to deal with loneliness? 1) Learn to be alone without feeling lonely. Jesus often left the crowd to be alone with His Father in prayer. Why? Because He knew that solitude is essential to spiritual growth. And He came back from those times personally enriched and better equipped to deal with the challenges of life. The Bible says, ‘Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day’ (Genesis 32:24 NKJV). Out of that time alone with God came a man with a new name, a new nature, a new walk, and a new future. Plus, when people realise that you can enjoy your favourite dish or movie or other activity alone, they are attracted by your strength, independence, and confidence. 2) Reject the idea that you cannot live without a certain person in your life. God is the only person you must have, and He has promised to always stay with you (see Hebrews 13:5). We might fall into deep loneliness after the death of a loved one because we haven’t cultivated many interests outside the relationship. But it’s never too late to get started. And God will help you. Paul wrote: ‘The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear’ (2 Timothy 4:16-17 NLT). God will help you to grieve your loss, leave your loss, and go on to what He has for you next.

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Wolfgang Dircks, a divorced, disabled loner, was found deceased in his apartment in Bonn, Germany, in December 1998 – five years after he died. He was forty-three and died watching television. Neighbours didn’t notice his absence. His landlord came by after the bank account from which his rent was paid dried up. A TV schedule was still sitting on the lap of Dircks’s skeleton and was open to the page of 5 December 1993 – the apparent date of his death. The television had long since stopped in the on position, but the lights on his 1993 Christmas tree were still glowing. When God created us, He said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’ (Genesis 2:18 NKJV). You were created to be in relationship. You don’t have to accept loneliness as your destiny. Instead: 1) Find a need and meet it. Often loneliness is not the absence of people, but purpose. Show a true interest in the difficulties of others. Resist making your own issues and worries the aim of every conversation. ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others’ (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV). 2) Be generous to others with your time, talents, and treasure. Not everyone will accept what you offer, but someone will. Pray for guidance and keep reaching out. God says, ‘To me, you are very dear, and I love you…’ (Isaiah 43:4 CEV).

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Sometimes you experience more problems after you become a Christian than you did before. ‘Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering’ (Hebrews 10:32 NLT). Consider the life of Christ. ‘After his baptism…the heavens…opened…And a voice…said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy”’ (Matthew 3:16-17 NLT). Then we read: ‘Jesus was led…into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NLT). First the call, then the conflict. And that’s still how it works! When Paul was called into ministry, he was given ‘a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted’ (2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV). So when you say yes to God, prepare for attack. Satan attacks what he fears, and he fears God’s plan for your life. When a player starts scoring, the other team targets him because they know he is capable of winning. Getting the idea? Before Jesus launched His ministry, Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world, and he will make you the same offer. So, the only safe place to be is in the centre of God’s will. When Noah was building the ark, he could withstand a hundred years of scorn, but when the job was done, he ended up drunk and disgraced. Paul writes, ‘These things…were written down to warn us…If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall’ (1 Corinthians 10:11, 12 NLT). So, the word for today is – be on your guard!

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On those days when you wonder how God could love you, read these words: ‘If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ When your thoughts sink to gutter level and your actions are anything but Christlike, remind yourself: ‘He lives forever to intercede with God on [our] behalf’ (Hebrews 7:25 NLT). It works like this: when God’s law declares you guilty, Jesus steps in and says, ‘Father, I have this person covered; they are trusting in my shed blood, and My righteousness has been transferred to them.’ Try to picture this: in the Old Testament tabernacle, the blood of a lamb was poured on top of the mercy seat, and the ark of the covenant that contained the broken law – the record of our guilt – was placed underneath it. So, the only way God could see the broken law – was through the blood. And it’s the same today! If you’re wondering why God continues to love, accept, and bless you, it’s because Jesus is your lawyer! Notice: 1) He is fully qualified to represent you. ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17 KJV). 2) He has never lost a case. ‘He is…able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him’ (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV). 3) He offers His services freely. ‘Without money and without price’ (Isaiah 55:1 KJV). The Bible says, ‘Let us…approach God’s throne of grace with confidence…that we may receive mercy and…grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). Jesus is your lawyer, so you can come to God with confidence today.

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No-limits people refuse to accept things as they are because they see them as they can be. Instead of saying, ‘It can’t be done,’ they rise up in faith and say, ‘All things are possible to him who believes.’ No-limits people have faults and failures like everybody else. The difference is, they walk by faith to the cliff’s edge knowing that one of two things will happen when they get there. Either God will put solid rock under their feet, or He will teach them to fly. In other words, they plug into God’s unlimited power supply. The author of the book of Hebrews describes no-limits people like this: ‘Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle’ (Hebrews 11:33-34 NIV). Notice, these people started out weak, but they became strong. How? ‘Through faith.’ They possessed the kind of faith that disregards the odds, the obstacles, and the opposition, and declares, ‘I am what God says I am, I have what God says I have, and I can do what God says I can.’ The story is told of an old foreman who worked hard on the job and expected the same from his workers. One day one of them said, ‘Don’t you know Rome wasn’t built in a day?’ Smiling, he replied, ‘Aye, but I wasn’t the foreman on that job.’ Today ask God to help you rise above your fears and make you a no-limits person.

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To succeed at what God has called you to do, you must do these: 1) Remove distractions. This is not easy, as most people now get hundreds of emails, texts, and tweets every day. But you must do it. How? By keeping the discipline of practising your priorities. Don’t accomplish easy things first, or hard things first, or urgent things first. Do first things first – the activities that provide you with the highest return. That way, you keep distractions minimised. 2) Protect yourself from distractions. One leader writes: ‘I need blocks of time to think without interruptions. I’ve mastered the art of making myself unavailable when necessary and going off to my “thinking place” so that I can work without interruptions…however, I am always aware of the tension between my need to remain accessible to others as a leader and my need to withdraw from them to think.’ Jesus often withdrew from activities and prayed (see Luke 5:16). To know people’s needs, He spent time with people. To meet people’s needs, He spent time with God in prayer. As a result, He was always in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right things. And you must do that too! If you’re naturally withdrawn, then make sure to get out among people more often. If you’re always ‘on the go’, then remove yourself periodically so that you can be refreshed and refocused in order to accomplish what God has called you to do. ‘Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked’ (Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT).

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In order to fulfil God’s plan for your life, you must establish clear priorities and live by them each day. Author Edward de Bono quipped, ‘A conclusion is the place where you get tired of thinking.’ Sadly, many people arrive at priorities based on where they ran out of steam. You definitely don’t want to do that. Nor do you want to allow others to decide your agenda or your priorities. Many ways exist for determining priorities. First, and foremost, your plan must always line up with God’s will for you (see Hebrews 13:20-21). Jesus said, ‘I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.’ Observe: 1) You must know that God has chosen and appointed you to a particular area of service. 2) Your goal in life should be fruit that ‘remains’ after you. If you use them properly, things like money and influence can aid you, but they must never be your goal or your heart’s desire. So, how can you establish the right priorities? As you get to know yourself better, begin focusing on your strengths and the things that make best use of your God-given skills. Consider what brings you the highest return and reward. Think about what you enjoy most and do best. Those are your core gifts. Utilise the 80/20 rule. Give 80 per cent of your effort to the top 20 per cent of your activities. Bottom line: Jesus said you are to give your attention to the areas that bear the most fruit.

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Here are three more things to keep in mind when you’re under attack: 1) You are not unique. In a letter to persecuted believers, the apostle Peter said, ‘Be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers…is going through the same kind of suffering you are’ (1 Peter 5:9 NLT). We are all on the same battlefield, but the devil would love to convince you that you’re the only person who has ever experienced anything like this. That’s so you will feel like a failure and cut yourself off from the strength and support that comes from fellowship with other believers. Be wise; don’t let him do that to you.2) Remove any hindrances. The apostle John writes, ‘Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God’ (1 John 3:21 NIV). We all sin – the mistake lies in trying to cover it up, because ‘whoever conceals their sins does not prosper’ (Proverbs 28:13 NIV). If you’re constantly struggling and being defeated, ask God to show you where the trouble spot is, draw on His grace, and deal with it. 3) Don’t quit. Anybody can begin a marathon, but it takes a champion to finish it. The apostle Paul writes, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith’ (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV). Every one of us experiences adversity. But it’s those who stay strong to the finish who get the reward. So, pace yourself, and determine to go the distance. Study the lives of people like David, Esther, Deborah, and Paul. Remind yourself that their God is your God, and He has promised to bring you through victoriously.

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The new birth creates a battle between your old nature and your new nature, and you must learn how to fight it. For the last handful of days, we have been looking at scriptural strategies for winning. Here are a few more: 1) Fill your mind with Scripture. David said, ‘If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction’ (Psalm 119:92 NIV). Your mind is like soil; it will grow any seed you plant, good or bad. When you plant words spoken by God, you’re sowing energy, life, and hope into your spirit. God’s Word is like a vaccination; it strips Satan of his power to infect you with fear and unbelief. The psalmist said, ‘The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip’ (Psalm 37:31 NIV). 2) Reach out to others. ‘When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!’ (Job 42:10 NLT). Does that sound strange? It may be strange in the kingdom of men, but not in the kingdom of God. You are the solution to somebody else’s problem, and when you reach out to them, God will reach out to you (see Ephesians 6:8). Go ahead, try it. 3) Remember that seasons change. David said, ‘Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning’ (Psalm 30:5 NLT). This attack won’t last forever – morning is coming! People change and circumstances change. So, start believing God to change things on your behalf. He promised to do it, and He will.

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For the last few days, we have talked about how to handle Satan’s attacks when they come. So, if you’re under attack today, do these: 1) Be tough. Life is a collection of battles, which means it can also be a collection of victories. ‘Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4 KJV). Reach within and draw on God’s strength. Go ahead; He longs to show you what He can do for you. ‘For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV). Did you get that? ‘He hath said…so that we may boldly say’! There is power in His Word when you speak it, believe it, and act on it. 2) Depend on God’s wisdom. Jesus said,‘Don’t worry…about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply’ (Luke 21:14-15 NLT). God has given you two things that always work: your mouth and His wisdom. When unexpected things arise, the Holy Spirit within you will rise to the occasion and speak through you, so start depending on Him. 3) Trust God to stop the attack. The Bible says, ‘He causes wars to end throughout the earth’ (Psalm 46:9 NLT). God is in control, He is bigger than whatever you’re dealing with, and you’re on His mind this very moment. Your tears, your fears, and your pain have been noticed by Him – and He will move on your behalf.

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Satan can attack you anytime, anywhere. If you want to defeat him, here are some tried and true biblical principles you need to follow: 1) Guard your mind. You will never be defeated as long as you’re victorious in your mind; that’s the birthplace of everything you do. Satan knows that, and he will try to get your thoughts so scattered you won’t be able to concentrate on what’s important. Don’t let him do it. Get back into focus. Isaiah said, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’ (Isaiah 26:3 KJV). 2) Love people, but trust God. Live by the Scripture:‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man’ (Psalm 118:8 KJV). When the devil wants to hurt you, he will often use a person to do it. Your ‘enemy’ is anyone who attempts to thwart the will of God in your life, so identify such people and avoid them. God never commanded us to trust people; He commanded us to love people – and trust Him. Understand the difference, for your victory depends on it. 3) Never give up. Jesus said, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God’ (Luke 9:62 NIVUK). Your dreams and goals are worth any fight, any price, and any waiting period. Your faith is what defeats Satan. Remember Joseph? Every day of adversity was just another stepping-stone towards the throne. So, keep walking and believing, for there is victory ahead!

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Adversity is often the Enemy’s attempt to rob you of the next season of God’s blessing in your life. If you’re under attack today, you need to do these three things: 1) Rise up and fight back. You will be tempted to withdraw or become timid and passive, especially if you have been hurt. Don’t do it. A wounded animal just invites attack. Satan loves shy, fearful types, but real fighters intimidate him. So, be bold and claim the promise, ‘Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7 KJV). 2) Use all your weapons. The Bible says, ‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world…they have divine power to demolish strongholds’ (2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV). Prayer is a weapon – use it daily. And join in prayer with others. One person alone can’t multiply faith; increase begins when two people get together (see Matthew 18:19). Make sure you know the intercessors in your life, because they have influence with God. Scripture is also a weapon, so use it. ‘Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’ (Ephesians 6:17 KJV). Find out what God’s Word says about your situation, and then use it like a sword to cut the Enemy’s head off. 3) Try to see the big picture. Few things are ever as they first appear, so look beyond the moment and see if something good is being birthed in you. After adversity comes blessing and favour, so get your eyes back on the big picture. Paul, who suffered relentless attack, said, ‘Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all’ (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV). Bottom line: today you can win.

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Your biggest mistakes often occur in the early stage of a trial because it catches you off guard. Surprise is one of the devil’s favourite weapons, so here are four winning strategies you can use when you’re under attack: 1) Don’t panic. Live by the Scripture, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10 KJV). That means God is present, fully aware of your situation, and has a solution. Just be sensitive and responsive to the voice of His Spirit within you (see John 16:13). Remember, time is on your side. Patience is a weapon that forces truth and motives to the surface. 2) Analyse it. Solomon said, ‘In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider’ (Ecclesiastes 7:14 KJV). Sometimes what looks like a crisis is just concentrated information. And when you take time to analyse it, you benefit from it. 3) Seek advice. ‘Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances’ (Proverbs 11:14 MSG). Ignorance is your enemy and instruction is your friend. Somebody somewhere knows something you need to know; something that can help you survive and even succeed during this painful chapter in your life. Reach for them. 4) Expect God to move. ‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.’ Adversity is often the Enemy’s reaction to your progress. Rejoice; your heavenly Father’s eyes are on you today. He is pleased with you, and He is going to bring you through this victoriously.

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The problem isn’t just that we sin; it’s that we can’t talk about it. We’re comfortable with tales of people who used to sin, because they have happy endings. Imagine going to a counsellor and saying, ‘I only want to discuss problems I used to have. Please don’t ask me to confess any current ones. I would be embarrassed. I’m afraid you would reject me.’ Why would you go to a counsellor and try to convince them that you don’t need counsel? People are okay telling a doctor about their physical problem or a mechanic about a problem with their car. Shouldn’t we be okay telling each other when we have a problem? If you want God (or anyone else) to love the real you, you have to work at ‘getting real’. David was Israel’s best king, but he was a polygamist. He was also a horrible father. He coveted another man’s wife, committing adultery with her, attempting to deceive her husband, ultimately having him murdered, and covering up his crime for a year; so, he was a coveter, an adulterer, a liar, and a murderer. As somebody quipped, ‘Nobody in those days was walking around wearing a “What Would David Do?” bracelet.’ Yet the Bible calls David ‘a man after [God’s] own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NIV). Is it possible for someone to be struggling so intensely with sin and yearning for God at the same time? Yes. And it’s also why the Bible says, ‘Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed’ (James 5:16 NLT).

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God will be faithful to you, come what may. Humanly speaking, who else can you count on? Paul writes: ‘Everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel’ (vv. 21-22 NIV). Paul knew he could count on Timothy. Who can you count on? Before you answer, consider the following four questions: 1) When something goes wrong, do you have at least one friend you can easily talk to about it? ‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for…adversity’ (Proverbs 17:17 NIV). There is no way to put a price on such a relationship, is there? 2) Who in your life could accurately name your greatest fears and temptations? ‘Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble…A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 NLT). 3) Do you have one or more friends with whom you meet regularly? ‘Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him’ (Malachi 3:16 KJV). 4) Do you have a friend you know well enough to trust their confidentiality? ‘A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret’ (Proverbs 11:13 NIV).

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Have you ever got into an argument before church and felt like a hypocrite during the entire service? Understand this: the enemy knows that God’s Word can only be ‘sown in peace’ (see James 3:18), so he will do everything he can to keep you from receiving it and being blessed by it. That’s why you must do whatever it takes to keep your peace. There’s power in peace! If the devil can’t get you upset he has no power over you. He only gains control when you ‘lose it.’ He plans to get you upset in order to steal your peace, confuse you and make you run in circles. Don’t let him. James writes, ‘The wisdom that is from above is…peaceable.’ In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases this Scripture: ‘Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoys its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour’ (v. 17-18 MSG). Notice, getting along with others can be ‘hard work.’ So next time you get worked up about some issue, ask yourself, ‘What’s the Enemy trying to do here? If I give in to these emotions what will the result be?’ When you’re stressed out you lose your joy, and when you lose your joy you lose your strength because ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength’ (see Nehemiah 8:10). So today, pray, exercise self-control, and keep your peace.

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Robert Putman made a staggering statement: ‘As a rough rule of thumb, if you belong to no groups but you decide to join one, you cut your risk of dying over the next year in half.’ It’s hard to imagine anyone disinterested in reducing their risk of dying by 50 per cent. That’s why some churches have adopted this motto: ‘Join a group or die.’ One of the characteristics of the early church was their faithfulness to connectedness, because they knew connectedness doesn’t merely happen. They met together daily. They ate together. Over time, however, that happened less. So the writer of Hebrews said: ‘Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another’ (vv. 24-25 NIVUK). One author puts it this way: ‘In sports, the more an athlete needs encouragement from the fans, the less likely he or she is to get it. Rarely do fans of a losing team think when a slumping player comes up to bat, “Let’s consider how we can spur him on.” Too often, people who need cheers the most get them the least. Every day, everyone you know faces life with eternity on the line, and life has a way of beating people down. Every life needs a cheering section. Every life needs a shoulder to lean on once in a while. Every life needs a prayer to lift them up before God. Every life needs a hugger to wrap some arms around them sometimes. Every life needs to hear a voice saying, “Don’t give up.”’

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Here are six ingredients which are always found in lasting success: 1) Information. If you don’t stay informed, you will be left behind. 2) Intuition. This is sometimes referred to as ‘to know in your knower’. 3) Initiative. This is when you are willing to step out in faith and act on what you know intuitively. 4) Intentionality. This is when you are willing to set specific goals and timelines for reaching them. 5) Intensity. This calls for more than starting power, it requires staying power. 6) Integrity. This is the glue that holds the previous five things together. And it’s rooted in that private life you develop alone with God. We often hear architects, engineers, and builders say, ‘This building has structural integrity.’ What do they mean? That the public beauty of a tall skyscraper relies on its private, unseen foundation that is dug deep into the earth and solidly constructed. It is that hidden life of a building that brings structural integrity. Likewise, it’s the hidden life of a fruit tree – the unseen root system that digs deep into the earth – that produces those juicy, delectable fruits. And so it is with you. Integrity must be rooted in your private life. Don’t wait until you’re thrust into the public arena before paying attention to your integrity, for then you will have waited until it’s too late. Your talent may bring you success, but it takes character to protect and maintain your success. The truth is that when your integrity is rooted in your private world, it’s reflected in your personal world, your professional world, and your public world.

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What would you say is the single most important characteristic of a person who wants to be successful and make a difference in the world? Some would say intelligence. After all, knowledge is power in numerous ways. Others argue it is intensity, that spirit of conquest supplemented with a passion that becomes contagious. Yet others propose that it is insight, good old common sense accompanied by the ability to clearly perceive certain issues. The Bible says the most important quality in success is integrity: ‘He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.’ You will eventually ‘become known’ by your integrity or the lack of it. We have all known people along life’s road who possess extraordinary intelligence but no integrity, and they are no longer in the race. Others with great intensity and passion but little integrity have ended up the same way. The same result is true of people with great insight but no integrity. The thesaurus equates integrity with such words as ‘honesty, completeness, and incorruptibility’. Integrity begins in your private world; the part of you that’s known only to God and yourself. Then it shows up in your personal world; the part of you that you reveal to a small circle of intimate family members and possibly a few friends. After that comes your professional world. Here people know you by your product, your work ethic, or your skill set. And they all ask the same question: ‘Can I trust you?’ Finally, your integrity shows up in your public world. So here is the question: do you have integrity?

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After being anointed king of Israel, instead of immediately going to Jerusalem and claiming his throne, David was forced to spend years living like a fugitive and hiding in caves because Saul was out to take his life. More than once he must have asked himself, ‘What about the promise God gave me?’ Then an interesting thing happened. One of David’s soldiers found Saul asleep; he came to David, saying, ‘God has delivered your enemy into your hand…let me strike him’ (1 Samuel 26:8 NKJV). What an opportunity! Get rid of the man who wants to kill you, come out of hiding, and claim your throne. After all, you’re already anointed to be king! It all made sense, except for one thing – it wasn’t God’s plan. As much as David wanted to rule Israel, he knew that in order to succeed he must do it God’s way. This story should make you think twice, and pray before acting. When Abishai offered to kill Saul, he had David’s welfare at heart. So be careful; your friends can give you advice contrary to God’s will. That’s when it’s hard not to go along with it, or defend your decision by rationalising that the end justifies the means. Never let anyone, however well intentioned, persuade you to do what you know is wrong. ‘Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice…he’s the one who will keep you on track’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG).

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Here are some values based on Scripture: 1) God’s sovereignty. ‘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’ (Psalm 139:16 NLT). You can rest in knowing that God has the last word on everything that concerns you (see Psalm 138:8). When all is said and done, you have an ordered destiny. When you know that, you don’t have to try and manipulate people and circumstances to your advantage. You simply have to walk through the doors God opens and be at peace with the doors He closes, knowing He always has your best interests at heart. 2) Integrity. ‘The integrity of the upright guides them.’ As you walk in integrity, you will experience God’s peace because you know you have done the right thing in His sight. Integrity is not only being honest or telling the truth, but also ensuring what you say is the truth. In other words, you make your word your bond. Psalm 15:4 says that one of the traits of a person who abides in God’s presence and does His will is that they ‘keep their promises even when it hurts’ (NLT). 3) Humility. ‘Humility precedes honour’ (Proverbs 15:33 NLT). Humility is not a sense of worthlessness, but instead an acceptance of your God-given strengths and God-allowed limitations. Your strengths should not make you arrogant, and your limitations should not make you apprehensive, for God has promised, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV).

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You will notice that in listing the fruit of the Spirit, patience comes right after peace. Why? Because when you have peace in your heart, practically nothing can cause you to feel impatient. But these qualities are the fruit of the Spirit, not the effort of the flesh. You can’t psych yourself up and say, ‘I’m going to be patient if it kills me.’ If it is the genuine fruit of the Spirit, you will have genuine inner peace, and certain circumstances won’t bother you the way they used to. Why? Because you are depending on the Lord. Patience is a kind of faith. It says, ‘I trust God. I believe He is bigger than this problem. I believe He has His hand in these irritations and can use them in my life for good.’ Frustration says, ‘Why did this happen?’ Faith says, ‘God, what do you want me to learn here?’ Abraham was 100 years old when his second son, Isaac, was born. That’s a long time to be patient. The toughest kind of waiting occurs when you are in a rush and God is not. It’s hard to be patient when you’re waiting for an answer to prayer: for God to change your financial condition, or your health problem, or your family problem, or that relative who bothers you. Being patient is both the evidence of your faith and the test of your faith. It’s at such times that God whispers, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10 KJV). In other words, ‘I’m in control, I have a better plan, I’m working things out for your good!’

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Here are two more things you need to do in order to develop patience: 1) Develop a sense of humour. The Bible says, ‘A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life’ (Proverbs 14:30 TLB). Scientific studies reveal that people who laugh, live longer. Humour is a stress dissolver. It’s an antidote to apprehension. It’s a tranquiliser without any troubling side effects. It’s a shock absorber for the potholes of life. Someone once asked President Abraham Lincoln how he handled the tensions of the Civil War. He said, ‘If it hadn’t been for laughter, I could not have made it.’ When you can laugh at it, you can live with it. And besides, if you learn to laugh at your problems, you will never run out of anything to laugh at! 2) Deepen your love. Paul writes, ‘Love is very patient’ (1 Corinthians 13:4 TLB). That means when you are impatient, you are being unloving. When you love someone, you’re concerned about that person’s wishes, distresses, needs, and point of view – not just your own. When you are filled with love, almost nothing can provoke you to anger or impatience. On the other hand, when you are filled with anger, almost anything can provoke you. Under pressure, whatever is inside you is going to come out. So, deepen your love. ‘Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love’ (Ephesians 4:2 TLB). And one more thought: when you learn to love the people who irritate you, you take a weapon out of Satan’s hands that he can use against you. Today pray, ‘Lord, make me a more patient person.’

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Patience begins by changing the way you view something. When you’re impatient, you have a narrow perspective. All you see is yourself: your needs, goals, schedule, desires, and the way people are messing up your life. Basically, the root of impatience is selfishness. Try to see things from the other person’s point of view. If you want to succeed in marriage, learn to see life from your partner’s point of view. If you want to succeed as a parent, learn to see things from your child’s point of view. If you want to succeed in business, learn to see things from your customer’s point of view. If you want to be a successful employer, learn to see life from your employee’s point of view. Try to discover why the other person feels as they do. If you never had to deal with irritations and interruptions, you would never develop patience. You must accept the truth that God is directing your steps, and that trust doesn’t require explanations. The Bible says, ‘The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?’ (Proverbs 20:24 NLT). Patience is a mark of maturity. When babies don’t instantly get what they want, they get upset. Maturity includes the ability to wait, to live with delayed gratification. ‘Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly’ (Proverbs 14:29 NIV). A person of understanding and wisdom who learns to see life from another’s (and God’s) point of view, is able to be patient. So, pray and ask God to give you a new perspective on things.

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The Bible says that when you pray, God can answer instantly. But nowhere in the Bible are you promised ‘instant patience’. Patience is a quality of character, and character is built over a lifetime of walking with God through good times and bad. One Bible teacher says, ‘Patience is just faith taking its time.’ Here is how God develops patience in us: 1) Interruptions. You sit down to eat dinner and your phone starts ringing. You’re in the bath and someone comes to the door. You’re quickly working to meet a deadline and visitors arrive. It’s said that when Brahms was writing his famous ‘Lullaby’, he encountered so many interruptions, it took him seven years to compose the piece. Someone joked, ‘When you’re writing a lullaby, you need all those interruptions to keep you from falling asleep at the piano.’ 2) Delays. We hate to wait. We have a microwave mindset – we want what we want – in seconds. We have fast food, quick-cook pasta, and instant coffee. We’re like the man who prayed, ‘Lord, give me patience, and I want it right now!’ 3) Irritations. Long lines, lost keys, late planes, phone calls, cold food, flat tyres, occupied bathrooms, traffic jams…the list is endless. Do you know that 90 per cent of heart attack sufferers have the ‘hurried’ Type A personality? The Bible says, ‘Impatience will get you into trouble’ (Proverbs 19:2 GNT). We speak of the patience of Job, who said, ‘All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come’ (Job 14:14 NIV). Pray about it, exercise patience, and be confident in God!

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To lead your family effectively, you need to learn how to huddle regularly. The 'huddle' is where a team: 1) sets its goals; 2) discusses the division of responsibilities; 3) tackles the issues that determine whether it wins or loses. Parent, even though you call the plays from overhead, your family must be taught how to accomplish them on the field. That means working through things, talking through the disagreements, motivating and appreciating each member. Try to listen with an open heart. Don’t just hear what your children say, try to understand how they feel. Yes, you’re the boss, and yes, you can try to enforce your will if you want to. But sooner or later you’ll have trouble, for resentment grows when people feel left out. Every member of your team has got to be part of the decision-making process. Involve them! Ask God to help you look beyond what you want to what’s best for all of you. And don’t fall under the spell of instant gratification. What looks good to you today could be taking you off the path to a better tomorrow. And don’t let 'outsiders' into your huddle. Tell them to stay in their own. Too often their opinions are based on hearsay, self-interest or jealousy. Respect the privacy of your team. Build loyalty. Huddle regularly in prayer. When you do that, everybody wins!

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Love is mostly something you do instead of something you feel. Paul writes, ‘You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love’ (v. 13 NIV). So how are you supposed to express your love? According to one author, as follows: ‘A son drives for five hours to be with his mother on her birthday. A friend mentions a book he is interested in; his friend remembers and finds a copy to give to him for no visible reason. A middle-aged couple in a restaurant see a young husband and wife with little money and secretly pay their bill. A father knows how much his daughter likes having a clean car, so he sneaks over to wash it for her by surprise. People in a small group email each other throughout the week as a way of expressing their care. A wise man once said that just as the three laws of real estate are “location, location, location,” the three laws of relationship are “observation, observation, observation”. The people who give life to us are people who notice us. They know what we love and fear. When we work to truly notice someone else, love for them grows. When we work to truly observe another person, in that self-forgetfulness our own soul flourishes.’ Mother Teresa used to say: ‘If you can’t do great things, do little things with great love. And if you can’t do them with great love, do them with a little love. And if you can’t do them with a little love, do them anyway.’ Love grows when you serve people.

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What’s your concept of God? When you pray, ‘Our Father,’ what do you see? Do you see a parent who abandoned you, abused you, or abdicated their responsibility to you? Do you think of an angry father who accused but never affirmed you; in other words, a God waiting to zap you each time you do wrong? If so, you need to change your concept of God. The Bible says: ‘The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing’ (v. 17 NKJV). Let’s break this Scripture down: 1) ‘The Lord your God in your midst.’ He is not a distant deity, but an up-close-and-personal Father who loves His redeemed children dearly. 2) ‘The Mighty One, will save.’ When you consider the word ‘mighty’, think of Hercules a billion times over and you still won’t even be close. Today you may be weak, but He is strong. Your sins may be great, but His saving grace is greater (see Romans 5:20). 3) ‘He will rejoice over you with gladness.’ Every time God looks at you, He smiles and rejoices. You make His heart glad. Did you know that? 4) ‘He will quiet you with His love.’ Ever watch a mother holding a crying baby and saying, ‘Shush, shush, it’s okay, I’m here, I love you.’ The baby is comforted, feels secure, and goes to sleep. That’s what God does for us. 5) ‘He will rejoice over you with singing.’ God sings! What does He sing about? You! It’s time to change your concept of God!

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When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, their individual responses to Him were very different. Martha’s focus was on the meal. Her aim was to please Jesus. But she made a common mistake; her work became more important than her Lord. What began as a serving experience became a self-serving one. She forgot the meal was to honour Jesus, not her. She said, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ (v. 40 NIV). And what did Jesus say? ‘Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better’ (vv. 41-42 NIV). And what had Mary chosen? Intimacy with Jesus! The danger of religious activity is that sometimes it’s designed to make us feel good about ourselves and look good in front of others. Choosing activity over intimacy also happens to people who love the Lord and aren’t necessarily involved in church work. It’s amazing how many bright, successful people reach the point of burnout because they have neglected their relationship with God. They never intended to; it’s just that they have learned to make it on their own and haven’t been forced to rely on Him. Or they have bought into a ‘religious compartmentalisation’ of God – like He is just another weekly appointment on Sunday mornings. The fact that Jesus chose intimacy over activity teaches us a very important lesson: until you put your relationship with God at the centre of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labours, and experience God’s peace and joy.

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Let’s recap. As an ambassador, you must have the following qualifications and characteristics: 1) Be a citizen of the country you represent. ‘Our citizenship is in heaven.’ 2) Your character and conduct must reflect the highest values of your country. ‘That our God may make you worthy of his calling’ (2 Thessalonians 1:11 NIV). 3) You must be equipped for the job. ‘There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 12:4 NIV). 4) You must be loyal to your country. Now, let’s look at two more qualifications:5) An ambassador must be an effective communicator. The best ambassadors are bilingual; they speak and understand the language of those around them. Can you do that? In order to have the right answer, you must understand the question, the questioner, and where they’re coming from. The Bible says, ‘If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way’ (1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT). Note the words ‘always be ready’. 6) An ambassador must be a good diplomat. Ambassadors are most effective when they’re winsome as they go about their work. You wouldn’t want someone representing your country who was arrogant and abrasive in dealing with others. Jesus said, ‘By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (John 13:35 NKJV). Our message is the gospel, and our strategy is love! What’s our message? ‘We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God’ (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIVUK).

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A decade ago, our ideas about being an ambassador were radically altered when the U.S. ambassador to Libya was murdered by terrorists. It takes a special person to be an ambassador in a combat zone. And that’s what you are in! Paul writes: ‘Let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. Put on all the armour that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armour that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm. Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist and let God’s justice protect you like armour. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit. Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert’ (vv. 10-18 CEV). As an ambassador of Christ, your first loyalty must be to Him in all your dealings; to be disloyal is treasonous. You say, ‘That’s a high standard!’ Yes, it’s a ‘high calling’ (see Philippians 3:14). It’s also the most rewarding life you can live.

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Your job in the kingdom of God is that of an ‘ambassador’. What a privilege! And what a responsibility! Over the next few days, let’s look at some of the qualities of an ambassador: You must be a citizen of the country you represent. And ‘our citizenship is in heaven’ (Philippians 3:20 NIV). Exiled, John said, ‘I…was on the island of Patmos…On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit’ (Revelation 1:9-10 NIV). John knew it was not where he was but whose he was that counted the most as he represented his Lord. Your life is the only Bible many people will ever read. From your lips they will receive the only gospel they ever hear. And your attitude may do more to win them than all your arguments. Before He was crucified, Jesus prayed this prayer for His disciples: ‘I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world’ (John 17:15-18 NKJV). Before an ambassador is appointed, he or she goes through the closest scrutiny imaginable. Their moral integrity, their financial interactions, their family life, their work record, their every word and action come under the microscope. Shouldn’t it be more so for ambassadors of the King of kings? Never forget whose side you’re on. Never forget what kingdom you belong to. Never forget who you represent. You are Christ’s ambassador.

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You may be educated, experienced, and talented, but you will never fulfil God’s purposes for your life until you’re ‘endued with power from on high’. Read these two Scriptures: 1) ‘I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high’ (v. 49 NKJV). 2) ‘When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting…And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:1-2, 4 NKJV). The transformation was amazing! Peter, who had just denied Jesus, stood before the crowd and preached the gospel to them. Did he get results? Yes. ‘That day about three thousand souls were added to them’ (v. 41 NKJV). And the power they had just received was also their source of strength when they faced hardship and persecution. ‘When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness’ (Acts 4:31 NKJV). This wasn’t a one-time experience; they were continually filled with the Holy Spirit. You say, ‘I’m not good enough to be filled with God’s Spirit.’ Jesus said, ‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!’ (Luke 11:13 NKJV). Today ask God to fill you with His Spirit, and He will.

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If the dream you believe God gave you seems dead, read this: ‘And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But…when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived’ (vv. 26-27 NKJV). For years Jacob believed his son, the dreamer, was dead. But it was a lie. In his old age, wagons loaded with riches came to carry him back to see his son who was now the prince of Egypt. Notice, when Jacob first heard it, ‘he did not believe them’ (v. 26 NKJV). When you have lived in defeat and discouragement for years, it’s hard to anticipate victory. No problem; God is patient. He will keep working with you. He will demonstrate His grace and goodness in such a way that you will start to trust Him again: ‘When he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived’ (v. 27 NKJV). Don’t believe your dream is dead and will never be fulfilled. And don’t believe those who tell you that you’re too old to fulfil the dream God gave you. God can pack more into the last chapters of your life than all those that preceded them. ‘Your old men [and women] shall dream dreams’ (Joel 2:28 KJV). God is the giver of dreams. And He doesn’t just give them, He resurrects them and empowers you to fulfil them. It’s not too late. You’re not too old. What God did for Jacob – He can do for you.

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Here are two more areas in which God created you to flourish: 1) Your relationships. Relationally, your languishing self is often troubled. You’re undisciplined in what you say, sometimes reverting to sarcasm, gossip and flattery. You isolate. You dominate. You attack. You withdraw. Whereas your flourishing self seeks to bless others. They energise you. You’re able to disclose your thoughts and feelings in a way that invites openness in them. You’re quick to admit your own mistakes and to freely forgive others. 2) Your experiences. God grows you because He wants to use you in His plans to redeem His world: that’s why you find Him changing your experiences. Your flourishing self has a desire to contribute. You live with a sense of calling. Indeed, your inner longing to become all you were meant to be is a tiny echo of God’s longing to begin the new creation. The rabbis spoke of this as tikkun olam – to repair the world. Focused on yourself, your life is as small as a grain of wheat. Given to God, however, it’s as if that grain is planted in rich soil, growing into part of a much bigger project. Jesus said: ‘Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces…many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life…as it is, destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal’ (vv. 24-25 MSG).

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Inside you there’s a battle between your flourishing self – the person you were created to be – and your languishing self. ‘What’s that?’ you ask. Your languishing self feels uneasy and discontent. You’re drawn to bad habits like mindlessly watching TV, drinking too much, misusing sex, excessive spending – things designed to temporarily anaesthetise pain. Your thoughts automatically drift in the direction of fear and anger. Learning doesn’t feel worthwhile. You think about yourself most of the time. Whereas flourishing [thriving, blossoming, and prospering] takes place: 1) In your spirit. You sense you’re beginning to receive ideas and energy from an outside source. And you are. You’re being empowered by God’s Spirit. We talk about being inspired, which literally means ‘God breathed’. God breathes into you; you come alive and feel like you’ve a purpose for living.

2) In your mind. Your thoughts are marked by joy and peace. You have a desire to love and to learn. You’re literally being transformed by ‘the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2 NIV). 3) In your time. You wake each day with a sense of excitement, and you realise you’re never too young to flourish. Mozart was composing brilliant music when he was five. Paul told Timothy, ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young’ (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). You also realise you’re never too old to flourish. Grandma Moses was sixty-nine when she took up painting, and artist Marc Chagall did some of his best work in his nineties. It’s humbling to acknowledge you can’t be anything you want. But once you accept that and seek to maximise what God created you to be, you start flourishing.

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Do you need motivation today? Take a look at the palm tree. 1) You can cut it, but you can't kill it! The minerals and nutrients most trees need to survive are found on the surface, just below the bark, so, when you cut them, they die. But not the palm tree. Its life comes from within, so it flourishes, even under attack. Listen: 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels' (2 Corinthians 4:7 NASB). How wonderful; even though the earthen vessel without may be cut and wounded, the treasure within is secure, beyond the enemy's reach! 2) It will bend, but it won't break. Tropical winds can blow most trees away, but not the palm tree. The stronger the wind, the further it bends - sometimes all the way to the ground. Yet when the storm ceases, it straightens up again and is actually stronger in the place where it bent. What a picture! We were made to bend, but not break, because God gives us 'strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy' (Colossians 1:11 MSG). 3) Its depth always exceeds its height! While the roots of the average plant go only a few feet under the ground, the palm tree's roots can go down hundreds of yards in search of water. David said, 'As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you' (Psalm 42:1 NIV). Go deep, work on your own connection to God and you'll never be...uprooted...or barren...or blown away!

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The Bible says: ‘While he was still speaking, a rooster crowed…The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly’ (vv. 60-62 NASB). Before God entrusts you with a great assignment, He will permit Satan to test you. Why? To reveal your weaknesses and strengthen you in those areas. God will allow you to fail in a smaller sphere to keep you from messing up in a larger one, hurting not only yourself but others too. One of the wonders of the Christian life is that Jesus can take rubble and build something beautiful out of it. Peter promised never to deny Jesus, but by the time the rooster crowed, he had already done it three times. Repeated failure! Can you relate? You said you wouldn’t lose your temper, but you did. Cock-a-doodle-doo! You said you wouldn’t give in to temptation, but you did. Cock-a-doodle-doo! When does a rooster crow? Early in the morning. Good news! That means the rooster announces the beginning of a brand-new day. After his worst night of failure, the sun came up for Peter. And it will come up for you too. By God’s grace you can start your life over any day you choose to. Today you can repent of your sin and go on to do great things for the Lord. Peter ended up winning multitudes to Christ and leading the church. So no matter how badly you have failed, God will forgive you, restore you, and redirect your steps.

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God wants you to do His will, but you’ll never reach the place of spiritual maturity in which you’re ‘Satan-free’. You can overcome him, but you can’t eliminate him. Look at Peter. He had only one gear: overdrive. He was always in the middle of everything that was going on, but he wasn’t always on top of things. The man who ended up leading the church, first denied being a disciple of Jesus. Pretty shocking, eh? But nothing about us surprises God. He doesn’t call you and say, ‘I hope you’re the right person.’ No; Jesus told Peter, ‘Satan has demanded to sift you…like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail’ (vv. 31-32 NASB). Isn’t that an amazing revelation? Even when you don’t know how to pray for yourself, Jesus is praying for you. ‘He ever liveth to make intercession for them’ (Hebrews 7:25 KJV). Jesus told Peter, ‘When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers’ (Luke 22:32 NASB). Out of the mess you’re in today can come a ministry to others. Not only can God turn your life around, He can use you to turn the lives of others around too. And one more thing: God isn’t apt to think you’re worth ‘sifting’ if you aren’t doing something right in the first place. Sifting is a method of purifying, of straining out the debris and refining what remains. That means there had to be something worth salvaging in you at the outset. Today God is calling you. Don’t waste another moment; surrender your life to Him.

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The word ‘sanctified’ means ‘to be set apart for the exclusive use of’. The word ‘ordained’ means ‘ordered according to a plan’. Here are two things you need to know: God doesn’t waste anything He created, and He doesn’t waste anything He can use. Before you were saved, God permitted experiences, both good and bad, that were equipping you for what He had in mind. That includes who your parents were, the places they came from, where you were educated, the number of years you spent in school, the jobs you held, and the training you received. It also includes things God put inside you at the time of your birth, even though some of those things may have seemed to work against you while you were growing up. Do you hold on to ideas like a pit bull? God can use that. Do you enjoy poring through books and research? God can use that. Are you quick to confront, excited to run right at the enemy? God can use that. Today you may feel like you’re in the wrong place, doing the wrong things, with the wrong people. You may be wondering how you’re going to dig yourself out of the hole or turn your life around. And truthfully, the answer may be that you can’t. But God can! He makes miracles out of mistakes. So, give Him the things in your life that aren’t so good, the things you’re not proud of, and say, ‘Lord, here they are. I wish my life was different, but it’s not. I wish I could change it, but I can’t.’ Then let God go to work.

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God reached into a part of Paul’s background that had been formed before he became a Christian, and He found some very useful things there. And they weren’t all spiritual things. They were also academic and cultural. Even though Paul seemed unqualified because of his monumental hatred for Christians, his background actually qualified him in a unique way. As a former Pharisee, he understood the Scriptures and the mindset of those who would oppose him. And his former spiritual blindness gave him compassion for the lost. God used both the good and the bad experiences in Paul’s life. And He can do the same for you too! Think about it: when God looked for a man to be an early leader in His church, to write down the theology of His church, to debate religious leaders who argued against His church, to advance the cause of Christ in academic and social arenas, to carry the message all the way from the lowest person on the street to the throne of Caesar, God found a man who already had the necessary qualifications – and that man was Paul. Here is how God works: first He seeks you out, then He prepares you, then He positions you, then He empowers you to do what He knows you can do most effectively. And God’s call is the only thing that will make you completely happy, although you don’t always know that in advance. So, is God calling you? Is He preparing you? Is He positioning you? Is He empowering you? Your highest level of joy and fulfilment in life will come when you surrender to Him and say yes.

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The Bible says: ‘God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation…So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God’ (vv. 8-9, 11 NLT). God loves and accepts you just as you are. And it gets better. He sees you as blameless. How? ‘God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). Note the words ‘in him’. Imagine yourself placing a letter in an envelope, then sealing it. No longer can you see the letter or read its contents because it’s ‘in’ the envelope. Getting the idea? Always remember there is a difference between your position and your condition. When you put your trust in Christ, you’re positioned before God as being ‘righteous’. You say, ‘But what about my condition? I still fail.’ The job of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to bring your condition up to the level of your position. ‘The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image’ (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT). How does the Holy Spirit do this? He draws you back to the place of repentance where you are cleansed. Notice, your position in Christ doesn’t change, but your condition is constantly changing as you become more like Christ.

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UNICEF estimates that as many as 2 million children and young people are exploited in the worldwide sex trade every year – that’s four every minute. Can you imagine what the governments of the world would do if a city of two million people was taken captive and exploited and abused every day? If you think that’s bad, here is a statistic that should break your heart and bring you to your knees: only 1 per cent of those who are abducted into the sex trade are being rescued from it! You say, ‘What about the other 99 per cent?’ When they get too old to have value to their pimps, or too sick to work, or become pregnant, or diseased, they’re thrown away like rubbish. These are the ‘walking wounded’ who carry emotional and mental scars and struggle with the effects for the rest of their lives. Perhaps you’re thinking, ‘It’s sad, and it’s shocking, but thank God it’s not my children or grandchildren.’ Thank God, indeed! But as a redeemed child of God, you have a responsibility to care about it. Jesus said He came to ‘heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives…to set at liberty those who are oppressed’ (v. 18 NKJV). That means instead of avoiding the problem, you must become aware, alarmed, and activated. Only when enough people speak up do politicians start to act. So speak up! Start praying about it. Support ministries that are involved in it. That way, you will be able to stand before God one day and say, ‘Lord, I did what I could about it!’

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Are you continuing to do things you don’t want to do and indulge in thoughts that lead you astray? Are you being constantly overcome by the same old temptations? Here is the bad news: the new birth doesn’t do away with your old nature; it actually intensifies the struggle between your flesh and your spirit. Here is the good news: you can live victoriously! How? 1) Through prayer. Jesus told His disciples, ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak’ (Matthew 26:41 KJV). If you’re tired of praying for forgiveness after you have failed, start praying before the temptation comes. No, you can’t pray temptation away, but you can prepare yourself in advance to overcome it. And if you need help, call in reinforcements. Find someone who knows how to stand with you in prayer. The Bible says, ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NKJV). 2) By making up your mind. ‘But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.’ The way to subdue your impulses is by activating your will – in advance. When you do that, God empowers you by His Spirit. Where did Daniel’s strength of purpose come from? God. He prayed three times every day (see Daniel 6:10). Don’t set yourself up for failure; keep yourself out of harm’s way. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, he ‘fled and ran outside’ (Genesis 39:12 NKJV). Both Joseph and Daniel had prayed and made up their mind what they would do before temptation came knocking. You must do that too.

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To overcome fear, you must believe that God is with you. It’s the key to your ability to obey what He tells you to do. As you become confident that He is with you, your fear will lessen. When David volunteered to fight Goliath, King Saul said to him, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine…for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth’ (1 Samuel 17:33 NKJV). David replied, ‘The Lord…will deliver me from…this Philistine’ (v. 37 NKJV). You’re not in this battle alone; the Lord is with you. When you’re convinced of that, your fear will subside. You may not always know what God will do, but you can relax in knowing He will do what needs to be done at the right time. When you think about the future and all the things that are unknown to you, it’s easy to feel afraid. But you can view it two ways. You can either be pessimistic and fearful, or you can say to yourself, ‘The battle is the Lord’s, and He has never lost a battle!’ You may not always know what to do in a tense situation, but God does. He knows everything prior to it happening, and He has planned your deliverance in advance. Just put one foot in front of the other, confident that He is guiding you. You don’t have to see God or feel Him in order to believe that He is with you. Faith is a matter of the heart instead of the natural senses. God is with you! Believe it and refuse to live in fear.

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When God says, ‘Fear not,’ He is basically telling you, ‘You’re going to have to deal with fear, but you can conquer it. You can act in spite of it.’ The Bible says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ Sometimes we mistakenly think that Scripture means if we love God perfectly enough, we won’t be afraid. No, the only perfect love is God’s love for you. And it’s unconditional. Knowing that He always loves you, walks with you, defends you, supports you, and has promised to bless you in all that you do is what casts out your fear. And it does one more thing: it strengthens your faith. ‘Without faith it is impossible to please [God]’ (Hebrews 11:6 KJV). When you know that God is pleased with you, you begin to rise above your fears. When fear knocks on your door and finds you full of faith, it cannot enter. That’s why you need to meditate continually on God’s Word and let your conversation be filled with faith. If you’re used to allowing your mind to go everywhere it pleases, meditating on God’s Word will require making a new habit. Don’t become discouraged if you discover you have good intentions but many failures. The Bible says, ‘We walk by faith’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). How did you learn to walk? By getting up one more time than you fell down, until you finally did it. When you set your mind to speaking fear-defying words of faith, the Holy Spirit will come to your aid and strengthen you. As one minister says, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, it is progress in its presence.’ So just keep progressing, and you will get there!

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God has created you for a life of growth, adventure, and acceleration. But you must take bold steps of faith. And you can’t do that if you’re perfectly satisfied to live in ‘the safe zone’. Even when you feel afraid, don’t let it stop you! Feel the fear and do it anyway! You say, ‘Will I ever stop being afraid?’ Yes, when you get to heaven. Feeling fear is part of being alive. You will experience fear when you try something for the first time, or when the obstacles in your path seem insurmountable, or when you feel like your resources are not equal to the challenge. None of this means you’re a coward; it just means you’re human. You are only cowardly when you let your fears control your actions and decisions. Feeling fear is merely the temptation to flee from what you should confront. Feeling fear is not the same as being afraid, because being afraid means allowing fearful feelings to take control of you. But you don’t have to. You can feel anger yet choose not to act on it, and instead respond with forgiveness and love. In the same way, you can feel fear and not let it make your decisions. ‘He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV). Note those two phrases: ‘He…has said’ and ‘we may boldly say’. So, stand on God’s Word today and declare, ‘I will not live in fear.’

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Advice columnist Ann Landers received about ten thousand letters every month. When asked to name the most common problem in her readers’ lives, she said, ‘Fear! People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.’ If you allow it to, fear will control you. ‘Fear involves torment’, and until the power of fear is broken, it will keep tormenting you. When fear rules your life, you cannot enjoy anything you do. And you certainly can’t enjoy God’s blessings. Dr Caroline Leaf says that fear triggers ‘more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than thirty different hormones and neurotransmitters.’ It’s at the root of all our stress. When fear causes a chronic stress reaction in us, it actually ‘marinates’ our body in chemicals that can be harmful in large amounts. This, of course, is terribly unhealthy and threatening to our physical well-being. The fear of not being accepted by others can make you develop a phony personality, stifling your true self and hiding who God made you to be. The fear of failure will prevent you from trying new things or stretching yourself to do more than you feel comfortable doing. The fear of the future can cause you not to enjoy your life today. Fear is a spirit, and it doesn’t come from God. ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Reject the spirit of fear. Draw on God’s power, believe He loves you unconditionally, and begin to exercise the ‘sound mind’ He has given you. Today, refuse to live in fear.

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Maybe you have repeatedly heard the words ‘You can’t’ throughout your life. Many people like to tell others what they cannot do. Even people you wouldn’t automatically consider to be against you – teachers, coaches, parents, family members, friends, and leaders of church groups or social events, who often fail to realise the power of their words over young lives. Many of us grew up thinking, ‘I can’t,’ when that wasn’t true at all! No matter how often you have heard someone say, ‘You can’t,’ stand on God’s Word and say, ‘Yes, I can!’ Miracles come in ‘cans’ – our belief that we can do everything we need to do through Christ who is our strength (see Philippians 4:13). God believes in you, and now is the time for you to believe in yourself. This is a new day! Put the past and all its disheartening remarks behind you. Words that speak of failure come from the Enemy, not God, so determine right now not to allow the power of ‘you can’t’ to affect you any longer. In contrast to the Enemy, God’s Spirit encourages you and will do everything to urge you forward towards success in all areas of life. Facing the challenges of the promised land, God told Joshua three times, ‘Be…of good courage’ (Joshua 1:9 NKJV). Always remember that if you feel ‘dis-couraged’, it’s from the devil. And that if you feel ‘en-couraged’, it’s from God. Decide to agree with God and say to yourself, ‘I can!’ Today let the power of God’s Word dominate the power of every negative word that has ever been spoken to you or about you.

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The secret of being able to do what you need to do is in realising that you cannot do it alone; you can only do it through God’s empowering grace. God said to Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you,’ and the word ‘grace’ includes ‘all of God you will ever need for whatever you face in life’. What a promise! Sometimes we think we have to do it all. We forget that the power of Christ works through us, so we’re defeated before we even begin. ‘We are labourers together with God’ (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV). We can’t do God’s part, and He won’t do our part. He wants us to follow His leading, but He insists that we depend on Him every step of the way. This is hard on our ego which says, ‘I can do it myself!’ Sometimes we have to be beaten into the ground before we let go of this kind of thinking. Knowing that we have certain gifts and talents, we make the mistake of assuming we can use them to succeed in our own strength. No, unless God’s grace is operating through your gift, you won’t be adequate to the challenge. The Bible says, ‘We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us’ (Romans 12:6 NIV). Grace is like electricity; in order for it to function effectively, you must stay plugged in. Jesus said: ‘No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:4-5 NIV). So, depend more on God.

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Paul writes: ‘I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]’ (v. 13 AMPC). Paul believed he could handle whatever life threw at him. Do you believe that too? What are the things that trigger your fear and cause you to say, ‘I could never do that’? Suddenly losing a loved one? Facing an unexpected illness? Having your adult child with two toddlers move into your fastidiously clean and tranquil house after you have had an empty nest for years? Going on a stringent diet because your life depends on it? Putting yourself on a budget to prevent repossession of your home? Suddenly having to take care of a disabled, elderly parent? Most people have some sort of situation that truly seems impossible to them, something they are unsure they can handle. The truth is, while some situations may be extremely undesirable or challenging for you, God says you can do whatever you need to do in life. He doesn’t say everything will be simple for you; He doesn’t promise you will enjoy every little thing you do, but that you can enjoy life in the middle of doing them. How? Through the power of the One ‘Who infuses inner strength into you’. When you need money, you make a withdrawal from your bank account. When your car is empty, you make a withdrawal from the petrol pump. So when life gets overwhelming, pray and make a withdrawal on God’s grace, love, strength, power, and guidance.

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By washing the dirt from His disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrated His willingness to forgive their sin before they even committed it. This takes love to its highest level. You say, ‘I am not the guilty party here.’ Neither was Jesus. Of the men in that room, only One was worthy of having His feet washed. And He was the One who washed the feet. The genius of Jesus’ example is that the burden of bridge-building falls on the strong one, not the weak one. And do you know what happens? More often than not, if the one in the right volunteers to wash the feet of the one in the wrong, both parties get on their knees. Don’t we all think we are right? Hence we wash each other’s feet. Understand this: relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished, but because the innocent are merciful. The mercy of Christ preceded His disciples’ mistakes, and our mercy must precede the mistakes of others too. Those in the circle of Christ had no doubt of His love, and those in our circles should have no doubt about ours either. Paul writes, ‘Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ’ (Ephesians 4:32 NCV). Because Christ has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Because He has a forgiving heart, we can have a forgiving heart. When Christ truly lives within us, we have no better alternative. There is incredible power in the words, ‘I forgive you; I love you; let’s move on’. Are there any sitting around your table today who need to be assured of your forgiveness?

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Sometimes people don’t make it easy to accept them. They can be bad tempered, selfish, critical, irritating, dismissive, aggressive and pompous. Sometimes you want to give them a piece of your mind; give them what they deserve – anything but acceptance. The command, ‘accept one another’, is inconvenient. And if Paul had stopped there, we might dodge the directive by saying he obviously meant good, reasonable, acceptable people. Alas, he goes on, ‘just as Christ accepted you’. Were you good, reasonable and acceptable? No, but He accepted you – flaws and all – and He still does! You say, ‘Somebody has to straighten these people out and require them to act right!’ You mean like Jesus required before He accepted you? Roman Christians had difficulty accepting their less experienced brothers, and Paul corrected them: ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling…for God has accepted them’ (Romans 14:1-3 NIVUK). Straightening people out isn’t our department; accepting them is. God calls us to accept messed-up, unspiritual, carnal, obnoxious, doctrinally misled, ‘just plain wrong’ people. You don’t have to approve of, like, or agree with them, but accepting them isn’t optional. There’s no elite, privileged, insider class. We occupy level ground because of two realities: our sin and the cross! Jews and Gentiles despised each other, even after salvation. Each wanted the other to change and become like them. But Paul took the axe to the root of that tree: ‘For Christ himself…reconciled both groups to God by means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death’ (Ephesians 2:14-16 NLT). Our job is to accept people – and let God adjust them.

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The Bible says, ‘We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away…how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?’ (vv. 1, 3 NKJV). Note the words ‘drift’ and ‘neglect’. Those words should set off alarm bells! Samson’s decline was so gradual that he didn’t even realise it was happening. Like flipping a switch, he’d become used to drawing on the power of God and overcoming every enemy and obstacle. But sin and self-indulgence became his undoing. When Delilah said, ‘“The Philistines are upon you, Samson!”…he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him’ (Judges 16:20-21 NKJV). When you neglect God, you begin to ‘drift away’. Your prayers aren’t as effective. You’re no longer a godly influence on those around you. You slip back into old habit patterns. You refuse to forgive those who’ve offended you. You fail to make amends to those you’ve hurt. You start doing what’s expedient and comfortable instead of what’s right. You harbour attitudes of fear and resentment. You feed your old nature and neglect your new one. These are all signs that you need a spiritual check-up. Ask God today to highlight those attitudes, activities and relationships that need to be dealt with and start weeding them out. The good news is that when you’re obedient to God’s Word and the Spirit’s leading, you regain your spiritual vitality and God can use you more effectively.

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A fascinating encounter took place between Jesus and Philip. When ‘Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father”…Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?”’ (vv. 8-9 NIV). There’s a lesson here for all of us. You can go to church regularly, serve on the board and sing in the choir, yet not really ‘know’ the Lord. To truly know someone, you must spend time with them, sharing and opening your heart. In other words, the relationship must become your top priority. What you are reading is called a ‘devotional’ because its aim is to bring you to the place where you’re more devoted to Christ than anything else. Does that mean neglecting other things? No, it’ll actually enhance every other area of your life. The Bible says, ‘He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel’ (Psalm 103:7 NKJV). Israel knew God’s acts because they were observers, whereas Moses knew His ways because he was intimate with Him. Israel saw what God did; Moses was close enough to understand His thinking and why He did what He did. Three times Jesus asked Peter, ‘Do you love Me?’ (John 21:15 NKJV). The first two times Peter answered, ‘Yes.’ The third time, frustrated by the question, he answered, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You’ (v. 17 NKJV). Note the words, ‘Lord, You know.’ You can fool others, and even yourself, but the Lord knows the quality of your love for Him. Today His desire is to draw you closer to Himself. Are you available?

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Ken Blanchard said, ‘None of us is as smart as all of us.’ As much as we would like to think that we know it all, if we’re honest, each of us is painfully aware that we have blind spots and areas of inexperience. You have had experiences others haven’t had; they have had experiences you haven’t had, and when you get together, you harness your joint experience and knowledge. Jesus sent the seventy disciples out in groups of two. Why? 1) For support. ‘Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.’ 2) For enlightenment. Playwright Ben Jonson said, ‘He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.’ 3) For accountability. The pastor of a megachurch introduced the man who travelled with him to his audience, saying, ‘I am vulnerable to temptation, and he is my safeguard.’ You could have heard a pin drop in the crowd! Sometimes you need comfort, and other times you need correction. It takes humility to acknowledge that, and emotional security to put it in place. Until you realise that others can help you live a fuller and better life than you could live on your own, you’re tying your own hands and limiting your potential. As long as your goal is to get ahead of others rather than work with them, your future will be short-changed. Good thinkers comprehend the power of shared thinking. They understand that when they treasure the thoughts and ideas of others, they receive the compounding results of shared thinking and achieve more than they ever could on their own. The truth is, you need others.

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In order to succeed, there are certain things you must give up. 1) You can’t be friends with everybody. Jesus loved everybody but spent most of His time with twelve people mentoring them. And He spent extra time with Peter, James, and John, His inner circle. At His life’s end, He could say, ‘I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do’ (John 17:4 NIV). 2) You can’t do everything. Because of the fast pace of our society, people tend to multi-task. But shifting from task to task can cost you up to 40 per cent efficiency. According to researchers, you will get more done focusing on one task at a time, not switching constantly from one task to another. David said, ‘One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek.’ 3) You can’t be well rounded. Yes, there must be a balance between your private world and your public one. But it’s a myth to believe that you can know everyone, do everything, go everywhere, and have everything. You don’t need to know 99 per cent of everything in life; you just need to focus on the 1 per cent that gives you the highest return. If you’re too easily distracted, you need people in your life who are empowered to ‘call you on it’ and help you get back on track. You need to know what you should and shouldn’t be bothered about. Bottom line: in order to go higher and achieve greater things, you must be willing to lay aside certain things. Even good things (see Hebrews 12:1-3).

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A broken heart can’t be healed by working sixteen hours a day, sweating it out in a gym, or using mood-altering substances like alcohol and drugs. Those things may bring a temporary fix but don’t bring a lasting cure. After falling into sin and shame, David prayed, ‘Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.’ Good news: God can restore what you have lost and teach you things about yourself you didn’t know that make you a better person. And one of the first lessons He teaches us is about forgiveness. You can’t hold the club of unforgiveness over somebody else’s head and expect to find healing yourself. Forgiveness is just a word until you extend it. Your peace of mind and confidence before God depend on your willingness to extend grace to others (see Mark 11:25). The second lesson He teaches us is about relationships. And some of those relationships will bring you more pain than pleasure. Judas’ betrayal, painful as it was, was instrumental in bringing about history’s greatest event – the cross. Does that mean anybody and everybody can walk into your life and do what they want? No; their access to you is limited by the shield of God’s purpose. Some people bring comfort while others build character, and you need both. The third lesson He teaches us is about ‘the yes zone’. ‘What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open’ (Revelation 3:7 NIV). So whether God opens the door or shuts it, trust Him, follow Him, and say, ‘Yes, Lord,’ because He loves you and has only the best in mind for you.

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David said, ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul’ (vv. 1-3 NKJV). Today car engines are computerised. A light on your dashboard will let you know something’s wrong and that it’s time for a check-up. Your soul will do that too. But you’ve got to pay attention to the signals! Don’t wait until you have a spiritual, moral, emotional or relational breakdown before you stop and pay attention. When your soul’s thirst is not quenched and its needs are not met, it will seek relief some other way, often a way that will hurt you. You must know when to say ‘when’. Most of us don’t take breaks that enable us to ‘restore our souls’. We’re ensnared by guilt, as if stopping would somehow be irresponsible. Or we fear losing ground because we took a minute for ourselves. One of the hardest things in life to achieve is not success, but a sense of balance. So in all your goal-setting and ‘go-getting’, don’t forget your soul. Even God rested (see Genesis 2:2). And if He did, then you need to also. The power of rest is that it allows you to enjoy the journey of life and not just the destination. Indeed, if you don’t learn to walk in the park by choice, you may end up in the hospital by necessity. When God ‘makes you lie down in green pastures’, enjoy them. When He ‘leads you beside the still waters’, it’s to refresh and restore you. So practise soul care!

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The book of Proverbs begins: ‘These are the proverbs of Solomon…Their purpose is to teach people wisdom…to help them understand the insights of the wise…to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance’ (Proverbs 1:1-5 NLT). Creative thinking is simply disciplined thinking. If you think you know all there is to know, then you already know everything you’re ever going to know. In order to break out of the box, you must begin by asking the right questions. Sir Antony Jay said, ‘The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a creative mind to spot wrong questions.’ Wrong questions halt the process of creative thinking. They send you down the same old path. In order to change your life, you must change your thinking. That means you must be willing to ask these two questions: ‘Why must it always be done this way? Is there a better way?’ Whether your goal is to build a better life, or a better family, or a better business, or a better church, or a better career, or a better ‘anything’, all change and progress must begin by honestly asking those two questions. The saying is true: ‘If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.’ So, do you want to succeed? You must be willing to change your thinking in order to accomplish it.

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If you’re surrounded by negativity, look for a better environment. Charlie Brower said, ‘A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man’s brow.’ Negative environments kill great ideas every minute. A creative environment, on the other hand, becomes like a greenhouse where ideas are seeded, then sprout and thrive. In order to grow, you must seek out people who are committed to personal growth. Such people: 1) Encourage creativity. David Hills says: ‘Studies of creativity suggest that the biggest single variable of whether or not employees will be creative is whether they perceive they have permission.’ When innovation and good thinking are openly encouraged and rewarded, people see they have permission to be creative. 2) Are willing to risk failure. Even when you have studied and prepared yourself thoroughly, you will have to try several times before you succeed. So, you need to be in an environment where mistakes are viewed as part of the creative process. 3) Believe in the potential of a dream. A creative environment encourages the use of a blank sheet of paper and the question, ‘If you could draw a picture of what you want to accomplish, what would it look like?’ A creative environment allowed Dr Martin Luther King Jr to speak with passion and declare, ‘I have a dream,’ not ‘I have a goal.’ Goals may give focus, but dreams have power. Dreams expand your world. And God is the giver of dreams and visions (see Joel 2:28).

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When you think creatively, you’re thinking like God your creator. But not everybody will welcome your creative ideas. Jesus wasn’t crucified because He worked miracles; He was loved and applauded for those. He was crucified for having ideas that challenged the status quo. God is the giver of great concepts, truths, and ideas. So when He gives you one, don’t let anybody talk you out of it. Don’t let the fear of rejection or failure kill your idea either. After all, you can’t do something new and exciting if you force yourself to stay in the same old rut. Don’t just work harder at the same old thing; make a change. And the first thing you will have to change is how you think, what you listen to and believe. Take a look at the following phrases: ‘I’m not a creative person. Follow the rules. Don’t ask questions. Don’t be different. Stay within the lines. There is only one way to do it. Don’t be foolish. Think of your image. That’s not logical. It’s not practical. It’s never been done. It can’t be done. It didn’t work for them. We tried that before. It’s too much work. We can’t afford to make a mistake. It will be too hard to administer. We don’t have the time. We don’t have the money. Yes, but…’ Paul writes, ‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’ (v. 2 NLT). The word for today is – change your thinking, change your life.

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When you ask a little child what they want to be when they grow up, they are apt to say something like a firefighter, or a doctor, or a famous actor. The ability to dream is a gift that God has placed within each of us. If you want to achieve great things in life, you need a vision. Joseph’s vision didn’t come to pass until he was thirty, but he received it from God when he was a teenager. And God will give you one too: ‘Your young men [and women] shall see visions.’ Right now you may be considering different options for your life, and even experimenting with some. That’s okay, you’re still getting to know yourself; your strengths and weaknesses, what you’re drawn to, and what you have no interest in at all. If you focus your thinking on only one thing and your aspirations change, then you have wasted your best mental energy. But as you grow and mature, you need to zero in and become selective. The Chinese say, ‘A man who chases two rabbits catches neither.’ And when you receive a God-given vision, it has staying power. It’s like a fire burning within you. It may be a full-time vocation or a part-time avocation, but it’s the thing you will find the most fulfilment in doing. Paul wrote, ‘This one thing I do’ (Philippians 3:13 KJV). As a result, he changed history, and today, churches and cathedrals are named after him. Here is a prayer God will answer: ‘Lord, give me a vision for my life!’

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If the desire of your heart is to please God and fulfil His will for your life, here is a prayer for you: ‘Lord, I thank You that even though You know everything about me, You still love me. You know my thoughts, my mistakes, my sins, and yet You still call me your child. Your grace towards me is beyond comprehension. More than anything else, I want to know You intimately and sense Your presence in my life each day. If there is any part of me that I have kept from You, show me so that I can invite You to rule and reign there. Come into me, Holy Spirit, and revive my soul with rivers of living water. Then flow out through me into a dry and thirsty world (see John 7:38-39). Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You instead of others (see Hebrews 12:1-2). Lord, be my richest treasure always. Help me never to make an idol out of anyone or anything or allow possessions or the distractions of this world to get in front of You in any way. You are my healer, my hope, and my strength. When I need freedom, You are my deliverer. You are my shield from the Enemy, my counsellor when I need guidance, and my stronghold in the day of trouble (see Psalm 32:7). Truly, You are the God of miracles. Work Your miracles of grace in my life and keep changing me from day to day into Your likeness (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

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The Bible says: ‘True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows’ (vv. 6-10 NLT). Here is a prayer for financial contentment: ‘Lord, heal me from the stress of worrying about my perception among my peers. Give me the gift of satisfaction with what You want me to have. Thank You for teaching me to walk beside You, not in front of You. I repent of the times I got ahead of You. I also regret the times You were trying to bless me, and I was somewhere behind You, grappling with old issues. From this day forward, I will walk with You in peace and prosperity, knowing who I am, and whose I am. I’m preparing to be blessed with the practical steps I’m learning. But my focus is on You, and my relationship with You. Your Word says when I put You first, other things will happen as I prepare myself for what You have for me (see Matthew 6:33). Thank You for maturity coming to me spiritually, financially, and emotionally. My family will be blessed by what You’re teaching me. Amen.’

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Here are some more situations when God might send an angel to help you. 1) When doing the right thing gets you into trouble. Doing God’s will put Daniel in a lions’ den, but God brought him out and publicly vindicated him. The king declared, ‘Every part of my kingdom…must…reverence the God of Daniel. For…his dominion will never end’ (v. 26 NIV). 2) When you’re tired of battling temptation. When the urge to pick up a drink, drug, or a cigarette feels overwhelming, or you think the only way out is to lie, or loneliness is driving you into the arms of the wrong person. After Jesus had battled temptation for forty days, the Bible says, ‘The devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him’ (Matthew 4:11 KJV). 3) When the load you have been called to carry feels too heavy. Facing the indescribable agony of being crucified on a cross, Jesus prayed the defining prayer of His life: ‘“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him’ (Luke 22:42-43 NIV). God will strengthen you through His Word and prayer. Sometimes He will send people you know to help you do it. Paul wrote, ‘We were harassed at every turn – conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus’ (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NIV). Other times, He will send an angel. Bottom line: when you call on God for help, you can be sure that help is on the way.

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What are some other situations when God might send an angel to help you? 1) To get you out of trouble. Lot was living in Sodom, a city about to be destroyed because of its sin. That’s when God sent angels to rescue him and his family from impending doom. Lot listened, obeyed, and survived, but sadly his wife didn’t, and she perished (see Genesis 19). 2) To change your life’s direction. ‘Moses was tending the flock of Jethro…There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush’ (Exodus 3:1-2 NIV). Moses thought his life was over. He started out in a palace and ended up in a pasture. But every experience, good and bad, had equipped him to lead the greatest migration of people in history. 3) When you’re facing your biggest challenge. In order to enter the promised land, Israel first had to conquer its biggest city: Jericho. And Joshua hadn’t a clue as to how to do it. That’s when God sent an angel with a plan that would literally bring down the walls (see Joshua 5:14). 4) When you have given it your best and want to give up. After his spectacular victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Jezebel put out a death threat on the prophet Elijah. How did it affect him? ‘“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life”…Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up”’ (1 Kings 19:4-5 NIV). And today God still sends angels in disguise to help us.

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In what situation might God send an angel to help you? 1) When those you love and trust have disappointed you. Imagine how Hagar felt. In a joint decision with his wife, Sarah, Abraham got Hagar pregnant in order to try and fulfil God’s promise. Then when Isaac was born a year later, he sent her away without child support. Weeping and believing they would both die, Hagar left baby Ishmael under a tree and walked away. But God sent an angel to tell her that her son was a child of destiny from whom would come a great people (see Genesis 21:18). 2) When you’re facing embarrassment and can’t defend yourself. Mary planned to get married first, then have a baby. But God had a different plan. Not only was she facing public humiliation, but according to the law, she should be put to death. But God sent an angel to vindicate her and tell her that she was in the centre of His will (see Luke 1:34-38). 3) When you’re grieving the death of someone you love and fearing for your future. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus more than life itself, so when He died and was buried, she was distraught and heartbroken. That’s when God sent an angel to announce: ‘He is not here: for he is risen’ (Matthew 28:6 KJV). The Bible says, ‘Some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2 NIV). If you allow it to, a cynical world will make you doubt that God actually loves you so much He would send an angel to help you. But it’s true.

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God can come to you in varied forms. When Jesus appeared to His disciples and stilled the storm, they thought He was a ghost. So, your intellect can undermine your faith. The Bible says angels are ‘ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation’. Have you ever seen an angel? They aren’t always dressed in white with dramatically arched wings. Sometimes they’re so ordinary that they’re overlooked. ‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2 NIV). Perhaps you think God doesn’t send angels because He has given us His Holy Spirit to help, protect, and guide us. Not so. Remember, God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison on the eve of his execution. On his way to Rome, Paul was on board a ship that was destined to be destroyed by a ferocious storm. But God sent an angel to assure him he would survive it. So, Paul announced to the crew and passengers: ‘Take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul”…Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me’ (Acts 27:22-25 NKJV). You may not be able to see angels, but you can be certain that they see you; indeed, they never take their eyes off you! (See Matthew 18:10.)

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The Bible says: ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you’ (vv. 31-32 NLT). Are you struggling to forgive someone? Here is a prayer: ‘Lord, I praise You for forgiving me and washing my sins away. Reveal anything I need to confess to You today so that I can bring it before You and be cleansed and set free, especially any place in my heart where I have not forgiven someone. I know how subtly resentment and bitterness can build up and hinder my prayers. I recognise that my lack of forgiveness towards others can keep me from experiencing Your forgiveness (see Mark 11:25). To say that I need Your help to forgive others the way You have always been forgiving towards me is a huge understatement. You forgave the unforgivable on the cross. I acknowledge that I am incapable of forgiving on my own. Remind me that I cannot make my forgiveness conditional upon whether people deserve it or not, and that the focus of my heart must remain on becoming more like You. Give me grace to forgive, and not hold forgiveness back until the other person says or does what I think they should. Take away anything of anger, bitterness, or resentment in my heart. Pour out Your Spirit upon me and cleanse me of all that’s not of You. Enable me to walk in the forgiveness You have given me and to extend it to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

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The Bible says God ‘filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver – those who do every work and those who design artistic works’ (v. 35 NKJV). When God calls you to do something, He has already placed within you the ability to accomplish it. Satan hopes you never discover that. He wants you to remain trapped in the status quo, believing that the way things are is how they will always be. Not so! When you change your thinking, your life begins to change. ‘As he thinketh in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). As long as you are content to remain as you are, you will never begin to think creatively. But when you decide you want your life to change for the better, you become teachable and open yourself to becoming creative. Like anything else in life, creativity begins with one idea. Then those ideas multiply! And each creative idea you have increases your ability to become a creative thinker. Poet Maya Angelou observed: ‘You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Sadly, too often creativity is smothered rather than nurtured. There has to be a climate in which new ways of thinking, perceiving, and questioning are encouraged.’ If you cultivate creative thinking, there is no telling what kind of ideas you will come up with or how far you will go in life. Are you ready to start? Ask your Creator for a creative idea, then step out in faith and act on it.

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Today one of the biggest sources of conflict in marriage is money. That is because a husband and wife often have opposite ideas about how it ought to be used. Stop and consider the words ‘delayed gratification’. When one spouse is willing to delay purchasing something until their financial house is in order, but the other one isn’t, the battle lines begin to form. Another disagreement that can arise is deciding when, and for what, credit should be obtained. This is treacherous territory. Nothing irritates a disciplined, thrifty person more than living with someone who wastes their income and their future earnings on things that aren’t truly needed. Another potential minefield in marriage for many of us is deciding when and how much to give to our children. Because we love them so much, we want life to be easier and better for them growing up than it was for us. But it takes a steady hand to hold a full cup. The Bible clearly teaches the virtues of hard work, living frugally, saving, building, and producing by the sweat of our brows. And if our children don’t learn these virtues the right way – while they’re living in our home – there is a good chance they will learn them the hard way – while building their own home. So here is some good advice: stay out of debt as much as possible and be extremely cautious with credit cards. Their misuse can weaken your family’s stability and future. Indeed, credit cards should be labelled, ‘Danger! Handle with care!’ Jesus put it this way: ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own’ (Luke 12:15 NLT).

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Solomon writes: ‘I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one can bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.’ Begin now to think about what you can do to find more joy in every experience. The present moment is all you’re guaranteed, so don’t wait until later – until you get married, retire, go on holiday, or until your children finish university – to enjoy your life. No one knows what will happen next in their lives or in the world. You’re alive now, so maximise it, embrace it, and celebrate it. Nobody was busier than Jesus, yet He knew how to celebrate! His first miracle was performed at a wedding reception. His schedule was hectic, yet He interrupted it to enjoy time with children. The needs He faced were endless, yet He took time off to rest. These words are from an anonymous writer: ‘If I had my life to live over, I would take more chances…[and] more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones…I have been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places and do things and travel lighter than I have.’ Don’t wait; enjoy your life now.

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If you were miserable before you met Jesus, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that the only place His presence can be enjoyed is in church. No, you can enjoy His presence everywhere. At home, at work, at school, in business, and even in times of suffering and adversity. Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk in a French monastery, wrote the best-selling book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He resented his daily routine in the kitchen. Then God showed him that everything he did each day could be done for God and with God. That truth transformed his life. You can cultivate your mind to be more productive, and you can also cultivate your spirit to be more sensitive to God. You can reach the place where you sense His presence and His pleasure in all that you do. Believing God is present with you won’t help you much if you think He is always upset with you. But when you see yourself as accepted in Christ, you realise that He is not only present with you at all times but pleased with you (see Ephesians 1:6). That will radically change your thinking about God. There are dozens of things pertaining to everyday life, and you can enjoy them all if you just make the decision to do it – getting dressed, going to work, organising things, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. After all, these are the things life is made up of. Joy comes not merely from being entertained, but from a decision to be grateful for each moment you are given as a rare and valuable gift from God.

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Don’t let ‘date-setters’ make you cynical about Christ’s soon return. When the founder of a major church denomination predicted in print the date of Christ’s second coming, his successors faced the embarrassment of having to publicly acknowledge that they were wrong. Do you remember the alarmists of Y2K? Declaring to a scientific certainty that the year 2000 would bring the end of the world and the return of Christ, they caused people to leave their jobs, sell their homes, stock up on food, and head for the hills. And because of such embarrassments, many preachers today have silenced or toned down the truth of Christ’s second coming. Yes, when some people hear the message, they roll their eyes and say, ‘Not again!’ But doubt about Christ’s return is one of the signs that guarantees it will happen. The Bible says: ‘In the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth…They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”…The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief…the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment…so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight’ (vv. 3-4, 9-10, 14 NLT).

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Before written languages were developed, memory was the only way to learn. In our day, memorising has got a bad name as ‘rote learning’. But memorising never makes your mind a duller place – just the opposite! When we have stored wonderful words in our memory, we will have a much richer inner life than someone who doesn’t. Eva Hermann spent two years in a Nazi prison camp. She wrote how a young cellmate happened to recite the prayer of St Teresa: ‘Let naught trouble thee; let naught frighten thee; all things pass. God alone changeth not. Patience can do all things. Whoever has God, has everything. God alone sufficeth.’ When Eva saw how much this helped the girl, she began to repeat the prayer at the end of every day. Eva later wrote of how her time in prison was transformed by the words she had memorised. This illustrates that the words we carry in our minds are available to transform any given moment. So when there is a verse of Scripture that speaks to you, stop and write it on a card. Put it on a mirror in your bathroom, or on your smartphone or calendar, or in your car. If you’re an auditory learner, listen to the Scripture being read on CDs or on an iPod. If you’re a visual learner, light a candle and read these words: ‘God is light; in him there is no darkness at all’ (1 John 1:5 NIV). When God’s Word is rehearsed, remembered, and repeated often, it’s like a stream of joy, peace, and strength that flows and carries your soul along with it.

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Why did Jesus say, ‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full’? Because if you let it, stress will drain you of joy and consign you to a life of depression, dullness, and discontent. Let’s face it – most of us are way too serious! We make a big deal out of everything. Being five minutes late, getting stuck in traffic, somebody giving us a wrong look, waiting in line, overcooking a meal, gaining a pound, discovering a wrinkle, making an honest mistake…you name it; we lose all perspective. The real problem is we have unrealistic expectations. That’s not how God wants you to live! If you want to experience the joy Jesus promised, do these two things: 1) Concede that your uptightness is largely because of the way you have decided life should be. 2) Acknowledge that your expectations are causing you much of your frustration. When you keep expecting things to always be a certain way and they’re not, you will always be upset. Here is an idea: try approaching life today without all those expectations. For example, don’t expect everybody to be friendly – then when some are, you will be delighted. Don’t expect your day to be hassle-free; when trouble comes, look up and say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for another chance to grow.’ Go ahead, try it and see how much better things are. Rather than swimming against the tide, learn to flow with it. Pretty soon, you will find you’re enjoying life more! And not just that: other people will enjoy being around you more.

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In the Bible the word ‘minister’ isn’t just a noun (which denotes a person, place, or thing); it’s also a verb (an action word). It’s what you do, not what you claim to be. In Scripture, the word ‘servant’ sometimes referred to a third-level galley slave chained to the oar of a Roman ship. Day and night, they rowed to the beat of another, and whether in battle or in merchant service, they expected to die chained to that oar. What a picture! Paul says, ‘Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God…Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable’ (Romans 12:1 NLT). Paul had no doubt about what God had called him to be. When he referred to himself as a ‘bond-servant’, he was describing a slave who served his master faithfully for six years. In the seventh year, the law of Moses required that the slave be set free. But if, when he was released, he came back and said, ‘Master, I’m not serving you because I have to; I’m serving you because I want to,’ his master would take him before a magistrate and pierce his ear, signifying that he belonged to him forever (see Exodus 21:6). Sometimes you need to look up and say: ‘Lord, I’m not serving you because I have to; I’m serving you because I love you. Pierce my ear. Mark me as yours. Bond me with you so I can never belong to another.’ When you think of everything Jesus has done for you, is that really too much to ask?

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How would you describe your relationship with your children? Strained? Exciting? Heart-breaking? Enjoyable? If you want a real eye-opener, ask them to describe their feelings about you and their home. But be warned – what they say might not be to your liking! And having a Christian home doesn’t necessarily exempt you. The old nature in us still rears its ugly head from time to time, and habits set in concrete can lead to broken communication. When biblical principles are ignored, the result is pain and strain in the family. Three illustrations come to mind: 1) Rebekah loved her son Jacob more than his brother Esau, so she used him to deceive their father, Isaac, and cause division in the family (see Genesis 27). 2) Eli, the high priest, let his boys run wild, and in the end it cost him his life (see 1 Samuel 3-4). 3) David preached one thing but practised another, and his children (as kids are apt to do) were more influenced by what he did than by what he said. (see 2 Samuel 11, 13, 15-16; 1 Kings 11). Nobody is immune; not David, not Rebekah, not Eli – not you! But evaluation is pointless if it leads to guilt without action. So what should you do? Take time to get close to your children. Deal with the barriers between you. You can’t change anything unless you’re willing to acknowledge it – and sometimes change must begin with you. For example, does your attitude need adjusting? How about your priorities? What about the example you have been setting lately? Before you try to deal with your children, ask God to deal with you.

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Long before William James, the Father of American psychology, was attributed with saying, ‘The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes,’ God said, ‘As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). Often it’s our thoughts, not our circumstances, that determine our happiness. We keep thinking we will be happy when certain things happen. For example, a parent might say, ‘When little Tommy starts primary school, I will be happy.’ And they are, for a while. Next, ‘When Tommy leaves secondary school, I will be happy.’ And they are, at least for the summer. Next, Tommy’s graduation from university brings the same promise; so does his marriage, and the birth of the first grandchild. But the problem is, the parent hasn’t learned how to be happy between ‘happenings’. When your happiness is controlled by something outside yourself, you will always be hostage to people, places, and things. That’s not how God wants you to live – a victim of circumstances beyond your control. The psalmist said, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth’ (Psalm 34:1 KJV). David chose the right attitude, and you have to do the same! You also must maintain it. That’s the hard part. It’s like the old farmer who said, ‘The hardest thing about milking cows is – they don’t stay milked!’ And it’s the same with attitudes; they don’t stay changed. You have to work on them every day; it’s called ‘renewing…your mind’. And the way you do it is by getting into God’s Word and getting His Word into you. Are you doing that regularly?

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Self-pity can be deadly. It tells the wife and mother who works hard, ‘You’re not appreciated.’ It says to the office worker, ‘Look how valuable you are, yet you’re never recognised or rewarded.’ It says to the unemployed, ‘No chance!’ To the divorced, ‘No place!’ To the bereaved, ‘No hope!’ And to the struggling, ‘No way!’ Look at the prophet Elijah. Twenty-four hours after his greatest victory, he is deeply depressed and wallowing in self-pity. ‘I have had enough…Take my life…I have zealously served…But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed…your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too’ (1 Kings 19:4, 10 NLT). There it is – self-pity in the raw! Generally speaking, there are two reasons behind self-pity. The first is emotional manipulation. We use self-pity as a weapon to guilt-trip others and get our own way. That’s immaturity and you have to deal with it, whether it’s in yourself or somebody else. On the other hand, self-pity can also stem from sheer exhaustion. Recorded in the Old Testament, God showed Elijah four things that were necessary to getting himself back on track: 1) He needed more rest. 2) He hadn’t been eating properly. 3) He had taken his eyes off God and was trying to do everything in his own strength. 4) He was isolated and needed a friend. So, God gave him Elisha. That did the job, and the next time we see Elijah, he is back on top. Take a moment today and think about how these four truths apply to your life.

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There are events in all our lives that, looking back, had to be the hand of God at work. One author puts it like this: ‘Maybe you bumped into somebody who introduced you to your spouse…or a co-worker resigned and suddenly you were promoted…or a stranger said something that spoke to your heart. These are all signs of God’s favour, and when you’re tempted to get down, you need to remember how God opened the door for you…how he made a way…how he spared your life…how he healed your child. There is no such thing as coincidence…when something good happens, recognise that it’s God, and recall it often.’ In the Old Testament, ‘Jacob set up a memorial…to mark the place where God had spoken with him.’ Have you established any memorial stones lately? A sure way to build your faith is to remember all the times God made a way when every door was locked and barred against you…days when you were lonely and God brought the right person into your life…nights when you felt so bad you didn’t think you would make it until the next morning. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, God turned things around…gave you the oil of joy for mourning…lifted you out of the pit…gave you a new beginning…and today you’re happy, healthy, and whole. And best of all: if He did it before, He will do it again! He is the same today as He was yesterday, and when you take time to remember His goodness and faithfulness, it strengthens you to keep fighting the good fight of faith.

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When the Israelites ‘cried to the Lord…he saved them…He brought them out of darkness…and broke…their chains’ (vv. 13-14 NIV). And He can set you free from whatever is holding you captive today. And not just temporary freedom, but long-term freedom: ‘If the Son sets you free, you are free through and through’ (John 8:36 MSG). Here are two steps you can take towards freedom: 1) Cry out to the Lord. God said, ‘You will…find me when you seek me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). Away with dignity and decorum – desperate situations call for desperate measures! Stop trying to handle it alone. If you could save yourself, you wouldn’t need a Saviour. Give it to God, ‘casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV). 2) Feed your soul spiritually. Freedom is a two-part process. The first iscommunion with Jesus. The Israelites fed on the Passover lamb in preparation for leaving slavery. And Jesus, the Lamb of God, declares, ‘I am the living bread…Whoever eats this bread will live forever’ (John 6:51 NIV). Sharing your feelings and needs with Him will lighten your burden, relieve your loneliness, and nourish your soul. Jesus came to proclaim ‘freedom for the prisoners…to set the oppressed free’ (Luke 4:18 NIV). The second part is meditating on Scripture. Rejecting God’s Word caused the Israelites to become slaves: ‘Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High…they fell down, and there was none to help’ (Psalm 107:11-12 NKJV). To be set free and stay free, feed every day on God’s life-giving Word.

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For four hundred years, Israel was enslaved by Egyptian taskmasters who oppressed them and ‘made their lives bitter’ (Exodus 1:14 KJV). And you can understand their feelings of helplessness when you consider the areas in your own life where you struggle for freedom from old habits. Whether it’s anger, food, alcohol, drugs, sex, money, or abusive relationships, we experience a sense of powerlessness in our struggle. And repeated bids for freedom can produce increased feelings of hopelessness that lead us to give up trying altogether. But the Israelites cried out to God, and He responded: ‘I have…seen the misery of my people…I have heard them crying out…and I am concerned about their suffering.’ Today God sees you, God hears you, and God is concerned about you. He said, ‘I have come down to rescue them…and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land…flowing with milk and honey’ (Exodus 3:8 NIV). Notice, He had ‘come down’ to ‘bring them up’. How did He do it? Their deliverance called for the death of the spotless Passover lamb. After applying its sacrificial blood to their doorposts, they cooked and ate the lamb while dressed in their travelling clothes, staff in hand, ready to leave captivity behind. Today, God wants you to prayerfully prepare for your journey to freedom; not by your own futile human efforts, but by faith in the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. ‘Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch…For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed’ (1 Corinthians 5:7 NIV). Aren’t you glad?

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Dr Richard Swenson says, ‘You can go into the woods, select a ten-foot sapling, bend it over, and when you release it, it will return to its normal height. But if you keep bending it further and further, it will stay down. With stress, first you bend, and then you recover. With burnout, first you bend, and then you break – and you stay broken. When the writer of Proverbs says, “I am weary and worn out,” he is not referring to a figment of his imagination or a sensationalised diagnosis by psychologists. Exhaustion is real and it’s common and it’s dangerous; it leads to irritability, anger, paranoia, headaches, ulcers, depression, and suicide. Burnout causes something inside you to break; you don’t care who sees or hears, you just want out. The good news is you can recover your passion, enthusiasm, productivity, and excellence, but it takes time and the healing is mostly by scar formation. Burnout is common among the spiritually minded who are sensitive…They see pain and internalise it. They want to help the wounded…they don’t realise they were never designed to carry the world on their backs.’ So what’s the remedy? ‘Rest in the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NLT). But to receive Psalm 91’s benefits, you need to meet its conditions by making God your dwelling place, abiding in Him, and submitting to His authority. ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress…in him will I trust’ (v. 2 KJV). Note the word ‘say’. What you say can mean life or death (see Proverbs 18:21). It can put you over the top or put you under. So today, read God’s Word, internalise and personalise and verbalise it, and your life will take an upward swing.

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Has everyone else written off your Saul? ‘He is too far gone.’ ‘She is too hard…too addicted…too old…too cold.’ Joseph believed one day he would be reunited with the brothers who betrayed him, and it happened. The prophet Hosea’s wife deserted him and became a prostitute. Yet, he kept the door open, and she came home. God believed in Saul. And he believed in Saul through Ananias: ‘Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit’ (v. 17 NIV). Max Lucado writes: ‘My favourite Ananias-type story involves a couple of college roommates. The Ananias of the pair was a tolerant soul. He tolerated his friend’s late-night drunkenness, midnight throw-ups, and all-day sleep-ins. He didn’t complain when his friend disappeared for the weekend or smoked cigarettes in the car. He could have requested a roommate who went to church more or cursed less or cared about something other than impressing girls. But he hung with his personal Saul, seeming to think that something good could happen if the guy could pull his life together. So he kept cleaning up the mess, inviting his roommate to church, and covering his back. I don’t remember a bright light or a loud voice. I’ve never travelled a desert road to Damascus. But I distinctly remember Jesus knocking me off my perch and flipping on the light. It took four semesters, but Steve’s example and Jesus’ message finally got through.’ So, no matter what, don’t give up on your Saul!

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Three-quarters of the world’s income ends up in the pockets of 20 per cent of its population. Think of it this way: ten dairy farmers live in the same valley, and among them they own ten cows. But the cows aren’t evenly distributed, one cow to one farmer. It’s more like this: two farmers own eight cows, while the other eight farmers share two cows. Does that seem right? The two farmers who own eight cows might easily say, ‘I worked for my cows.’ But the question is, what responsibility does God place on the ‘haves’ with regard to the ‘have-nots’? First, that you allow yourself to feel concern and compassion. Second, that you get out of your comfort zone and do something about it. ‘Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them – they are…blessed in the land – he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sick-bed and restores them’ (vv. 1-3 NIVUK). When you bless the poor, God blesses you. So, as one leader wrote, make this your prayer: ‘Lord, you promised we would always have the poor among us. Help me to make sure that the reverse is also true: that I’m always among the poor – helping, encouraging, and lending a hand wherever I can. Enable me to love the invisible God by serving the very visible poor in my corner of the world. Help me to be creative without being condescending, encouraging without being egotistic, and fearless without being foolish. May the poor bless You because of me…amen.’

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When he was a theology student, Jim Wallis and some of his classmates took scissors to the Bible and cut out every verse about poverty, wealth, justice, or oppression. And would you believe it, by the time they had finished, there were some two thousand verses lying on the floor! The fact is, when you cut concern for the poor from your Bible, you cut the heart right out of it! Here is one such verse: ‘“He defended the cause of the poor and needy…so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord’ (v. 16 NIV). Jesus often quoted Scripture, but only on one occasion do we find Him selecting and reading from it. And what portion did He choose to read publicly? ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free’ (Luke 4:18 NIV). Here was His to-do list: help for body and soul, strength for the physical and spiritual, and therapy for temporal and eternal. Now some people (albeit a minority) are poor because they’re lazy and need to be taught that God’s Word says, ‘Those unwilling to work will not get to eat’ (2 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT). But others are poor because parasites have weakened their bodies, or they spend six hours every day collecting water, or rebel armies have destroyed their farms, or disease has claimed their parents. These are the people God has assigned us to care for!

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Since the government didn’t care for widows and orphans back in New Testament times, the church took on that responsibility. Unfortunately, bias raised its ugly head and Jewish widows and orphans were given preferential treatment over Gentile widows and orphans. How did the church leaders respond? They could easily have dismissed it, like we so often do. They could have said, ‘We’re called to feed souls, not stomachs. We deal in matters of sin and salvation, not sandals and soup.’ Instead, here is what they did. First, they called a meeting to resolve the problem (see Acts 6:2). They let every member know that their church took poverty seriously, and they were each personally responsible before God to do something about it. The Scripture doesn’t endorse forced communism, but it clearly teaches Spirit-led volunteerism. Second, they assigned the problem to their brightest and best. They selected seven men – well respected, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom – and gave them this responsibility (see Acts 6:3 NLT). Instead of grooming our children for ‘important’ fields like medicine, law, politics, or government, let’s teach them that caring for the needy is one of God’s highest callings. Why do 10 per cent of the world’s population go to bed hungry each night? Or seventeen thousand-plus children die every single day (one every five seconds) from malnutrition and preventable diseases when we can do something about it? No one can do everything, but God has called each of us to do something! ‘Pure and genuine religion…means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let world [systems] corrupt you [into believing that it’s not your responsibility]’ (James 1:27 NLT).

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Did you hear about the frog that was running out of water, so he asked two birds to transport him to a nearby pond? He convinced each of them to carry one end of a stick in their beak while he bit down on the centre and held on. It was a sight to behold: two birds, one stick, and a frog in the middle. They were making progress until a cow in a pasture looked up, saw the trio passing overhead, and asked, ‘Who thought of that?’ At that point the frog couldn’t resist. Pride prevailed over prudence, and as he plummeted to earth, he yelled, ‘It was meeee…!’ Don’t make the same error. ‘Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall’ (Proverbs 16:18 NLT). Why are you good at doing what you do? For your own comfort? To save for your retirement? To bolster your self-esteem? No, these are all bonuses, not the main reason. You’re good at what you do – for God’s sake. It’s about Him, not you! Read and ponder these words in your heart: ‘Wealth and honour come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand…at your discretion people are made great and given strength’ (1 Chronicles 29:12 NLT). Recalling the victories, blessings, and successes Israel had experienced, David reminds us: ‘They did not conquer…with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm…that helped them, for you loved them’ (Psalm 44:3 NLT). Keep in mind that the blessings you enjoy every day are yours only because God favoured and smiled on you. That’s the truth!

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Princess Alice was Queen Victoria’s daughter. When her son contracted an incurable disease called black diphtheria, the doctors quarantined the boy and warned his mother to stay away from him lest she get infected. Yet she couldn’t. One day she overheard her son whisper to his nurse, ‘Why doesn’t my mother kiss me anymore?’ His words melted her heart and she ran to him, smothering him with kisses. Within a few days, she died and was buried. What would compel a mother to risk her life for her child? Love! Now stand at the cross and ask what would lead Christ to do something even greater for us? Love! Writing to the believers at Ephesus, Paul says, ‘I want you to know…Christ’s love…is too wonderful to be measured.’ You can trace the greatest action of Christ to his greatest attribute – love. Perhaps the people who should have loved you, didn’t; and those who could have loved you, wouldn’t. Maybe you were left at the hospital, or left standing at the altar, or left with an empty bed and a broken heart. Regardless of the cause, you were left with the question, ‘Does anybody love me?’ And today Christ answers unequivocally, ‘I do!’ The truth is, His love for you ‘is too wonderful to be measured’. Hymn writer Charles Gabriel wrote: ‘I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvellous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: How marvellous! How wonderful! Is my Saviour’s love for me!’ God couldn’t love you more than He does right now, and that will never change.

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Where does goodness come from, and how can you cultivate more of it in your daily decisions and actions? Some people think goodness is a matter of the head, and that right-thinking results in right living. Today every politician gives the impression that education is the panacea for practically every problem in society. Yet education of the head, without the same emphasis on integrity of the heart, will produce only clever fiends. If education alone were the answer, white-collar crimes would likely drop. Others think goodness is a matter of the hands. They say goodness means treating people well. But doing good does not make a person good. Murderers on death row may be good to their mothers, but they are not good individuals. The truth is, goodness is not located in the head or the hands; it’s hidden in your heart. Jesus, the best man who ever lived, said, ‘A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.’ Goodness is not merely a matter of what we know or what we do; it is a matter of what we are. As you consider the life ahead of you, what really matters is not how long you live but how well you live. Sir Francis Bacon once said: ‘Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of Deity; and, without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing.’ So in your desire to be good, draw closer to God. After all, you become like the company you keep.

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God divided time into days and nights; so, you will have daytime experiences and night-time experiences. For example, you can have a night-time experience in a divorce court, or in bankruptcy proceedings, or in an unemployment line, or at a graveside. And because you can’t see clearly at night, it’s easy to wonder if God is really there with you. Take heart – He is! With Pharaoh’s armies behind them and the Red Sea in front of them, the Israelites faced their greatest challenge. But the Bible says, ‘All that night the Lord drove the sea back’ (Exodus 14:21 NIV). Be encouraged; God is at work even when you can’t see Him. Hymnist George Matheson wrote: ‘Will I remain in God’s house at night…love Him for who He is…desire not the gift but the giver? When I can remain…during the darkness of night and worship…I’ve accepted Him for Himself alone.’ Don’t just turn to God when you need a miracle; instead, focus on your relationship with Him and you will get a miracle when you need one. Jesus said, ‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you’ (John 15:7 NKJV). After losing everything near and dear to him, Job’s friend Elihu said to him, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches us…and makes us wiser?’ (Job 35:10-11 NKJV). Jesus said, ‘What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight’ (Matthew 10:27 NIV). Be encouraged; it’s in your night-time experiences that the Lord stabilises, supports, and strengthens you to go on to victory.

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Think how much happier and more energised you would be if you weren’t trying to control people and straighten them out. One author writes: ‘Give your loved ones the dignity of making their own mistakes and learning from them. If you’re always getting into someone else’s business, you’re not only going to burn out, you’re hindering God from working in their lives…they belong to Him, not you!’ In the New Testament, when legalistic Jewish believers tried to impose kosher laws on Gentile believers, Paul wrote: ‘Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t…must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them’ (Romans 14:3 NLT). Sometimes in trying to be holy, we come across as harsh. Just because you don’t feel at liberty to do something doesn’t give you the right to condemn those who do – unless it’s something clearly prohibited in Scripture. Having strong opinions doesn’t give you the right to impose them on others. Remember, you can have the right theology and the wrong attitude. Gladys M. Hunt writes: ‘Acceptance means you’re valuable just as you are…you can talk about how you feel…and why – and someone really cares…you can try out new ideas without being shot down…you can even express heretical thoughts and discuss them with intelligent questioning. You feel safe. No one will pronounce judgment…even though they don’t agree with you. It doesn’t mean you’ll never be corrected…it simply means it’s safe to be you.’ When it comes to the truth, stand fast! But when it comes to nonessentials like personal preferences, customs, and traditions, ‘Let each be fully convinced in his own mind’ (Romans 14:5 NKJV).

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When Charles Lindbergh, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic, was dying of cancer, he wrote these words to be read at his burial service: ‘We commit the body of Charles A. Lindbergh to its final resting place; but his spirit we commit to Almighty God, knowing that death is but a new adventure in existence and remembering how Jesus said upon the cross, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”’ Death is just ‘a new adventure in existence’, so there is no need to dread it or ignore it. Because of Christ, you can face it with joy and confidence. Furthermore, His resurrection guarantees yours. Aristotle was wrong: death isn’t to be feared. The Greeks were mistaken: the boatman Charon won’t ferry you across the River Styx into oblivion in a sunless world of spirits. As a believer, you don’t get buried, you get planted! ‘So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power’ (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NKJV). One day when Saint Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, a man asked him what he would do if he suddenly learned he was to die at sunset that day. He said, ‘I would finish hoeing my garden.’ Here was a man who was ready to die, and without the fear of death, he was ready to maximise every moment of life. That’s how you need to live too!

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John records: ‘When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they…also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it”’ (vv. 23-24 NLT). Jewish mothers traditionally made these garments as gifts for their sons who were leaving home. So while we don’t know if Mary actually made Jesus’ robe, it was likely a cherished possession. It’s also significant because throughout the Bible, clothes symbolise behaviour and character. Peter talks about being ‘clothed with humility’ (1 Peter 5:5 NKJV). Paul says, ‘And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes’ (Galatians 3:27 NLT). Like His robe, Jesus’ character was seamless, integrated, and perfect. The words ‘woven…from top to bottom’ indicate that He had always been directed by the mind of God. In fact, He said, ‘The Son can do nothing…but only what he sees the Father doing’ (John 5:19 NRSV). However, when Jesus was crucified, He set aside His seamless robe, ‘changed places with us’ (Galatians 3:13 NCV) and put on the robes of sin that had our names on them. He died like a common criminal for sins He didn’t commit so that we could wear the garments of His righteousness. And so that sinners like us coming to the cross could leave wearing the ‘coat of his…love’ (Isaiah 59:17 NCV), the belt of ‘goodness and fairness’ (Isaiah 11:5 NCV), and the ‘garments of salvation’ (Isaiah 61:10 NIV). Jesus not only prepared a place in heaven for us; He made sure we would be properly dressed for the occasion.

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If you watched Schindler’s List, you probably came away asking, ‘How could they do it?’ The showers…the ovens…the smokestacks belching out human ashes. Trains arriving every day with mothers, fathers, children, and old people – herded like cattle on the way to a slaughterhouse. And worst of all – soldiers who carried out orders without a shrug of conscience. How could they do it? The answer is sin! And if you think Hitler and his henchmen had a corner on it, think again! David says, ‘I was brought forth in guilt, and in sin my mother conceived me’ (Psalm 51:5 NASB). His own sordid chapter of adultery and murder confirms that. Read this CV; it describes each of us: ‘They’ve all taken the wrong turn…all wandered down blind alleys…Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mud slides…They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honour of sinner-of-the-year’ (Romans 3:12-15 MSG). If God did an evaluation on any one of us, that would be it. And you must understand that in order to appreciate this: ‘God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8 NKJV). When you read that Scripture, the question changes to, ‘How could He do it?’ Thank God we didn’t get what we deserved – punishment. We got what we needed – grace! Hymnist William R. Newell wrote, ‘Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!’ Take a moment today and thank God for the grace that redeemed you. It’s what Good Friday is all about.

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To fulfil God’s will for your life, you must do these: 1) Move to a higher level of faith (see Romans 1:17). Before David killed Goliath, he first had to kill a lion and a bear. And today we’re contending with issues that require us to trust God in a greater way. 2) Seek God’s guidance about each situation that arises (see Proverbs 3:6). His promise is: ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye’ (Psalm 32:8 NKJV). 3) Get into proper spiritual alignment. God is aligning His people and putting together those who will stand as one in the day of battle. It’s imperative to know who you can trust to go into battle with you, and you only discover such people in times of testing (see Joshua 8:1). 4) Know God’s will for your life. God doesn’t play hide-and-seek with His will. It’s only as you spend time with Him that you discover it (see Psalm 143:10). And when you do that, you thrive. 5) Fight, using God’s Word. The God-breathed words found in Scripture are your strength in times of difficulty and testing. Jesus used Scripture to put Satan to flight (see Matthew 4), and the weapon of God’s Word still works today. 6) Don’t be unduly introspective. Only the Holy Spirit has the ability to search and know our hearts and minds (see John 16:8-15). And when God is ready to reveal areas that need correction, He will. Until then, keep moving forward in faith. 7) Guard your mind. Make it a walled city that refuses entry to negative thoughts and harmful influences (see Proverbs 4:23).

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The average office worker is bombarded each day with over two hundred messages via email, texts, tweets, and blogs. In fact, one in three managers gets sick because of information overload. It’s a blizzard out there! It makes you wonder – if technology is saving us all this time and energy, how come we’re so frazzled? Here is something Canary Wharf and Fleet Street won’t tell you: success presents more opportunities for the Enemy to run you into the ground. That’s no way to live, and it certainly isn’t God’s will for you. Don’t wait until you hit the bottom, get fired, throw away your life, settle for a dead-end job, or lose your family. Don’t wait until you’re too old, too grumpy, and too locked into your lifestyle. Today, Jesus is saying to you, ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest…learn from me’ (vv. 28-29 CEV). Leadership expert and Christian author Phil Cooke says: ‘The Lord can’t relieve the pressure while you’re in the wrong place, at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing, with the wrong people. If you climb the corporate ladder and neglect your family, His hands are tied because your priorities are out of order. When you’re in God’s will, you can work hard, but travel light! He’ll carry your burdens and take the weight. Simplifying your life may mean working fewer hours, scheduling “down time” and investing more in your loved ones. Markets, assignments, personalities and situations are all different, but these principles hold true for everyone.’ So the word for today is – simplify your life.

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Here are three areas where we’re particularly vulnerable: 1) Discouragement. In a moment of discouragement, Peter did what he swore he would never do: deny Jesus. Discouragement makes you say things you don’t mean, and do things that are out of character. That’s why Jude writes to ‘build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the…Spirit, staying right at the centre of God’s love’ (Jude vv. 20-21 MSG). 2) Excitement. Herod became excited by a dancing girl, threw caution to the wind, and made an offer he lived to regret: ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you’ (Mark 6:23 NKJV). She asked for John the Baptist’s head, and since he was a king, Herod couldn’t renege on his promise. That single moment of indulgence cost him his kingdom and his life. Be careful where you turn for excitement, and how you react when you find it. ‘When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived’ (James 1:15-16 NKJV). 3) Weariness. In Old Testament times, a ‘birthright’ meant the oldest son inherited twice as much of his father’s estate. Normally, Esau wouldn’t have considered selling his birthright, but he did so in a state of exhaustion (see Genesis 25:29-34). Weariness can cause you to lose perspective and make decisions based on what feels right in the moment rather than what’s right for you long term. The Bible says: ‘All these things happened to them as examples…Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall’ (1 Corinthians 10:11-12 NKJV). So, guard these three areas of vulnerability.

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The book of Job has forty-two chapters. In the first forty-one chapters, Job experienced the loss of his health, his wealth, and his family. Over and over again, he questioned God but got only silence for an answer. But he kept walking with God, and said, ‘When he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold’ (Job 23:10 NIV). Notice three things: First, to become gold, you have to go through the fire. Second, the degree of heat and the amount of time required is determined by the refiner. Third, when you try to rush the process, you end up with a substance of lesser value, like tin. God told Joshua, ‘I will give you every place where you set your foot.’ In other words, ‘To get what I have promised, you must “walk out” the process.’ American poet C.V. White wrote: ‘The man who succeeds never waits for the crowd. He strikes out for himself. It takes nerve, it takes a lot of grit, but the man that succeeds has both…Success is the accomplishment of that which people think can’t be done.’ Complacency, fatigue, doubt, criticism, and discouragement are everyday hurdles you must constantly overcome. And how do you do that? You keep on walking! You will notice a common thread throughout the Bible: when you really need Him, God shows up and does for you what you can’t do for yourself. The rest of the time – which is most of the time – He strengthens you and says, ‘You have to “walk out” the process.’ And that’s the word for today!

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Have you ever gone to a car boot sale hoping to find a bargain? To the untrained eye, much of the stuff looks like rubbish. It may even have been gathering dust and mildew in somebody’s loft. But the trained eye sees treasure in disguise; items that just need to be cleaned, polished, and restored in order to become valuable again. That’s what God does with us. When Satan tells you you’re worthless, God looks inside you and sees hidden treasure. When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, He enables you to overcome your past, resist temptation, conquer bad habits, rise above your self-imposed limitations, and realise that in God’s eyes, you have great worth. You actually start believing what He said: ‘You are precious…in my sight.’ The truth is when you keep putting yourself down, you can tend to gravitate towards people who do the same. But once you begin to realise the value God places on you, your entire outlook changes. With God, you can’t lose. Even when you stumble, He will help you to get back up, become stronger and wiser, and move on to victory. When you see yourself only as somebody who makes mistakes and falls short, you’re looking in the wrong mirror. Once you start to see yourself in the mirror of God’s Word, you see someone who is being transformed day by day into the likeness of Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). And that’s how God sees you today.

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The Bible says, ‘[David] thought to himself, “One of these days, Saul is going to kill me. The only way to escape from him is to go to Philistia”’ (v. 1 CEV). Now, in times past, David had ‘enquired of the Lord’ (see 23:2, 4 NIVUK). He also sought advice from experienced, proven counsellors. But this time, he was guided by his fears and ended up defecting to enemy territory. And it gave him a temporary sense of relief. Looking to the wrong source can do that – but it doesn’t last. Solomon said: ‘You may think you are on the right road and still end up dead. Sorrow may hide behind laughter, and happiness may end in sorrow. You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad…be smart and know where you are headed’ (Proverbs 14:12-15 CEV). Eventually, the Philistines rejected David because they couldn’t trust him. They said, ‘Send David back to the town you gave him. We won’t have him going into the battle with us. He could turn and fight against us!’ (1 Samuel 29:4 CEV). Be careful when you’re in a spiritual slump, because the decisions you make can have long-lasting ramifications. Rejected by the Philistines, with no country and no family to come home to, here is what we learn from David: 1) Instead of listening to your fears, listen to God. Standing among the ruins of his life, ‘David found strength in the Lord’ (1 Samuel 30:6 NIV), and you will, too. 2) Seek wise counsellors. It’s the last thing you will feel like doing because misery loves company, but ‘the more wise counsel you follow, the better’ (Proverbs 11:14 MSG).

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God built specific triggers into our bodies to let us know when it’s time to escape consciousness. And wise people listen to these clues. History’s most notable power nappers include Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Winston Churchill. There is a reason why your eyelids start to droop around 2pm. The levator muscles, which constantly contract to keep your eyelids open, give out and beg for a break. And a chemical called adenosine, which collects in your brain when you’re awake, piles up and makes you feel drowsy. Consequently, your body yearns for sleep to allow the adenosine to disperse, resulting in instant relief. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirms that people who nap for at least thirty minutes daily, three times weekly, are one-third less likely to die from heart disease. And additional research suggests that taking a nap can improve creativity and memory. Cognitive neuroscientist William Fishbein says that often during a brief nap, our brains actually keep working to resolve problems and form new ideas. That helps explain why Mozart professed to have composed music in his dreams. Studies also show that a little extra sleep can assist with weight control – which means you can lose as you snooze! Ghrelin, a hormone produced in our intestines, tells us we’re hungry and triggers cravings for sweets, salty foods, and starches – all the bad stuff! However, when we sleep more, our colon stores less ghrelin, and our craving for junk food diminishes. In Scripture, Jesus not only took frequent rest breaks himself; He encouraged His disciples to follow suit. So, try a power nap.

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As a follower of Jesus Christ, your direction shouldn’t come from people and be confirmed by God, it should come from God and be confirmed by people. The Bible says: ‘Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word. Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good. Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place. God made everything with a place and purpose’ (vv. 1-4 MSG). You may be able to do what someone else has done and do it even better. But has God called you to do that particular thing? Before you follow someone else’s guidance, do these: 1) Check the source of their wisdom. ‘The Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless…he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path’ (Proverbs 2:6-9 NIV1984). 2) Check their motives. John writes, ‘I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened’ (Revelation 20:12 NKJV). Will one of those be ‘the book of motives’? And if it is, will your actions and accomplishments stand up under divine scrutiny? 3) Check the outcome they’re pursuing. If you seek success in order to have power and prestige, or seek riches only to have comfort, you violate one of the core principles of God’s Word: you’re blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

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When it comes to anger, here is what you need to know: it isn’t a psychological disorder; everybody gets angry. And it’s not necessarily a sin. Like a fast-flowing river, it can generate constructive or destructive energy, and be unleashed negatively or harnessed positively. Anger is commonly misunderstood as something that’s done to us by others or by circumstances. We say, ‘I couldn’t help it; they pushed my buttons!’ ‘What could I do; he got my hackles up!’ That sounds like Eden: Adam said, ‘The woman you gave me made me do it!’ Since the fall, we have claimed to be victims of people, the devil, and circumstances beyond our control – a belief that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, causing us to feel helpless and at the mercy of external forces. What does God’s Word say about our anger? ‘Sensible people control their temper.’ That means when sensible people get angry, they control their emotions. No matter what the external trigger is, the answer is always an internal response. ‘The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). Staying filled with God’s Spirit is the key to anger management. Instead of feeding your anger by telling yourself, ‘You can’t get away with treating me like that,’ try thinking, ‘No matter what you say or do, God’s Spirit lives in me and I have self-control!’ The Bible says, ‘The grace of God…teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age’ (Titus 2:11-12 NIV). So, learn to control your anger.

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Sometimes we describe dying as ‘crossing the Jordan’. That’s because the Jordan River runs into the Dead Sea. The story is told of an elderly Christian lady who was dying. For most of her life, illness had confined her to bed or a wheelchair. The family gathered to say farewell. Holding her hand, one of her grandchildren asked, ‘Are you afraid to die?’ With tears of joy, she replied, ‘No, I’m not afraid of death because my Father owns the land on both sides of the river.’ What an answer! In heaven there will be no sickness, or depression, or pain, or loneliness, or fear, or grief, or any of the things that make life on earth so difficult. God’s Word says, ‘For you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings’ (Malachi 4:2 NRSV). Isaiah writes: ‘The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away’ (Isaiah 35:10 NKJV). When we lose a loved one in death, the question arises, ‘Will I see them in heaven; will I know them?’ Yes! You wouldn’t know less in heaven than you knew on earth. Paul answers, ‘For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known’ (1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV). Heaven will be the greatest family reunion of all time. And here is the best part of all: we will never be separated again.

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The next time you feel cramped for space, read this: ‘The city was built in a square, and its length was equal to its width. The angel measured the city with the rod. The city was 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide, and 1,500 miles high’ (v. 16 NCV). That’s an area of over two million square miles – making the new Jerusalem bigger than most countries in the world. In fact, it’s almost twenty-four times larger than the United Kingdom, and over half the size of the entire continent of Europe! A city that big would be anything but crowded and uncomfortable. And here is something even more incredible: it’s fifteen hundred miles high! There will be no space limitations. And that confirms what Jesus said about heaven: ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2 KJV). Since the same God who created the earth also designed heaven, and since Paul said heaven will be ‘far better’ (Philippians 1:23 NKJV), think of the most beautiful place you have ever visited and multiply that scene by infinity. John the Revelator described it in these words: ‘The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light’ (Revelation 21:12 MSG). One night as he held his father’s hand and looked up at the stars, a little boy said to his dad, ‘If the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, what must the right side look like?’ Jesus died so that you could go to heaven. But you don’t go by chance; you go by choice. So, have you placed your trust in Christ to be your Saviour? If so, see you there!

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The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, ‘How many of you want to go to heaven?’ Everyone raised their hand except one little boy. The pastor said, ‘Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?’ He replied, ‘Yes, but I thought you were getting up a batch to go right now!’ Let’s be honest, we don’t think or talk much about heaven until a loved one dies and goes there, or we grow old and feel like we have fulfilled our assignment here on earth. Then we feel a tug pulling us heavenward. And we should. On average, we will spend about seventy or eighty years here, whereas we will spend eternity there. ‘We shall always be with the Lord’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV). Here on earth we get a mixed scorecard; sometimes we do well, other times not so well. But in heaven, we will be just like Jesus. ‘We are citizens of heaven…we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Saviour. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own’ (Philippians 3:20-21 NLT). C.S. Lewis wrote that in heaven each of us will be a ‘dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine’ . All the patriarchs, prophets, and preachers in the Bible longed for heaven. Zechariah describes it in these words: ‘They’ll become…like gemstones in a crown, catching all the colours of the sun. Then…they’ll shine!’ (Zechariah 9:16-17 MSG). Question: If you were to die today, would you go to heaven? You can, by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.

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Here are three more steps to forgiveness: 1) Accept people as they are and don’t try to change them. You say, ‘I’ll only forgive them if they change.’ That just keeps you tied to them, obsessing over what they did and demanding they act in ways that you approve of. Nothing makes people less willing to change than when you try to control them and demand that they meet your requirements. Changing people isn’t your job – it’s God’s job! Your job is to choose to forgive and leave the outcome in God’s hands. The formula for healing is simple: forgive, let go, and let God. 2) See your offender as God’s tool for your growth. It’s easier to forgive someone when you stop seeing them as Satan’s agent sent to destroy you, and begin seeing them as God’s instrument to develop you. The life of Joseph speaks to this principle. The path that led him from the pit to the palace was paved by injustice, disappointment, betrayal. But God used each painful circumstance to get him to his destiny. And God can do that for you. 3) Try reconciling with your offender. Reconciliation is God’s nature. ‘When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son’ (Romans 5:10 KJV). And what God did for you, He wants you to do for whoever you are at odds with. Jesus made reconciliation a top priority by saying, ‘Leave your gift there before the altar…First be reconciled…then come and offer your gift’ (Matthew 5:24 NKJV). Yes, it will take selflessness and humility on your part, but the return is worth the investment!

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The misery of living with unforgiveness in your heart always lasts longer than the pain of the offence. Always! When you hold on to resentment, you open the door to depression and physical illness. Forgiving brings healing to your wounds and restores your joy. Here are two steps to help you forgive: 1) Remember that you have been unconditionally forgiven. Recall God’s grace towards you, and the price paid for your forgiveness. By refusing to show mercy, you’re like the man Jesus said was forgiven an enormous debt, yet was unwilling to forgive another man’s paltry indebtedness to him (see Matthew 18:23-34). The grace God has extended to you leaves you no grounds whatsoever to refuse the same grace to the one who hurt you. 2) Release the offender from the debt they owe you. You may be totally justified in saying, ‘They owe me for what they did!’ Your friends may agree. The law may agree, and you may be thinking that the only way your offender will ‘learn to do what’s right’ is if they’re made to pay for the wrong they did. But as long as you’re holding on to your ‘rights’, you’re chained to the past. It has you in its grip, and your future is being held hostage to the past’s control over you. Your offender’s sin against you was paid for by the same sacrificial love that cancelled your sin debt, so they have the same need and right to forgiveness that you have. And there is more; forgiveness is not just for their benefit, but for yours: ‘Forgive, and you will be forgiven’ (Luke 6:37 NIV).

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If you grow up in hard times, you will automatically do one of these two things: 1) Trust God more because you have experienced His faithfulness. 2) Worry, think, and incessantly talk about the ‘what ifs’ in life. And there are lots of them to think about, because the future rests in God’s hands and not yours. It’s possible for a thing to seem much bigger to you than it really is. That’s the essence of worry. It’s like a snowball; it starts small, but as you roll it over and over in your mind, it becomes bigger and bigger until it has the potential to bury you. What’s the answer? ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). Fill you heart with God’s Word. Then develop the habit of letting what’s in your heart be more real to you than what you see, think, or feel. You can choose to think about what God can do instead of what you cannot do. If you continue to obsess about the difficulty of your situation, you will end up in despair. In other words, you will feel trapped. When that happens, it’s easy to panic and begin to do irrational things that just make the problem worse. Instead, ‘Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.’ The word ‘sustain’ means to strengthen, support, and hold you up. God may not take you out of the situation immediately, but His sustaining grace will bring you through it. Today, give your problem to God.

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You say: ‘What happened to the verse in Galatians 6 that promises whatever you sow you will also reap? I gave it my best shot. I trusted, sacrificed, did the right things, yet reaped nothing.’ Whether it’s a lack of reaping in your finances, job, marriage, children, or ministry, it’s discouraging and sometimes makes you feel like giving up. The disciples were experienced fishermen. But they had fished all night and caught nothing, so now they were discouraged. And that’s when Jesus showed up! When they thought there was nothing more that could be done, He stepped into their boat. And He still works that way. As long as you think you can handle the situation yourself, Jesus knows you will keep trying to. So, He waits until you have exhausted your resources and acknowledged that you are out of options, then He gets involved. ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch,’ He instructed (Luke 5:4 NIV). Peter replied, ‘We have already tried that and the fish just aren’t biting.’ Maybe Peter was thinking, ‘Lord, you’re the preacher, but I’m a professional fisherman. If there was anything out there, I would have caught it.’ Jesus was saying, ‘This time, try it my way!’ Peter replied, ‘Master…becauseyousayso, I will.’ And that’s when the miracle happened. Whatever Peter thought or felt, he obeyedJesus anyway. That, too, is when your situation begins to change. When you’re clueless and helpless, thinking there is no way out, just get quiet and listen, and Jesus will tell you what to do. And when He does, even though you have questions, say, ‘Master, because you say so, I will obey.’ Then, prepare for results only God can give.

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If you were in charge of hiring people at work, what would you look for? Skill, dedication, punctuality, reliability, patience, kindness, and consistency? Jesus said, ‘Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much’ (Luke 16:10 NIV). Life mostly consists of little things, so if you’re unfaithful in little things, you will be unfaithful in most of life. Do you possess a ‘guilt pile’ at work? It’s that little stack of items you haven’t got around to yet. Faithfulness includes how you handle it. It may not matter much to you that someone has sent you an email or written you a letter, but that person anticipates an answer. Their world may be counting on it. How do you manage the little things in life? Jesus said, ‘If you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?’ (v. 12 NIV). Question: If you owned the business you work for, would you be taking all those extra coffee breaks? Would you buy the rental car you just abused for a week? How you handle the things that are not yours is a test of faithfulness to God. See how sensible this is? Faithfulness is important in all areas of life. God says you will be rewarded for your faithfulness, so do your best at work. ‘Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23 NIV). As a follower of Christ, you should have a reputation for being the most dependable person on the job. Why? Because you’re aware of who your true boss is!

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Here are three truths from Scripture that will make your faith more effective: First, believe that God is. The force of the language used here is much more than a vague acknowledgment of God’s existence. Mankind claims scores of gods, but the God of the Bible is not one of them – or even the best of them. He is the only true God! And this Scripture says He is uniquely, genuinely, permanently present and active. Second, believe that God is able. When two blind men approached Jesus seeking healing, He asked, ‘“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”’ (Matthew 9:28-29 NIV). Immediately, they could see. Jesus knew He was able to heal them, but He wanted them to know He was able. Until you believe in God’s ability to meet your need, you have no ground on which to base your confidence and prayers. Third, believe that God is willing. After knowing He is able, you must take a step of belief. A leper approached Jesus saying, ‘“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus…touched him, saying, “I am willing;be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed’ (Matthew 8:2-3 NASB). Is God willing? Consider His claim: He – not we – goes on record as being ‘a rewarder of those who…seek Him’. That leaves no room for doubt. Today, God is not only able but willing to meet your need.

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One marriage expert says a single mother sent him a story that helped explain the loneliness and stress often faced by those raising children alone. She said she was looking out of her window one drizzly day and saw a mother robin and her little ones perched in a nest. As the rain poured down, the mother bird covered her chirping chicks beneath her extended wings. Then the hail began to fall. Instead of tucking her head safely in the nest, the mother robin raised her head upward and took the blows to protect her young. All of the chicks made it safely through the storm. What a graphic illustration of the challenges of single parenting! The responsibility of raising kids alone is unrelenting, requiring a mum or dad to earn a living, cook, clean, supervise homework, take care of sick kids, and so on. Beyond these day-by-day duties, they must figure out how to meet their own personal and spiritual needs. Taken in context, this may be one of the toughest assignments on earth. Single parents, whether mothers or fathers, need our continued support and prayers. To those who are taking the blows on behalf of their children, be assured that there are better days coming. The storm you’re in won’t last forever. A beautiful rainbow will soon appear. When the job has been completed and a brood of healthy little birds has been raised, there will be sweet benefits for the parents who don’t fly away. God’s Word promises: ‘Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.’

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The psalmist doesn’t lead off with words like ‘maybe’, or ‘perhaps’, or ‘possibly’, or ‘hopefully’. No, he says, ‘Surely’, which is a term of certainty. ‘Surely’ means absolutely; without a doubt! There are a lot of things in life you can’t be sure of. You go for a physical check-up and discover you have a malignant growth. You work in the same company for years believing your job is secure, but they downsize and all you’re left with is a P45. You pray for your children, live an exemplary life before them, and teach them what’s right, then you find yourself down at the police station trying to get them out of a cell because they were arrested for drunk driving or doing drugs. As a redeemed child of God, here are two things you can be sure of: God’s ‘goodness and mercy’. What’s your concept of God? That’s an all-important question, so think about it before you answer. Your concept of God will determine your confidence in Him. David was far from perfect. Indeed, some of his antics would have made the front pages of the tabloids. But he never doubted God’s goodness and mercy towards him: ‘This I know, that God is for me’ (Psalm 56:9 NASB). Jesus said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). His goodness guarantees every need you have can be met, and His mercy guarantees that every sin you commit can be forgiven. Just as sheepdogs drive strays back into the fold, so God’s goodness and mercy will drive you back into His loving arms every time.

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The Bible says: ‘God has given each of you a gift from his great variety…Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God’ (vv. 10-11 NLT). You may not be fortunate enough to work at a job that utilises your gifts, but you should at least be moving in that direction. Paul worked as a tentmaker to finance his calling as a preacher. So if you know you’re a creative person with aptitude for design and visual arts, and you’re currently exasperated by your accounting job, it may be time to reconsider your career goals. If you love to solve problems when your computer crashes, but you’re currently working as a pastry chef, it’s time to step back and reassess. You may not be able to make a living at your foremost passion right away, so you’re working in an unrelated field. That’s okay for now. But your sights must stay set on following God’s calling. Moses spent two-thirds of his life getting ready for his real assignment leading the children of Israel into the promised land. God never wastes experience. Often the wisdom you glean from a job you don’t want equips you to succeed in the one you do; the one God has chosen for you. So keep growing and keep believing God. Then, when He opens the door, you will be ready to walk through it.

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‘The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery…they said to Him, “Teacher,…Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”…Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”…When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more”’ (vv. 3-7, 10-11 NKJV). That day Jesus demonstrated three things: 1) The hypocrisy of a double standard. Since this woman had been ‘caught in the very act’, surely they knew who the man was, too. There is still a double standard today that looks down on a woman because of her past while excusing a man by saying, ‘He was just sowing his wild oats.’ The Pharisees used stones, we use words, but the victim ends up wounded regardless. 2) Who alone is qualified to judge. ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ Who was the only sinless one among them that day? Jesus! So He alone is qualified to judge. 3) You can rise above your past. ‘Go and sin no more.’ Those words could be rephrased, ‘Go, and because you have had an encounter with Jesus, you can rise above your past.’

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The words ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet’ mean you’re supposed to walk according to God’s will and not your own thoughts, wishes, or impulses. The words ‘and a light to my path’ mean you can’t go in any direction you choose; you must follow the path that God has planned for you. You will never go wrong consulting the Scriptures for direction, but make sure you keep the Scriptures in context. Don’t use the ‘open-window method’, allowing the wind to blow across the pages of your Bible, then shutting your eyes, pointing to a verse and saying, ‘This is God’s leading on this.’ If you do that, you could end up with the verse, ‘Judas went away and hanged himself,’ as the verse for your day! Would you want to go to a doctor with an illness and hear him say, without ever examining you, ‘It’s your gallbladder’? You would ask, ‘How do you know?’ And he would say, ‘Well, I sat by the window a few moments ago and trusted God to blow the pages of my anatomy book to your problem – and the topic on the page was “gallbladder”.’ You would run out of there pretty fast, wouldn’t you? Some people practise this kind of theological ’superstition’, then get into trouble and say, ‘Well, God led me,’ when God had nothing to do with their choices. Whenever you read the scriptural phrase, ‘This is the will of God,’ you can be sure that it’s His will. If you disobey Him, you will suffer, and if you obey Him, you will be blessed.

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In the fourteenth century, there was not a single copy of the Bible in English! It was available only in Latin, the language of the clergy, and those were chained to the podiums of the cathedrals. Then a prominent professor of divinity at Oxford University said, ‘This is not right. People should be able to read the Bible in their own language.’ Church leaders branded him a heretic and an instrument of the devil. Like Noah who pounded the nails into the ark while people ridiculed and scorned him, John Wycliffe began translating the Scriptures as a flood of persecution emerged around him. When he finally completed his translation of the Scriptures, he wrote this in the flyleaf of the first copy of the English Scriptures: ‘This Bible is translated and shall make possible a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.’ Five hundred years later, President Abraham Lincoln borrowed that statement for his famous Gettysburg Address. Thirty years after Wycliffe died, he was again proclaimed a heretic. Consequently, his body was exhumed, and his bones were burned to dust, and his ashes cast into a river. A contemporary historian describes the scene like this: ‘Thus this brook hath conveyed his ashes into (the river) Avon, Avon into Severn, Severn into the narrow seas, they into the ocean. And thus ashes…are the emblem of his doctrine…now…dispersed the world over.’ Hence Peter writes, ‘“The word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.’

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When God gives you a vision of what He wants you to do, you will have to go against the flow of the world. Society wants to keep you in a box. Most people are married mentally to the status quo. They want what was, not what can be. They seek safety and simple answers. So, you need to give yourself permission to go a different way, to break new ground. Paul said, ‘I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.’ It was his consuming passion and the central focus of his life. He got up every morning thinking about it and went to bed every night thinking about it. And at the end of his life, he could say, ‘I have finished the race…Finally, there is laid up for me the crown’ (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV). No one achieves greatness by becoming a generalist. Whether your vision is to build a great family, or a great church, or a great business, or a great ‘anything’, you must focus. Author Harry A. Overstreet observed: ‘The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through.’ Does every area of your life deserve focused thinking time? No. Be selective, not exhaustive in your thinking. What has God called you to do? What’s your role in it? What skill sets do you need to sharpen? What knowledge do you need to acquire? What relationships do you need to build? The first question Paul asked when God gave him his vision was, ‘What do You want me to do?’ (Acts 9:6 NKJV). And today that’s the question you need to ask God, too.

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Job lost his wealth, his health, and his children. The book he wrote is a conversation between himself and God. At the beginning of it, Job says, ‘Hear now my argument’ (Job 13:6 NIV). He is asking, ‘Why has all this happened to me?’ At this point he is totally self-focused. But by the middle of his book, Job has grown spiritually and now he takes a different approach. Instead of reasoning, he decides to stand on God’s Word: ‘But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall 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 NIVUK). By the last chapter in his book, Job has decided to trust God completely: ‘I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted…My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you’ (Job 42:2, 5 NIV). Job has finally arrived at the place where he can say, ‘I trust God; there is no need to worry!’ After nine months of worrying, questioning, and reasoning, he decides he doesn’t need answers to all his questions, he only needs to know that God cares for him. And his story ends in these words: ‘The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before’ (v. 10 NIV). There you have it; the steps to overcoming your worries!

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David said: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over’ (vv. 4-5 NKJV). Notice, God didn’t promise that you wouldn’t have to deal with death, or fear, or evil, or enemies. He simply said that in spite of them, and sometimes in the midst of them, your cup will still overflow with His blessing. Next time you pour a cup of tea or coffee and it overflows onto the saucer, you have an ‘overflowing’ or a ‘surplus’. Your God is a God of surplus. Paul writes, ‘God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others’ (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). He saturates you with joy and peace ‘so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13 NIV). He bestows a surplus of joy – He causes you to ‘rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory’ (1 Peter 1:8 NKJV). He also provides a surplus of peace – He gives ‘the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7 NKJV). So when you’re struggling to make ends meet, or you fear the future, look in the mirror and say, ‘God is my source; I have more than enough, my cup overflows.’ And don’t just do that in times of need or crisis; make it a habit you practise every day.

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Jesus said, ‘If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?’ (Luke 16:11 NIV). In other words, if you are not faithful to Him with your finances, He will not trust you with greater blessings. What does it mean to be faithful in your finances? Paul writes: ‘On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.’ That means three things: 1) Regular giving. Note the words ‘every Lord’s Day’. This is systematic giving, not sporadic giving. It is not, ‘I feel good today, so I’m going to give to God.’ If you try that with your mortgage lender, you will be without a house! You’re not supposed to give by impulse, but by a commitment to obey God’s Word. 2) Planned giving. ‘You should put aside something from what you have earned.’ If you’re married, sit down and discuss it with your partner and decide the amount you feel God wants you to give each week. If you don’t plan it, you will not give consistently. 3) Proportional giving. ‘The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn.’ If God blesses you financially, you should prayerfully consider increasing your giving. Bottom line: you are to return to God a percentage of what He enables you to earn. When you do, He promises to increase you abundantly (see Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-10).

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Even when you’re living right and doing all the right things, life can still be draining. We have all received post addressed simply to ‘The Occupant’. Sometimes you’re drained not because you did anything wrong, but because you happen to ‘occupy’ the planet. The combination of the world, the flesh, and the devil will suck the spiritual vitality right out of you if you let them. You try to pray, but no words come. You know you ought to read your Bible, but when you try to, the letters on the page all run together and none of it makes sense. And you don’t want to listen to spiritual people, especially when you suspect they may be faking their positive viewpoints. You’re just going through the spiritual motions, nodding and saying amen; yet in your soul, you’re running on empty. David, who had been a shepherd, said that God ‘makes’ us lie down. Why? Because just like sheep, we would keep on wandering all over the place and wearing ourselves out. Note two things David says: 1) ‘He makes me to lie down in green pastures.’ The word ‘green’ means ‘fresh’. Each day you need a fresh encounter with God through prayer and a fresh intake of His Word. Bread is not the only thing that can go stale; your spiritual life can, too. 2) ‘He leads me beside the still waters’ (v. 2 NKJV). The word ‘still’ means you need times of quietness and reflection. ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10 KJV). The only way to know God intimately, sense His leading, and draw on His strength is to ‘be still’.

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Here are two important prayer principles: 1) Talk to God when troubles surround you. If you’re like most people, good times can make you trust in yourself instead of God. It’s the troubled times that drive you to your knees – a bad medical report, a child hooked on drugs, a lost job, or a troubled marriage. That’s God’s intention in allowing troubled times! He allows trouble to afflict us – not to make us miserable, but to bring us to Himself. Hosea the prophet said, ‘In their misery they will earnestly seek [God]’ (Hosea 5:15 NIV). God’s fatherly heart wants above all that we abide and confide in Him. And if it takes trouble to do it, He loves us enough to permit it. But when we turn to Him in our troubles, we discover that He is ‘our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble’ (Psalm 46:1 NLT). 2) Talk to God at all times. In his widely-read classic, The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence speaks of prayer as a continual conversation with God – a practice for all times, places, and circumstances. While cooking and washing dishes, he found conversing with God as satisfying as in his allotted prayer times. He counsels us: ‘That we may accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him…in simplicity. That we need only to recognise God intimately present with us, and to address ourselves to Him every moment.’ That sounds like Paul’s instructions on the subject: ‘Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people’ (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).

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Do you remember when most restaurants had opening and closing hours? It was their schedule, and not your appetite, that decided whether you ate or went hungry. Not anymore: now you can pop into many of your favourite eating places anytime your appetite hits. That’s how God operates; He is available 24/7. And although praying isn’t limited to set times, there are certain times when it’s vital that you talk to God. Here are two: 1) When you have sinned. Your emotions of guilt and shame, plus Satan ‘the accuser’, will tell you to avoid God. But turning to Him is the only solution to sin. Burdened by adultery, deception, and murder, David realised he needed to confess his sin to God. ‘Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me’ (vv. 7, 10 NIVUK). John said God is ‘faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 NIV). Have you sinned? A fresh beginning is only a prayer away. 2) When you’re worried and afraid. You don’t have to look too far to find things to worry about; they’re all around you. Financial, professional, health, and family concerns can make you stressed-out and anxious. Where to turn? Prayer is God’s answer to fear and anxiety. ‘Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in…thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds’ (Philippians 4:6-7 PHPS).

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Here are two more ways to know God’s will for your life: 1) Providential circumstances. When God is leading, the way will open up for you. When He sends you, He goes before you (see John 10:4). His Word says, ‘When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it.’ Who opens the right doors? God. Who closes the wrong doors? God. The right doors lead to blessing, but the wrong doors lead to pain and loss. Plus, nothing but unbelief can keep a door closed once God commands it to open. The only help God needs from you is: ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you’ (Exodus 14:13 B 1995). 2) Inner ‘traffic lights’. The old-timers in the faith would say, ‘I always watch for the “checks” in my spirit!’ You’re a new creature with a new spiritual nature that’s ‘alive unto God’, equipped to sense God moving within you (see Romans 6:11). And while the counsel of wise and mature Christians can help, the last word must be spoken in your own heart. ‘It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose’ (Philippians 2:13 NIVUK). If your will is surrendered to God, He is at work in you directing your will and behaviours. Believe it, because He declares it! He will give you the ‘red light’ when He wants you to stop, and the ‘green light’ when He wants you to go. Don’t go on red! Don’t stop on green!

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Always do these two things: 1) Recognise God’s Word as the final authority for deciding God’s will (see Isaiah 8:20). The Bible speaks clearly on life’s important issues. Every other source of guidance must agree with it. And you don’t need a theological degree; just let God speak to you through His Word before seeking anybody else’s opinion. For example, to tell a lie is unacceptable because God insists, ‘You shall not…lie’ (Leviticus 19:11 NKJV). Likewise, having an extramarital affair is wrong because the Bible clearly says, ‘You shall not commit adultery’ (Exodus 20:14 NKJV). End of discussion. No other opinion is needed when God’s Word is clear. But a word of caution: the Bible is a book of principles, not a multiple-choice do-it-yourself manual. Picking isolated Scriptures leads to confusion, not clarity. For instance, ‘all things are yours’ (1 Corinthians 3:21 NKJV) isn’t permission to choose whatever you want! Principles are established as Scripture is supported by Scripture. But what if you search the Bible without finding principles that settle your issue? Consider the following step. 2) Recognise the inner impressions of the Holy Spirit. How can you know your impressions are from the Holy Spirit? By knowing you have fully submitted your will in the matter to God. Your ‘impressions’ must not contradict other biblical principles. Here is the Holy Spirit’s assignment: ‘When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…he will shew you things to come’ (John 16:13 KJV). Don’t be in a hurry. If it’s from God’s Spirit, it will become stronger and clearer with time and prayer. If not, it will dissipate. So wait prayerfully!

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Remember the childhood game Pin the Tail on the Donkey? Winning in that game was ‘a-stab-in-the-dark’ process. And for many of God’s children, determining His will and purpose for their lives amounts to a similar method. But it doesn’t have to. Here are some scriptural steps that take the guesswork out of it. 1) Commit yourself to obeying God’s will. Understanding God’s will is impossible until you commit yourself unreservedly to doing it. Any desire to retain your own will blinds you to His. You don’t need a detailed map; it’s a journey of faith. Be confident that God loves you and wants only the best for you, and that when you submit yourself to Him, ‘You will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect’ (Romans 12:2 NCV). 2) Listen for the Shepherd’s voice and trust it. Jesus doesn’t leave you alone to figure out His will for your life. He is our Good Shepherd, and His ‘sheep recognise his voice…He…leads them…and they follow him because they know his voice’ (John 10:3-4 NLT). Note the words, ‘recognise his voice’. With time and experience, you will learn to know when God is speaking to you. Like Abraham who submitted to God’s will without knowing where he would be led, you’re called to surrender your will without knowing where He will lead you. God promises wisdom, insight, and understanding – not to the spiritually smart, but to any person who lacks wisdom (see James 1:5-6). So believe that His wisdom is yours!

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When Samuel went to present Israel’s first king to the people, Saul was discovered ‘hiding among the baggage’. The Hebrew word for baggage symbolises the self-imposed limitations that hinder you from tackling the job God appointed you to do. Things like these: 1) Feelings of inadequacy. Saul’s first response when he learned he had been chosen as king was, ‘Am I not…from the smallest tribe of Israel,…the least of all?’ (1 Samuel 9:21 NIV). When you fail to figure God into the equation, you will always feel ‘less than’. Instead of focusing on your own weaknesses and inabilities, concentrate on ‘the incredible greatness of God’s power’ (Ephesians 1:19 NLT). 2) Fear of what others might think. The writer of Proverbs tells us ‘fearing people is a dangerous trap’ (Proverbs 29:25 NLT). And Saul fell into it headfirst! When Samuel confronted him for failing to obliterate the Amalekites, he replied, ‘I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded’ (1 Samuel 15:24 NLT). God’s Word assures us, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So…we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper…I will not fear what man shall do unto me’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV). Once you take hold of that truth and act on it, you will find there is nothing to be afraid of. 3) Being overly pragmatic. The Bible says, ‘A double minded man is unstable in all his ways’ (James 1:8 KJV). And Saul fit the bill to a tee! When he didn’t hear from God, he took matters into his own hands and consulted a psychic. And after promising not to harm David, he repeatedly hunted him down. Adaptability is commendable, but God requires consistency and commitment.

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We give up because of these: 1) We fear failure. Past hurts and mistakes haunt us, and we think it’s better not to try again than risk failing. Don’t spend your life digging up bones! We all have things in our past we would rather forget. Put them behind you. Paul writes, ‘Forgetting those things which are behind…[reach] forward to those things which are ahead’ (Philippians 3:13 NKJV). 2) We worry what people will say. ‘Fear of human opinion disables’ (Proverbs 29:25 MSG). How you respond to criticism is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. There will always be people who won’t like or understand you. Get over it! 3) We listen to the wrong voices. Satan is the Father of Lies, and he will do everything he can to discourage you. Paul says, ‘Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). When a thought comes, examine it. If it’s from God, receive it; if it’s from Satan, ‘demolish’ it. 4) We lose focus. As believers, we’re to walk by faith, not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). That means making every decision based on what God says and not what you see with your natural eyes. 5) We lose touch with other believers. When the apostles got out of jail, they went back to ‘their own company’ (Acts 4:23 KJV). To stay strong, you need fellowship with other Christians. Too many people give up on the verge of success; don’t be one of them. There is only one degree of difference between hot water and steam – so keep going, and don’t even think of giving up!

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You overslept, the car wouldn’t start, you were late for work, your computer crashed! These things can make you angry, but only if you let them. Solomon said, ‘A quick-tempered person does foolish things,’ so if you fly into a rage, expect a rough landing! The Bible says, ‘Patience is better than strength. Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city’ (Proverbs 16:32 NCV). Anger always comes back to bite you and ends up doing more damage than the thing that triggered it. David said, ‘Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar’ (Psalm 5:3 MSG). Start by offering your day to God, then you will be less likely to react in anger when things go wrong. One pastor writes: ‘Our time here is short. What a shame to let something that happened – twenty years or twenty minutes ago – ruin your day. I’ve made up my mind to enjoy every single one. I may make mistakes; things may not go my way. I may be disappointed, but I’m going to live my life happy. I’m not going to let what does or doesn’t happen steal my joy. Every morning I say, “Father, this is going to be a great day. I thank you that I have discipline, self-control; that I make good decisions. I may not have done what I could have yesterday, but that day is gone. I’m going to do better today.”’ Ever wonder why a car’s windscreen is big and its rear-view mirror small? Because what’s behind isn’t nearly as important as what’s ahead. So keep looking ahead, and no matter what happens today, don’t lose your peace.

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For some of us, the love of God doesn’t feel real. Why is that? Because we have tried to make this earth our home. And as a result, we live with worry and frustration. Only when you have the right view of there will you have the right view of here. When you understand your true home, death is never a full stop; instead, it’s a conjunction. Less than one second after you die, you will be escorted into the presence of God. You won’t even be dead long enough to know you died. You don’t expire; you transfer. Quicker than you can blink, you move from one dimension to another. You go from living in this time to dwelling ‘in the house of the Lord forever’. Most of us will not die suddenly of a heart attack, or a stroke, or in a car crash. For most of us, death will come gradually as we wear down over time. You will feel your body deteriorating and atrophying, and you will know you’re nearing death. Then God will put you into transition mode. He will make heaven look much more appealing than earth so that you will be thinking, ‘I wish God would just hurry up and take me home.’ He may even give you a little preview of glory and let you see your Saviour waiting to welcome you. When you glimpse those arms wide open, you will want the trip to hurry up and take place. You will say like David, ‘As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness’ (Psalm 17:15 NKJV). Home sweet home!

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Most insurance companies are trustworthy. They will cover you through most of the seasons and adversities of life. But not all insurance companies are that way. In some cases, the moment you make a claim against them, they either hike your premiums through the roof or cancel your policy. But the insurance policy you have with God is awesome. The premiums were paid in the crimson cash of Jesus’ blood when He spoke these words: ‘It is finished,’ which means ‘paid in full’. There are different kinds of insurance that cover things like fire, property, theft, health, vehicles, and death. But the only insurance policy that can cover you beyond death is the one God offers. And you don’t have to worry about reading the ‘fine print’, because He will not cancel it. Paul lays it out for us: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:35, 37-39 NKJV). Have you repented of your sins? Have you placed your trust in Christ to be your Saviour? Then you’re covered for time and eternity. ‘Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.’

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What else do our children need from us when they’re grieving? 1) Our honesty. They need to know we’re hurting too. When they see you crying, but you tell them, ‘I’m all right,’ they’re confused. They think either you’re not hurting, and tears don’t mean anything, or you’re not being real with them. They need to know the genuine you, so they can be real with you and trust you with their hurts. 2) Our awareness of their feelings without overprotecting them. For them, as for you, ‘There is a time to weep…mourn…lose’ (vv. 4, 6 NKJV). God has made all these experiences ‘appropriate in its time’ (v.11 NASB). Don’t inhibit or invalidate their sadness, anger, and depression. It’s part of their God-given humanness, and will help them become balanced, compassionate adults. 3) Sensitive listening. Kids learn and grow through loss when they have an open and understanding listener. Listen, then reflect their feelings. ‘Sounds like you’re angry. Want to talk about it?’ Don’t analyse, ask! Listen with your eyes and ears. ‘Your words say you’re all right, but your eyes suggest you’re sad.’ 4) Permission to express negative emotions. Anger and resentment aimed at doctors, the system, family members, you, even God is normal! Don’t say, ‘You shouldn’t say such things.’ Instead say, ‘Sounds like a real, honest expression of pain and disappointment. Want to talk more about it?’ Expression detoxifies negative emotion. 5) Inclusion in our grief rituals. Include them in family gatherings, funeral planning, and services, and they will find comfort in the validation, closure, and healing these times bring!

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How can we help children navigate life’s losses? 1) Don’t underestimate their capacity for grief. Children are often the ‘forgotten’ grievers. Their pain is real and intense; recognise and validate it. 2) Don’t avoid talking about the loss when they’re present. Excluding them from adults in mourning denies them the opportunity for support, and increased understanding about their loss. Include them in the family’s collective grief experience. 3) Encourage them to share their feelings about the loss. Teach them that being ‘real’ is more important than being ‘strong’, and confirm that their feelings matter. Very young children have limited understanding about the meaning, permanence, and irreversibility of death. They can only talk about it briefly and concretely. Older children understand its meaning and should be encouraged to talk about it. 4) Make allowance for each child’s personality. Our personality determines our grieving style. Introverted children may need their own space; extroverted ones may need to be verbal and sociable. Dependent children need strong adults around them; independent ones can handle a lot on their own. 5) Communicate realistically with them. Adults often use language that confuses children. ‘Your dad has gone home…fallen asleep…passed away…gone to his rest,’ etc. Speaking of death as the end of this physical life is biblical, clarifies the significance of the loss, and allows children to ask questions that matter to them. Your children can handle loss, and they can understand that everlasting life is God’s great solution and one day we will join our loved ones in heaven (see John 14:2-3).

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Researchers at the Colorado Institute of Grief offer us this helpful four-stage path to recovery. Stage one – Shock. Our initial response is one of denial and disbelief. ‘I can’t believe this is happening…it’s not real!’ There is a numbing of our senses, a God-designed natural ‘anaesthesia’ that buffers the early blow and allows us time to gather our coping mechanisms. Stage two – Protest. We feel anger and resentment against God, yet we feel guilty for blaming Him. We may blame ourselves, the doctors, the patient, and question God’s love and faithfulness – even bargaining with Him. ‘If You will just do a miracle and bring them back, I will…’ Stage three – Disorganisation. Everything comes apart at the seams. The lifestyle we knew and loved unravels. The dreams we cherished evaporate. We feel hopeless, powerless, lost in a strange, empty universe. Secondary losses may loom: financial insecurity, social dislocation, depression, loss of concentration, etc. We’re convinced that life will never be normal again. We survive moment to moment, afraid to anticipate the road ahead. Stage four – Reorganisation. Unrelenting grief gives way to waves of sadness varying in frequency and intensity. We begin to accept and accommodate our loss. The energy we expended on grief work becomes available again, enabling us to adjust to the demands and opportunities of our new lifestyle. Slowly we re-emerge and take hold of the reins again. The process will take many months, and full recovery even years. But God promises it will come! There will be ‘a time to heal…build up…laugh…dance…gain!’ (Ecclesiastes 3:3-4, 6 NKJV).

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God’s Word neither ignores nor minimises the painful realities of life. Inevitably, we and our loved ones will experience life’s losses: illness, ageing, death, divorce, disability, loss of independence, unemployment, financial reversals, etc. Today’s culture prepares us for gain, but not for loss; to dance, but not to mourn (see Ecclesiastes 3:4). Major losses throw us into unchartered territory. So, we need to understand the dynamics of our loss in order to help us through it and back to living again. Life-changing loss begins with bereavement – the agony of feeling that something or someone indispensable to us has been ripped away, leaving us feeling robbed. Then comes grief – searing emotions of overwhelming sorrow that are often accompanied by anger, distress, confusion, and helplessness. Next, we move into the mourning stage – and begin to express our grief and loss. This is the ‘hard work’ stage of tears, memories, and heartrending spasms of weeping that shake us to our very core. We feel guilt and remorse over what we have said or done or not said or done. And our heartache gives those around us opportunity to respond, offering the comfort and reassurance we need to begin healing. This is God’s protocol for healing broken hearts. At 120, the Israelites’ beloved leader died – leaving behind him a grief-stricken nation (see Deuteronomy 34). And God allowed them thirty days to mourn their loss and to comfort one another before resuming the business of life. So take the time you need to do the work of mourning your losses because Jesus said, ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4 KJV).

Friday 24 February

‘A time to be born, and a time to die.’ Ecclesiastes 3:2 KJV

Navigating life’s losses (2)

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Jon Walker says, ‘When Jesus told Peter, “Satan has asked to sift…you as wheat”…it raises the question in our minds, Lord, did you have to say yes? A good sifting brings glory to God, such as when Job continued to praise his Maker when things seemed lost and even his wife was telling him to give up on God. It probes your weaknesses. Where you’re still thinking, “I can,” a good, swift sift will push you to say, “I can’t, but God can.” It allows God to scrape away the distractions that could hinder you from fulfilling His purpose in your life. Peter’s sifting…would scrape away all his stomp-and-snort bluster, revealing a heart that’s teachable and willing to welcome Cornelius and his Gentile clan into the family of God. Notice, Jesus didn’t say, “Get ready for a whirlwind of hurt, Peter. I know you’re going to let me down!” Instead He pointed to the future. Peter would survive the sifting; he would return humbled, but stronger, and with purpose to strengthen his brothers and sisters. The Lord said yes to the sifting to transform Peter from a leader who serves to a servant who leads. And that’s a significant shift from the thinking of men to the thinking of God. You may have days when you wonder if God is letting Satan sift you. You can take a God-view of it, knowing He is always in control. And “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4 KJV).’

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Life is full of choices, decisions, and options. It’s also full of people with strong opinions who will try to tell you which way they think you ought to go. If we could turn back the hands of time, nearly all of us would alter some of our past choices because they have caused us to find ourselves in the path of ‘wrongness’ rather than ‘righteousness’. Sheep will gravitate towards whatever appeals to their instincts, such as a berry bush, even though it will take them away from the flock and the shepherd’s protective care. They think they know the right path when they really have no clue. Question: Have you been following your appetites and instincts rather than your shepherd? You say, ‘But God has given me a brain to use..’ Sure, and you need to develop it. But it’s limited, and it will only take you so far. The Holy Spirit desires to take you beyond those limits. ‘As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God’ (Romans 8:14 KJV). How does God lead us? Objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit. As you read His Word, you hear His voice, and as you ‘lie down’ (Psalm 23:2 KJV), He impresses upon your heart what He wants you to do. If you have gone onto the wrong path, turn to God and He will guide you back onto the right path. You say, ‘Would God actually speak to someone like me?’ Yes, ‘He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice’ (John 10:3-4 NKJV). Today, let God lead you!

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Children are like arrows; they must be aimed in the right direction. When they’re aimed in the wrong direction, they may become involved in harmful habits or destructive lifestyles. And as long as we jeer at or judge them, they will never feel comfortable turning to us for help as they go through life. Broken arrows come in all forms. Pain isn’t prejudiced; it spares no age group, cultural background, or social strata. What’s the answer? Let the strong bear the infirmities of the weak (see Romans 15:1). ‘Jesus…had compassion on them and healed their sick’ (Matthew 14:14 NLT). Compassion is the mother of miracles! When the disciples thought they would die in the storm, they didn’t challenge Christ’s power, they challenged His compassion: ‘Carest thou not that we perish?’ (Mark 4:38 KJV). Where there is no compassion, there will be no miracle. Only when you’re moved by someone’s pain rather than turned off by their symptoms can you bring healing to them. One author writes: ‘We can build all the churches we want. But if people cannot find a loving voice within our hallowed halls, they will pass through unaltered by our clichés and religious rhetoric. Church is not a club for the well-heeled, but a hospital for those needing to be healed and set free. You don’t have to like everything about the people you’re called to minister to, but you do have to love them because God does.’ We have been called to gather up those the world has thrown away because they matter to God: ‘“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I make them My jewels”’ (Malachi 3:17 NKJV).

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This Samaritan woman tried to fill the emptiness in her life with multiple relationships. But it didn’t work. When you try to find in anyone else what can only be found in Christ, you place so much stress on the relationship that it will break under the weight of it. Why did Jesus say, ‘You have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband’ (v. 18 NIV)? Because one of the first things hurting people need to do is break the pattern of using other people as a narcotic to dull the pain of their inner void. The more you medicate the symptoms, the less chance you have of allowing God to treat the cause. The other dysfunctional tendency that can exist is that you keep increasing the dosage. When you become increasingly dependent on others rather than on God to create a feeling of wholeness in your life, you’re abusing your relationships. Clinging to people is very different from loving them. It’s not so much a declaration of your love for them as a crying out of your need for them. Like lust, it’s extremely selfish. It’s taking, instead of giving. Jesus quenched the Samaritan woman’s thirst with His Word, saying, ‘Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life’ (v. 14 NIV). And she went back home totally changed, for that’s what Jesus does. Listen to her testimony: ‘Come, see a man who told me everything’ (v. 29 NIV). And what Jesus did for her, He will do for you today.

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The Bible says: ‘There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity”’ (vv. 11-12 NKJV). Notice four things in this story: the person, the problem, the Great Physician, and the prescription. For every person, including you, there will be a problem. But more importantly, for every problem, including yours, the Great Physician has a prescription. Jesus’ opening statement to the problem in this woman’s life is not a recommendation for counselling – it’s a challenging command: ‘You are loosed!’ Christian counsellors are a gift from God, but often more is involved in maintaining deliverance than just discussing past trauma. Jesus didn’t counsel what should have been commanded. After you have analysed the condition and understood its origin, it will take the authority of God’s Word to put the past under your feet! This woman was suffering as the result of something that had attacked her eighteen years earlier, yet her trauma was as fresh that day as it was the day it occurred. But while her problem was rooted in the past, her prescription could only be found in a present word from God. Jesus, who is the Living Word, is ‘the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV). That is to say, the word you are hearing today is able to heal your yesterday! Jesus said, ‘Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.’ Why didn’t Jesus call her by name? Because His promise applies to all of us.

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Sorrow comes to us in many forms. You can lose your job, or your home, or your health. But nothing hurts more than when you lose someone you love dearly. Waves of grief will come at you like the ocean throwing its waves up onto the beach. Whatever you do, don’t drown. Don’t stop there and allow yourself to be pulled under by the current. Allow yourself to feel the grief without tying it around your neck. Allow the weight of it to help you work through your thoughts, fears, and, if necessary, your tears. Grieving relieves the soul, like exhaling carbon dioxide relieves your body. But there comes a point at which you must get up and go on. The stages of grief you go through are shock, then denial, then bargaining, then sorrow, and finally acceptance. David said, ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff [of protection] they comfort me’ (Psalm 23:4 KJV). When you get through this valley, you will be able to look back with more gratitude and less grief. Instead of focusing on what you have lost, you will be thankful for what you have left. And don’t be afraid to indulge in those rare moments of laughter that come even in the face of heartbreak. Laughter medicates the soul and alleviates the tension of those times; it requires us to step outside our present pain and adjust our focus. This in itself is a healing balm. ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine’ (Proverbs 17:22 KJV).

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The new birth begins a transforming process in how you think about yourself. But it must be continued each day by renewing your mind. ‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’ (Romans 12:2 NLT). Observe, when your thinking is changed by God’s Word, two things happen: a) you know His will for you, and b) you know He is pleased with you. When those two things happen, your self-perception is changed and you’re no longer at the mercy of other people’s opinions or evaluation of you. Our opinion of ourselves is deeply affected by the opinions of the authority figures in our formative years. If our parents tended to neglect or ignore us, we concluded that we weren’t worth their time, attention, or love, and it tore at our self-worth. But as we mature in God’s Word, we learn to walk in the light of our new self-image and we gain new self-worth. Regardless of what you have been through in life or the mistakes you have made, God will help you to realise who you are and what He has graced you to do. Before Paul met Christ, he killed Christians; that’s as bad as it gets. But after he met Christ, he wrote, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.’ When you understand God’s grace – His unearned, undeserved, unfailing favour towards you – it will profoundly change how you feel about yourself.

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Paul writes: ‘Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel’ (vv. 6-7 CEV). Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair; it’s always in motion and it keeps you busy, but it never actually gets you anywhere. In fact, if you do it too long, it wears you out! That’s why we must learn to ‘take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). One medical expert says that we create about thirty thousand thoughts per day, and an uncontrolled thought life can create a perfect environment for needless worry to thrive. The cause of worry is simple: it’s the reluctance to trust God to take care of the various situations in your life. Most of us have spent our lives trying to take care of ourselves, so it takes time – lots of it – to learn how to trust God instead. And the only way you learn that is by doing it. Each time you pray and turn the problem over to God, you experience His faithfulness. That makes it easier for you to trust Him next time. And when it comes to life’s problems, there will always be a ‘next time’. So each time you begin to feel anxious, say, ‘I trust God completely; there is no need to worry!’ The more you think about this truth, the more you will find yourself choosing trust over worry.

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In World War II, Viktor Frankl was sentenced to a Nazi concentration camp. The guards deprived him of everything. They took his wife, his family, his clothes. They even stole his wedding ring. But he had one thing no one could take from him. In a classic book, he wrote, ‘The last of human freedoms is the ability to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances.’ The guards could not take from Frankl his freedom to choose his attitude. We do not know what is going to occur tomorrow, or even today. We can’t control all our circumstances, but we can control how we respond to them. We can control whether an experience makes us stronger or weaker, increases our faith or our fear, makes us a better person or a bitter person. The saying goes: ‘The same sunshine that melts the butter hardens the clay.’ God wants our struggles to strengthen us. Paul writes: ‘We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation [deliverance]. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love’ (vv. 3-5 NLT). And here is another thought – a very important one. The tests and trials we go through in this life are what qualify us to rule and reign with Christ in the next life. Knowing that will help you to respond the right way!

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Everybody wants peace of mind. Whether you’re a businessperson facing the pressure of deadlines, a homemaker trying to round up kids, or a student trying to make it through the university term, everyone wants peace of mind. But most of us experience more stress than peace. How acquainted are you with stress? One author writes: ‘Here is a little quiz. Complete each of these sentences with the appropriate word: “I am ready to throw in the…I am at the end of my…I am just a bundle of…My life is falling…I am at my wits’…I feel like resigning from the human…” How did you do? If you answered, “towel, rope, nerves, apart, end, and race,” give yourself an A+.’ Most of us have muttered these words so often that they’re almost second nature. Stress is a regrettable fact of life in our contemporary world. Sales of sedatives are at an all-time high, and books on peace of mind become immediate best-sellers. We are warned that too much stress is unhealthy. So what else is new? We have understood that for centuries. Thousands of years ago, Solomon wrote, ‘A heart at peace gives life to the body’ (Proverbs 14:30 NIV). We know about stress, but where can we go to find peace? To God! Take a moment and read these two promises: 1) ‘The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.’ 2) ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace’ (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

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God uses problems, pressures, and people to prune you for greater fruitfulness. Are you aware of Him using any of these three things in your life today? God can use all situations in your life to help you grow if you will just have the right attitude. He will use a major frustration, a financial setback, a sudden sickness, a broken marriage, a rebellious child, or even the death of a loved one to get your attention. You say, ‘But it hurts so much!’ Yes, pruning is painful. Sometimes a gardener will prune a tree until it looks like a totem pole or a giant toothpick. It’s not a pretty sight. But the pruning process is positive. God is not mad at you. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1 NKJV). God does not punish His genuine children. Jesus took your punishment on the cross. God’s pruning is for your best, for more fruitfulness in your life. Can God’s pruning fail to produce? Sure, if you don’t cooperate. How does God produce ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’ in your life? (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). He produces these qualities by allowing you to face situations and people with exactly the opposite qualities. He teaches you to love by putting you around difficult people. He teaches you patience by letting things frustrate you. You say, ‘How can I cooperate with God?’ The Bible tells you: ‘Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT).

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Did you know that some master gardeners actually talk to their plants? Why? Because it helps them grow! Imagine yourself saying, ‘You’re such a good plant. My, you really are looking fine today! I’m so proud of you!’ Now picture yourself talking to a plant you’re pruning and saying, ‘This pains me more than it pains you.’ Whack! ‘You will thank me for this afterward!’ Whack! ‘It’s for your own good!’ Whack! Now picture the plant talking back: ‘You don’t have a heart. You hate me. I’ve worked long and hard to make those roses you just cut off.’ Isn’t that what we say to God while He prunes us? ‘Don’t you love me? Don’t you care about me? Don’t you see what’s going on in my life right now?’ We think God is mad at us. No, He is not mad. One of the major mistakes we make is confusing pruning with punishment. Don’t equate the two. God sees you as someone who can bear more fruit, someone with potential for greatness, someone He wants to utilise in a significant way. He wants you to be as fruitful as you can conceivably be, so He prunes you, even lopping off some of the things He has been blessing in your life. Have you lost a job you loved? Or a relationship you loved? God may have something much better in mind. Can you trust Him? Do you believe He is at work in your life? His Word says, ‘God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished’ (Philippians 1:6 NLT).

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The Bible says, ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.’ Two ways to get an egg out of an eggshell are to 1) crack it open, or 2) put it in a warm, loving environment and allow it to incubate and hatch. The second way preserves the chick, while the first kills it. Similarly, two ways to get the good news of the gospel across to people are to 1) pound them over the head with it, or 2) love them into God’s family. Have you noticed that a lot of evangelism is just a thinly-veiled insult? ‘You need what I have because you’re so awful.’ People do need the good news, but your disposition can keep them from receiving it. Respect unbelievers; don’t humiliate them. Respecting means accepting them. That doesn’t mean you have to approve of their lifestyle. Acceptance and approval are different. But everybody has the right to be treated in a respectful way. The best way to share the gospel with unbelievers is to surround them with love and acceptance as you share it with them. Be respectful, sensitive, and caring. Theologian D.T. Niles said, ‘Evangelism is just one beggar telling another where to find bread.’ Share God’s Word! You do the sharing, and God will do the saving. Once you sow the seed of God’s Word into someone’s heart, you can love them and leave them and trust God to do His part.

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The Bible describes the Christian life in war terms: fight, conquer, strive, battle, overcome, victory. You’re in a spiritual battle whether you realise it or not, and you need support and backup. When you became a Christian, you became a member of God’s army. Imagine you go to a recruiting office to join the Army. They say, ‘Wonderful, sign here.’ You say: ‘Wait! I have one stipulation. I don’t want to be committed to any particular platoon. I want to be able to float around. I’ll be part of the Army, but I don’t want to be committed to a certain group of soldiers. If the battle gets too hot in one area, I’ll move to another area and join another platoon. And if I dislike one platoon’s leadership, I’ll join another.’ Would you want a person like that fighting by your side? Of course you wouldn’t! But that’s how many Christians today relate to God’s army. They float around from church to church with little or no commitment to any particular group of Christians – so while the battle is being fought, they are AWOL. There is no such thing as a free-floating believer in the Bible. The difference between just attending church and becoming a member is like the difference between getting married and just living together. The distinction is commitment. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which means being committed to one another. Jesus said, ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another’ (John 13:35 NIV). And you can’t love in absentia. So, be committed and connected.

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Faithfulness can turn the most menial job into a vitally important one. For example, think about how dependent we are on something as small as a postage stamp. It’s always ready for service. It goes wherever it’s sent. It does whatever it’s asked to do. It sticks to the task until it’s done. It doesn’t give up when it’s licked. It stays up to date. And it finds no job too small. We weren’t all born with equal talents; some of us are more gifted in certain areas than others. But every one of us was born with an equal responsibility to utilise his or her abilities at full capacity. That’s the most any of us can do – and it’s what God, who gave us our talents, expects us to do. Two hundred years ago when the U.S. Marine Corps was first formed, officials gave considerable time to contemplating a fitting motto. They finally chose the Latin phrase semper fidelis, a phrase now engraved on the mind of every Marine. What does it mean? ‘Always faithful’! Both are important words, but the most important is the first one: always. Why? Because a Marine can’t afford to be faithful only when it’s comfortable or convenient, or when they feel like it, or when it will make them happy. Semper fidelis means you must always be faithful – regardless of the cost. God wants to be able to say the same thing about you as is said about Him: ‘Great is thy faithfulness.’ So whether you’re a boss, an employee, a father or mother, a husband or wife, a friend, teammate, or a Marine, the word for today is – always be faithful.

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Pastor James Merritt said, ‘The other day I asked my beautiful wife if she married me for my looks. She replied, “No, I married you for your brains – it’s the little things that count!”’ Merritt was joking of course. What really counts in life is faithfulness in little things; it’s how dependability begins, grows, and matures. Longfellow wrote, ‘Most people would succeed in small things if they weren’t troubled with great ambition.’ Sometimes we think we’re too big for small things; we would rather get on with what we perceive as bigger, more important matters. But here is how Jesus sees it: ‘Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters. If you cannot be trusted with this wicked wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? And if you cannot be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something that will be your own?’ (vv. 10-12 CEV). If you want to succeed on the job, come to work on time; stick with the job until it’s finished; when you see something that needs to be done, do it – even if it’s not in your job description. Give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay; take your designated lunch break, not a three-hour paid holiday; report your expenses truthfully; support the team; and uphold the company’s reputation (however, if there is a genuine problem in this area, you should consider speaking out). In other words, be faithful on the job: ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might’ (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV). That’s the kind of faithfulness God honours.

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Faithfulness requires making 100 per cent of your effort 100 per cent of the time. American magazine Insight once published an article by Gary Sheer called ‘Strive for Perfection…or Else!’ It contained some alarming facts! The article said if 99.9 per cent was good enough, 103,260 income tax returns would be processed incorrectly that year…22,000 cheques would be deducted from the wrong bank accounts within that next sixty minutes…12 babies would be given to the wrong parents each day…2 plane landings daily at O’Hare International Airport would be unsafe…18,322 pieces of mail would be mishandled within that next hour…291 pacemaker operations would be performed incorrectly that year…880,000 credit cards in circulation would turn out to have incorrect cardholder information on their magnetic strips…20,000 incorrect medicine prescriptions would be written within that next twelve months…and 107 incorrect medical procedures would be performed by the end of that day. Those are pretty sobering statistics – especially if you are one of the people whose life is affected! Here is the bottom line: only your best should be good enough in any situation. Anything less than that will never be good enough because it reflects your failure to be totally faithful and completely dependable. That’s why the Bible says, ‘It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.’ With God, faithfulness isn’t merely a concept or a suggestion; it’s a requirement of all who serve Him – and that includes you!

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A new employee once asked a co-worker, ‘How long have you been working for the company?’ He replied, ‘Ever since the boss threatened to fire me!’ Seriously, employers scramble to find workers who are faithful and dependable. Citizens long for politicians who will faithfully carry out all of their campaign promises. In the marriage ceremony, newlyweds are asked to be faithful to the vows they make to each other. The truth is, without faithfulness, your influence will be restricted – or wiped out. Without faithfulness, the sum total of all your other wonderful talents is diluted. Faithfulness turns the mundane into the miraculous and transforms ordinary individuals into dependable achievers. Wise King Solomon asked this soul-searching question: ‘Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?’ The world wants people who are faithful. There are more than 300 geysers in Yellowstone National Park (approximately half the known geysers in the world). But one stands above the others. It’s not the largest, and its waters don’t reach the greatest height, but it’s by far the most popular. And its popularity is due solely to one thing – its dependability. People stand in long lines under the hot sun to see it, because according to a precise schedule, it shoots a stream of boiling water more than 120 feet into the air. You can nearly set your watch by it. That’s why it’s called Old Faithful. People are attracted to our faithfulness. God is glorified by our faithfulness. So in all you do this day, practise faithfulness.

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Next time you sit down at your table to eat a delicious meal, stop and think about all the people it took to make it possible. A farmer grew it or raised it; a food processing company prepared and packaged it; a transport company shipped it; a supermarket sold it; then someone paid the price to buy it, cook it, and set it before you to eat. There are many links in this chain, but the first link is God. He made the soil, the seeds, and the livestock. Without Him, you would go hungry. That’s why each time you come to your dining table, it’s proper to ‘say grace’, or offer thanks to Him. When someone sets food for your enjoyment and nourishment in front of you, common courtesy alone should require that you respond by saying, ‘Thank you.’ Here is a memo from heaven: ‘Everything you have came from me. Signed: God.’ (See James 1:17.) Perhaps you’re thinking, ‘But I worked hard for what I have.’ Then you’re to be commended for your work ethic and your effort. But that’s not the end of the story; here is the rest of it: ‘Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share’ (1 Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV). When God says be ‘ready to give, willing to share,’ He is simply saying, ‘Just as I have been the provider of all your blessings, now go out and share those blessings with others.’

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Spiritual growth doesn’t happen automatically. You must desire to grow, decide to grow, discipline yourself, and delight in spiritual growth. ‘But my life is just too hard,’ you say. A lot of people have had it worse than you and grown into spiritual maturity, and a lot of folks have had it better and remained stuck in spiritual infancy. That’s because they doubted their ability to grow, drifted wherever the current took them, or delayed their growth, thinking, ‘I’ll get around to it when things change’. But it never happens. Growth always begins with a decision. ‘Follow me and be my disciple…So Matthew got up and followed him’ (Matthew 9:9 NLT). Matthew didn’t understand all the implications of his decision; he simply decided to follow Jesus. That’s all you need to get started: a decision. Nothing shapes your life like the decisions you make. If you want to know what you’ll be twenty or thirty years from now, examine the commitments and priorities that rule your life. It’s at the point of commitment that most of us miss God’s best. Because we are afraid to commit to anything, we make half-hearted commitments to too many things and end up frustrated because we chose the wrong things. And when we commit to the wrong things we end up living with regrets. Every choice has consequences, so choose wisely. Christlikeness is the result of making Christ-like choices, then depending on Him to help you fulfil those choices. And He will: ‘God accurately reproduces His character in you’ (Ephesians 4:24 MSG).

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When the father saw his prodigal son, ‘his heart went out to him’. Jack Graham writes: ‘This isn’t a father who can’t wait to punish his sinful son…who has written him off as wasted and worthless. This is a loving, caring father who can’t wait to embrace and welcome him. He runs down the road to meet him…What you see…is a picture of the Father’s love for you…eager…excessive… approachable…abundant.’ Max Lucado adds: ‘The tale involves a wealthy father and a wilful son [who]…takes his inheritance [to] Las Vegas and…wastes [it] on slot machines and call girls…Broke [and] too proud to go home, he gets a job sweeping…stables at the racetrack. When he finds himself…[eating]…their oats, he realises enough is enough…Off he goes, rehearsing his repentance speech…But…“When he was…a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion” [v. 20 NKJV]…We expect crossed arms…a furrowed brow…a guarded handshake…a stern lecture…Instead [the father said], “Bring out the best robe…a ring…sandals…and…the fatted calf” [vv. 22-23 NKJV].’ The ring symbolised delegated authority. The one who wore it carried on business in the name of the one who gave it. Would you have given this prodigal the power of attorney over your matters? Entrusted him with your credit card? When you came to God, you were given authority to conduct business in His name. When you speak truth, you’re His ambassador (see 2 Corinthians 5:20). As you steward finances He gives, you’re His business manager. When you proclaim forgiveness, you’re His priest. He has given you the privilege to do for others what He does for you. Don’t withhold encouragement or affirmation! Speak words that strengthen others. Why? Because you represent your Father!

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In order to succeed in life, you need good coping skills. The salesperson has a quota. The performer has rehearsals. The therapist counsels one depressed soul after another. The pilot has to sit in the cockpit for hours. The preacher is never free of sermon preparation. Then there is the parent with tiny children facing fourteen hours a day of making decisions, competing with strong wills, and trying to be everything to everybody. How do you develop the coping skills required to live the abundant life Jesus promised? (See John 10:10.) Paul tells us, ‘Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks.’ Rejoice in the things that never change, can’t fail, and won’t let you down (like God’s promises!). And when you feel like you can’t cope, pray. Better yet, live with a prayerful heart! With every breath, say, ‘I trust you, Lord; I turn it over to you, for I know you have everything under control.’ And don’t forget to give thanks. Remember the old adage: ‘I grumbled because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.’ Instead of complaining, start counting your blessings. Do you remember what life was like before you met Jesus? Weren’t there days when you thought you wouldn’t make it? Now look where you are! On the other side of the Red Sea, looking back, the Israelites declared that the Lord was their strength, their song, and their salvation (see Exodus 15:2). And isn’t that what He has been to you, too? Come on, praise God!

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Wise people never make important decisions in a wrong emotional state. When Elijah found out that Queen Jezebel was after him, he was ready to give up his role as a prophet and die. So God gave him forty days of rest, prayer, and recovery, before he decided what his next steps would be. He was now ready to decide on the basis of his faith in God, and not his fear of Jezebel. And his decision was very different at the end of forty days of rest than it would have been before he rested. You’ve probably seen people make terrible decisions when they were drained, tired, discouraged, and afraid, that they would never have made otherwise. Generally speaking, you won’t choose the right course of action when you’re in the wrong frame of mind. When you have an important decision to make, sometimes the wisest thing you can do is – wait until you’re rested. An anxious mind in an exhausted body can lead to a terrible decision. The Bible says: ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’ (vv. 6-7 NKJV). Notice what ‘the peace of God’ does for you. It will ‘guard’ your mind. From what? Acting impulsively, acting selfishly, or acting maliciously. Acting in any way that will result in loss rather than gain – and regret rather than joy.

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Jon Walker says: ‘It’s hard to…confront…it’s easier to stay superficial…to demonise one another when we don’t agree…and to cut and run at the first sign of trouble…But the Bible says, “An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship” (Proverbs 24:26 NLT); it deepens relationships…and keeps our fellowship open and authentic, freeing us to speak the truth in love”…No more lies or pretence. Tell your brother the truth. Remember, “In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself”’ (Ephesians 4:25 MSG). Author Annette Smith observes: ‘Touchy topics are difficult for even close friends. Yet relationships involve flawed people who make mistakes and get into messes. Friends need to be able to count on each other, not just for fun and affirmation, but for instruction and correction. Committing ourselves to a friendship means because we care on a deep, intimate level, we have the courage to speak up when a friend needs to hear tough words…True friendship comes with joy and responsibility…To avoid talking truthfully about a situation that’s hurtful, dangerous, or out of God’s will, is to dishonour the friendship and the friend. When we’ve been trusted with the blessing of friends, we must love them enough to be willing to experience hurt, rejection, even anger. In the end, truth heals. Before addressing a difficult situation, if there’s any self-righteousness or the tiniest desire to get even, we should keep silent. Honesty…when it comes to touchy subjects must be accompanied by pure, loving motives.’ The Bible says, ‘Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.’ If your words aren’t bathed in love, they’ll hurt rather than heal.

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Doug Coldiron writes: ‘I’m a trucker, and my Jack Russell Terrier, Dee Dee, rides shotgun on my road trips. We were playing fetch outside Atlanta when something caught her eye and she shot into the woods. I paced the perimeter calling her name. I alerted other truckers and searched until it was pitch black. Nothing. Eventually the others left; some said, “I’ll pray for you.” I wasn’t so sure God was listening. I’d already been praying for hours. Next morning, I had to get on the road, and when I opened my laptop and pulled up my Facebook page, it was filled with postings: “We’re praying for you.” “Hang in there.” “Trust God.” I felt comforted; someone besides me was worried about my dog. If only I could get back to Atlanta soon! I thought about praying, “Lord, get me an assignment in Atlanta…NOW!” I knew that could take weeks, but when I clicked on my company website to check the destination for my next job…it was Atlanta! Could prayer be working? Next morning my cell phone woke me. It was Russ, the maintenance supervisor. “I saw your dog on my way to work.” I couldn’t believe my ears. I had to get to Atlanta! From the truck centre, Russ drove me to where he had seen Dee Dee. After searching for hours, I glanced over my shoulder…and there she sat on the doorstep of a house. She bolted over, and as I picked her up, I prayed, “Thank you, God.”’ The Bible says, ‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you’ (v. 7 NLT). Coldiron adds, ‘Who knows what goes on in a dog’s mind? One thing I know is we’re never alone. God always answers prayer.’

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Develop the habit of starting each day with God. When you do, you will have a source of strength to draw on all day long. Psychologists say it takes up to three weeks to become familiar with a new habit, and another three before it takes root. That means you need to get beyond the six-week barrier. So, do these: 1) Make a strong resolution. If you begin half-heartedly, you will never succeed. The Bible says, ‘Encourage one another daily’ (Hebrews 3:13 NIV). If it helps, become accountable to someone. Ask them to encourage you and remind you of the promise you made to God. 2) Never allow an exception. A habit is like a ball of twine: every time you drop it, some of the strands unwind. So don’t allow ‘just this once’ thinking to creep in. Every act of yielding weakens your will and causes you to lose ground. 3) Use every opportunity to practise your new habit. Whenever you get the slightest urge to read your Bible and pray, do it. Don’t wait; use that moment to reinforce it. It doesn’t hurt to overdo a new habit when you’re first starting. 4) Rely on the power of God. You’re in a spiritual battle, and you can only succeed with God’s help. Depend on Him to aid you in developing the habit for His glory. Write down the following words, sign your name at the bottom, and keep them before you constantly: ‘Lord, I commit myself to beginning each day with You no matter what the cost. And I’m depending on You to help me be consistent.’ That’s a prayer He is sure to answer.

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Trusting in Christ’s soon return and our ultimate victory is what will sustain us in these days of disillusionment with some of our national leaders, the devaluing of our money, and the devastation of wars being fought on various continents at the same time. And don’t let some television talk-show host play on your fears in order to promote his or her ratings. Jesus said, ‘Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come’ (Matthew 24:42 NIV). In other words, ‘Be alert, but don’t be afraid.’ Admiral James Stockdale spent eight gruelling years in a Vietnam prisoner-of-war camp. What sustained him? He said: ‘I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.’ When asked, ‘Who didn’t make it out?’ Stockdale replied: ‘Oh, that’s easy…they were the ones who said, “We’re going to be out by Christmas.” And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, “We’re going to be out by Easter.” And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.’ The courage needed to stand between the two extremes of current trouble and ultimate triumph is found in these words of Scripture: ‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV). The One who gave you your start has guaranteed you a glorious finish.

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Someone said, ‘Getting married is like buying something you have admired for ages in a shop window. You love it – but when you get it home, it doesn’t always go with everything!’ The Bible gives us three words that are essential to building a happy marriage: ‘Live in…harmony’ (Romans 15:5 NLT). That means doing these three things: 1) Keep an open mind. The Bible says, ‘Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.’ So don’t form your response while your husband or wife is still talking. And never become so entrenched in your position that you’re unwilling to consider your spouse’s viewpoint. Listening is about connecting and acknowledging where the other person is coming from. ‘Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests…take an interest in others’ (Philippians 2:3-4 NLT). 2) Learn to laugh at yourself. ‘A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day’ (Proverbs 15:13 MSG). When you’re experiencing money woes, family problems, illness, or plain old exhaustion, humour can ease the tension and help restore your perspective. 3) Eliminate the ‘D’ word from your vocabulary. Although God permits divorce under certain circumstances, it’s never His ideal. Like one couple who worked through their marriage troubles said, ‘We’re glad we didn’t give up during the difficult years. We hung in long enough to realise that it really can get better with time.’ When you commit to work on your relationship, no matter how things ultimately end up, you will never regret your efforts.

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There is no definitive test that can predict how a date will ultimately work out, but here are five questions you should always ask yourself: 1) What’s my first impression of this person? For example, who do they hang out with? What kind of events do they enjoy? Do they lie? Steal? Swear? Do drugs? This kind of information can save you untold heartache down the road. And, not to judge a book by its cover, until you really get to know somebody, what else can you go by? 2) How well do I know them? Isn’t it wiser to date someone you have known for a while instead of a stranger? 3) Are they gracious towards others? Nothing is worse than a man who brags about his previous conquests, or a woman who constantly criticises her ex. Would you trust that kind of person with your reputation and your heart? 4) Do we share the same values? The Bible says, ‘Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?’ Opposites may attract, but that’s not a good rule when it comes to values. You need to know that your date is a committed Christian who lives by his or her convictions. What kind of standards do they have about things like money, morals, and films? 5) Can I trust them to keep their word? In previous relationships did they flirt, or cheat, or remain loyal? Count on it, a promise breaker will inevitably become a heartbreaker. If you’re dating, here is some sound advice: ‘Seek [God’s] will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take’ (Proverbs 3:6 NLT).

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One of America’s most successful telephone companies created a TV advert using the slogan, ‘Can you hear me now?’ It shows a man talking on the phone, but the person on the other end can’t hear him. So, he repeatedly asks, ‘Can you hear me now?’ The ad was designed to convey the message that this particular phone company delivers a high-quality signal and doesn’t drop calls. When your phone drops a call, you know it. And what’s your immediate reaction? Annoyance? Frustration? Anger? In Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘When I interact with people…I know I’ve connected when I sense extra effort – people go the extra mile; unsolicited appreciation – they say positive things; unguarded openness – they demonstrate trust; increased communication – they express themselves more readily; enjoyable experiences – they feel good about what they’re doing; emotional bondedness – they display a connection on an emotional level; positive energy – their emotional “batteries” are charged by being together;…unconditional love – they are accepting without reservation. Anytime I interact with people and I see evidence of these signals, I know I’m connecting. I’ve learned what it takes to connect…and…to gauge when I’m succeeding. How are you doing when it comes to connecting? When you interact one-on-one with someone important in your life, do you receive these signals?…Even if connecting with others isn’t something you’re good at today, you can learn how to do it and become better tomorrow.’ But first, you must genuinely care about the person you are trying to connect with. That’s why Paul writes, ‘May the Lord make your love increase and overflow.’

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When change happens in the workplace, we often feel threatened. We get used to the personalities of our co-workers and bosses, and we want them to remain in place, stay the same, and require nothing more from us than what we have given in the past. Out of our desire for stability, security, and predictability, we fail to prepare for instability, uncertainty, and surprises. How ironic! If we were willing to adjust our expectations and be more realistic, we wouldn’t be so traumatised when change comes. Things can change overnight. It may be the loss of a parent, or a job, or your health. Change is the only constant in life. And it has the potential to move you on to better things or flatten you like a steamroller. The choice is yours. ‘To everything there is a season.’ The truth is, God is your only secure anchor in life, so if you’re wise, you will build a strong relationship with Him. Ultimately, He will never allow you to depend on anything but Him. Here is Elijah’s story: ‘The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,…and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land’ (1 Kings 17:6-7 NKJV). Elijah may have panicked, but God didn’t. ‘The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath…and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you”’ (vv. 8-9 NKJV). Notice what God used to provide for Elijah: ravens, a brook, and a penniless widow. So enjoy your job, excel in it, but depend only on God!

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Taking communion can be a meaningless ritual, or an intimate time spent in the presence of Jesus. Read the story of Cleopas and his companion. They were travelling home to Emmaus when Jesus suddenly appeared and walked along with them. First He opened their eyes to see that the crucifixion wasn’t the tragedy they thought, but a fulfilment of prophecy and God’s way to redeem a lost world; something to celebrate and not be sad about. Later, as He sat in their home and ate supper with them, ‘he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him’ (vv. 30-31 NIVUK). Are you battling fear and doubt today? Are you wondering if God will keep His promise to you? He will! Earlier that day, Cleopas and his companion met some women who had just been to the empty tomb and reported that Jesus was alive. But try as they might, they couldn’t believe it. This story proves that Jesus loves doubters enough to walk with them, take away their fears, and strengthen their faith. And guess when He did it? As they broke bread. So next time you’re taking communion, stop and pray, ‘Lord, speak to me. Show me Your will and Your way.’ That’s a prayer He will answer. Your mind may be confused and your anxiety great, but if you’re spiritually hungry He will show up and meet you at the point of your need.

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When Joseph was thrown into prison, it was hard for him to see how this road would lead to the fulfilment of his dream, but it did. That’s because God had a plan for his life. And He has one for yours too! Your current job may just be preparation for the job God really has in mind for you. Perhaps not today or tomorrow, but, if you stay faithful, there will come a time when you look back and realise how God directed your steps (see Psalm 37:23). Refuse to embrace any concept of victimhood that would steal your contentment. Your job, in spite of its difficulties, would have been the dream of some of your ancestors. Didn’t you pray for this job you’re now complaining about? As difficult as this may be to accept, you’re where you are for a reason – and for a season. So study, do the coursework, take the tests, graduate, and move on to what God has for you next. There are certain qualities you need to take with you from your present position into your next one. Things like skill building and character development. You may need to learn computer and social media skills – plus patience and gratitude. You may need to learn how to manage an office – plus how to manage your moods. When you’re led by God, no experience is ever wasted because ‘God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them’ (Romans 8:28 NLT). God knows what He is doing, so trust Him; He uses every experience to bring about His will and fulfil our joy.

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If you’re recovering from a bad relationship, it’s a mistake to rush into another one. Unhealthy people make unhealthy choices. Some wounds take longer to heal than others, but you can count on this promise: ‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.’ All God asks is that you give Him a chance. Start by taking time to search His Word to find out how He feels about you. His opinion is the only reliable foundation on which to build your self-worth. If a perfect God with full knowledge of your struggles and shortcomings can love you, the message is – lighten up on yourself! You can only love, or be loved again, with the same wholeness with which you love yourself. Next time make sure your choices aren’t predicated on need or the fear of being alone. And be careful: when you don’t value yourself, you attract people who won’t value you either; people who will use you for their own ends. You deserve better, so hold out for it. You train others how to treat you by how you treat yourself. And as you become spiritually and emotionally whole, you will start seeing how unhealthy some of your former choices have been. If some people walk away, so be it. Sometimes you have to give up less in order to have more. The God who said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone’ has new relationships in mind for you. But He is waiting until your values and self-perception line up with His. So take it step by step, one day at a time. And remember to rejoice – your best days are still ahead!

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The Brady Bunch was a popular television show where a mum and dad with six kids created one big happy family without conflict or rivalries. The problem is it seldom happens that way. So, if you’re planning to remarry, here are three challenges you will need God’s help with: 1) It’s common for kids to see a new step-parent as a usurper. Their loyalty to the memory of their departed mother or father can be intense. For them to welcome a newcomer feels like an act of betrayal. This can place the step-parent in a real bind. 2) It’s common for one child to move into the power vacuum left by the departing parent and see themselves as a surrogate spouse. The status and power that come with this supportive role is very strong, and a youngster can be unwilling to give it up. 3) Each of us is irrationally committed to our own flesh and blood while being merely acquainted with others. So when conflict arises in the family, parents are almost always partial to those they brought into the world. And when children sense this tension between parents, some of them will try to exploit it to their advantage. That’s why, statistically, second and third marriages have a higher failure rate than first ones. But there is good news: ‘With God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26 KJV). What should you do? Seek professional counselling as early as possible. Yes, it costs, but a divorce will cost you even more. And include God; He can give you the patience, wisdom, and love you need. ‘Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you’ (2 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV).

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Observe this: 1) Temptation comes when you’re alone without support. Just as a wolf looks for the sheep that wanders from the safety of the fold, when you neglect Christian fellowship and cut yourself off from other believers, the Enemy rejoices. You say, ‘But I have the Lord with me always.’ Yes, but here is how the Bible teaches us to overcome temptation: ‘A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken’ (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT). We are born, and born again, to walk this journey with others. Paul writes, ‘The body is not made up of one part but of many….The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”’ (1 Corinthians 12:14, 21 NIV). Walking in step with other believers increases your protection against Satan. 2) Your greatest weapon in the hour of temptation is knowing God’s Word. Jesus repelled Satan’s attacks by quoting it. Satan is rendered powerless when he is confronted by a believer who declares, ‘It is written!’ You must decide to take a stand, but it’s your stance on God’s Word that makes the Enemy retreat. When Satan approached, Jesus didn’t go looking for a Bible; He quoted the Word He knew by heart. That’s your key to victory. John says, ‘I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one’ (1 John 2:14 NLT).

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Here are some practical pointers from Jesus for handling temptation: 1) Your temptations are like the ones He faced. ‘Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are’ (Hebrews 4:15 CEV). You say, ‘But you don’t understand how bad my temptations are.’ No, but Jesus does. The fact that ‘He was tempted in every way’ means He has been there, felt the urge, and understands your vulnerability first-hand. You can turn to Him when temptation hits, confident He has walked the same path and He will help you. 2) Temptation often comes after spiritual victory. Jesus had just been baptised, the Holy Spirit descended on Him, and God declared His pleasure in His Son – then Satan struck full force (see Matthew 3:16-17; 4:1-11). High spiritual moments can leave you with your guard down, susceptible to attack. Paul says, ‘Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall’ (1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV). People often crash and burn after big accomplishments. Ministers, for example, can be prone to temptation after delivering a great sermon. 3) Temptation comes when you’re exhausted. Forty days without eating had left Jesus physically depleted. When your resources are drained, you’re a target for attack. Lack of sleep, unhealthy diet, stretching yourself too thin, no exercise, anxiety, and discouragement can open the door to temptation. When you feel down, your focus blurs, your awareness is dulled, your spiritual edge diminishes, and you’re not on guard against the Enemy’s approaches and schemes. The Bible says, ‘Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up’ (1 Peter 5:8 MSG).

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Have you ever looked down on someone because they didn’t share or possess the advantages that you enjoy in life? Do you feel superior to others in any aspect of your life? Do you believe that being part of a particular denomination puts you in a special class? Maybe your well-toned physique makes you feel superior to the overweight multitudes. And what if you are renowned in your community? Do you think you should always be escorted to front-row seats at public meetings? If so, it’s time to submit your attitude to the Holy Spirit. But when it comes to elitism, there is another side to the coin. It’s possible to label a person or a group as elitist merely because they enjoy a particular advantage that you find intimidating and alienating due to your own self-doubt, or to try to improve your image in others’ eyes. Politicians do this. A candidate may accuse his opponent of elitism simply because of access to family wealth, or a diploma from a prominent university, or a high profile, or influential friends. As a result, that opponent accuses the other of reaching out to blue-collar workers and being disingenuous about how regular and down to earth they are. In the final analysis, it’s not what you do but what you believe that establishes whether you have an elitist attitude. The truth is, it’s easy to spot pride in others and hard to see it in yourself. That’s why Peter writes, ‘Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour.’

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Anytime you think less of someone because they’re not a member of your race, denomination, gender, or social group, you’re displaying an elitist attitude. Elitism is rooted in pride, and ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble’ (James 4:6 NIV). Here are two Bible examples of the elitist ‘they are not one of us’ attitude: 1) When God poured out His Spirit upon the seventy elders who led Israel, they all prophesied. Two of them were not present when it happened. Later, Joshua saw them prophesying and reported it to Moses. ‘“My lord, forbid them!” Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”’ (Numbers 11:28-29 NKJV). Joshua believed that only a select group were qualified. 2) ‘John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us”’ (Mark 9:38-40 NLT). If you exclude others or feel superior to them in any aspect of life, read these words from Paul: ‘But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favour on me – and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.’

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Paul writes: ‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well’ (vv. 3-6 NLT). Paul is teaching us this important principle: ‘Don’t have an elitist attitude.’ If you are an elitist, you must deal with the truth that every advantage or favour you enjoy is a gift from God (see 1 Corinthians 4:7). Whatever God has given you or allowed you to accomplish must never be used for personal exultation. Even if you think you achieved each of them on your own, read these words and take them to heart: ‘Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names’ (Philippians 2:3-9 NLT).

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‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people – cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted’ (Luke 18:10-14 NLT). The lesson in this story is, God has more tolerance for an honest sinner than a self-righteous Christian. When the Pharisee was congratulating himself for the sins he didn’t commit – cheating, adultery, etc. – he was guilty of the sin of spiritual pride. Question: what good behaviour is a source of pride to you? Do you measure others by your performance and mark their scorecard accordingly? The only performance that makes any of us acceptable to God is based on Christ’s performance on the cross. ‘God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT). The righteousness that saves us is imputed – not earned. So don’t be self-righteous!

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‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes…More to be desired are they than gold…sweeter also than honey…by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer’ (vv. 7-8, 10-14 NKJV). This prayer shows that the psalmist regarded meditation as an utter necessity to his spiritual life. And if that was true for him in his day, how much more vital is it for you today! You need to bathe your mind each day in the waters of God’s Word so that your words and your thoughts are pleasing in His sight. Use your time – the start of the day, at coffee break, during your lunchtime, riding home from work, before falling asleep at night – to reflect upon the truth of God’s Word. The greatest changes in your life will come through the process of meditating on the Scriptures – just letting the Word of God filter and percolate through your mind and into your life. First-class Bible reading calls not for snapshots but for timed exposures.

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Bible meditation is different from meditation as we know it in our society. Meditation, as popularly taught by the Eastern philosophies, tells you to empty your mind. That’s the exact opposite of what the Scriptures say! Bible meditation means filling your mind with the truth God has revealed. David was a king. Imagine the pressures and problems, demands and decisions he faced each day. Yet he said, ‘Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.’ Have you observed that we waste an awful lot of time doing mundane things such as holding on the phone, queueing, driving to work? In big cities, people often spend an hour or more going to work, and the same coming home. That’s ten hours a week. Forty hours a month. Four hundred and eighty hours a year. That’s an extraordinary amount of time! The question is, what are you doing with your mind during this time? Just driving along with your mind in neutral? Or listening to the radio or a CD or music on your smartphone? Or getting angry at all the drivers around you? What a great time to get your mind in gear! What an opportunity to grow spiritually and mentally! What exercise does for your body, meditation does for your soul. The Bible says, ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). A sign on someone’s office wall read: ‘You are not what you think you are. But what you think – you are!’ If you want your life to be different, start thinking different thoughts; meditate on God’s Word!

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Bible meditation has fallen out of favour. Why? Because we live in an instantaneous society, and a preoccupied society. We have so much stuff coming at us from TV, mobile phones, email, texts, snail mail, satellite links, cable news feeds, and podcasts that we hardly have a moment to react – much less reflect. Get real! You can’t ‘download’ spiritual maturity by hitting a few keys on a computer. That’s why the Scriptures speak so often about meditation. God, the author of the Bible, gave Joshua the formula for succeeding in your career and prospering in whatever you put your hand to: ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth [speak the Scriptures every chance you get], but you shall meditate on it [when?] day and night, so that you may be careful to do [not just know, but do!] according to all [you can’t pick and choose] that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success’ (v. 8 NASB). Note the words ‘you will make’. To succeed in life, you must do something. Do what? Meditate in God’s Word! How often? ‘Day and night.’ So what portion of Scripture were you thinking about this morning as you started your day? Or while driving to and from work? For that matter, when was the last time you consciously reflected on any Bible truth or principle? If you can’t remember, start making some changes right away. Paul told Timothy: ‘Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all’ (1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV). And that’s still the rule!

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Let’s take this meditate-percolate idea a step further. (If you’re a tea drinker, substitute the word ‘brew’.) Maybe this will help you ease into meditation instead of feeling overwhelmed by the thought that you don’t have the time or discipline to do it. This is not an all-or-nothing challenge. Take small steps. If you have only ten minutes, maximise each one of them. You don’t have to read ten chapters of your Bible. You’re not doing a book report for school, and you’re not going to be graded on a test. Read this verse and it will help you: ‘But the word of the Lord was to them, “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little”’ (v. 13 NKJV). God’s Word is so rich with truth that you can take one phrase or one idea and let it percolate and brew in your mind, whether you have ten minutes or two hours. Instead of watching TV or constantly checking your phone for messages, just sit still, drink your coffee or tea, and let God’s indwelling Spirit interpret, enlarge, and enrich His Word as you roll it over and over in your mind. Think about it during your drive time, or your lunch or coffee breaks. Some days you will feel like you have hit the jackpot spiritually; other days you will just feel like you have added a little more to your basic Bible knowledge. Consistency is the key. Do this for one year, and you will have 365 scriptural insights to draw on. Can you see how this could change your life for the better?

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Meditating in Scripture is one of the great keys to spiritual growth. In Psalm 1, David writes, ‘In His law he meditates day and night’ (Psalm 1:2 NKJV). But the word ‘meditation’ is not one that a text-and-Twitter generation relates to very well. We imagine sober-faced monks wearing hair shirts and chanting on bended knees as the sun comes up every morning. As a result, we want to run in the opposite direction. We admire such people, think God has to call us to such a thing, and conclude that He certainly hasn’t called us to do it. Or we think meditation is a discipline that requires hours of uninterrupted time, and time is the one thing we don’t have any more of. And the result? We live busy but spiritually barren lives. Some of us actually think meditation is a fine thing, but we believe that there are too many other areas of spiritual growth and character development we need to work on first. What’s the problem? We don’t understand what it means to meditate, or the rich benefits it will give us. A spoon of instant coffee is okay if you just want the basic taste of coffee. But if you want more – if you want to enjoy the flavours of the coffee in all their richness – you have to let it percolate. So, we could paraphrase the Scripture this way: ‘In His law he percolates day and night.’ That is what Paul meant here: ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.’ Today, enjoy the aroma, taste the flavour, and experience the strength.

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If you think criticising others is just exercising your right to free speech and it’s no big deal, stop and consider these three things: 1) God saw it as a sin when Aaron and Miriam criticised Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. He smote Miriam with leprosy, and Aaron was quick to repent: ‘We have done foolishly…we have sinned.’ Yes, God healed Miriam, but not before she had been publicly embarrassed. 2) A critical attitude will hurt you relationally. ‘Then the Lord said to Moses, “…Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again”’ (v. 14 NKJV). Leprosy was contagious, and those who had it were isolated from others. There is an important lesson here. When you become known for a critical attitude, people will distance themselves from you and avoid you. It’s a trust issue; they know if you will talk to them about others, you will talk to others about them. 3) A critical attitude hinders everybody’s progress. ‘So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again’ (v. 15 NKJV). Have you ever been part of an organisation where one fault-finding person destroyed the effectiveness and hindered the progress of the entire group? 4) A critical attitude hurts your relationship with God. ‘Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbours or speak evil of their friends…Such people will stand firm forever’ (Psalm 15:1-3, 5 NLT).

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If you have read the story of Joseph, you realise he had every reason to be angry, bitter, and vindictive for the despicable way in which his brothers treated him. But what does he do? He doesn’t get enraged and he doesn’t even get even. He helps Egypt, the land that enslaved and falsely imprisoned him, to survive famine. He feeds his family when they come begging for food. He forgives, and in doing so, he is freed from his negative emotions. He resolves the issues of the past, does not allow them to deter his destiny, and stays in the favour of God. As second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph held the power of life and death over those who had hurt him. Yet he told them: ‘Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them’ (vv. 20-21). We all have emotional reactions in our relationships; the problem isn’t the anger or the disappointment – unless you are controlled by your emotions. Whenever anger causes you to damage the things God has given you charge over, your emotions are being mismanaged. You give territory to the devil when you fail to manage your anger. ‘“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil’ (Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT). So the word for today is – learn to manage your emotions.

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Joseph had two dreams, and the second was bigger than the first. His first dream was a field of sheaves; the second dream was a sky full of stars. So the word for today is – dream one size bigger! Henry Curtis said: ‘Make your plans as fantastic as you like, because twenty-five years from now they will seem mediocre. Make your plans ten times as great as you first planned, and twenty-five years from now you will wonder why you did not make them fifty times as great.’ There is only one way to keep growing: make your goal a step beyond what makes you comfortable. That will force you to keep growing! And it will also set you up to believe God for greater things. Most people want their lives to keep improving, yet they value peace and stability at the same time. They forget that you can’t improve and stay the same. Growth means change, and that means challenging the status quo. Thinking ‘possible’ means you can’t settle for what you have now. There will always be people around you who want you to give up your dream and embrace the status quo. Love them, but don’t be led by them. As you begin to believe God for greater things and others try to throw cold water on you, remember that right now, as you read this page, other people around the world are thinking about curing cancer, developing new energy sources, feeding the hungry, improving the quality of life, and winning whole nations for Christ. They are beating the odds and challenging the status quo – and you must, too.

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The Bible says, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him’ (v. 6 NKJV). Here is something God can’t do: be pleased without faith! Twelve spies entered the promised land, but only two came back and said, ‘We are well able to overcome it’ (Numbers 13:30 NKJV). God had promised it to them, but the majority thought it couldn’t be done. People who think ‘possible’ not only create forward-looking, optimistic pictures of the future in their own minds, but also in the minds of others. And the opposite is true. Sam Ewing said, ‘Nothing is so embarrassing as watching someone do something that you said couldn’t be done.’ Now, believing you can doesn’t guarantee you will. But believing you can’t guarantees you won’t! So how’s your approach to life? When you face the unknown, the undone, or the untried, do you focus on all the things that can go wrong or all the things that can go right? Ballistic rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun said, ‘I have learned to use the word “impossible” with the greatest caution.’ You say, ‘Who was he?’ The scientist who made it possible for the first man to walk on the moon! John Andrew Holmes said: ‘Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.’ If you want to achieve something, give yourself permission to believe it is possible – and trust God for success.

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Read these two Scriptures: ‘With God all things are possible’ (v. 26). ‘He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief’ (Matthew 13:58 KJV). Those two verses mean this: many things that are possible remain undone because of doubt and unbelief. So, this year, think ‘possible’. If God’s Word says you can succeed, but you’re failing, it may mean this: you don’t really believe what He says, or you’re not willing to do your part. When you think ‘possible’, it increases your energy level. Who gets energised at the prospect of losing? If you know something can’t succeed, how much time and energy are you willing to give it? Nobody goes looking for a lost cause. You only invest yourself in what you believe can succeed. So when you think ‘possible’ and trust God for success, your faith becomes the energising force. Some people believe that possibility thinkers are naive or foolish. If you’re one of them, answer this question: how many highly successful people do you know who are continually negative? How many impossibility thinkers are you acquainted with who achieve big things? None! The first step to thinking ‘possible’ is to stop yourself from searching for and dwelling on what’s wrong with each situation. People with an it-can’t-be-done mindset have two choices: they can expect the worst and continually experience it, or change their thinking. And that begins with eliminating the negative self-talk you hear in your head before you have even opened your mouth. ‘The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences’ (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). In order to think ‘possible’, you must believe and speak ‘possible’.

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You need to enjoy each day of your life for Christ’s sake, because He paid a very high price for you to be able to. He said, ‘I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)’ (John 10:10 AMPC). He said: ‘I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing’ (John 15:11 AMPC). He said, ‘Ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete’ (John 16:24 AMPC). Jesus actually prayed that you would have joy: ‘Now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts]’ (John 17:13 AMPC). With Jesus Himself praying such powerful words about His desire for you to have joy, how could you ever doubt that God wants you to be happy and enjoy your life? As a redeemed child of God, you’re a walking advert for Christianity! Don’t go around looking severe, stern, strict, sour, and sensorial, believing that you’re coming across as ‘spiritual’. No, that’s a turnoff to non-Christians! You need a new mindset; a scriptural one that will enable you to enjoy life and make you a more enjoyable person to be around.

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Each day is a gift from God. Next to your salvation, today is the most valuable gift you will ever receive. When you receive a gift, what do you do? Thank the giver, unwrap it, and enjoy it. Getting the idea? One Bible teacher writes: ‘I make an effort to focus on and enjoy every moment of my life, but doing so has been a long and difficult journey for me…I am a planner, and if I am not careful, I find myself planning the next thing while doing the current thing, which of course steals the present moment from me. Although being focused is a good thing, I can also easily get so focused on my work that I fail to enjoy the magic of the moment. For example, I was usually working while my children were little and found it difficult to even take a moment to stop and enjoy the cute things they said or did. I missed many of those moments and will never get them back. We should celebrate life and the people God has placed in our path. Life is to be enjoyed, not dreaded or regretted.’ Solomon wrote: ‘There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labour. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God’ (Ecclesiastes 2:24 AMPC). Note these two phrases: 1) ‘From the hand of God.’ That means it’s God’s will for you to enjoy every day. 2) ‘Make himself enjoy good.’ That means you must look for things to celebrate each day. And you can start doing this – today!

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Susan Alexander Yates suggests five resolutions to work on. ‘1) Reach someone who doesn’t know Christ. God commands us to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16 KJV); that won’t happen if we spend all our time with believers….While reaching out feels scary, when you take the risk, you’ll see God work through you. 2) Be more grateful. I used to wake…thinking about all the things I had to do and…the people who needed me. I got depressed before I… got out of bed!…So I started meditating on…God’s character traits…thinking about how awesome God is. My perspective…changed. 3) Spend quality time with your spouse. I used to have a…raspberry patch. In the early years I…tended it, and it produced prolific crops. Then I got busy…and…weeds took over…A marriage can become like [that]. We get busy with kids, career, church…We think [we’ll] spend time [together] when life calms down. The problem is life never does. Don’t let the weeds…choke your marriage…You’re raising future husbands and wives who need to know a happy marriage takes time. 4) Say “no” to something. Maturing means you postpone something you’d like to do to focus on something more important. In 10 years, what will matter most – that you signed your child up for another activity or said “no” and had family dinners together? 5) Pursue Christ with fresh vigour. [David prayed], “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12 NIV). Vary [your routine]…[Pick] a new topic for Bible study. Begin a fresh journal. If you…still feel stale, ask God to show you the reason.’ ‘Let us throw off everything that hinders and…run with perseverance the race marked out for us’ (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

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Author Ellen Vaughn continues: ‘3) We must also forget our successes. That doesn’t necessarily mean we must forget the great projects we have completed. We are to work and live with excellence unto God, and He takes pleasure in our successes as they are offered to His glory. But we should forget past successes if they have defined our identity or caused us to be complacent, smug and self-congratulatory. We’re not to fondle the past, dwelling on past glories. (Similarly, we must make sure our stories of God’s work and grace in our lives are not all old. If we can only point to instances of God’s faithfulness from five years ago but none from this week, our connection with Christ isn’t very current.) Paul warns the Philippians against those who would put their confidence in human criteria and accomplishment: “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more” (Philippians 3:4 NIV), he said, citing his power résumé that many in his day would have coveted. But his focus wasn’t on his past: “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ…But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:7, 13-14 NIVUK).’ The good news is, God doesn’t analyse your past in order to determine your future. He says, ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ Learn from the past, leave it, and don’t look back!

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In the words of the legendary baseball player Satchel Paige, ‘Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.’ That’s good advice! Paul bottom-lines it like this: ‘ I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead’ (Philippians 3:13 NLT). Author Ellen Vaughn writes: ‘Before our spiritual vitality can really flow, we must forget three things. [Today, here are two]: 1) We must forget our sins. Obviously we must remember our sins in order to confess them. But having done so, we must let them go. The fact that God forgets is like calling heaven and hearing, “There is no record of any offence.” They’re expunged, as if they never existed. Satan would lure us to live in guilt and fear. He pulls us into the shadowboxes of memory in which our worst sins replay on the walls of our minds…We need to be very clear here, or we’ll miss the liberating point. It’s not as if forgiveness is real only if we experience some kind of holy amnesia. It’s not up to us. It’s up to God. And the Scriptures say that God forgets our sins (see Hebrews 8:12). 2) We must forget our shame. Paul could have been a prime candidate for shame. He had presided over the harassment, imprisonment, torture, and murder of innocent human beings. But God’s grace is stronger than our shame. It was defanged when Jesus died and rose again. We can forget our slithering shame, for Jesus took it. He scorned it, beat it, broke it. We need not take it back.’ The word for today is – ‘Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.’

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Your life will manifest what you continually keep in front of you. Paul says, ‘We have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV), and creativity and vision are part of the package. A blind man asked St Anthony, ‘What could be worse than losing your sight?’ He replied, ‘Losing your vision.’ And a respected author adds, ‘Maybe you’re not experiencing God’s best because your vision needs to be improved. You say, “I have problems…I’m in debt…I’m lonely.” Don’t let that image take root. Paint a new picture…See yourself stronger and healthier…rising higher…accomplishing your dreams…let the image of victory take hold. Get it on the inside…[Remind yourself] of these scriptural truths: “I can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13 KJV); “This is the day the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV); “We are more than conquerors through [Christ]” (Romans 8:37 KJV); “God…always causes us to triumph in Christ” (see 2 Corinthians 2:14); “You bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour” (Psalm 5:12 NIVUK); “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6 NKJV).’ In Bible times wine was stored in leather wineskins, but as they aged, they lost their flexibility. New wine always required new wineskins. And just like, ‘You can’t pour new wine into old wineskins’ (see Matthew 9:17), God can’t give you a new vision until you change the old images and attitudes you’re carrying around in your head. God says, ‘I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’ He is ready to do something new in your life today. Are you ready to change your old way of thinking and make room for it?

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Vision is the God-given ability to see the invisible. Without it, ‘people…stumble all over themselves’ (Proverbs 29:18 MSG). When God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations, he and Sarah were old and childless. Naturally speaking, it looked impossible. So God ‘took Abram outside and said to him, ”Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”’ It wasn’t enough to hear what God said: Abraham needed to see it in his mind’s eye. And although the promise wasn’t fulfilled for twenty years, every night when Abraham looked up at the heavens, the stars were a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness. Woodrow Wilson said, ‘No man that does not see visions will ever realise any high hope or undertake any high enterprise.’ To give birth to something, you must first conceive it by seeing it through the eyes of faith and burning the image on the canvas of your mind. Jesus said, ‘If your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness’ (Matthew 6:22-23 NASB). Legend has it, when Michelangelo looked at a chunk of marble the owner told him was worthless, Michelangelo said, ‘It’s priceless to me. There is an angel locked inside, and I must set it free.’ What you ‘see’ will change the direction of your life. Like a thermostat, it dictates how high you rise or how low you fall. And the good news is, no matter how dark things look on the outside, today God can give you a fresh vision and a new future.

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Not all poverty is financial; there is a spiritual poverty that comes from not reaching out to others. Pastor Allen White says, ‘Sometimes it makes sense to keep your group small, but the following reasons don’t count: 1) “We value closeness.” Too much closeness can cause your group to become ingrown. The motto changes to “Us four and no more” or “We seven going to heaven”. What was once so great becomes the death of the group. Members move away, schedules conflict, the group begins to decline around the two-year mark, and it’s harder to recruit new members. There is too much history going on. 2) “Outsiders might upset our rhythm.” People get comfortable with familiar patterns. They sit in the same place and make the same inside jokes, but a comfort zone can quickly become a rut. New people don’t “get” the jokes, they don’t know the routine, and what’s worse, they sit in your spot! 3) “Confidentiality.” It is paramount because “loose lips sink ships”. When new members join, review the ground rules. The conversation might go like this: “Since several new people have joined, let’s take a minute to review the ground rules. We value confidentiality, and anything said here needs to stay here.” If they agree, you’re good to go. 4) “If we get too big, we’ll have to divide.” When it comes to the ideal group size, eight to twelve seems to work well. But numbers aren’t nearly as important as what’s happening inside the group. When numbers go up, personal care sometimes goes down.’ Bottom line: keep your group healthy.

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Paul says that the gift God gave each of us that first Christmas is ‘indescribable’. The Living Bible says it’s ‘too wonderful for words’. Consider this: Isaiah says, ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given’ (Isaiah 9:6 KJV). Jesus was both God and man. As a child He was born, but as the Son of God He could only be given, because He always existed. So He is the perfect solution to our sin problem because He understands both the claims of divinity and the struggles of humanity. Today let’s examine this ‘indescribable gift’. First, He is our ‘daysman’! Job said, ‘Neither is there any daysman [umpire, mediator, or middleman] betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both’ (Job 9:33 KJV). ‘Daysman’ is an old English word for someone who was more than just an umpire; they could actually join the game and bring both sides together. So when you mess up, Jesus keeps one hand on you and the other on God so that the connection is never broken. ‘Indescribable’! Second, He is our intercessor! The Bible says, ‘He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:25 NIV). If you had to remember and confess all the sins of omission and commission you commit each day, you would never sleep; you would live on your knees. But Christ’s death covers all the wrong you have done (commission), and His life covers all the good you have left undone (omission). So, He is fully qualified to represent you before the throne of God. There is only one word that fits such a Christmas gift: ‘indescribable’.

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The Bible tells us: ‘When Jesus was born in Bethlehem…[astrologers] from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east…and have come to worship Him.”…and behold, the star…went before them until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was…And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to him gifts – gold and frankincense and myrrh’ (vv. 1-2, 9, 11 AMPC). One Bible teacher says: ‘We all remember the Christmas story: how…Wise Men came from the east following a star which led them to the Holy Child, how they came in and worshipped Him, laying before Him precious gifts…Mary and Joseph didn’t go out seeking gifts. Although they were forced to spend the night in a cold, dark stable, they didn’t send out messages asking for gifts. But because they were in the middle of God’s will, He sent them Wise Men…on camels, loaded down with provisions…If we are in the will of God, He will…bring our provision to us. We don’t have to try to chase it down; it will seek us out. We don’t have to try to make things happen; God will bring them to us…The camels will come for each of us if we will stay in the will of God. The only way we can expect this kind of provision is by being faithful…where God has placed us…When we begin to believe this, we are free to cast our care upon Him. We don’t have to stay up all night fretting and worrying.’

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At this time of year, it’s tempting to buy into the myth that everybody else is enjoying a picture-perfect Christmas. The truth is, there are thousands out there whose lives have been forever altered by death, divorce, sickness, and financial problems. Tammy Hanson Maltby writes: ‘It was December 20. There was no hint of Christmas around our house…Most years, our tree was up the day after Thanksgiving…Christmas music…and luscious aromas filled the air…Our house had been Christmas central. Not this year…My 20-year marriage had just dissolved…My budget was stretched…and my spirit was strained even further. Some days I could barely manage to get out of bed…All four of my kids were home on Christmas break. And there was still no tree. “This is really depressing,” I heard one of them grumble, and my heart broke again. “I’ll get a tree tomorrow,” I repeated. Even I didn’t believe my words. That evening…I heard voices…in the…basement…There, near the piano, stood the scruffy little artificial conifer…I’d bought…years before, and I used it to hang [the kids’] school ornaments…creations that just didn’t look right on my majestic, fragrant, decorated, upstairs tree…The kids had…set it up, draped it with lights, and hung their childhood ornaments…It was still scruffy, but it was beautiful…I was happy…And overcome with gratitude that they had gotten together to make it happen for me.’ If you’re having a tough Christmas, don’t beat yourself up. Remember, you can get through anything for one day (see Deuteronomy 33:25). Jesus understands. He came to ‘heal the heartbroken’, so turn to Him this Christmas and ask Him to restore your peace and joy.

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One afternoon a little girl stood outside Pete Richardson’s antique shop studying the treasures in the window. Then she went in and asked to see a string of blue beads. When Pete set them on the counter, she said: ‘They’re perfect. Will you gift wrap them, please? They’re for my sister. She takes care of me. This will be our first Christmas since Mum died, and I’ve been looking for the perfect present.’ ‘How much do you have?’ asked Pete cautiously. Pouring a stack of coins on the counter, she said, ‘I emptied my bank.’ Pete picked up the necklace, the price tag visible to him and not her. ‘What’s your name?’ he asked, walking into the back room. ‘Jean Grace,’ she replied. Pete returned with a beautifully wrapped package, and the little girl thanked him and left. On Christmas Eve when the last customer had left and he was locking up, a young woman rushed into the store and handed him a familiar package. ‘Do you remember who you sold this to?’ she asked. ‘A girl called Jean bought them for her big sister,’ he replied. ‘How much are they worth?’ she inquired. ‘The price,’ Pete replied, ‘is always confidential between the seller and his customer.’ Her sister asked, ‘But how could she pay for them?’ Carefully rewrapping the present, Pete handed it back to her and said, ‘She paid the biggest price anyone can ever pay. She gave everything she had.’ When ‘God sent forth his Son’ (Galatians 4:4 KJV) to redeem us, He gave everything He had. ‘Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!’

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In his classic book, War on the Saints, Jessie Penn-Lewis writes, ‘The chief condition…for the working of evil spirits in human beings, apart from sin, is passivity.’ That’s why the apostle Peter urges us, ‘Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Have you ever seen a hungry lion devour its prey? That’s a picture of what Satan is out to do to you. And he will use things like pleasure, power, pressures, possessions, passions, and people to do it.Paul tells us to be on guard ‘so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes’ (2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT). How can you defend yourself? Neil Anderson says, ‘Our defence against direct attacks by the evil one is to speak aloud God’s truth.’ Why speak aloud to Satan? Because God knows the thoughts and intents of your heart – Satan doesn’t (see Jeremiah 17:9-10 and Psalm 139:1, 23-24). When you’re in Satan’s crosshairs, remember James 4:7: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (KJV). Take these two powerful steps: First, talk to God before engaging the Enemy. ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee’ (Psalm 50:15 KJV). Second, talk to the Enemy. And keep itshort and authoritative! ‘Satan, in the irresistible name of Jesus, cease all activity against me now. Leave and don’t return!’ Will he obey? You have submitted and resisted – he has no option.

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When someone has hurt or betrayed you, it goes against your grain to resist the instinct for revenge – especially when there is an opportunity to settle the old score and your friends urge you to capitalise on it. They tell you, ‘It’s only right and fair.’ Before you decide, consider the story in 1 Samuel 24. King Saul, consumed by jealousy, took every opportunity to try and destroy his God-ordained successor, David. Driven by a desire to eliminate him, Saul took three thousand soldiers to find him and kill him. By divine appointment, Saul stopped to rest in a large cave where David and his men were hiding. David’s men said, ‘Now is a perfect opportunity to kill him and take the throne.’ Instead, David just cut off a corner of Saul’s robe and showed it to Saul later as evidence he had spared the king’s life. David’s men probably considered his strategy ludicrous, but David lived by a different code – God’s Word! He told his men, ‘Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one?’ (1 Samuel 26:9 NLT). And God hasn’t changed His mind. The Bible says don’t take revenge. That’s God’s territory – stay out of it! (See Romans 12:17-21.) So what should you do? Be prepared to act contrary to your instincts! The Bible says, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink…overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:20-21 NIV). Will that change your enemy? Maybe, and maybe not. But it will change your attitude, and God will bless you for it.

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Do you like to collect Bible promises for challenging times? When your collection seems inadequate, do you add to it, thinking, ‘I just haven’t found the right promise yet’? Claiming the promise without understanding the all-sufficiency of the Promiser can disappoint you. Since there is no lack in God, He is all you need. And He is all you will ever need! The Bible says, He can do ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’ (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Seeking relief during a difficult time in life, author Hannah Whitall Smith visited a respected Bible teacher, hoping to find an answer. After listening attentively, the teacher told her, ‘Yes, all you say may be very true, but then, in spite of it all, there is God.’ Frustrated, Hannah responded, ‘Surely you did not understand how very serious…my difficulties are.’ ‘Oh yes, I did, but then, as I tell you, there is God.’ Several disappointing visits later, after hearing the same response, ‘There is God,’the light dawned. She realised she had received the answer she needed; God alone was enough for all her needs! She writes: ‘The all-sufficiency of God ought to be…[to us], as the all-sufficiency of a good mother is to [her] child…[Her] presence and…love…make all fears…disappear. [She doesn’t need] to make any promises and…explanations, [shealone] is all that the child needs.’ All God’s blessings come in one package – Himself! Paul reminds you, ‘Everything belongs to you, [because] you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God’ (1 Corinthians 3:22-23 CEV). You will get what you need because you are His redeemed child.

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Life can feel overwhelming when you’re responsible for mortgage or rent payments, maintenance bills, clothes for the family, escalating food and fuel expenses, university fees, plus the reality of preparing for your retirement! And the pressure is even greater if you’re underemployed or unemployed. Where can you turn? Surrounded by enemies, David turned to God: ‘My soul, wait thou onlyupon God; for myexpectationisfromhim. He only is my rock and my salvation…I shall not be moved’ (vv. 5-6 KJV). Where does your ‘expectation’ lie? In the hope for an improved economy or job market? Or the promise of better times to come? David’s hope was more certain: he expected the answer to be found in the unchanging character and faithfulness of God. When anxiety arises, we sometimes resort to our BGWI list – ’But God, what if?’ We focus on our fears, feel inadequate, and give in to despair. Being aware of your needs is being responsible but being overwhelmed by them is evidence you’re looking to the wrong source for answers. George MacDonald said, ‘We look upon God as our last and feeblest resource. We only go to Him when we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven.’ Remember David? ‘My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectationisfrom him.’ By Himself, plus nothing, God is your adequate source. Since He gave us His Son, you have all the evidence you need that He will also ‘freely give us all things’ (Romans 8:32 GNT).

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A good adviser does three things: they observe you, instruct you, and motivate you. At first, the thought of having someone evaluate you may be intimidating. But think about it; people are watching you anyway, so why not have a good adviser among the crowd? Here is a list of some areas in which you might consider inviting an adviser to evaluate you. These things are not options, they’re essentials: spiritual development, personal discipline, family relationships, decision making, handling finance, conflict resolution, picking the right people, breaking bad habits and establishing good ones, goal setting and planning for the future. If you’re serious about succeeding, look for an environment where you will be mentored, not just paid. Initially, what you learn is more important than what you earn, because what you learn early determines what you earn later. What you don’t know can hurt you and put a lid on your potential. Opening doors of evaluation is something you owe to yourself and those who depend on you. And don’t let it stop with you. Pass on what you’ve been given to somebody else. Jesus said, ‘Freely ye have received, freely give’ (Matthew 10:8 KJV). ‘But I’m too young, nobody is going to take me seriously,’ you say. Paul told Timothy, ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example’ (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). You’re not responsible for knowing everything; you’re just responsible for sharing what you know with others. As you pour into them what God and others have poured into you, they will go further and faster too. So ask God for a good adviser and become one to somebody else.

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To win in life, you must become a lifelong learner. And learning requires submission; a quality of character we sometimes think doesn’t apply to us. We think submission is ‘just for those other people who need to be led’. This is particularly true in our early years when we’re sure that we know it all and use every opportunity to prove it. Reaching for a good adviser requires humility of heart. The truth is, if you’re not teachable, your future is already decided! The more you think you know, the less likely you are to place yourself under the influence of those who really know and can help you. This is especially true when you view yourself as more capable, passionate, and talented than others around you. The wise always seek counsel. If you’re wise, you will acknowledge your limitations; only a fool believes he or she has none. Only the naive are foolish enough to operate under the assumption that they can make all the right calls without good input. But they can’t. Here are three Scriptures from the book of Proverbs you need to stop and consider today: 1) ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice’ (Proverbs 12:15 NIV). 2) ‘Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed’ (Proverbs 15:22 NIV). 3) ‘Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise’ (Proverbs 19:20 NIV). It’s not just what your adviser knows, it’s what they see that makes them valuable to you. They are extra eyes and ears. Why would you want to live without them?

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Peter asked, ‘“How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” Jesus answered: “Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!”’ (Matthew 18:21-22 CEV). But we shouldn’t stop there. If God gave each of us only seventy-seven ‘forgiveness passes’, we’d be in trouble! You can’t bankrupt your ‘forgiveness account’ with God. But when you refuse to forgive others, you’re overlooking the fact that ‘You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out’ (Galatians 6:1 MSG). The Message paraphrases Jesus’ words: ‘Forgive – only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean’ (Mark 11:25 MSG). Whether it’s seven, seventy-seven, or seven thousand times, you always reap what you sow (see Galatians 6:7). We’re all human, and when somebody hurts us we want justice. But God wants you to forgive the wrongdoer before they ask or show any sign of remorse. Does that mean they will escape the consequences of their actions? No, it just means you’re not responsible for making it happen – God is. Harbouring grudges is spiritually, emotionally and physically draining; forgiveness energises and frees you to move on. Remember, you’ve been forgiven ‘in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us’ (Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV). But it comes with the requirement that you forgive others! When you think about the debt God forgave you, anything anyone could ever do to you pales by comparison, right? Annie Johnson Flint wrote: ‘His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.’ Now that’s lavish grace!

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‘Make sure they are…gifted with knowledge…and are suited to serve.’ Daniel 1:4 NLT

When Daniel arrived in Babylon, he was a slave. But he rose to the top because of these qualifications: ‘Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve.’ To be promoted in any job, you must first prove yourself. The Bible says, ‘Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings’ (Proverbs 22:29 NIV). Unless you believe in what you’re doing, you won’t give yourself fully to it; therefore, you have no right to expect to succeed. Have you ever walked into a room and felt love, energy, and excitement? Your thoughts have a presence; they’re like currents moving through the air, capable of drawing people to you or driving them away. Your attitude is always sensed. That’s why in order to succeed, you must believe in what you do. If you don’t – pray and ask God to relocate you someplace where you can put your whole heart into it. Jesus totally believed in His product. He told the woman at the well, ‘Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst’ (John 4:13-14 KJV). You must take the time and make the effort to know your business. You may be anxious to sell, pocket the profit, and get on with your life. But success doesn’t happen that way. Jesus spent time praying in order to renew His understanding of His purpose. So the word for today is – pray and believe in what you do!

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‘The lips of the godly speak helpful words.’ Proverbs 10:32 NLT

How do you feel when someone tries to put you down? Then don’t do it to others! ‘Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit’ (Proverbs 15:4 GNT). You can crush someone with what you say, so be careful. Some of the people you meet each day need an emotional lift, so encourage them. ‘Righteous people know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt’ (Proverbs 10:32 GNT). Don’t be the kind of person who pounces on a weakness in someone. Maybe you do it in a joking way, but you do it, and you enjoy doing it. In a cartoon, Charlie Brown is talking on the phone to a girl who says, ‘Guess what I’m running for? The Queen of the May at our school.’ Charlie Brown says, ‘That’s very interesting. Lucy has always been chosen at our school.’ The girl on the phone responds, ‘Your school has pretty low standards, huh, Chuck?’ After Charlie Brown hangs up, he looks at Lucy and says, ‘She says, “Congratulations!”’ Now, that’s diplomacy! It’s also supportiveness. How supportive are you? If God gave you a pound for each kind word you said and took away a pound for each unkind word you said, would you be wealthy or poor? When the brothers who betrayed Joseph knelt before him in Pharaoh’s palace, he held the power of life and death over them. But he forgave them, was gracious towards them, and promised to take care of them. Supportive words can build a bridge in a strained relationship. So the word for today is – build people up.

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Often in a relationship or friendship, we are unaware the other person’s needs. We become calloused. We stop listening. We’re oblivious to the pressure they’re under. Simply stated, the root of many problems in a relationship is insensitivity. Everyone you meet needs kindness. The people who sit around you in church have major hurts; you’re just unaware of them. We find a great example of sensitivity in the life of King David. David’s friend, Jonathan – Saul’s son – had been killed. Now, safely enthroned for several years, David made a rare request. He asked if anyone was left in Saul’s family that he could help. He discovered Saul’s grandson – Jonathan’s son – Mephibosheth, who was injured in both feet. When David sent for him, Mephibosheth almost certainly thought, ‘I’m going to be killed because I am a member of the enemy’s family, the old dynasty.’ But notice David’s words: ‘Don’t be afraid…for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table’ (2 Samuel 9:7 NIV). Mephibosheth’s reaction is interesting: ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’ (v. 8 NIV). He felt like a dog and expected to be treated like one. But the point you need to notice is this: David took time, made the effort, and was sensitive to his needs. One of the dangers of success is that the pressures that accompany it can make you insensitive towards others. Question: to whom do you need to become more sensitive today?

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When you get up in the morning, you must not only clothe yourself physically but spiritually and emotionally too. You must ask yourself, ‘What sort of attitude am I going to wear today? Will I be controlling or cooperative? Positive or negative? Complimentary or critical? Selfish or serving?’ You say, ‘But when I’m kind, people take advantage of me.’ Yes, sometimes that will happen. But that’s the difference between taking the low road or the high road. Which do you want to walk on? Despite the risks, here are two reasons to be kind: 1) ‘Because of [God’s] kindness you have been saved’ (Ephesians 2:8 TLB). Grace and kindness go together. Always! Poet Robert Burns said that the kind heart most resembles God. 2) Because you want people to be kind to you and treat you right. Jesus said, ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matthew 7:12 NIV). If you are rude, people are going to be rude to you. But if you are kind, most people will desire to respond the same way. ‘Be kind and honest and you will live a long life; others will respect you and treat you fairly’ (Proverbs 21:21 GNT). And here is another reason to be kind: ‘Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel’ (Proverbs 11:17 TLB). So when you are kind to others, you are really doing yourself a favour. Let’s read it again: ‘As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’ (Colossians 3:12 NIV). Now go out and try living that way for one whole day.

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You can’t sit back and do nothing, believing that God will do everything for you. You have a part to play. Paul says God gives each of us ‘a measure of faith’. Jude says you develop spiritually by ‘building [yourself] up on your most holy faith’ (Jude v. 20 NIV). Faith under attack is just faith under construction. It’s in the battles of life that you discover whether you have nurtured faith or neglected faith. In Bible times, many Roman soldiers used a scutum, a shield that protected them from head to toe. It was made of wood and upholstered with thick layers of canvas and leather. Its curved shape meant the flaming arrows of the enemy would glance off and fizzle out before they could harm the soldier. Now you understand what Paul meant: ‘Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one’ (Ephesians 6:16 NIV). Satan’s arrows can’t penetrate your heart when it’s pure, saturated in Scripture, and fortified by faith. That’s why Jesus told Peter, ‘Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail’ (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV). It’s your faith that’s under attack! It’s your faith that needs to be fed! It’s your faith that sustains you in life’s battles! Jesus told us to ‘have faith in God’ (Mark 11:22 KJV). Note, Jesus didn’t tell you to have faith in something bigger than yourself. No, He said to have faith in God. It’s the time you spend with God in prayer and the Scriptures that strengthens your faith to win life’s battles.

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Sometimes the most ‘spiritual’ thing you can do is get to bed earlier and wake up refreshed so you’re ready to fulfil God’s purposes for the day. When you constantly run on low battery power, it shows up in your attitudes, your relationships, your performance, and your health. That’s why the Bible talks about the importance of sleep: 1) ‘It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones’ (Psalm 127:2 NLT). 2) ‘In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe’ (Psalm 4:8 NLT). Sleep is an act of trust: when you go to sleep, you acknowledge that the world is in God’s hands, not yours. And it will get along very well, even if you’re not awake to control things. And when you awaken tomorrow morning, just like God giving Israel fresh manna, He will give you what you need for the day. Jeremiah said, ‘I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me.’ Have you ever tried to pray when you were suffering from a sleep deficit? It’s hard to do. Before Elijah was able to spend prolonged time in prayer, the angel of the Lord made him take not one, but two long naps. Contrast that with the disciples in Gethsemane who couldn’t pray because they kept falling asleep. It’s hard to think, feel, and act like Jesus when you lack sleep. That’s why the Bible says, ‘God gives rest to his loved ones’ (Psalm 127:2 NLT).

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Do yourself a favour – read Psalm 118! 1) ‘In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me’ (v. 5 NLT). What are you battling today? A destructive habit? A crippling fear? A sense of worthlessness? God wants to set you free. 2) ‘The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear’ (v. 6 NLT). Your future doesn’t rest in the hands of people, but God; a good God who has good plans for you. 3) ‘He will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me’ (v. 7 NLT). When people try to put you down, God will raise you up. When they withhold from you, He will supply all your needs. 4) ‘I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done’ (v. 17 NLT). We will all die someday; but you don’t have to die before your assignment is complete and you have brought glory to God. 5) ‘The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not let me die’ (v. 18 NLT). Is God correcting you? Rejoice; His correction is not rejection. It’s protection against future mistakes. 6) ‘This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it’ (v. 24 NLT). Whether yesterday was a triumph or a tragedy, God is giving you a new day. Seize it. Rejoice in it! 7) ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever’ (v. 29 NLT). You may experience days without enough money, but you will never have a day without God’s mercy. These seven Scriptures are for you, so stand on them today.

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Paul often acknowledged those who helped him. ‘Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God…for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News’ (vv. 3-5 NLT). ‘You Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help…No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness’ (Philippians 4:15-17 NLT). He writes to the believers in Thessalonica: ‘We can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering’ (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 NLT). Author Barbara Glanz tells about a gentleman who remembered his eighth-grade literature teacher. He wrote to her and received this reply: ‘You will never know how much your letter meant. I’m 83 years old, and…living all alone. My friends are all gone. My family’s gone. I taught school 50 years and yours is the first “thank you” letter I have ever gotten from a student. Sometimes I wonder what I did with my life. I will read and reread your letter until the day I die.’ Ironically, she was the teacher students talked most about at class reunions, but nobody ever told her. Showing appreciation costs so little in terms of time and money, but it can mean the world to somebody. So today, who do you need to express your appreciation to?

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Every family has generational ‘issues’ they struggle with. These are things our parents and grandparents passed to us like addiction, abuse, anger, anxiety, lust, fear, etc. Often we say, ‘It just runs in my family, I can’t do anything about it.’ Yes, you can! You may not be able to do anything about your family’s past, but by God’s grace, you can change the future for yourself and your children. The Bible says, ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). Note the words ‘in Christ’. By yourself you can’t change your family’s dysfunction, but ‘in Christ’ you receive the power needed to go in a new direction. If your computer can be reprogrammed, your mind can too. ‘Be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2 NKJV). You say, ‘How do I renew my mind?’ By saturating it in the Scriptures! Just like soaking your body in water removes sweat and grime, soaking your mind in the Scriptures cleanses and corrects your thinking. The old saying goes: ‘Watch your thoughts for they become your words. Watch your words for they become your deeds. Watch your deeds because they become your habits. Watch your habits because they become your character. Watch your character because it becomes your destiny.’ God told Gideon, ‘Tear down the [old] altar of Baal that your father has’ (Judges 6:25 NKJV). In its place Gideon built a new altar to the Lord, and the lives of he and his family were changed forever. And by programming your mind with God’s Word, you can do the same!

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How would you describe yourself? Are you naturally positive, or negative? Are your decisions driven by faith in God, or by the fear of failure, rejection, or lack? Do you feel good about yourself, or do you put yourself down and feel like a loser? Whatever your answer may be, this much is certain: the patterns and attitudes that rule your life were not formed overnight – so don’t expect an overnight cure. But you can make a start by obeying this Scripture: ‘Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things)’ (Colossians 3:2 AMPC). The Bible refers to the Christian life as a ‘walk’. ‘Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called’ (Ephesians 4:1 KJV). ‘We walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). ‘Let us also walk in the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:25 KJV). ‘Walk in love’ (Ephesians 5:2 KJV). Notice, walking is the slowest mode of transportation there is! God doesn’t invite you to fly with Him but to walk with Him. Just put one foot in front of the other and keep walking day by day. When are we most apt to slip and fall? 1) When we are learning to walk. 2) When we are in circumstances we didn’t create and over which we have no control, such as ice and snow. 3) When we feel drained, tired, and weak. 4) When we get careless and don’t keep our eyes open and stay focused. Your challenge is twofold: adopting the right mindset and maintaining it. And if you seek God faithfully, He will help you to do both these things successfully.

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What’s your biggest challenge right now? Breaking a bad habit, or putting a new one in place? Launching a new business, or turning an old one around? Recovering from a bad marriage, or making a good one better? Getting out of depression, or keeping yourself from falling into it? Paul gives us two powerful keys: 1) Set your mind in the right direction. 2) Keep your mind set in the right direction. Setting your mind is the easy part, keeping it set calls for a daily commitment. Anybody can make a start, but you need the heart of a finisher. ‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls’ (Hebrews 12:2-3 NKJV). The word ‘souls’ could be translated ‘feelings and emotions’. That’s where you’re susceptible to ‘become weary and discouraged’. A sober driver will get you safely to your destination, but a drunk one won’t! What’s driving your life? Your feelings? Your impulses? Your moods? Here are two life-changing Scriptures: a) ‘We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). ‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.…And the God of peace will be with you’ (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV).

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When God gives you a vision, be prepared to shed some tears over it because every vision comes with a price tag. The road to triumph is through tests and trials. Nobody gets a free pass. But God has promised that there will be a harvest: ‘Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest’ (Psalm 126:5-6 NLT). That Scripture teaches us two things: 1) There is a season for weeping. This is not an excuse for passivity, or a posture of weakness that reduces you to tears because life is not fair, and things are tough. Nehemiah was moved to tears over Jerusalem’s ruins. Then he developed a plan, put together a team, and rebuilt it. What moves you? What do you feel passionate about? 2) There is a season for reaping. Everything in life has a reason and a season (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). When you understand the reason and maximise the season, you become ‘like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season’ (Psalm 1:3 NIV). Note the words ‘in season’. Fruit won’t grow before its time. That’s why you must discern your life’s changing seasons and adjust to them. That’s particularly true when it’s harvest time. You need to know when it’s time to stop weeping and start reaping; otherwise, you will miss your harvest. Tears are for the sower, but joy is for the reaper. So, when your season changes, harvest your fields with joy. You have paid your dues; now it’s time to enjoy what God has promised you.

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Are you self-controlled, or a controller? Let’s find out. Controllers blame things like the devil, people, or circumstances for their problems and respond by blaming, resenting, or projecting frustration. They manipulate people and circumstances to their own advantage. But it doesn’t work; their attempts intensify their pain and turn their relationships into power struggles. The more they try to control, the worse they feel; and the worse they feel, the more they try to control. God doesn’t want you to live that way. The self-controlled understand that the devil can do nothing to you without your cooperation, and you don’t have to give it (see Luke 10:17). They understand that people and circumstances aren’t the problem either – how we deal with them is. So, they respond by reminding themselves of three things: 1) The person I need to control is myself. 2) Sometimes I must turn people and circumstances over to God and allow Him to deal with them. 3) I must draw daily on the Holy Spirit’s power in order to control my reactions and follow the ‘sound mind’ principles of Scripture for staying in charge of my life (see 2 Timothy 1:7). As a result, the self-controlled avoid engaging in blame games, self-inflicted pain, and turning relationships into battle zones. Knowing that ‘the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…self-control,’ they understand that the Spirit won’t control them, or help them to control others, but He will empower them to control themselves. Spirit-empowered people are freed from being part of the problem and become part of the solution.

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‘Ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”’ (vv. 12-15 NLT). There is a spiritual parallel between leprosy and life; both can consume you. Is that what’s happening to you today? If so: 1) Take your problem to Jesus. He can restore what you have lost and give you back your peace and joy. Cry out to Him. Forget about looking dignified; desperate people do desperate things, and God responds to desperate prayers: ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). 2) Whatever He tells you, do it! Don’t lay down terms to God. And don’t seek an identical experience to somebody else. Jesus told these ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests. Why didn’t He just heal them like He did others? Faith doesn’t demand explanations! 3) Be prepared to walk it out. ‘And as they went, they were cleansed.’ Sometimes when God gives you the answer, you have to walk it out in faith, each step bringing you closer to your deliverance. But nothing happens until you take that first step. 4) Don’t forget to thank Him. Only one of the ten lepers returned to give thanks, and Jesus noticed it. He still does! You can go to Him with confidence for your next answer when you remember to give Him thanks for your last one.

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Solomon said: ‘Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch! Never walk away from Wisdom – she guards your life; love her – she keeps her eye on you. Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Throw your arms around her – believe me, you won’t regret it’ (Proverbs 4:5-8 MSG). There are many ways to gain wisdom: 1) Gleaning from the collective knowledge of others. ‘By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom’ (Proverbs 13:10 NKJV). 2) Thinking outside the box. Statements like, ‘This is the way we have always done things around here,’ warrant scrutiny when they’re used to defend ways that no longer work. 3) Writing down and reflecting on what you have learned through experience. 4) Not rushing to closure. Growth is always a work in progress. Creativity is untidy and can be unnerving. The ability to stay focused and faith filled in the midst of change is a hallmark of growth and maturity. But the ultimate source of wisdom is God’s Word! ‘For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). ‘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). ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you’ (Psalm 32:8 NKJV). Refuse to live an unexamined life. Refuse to live an uncommitted life. Refuse to live an unguided life. Today, ask God for wisdom.

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We must constantly reaffirm our scriptural foundations. What are these foundational truths on which the church of Jesus Christ is built? The infallibility of the Bible; Christ’s virgin birth; His sinless life; His atoning death; His bodily resurrection and mediatory work on our behalf; our need to be saved, baptised, and filled with the Holy Spirit; and the commission to carry the gospel to the four corners of the earth and announce the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign. These truths are non-negotiable! You say, ‘But won’t we come across as being narrow minded?’ The law of gravity is narrow minded! The law of mathematics is narrow minded! Paul was narrow minded: ‘But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed’ (Galatians 1:8 NKJV). Cancer begins with one unidentified, unchecked cell, but it can destroy your whole body. That’s why Jude writes: ‘Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Jude vv. 3-4 NKJV). Note the words ‘the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’. Our methods of reaching the world may change, but our message must never change. You say, ‘But aren’t we supposed to love everybody?’ Yes, and that’s why we must never compromise on God’s Word.

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If you’re in an abusive relationship, what should you do? 1) End the relationship if you need to. It’s not your job to change the person. And it’s not a failure on your part if they don’t change when confronted with God’s love and the truth. Here is a promise you can stand on: ‘“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT). 2) Get help. Solomon said, ‘A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken’ (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT). If you need group support or a mediator for an intervention, take action – now. 3) Pray for them. Jesus said, ‘Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you’ (Luke 6:27-28 NIV). A study into the theory of a cycle of abuse discovered that approximately 35 per cent of perpetrators had been abuse victims themselves. Often, they’re reacting out of their unhealed wounds and undealt with issues. And while this in no way excuses them, it gives you insight into how to pray for them. Satan loves to use things like alcohol, drugs, anger, pornography, and other counterfeits to destroy relationships. So, pray for your abuser to become the person God intended. ‘He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him’ (Psalm 91:15 NKJV).

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To defeat giants like addiction, resentment, fear, lust, pride, envy, or anger, you must understand these three Scriptures: 1) ‘The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). Goliath was born a baby, but he grew into a giant. Our giants are often little sins we overlooked and indulged until they assumed a life of their own and came back to haunt us. So as you begin to say no to small impulses, you will gain the strength to say it to bigger ones. 2) ‘As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him’ (1 Samuel 17:48 NLT).David faced Goliath head-on. You must force your giant out into the light, and not let him back into your life. Establish boundaries! And if necessary, make yourself accountable to someone who can strengthen and encourage you. Stay out of the wrong company. And above all, don’t view God in the light of your problem, view your problem in the light of God. 3) ‘This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!’ You’re not in this fight alone. God wants to help you to overcome old habits and establish new behaviours. His will for you is ‘to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own’ (Ephesians 4:1 CEV). When you repent, which means to do an about-face, turn, and resolve to walk with God, He will give you the strength to conquer the giant you’re facing. God has never lost a battle yet, and when you invite Him to join you, you will win.

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Jesus told the church at Ephesus three things: 1) Remember. ‘Remember…from what heights you have fallen’ (v. 5 AMPC). Instead of focusing on the depth to which you have fallen, think about the height you once knew. Not the worst of times, but the best. Recall when spending time in prayer and the Scriptures was the highlight of your day. What were you doing then that you’re not doing now? 2) Repent. This word means to change your mind, your direction, and your actions. You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking and behaviours that caused it; new thinking and actions are required. When the Prodigal Son reached the pigpen, he realised he had hit the bottom. That’s when he said, ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you”’ (Luke 15:18 NKJV). And his father forgave and restored him. How does his story end? He exchanged his rags for the robe of sonship and took his rightful place at the family table. And that can happen for you too. 3) Repeat. ‘Do the things you did at first’ (Revelation 2:5 NIV). Make a list of the things you did when your relationship with the Lord was great, then prayerfully commit yourself to doing them again each day. And don’t wait until you feel like it. Do it until you feel it, until the joy of your first love reignites. Do you doubt that God will be gracious to you? Read this: ‘You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful…rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them’ (Nehemiah 9:17 NLT).

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When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt, Moses first tried doing it his own way. Killing an Egyptian to save an Israelite’s life, he winds up a forty-year fugitive. After living in the wilderness and learning his lesson, he returns to do God’s will – God’s way. All of us, not just church leaders, are called to do God’s will, God’s way. You say, ‘But how can I know what I’m called to do?’ You begin by answering these questions: 1) What are your spiritual gifts? ‘God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts’ (1 Peter 4:10 NLT). Let God show you, through your deepest desires, those core competencies where you’re best suited to serve Him. 2) Are you submitted to someone who can mentor and train you? That’s part of your pastor’s job: ‘Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:12 NLT). You need help; you can’t get there by yourself! 3) Are you involved in your local church? ‘Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other’ (Romans 12:4-5 NLT). 4) Are you willing to serve wherever there is a need? ‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others’ (1 Peter 4:10 NIV). If you want to know your calling, start serving and God will reveal it to you.

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God has a plan for your life; one that will help you see what’s truly important. It’s called a ‘vision’. Otherwise, things get blurred and you end up not knowing where you’re supposed to go. Athletes focus on one thing only: winning! To do it, they sacrifice relationships, pastimes, and pleasures. Eugene Peterson describes ‘vision’ this way: ‘If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed’ (v. 18 MSG). When God gives you a vision, you begin to see things as He sees them. Moses ‘saw’ the promised land while everybody around him saw only wilderness and wanted to give up and return to Egypt (see Hebrews 11:24-27). And he understood that he would get there on God’s schedule, according to God’s plan, one step at a time. Sometimes your vision can feel overwhelming. That’s when you break it down into small steps and visualise yourself taking the next one. You will be surprised at your progress. But until you take the first step, a vision is just a daydream. A British clergyman named Frederick Langbridge wrote, ‘Two men looked out from prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars.’ What do you see in your future? Do you think God is just going to drop success into your lap? No, you must energise your vision with faith and give it momentum through hard work. After working all night and catching no fish, Jesus told His disciples, ‘Launch out into the deep’ (Luke 5:4 KJV). When they obeyed, they caught their biggest catch ever. Bottom line: the world doesn’t control your supply, God does!

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Mark records: ‘A woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume…She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold…and the money given to the poor.’ And they rebuked her harshly. ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus…‘She has done a beautiful thing …The poor you will always have with you…But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you… wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her’’ (Mark 14:3-9 NIV). Joseph of Arimathea brought a hundred pounds of ointment to embalm Jesus after He was dead, and not a word of praise is spoken about it in Scripture. This woman brought one pound of ointment and poured it on Him while He was still living, and Jesus pointed out two things: a) ‘She did what she could.’ Acts of kindness are usually not about doing great things, but about doing small things with great love b) ‘What she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’ What will you be remembered for, a life of service or self-centredness? If you think good things about someone, tell them. Go out of your way to fill their lives with joy while there’s still time. Those expressions of appreciation, those words of forgiveness, that special gift you’ve had in mind, give it while you can. Don’t keep your love in a box!

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What God commands you to do, He will give you the grace to do. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ordered by the king to be burned alive for refusing to worship his golden image. Notice their faith confession: 1) ‘Our God…is able to deliver us’ (Daniel 3:17 KJV). They never doubted God’s ability. 2) ‘And he will deliver us’ (v. 17). They never doubted God’s willingness. 3) ‘But if not,…we will not…worship the golden image’ (v. 18). They never considered an alternative to obedience! How did their story turn out? ‘Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished…saying…“Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”’ (vv. 24-25 NKJV). What happened next? ‘Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon’ (v. 30 NIV). You say, ‘But this is the hardest thing I have ever been asked to do.’ When God asks you to do something you don’t want to do, or feel you can’t do, He has your best interests in mind. When your children say, ‘I can’t do this, it’s too hard,’ do you change your mind and let them off the hook? No, you insist, because it’s for their good. That’s how God feels about you: ‘Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them’ (Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV).

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Job describes the rewards of obedience: ‘If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity’ (Job 36:11 NKJV). John adds, ‘Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight’ (1 John 3:22 NKJV). But Paul describes the cost of obedience: ‘We think you ought to know…about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us’ (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT). Notice the words ‘He did rescue us…He will rescue us again…He will continue to rescue us’. God didn’t lift Paul out of his trouble, He walked with him in it and brought him through it. You say, ‘But I have asked God to help me understand the situation and He hasn’t.’ God doesn’t owe us an explanation, but He promises us an exit strategy. ‘No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG). So the word for today is – obey God, regardless.

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The rewards of obedience are awesome, but sometimes the process is agonising. ‘Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him’ (vv. 8-9 NLT). Before God promotes you to a position of usefulness in His service, He qualifies you. We admire the faith of Abraham who took his son Isaac up Mount Moriah and laid him on the altar. But the story doesn’t make sense until you read the first verse in the chapter: ‘Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham’ (Genesis 22:1 NKJV). What did God test? His faith! His obedience! And when he passed the test, God told him, ‘In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed’ (Genesis 22:17 KJV). Understand this: when you pray and ask God for success, you’re inviting Him to test your faith and obedience. God probably won’t test you at the same level He tested Jesus or Abraham. But it’s the smaller tests that prepare you to handle the bigger assignments in God’s kingdom. In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis’ senior devil talks to his nephew Wormwood about their mutual enemy, the Lord. ‘Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.’ The obedience God desires from you today is obedience that rises above your feelings and circumstances and says, ‘Yes, Lord!’

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Just before Jesus went to the cross, He instituted what has become known as ‘The Lord’s Supper’, or Holy Communion. He said that the cup represented His shed blood and the bread represented His broken body. Then He ended by saying: ‘Do this in remembrance of Me’ (Luke 22:19 NKJV). Now fast-forward to the house of Cleopas and his companion, following the resurrection. Jesus had walked and talked with them on the Emmaus road, explaining to them that all that had happened was a fulfilment of prophecy. ‘They constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him’ (Luke 24:29-31 NKJV). In a sense, this too was a communion service. But notice what happened to the people who attended it. 1) Jesus met with them there. 2) Their eyes were opened and they recognised Him in a way they never had before. 3) They were deeply moved. ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us’ (v. 32 NKJV). 4) Then they went out and told others. ‘They rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed”’ (vv. 33-34 NKJV). If you have ever wondered how you’re supposed to feel or think when you take communion, now you know.

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Here are three more things we learn from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead: 1) Whatever you have lost, God can restore. One of the great promises in Scripture is that God can ‘restore to you the years’ that life has stolen (see Joel 2:25). Claim that promise; take it back to the place where you lost so much, and ask God to replace, restore, and renew. He will do it. 2) Whatever you’re bound by, God can set you free. ‘He cried…“Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes…Jesus said…“Loose him, and let him go”’ (John 11:43-44 NKJV). Today God’s power is greater than any habit, hang-up, or circumstance that has you ‘bound’. Even though your mind doesn’t fully comprehend it, let your faith respond to Him. Pray with the psalmist: ‘Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it’ (Psalm 119:34-35 NKJV). When you pray that prayer, your faith will grow and circumstances that seem impossible to you right now will be changed by God’s power. 3) No matter how bad you feel, God understands. At Lazarus’ funeral, ‘Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”’ (John 11:35-36 NKJV). This story proves we serve a God who cannot only give you back what you have lost but who cares about what you’re going through (see Hebrews 4:15). So if you’re hurting today, turn to Him and let Him help you.

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Observe: 1) God has a plan in mind that you don’t see. Why did Jesus wait four days after hearing Lazarus had died before going to visit the family? God waits for two reasons: a) That your faith may be strengthened. Jesus said, ‘I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe’ (v. 15 NKJV). In life, crises come and go. Your next crisis will be different from your last one, but the thing that must remain strong is your faith. b) That God may be glorified. The Pharisees believed your spirit left your corpse on the fourth day. Had Jesus intervened earlier, they may have said, ‘He wasn’t really dead.’ Hence Jesus said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God.’ It’s in looking back that you see God’s wisdom and will at work in the situation. 2) God will make you deal with issues you have tried to bury. ‘Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha…said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days”’ (v. 39 NKJV). Are you praying for an answer in one area while God is telling you to ‘take away the stone’ and deal with an issue you have buried in another area? When your heart is right with God, your prayers will be answered (see 1 John 3:21-22). 3) God will make you an example of His grace. Picture Lazarus after his resurrection. Without even speaking a word, his life declared to everyone that Jesus is Lord. And the same can be true of you. God has redeemed and raised you up to be a testimony of His grace.

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Stop putting yourself down by saying, ‘I keep failing, so I’m no good. I never do anything right.’ If you keep telling yourself that, you will find evidence to prove it. One counsellor says: ‘Putting yourself down reinforces rather than corrects your imperfections by placing unnecessary attention and energy on everything that’s wrong,rather than what’s right with you. Why would you do this knowing the only possible result is a negative outlook, more negative feelings, and less appreciation for the gift of life? People who regularly put themselves down are seen as complainers, not to mention the example they set. Everyone has aspects of themselves they’d like to improve, but this doesn’t mean you should beat yourself up.’ The Bible says, ‘He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.’ Max Lucado writes: ‘Underline the word perfect. Note, the word isn’t better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn’t improve; He perfects. He doesn’t enhance, He completes…I realise there’s a sense in which we’re imperfect. We still err. We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don’t want to do…that part of us is “being made holy”. But when it comes to our position before God, we’re perfect. When He sees each of us [who have placed our trust in Christ to save us], He sees someone who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect – Jesus Christ.’ Yes, you should continue to work on improving yourself, but go easy; stop often and remind yourself that you are ‘being made new and are becoming like the One who made you’ (Colossians 3:10 NCV).

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Have you lost your sense of peace? Is your mind besieged with worry? If so, begin to program your thinking with these Bible promises – write them down, carry them with you, and read them regularly: 1) ‘The Lord himself watches over you…stands beside you…keeps you from all harm…watches over your life…keeps watch over youas you come and go’ (Psalm 121:5-8 NLT). 2) ‘Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you’ (Psalm 9:10 NIV). 3) ‘Our fears for today…worries about tomorrow…even the powers of hell…nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God’ (Romans 8:38-39 NLT). 4) ‘They will fight against you, but…not prevail…for I am with you to save you and deliver you’ (Jeremiah 15:20 NKJV). 5) ‘You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety’ (Job 11:18 NIV). 6) ‘I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, you will keep me safe’ (Psalm 4:8 TLB). 7) ‘In the world you have…distress and frustration; but…[take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!…I have…[deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]’ (John 16:33 AMPC). 8) ‘Be not afraid or dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s’ (2 Chronicles 20:15 AMPC). 9) ‘Fear not…When you pass through the waters…they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned’ (Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV). 10) ‘I will rescue you…declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear’ (Jeremiah 39:17 NIV).

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Don’t you find it interesting that the most high-tech generation in history is also the most medicated generation? The Bible predicted this. God told Daniel that in the last days ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase’ (Daniel 12:4 NKJV). That’s us! One researcher says we have trained our brains ‘to constantly flit around the universe of messages and information seeking brief hits of excitement. Grazing ceaselessly, we never dig too deeply before moving on to the next distraction…and it ratchets up our stress levels in ways we are only starting to understand.’ When was the last time you enjoyed some uninterrupted downtime without feeling guilty and unproductive? Do you even take time to reflect and recharge? Avoiding burnout requires these: 1) Recognising the signs. If you tweet and text people all day and yet you’re still lonely, technology may be dominating your life. 2) Doing something about it. Make yourself unavailable for short periods and see what happens. The world won’t come to an end, honest! 3) Realising you have a choice. People who think they should be available twenty-four hours a day exaggerate their own importance, or the control others have over them. 4) Establishing boundaries. Rein in the emails and text messages. Do you really need all those FYIs about the same thing? 5) Telling people, unless it’s truly urgent, you answer emails at designated times throughout the day. 6) Setting a schedule and sticking with it. After a few minutes of surfing the internet, ask yourself, ‘Should I be doing this now?’ Jesus said, ‘Come ye yourselves apart…and rest a while.’ Why? Because when you don’t come apart, you fall apart!

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One of the first books to come off the printing press when it was invented was the Bible. And it’s still the world’s best-selling book. An anonymous author has written: ‘It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the fate of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It is a light to direct you, food to nourish you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s road map, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s weapon, and the player’s game plan. It’s a mine of incredible wealth, and a river of genuine joy. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Christ is its grand subject, your good its design, and the glory of God its end. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be spiritually healthy. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. Let it fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your steps. It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and judge those who trifle with its sacred contents.’ The Bible is ‘The word of our God which shall stand forever’ (see 1 Peter 1:25). Most of us respect the Bible; the trouble is we don’t read it daily and put it into practice. After hearing a discussion on various translations of the Bible, one man said: ‘I prefer my mother’s translation, because she translated it into everyday life.’ Are you doing that?

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When praying doesn’t seem to bring the answer, the question becomes, ‘How do I get through this?’ The Bible addresses this by telling us Jesus endured ‘the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad’ (Hebrews 12:2 CEV). Then it adds this: ‘Keep your mind on Jesus…then you won’t get discouraged and give up’ (v. 3 CEV). The reason Jesus could endure is because He focused on what would happen ‘later on’; the joy of pleasing the Father, building the church, and reaching the world. Here is how David got through his hard times: ‘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. My body rests in safety’ (Psalm 16:8-9 NLT). So instead of denying reality or trying to white-knuckle your way through it, realise that the Lord is with you and draw from Him the strength you need. It’s difficult to endure hardship at the best of times, but when you don’t understand why, it can be frustrating. God doesn’t give us lengthy explanations about how He works; a God who is used to creating worlds with a single sentence wouldn’t. So, when you can’t find an answer in His Word or through prayer and the counsel of others, you’re left wondering. And you wouldn’t be the first. David repeatedly asks why in the Psalms, and God still called him ‘a man after My own heart, who will do all My will’ (Acts 13:22 NKJV). So be encouraged; you will get through this!

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When we think about the New Testament church, we tend to focus on its power and growth. In Acts 2, Peter preaches, and three thousand people are won to Christ. In Acts 3, a paralysed man who sat begging at the temple gate was healed through the ministry of Peter and John. In Acts 4, we read this: ‘Many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totalled about 5,000’ (v. 4 NLT). Preaching! Soul winning! Miracles! Growth! Exciting stuff. But here is part of their story you must not miss: ‘All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles’ (vv. 32-37 NLT). Yes, our top priority must be winning people to Christ and bringing them into spiritual maturity. But if we are to follow in the footsteps of the New Testament church, we must remember that we are called to take care of each other too.

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In order to build good relationships, you must become a good listener. And in order to be a good listener, you must do these: 1) Listen without interrupting. And that’s so,even when you know more than the person who is talking to you! Respect them enough to value what they say and listen attentively until they’re finished. 2) Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking, and needs. In other words, listen to understand. Good listening is hearing what people actually think, mean, or feel, not what you imagine they should think, mean, or feel. Instead of guessing, politely ask, ‘Am I understanding you correctly? Do you mean…? Are you feeling…?’ Don’t assume – verify. 3) Avoid rushing to conclusions. Listen without judging. If what they say doesn’t quite add up, keep listening. ‘He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him’ (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV). When you hear more, it may make sense. 4) Refrain from putting them on the defensive. Listen without correcting, countering, or devaluing. Saying, ‘That’s not the way it was,’ or ‘What did you expect?’ or ‘You’re just being silly and too sensitive’ kills real communication. 5) Accept their perceptions and feelings as valid expressions of a valued person. Validate the speaker. By saying, ‘If I understand you correctly, you’re thinking…feeling…am I right?’ Ask them to help you get on the same page with them. Saying, ‘Given what you have told me, I can see why you would feel that way’ will increase their willingness to consider your thoughts and accept the solutions you offer. If you want to win people and influence them, learn to listen.

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The letter E stands for experience. How can you know God’s will for your life? Paul answers, ‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you’ (v. 2 NLT). The word ‘transform’ means ‘to change in shape’. How is a diamond formed? It’s the result of unrelenting pressure over a long period of time. Your life’s experiences will point you towards your life’s purpose. God never wastes a pain! The psalmist said, ‘I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.…My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees’ (Psalm 119:67, 71 NLT). How do we learn to do what’s right? By experiencing the pain of doing what’s wrong. You say, ‘But others have mistreated me. Is that also part of God’s will for my life?’ It could be. Paul writes, ‘My imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered’ (Philippians 1:12 MSG). Then he adds: ‘Everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a platform! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his prize. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose’ (Philippians 1:20-21 MSG). The reverse side of a tapestry looks like a tangled mess of threads. But that’s what it takes to produce a picture of beauty, order, and value. Getting the idea? Re-examine your life’s experiences.

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The letter P stands for personality. Before a company hires a leader, they often do a personality profile to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Question: are you compassionate towards people, or competitive with them? Are you a hard-driving type-A personality, or do you have a more nurturing temperament? The worst thing you can do is to envy someone else’s personality type and say, ‘I wish I was just like them.’ That’s like saying to God, ‘You made a mistake when you made me.’ God will help you to change your conduct and strengthen your character, but you can pray until you’re blue in the face and He won’t change your personality. Instead, He will help you to recognise it and maximise it. The old saying is true: ‘Birds of a feather flock together.’ Eagles don’t want to hang around with ducks. They don’t want to live in a farmyard or swim in a pond. Their potential makes them impatient with those who cannot soar. Eagles are loners. Ducks, on the other hand, are team players. Some migrate thousands of miles from the UK to warmer climates, flying in a perfect V formation without breaking rank. They know how to defer to one another and care for one another. Before God assigns you, He designs you. He gives you the right personality to fulfil His plan for your life. So instead of putting yourself down or wishing you had a different temperament, say with the psalmist, ‘You…knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous – how well I know it’ (Psalm 139:13-14 NLT).

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The letter A stands for abilities. The Bible says, ‘God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well’ (Romans 12:6 NLT). What is your dominant gift? You say, ‘I don’t think I have any gifts.’ No one was born without a gift! Your gift may be undiscovered, undeveloped, unused, underused, or even misused, but you have a gift. Have you ever heard the saying, ‘There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come’? When you put together the right opportunity with the right gift at the right time, the results can literally blow your mind. Before, life can seem like you’re just spending it surviving, when suddenly a crisis arises, a situation occurs, or a door of opportunity opens, and you discover abilities that have lain dormant within you for years. Today you may feel locked into a situation with no way out, but God is ‘a way maker’ (see 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV). Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Jews who were taken as slaves to Babylon. Talk about being locked into a situation with no way out! But the Bible says: ‘God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom.…Whenever the king consulted them in any matter…he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom’ (Daniel 1:17, 20 NLT). Does that mean you can just sit around and wait for success to be dropped into your lap? No, the old saying ‘opportunity knocks’ is actually not true. Opportunity waits for those who open the door and go out and look for it.

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The letter H represents your heart. What do you have a ‘heart for’ or feel passionate about? As a Jew, Paul was passionate about reaching the Jewish people: ‘The longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God’ (Romans 10:1-4 NLT). You say, ‘Does that mean I must be in the ministry to know and do God’s will?’ No. Nelson Mandela was so passionate about freeing his people from the evils of apartheid that he was willing to spend twenty-seven years in prison to bring it about. When your heart begins to ask, ‘What can I do to change this situation?’ you may be discovering God’s will for you. The people who have made this world a better place all asked that question. Thomas Edison answered it by giving the world incandescent light. Henry Ford answered it by giving the world the car. Mother Teresa answered it by giving the forgotten and dying of India love and dignity. First, Nehemiah wept over the ruins of Jerusalem, then he rebuilt its walls. What moves you? What’s in your heart? In answering that question you may discover God’s will for your life.

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In order for you to understand God’s will, for the next few days let’s use the word S.H.A.P.E.as an acrostic. S represents your spirit. Your regenerated spirit is the part of you that’s capable of connecting with God and responding to Him. The Bible says: ‘People who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things’ (1 Corinthians 2:14-15 NLT). You can know something in your spirit without understanding it in your brain. Does that sound strange? It’s not: ‘But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things’ (1 John 2:20 NKJV). Sometimes a Scripture leaps off the page you’re reading in the Bible and you ‘know’ it’s God speaking to you and giving you direction. At the time it may not seem to make sense to you, but it resonates in your spirit as being right. We use different words to describe this experience, such as ‘a leading’ or ‘a prompting’. Will you sometimes get it wrong and make a mistake? Yes. The most mature Christians among us do. In his youth, God spoke to Samuel the prophet four different times before he finally recognised His voice. Just as you exercise your body to make it stronger, you must exercise your spirit to make it sharper and more sensitive to God: ‘Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognise the difference between right and wrong’ (Hebrews 5:14 NLT).

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The Bible says, ‘The accuser of our brothers and sisters…has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony’ (Revelation 12:10-11 NIV). Satan is ‘the accuser’. On what basis does he accuse us? Sin! It’s not that God won’t forgive sin, but that when we refuse to acknowledge it and repent of it, we give Satan an opportunity to condemn us. Now you understand why you feel so bad when you harbour unconfessed sin. By doing it, you are giving Satan power over you. Notice what Jesus said: ‘The prince of this world [Satan] cometh, and hath nothing in me.’ Satan couldn’t point to a single sin in the life of Christ; therefore, he had no power over Him. And here is the good news: when you are ‘in Christ’, Satan loses his power to condemn you too. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ (Romans 8:1 KJV). Will you still sin from time to time? Yes, and when you repent, God will cleanse you, work with you, and give you victory. But as long as you are positioned securely ‘in Christ’, the One in whom there is no sin, Satan’s condemnation falls on deaf ears and you live with the joy of knowing you are fully accepted by God. So when Satan says, ‘You sinned, therefore you’re not a Christian,’ don’t believe him. As long as you’re ‘in Christ’, you’re simply a Christian under construction. Knowing that takes a powerful weapon out of Satan’s hands.

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When it comes to Jesus, we have three choices. Let’s look at them: 1) Reject Him. That’s what the Pharisees did. ‘Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”’ (v. 22 NKJV). Why? Because His grace and power exposed their lack of both. His truth exposed their error. And when you don’t like the message, you reject the messenger. 2) Avoid Him. That’s what Pilate’s wife did: ‘His wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him”’ (Matthew 27:19 NKJV). Why do people avoid Jesus? Because He forces a reaction in our hearts. He calls you to make a choice between living for self or living for Him. The chief priests said, ‘He stirs up the people’ (Luke 23:5 NKJV). And they were right! Before Jesus delivers you, He will disturb you. And some of us don’t want to be disturbed. 3) Accept Him. That’s what Paul did: ‘Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). Pilate tried to wash his hands of the whole thing and avoid making a decision about Jesus. But it can’t be done. Jesus said, ‘He who is not with Me is against Me’ (Matthew 12:30 NKJV). So if you have not accepted Christ as your Saviour, here is the question you must answer: ‘What then shall I do with Jesus?’

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The thing that should matter to you most is doing God’s will. And here is why: God’s will is the only thing that will last forever. God has a plan for your life, and that plan constitutes His ‘will’ for you. So how can you know God’s will? Try to imagine these two things: 1) A Polaroid picture. Remember those? You took the shot and out popped a picture. At first it wasn’t clear, so you had to wait. But as you continued to wait, the picture became clearer. That’s like God’s will. ‘The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh’ (Proverbs 4:18-22 KJV). 2) A scroll. If God showed you His entire will for your life at one time – you would be overwhelmed. But like unravelling an old-fashioned scroll, He reveals His will to you little by little as you become mature and able to handle it. And since it’s God’s will, you need His power to fulfil it. You also need the assurance of His presence with you. And He promises this in His Word: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 1:6 KJV).

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In order to have a clique, you must exclude certain people. And to feel excluded hurts deeply. David experienced it: ‘The one who shared my food, has turned against me’ (Psalm 41:9 NLT). Cliques are made up of weak people who are afraid to be different. They believe that as long as they’re with others who think and act like they do, they won’t be surprised or required to change. It may be human nature to crave this kind of consistency, but it’s dangerous. Cliques in the workplace create dissension, resulting in a miserable atmosphere for others. People are no longer regarded as individuals but as being ‘on this person’s side’ or ‘in that person’s corner’. Such cliques become nothing more than centres for gossip, backstabbing, affairs, and every imaginable mess people can create. Satan tempts us with the security of ‘the group’ to prevent us from discovering our individual gifts and purposes and from doing God’s will. If you’re in a clique, break free as quickly as you can! Reject the pressure to conform to groupthink. This mentality can have you unexpectedly doing things you never thought you would do – whether it’s lowering your principles or remaining quiet while the group criticises someone. You may even fear being turned against by group members if you stand up for what’s right. Cliques facilitate racism and sexism, age discrimination, andand the biased behaviour accompanying them. They gain their strength from excluding those who are different. And no matter how you slice it, that’s prejudice! You are God’s child – as are your colleagues and other church members – and you should treat them right.

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Read these Scriptures: ‘Pursue peace with all people’ (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV). ‘The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield…the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace’ (James 3:17-18 NKJV). ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it’ (1 Peter 3:10-11 NKJV). Healthy compromise doesn’t mean giving up what you truly believe or who you truly are. It doesn’t mean taking shortcuts and relinquishing yourself to second- or third-best because you are impatient or fearful. No, healthy compromise is about discovering how to negotiate a win-win position for both sides. It calls for trying to see things through the eyes of the other person involved in the situation or problem. And healthy compromise is the characteristic of healthy relationships. It’s tempting to write off someone as ‘wrong’ or ‘selfish’ and refuse to see any other perspective except your own. But this is when it’s critical to abandon your pride, to step outside the role you are playing, and to try to understand where the other person is coming from. A meat cleaver is required when you want a meal, but a fine surgical instrument is required when you want to heal. Haven’t there been times when you yourself needed patience, love, and understanding? Yes? Then be willing to extend the same grace to others. Sometimes all that’s required is a little give-and-take to make the relationship work and for things to turn out better for everyone involved.

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People who set goals accomplish much more than people of equal education and ability who don't. With that in mind, build these eight principles into your life. 1) Decide what you want. But first consult God. 'Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails' (Proverbs 19:21 NIV). 2) Think on paper. Writing your goals down gives them a sense of permanency, plus it energises you. 'Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity.' Wishy-washy objectives won't get you where you want to go. 3) Establish a deadline. Without a definite beginning and ending it's easy to procrastinate and get nowhere. 4) Make a list of what you need to do to. Keep it before you at all times; it'll give you a track to run on. 5) Convert your list to a plan. Decide what you need to do first and what you can do later. An organised plan is always better than trying to carry stuff around in your head. 6) Act immediately. 'Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity' (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV). Do something! A mediocre plan that's implemented beats a brilliant one that's not. 7) Do something every day to move you forwards. Build it into your schedule. For example, read systematically through your Bible, call a specific number of clients, engage in physical activity for a given time. 8) Have a goal you're willing to devote your life to. And keep your eye on that goal at all times. 'Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom' (Psalm 90:12 NIV).

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John says, ‘I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name’ (v. 12 NIV). When you’re born again, the only thing you know is that your sins are forgiven and you’re in right standing with God. But you have a lot more to learn. The Greek term for ‘children’ refers to toddlers. And toddlers keep tripping and falling. Until they learn to walk, they need someone to pick them up and reassure them that falling down doesn’t mean they will never walk or they’re not part of the family. In spiritual childhood, it’s essential that you understand two things: the difference between your stage of growth and your standing before God. Don’t get them mixed up! Trusting in the finished work of Christ gives you right standing with God as a fully accepted, redeemed child of His. If you forget that, every time you fall, the devil will make you doubt your salvation. When you sin, it doesn’t mean that your standing before God is altered; it means your stage of spiritual growth needs work. The forgiveness you receive at the new birth is a judicial act, making you a member of God’s family in good standing. But the forgiveness you receive on a daily basis is a relational act. For example, when you enter some wrong numbers into your calculator, what do you do? There is a little button called ‘clear entry’ that lets you erase your mistake and start over again. That’s what the blood of Jesus does. Repentance allows you to override sin by triggering God’s forgiveness, so that the flow of His grace continues. And when grace flows, growth follows.

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Ever notice when you’re dating somebody, you can talk effortlessly for hours, but if you have been married a while, unless you work at it, conversation can become superficial and even lead to disagreements? The Bible says, ‘Be willing to listen and slow to speak’ (James 1:19 NCV). There is an art to communicating. 1) Look for opportunities to compliment one another. You may think your partner is wonderful, but they need to hear you say it frequently. It takes twelve compliments to neutralise the effect of one criticism, so when life beats your mate down, build them up. 2) Don’t try to change them by nagging. Questions like, ‘Why can’t you?’ or ‘Why do you always?’ can sound more like parenting than partnering. Tell your partner once – not a thousand times – what’s bothering you. And before you speak, ask yourself, ‘Would I say this to a valued friend?’ If not, don’t say it! 3) A marriage can only stand so much ‘soul-baring’. As a rule, shorter is better. ‘Honey, can we talk for a few minutes?’ is less threatening than the ominous, ‘We need to talk’ announcement. People can only stand so much ‘soul-baring’; pressuring them just gets the wrong result. If your spouse is unresponsive on an issue, discuss it with a trusted friend or counsellor. Then give your spouse the condensed, less emotional version. 4) Let your mate lead. When your spouse is talking about things you’re not particularly interested in, remember the Scripture, ‘Submit to one another’ (Ephesians 5:21 NIV). Sometimes that means asking, ‘What would you like to talk about?’ If you want a good marriage, use those four principles every day.

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Nobody knows more about marriage than God. He not only thought up the idea – He put the first couple together. And His Word says, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.’’ So let’s turn to His Word and see what kind of help He has to offer your marriage. 1) Be willing to take advice. Solomon says, ‘Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise’ (Proverbs 13:10 NLT). So before the argument reaches a stalemate and the stalemate becomes a full-blown crisis, get input from a trusted friend or counsellor. That takes humility, but it pays great dividends. 2) Don’t stop talking. Even though something seems obvious to you, don’t assume your mate can read your mind. And don’t resort to ‘the silent treatment’. Tell your husband or wife what’s bothering you, even if it means working through a disagreement. It’s when you don’t care enough to disagree that things fall apart. 3) Keep your love alive. Building a strong marriage means falling in love over and over again – with the same person. Paul writes, ‘Use your head…so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush’ (Philippians 1:9 MSG). It’s impossible to escape marital stress, but you can control it by scheduling breaks away from the daily grind. Take a walk together, watch a film you both enjoy, go for coffee, do whatever reconnects you. And let your children know you’re taking time out to be together. Not only will they learn to appreciate it, it will help them build a good marriage of their own later on.

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Paul writes, ‘Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand’ (v. 4 MSG). That means do these five things: 1) Be genuinely interested in others. ‘Laugh…when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down’ (Romans 12:15 MSG). And you can only do that when you take the time to find out what’s going on in someone else’s world. 2) Be upbeat. ‘A cheerful heart brings a smile…a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day’ (Proverbs 15:13 MSG). Don’t dump your problems on others, they have enough of their own. Take them to the Lord in prayer. 3) Be careful what you say, and always say less than you think. ‘A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in’ (Proverbs 29:11 KJV). And since how you speak is as important as what you say, always be kind and courteous. 4) Be reliable. The Bible says, ‘In the last days…men shall be… trucebreakers’ (2 Timothy 3:1-3 KJV), but you don’t have to fulfil that prophecy. When you say you will do something, do it. Character is measured by actions, not words. So strive to be a person whose word has meaning. 5) Be an encourager. Barnabas was known as a motivator because he ‘encouraged the believers’ (Acts 11:23 NLT). Ever notice what happens when you push a child on a swing? Eventually they start pumping and doing it themselves; they just needed a little help to get going. Even a smile can work wonders. Job said, ‘When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them’ (Job 29:24 NLT). Sometimes it’s that simple!

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When God blesses you, get ready for the complainers who think He should have blessed them instead – or at least as much as you. When a dispute arose about which of the twelve tribes should lead Israel, God told Moses to have each tribal leader write his name on his staff and place it overnight in the tabernacle. Then God said, ‘The man I have chosen…buds will grow on his rod! Then at last this murmuring and complaining against you will stop!’ (Numbers 17:5 TLB). Imagine an old stick with no roots or sap blossoming in the dark! The truth is, faith can’t grow without hardship; it must incubate in the darkness of adversity. There is a stage at which you don’t even know you have been chosen by God; only He knows. He told Jeremiah, ‘Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.’ Before you were a beep on a monitor, God had plans for you. The reason you didn’t die on the operating table or in that car accident is because God had His hand on you. Furthermore, He didn’t choose you because you’re so virtuous and wonderful. No, ‘He chose what the world thinks is unimportant…so that no one can brag’ (1 Corinthians 1:28-29 NCV). When God created the heavens and the earth, the Bible says, ‘Darkness covered the face of the deep’ (Genesis 1:2 NRSV). Then God spoke and said, ‘Let there be lights…And it was so’ (Genesis 1:14-15 NIV). And today God can bring light out of your darkness and hope out of your despair. He is not intimidated by the darkness – it’s where He does some of His best work!

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The earth is continually revolving, which means when it’s light in one hemisphere, it’s dark in another. While one person is experiencing midnight, another is rejoicing because daybreak has finally come for them. Both people live on the same planet, but they’re in very different places. So when you’re having a night-time experience, if you can just hold on a little longer, things will change. God guarantees it. The same way you rotated into the darkness, you will rotate out of it again. God works the night shift, and He will turn your darkness into light if you just keep trusting Him. Notice: certain significant events in the Bible happened at night. For example, while Adam was sleeping, God reached in, performed surgery, and made Eve. At midnight, while the other prisoners slept, Paul and Silas sang praises to God and He delivered them. When Peter was locked in the inner prison, at midnight God sent an angel to liberate him. When Jesus was crucified, the earth was plunged into darkness, but on Easter morning the light came on – forever. You have to expect some night-time experiences; it comes with the territory. God’s ‘darkroom’ is where He develops you into the image of Christ. Enduring is what gives you the credentials to walk out into the daylight, having earned the right to be there. This kind of faith is tenacious, radical, and relentless. When it’s backed into a corner, it stands its ground and declares, ‘I’ve lost my job, my mortgage is overdue, my symptoms don’t look too good, but I still believe God.’ That kind of faith gets results every time!

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Other people may not think you’re important, but God does. And His opinion is the one that counts most. Remember David? Before he became king, he had to overcome two obstacles. The first obstacle was his family’s inability to see his potential. When Samuel the prophet came looking for a king among Jesse’s sons, David wasn’t even considered. Maybe that’s because he was the youngest, or his brothers seemed more qualified, or his father wanted to impress the prophet. The second obstacle was Samuel’s inability to recognise God’s call on his life. When Samuel the prophet saw the oldest brother, Eliab, a general in the king’s army, he said, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here’ (1 Samuel 16:6 NIV). But God set Samuel – and the rest of us – straight with these words: ‘People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). David’s problem is a common one. Many of us don’t believe in ourselves because we weren’t recognised or encouraged by our parents. Perhaps you have the potential to be a great musician, but because nobody cared enough to give you music lessons when you were young, you have given up on yourself. Or you may be a budding entrepreneur who was criticised for your ‘foolish ideas’ about how to do business, and you have given up the dreams of your youth. If that’s the case, it’s time to rise up and reclaim who you are; to start praying that God will open your eyes and put someone in your life who will validate and ‘fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you’.

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George Müller was a man of great faith. He rescued thousands of homeless children in England. Sometimes when they gathered at the table for supper there was nothing to eat, so he would pray and thank God for supernatural provision. No sooner had he said, ‘Amen’, than a baker would show up at his door with bread, or a greengrocer with vegetables, or a farmer with milk. Here is an entry from his journal, dated May 9, 1841: ‘I saw more clearly than ever that the first great primary business to which I ought to attend every day was…not how much I might serve the Lord…but…how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers…and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit. Before this time my practice had been…to give myself to prayer after having dressed myself in the morning. Now, I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that this, by means of the Word of God, whilst meditating on it, my heart might be brought into experimental communion with the Lord.’ For over forty years, Müller walked in the power of God and saw miracles. What was his secret? Taking time each day to meditate in God’s Word.

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American author Henry Van Dyke says, ‘As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.’ Habits are like machines; they consistently turn out the same product. They can’t do anything else; they’re designed to produce that specific result. Change requires new behaviours, thoughts, relationships, and a willingness to do battle with old ways of thinking. And that calls for a strong relationship with God! Upon entering the Promised Land, God told His people to ‘utterly destroy’ their enemies; otherwise, their enemies would live to eventually destroy them. So when God tells you it’s time to declare war on your bad habits, don’t say, ‘Everybody’s doing it,’ or ‘It’s no big deal.’ Anything that keeps you enslaved and prevents you from enjoying the freedom Jesus purchased for you at Calvary is a very big deal. Instead of resisting and making excuses, pray, ‘Lord, show me the root of this problem and how to deal with it. I’m ready for positive change in my life today.’ ’Have you ever noticed that whenever you have had a mountaintop experience with God, the Enemy is always waiting for you at the foot of the mountain? After their experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus’ disciples were approached by a man whose son was caught in a cycle of self-destruction where ‘frequently he [fell] into the fire and…water’ (Matthew 17:15 AMPC). Anytime you keep falling into the same traps, making the same mistakes, jumping into the same relationships, getting hooked on the same habits, it’s time to take your problem to Jesus and ask Him to help you. And He will!

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It’s easy to give in to negative thoughts and fears about how things will turn out based on your past experiences. As Jesus pointed out, we live in a ‘faithless’ generation (Matthew 17:17 NKJV). That means you must constantly fight the defeatist attitude portrayed by the culture, the media, the educational system, the workplace – and sometimes your own friends. Unless you recognise this, it can wear you down by diluting your faith. That’s why you need to feed your faith daily on God’s Word. Jesus said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move”…and it will’ (Matthew 17:20 NKJV). Notice, Jesus isn’t referring to a mountain you encountered years ago. He said, ‘Say to this mountain.’ He wants you to exercise your faith today! He said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you’ (v. 20 NKJV). A mustard seed is so tiny, it can get stuck between your teeth. But Jesus said although it’s ‘the least of all the seeds,’ it grows into a tree big enough for the birds to nest in (see Matthew 13:32 NKJV). You say, ‘I don’t have any faith.’ Yes, you do. Paul says, ‘God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.’ And when it’s activated, miracles happen. Even if you have only an ounce of faith left, you have what you need to prevail. But faith only works when it becomes the language you speak and the attitude you maintain. The Enemy doesn’t want you to know that, because when you do, you won’t just think about what’s happening, you will start thinking about what’s possible!

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Beware of developing a sense of entitlement where you think your money is something you earned all by yourself. Anytime you struggle to give God what is rightfully His according to Scripture, it’s because you have become more attached to the gift than the giver. If you have never tried tithing, read this: ‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…If you do…I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’ (v. 10 NLT). A pastor received this letter from a couple in his church: ‘We were behind with our rent and car payments. We were forty thousand dollars [about £30,000] in debt, we’d no food in the fridge, and we’d just started a construction business. So when you challenged us to tithe as part of our Christian commitment, we thought, “How can we give what we don’t have?” Nevertheless, we decided to go ahead and honour God by giving Him the first tenth of our income. The very first week we met a contractor who asked us to build a house, with more to follow. Now we no longer questioned how we’d fulfil our commitment to God; in fact, we increased our giving! And if the story ended there, it would still be a good one. But you can’t outgive God. Through a series of divinely orchestrated events, we went from being renters to being homeowners. Today, we’re enjoying financial blessing. And even though this story is all about trusting God, on reflection we’re still trying to answer one question: “What exactly was it we sacrificed?”’

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An elderly lady says, ‘One benefit of living so long is sharing what I’ve learned. So make my day by letting me share three secrets that can make your life better.’ Then she offers us some great counsel: 1) ‘Time is precious; don’t waste it. After my husband died, I was staying with friends. One evening they started arguing and eventually stopped speaking to one another. Now, I know arguments happen; my husband and I had several doozies. But at that moment, I understood as never before that the time we have together is precious. Don’t waste it bickering about things that won’t matter when your loved one is gone. Do everything you can to live in harmony and show your love. Why? Because no matter how long you have together, it’s never enough. 2) You’re making memories; make them good ones. Looking back, I thank God for so many unforgettable moments. The day my husband died we kissed (as we always did when we parted), at noon. By five-thirty that evening, he was dead. I’ve always been glad about that final kiss. So create memories – not regrets! 3) It’s not what happens, but how you respond that counts. Every day holds new challenges that will test your love and resolve. You have the power through Christ to make each test an occasion for growth. Life is full of seemingly unpleasant events. Try to handle them in such a way that when you’re old, you will be able to look back and say, “I thank you, God, for that experience; it helped me grow.”’ And that’s how to live wisely and well!

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Jesus said: ‘I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world’ (John 16:33 MSG). Life keeps handing us problems that test our faith. How do you know how much weight a bridge can handle? By testing it. Daniel’s success made him a target. Knowing he prayed regularly, his enemies persuaded King Darius that all prayers should be made to him as the king. Yet Daniel kept praying each day – in front of an open window, no less. When the king heard about it, he threw Daniel into a lions’ den. But God turned the tables. Next morning Daniel came out, his enemies went in, and the king announced, ‘Daniel’s God…is the living God’ (Daniel 6:26 MSG). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the king’s idols. Even when they were warned to bow or burn, they said, ‘God…is able to deliver us…But if not…we will not serve thy gods’ (Daniel 3:17-18 KJV). And because they walked by faith, God delivered and promoted them. Facing Goliath, David refused to wear the king’s armour. He said, ‘I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them’ (1 Samuel 17:39 KJV). So what did he go with? ‘The name of the Lord’ (1 Samuel 17:45 KJV), and the rest is history. Now, chances are you will never find yourself in a lions’ den, a fiery furnace, or facing a giant, although some days it will feel like it. But when you’re under attack, 1) pray and claim God’s power, 2) walk by faith, and 3) go ‘in the name of the Lord’.

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Author John Maxwell writes: ‘When you come face-to-face with a problem, how do you react? Do you ignore it and hope it will go away? Do you feel powerless to solve it? Have you had such bad experiences trying to solve problems in the past that you’ve just given up? Or do you tackle them willingly? The ability to solve problems effectively comes from experience facing and overcoming obstacles. Each time you solve another problem, you get a little better at the process. But if you never try, fail, and try again, you’ll never be good at it.’ Author George Matthew Adams stated: ‘What you think means more than anything else in your life. More than what you earn, more than where you live, more than your social position, and more than what anyone else may think about you.’ Most of King David’s problems were enemies who wanted to defeat him. But he had confidence in God: ‘For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall’ (v. 29 NKJV). To improve your problem-solving abilities, do the following: 1) Find the right strategy. Sometimes we have a hard time solving the problem because we don’t know how to tackle it. Try using the acronym T.E.A.C.H.: Time – take the time required to discover the real issue. Exposure – find out how others have solved similar problems. Assistance – don’t try to do it all alone, let others help you. Creativity – brainstorm numerous solutions. Hit it – execute the best solution. 2) Surround yourself with problem solvers. ‘He who walks with wise men will be wise’ (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV).

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Every problem you face in life introduces you to yourself. It shows you how you think and what you’re made of. People basically respond to problems in three ways: 1) they refuse to accept them, 2) they accept them and then endure them, or 3) they accept them and try to improve things. Which of the three people are you? Paul was a problem solver. He knew that with God on his side, he would prevail. ‘We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again’ (vv. 7-9 CEV). So when it comes to having problems, what should you do? 1) Anticipate them. Since problems are unavoidable, prepare for them spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. If you pray for God’s best and anticipate Satan’s worst, you will find yourself in a good position to solve the problems that come your way. 2) See the big picture. You can’t afford to be overcome by emotion. Nor can you permit yourself to get bogged down in the minutiae and lose sight of what’s important. 3) Handle one thing at a time. Richard Sloma said, ‘Never try to solve all the problems at once – make them line up for you one-by-one.’ And if you’re facing lots of problems, make sure you actually solve the one you’re working on before moving on to the next one.

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When you focus on what you have to offer instead of the needs of others, they discern it and quickly lose interest. Even in an endeavour as noble as sharing your faith, you can become so engrossed in your presentation and in ‘getting results’ that you leave the other person cold. In his book Presenting to Win, Jerry Weissman points out that when people communicate, they focus too much on the features of their product or service instead of answering the question, ‘Can you help me?’ The key, says Weissman, is to focus on the benefits, not the features. He writes: ‘A feature is a fact or quality about you or your company, the products you sell, or the idea you’re advocating. By contrast, a benefit is how that fact or quality will help your audience. When you seek to persuade, it’s never enough to present the features of what you’re selling; every feature must be translated into a benefit. Whereas a feature may be irrelevant to the needs or interests of your audience, a benefit, by definition, is always relevant.’ Caring about the other person must always be your motive and starting point. Paul writes: ‘If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate…If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love’ (vv. 1, 3 MSG). Bottom line: first, you must care about others.

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It’s said that the Titanic sank because of cheap rivets and poor planning. Faced with a shortage of quality bolts, the shipbuilders used substandard ones that popped when the ship hit the iceberg. So, how sturdy are the bolts of your faith? Reinforce them daily with God’s Word, seasons of in-depth prayer, and fortifying fellowship. Describing signs of the end times, Jesus said, ‘All these are the beginning of birth pains’ (Matthew 24:8 NIV), and birth pains signal the onset of the final push. The midwife says, ‘This will hurt for a while, but it’s going to get better,’ and Jesus offers us the same assurance about end-time events. We’re in the final hours – just a few pushes away from delivery. John said: ‘I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and…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 now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will 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!”’ (Revelation 21:1-5 NIV). People everywhere are searching for answers. So don’t isolate, engage! Your goal isn’t to get out of this world in one piece; it’s to take as many people as you can to heaven along with you.

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No matter how great your vision is, if you’re not someone people are willing to follow, it will never be realised. Who you are matters! The most important message you can share is yourself. Here are six thoughts on good leadership: 1) Trust connects people to a leader’s vision; without it, they will be disconnected. With it, they will get on board and help move the vision forward. 2) Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about inspiring and encouraging others. Good leaders bring out the best in people by sharing the best in themselves. 3) Just because you’re the leader, don’t run people over! Abraham Lincoln said, ‘Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.’ With power comes the responsibility to serve, develop, and empower others. By helping them grow, you grow. 4) Rules without relationship lead to resistance. You can have all the rules you want, but if you don’t invest in people and develop a relationship with them, they will rebel. 5) Paul says, ‘If a bugle call isn’t clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?’ So lead with optimism, enthusiasm, and positive energy, and weed out pessimism and negativity. Focus on solutions, not complaints. Philosopher Nicholas Murray Butler said, ‘Optimism is essential to achievement, and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.’ ’6) Good leaders don’t have all the answers, but they build a team that has – or can get them. Success is a process, not a destination. Winning is a by-product of teamwork, focus, and commitment. To succeed, focus on the people and the process, not the outcome.

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Setting your mind is similar to setting a thermostat; it determines the climate you live in. So, set your mind on God’s Word! Instead of trying to stop thinking wrong thoughts – which immediately brings to mind the very thoughts you’re supposed to stop thinking – fill your mind with God’s Word. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would remind them of what He had taught them (see John 14:26). So when you file the Scriptures in your memory bank, God’s Spirit will pull those files when you need them. Picture an amateur pilot navigating through his first storm. He can’t see any landmarks around which to fly because they’re locked in a fog. But then a voice comes from the controller in the tower saying, ‘Just listen to me, and I’ll guide you.’ Jesus said, ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NIV). Paul writes: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV). For example, what should you do when the economy is bad? Recognise that neither the London Stock Exchange nor the High Street decide your security – God does. What should you do when someone criticises you?

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To have a good relationship with someone, you must have good communication. And good communication is based on two things: talking, and listening. Stop and consider some of your recent conflicts and try to identify behaviours and attitudes that may have contributed to them. Fears. Insecurity. Jealousy. Stubbornness. Arrogance. Greed. Sin. Rebellion. Unexpressed or unmet expectations. Unrealistic expectations. Undefined roles and responsibilities. Differing standards, beliefs, philosophies, or views. Competing desires. Ineffective systems and processes. Power struggles. Contradictory goals and objectives. Breach of boundaries (spoken or unspoken). Inadequate or sparse resources (time, money, space). Language barriers. Lack of information. Lack of understanding of the needs of different personalities. Poor relational skills. James writes, ‘So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.’ This Bible verse is crucial to good communication. By listening, we create an atmosphere where people feel they have been understood and their views and feelings have been validated. This is half the battle in settling any conflict. And listening is not passive! It requires considerable effort to discern what’s really being expressed or even unexpressed. But there is good news: if you’re serious about it, God will help you to become a better listener! Isaiah writes: ‘The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning. He awakens My ear to hear as the learned’ (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV). Note the words ‘tongue’ and ‘ear’, and ask God to help you with both.

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God sent the prophet Nathan to confront King David over his affair with Bathsheba. As king, David had the power to have Nathan put to death. But he didn’t. He humbled himself, received correction, repented, and was restored to his throne and God’s favour. Question: can you be corrected? If you can, your future is bright and your potential is great. But you must be discerning. Not all correction is constructive and therefore does not have to be accepted. Someone may desire to tear you down, diminish your self-esteem, or manipulate you into accepting their way of thinking. So you must make it a habit to analyse the motives of the person who is correcting you. Ask yourself these questions: 1) In the past, has this person shown a genuine concern for my personal well-being and development? 2) What does he or she gain personally if I accomplish the behaviour they are recommending? What do I gain? What do I lose? 3) Is their attitude one of kindness, or am I feeling attacked and demeaned? (Be careful; don’t confuse a person’s irritation over your behaviour as a personal attack.) 4) After they criticise me, do I feel like a hopeless failure, or do they communicate faith in my capacity to change? 5) Are they dedicated to sticking with me through the change? The Bible says, ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful’ (Proverbs 27:6 KJV). Since God loves you enough to send people into your life to correct you, receive them because they have your best interests at heart.

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What about your sleep habits? Do you go to bed at a certain time and get up at a certain time? Or do you allow events, people, deadlines, or other circumstances to dictate your sleep schedule? If you’re wise, you will allow yourself adequate time to wind down in order to sleep when you go to bed. We think of sleep as some passive process in which we drift off into oblivion and wake up several hours later well rested. But sleep is an active state. Metabolic and other restorative processes occur during the various stages of sleep. If we don’t sleep long enough for our system to be rejuvenated, we find ourselves irritated by the smallest things, and we tend to overeat. The excess hunger is just our body’s cry for the energy that was supposed to be supplied by a good night’s sleep. David said, ‘I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety’ (Psalm 4:8 NKJV). It’s hard to sleep when you have pressing matters on your mind. So if you want to ‘lie down in peace and sleep’, give your worries to God and trust Him to take care of them. If you’re unable to, try this: get a small box with a lid, write down what’s bothering you and put it into the box, put the lid on it and set it up on a shelf in your wardrobe. By that simple act of faith, you’re saying, ‘Lord, I’m giving this to you. When I awaken tomorrow, you will give me the strength and wisdom to deal with it.’ Try it; it works!

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Fear and faith are both powerful forces. And the one you surrender to will control you. So here are some Scriptures to fight your fears: ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord…will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you’ (1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV). ‘The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust’ (Psalm 18:2 NKJV). ‘In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ (Psalm 56:11 NKJV). ‘He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord’ (Psalm 112:7 NKJV). ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me’ (Psalm 23:4 NKJV). ‘My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27 NKJV). ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. 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). ‘Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love’ (Romans 8:38 NLT). Bottom line: fight your fears with God’s Word!

Friday 7 October

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Here is what the Bible teaches about giving: 1) You always get back more than you give. ‘He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness’ (v. 10 NIV). When Paul talks here about ‘seed’, he’s talking about money. Notice, some of the money God gives you is to be used for your own needs, and some is to create ‘a harvest of righteousness’. What does that mean? Paul explains: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever’ (v. 9 NIV). In other words, you must show compassion towards those who are hurting and give generously to those who are unable to provide for themselves. The Bible says that when you give to the poor, you actually lend to the Lord, and He will repay you (see Proverbs 19:17). Can you imagine the interest God pays? Jesus said: ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (Luke 6:38 NIV). 2) You should give, expecting to be blessed. You say, ‘If I get more, I’ll give more.’ ’No, you have the cart before the horse. It’s the level of your giving that determines the level of your receiving, not vice versa. So break through your barrier of fear and put God to the test. He won’t disappoint you. Once you have experienced His blessing, you will never want to live any other way.

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What does the word meditate mean? ‘To engage in contemplation or reflection or to focus one’s thoughts on.’ David said, ‘I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.’ Question: until you meditate on God’s Word, what can you say that will make any real difference? All you will be doing is sharing your opinion, which is just one of many. You will not be able to speak convincingly or make any real difference in the life of the person to whom you are speaking. It’s God’s Word that changes people’s lives, not yours! Here are ten benefits of meditating on God’s Word: 1) It cultivates within you a love for God and His Word. 2) It gives you new insights and spiritual understanding. 3) It’s a source of reassurance and strength. 4) It empowers you to be a genuine witness for Jesus Christ. 5) It renews your mind. 6) It protects you from sin. 7) It restores your soul and your emotions. 8) It enables you to trust in the Lord with all your heart. 9) It causes your spirit to come alive. 10) It assists you in understanding God, others, and yourself. There is great power in God’s Word, and Bible meditation gives you access to that power. ‘Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you – your tickets to participation in the life of God’ (2 Peter 1:3-4 MSG).

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Paul writes: ‘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. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? 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…If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them’ (vv. 4-8 MSG). Unhappiness can often begin with the absence of connection. It’s not in having a mobile phone with a lot of numbers in it; it’s in sharing your life with those who live for causes greater than themselves. Where should you start? By visiting a lonely, forgotten person in the nearest nursing home. By volunteering to work in a food bank once a week. By saying to your pastor, ‘Please give me a job that involves helping others.’ These are small steps, but you will be amazed how they enrich your life.

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When you read the story of the New Testament Church, you tend to get caught up in its explosive growth and amazing miracles. But here’s a component you shouldn’t miss: ‘No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them…those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money…and it was distributed to anyone who had need’ (vv. 32-35 NIV). You say, ‘If I just had more money I’d be happy.’ You might feel more secure and have fewer worries, but you wouldn’t necessarily be happier. In the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers looked at what distinguished quite happy people from less happy people. One factor consistently separated those two groups. It’s not about how much money you have; it’s not about your health, security, attractiveness, IQ, or career success. What distinguishes consistently happy people from less happy people is the presence of rich, deep, joy-producing, life-changing, meaningful relationships. Social researcher Robert Putnam writes: ‘The single most common finding from a half-century’s research on life satisfaction, not only in the U.S. but around the world, is that happiness is best predicted by the breadth and depth of one’s social connections.’ But you can know a lot of people without really being known by any of them, and end up lonely. Those people in the New Testament Church got it right: it’s in sharing with one another spiritually, emotionally, financially, and relationally that you achieve your highest level of joy.

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At creation, God looked at everything He had made and said, ‘That’s good.’ Then there came a time when He realised man was lonely, unfulfilled, and incomplete. That’s when He said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone,’ and He made Eve, the first woman. The fact is, none of us can develop to our highest potential unless we’re plugged in to nurturing, life-giving relationships. Here is an example: in twelve-step recovery programmes, the counsellor only does 10 per cent of the work by offering guidance. Ninety per cent of the recovery process takes place because the people in the group challenge, comfort, and strengthen one another. The truth is – we’re shaped by people! The right people help you to become the best version of yourself, and you get to do the same for them. They see a ‘you’ you can’t see at times, they cheer you on as you move towards it, and they ‘get in your face’ when you move away from it. The highest and best form of this relationship is referred to in Scripture as the ‘fellowship of the Spirit’ (see Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14 and 1 John 1:6). It’s not just a social, relational, or intellectual connection, but a deep spiritual link that causes us to thrive. It’s like the difference between bees and butterflies. Butterflies cover more territory, but bees gather more honey. Why? Because they don’t just land on a flower briefly, they stay there and extract the life-giving nectar. God gave David the gift of a Jonathan, and Naomi the gift of a Ruth. And He has people He would like you to meet. So talk to Him today about it.

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A Christian author writes: ‘Sometimes people are afraid that if they don’t change fast enough, God will get impatient with them. They don’t generally use these words, but they wonder, “How much sin can there be in my life before I need to start worrying? Is there a level of sin that is acceptable for a Christian, and if you go beyond it, you’re in danger – like with the level of mercury in Lake Michigan? Is there a limit to impurity, such as the Food and Drug Administration has? Is the standard high like that for homogenised milk, or is it like the standard of purity required for hot dogs, with lots of room for junk? Is it possible to be a Christian and just never grow?” The issue is not whether God will get tired of forgiving our sins. Forgiving is always the right response to sincere repentance. God is not worried that He might be taken advantage of.’ The danger isn’t that God won’t respond to our honest repentance. The danger is that we might become so trapped in the dangerous thoughts sin inevitably produces that we become callous, complacent, and simply unable to repent! It’s because of this that sin must be taken seriously. Missionary Frank Laubach preached the gospel to a tribe that had a lengthy history of bloodshed. The chief was so moved, he repented and accepted Christ on the spot. Then he turned to Laubach in appreciation and said, ‘This is wonderful! Who do you want me to kill for you?’ That was his beginning point. Only God knows what everyone’s beginning point is. What’s yours?

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When you find yourself on the wrong road, repentance allows you to make a U-turn and head back in the right direction. What a blessing. Now, repenting doesn’t increase God’s desire to be with you; it just increases your capacity to be with Him. Sometimes we think we need to repent because God is mad at us and needs time to cool off. Or we think of repenting as a way of punishing ourselves so that God will be less severe with us. That’s not repentance, that’s low self-esteem! Low self-esteem causes you to believe that you have so little worth that your response doesn’t matter. With repentance, however, you understand that because you’re worth so much to God, your response is important. Paul says, ‘The kindness of God leads you to repentance.’ When you love God, your greatest concern isn’t that God will hurt you, but that your actions will hurt Him. When David murdered Uriah after having slept with his wife, he went a year without repenting. He had to force his mind not to think about it. What a miserable way to live. In his penitential prayer, he said, ‘My sin is always before me’ (Psalm 51:3 NIV). Then he cried, ‘Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…Create in me a pure heart, O God…Restore to me the joy of your salvation’ (vv. 7, 10, 12 NIV). As a result, God forgave him and wiped his slate clean, and David went on to become Israel’s greatest king. You see, repentance isn’t merely for God’s benefit – it’s for yours!

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Wherever you live and whatever your profession, ‘butcher, baker, or candlestick maker’, you will have to deal with these three kinds of people: 1) The critic. Let’s face it, most people are comfortable with the status quo. They not only fear change but will often attack it. So if you dare to be different, prepare to sail through some rough seas. The apostle Paul’s critics referred to him as a madman, a fool, and a babbler. So why would you expect the same crowd to treat you any better? 2) The cautious. These people won’t point an accusing finger, but neither will they extend a helping hand. When you get into trouble, they will distance themselves from you, fearing they may be tainted by your perceived liabilities. Basically, they will wait to see if you make it through the tunnel and come out the other side. Then they will wait to see who else accepts you and if you can be of benefit to them. Then they may reconnect with you. These people are users. They are not bad; they’re just self-serving. So love them, but don’t lean on them. 3) The committed. ‘A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.’ Even when they hear the worst about you, the committed still believe the best about you. They value you for your strengths and show grace in handling your weaknesses. These people are priceless because they will love you ‘at all times’. So when God puts such a person into your life, protect and nurture your relationship with them.

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The fact that we now enjoy the vegetables we hated as children indicates that as we mature, we can cultivate a taste for healthy, life-giving food. And since the Bible is soul food, you can cultivate a taste for that too. Eugene Peterson writes: ‘Christians feed on Scripture. Holy Scripture nurtures the holy community as food nurtures the human body. Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in…a way that it gets metabolised into acts of love.’ Consumer research indicates the average Bible owner has nine Bibles and is looking for more. What’s wrong with this picture? The unexpressed secret is that many people find the Bible boring. This is quite a recent problem – and a serious one. Ancient Greek, the language of the New Testament, has no word for boredom. The word didn’t acquire its current meaning in English until the last few centuries. When we consider the ancient world – no television, internet, movies, and virtually no books – we’re inclined to think how boring it must have been. But the ancients weren’t bored. We’re the generation that gets bored, because capacity to focus our attention and delight our minds in prolonged thought has been diminished by dependency on external stimuli. We have too many tempting alternatives. That’s why becoming a faithful Bible reader begins as a discipline, continues as a duty, and finally becomes a delight. ‘How sweet are your words…sweeter than honey to my mouth!’ And that can be your experience, too, when it comes to reading God’s Word. You just need to get serious about it.

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To instruct us about how to feed our minds, the apostle Paul writes: ‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.’ John Ortberg writes: ‘The striking word in that command is whatever. Our minds are being shaped all the time, but we have great freedom to pursue minds that flourish. As a bee that can find nectar in all kinds of flowers, we are now free – even commanded – to feed our mind on noble thoughts wherever we find them. The Bible itself commands us to look beyond just the Bible to feed our minds. Let us meditate for a moment on that phrase “whatever is lovely”. Think of something that is “lovely” to you. A sunset. A favourite novel…The face of someone you love. Music that makes you dance. Let your mind dwell there for a moment. Give it directed mental focus. You just obeyed the Bible. That “counts”. You just opened your mind a bit to the flow of the Holy Spirit…The Holy Spirit’s goal is not to get you really good at suppressing angry behaviour. It is for you to have a mind characterised by an ever-increasing flow of Spirit-guided, truth-based, life-producing thoughts and feelings. When we read about what is noble, when we see something praiseworthy, we experience what psychologist Jonathan Haidt called “elevation”. We actually feel a slight expansion in our chest; we feel lighter in our bodies. Our emotions are inspired, and we want to become more excellent ourselves. That counts as obedience to Scripture. That is spiritual.’

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Satan studies you. He understands your strengths and weaknesses and knows how to push you to your limits. But when you keep standing, keep believing, and keep fighting, the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown’ (James 1:12 NKJV). The word ‘approved’ means victory qualifies you for greater things. The word ‘endures’ means your character and tenacity are being tested. You say, ‘How long will this trial last?’ Only God knows. Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days (see 1 Samuel 17:16). Satan hindered Daniel’s prayers for twenty-one days (see Daniel 10:13). Satan is relentless, so you must be too. When it comes to prayer, your persistence overcomes his resistance. ‘Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord…Patient endurance is what you need now…Then you will receive all that he has promised’ (Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT). David didn’t get into trouble with Bathsheba until he left the battlefield (see 2 Samuel 11:1). So keep fighting, and God will come to your aid. He did it for Joshua. When Joshua needed extra time to defeat his enemies, God made the sun stand still and time stop (see Joshua 10:12). It seemed God was saying to him, ‘As long as the sun doesn’t go down, you won’t either, for the same power that’s holding it up is holding you up!’ When Jesus healed ten lepers, the Bible says, ‘As they went, they were cleansed’ (Luke 17:14 KJV). They were probably wondering, ‘When will it happen, and how will it happen?’ Faith doesn’t demand details and explanations; it just keeps moving forwards, believing God for the right result.

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When asked, ‘Who are you?’ John the Baptist replied, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord”’ (v. 23 NKJV). After listening to John for a while, his disciples left him to follow Christ. And that was okay with John, because he knew what he was called to do. Do you? You can only go on for so long ‘trying things.’ At some point you’ve got to discover what God’s called you to do and give yourself fully to it. Apparently Paul wasn’t a particularly great speaker: ‘I came to you in weakness – timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain’ (1 Corinthians 2:3-4 NLT). But what Paul lacked as a speaker, he more than compensated for as a writer. He wrote the inspired word that enabled others to preach! Something so powerful was released through Paul’s writings that even when they threw him in jail he didn’t ask for a lawyer or a gourmet meal because he was tired of prison food. No, he wanted paper so that he could keep writing. In fact, Paul wrote all the way to the end of his life. And because he did, lives are still being changed today. What a legacy! And all because one man discovered his calling and devoted himself to it. So the question is: Have you discovered your calling and devoted yourself to it? George Bernard Shaw wrote: ‘Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I get to hold for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before turning it over to future generations.’

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David said: ‘I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart’ (vv. 13-14 NKJV). The word ‘wait’ originates from a Hebrew word used in making rope. Every rope starts as a thread, and every added strand increases its strength. So each time you wait on the Lord, you add another thread to the rope; you become a little stronger and a little more able to cope. Are you hanging on by a thread? Spend more time with God and watch Him turn the thread into a rope. Now, waiting is not always passive; sometimes it’s active, like waiting on a customer and seeing that their needs are met. In this case, waiting is not so much a position as it is a focus. The Bible says, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’ (Isaiah 26:3 KJV). Whether it’s sitting prayerfully in God’s presence or actively serving Him, you have the assurance that your strength will be renewed. If you are at the end of your rope today, grab hold of these promises: ‘Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’ (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). ‘As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters…so our eyes look to the Lord our God’ (Psalm 123:2 NKJV).

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To help someone with their unresolved issues, you must first deal with your own. If the medicine you’re offering hasn’t made you whole, you will have no credibility when you try to apply it to the lives of others. Does that mean if you have unresolved issues, God won’t use you? No, it’s the broken who become masters at mending. But first you must take time to be healed. It’s hard to talk about victory when you’re experiencing defeat. When you’re bleeding spiritually and emotionally, you can’t treat people’s problems with the same kind of aggressive faith you would have if you had already worked through the problem. Is it wrong to have a broken heart? No, for God ‘heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NKJV). So let God make you whole so He can use you. In Old Testament times, you could not serve as a priest if you had a scab, which is an unhealed wound. This is why: 1) You wouldn’t be up to par spiritually. 2) You couldn’t get close to others in case they bumped into you and knocked the protective cover off your scab. 3) You couldn’t be at your best because the pain was sapping your strength. 4) You would be afraid to talk about your scab in case people rejected you. So you would live on two levels, and become insecure, hypocritical, or controlling. 5) Worst of all, you would be so busy working for God and taking care of others, you wouldn’t have time to stop and take care of yourself. So the word for today is – deal with your unresolved issues.

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God told Joshua, ‘Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand’ (Joshua 8:18 NKJV). It’s amazing how courageous you feel when God is backing you up. When you know He is on your side, you can say, ‘No weapon that is formed against me will prevail’ (see Isaiah 54:17). But overconfidence is self-confidence that’s not based on God-confidence. Our problem is, we plan, say, and do things without first checking to find out if God is behind us. Do you remember what the evil spirit said to those trying to mimic Paul’s ministry when they weren’t empowered by God’s Spirit? ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ (Acts 19:15 NKJV). When you’re under attack, you need to know that 1) you’re in right standing with God (see 2 Corinthians 5:19), 2) it’s God’s fight as well as yours (see 2 Chronicles 20:15), and 3) ‘whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven’ (Matthew 18:18 NIV). There must be agreement in both realms. If it’s not approved where God is, it shouldn’t be approved where you are. Your confidence comes from knowing you’re operating in His will. The Bible calls us ‘labourers together with God’ (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV), so you can’t go off and do your own thing. Don’t try moving any mountain the Lord doesn’t want moved or raising anybody from the dead except the Lazarus He calls forth. We do on earth only what He has declared to be His will in heaven. And He backs us up!

Saturday 3 September

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Why do we dismiss input that could help us? Sometimes it’s to protect our ego against a painful truth. When we have an entrenched opinion, we adopt a dismissive approach towards the thinking of others. And not only do we hurt them, we hurt ourselves. ‘Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more’ (Ecclesiastes 4:13 NKJV). Yes, you have areas of expertise. But you also have areas where you need advice. The day you decide to stop listening is the day you decide to stop growing. Thomas Carlyle said, ‘Every man is my superior in that I can learn from him.’ ’Even if what you learn is negative or a lesson in what not to do, it’s still valuable information that can protect and enrich you. Dr John Maxwell says: ‘What is the one thing – more than any other – that will determine the growth of an organisation? The growth of the people in the organisation. And what determines the people’s growth? The growth of the leader! As long as people are following you, they will be able to go only as far as you go. If you’re not growing, they won’t be growing – either that, or they will go somewhere else where they can grow.’ The story is told of an old farmer who entered his mule in the Kentucky Derby. ‘Your mule has no chance of winning against all those thoroughbreds,’ a race official told him. ‘I know,’ he replied, ‘but I thought the associations would do him some good.’ To grow, you need the right associations and the right input.

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David had seven brothers. When it came time to pick a king to replace Saul, Samuel thought any one of them would make a better king than David. But God rejected all seven. Why? Because: 1) They had the looks but not the spiritual core. God explained to Samuel, ‘People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (v. 7 NLT). David’s spiritual core was formed by years spent with God. His heart’s cry was, ‘As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God’ (Psalm 42:1 NKJV). 2) They had no personal experiences with God to fall back on. The lion and the bear were big, and Goliath was bigger yet. But David wasn’t intimidated. ‘The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:37 NKJV). There are no insignificant battles. The little ones equip you for the big ones that shape your destiny, so stand on your ‘God experiences’. How you respond in a crisis is determined by the experiences you have had with God. 3) They were easily influenced by others. David’s brothers allowed the fears of those around them to erode their faith. Fear is contagious; if you listen to it long enough, you will get infected. No, you shouldn’t be isolated from the world, but you must be insulated against its negative influences. Listening to Goliath frightened David’s brothers, but it didn’t frighten David. So who are you listening to today? Get God’s opinion and build your life upon it; allow His Word to settle every issue.

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You say, ‘Surely a man or woman can change when they meet the right partner?’ No. Only God can change people – and you are not God! Plus, when you ‘need to be needed’, it can cause you to make disastrous relationship choices in life. Perhaps you have heard stories of people who have experienced massive change through their marriage. But the truth is, the power to change must come from within the person themselves, not from you. When you try to change your spouse, it doesn’t work, and eventually your ‘hope’ for change makes you ‘sick’. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases Solomon’s words: ‘Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick.’ ’When you keep longing for and envisioning something that never materialises, you get heartsick. Then you start making excuses for what’s not working in the relationship, even as it becomes obvious to those around you. Sound relationship decisions are not based on hope. And add to this the fact that people of faith often try to spiritualise every issue. In the name of ‘faith’, they downplay their instincts and ignore their senses. That’s not having faith in God! Faith in God should be just that – faith in God. We must not place our faith in fallible men and women, because they will fail us. God gives each of us a will, but He doesn’t force us to change. Change must come from within each of us as we accept the grace that God extends to us each day. ‘The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to heed the things spoken by Paul’ (Acts 16:14 NKJV). Here is a better option: pray for them, and let God change them!

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One of Paul’s letters was to the church at Ephesus. They were spiritual, doctrinally sound, and exemplary in their love for Christ. Then Jesus says to that same church years later, ‘You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first’ (vv. 4-5 NLT). Has your love for God grown cold? Then you must go back to where you first met Him and seek Him again like you did before you had heard so much and seen so much; before the pressures of life had worn you down. ‘But I’m busy doing the Lord’s work,’ you say. Beware; busyness and barrenness go hand in hand! Three times Jesus asked Peter, ‘Do you love Me?’ Finally, Peter said, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know [the extent to which] I love You’ (John 21:17 NKJV). Oswald Chambers said, ‘Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him.’ ’When Peter decided to go fishing that night, he may have been making a decision to get away from everything and go back to where he first met the Lord. That’s a good move if you also seek the Lord there! When you get discouraged, you will either go back to the One who can save, keep, and satisfy, or you will go back to whatever was going on in your life before you met Him. That’s not a good move! Why? Because the Bible says Peter fished all night and caught nothing.

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Abraham was known as ‘the Friend of God’ (James 2:23 KJV). What an honour! But the secret of his greatness is easy to overlook: ‘Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.’ He started his day with God. Do you? The way you get up in the morning sets the tone for your day. So try this: first thing tomorrow, get alone with God for a few minutes and go over your plans for the day. As you’re going over them, you will have some concerns. Just hand them over to Him. Maybe you will notice a particular problem you’re worried about. Ask Him for wisdom. The Bible says He will give it to you gladly (see James 1:5). If He doesn’t give you an immediate answer, realise it’s because He wants you to trust Him. He has something in mind, something that you haven’t thought of yet. So many of us start our day anxious, hurried, fearful, or rushed. But you don’t have to. You’re going to start your day anyway; why not start it with God? You’re going to have a first thought anyhow, so why not let it belong to God before whom all our anxieties flee? When you’re having a bad day, pause and ask yourself, ‘Did I start this day with God, or did I forget to include Him?’ ’Here are two Scriptures you need to consider: ‘In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly’ (Psalm 5:3 NIV). ‘Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days’ (Psalm 90:14 NIV).

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Jesus was the perfect mentor. He told His disciples, ‘He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also.’ If you want to reach the fullness of your God-given potential, ask God for the right mentors. You will always go further with a good mentor coaching and pushing you. Some mentors are given for a short season, others for a lifetime, so you must know the difference. How do you recognise a mentor? In eight ways. The credo of the true mentor is this: 1) I am willing to spend the time it takes to build a close relationship with the learner; 2) I commit myself to believing in the potential of the learner, to telling them the exciting future I see ahead for him or her; to visualising and verbalising the possibilities for their life; 3) I am willing to be vulnerable and transparent before the learner, I’m willing to share not only my strengths and successes, but also my weaknesses, failures, brokenness, and sins; 4) I am willing to be honest yet affirming in confronting the learner’s errors, faults, and areas of immaturity; 5) I am committed to standing by the learner through trials - even trials that are self-inflicted as a result of ignorance or error; 6) I am committed to helping the learner set goals for his or her spiritual life, career, or ministry, and to helping the learner dream his or her dream; 7) I am willing to objectively evaluate the learner’s progress toward his or her goal; 8) Above all, I am committed to faithfully living out everything I teach.

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Seventy-one times in the book of Psalms we read the word ‘Selah’ at the end of a Scripture. What does it mean? To ‘pause and calmly think about it’. You can’t rush into Bible revelation. You can’t skim the surface and discover the treasure hidden within it. That’s why David wrote, ‘With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee’ (Psalm 119:10-11 KJV). When you hide God’s Word in your heart through meditation and memorisation, you’re able to stand on it when you have a particular need. Meditation involves taking time to reflect; to ‘pause and calmly think about it’ . It’s a time-tested method God put in place for you. He wants you to learn to pray the Scriptures and meditate on them because these habits will help you to experience all He has for you. The most important thing you can ask yourself when you face life’s challenges is, ‘What does God say about this in His Word?’ Why is asking that important? Read these two Scriptures, and you will find the answer: ‘Your word is settled in heaven’ (Psalm 119:89 NKJV). ‘The word of our God stands forever’ (Isaiah 40:8 NKJV). God’s Word is His will! When God called Jeremiah to leadership, Jeremiah had reservations about his ability. So God said, ‘I have put My words in your mouth’ (Jeremiah 1:9 NKJV). Then He told Jeremiah, ‘I am ready to perform My word’ (v. 12 NKJV). The only thing you can count on for sure is that God will keep His Word. Selah!

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Here are two more ways to increase the level of your joy: 1) Start serving others. As long as you live with a sense of entitlement believing that others should serve you, your joy gauge will be reading ‘empty’. Jesus said it’s in giving away your life to others that you find abundant life (see Mark 8:35). Paul reminds us: ‘Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do’ (Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV). The happiest people are typically too busy helping others to ask themselves, ‘Am I happy?’ Find a cause greater than self-interest, and pour your life into it. If you do, your legacy will be much greater than your life span. 2) Share your faith with someone. ‘There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents’ (Luke 15:10 NLT). Your greatest joy in life will be the result of trusting in Christ as your Saviour. And your second-greatest joy will come from introducing others to Him. Imagine sharing your faith with someone. They may not respond at the time, but you have still sown the seed of God’s Word. Later, they commit their lives to Christ. Perhaps you didn’t know it. But imagine them meeting you in heaven and saying, ‘I want to thank you for taking the time. I’m here because you cared enough to tell me about Jesus.’ You say, ‘I’ve lost my joy.’ Question: when was the last time you shared your faith with someone or led them to Christ?

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Joy is like a muscle; the more you develop it, the stronger it becomes. Here are two exercises to help you develop inner joy: 1) Try to show more gratitude. ‘Give thanks in all circumstances’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). Note, it doesn’t say be thankful for all circumstances, but in them. Hans Seyle, the father of modern stress studies, says gratitude produces more emotional energy than any other attitude. So look for more ways to express gratitude. Send an email or make a phone call to someone to tell them how much they have meant in your life. And remember to express gratitude to God. The psalmist says, ‘With my song I praise him’ (Psalm 28:7 NIV). If you’re not naturally a joyful person, start singing praises to God and watch your attitude change. 2) Look for ways to give. ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35 NIV). Someone has jokingly said, ‘When it comes to giving, many people will stop at nothing.’ What does the Bible reveal? ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV). Why? Because you are most like God when you give, and He doesn’t give grudgingly. Your giving actually determines how much you receive from God! The Bible says when you give Him the first tenth of your income, He will ‘throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’ (Malachi 3:10 NIV). You cannot outgive God. As the old farmer said, ‘I shovel it into God’s storehouse, and He shovels it into mine – but God has a bigger shovel.’

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In order to be blessed on the job, you must practise this: honesty. It’s unwise to steal, even if you’re never caught. ‘Ill-gotten gains do not profit.’ You may steal and get away with it, but you won’t benefit by it. ‘Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles’ (Proverbs 13:11 NASB 1995 Edition). You can’t do the wrong thing and finish up with the right result. Not only will you have trouble, you will bring trouble on those who love you and depend on you. ‘He who profits illicitly troubles his own house’ (Proverbs 15:27 NASB). Think about it: you could lose your job, damage your reputation, be humiliated, face costs and legal consequences your whole family pays for, and end up in shame, all of which will negatively affect your children. Your spouse deserves an honest partner. Your children deserve an honest role model, confident that the path you walk is safe for them to follow. Radio commentator Paul Harvey stated that 40 per cent of American workers admitted to stealing on the job, and 25 per cent of them felt justified in doing so. They rationalised it by saying: ‘Everybody’s doing it, why shouldn’t I…The boss can afford it, they won’t miss it…It’s only small stuff, it won’t make any difference…The company owes me, and I’m just taking what’s mine…I deserve it, I’ve worked hard and never been acknowledged.’ What does God have to say about this? ‘The wicked earns deceptive wages’ (Proverbs 11:18 NASB 1995 Edition). When you deceive your employer, the Bible says you are ‘wicked’. Of all people, employers and customers should be able to trust a follower of Christ to be honest, earn their wages, and provide quality service.

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Here is another important key to being blessed on the job: thoughtfulness. That’s true whether you’re the company president or the night-shift caretaker. The nameplate on your office door may say that you deserve respect, but you have to earn it every day through your work ethic and your attitude. In the Old Testament, most people earned their living by farming and raising cattle, so Solomon offers this advice: ‘Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds’ (Proverbs 27:23 NASB). Good leaders make it their business to know the needs, strengths, weaknesses, potential, and motivational levels of those who work with them. As a result, employee sick time is reduced, morale improved, and quality and production soar. Believe it or not, a pay increase isn’t always the only motivator. Sometimes your thoughtfulness, understanding, and interest in an employee is also a powerful motivator. Putting people down or taking them for granted just guarantees resentment. When you truly care about people, you try to bring out the best in them. And if you’re an employee, God promises, ‘Whoever protects their master will be honoured’ (v. 18 NIVUK). If you keep criticising those above you, those around you will begin to distrust you. Why? Because they know that at some point you will do the same to them! As long as you resent your position as a follower, you will never become qualified to be a leader. The Bible says you’re supposed to speak well of those in authority over you (see Titus 3:1-2). And if you can’t, say nothing and look for another job: that’s how to be blessed on the job.

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Here is another key to succeeding on the job: hard work. ‘Hard work will reward you with more than enough.’ Ask any employer and he or she will tell you that their biggest challenge is finding and keeping good people. ‘The hand of the diligent maketh rich’ (Proverbs 10:4 KJV). Diligence means being self-disciplined, motivated, alert, dependable, and following through on something when you start it. And it is priceless because it’s so hard to find (see Proverbs 12:27 NKJV). The Bible teaches that your boss is responsible to pay you a fair day’s wage, and you are responsible to give them a fair day’s work. The story is told of a man who went for a job interview and was asked if he was responsible. He replied, ‘Yes, every time something went wrong on my last job, the boss said I was responsible!’ Seriously, do you want to prosper? See that your employer prospers! Hard work, not politics and manipulation, is the way forward. ‘Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave’ (Proverbs 12:24 CEV). Instead of looking for ways to improve themselves, lazy employees might try to find fault with their bosses, with the systems they have to use, and with their more diligent colleagues. These people want the privileges others get to enjoy, but they’re not willing to work for them. The Bible says that ‘the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied’ (Proverbs 13:4 NIV). They get it all; the satisfaction of a job well done, a sense of self-worth, a reputation for integrity, the trust of others, job security, profit, promotion, and most importantly, God’s ‘Well done’.

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Solomon writes, ‘Skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone’ (v. 29 MSG). But skilfulness isn’t genetic; you have to work at it. Sometimes that means burning the midnight oil, stretching to your limits, and refusing to settle for less. As you watch true artisans, your esteem for them rises. You notice their attention to detail, refusal to cut corners, patience, dedication, and pride in their work. They inspire confidence and respect. There is not a more practical demonstration of true Christianity! When they speak, people listen. If you doubt that, try sharing your faith with those who see you being dishonest, shoddy, and careless. It would be better to remain silent until you earn the right to be heard. The Bible says that whatever your work, ‘do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’ (Colossians 3:17 NIV). Because you represent Christ and His Spirit lives within you, you should set the industry standard for excellence. Your employees and customers should have confidence that they will get nothing from you but the best. A skilful worker can’t lose because God promises that their work will inevitably attract the attention of people who will promote and reward them (see Proverbs 22:29). They may start at the bottom, but like cream they rise to the top. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego started out as slaves in Babylon. But they ended up as the king’s closest advisers. Why? ‘Whenever the king asked for advice, he found their wisdom was ten times better than that of any of his other advisors’ (Daniel 1:20 CEV).

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Like any skill, mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience can be learned. Here’s how: 1) Redefine setbacks as the gateway to something greater. 2) Remember successful people don’t just face adversity, they embrace it. 3) Tune out the critics and focus on doing your best. 4) Wake up every day remembering that prayer and gratitude create a fertile environment for faith. 5) Increase your faith-talk when you’re afraid. 6) Learn from failure, and remember the many times you’ve succeeded. 7) Visualise victory before going into battle. 8) Refuse to dwell on the past or worry about the future; today is where you have the most influence. 9) Identify a solution instead of complaining. 10) Replace self-doubt with faith-talk. 11) When things look hopeless, remember ‘with God all things are possible’ (Mark 10:27 KJV). 12) When you feel alone, think of all those who have helped you and who love and support you. 13) Pray for guidance when you’re in over your head (see James 1:5). 14) Rest when you’re tired, but don’t give up. Finish strong in everything you do. 15) Remember you ‘can do all things through Christ’ when you think you can’t (Philippians 4:13 KJV). 16) Recognise what you can’t control, focus on what you can, and surrender the rest to God. 17) Exercise physically if you can, to give yourself a sense of control and help lift your mood. 18) Laugh to reduce stress, strengthen your immune system, and improve arterial blood flow. 19) Be grateful. Research shows that people who sent a letter or email of thanks to somebody who helped them, stayed in a better mood for up to a month.

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The Bible says: ‘God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God’ (vv. 10-11 NLT). Some people think that you must have an epiphany, a Damascus Road experience such as Paul had, in order to know you are ‘called’. No, the gift God gave you is the key to knowing what He wants you to do. You can’t always be what you want to be, but you can be what God calls you to be. What do you love doing, and do well? Is music your forte? Crunching numbers? Working with kids? ‘The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving’ (1 Corinthians 12:7 CEV). That means some of the things other people find boring will actually energise and enrich you. The Bible says that God is building a ‘spiritual house’ (1 Peter 2:5 KJV). And there is a place for you in it. That dispels the misconception that you’re not valuable because you don’t have the same talents other people do. It also defines your actual responsibility by doing away with the myth that you’re supposed to do everything. Your goal should be to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for you (see 1 Corinthians 12:27 TLB). So today, instead of apologising for skills you don’t have, unpack the gift God has given you and put it to work.

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The old saying, ‘Prayer changes things,’ takes on new meaning when you use the Scriptures in prayer. Such prayers move God to act on your behalf. More importantly, they change you. When you pray God’s Word, here is what happens: 1) Your faith increases and enables you to receive more of what God has promised. 2) Your mind is renewed, and it causes you to see things differently. 3) You know God’s perfect will. 4) You are able to walk in the truth. 5) You grow into spiritual maturity. 6) You draw closer to the Lord and have a more intimate relationship with Him. 7) You learn God’s ways, and they become your ways. 8) You understand God’s answers to your prayers. 9) You change in positive ways. 10) You behold the Lamb of God who is the very centre of your Bible. Here are some examples of Scriptures you can pray: ‘Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law’ (v. 18 NKJV). ‘Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I mediate on Your wonderful works’ (vv. 26-27 NKJV). ‘Strengthen me according to Your word’ (v. 28 NKJV). ‘Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me’ (vv. 97-98 NKJV). ‘For I will keep the commandments of my God! Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope’ (vv. 115-116 NKJV). ‘Give me understanding, and I shall live’ (v. 144 NKJV). Today, pray God’s Word.

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If you’re worried about making ends meet, read on: ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread’ (vv. 23-25 NKJV). You may be at the cliff’s edge today, but God won’t let you go over it. And if you do, He will catch you. ‘You will have plenty to eat…and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you’ (Joel 2:26 NIV). Stop trying to figure everything out and start leaning on God. ‘Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you’ (Psalm 37:3-5 NLT). God may not give you everything you want, but He will give you everything you need: ‘Don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). ‘Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you’ (Psalm 55:22 NLT). Don’t worry, God will take care of you!

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When you’re disappointed in those you work with. You won’t succeed in life without the right people. But when the people you count on fail you, it’s painful. Imagine Moses’ disappointment. He leaves his brother Aaron in charge while he spends forty days on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. When he returns, what does he find? Israel worshipping a golden calf – made by Aaron. When Moses needs him most, Aaron fails miserably. But watch Moses: true leadership shines in disappointment. He confronts Aaron, takes the mess to God, and prays for the forgiveness of Israel. God responds, then reminds Moses of his assignment. ‘Go, lead the people…my angel will go before you’ (Exodus 32:34 NIV). Disappointment doesn’t cancel your assignment – or God’s presence. So do what God has told you to do! When you’re disappointed in those you have poured your life into. Let’s check in again with Moses, founding pastor of the church in the wilderness. His congregation is made up of former slaves who have been delivered, blessed, and who are en route to the Promised Land, but without a shred of loyalty or gratitude for the man who put everything on the line to make it possible. Fresh out of Egypt, they turn on Moses, accusing, blaming, and berating him (see Exodus 14). Was Moses disappointed and hurt? Yes. But each time he wanted to give up, he would discuss it with God, pray for his complaining flock, get fresh orders from headquarters, and return to work. That’s what God-called men and women do when they’re disappointed and feel like giving up. And it’s what you must do, too.

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When you’re disappointed in leadership. It would be reasonable to assume you could trust Eli, the high priest in Israel. That’s what Samuel’s mother thought when she entrusted her son to him, confident he would mentor him for God’s service. But Eli had a serious character flaw. He was a weak parent, one who stood by while his sons abused their priestly privileges through taking bribes and consorting with prostitutes. Who would have blamed young Samuel for taking a nosedive, when the man he looked up to failed so badly? But no, he fielded his disappointment and kept his eyes on God: ‘Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him’ (1 Samuel 3:19 KJV). As a result, he became one of Israel’s greatest prophets. How do you handle disappointment in your leader? By keeping your eyes on the Lord! When you’re disappointed in your family. Ask Joseph. When God gave him a vision of future success, he thought his brothers would rejoice. Instead they responded with resentment, selling him into slavery. Far from friends and home, he languished in prison for years for a crime he didn’t commit. What an invitation to bitterness, to rehash the wrongs done to you while plotting your revenge. But if Joseph had done that, he would have died an unknown convict in a foreign prison. Instead, he allowed God to vindicate him. And God will do that for you, too. ‘No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!’ (Isaiah 54:17 NLT).

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For the next few days, let’s look at five different types of disappointment. Disappointment in yourself. This is the most debilitating kind of disappointment because it can put you into a downward spiral that’s hard to recover from. Peter experienced it. He swore loyalty to Christ saying, ‘Everyone else may abandon you but not me. I’m yours until death!’ (see Matthew 26:33). Yet he denied Christ three times. Later he remembered Christ’s words: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times’ (Matthew 26:34 NIV). Peter, heartbroken by his failure, ‘went outside and wept bitterly’ (Luke 22:62 NIV). Is that how you feel today? Are you thinking, ‘Lord, how could you possibly use someone like me?’ Jesus wasn’t shocked. He was well aware of Peter’s flaws when He called him. But He also knew that His outspoken disciple had a tender heart, so He chose to extend grace to him rather than cast him aside. When Christ gave His post-resurrection orders to ‘tell his disciples and Peter’ to meet Him in Galilee, He reaffirmed His choice of His failed disciple (see Mark 16:7). The rest of Peter’s story is one of victory. So when you sin, or fail and disappoint yourself, what should you do? 1) Humble yourself and repent. Confess your sin; don’t excuse, rationalise, or blame circumstances and people. 2) Receive God’s grace and forgiveness by faith, not feelings. Don’t let Satan convince you that you are beyond God’s reach and grace. You’re not. 3) Don’t add insult to injury by letting disappointment mire you in hopelessness and despair. 4) Get whatever help you need to get back on track – sooner, not later.

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God’s Word says you’re to do two things with your money. 1) Sow some. The Bible says, ‘Whoever sows generously will also reap generously’ (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV). You say, ‘But things are a bit tight for me right now.’ Don’t withhold because you are afraid of not having enough. Give God a seed to work with, and He will make sure you have a harvest when you need it. His ability to provide is not limited by the world’s economy. Do what Isaac did: ‘There was a famine in the land…Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him’ (Genesis 26:1, 12 NKJV). Who blessed Isaac financially? The Lord! When God tells you to give, do it in faith, confident that at the right time, in the right way, and in exactly the right places, you will receive. You say, ‘I’ve never tried that.’ Just one time before you die, try it! 2) Save some. ‘There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise. But a foolish man squanders it’ (Proverbs 21:20 NKJV). Learn to live within your means. Remind yourself that you can live happily without most of the stuff advertised on television. Before you make a purchase, stop and pray. Just because the bank approves the loan doesn’t mean God approves the expenditure. Joseph instructed Pharaoh: ‘Gather all the food of those good years that are coming…Then that food shall be as a reserve for…seven years of famine’ (Genesis 41:35-36 NKJV). Live by the ‘Joseph principle’, and save. And one more thought: if you keep squandering money recklessly, why would God answer your prayer and give you more money to squander?

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‘The Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act’ (vv. 23-25 NLT). Just when the Israelites thought life couldn’t get worse, Pharaoh withdrew their straw and ordered them to produce the same daily quota of bricks. That’s when they reached their breaking point! Is that where you are today? If so, here are three things you need to know: 1) Sometimes it helps to share your feelings. Especially when you do it at the right time, in the right way, to the right people. It can be therapeutic and healing. But often the help you need cannot be found in people, so 2) There comes a time when you must cry out to God. God saw them struggling to get through another day. But since they talked to everybody but Him, nothing changed. Question: have you prayed about it? Prayer must be your first option, not your last resort. David said, ‘I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place’ (Psalm 118:5-6 NKJV). David’s prayers got him out of a tight spot and into God’s spot. 3) God will always keep His promise. ‘He remembered his covenant promise…and knew it was time to act’ (Exodus 2:24-25 NLT). God works according to His plan, not ours. He has a set schedule for answering your prayer and delivering you, so keep praying and believing Him.

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Your life must be governed by the Word of God, not your impulses, or your thoughts, or the opinions of those around you. The Bible is not God’s attempt to offer you interesting insights or good advice for your consideration; it’s His fixed opinion. Jesus said, ‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock’ (Matthew 7:24 NKJV). This builder’s foundation withstood life’s storms. On the other hand, Jesus said, ‘Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them’ is foolish and the storms of life will sweep them away (see vv. 26-27 NKJV). Now, Jesus didn’t condemn the second man for building an inadequate structure or failing to hear, understand, and believe His words, but for failing to act on them. James writes, ‘Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it…God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget’ (James 1:22, 25 CEV). If you think reading, knowing, and even believing God’s Word fulfils your obligation to it, you are mistaken. Because it’s God’s Word, His instructions must be obeyed. That requires not just believing it but behaving according toit. James didn’t say you would be blessed because of what you believe, but because of what you ‘do’. When Moses read God’s Word to the Israelites, they said, ‘All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient’ (Exodus 24:7 NKJV). And that must be your rule for living, too.

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God’s Word must be a ‘settled’ issue in your life. Heaven is the Supreme Court; when it rules on a matter, it’s settled. Now, since God’s Word is a settled issue in heaven, the question is, ‘Is it a settled issue in your life?’ Jesus said, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away’ (Mark 13:31 NKJV). The Bible never needs updating; it’s perfect and can’t be improved upon. That’s why Jesus instructs you to let His ‘words remain in you’ (John 15:7 NIV). In other words, program your mind with the Scriptures. How do you do that? 1) Give it permanent residence, not visitor status. ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’ (Colossians 3:16 KJV). Take it in richly, meaning copiously and abundantly. Call it Operation Saturation! Read the Bible, meditate on it, speak it out loud. Yes, and even sing its words; ‘Teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs’ (v. 16 TLB). 2) Keep it before you at all times. ‘Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night…do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful’ (Joshua 1:8 NIV). Talk it out, think it out, walk it out! You say, ‘But my memory doesn’t retain things too well.’ No problem. Jesus said, ‘The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name…will remind you of everything I have said to you’ (John 14:26 NIV). As you meditate on God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will come to the aid of your less-than-perfect memory.

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‘When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God’ (v. 13 NKJV). Here are four things you must believe about your Bible: 1) It is life changing. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said, ‘The seed is the word’ (Luke 8:11 KJV). You may not understand the power within a seed, but you know that when you sow it in receptive soil, it will spring to life; it won’t just sit there and do nothing, it will produce fruit. Likewise, your Bible is ‘the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe’ (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV). 2) It works. ‘My word…will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’ (Isaiah 55:11 NIV). Note the word ‘sent’. Every word God speaks is on a mission and is guaranteed to accomplish it in accordance with His will, His strategy, and His timing. 3) It is creative. ‘By God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed’ (2 Peter 3:5 NIV). God’s Word was powerful enough to create all that exists. He didn’t strive or sweat, He just spoke, and it was accomplished. So speak God’s Word! 4) It is authoritative. ‘They were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority…they were all amazed…saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out”’ (Luke 4:32, 36 NKJV). The forces of darkness around you today must recognise and submit to God’s Word, so stand on it!

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Give God your whispering thoughts. Throughout the centuries, Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers. These are prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting. Frank Laubach sought unbroken communion with God by asking Him questions. Every two or three minutes he would pray, ‘Am I in your will, Lord? Am I pleasing you, Lord?’ Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By the time your life is over, you will have spent six months at traffic lights, eight months opening junk mail, a year and a half looking for lost stuff, and a whopping five years standing waiting in various queues. Why don’t you give these moments to God? By giving Him your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as ‘Thank You, Father,’ or ‘I stand on Your Word,’ or ‘My desire is to please You,’ can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn’t leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen become a cathedral and the classroom a chapel. Give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on Him. Conclude the day as you began it – talking to God. Thank Him for the good parts. Question Him about the hard parts. Seek His mercy. Seek His strength. As you close your eyes, take assurance in the promise, ‘He who watches over [you] will neither slumber nor sleep’ (Psalm 121:4 NIV). If you fall asleep as you pray, don’t worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father?

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