Tim Hetzner – Daily Devotions: Recent Episodes
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2024-11-17 Evangelize or Fossilize (Part 2)
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
The church has only two options: evangelize or fossilize. When we fail to share our faith with those outside the church, we either end up in a holding pattern or in death throes. The New Testament church’s growth is described in these words: ‘The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.’ Not only did they influence every level of society, but their enemies said, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too’ (Acts 17:6).
Question: if your church closed its doors tomorrow, would anyone other than your congregation notice the difference? Think about those early believers. Their assignment seemed geographically impossible; how were they to reach people in far-off places? They had no air travel, radio, television, printing presses, internet, or any other modern means at their disposal for communicating the gospel. It seemed legally impossible; they were forbidden by the government authorities to speak in Jesus’ name. And it seemed socially impossible; after all, who would really listen to a bunch of Galileans, devoid of culture and class? Yet they were witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit, and people did listen.
They did so much with so little, and we seem to do so little with so much. It’s reckoned that if just 10 percent of the members in the average church got serious about evangelism, their church would double in one year. By the way, the word translated ‘witness’ is the same word from which we get our English word martyr. These early believers reached the world for Christ because they were willing to devote their lives for His cause. You must be too.
Prayer Heavenly Father, by Your Spirit, help me not be ashamed of what You have done for me and want to do for others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-16 Evangelize or Fossilize (Part 1)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Coach Vince Lombardi led the Green Bay Packers American football team to victory after victory. But one day, they lost to a team they should have easily defeated. So, Lombardi gathered his team together. He put his hand into a bag and brought out a football. With his inimitable smile, he told them, ‘Gentlemen, this is a football!’ In other words, it was time to get back to basics.
Jesus is ‘the captain of [our] salvation’ (Hebrews 2:10). And before He went back to heaven, He gave us the game plan:‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). And since a person’s last words are some of their most important ones, it leads us to ask this: Who was Jesus talking to? You! ‘You shall…be witnesses to Me.’ There are people around today who will never go to church. Their only chance of hearing the gospel is through you; through what your lips declare and your life demonstrates.
What is this ‘power’ Jesus spoke of? The Greek word for power is dynamos, from which we get the word dynamite. Dynamite is an explosive force, which when properly harnessed can remove any obstacle that stands in the way of progress. You say, ‘I have never been to Bible college, and I don’t feel qualified to share the gospel!’ God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called by filling them with His Spirit and using them to reach a hurting world. Today you have been called to do that.
Prayer Heavenly Father, use me in spite of me! Let Your Spirit fill and work in and through me to a lost world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-14 God Blesses Hard Work – Not Laziness
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Compassion without accountability is just indulgence. The Bible teaches that we have a responsibility to feed those who are truly hungry and can’t provide for themselves. But let’s face it, there are some folks who would rather go hungry than go to work. Solomon writes, ‘Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger’ (Proverbs 19:15). Centuries later the apostle Paul was even more explicit: ‘For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”’
Listen to what Solomon says about the sluggard: ‘The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting’ (Proverbs 12:27). ‘A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again’ (Proverbs 19:24). Talk about laziness! He wants his bread buttered, but he wants someone else to butter it for him. If he kills a deer while he is hunting, he won’t even clean the meat and cook it; he wants someone else to cook it for him and serve it to him. What’s the Bible talking about here? It’s talking about the person who never starts a job; and if you give them one, they either won’t finish it or they will do it only halfway.
Then Solomon wraps it all up in one final zinger. ‘The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labour’ (Proverbs 21:25). There are no two ways about it; if you want God’s blessing on your life, you have to be willing to work to reflect His blessing in your life!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me work hard to do the tasks assigned to me to be a good reflection of You who saved me and allows me to work. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-13 Avoid Strife
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16
The apostle Paul writes: ‘Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. 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’ (Philippians 2:2-4).
Strife wreaks havoc in relationships. It often stems from an inflated ego and leads to comparing, competing, and condemning. James points that out: ‘Where…strife is, there is…every evil work.’ So be a strife-spotter! The moment it rears its ugly head – uproot it! ‘Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many’ (Hebrews 12:15).
If you want to walk in God’s blessing today, try to live in harmony with others. Is that always easy? No, but the sooner you learn to do it, the better things will go for you. When God prompts you to ‘turn the other cheek’, or ‘take the short end of the stick’, draw on His grace and do it. Pray: ‘Lord, give me Your wisdom in this situation.’ He will.
‘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. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness’ (James 3:17-18). Bottom line: if you want God’s blessing on your life – avoid strife.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be a peacekeeper and not a strife enabler. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-12 Think Carefully Before You Speak
Keep what you know to yourself, and you will be safe; talk too much, and you are done for. Proverbs 13:3
Here is 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’. Simply put, your tendency to speak without thinking will keep getting you into trouble.
The story is told of a vacuum cleaner salesman who had been given a remote rural area as his territory. He was going from farmhouse to farmhouse on his first day on the job, attempting to sell vacuum cleaners. As he arrived at one farmhouse, 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, ‘Ma’am, 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 better get busy, ’cause we ain’t got no electricity!’
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 unless you want to eat your words, think carefully before speaking.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be careful, as Your WORD directs, on what I say. May I speak words that build up others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-10 Do Not Be Afraid to Go
You must go…And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. Deuteronomy 31:7-8
When God tells you to ‘go’, remind yourself that every detail of your future is already known to Him. Centuries ago, when a mapmaker ran out of the known world before he ran out of parchment, he would frequently 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. Many, however, didn’t regard the dragon as a mapmaker’s warning sign but instead as a prophecy. They foresaw disaster beyond the known worlds they traversed, and their fear kept them from pushing on to discover new lands and peoples. Other more adventuresome travelers, however, saw the dragon as a sign of opportunity and a doorway to new worlds worth exploring.
Each of us has a mental map 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 awaited 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me not to be afraid to go into paths I have never been down – knowing that You are leading me. I am excited about where You are leading. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-09 The Two Rules
And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; Genesis 2:16
Adam had the perfect job, perfect home, perfect marriage, and the perfect environment; all the things we strive for. So how did it come 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). 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.’ But what we so often do – and what legalistic religion does – is look at that Scripture and similar Scriptures and focus on what we can’t do. The truth is, when our list of can’t dos exceeds our list of what we’re free to do, we have gone far beyond what the Scriptures intended. The Christian life should be measured by what you’re free to enjoy, not by what you’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). 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 inclination. God in His love and wisdom set this limitation in place to protect and bless us.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for all You have entrusted to me and blessed me with. Help me to use it wisely and stay true to what You want me to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-07 Grace and Confidence
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 4:16
If you feel unworthy to approach 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). The word ‘grace’ means ‘undeserved kindness, mercy, favor, and help when you need it’. Notice three important things:
1) When you need grace, you can approach God with complete confidence. Why? 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, whom 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. Therefore, 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 must go before His throne 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 bother asking for it. But don’t be concerned; the supply of grace you have in Christ will not run out tomorrow – or ever! That means you can’t wear out your welcome by going to the throne of grace too often.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I screw up every day. Thank You for Your grace and forgiveness to help me grow more and more in line with Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-06 Simplifying Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6:25
Thoreau said, ‘Our lives are frittered away by detail…simplify, simplify.’ Jesus put it another way: ‘Do not worry about your life…the birds…neither sow…reap nor gather into barns…yet your…Father feeds them’ (vv. 25-26).
Charlie Shedd pastored a large church with many demands. He and his wife created a 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).
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to live more simply so I can focus on the things You would have me do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-05 What Are They Saying about You?
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). Nehemiah 6:6
Now, you can’t control what people think, or keep them from saying it, but you can determine your 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). This story teaches you three important principles:
1) Refuse to give more attention to a critic than you would to a friend. To Nehemiah, the people who mattered were those who were for him rather than those against him. So instead of trying to change minds, he changed gears and moved forward.
2) Realize 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). Criticism is a sign of respect; 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 send you a congratulatory telegram because you have decided to do God’s will; he will 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). Today God is on your side, so your victory is assured.
Prayer Heavenly Father, keep me focused on the tasks that You have given me and to persevere through the struggles to further Your will in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-11-03 Poured from Experience to Experience
“Moab has been at rest from youth, like wine left on its dregs, not poured from one jar to another— she has not gone into exile. So she tastes as she did, and her aroma is unchanged. Jeremiah 48:11
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)
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember that the “pouring out” in experiences is Your way to refine me. Thank You, Jesus. In Your precious name, Amen.
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2024-11-02 The Right People and the Right Environment
But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Luke 8:54
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).
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 criticized 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me surround myself with the right people with faith in You to accomplish Your tasks. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-10-31 Hearing the ‘Still Small Voice’
‘A still small voice…Elijah heard it.’ 1 Kings 19:12-13
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).
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.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me clear time each day with you, uninterrupted, so that I can hear your “still small voice.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-10-03 Handling Temptation (Part Three)
‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:13
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).
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).
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for always being there to provide a way out of my temptation! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-10-02 Handling Temptation (Part Two)
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
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). ‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation’ (Isaiah 12:3). ‘Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete’ (John 16:24).
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). Note the words ‘joy in the Holy Spirit’. The secret to joy lies in Spirit-directed living – it always has, and it always will.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me stay focused on true lasting joy found only in You and doing Your will in helping others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-10-01 Handling Temptation (Part One)
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Jesus said, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers’ (Luke 10:30). Jerusalem represented the place of God’s favor, whereas Jericho was cursed by Joshua when God leveled 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to not get “hooked in” to all the things that are daily dangling in front of me and to stay focused on You and Your agenda. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-29 Work on Your Character
The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. Proverbs 20:7
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 realize 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). So, the word for today is – work on your character.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me work on my character to be Godly and show integrity! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-28 When You Lose a Loved One
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
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).
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.’ Remember, as a Christian, we never have to say goodbye – we say “See you Later!”
Prayer Heavenly Father, I long to depart and be with You and all the departed saints – but until then, keep me doing Your will here! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-26 Worship Your Way through It
He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5
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 favor; 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 recognize 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.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me dismiss my worry and replace it with worship and trusting You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-25 ‘Fix’ Your Mind and Change Your Life
……if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Paul writes: ‘Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable 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).
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 program, 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me fix my mind on things that will give me life, things that are honorable. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-24 The Secret of Self-Control
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
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). And you forget it at your own hazard! 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). So, the secret of self-control is to program your mind with God’s Word.
Prayer Heavenly Father, as important as it is to see correctly, help me focus my mind on the “things above – You”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-22 Commit to the Relationship (Part Four)
Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Amos 3:3
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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me rely on You as the “Wonderful Counsellor”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-21 Commit to the Relationship (Part Three)
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. 2 Samuel 20:17
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 weak 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 my friends; ‘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 fulfill 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to be honest in my relationships and not be afraid to talk about things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-19 Commit to the Relationship (Part Two)
‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? Matthew 19:5
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 on 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). 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 behavior 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 behavior, 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to commit or recommit in my relationship so we can see things as one. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-18 Commit to the Relationship (Part One)
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:16
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 percent 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 percent. 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, in all of my relationships with others, help me be there for them and not be “fair weather” friends. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-17 Are You Being Sifted?
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. Luke 22:31
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 Jesus’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 you.’ 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). So, if you have fallen, Jesus will lift you up and restore you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me stay focused on You and learn from my mistakes to be stronger in the future. Thank you for not giving up on me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-15 Growing Older with Grace – Part Two
If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Proverbs 3:2
By the year 2030, one in five of us will be seventy years of age or older. That’s about 20 percent 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 aging.
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’ (Proverbs 3:1-2). ‘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). The secret of enjoying the aging process is to build a close relationship with God and live according to His principles.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for the days You give me to continue to make a difference in people’s lives in Your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-14 Growing Older with Grace – Part One
The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Proverbs 10:27
Does the thought of aging 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). And that can be the story of your life too. You don’t have to suffer from gerascophobia, the fear of aging. Keep fighting, keep growing, keep moving forward.
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). That’s called ‘growing older with grace’.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me see each day as a day to be used to serve and reflect you until You call me and say my table is ready! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-03 Do You Have an Attitude of Entitlement?
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. Galatians 5:13
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). 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 favor?’ 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).
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for my attitude of entitlement. Help me have an attitude of a servant to serve others as You have done. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-09-01 The Bottom Line on Money
One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. Proverbs 13:7
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). 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).
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).
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).
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!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be thankful for all the things You have blessed me with that money cannot buy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-31 Try to Be More Gentle
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7
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 counselor and try to get to the root of the deeper issues that are driving your behavior. Over the next week, try not to criticize 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). 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). So, the word for today is – try to be more gentle.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be more caring and gentle with others, as You are with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-08-29 Start ‘Meditating’ on the Scriptures
Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Psalm 119:97
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). 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).
So, what’s the answer? ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength’ (Isaiah 30:15). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to simplify my life so I can spend more time on You and doing Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-28 Are You Being Led or Being Driven?
Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Exodus 18:17-18
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).
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 workweek 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to share the work and not try, and do it all myself. Help me raise up others to help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-27 A Time to Be Careful
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 1 Corinthians 10:12
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). 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 was 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!’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to not fall victim of H.A.L.T. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-25 You’re ‘Called…by His Marvelous Grace’
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Galatians 1:15
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). 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). 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). You’re ‘called…by his marvelous grace’.
Prayer Heavenly Father, although I did not and do not always remember, You called me before I was even born. Help me daily to answer that call and follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-24 Shut Yourself In with God
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. Psalm 42:1
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). 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). 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).
2) You grow more Christ-like 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I so desire to depart and be with You. Lead me today to walk where You would have me walk to be You to those who need You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-22 Follow God and Take Your Children with You
Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Genesis 13:12
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). 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). You only get one chance to do it right, so follow God and take your children with you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to serve as a role model to my children and grandchildren so they see YOU. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-21 Should I or Should I Not?
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 2 Corinthians 1:12
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).
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). Can you think of a more important reason for maintaining a clear conscience?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to pause more and listen to that soft voice inside me, my conscience, and Your presence – and then DO the right thing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-18 Dealing with Loneliness (Part Two)
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 2 Timothy 4:16
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). 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 realize that you can enjoy your favorite 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). God will help you to grieve your loss, leave your loss, and go on to what He has for you next.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for those times I can be alone with You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-17 Dealing with Loneliness (Part One)
I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. Psalm 102:7
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. Neighbors 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). You were created to be in a 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).
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, when I feel alone, remind me of Your purpose for me and help me get out and focus on that. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-15 Be on Your Guard
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
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). 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). Then we read: ‘Jesus was led…into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1). 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 center 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). So, the word for today is – be on your guard!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me always be on my guard knowing that the devil always wants to get me off course of my eyes on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-14 Jesus Is Your Lawyer!
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 1 John 2:1
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 Christ-like, remind yourself: ‘He lives forever to intercede with God on [our] behalf’ (Hebrews 7:25).
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).
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).
3) He offers His services freely. ‘Without money and without price’ (Isaiah 55:1).
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). Jesus is your lawyer, so you can come to God with confidence today.
Prayer Thank you Jesus for pleading my case for all the wrongs I do each day! In Your precious name, Amen
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2024-08-13 Become a No-Limits Person!
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23
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, that 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). Notice that 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to look beyond what may seem possible to see what You see for me to do – knowing that only YOU can do it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-11 Do Not Get Distracted
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25
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 practicing 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 minimized.
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me not be distracted and keep balance in my life so I can be the best for family, friends, and work. Give me balance! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-10 Establish Your Priorities
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16
In order to fulfill 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. Utilize the 80/20 rule. Give 80 percent of your effort to the top 20 percent of your activities. Bottom line: Jesus said you are to give your attention to the areas that bear the most fruit.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me focus on You and be used by You to bear lasting fruit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-08 Getting Real
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
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 counselor 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 counselor 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.’ 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner desperately in need of a Savior. Help me each day to bury that old “Sinful Adam” and put on a “New Adam” in Christ Jesus. In the precious name of Jesus! Amen
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2024-08-07 Who Can You Count On?
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. Philippians 2:22
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). 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). 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).
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).
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me keep and select those who know You, whom I can confide in and trust for Christian guidance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-06 When You’re Under Attack (Part Six)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
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). 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). We all sin – the mistake lies in trying to cover it up, because ‘whoever conceals their sins does not prosper’ (Proverbs 28:13). 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). Every one of us experiences adversity. But it’s those who stay strong to the finish who get the reward. So, pace yourself, and be determined 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me continue to fight the good fight and finish the race – and keep the faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-04 When You’re Under Attack (Part Five)
With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. 2 Chronicles 32:8
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). 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).
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). 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember that I am the solution to somebody else’s problem – through You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-03 When You’re Under Attack (Part Four)
If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Proverbs 24:10
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). 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). 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). 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me always remember You are my helper and You will never let me down. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-08-01 When You’re Under Attack (Part Three)
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 2 Corinthians 4:8
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).
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). When the devil wants to hurt you, he will often use a person to do it. Your enemy is anyone who attempts to ruin 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). 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 toward the throne. So, keep walking and believing, for there is victory ahead!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to love people but trust ONLY in You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-31 When You’re Under Attack (Part Two)
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
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).
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). 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). 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 favor, so get your eyes back on the big picture. Paul, who suffered a relentless attack, said, ‘Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all’ (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Bottom line: today you can win.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me resist the devil and use Your Word to resist him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-30 When You’re Under Attack (Part One)
From the west, people will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the LORD drives along. Isaiah 59:19
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 favorite 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). 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) Analyze it. Solomon said, ‘In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider’ (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Sometimes what looks like a crisis is just concentrated information. And when you take time to analyze 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember Your wisdom in Your word to fight when I am under attack. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-28 Keep Your Peace
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
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 characterized 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 honor’ (v. 17-18).
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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me keep my peace and not let the devil get a foothold. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-27 Sharing Our Lives
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, Hebrews 10:24
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 percent. 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).
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.”’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to stay connected with a group of friends to help me and keep each other accountable. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-25 Integrity (Part Two)
The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. Proverbs 20:7
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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, keep me rooted in You so that my life will show integrity in all aspects of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-24 Integrity (Part One)
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9
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?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to walk each day with You and reflect Your presence in my life. Forgive me when I fail. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-23 Is It God’s Plan?
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6
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).
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 rationalizing 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to seek You and Your spirit to confirm Your plan – and not my own understanding. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-21 What Are Your Values?
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Proverbs 11:3
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). 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 honor’ (Proverbs 15:33). 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me the values that You have shown and laid out in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-20 How to Develop Patience (Part Four)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
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). In other words, ‘I’m in control, I have a better plan, I’m working things out for your good!’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember each day that you are in charge and are teaching me daily. Help me be patient with what You are teaching me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-18 How to Develop Patience (Part Three)
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
Here are two more things you need to do in order to develop patience:
1) Develop a sense of humor. The Bible says, ‘A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life’ (Proverbs 14:30). Scientific studies reveal that people who laugh, live longer. Humor is a stress dissolver. It’s an antidote to apprehension. It’s a tranquilizer 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). 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).
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.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be a more patient person and learn how to laugh more and trust You in and for ALL situations. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-17 How to Develop Patience (Part Two)
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. Proverbs 14:29
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). 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, instead of thinking about me and what I want, help me see things from others’ points of view and understand them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-16 How to Develop Patience (Part One)
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32
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 bathroom 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 tires, occupied bathrooms, traffic jams…the list is endless.
Do you know that 90 percent 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). Pray about it, exercise patience, and be confident in God!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to develop my patience and wait upon You, trusting You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-14 The Huddle
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10
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!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me huddle successfully! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-13 How Love Is Expressed
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13
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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me Observe and Love others – in Your Name! Amen
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2024-07-11 You Are an Ambassador for Jesus (Part Three)
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20
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).
3) You must be equipped for the job. ‘There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 12:4).
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). 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).
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be always ready to be an Ambassador for You with those You place in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-10 You Are an Ambassador for Jesus (Part Two)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
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).
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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, in a world that is very confused and hopeless, help me be your agent to bring Hope in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-09 You Are an Ambassador for Jesus (Part One)
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
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). Exiled, John said, ‘I…was on the island of Patmos…On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit’ (Revelation 1:9-10). 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).
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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be a good Ambassador for you – no matter what mistakes I have made in the past. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-07 Change Your Concept of God
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
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). 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!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me see you as my ABBA – Daddy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-06 Intimacy vs. Activity
but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42
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 honor 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). 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). 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 compartmentalization’ 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 center of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labors, and experience God’s peace and joy.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me put and keep my priorities right on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-04 Are You Flourishing? (Part Three)
But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces…many times over. John 12:25
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 energize 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me grow where You have planted me to help others to grow and flourish. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-03 Are You Flourishing? (Part Two)
planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. Psalms 92:13
Inside you there’s a battle between your flourishing self – the person you were created to be – and your suffering self. ‘What’s that?’ you ask. Your suffering 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 anesthetize 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 have 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).
3) In your time. You wake each day with a sense of excitement, and you realize 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). You also realize 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 maximize what God created you to be, you start flourishing.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me focus on what You have me to be instead of what I think I want to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-07-02 Are You Flourishing? (Part One)
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalms 100:3
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). 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).
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). Go deep, work on your own connection to God and you’ll never be…uprooted…or barren…or blown away!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me take “root” with Your Word and Your creation of the Palm Tree. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-30 Don’t Go Until You’re Empowered
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
You may be educated, experienced, and talented, but you will never fulfill 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).
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).
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). 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). 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). Today ask God to fill you with His Spirit, and He will.
Prayer Heavenly Father, empower me with Your Holy Spirit to speak and lead me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-29 Your Dream Is Still Alive
But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Genesis 45:27
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). 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). 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).
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 fulfill 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). God is the giver of dreams. And He doesn’t just give them, He resurrects them and empowers you to fulfill them. It’s not too late. You’re not too old. What God did for Jacob – He can do for you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, no matter what age I am, please give and keep alive the dream You have for me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-27 Today God Is Calling You (Part Three)
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32
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 being a church leader, 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). Isn’t that an amazing revelation? Even when you don’t know how to pray for yourself, Jesus is praying for you. ‘He ever lives to make intercession for them’ (Hebrews 7:25).
Jesus told Peter, ‘When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers’ (Luke 22:32). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I don’t know what, but I am willing to walk the journey You have planned out for me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-26 Today God Is Calling You (Part Two)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for using all of my life – good and bad – to prepare and use me going forward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-25 Today God Is Calling You (Part One)
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — Romans 1:1
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 fulfillment in life will come when you surrender to Him and say yes.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me listen and act on Your Calling. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-23 Cock-A-Doodle-Doo! –
Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. Luke 22:60
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). 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 Jesus and he was a leader in the church. So no matter how badly you have failed, God will forgive you, restore you, and redirect your steps.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to see and hear the Wake Up Calls you send me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-22 Your Position and Your Condition
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! Romans 5:9
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). 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). 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 Jesus, 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember that my position and condition are in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-20 What Can I Do?
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, Luke 4:18
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 percent of those who are abducted into the sex trade are being rescued from it! You say, ‘What about the other 99 percent?’ 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). 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!’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be an agent of Comfort and Mercy to people who are abused and oppressed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-19 Start Saying, ‘I Can’
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” Psalms 3:2
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 realize 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I CAN do what You want and called me to do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-18 Depend More on God
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
The secret of being able to do what you need to do is in realizing 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 laborers together with God’ (1 Corinthians 3:9). 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). 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). So, depend more on God.
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for all the times I say and do “I can do this myself.” Help me rely on You and follow Your leading in guiding my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-16 Prepare in Advance
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Daniel 1:8
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). 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).
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). Both Joseph and Daniel had prayed and made up their mind what they would do before temptation came knocking. You must do that, too.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I know my weaknesses and what tempts me – help me to fight the temptation before I am in the situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-15 Refuse to Live in Fear (Part Four)
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
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). David replied, ‘The LORD…will deliver me from…this Philistine’ (v. 37). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I know you are with me – help me always remember that, especially when I am fearful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-13 Refuse to Live in Fear (Part Three)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
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). 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!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to keep getting up, knowing that Your love will cast out my fears. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-12 Refuse to Live in Fear (Part Two)
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalms 118:6
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). 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.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, I WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR thanks to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-11 Refuse to Live in Fear (Part One)
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember fear does NOT come from you! Help me rely on You so fear can go away. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-09 Through Jesus You Can Do It
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
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). 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 gas pump. So when life gets overwhelming, pray and make a withdrawal on God’s grace, love, strength, power, and guidance.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me know I cannot do it, but YOU can do it through me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-08 You Must Forgive
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
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). 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 you today who need to be assured of your forgiveness?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me forgive others as You forgive me – NO EXCEPTIONS. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-06 Accepting Others
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7
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. Unfortunately, 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). 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). Our job is to accept people – and let God adjust them.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me not judge or try to change people but accept them as you have me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-05 Do Not ‘Drift Away’
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1
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). Note the words ‘drift’ and ‘neglect’. Those words should set off alarm bells!
Samson’s decline was so gradual that he didn’t even realize 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).
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 harbor 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me get back on course by keeping my eyes fixed on You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-04 How Well Do You Know Jesus?
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? John 14:9
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). 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 Jesus 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). 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). 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). 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?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to really KNOW You by being in prayer and reading Your WORD each day. You know my heart; help me know Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-02 You Need Others
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12
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 traveled 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 realize 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to be a lone ranger at times and understand You created us to work together with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-06-01 What You Must Give Up
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalms 27:4
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).
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 percent 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 percent of everything in life; you just need to focus on the one percent 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me get the balance in my life, no matter what age, to accomplish the things You would have me do most efficiently. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-30 Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part Three)
let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance — Proverbs 1:5
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).
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. So, do you want to succeed? You must be willing to change your thinking in order to accomplish it.
Prayer Heavenly Father, by Your Spirit, help me see and do things that are outside the boxes of humans – and to do new creative things! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-29 Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part Two)
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me go after the dream You gave me and not get distracted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-28 Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Part One)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
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. The first thing you will have to change is how you think, what you listen to, and what you 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). The word for today is – change your thinking, change your life.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me change my thinking to be like Your thinking. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-26 Lessons from a Broken Heart
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalms 51:12
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. 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, restore to me the joy of Your salvation! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-25 Practice Soul Care
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalms 23:3
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). Today, car engines are computerized. 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 practice soul care!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me take time to rest in green pastures and by still water. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-23 Having a Vision for Your Life
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28
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. There is an old saying, ‘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 fulfillment in doing.
Paul wrote, ‘This one thing I do’ (Philippians 3:13). 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!’
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me a vision for my life – and then help me not to let Satan distract me or take me off course. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-22 A Prayer of Commitment to God
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. John 17:4
If the desire of your heart is to please God and fulfill His will for your life, here is a prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, 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 counselor 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 the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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2024-05-21 A Prayer for Financial Contentment
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
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:
Heavenly Father, 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. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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2024-05-19 When God Sends You an Angel Part Four
My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” Daniel 6:22
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).
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).
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). 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for Your angels – forgive me when I fail to realize they are there. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-18 When God Sends You an Angel Part Three
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalms 34:7
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). 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).
And today God still sends angels in disguise to help us.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember that when I feel like giving up, You and Your angels are there to help me “get up” and moving. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-16 When God Sends You an Angel Part Two
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; Psalms 91:11
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 fulfill 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 center 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).
The Bible says, ‘Some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2). 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.
*Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and Your ministering angels. In Jesus’ Name, Amen*
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2024-05-15 When God Sends You an Angel Part One
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
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).
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).
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.)
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for Your angels that watch over me. Even though I may not see them (I have in the past), thank you! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
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2024-05-14 A Prayer of Forgiveness
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
The Bible says: ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you’ (vv. 31-32). 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 recognize 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.’
Prayer Amen and Amen!
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2024-05-12 In Praise of Mothers!
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Proverbs 31:28
Throughout history, poets and orators have been lavish in their praise of motherhood. George Washington said, ‘My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am, I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her.’ Abraham Lincoln wrote, ‘My mother’s prayers…have always followed me. They’ve clung to me all my life.’ And Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, ‘I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn word of my good mother.’
Centuries ago, people worshipped at their local parish church, but on one Sunday during Lent, known as Refreshment Sunday, they were encouraged to visit their ‘mother church’ – the cathedral in their diocese or the church where they were baptized. Apprentices and those who were in service at large estates and houses would be allowed to take the day off to pay a visit to their mothers and families – ‘going mothering’. Then, in 1913, a lady called Constance Smith heard about Anna Jarvis’ crusade for giving public recognition to the mothers of America through an annual ‘Mother’s Day’. Inspired by this, Constance decided to revive Mothering Sunday in the UK, promoting it as a celebration of mothers as well as the mother church.
As a result, Mothering Sunday is observed today across the British Isles and the Commonwealth! The Bible says, ‘A good woman is…worth far more than diamonds…She senses the worth of her work and is in no hurry to call it quits…When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say and…always says it kindly…Her children respect and bless her’ (vv. 1, 9, 17, 28). Could there be a more worthy tribute?
Prayer Heavenly Father, I want to thank You for everything that my mother taught me and how she nurtured my relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-11 Use Your God-Given Creativity
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers — all of them master craftsmen and designers. Exodus 35:35
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). 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me listen to what You want me to do and not say ‘no’ because I am not sure I can do it. Help me trust You to give me what I need to do what You want me to do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-09 Money Matters in Marriage
A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. Proverbs 15:27
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 labeled, ‘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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be responsible with YOUR money and what You have entrusted to my family. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-08 Don’t Wait; Enjoy Your Life Now
So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him? Ecclesiastes 3:22
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 vacation, or until your children finish college – to enjoy your life.
No one knows what will happen next in their lives or in the world. You’re alive now, so maximize 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me enjoy each day, knowing I have the greatest thing anyone could have – You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-07 Experiencing God’s Presence and Pleasure
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalms 16:11
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 realize 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, organizing 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I am never alone knowing I am with You! Thank you! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-05 Jesus Is Coming Again!
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:10
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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember each day that You are coming and also Your continual presence in my life every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-04 Start Memorizing Scriptures
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
Before written languages were developed, memory was the only way to learn. In our day, memorizing has a bad name as ‘rote learning’. But memorizing 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 memorized. 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. Set the verse to music and sing it – like the people in OT times and today still learn scripture by singing it! 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). Attach an image to the verse. 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Your Word is a lamp to my feet! Let me be guided by it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-02 Change Your Expectations
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11
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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me today to live less restrictively, enjoy You, and live more fully. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-05-01 ‘Servants’ for Life
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — Romans 1:1
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). 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?
Prayer Heavenly Father, I serve you because I want to, and You have marked me as Your property! Thank you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-30 Build a Relationship with Your Children
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalms 127:1
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 practiced 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, with my children and, actually, all close relationships, help me realize my failures and see to build strong relationships with You as the center. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-28 Choose the Right Attitude
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
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). 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). 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?
Prayer Heavenly Father, Help me keep a positive attitude today and every day by the renewing of my mind in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-27 Beware of Self-Pity
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:24
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 recognized 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me evaluate why I feel self-pity at times, correct that thinking, and let You renew my mind. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-25 He Will Do It Again!
Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Genesis 35:14
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 favor, 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, recognize 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me set up a memorial (list of events) that You have shaped my life – lest I forget! Thank you for these changing events that have shaped and molded me. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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2024-04-24 Setting Captives Free Part Two
He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Psalms 107:14
When the Israelites ‘cried to the LORD…he saved them…He brought them out of darkness…and broke…their chains’ (vv. 13-14). 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).
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). 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 Savior. Give it to God, ‘casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7).
2) Feed your soul spiritually. Freedom is a two-part process. The first is communion 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). 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). 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). To be set free and stay free, feed every day on God’s life-giving Word.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for freeing me up from the things that held me down from growing in my personal relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-23 Setting Captives Free Part One
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. Exodus 3:7
For four hundred years, Israel was enslaved by Egyptian taskmasters who oppressed them and ‘made their lives bitter’ (Exodus 1:14). 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 traveling 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). Aren’t you glad?
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me each day to help me be freed up from those things that have held me captive. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-21 Recovering From Burnout
The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle. The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. Proverbs 30:1
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 sensationalized 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 internalize it. They want to help the wounded…they don’t realize 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). 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 ). 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, internalize, personalize, and verbalize it, and your life will take an upward swing.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to recover from and keep me from burnout by being grounded in You and trusting You to lift me up. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-20 Do Not Give Up On Your Saul
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. Acts 9:11
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 favorite 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!
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me patience with the Saul(s) You have placed in my life. Help me trust Your Spirit that is always working. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-18 You Must Care For the Needy Part Three
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. Psalms 41:1
Three-quarters of the world’s income ends up in the pockets of 20 percent 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 ). When you bless the poor, God blesses you.
So, as one leader wrote, make this your prayer:
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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2024-04-17 You Must Care For the Needy Part Two
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 22:16
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).
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). 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). 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!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me, by Your Spirit, to bring Good News to those who are in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-16 You Must Care For the Needy Part One
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Acts 6:1
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 ). 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 percent 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember and act on my responsibility as a disciple of You to care for those who are in need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2024-04-14 You’re a Reflector
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
As the old saying goes, ‘You become like the company you keep.’ Paul explains it this way: ‘All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit’ (v. 18). J.B. Phillips’ translation puts it this way: ‘Christians…reflect like mirrors.’ And the King James Bible translators say it like this: ‘Beholding as in a glass.’ So which translation is right? All three! The ancient Greek word Katoptris can be translated either way.
Bottom line: the more you spend time in God’s presence, the more you will reflect His likeness and carry His presence with you. What does ‘beholding’ your face in a mirror mean? It’s more than just a quick glance; ‘behold’ means to study, stare at, and contemplate. The Bible tells us after Moses spent forty days on a mountain in God’s presence, the people of Israel couldn’t bear to look at his face because it was suffused with the glory of God (see Exodus 34:29). What Moses beheld was what Moses became!
The Bible says that ‘whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31). That means ‘whatever you do’, you’re a reflector! Jesus said, ‘Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:160). In other words, people should be able to look at you and see the God who lives within you. And that should be the case at home, at play, in the workplace, and anywhere else you happen to be.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me spend more time with you in beginning my day so I can “shine” the rest of the day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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Regardless of the Circumstances Always Obey God Part Two We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 2 Corinthians 1:8 Job describes the rewards of obedience: […]
Regardless of the Circumstances Always Obey God Part One Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered Hebrews 5:8 The rewards of obedience are awesome, but sometimes the process is agonizing. ‘Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him’ […]
2023-09-10 Lazarus Story and Yours Part Two
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” John 11:21-22
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). 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). 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God of restoration! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2023-09-09 Lazarus Story and Yours Part One
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4
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). 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me patience as You help me deal with the things in my life behind the stone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2023-09-07 Instead of Worrying Stand on The Word of God
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
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 you as you come and go’ (Psalm 121:5-8).
2) ‘Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you’ (Psalm 9:10).
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).
4) ‘They will fight against you, but…not prevail…for I am with you to save you and deliver you’ (Jeremiah 15:20).
5) ‘You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety’ (Job 11:18).
6) ‘I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, you will keep me safe’ (Psalm 4:8).
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).
8) ‘Be not afraid or dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s’ (2 Chronicles 20:15).
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).
10) ‘I will rescue you…declares the LORD; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear’ (Jeremiah 39:17).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me rest on Your promises! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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Do You Love The Word Of God? Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35 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 […]
2023-09-05 Learn To Unplug and Unwind
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
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). 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) Recognizing 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) Realizing 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 with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ Why? Because when you don’t come apart, you fall apart!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to take time to be with You and others and “unplug”. Help me remember when I don’t have time to “unplug” is when I need to! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2023-09-03 You Will Get Through This
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalms 16:8
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). Then it adds this: ‘Keep your mind on Jesus…then you won’t get discouraged and give up’ (v. 3). The reason Jesus could endure is because He focused on what would happen ‘later on’; the joy of pleasing the Father, building the Kingdom of God, and reaching the lost 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). So instead of denying reality or trying to white-knuckle your way through it, realize 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 and was with Him – through the good and the bad. So be encouraged; you will get through this!
Prayer Heavenly Father, during the times when I do not know how I am going to get through the day, help me to always remember You are with me and You have everything covered. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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2023-09-02 Let Us Care For Each Other
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales Acts 4:34
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 come to believe in Jesus. In Acts 3, a paralyzed 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 totaled about 5,000’ (v. 4). 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).
Yes, our top priority must be showing people Jesus 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!
Prayer Heavenly Father, keep me focused that I am called to care for others, no matter who they are, and to share and help in their needs. They can then see You. In the name of Jesus, Amen
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Learn To Listen My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19 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 […]
S.H.A.P.E. Part 5 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 The letter E stands for experience. How can you know […]
S.H.A.P.E. Part 4 May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.. Hebrews 13:21 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 […]
S.H.A.P.E. Part 3 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalms 40:8 The letter A stands for abilities. The Bible says, ‘God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well’ (Romans 12:6). What is your dominant gift? You say, ‘I don’t think I have any […]
S.H.A.P.E. Part 2 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Ephesians 6:6 The letter H represents your heart. What do you have a ‘heart for’ or feel passionate about? As a Jew, Paul was passionate […]
S.H.A.P.E. Part 1 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalms 143:10 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 […]
In Jesus You Are Beyond Condemnation I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, John 14:30 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 […]
What Will You Do With Jesus? “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” Matthew 27:22 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 […]
Doing God’s Will? The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17 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 […]
Cliques There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 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). […]
Healthy Compromise He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11 Read these Scriptures: ‘Pursue peace with all people’ (Hebrews 12:14). ‘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 […]
Eight Principles to Live By The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 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 […]
Your Stage and Your Standing I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 1 John 2:12 John says, ‘I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name’ (v. 12). When you’re baptized and believe in Jesus Christ, […]
Communicate With Your Mate And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, Philippians 1:9 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 […]
Help For Your Marriage Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalms 127:1 Nobody knows more about marriage than God. He not only thought up the idea – He put the first couple together. And His Word says, […]
Building Good Relationships Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 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). That means do […]
Night Time Experiences Part 2 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 When God blesses you, get ready for the complainers who think He should have blessed them instead – or at least […]
Night Time Experiences Part 1 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5 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, […]
Use Your God-Given Gift For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6 Other people may not think you’re important, but God does. And His opinion is the one that counts most. Remember David? Before he […]
George Müller’s Thoughts On Meditation for I delight in your commands because I love them. Psalms 119:47 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 […]
Conquering Bad Habits and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Deuteronomy 7:2 American author Henry Van Dyke says, ‘As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, […]
Fight the Defeatist Attitude – Feed Your Faith Daily For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3 It’s easy […]
How to Live Wisely and Well Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12 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 […]
Walking By Faith We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 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). Life keeps handing […]
Signs of the Times He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 It’s said that the Titanic sank because of cheap rivets and poor planning. Faced with a shortage of quality bolts, the shipbuilders used […]
Problem Solving Part 2 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. Psalms 18:29 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? […]
Problem Solving Part 1 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:9 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 […]
You Must Care About Others Love cares more for others than for self. 1 Corinthians 13:5 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 endeavor as noble as sharing your faith, you can become so engrossed in your […]
Thoughts on Good Leadership Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 1 Corinthians 14:8 No matter how great your vision is, if you’re not someone people are willing to follow, it will never be realized. Who you are matters! The most important message you can share […]
Set Your Mind on Things Above Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 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 […]
Hearing, Understanding, and Receiving My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19 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 […]
Can You Be Corrected? Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 2 Samuel 12:13 God sent the prophet Nathan to confront King David over his affair with Bathsheba. As king, David had the power to have […]
You Need Adequate Sleep when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24 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 […]
Fight Your Fears With God’s Word When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalms 56:3 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 […]
The Truth About Giving 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. 2 Corinthians 9:10 Here is what the Bible teaches about giving: 1) You always get back more than you give. ‘He who […]
The Blessing of Repentance Part 2 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 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 […]
The Blessing of Repentance Part 1 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4 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 […]
The Benefits of Meditating on God’s Word I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Psalms 77:12 What does the word meditate mean? ‘To engage in contemplation or reflection or to focus one’s thoughts on.’ The Psalmist said, ‘I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty […]
Cultivating a Taste for God’s Word How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalms 119:103 The fact that we now enjoy the vegetables (at least some of them) we hated as children indicates that as we mature, we can cultivate a taste for healthy, life-giving food. And since […]
Knowing Who Belongs in Your Life A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 Wherever you live and whatever your profession, ‘IT, baker, or supervisor, you will have to deal with these three kinds of people: 1) The critic. Let’s face it, most people are comfortable with the […]
The Need for Connectedness Part 3 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, Romans 12:4 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 […]
The Need for Connectedness Part 2 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32 When you read the story of the New Testament Church, you tend to get caught up in its explosive growth and […]
The Need for Connectedness Part 1 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 At creation, God looked at everything He had made and said, ‘That’s good.’ Then there came a time when He realized man was lonely, unfulfilled, […]
‘Whatever’ Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8 To instruct us about how to feed our minds, the apostle Paul writes: ‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever […]
How to Keep a Good Attitude Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Psalms 119:164 A bad attitude is like a flat tire; you won’t get anywhere until you change it. Few things in life are more important than your attitude, and here are four ways you can keep a good […]
Feed Your Mind Good Stuff I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. Proverbs 4:11 Sometimes we feed our pets bad things – things they shouldn’t be fed. And when bad things go into a pet, bad things come out of a pet. We know that about our pets […]
You Belong to God Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, Ephesians 2:19 ‘He created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and […]
God Has Placed You Where He Wants You For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 The […]
God Is Still on the Throne Part 2 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8 God said, ‘My thoughts are not like your thoughts…Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my…thoughts higher than your thoughts’ (vv. 8-9). Until you come […]
God Is Still on the Throne Part 1 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. Psalms 11:4 The psalmist asked, ‘When the foundations for good collapse, what can good people do?’ (v. 3). Then he goes on to […]
Your Daily Devotions Part 3 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalms 139:23 Here are two more reasons why spending time alone with God each day is important: 1) To take spiritual inventory of your life. David prayed, ‘Search me, God, and know my heart; test […]
Your Daily Devotions Part 2 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 Another goal of […]
Your Daily Devotions Part 1 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Psalms 119:38 The word ‘devotion’ implies total commitment to someone – giving them your time and attention, enjoying their company, seeking to please them, and making them a priority in your life. And that should be the goal […]
You Can Not Change People Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 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 […]
Talk So People Will Listen He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3 Harsh words can ‘chop off’ a person’s ability to hear what you’re saying. When Jesus was handed over in the Garden of Gethsemane, He didn’t retaliate even though He could have […]
Never Lose Your Passion for God for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. Psalms 69:9 Question: are you passionate about God, or merely passive? Notice the steps that led to Peter’s denial of Jesus. Step one: ‘Satan has asked to sift each of you […]
Do Not Lose Your Peace Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18 Satan knows that God’s Word can only be received by a heart and mind that are at peace, so he will do everything he can to keep you upset. He loves it when you get into an argument […]
Being Saved They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” Acts 16:31 Have you heard of the ‘Romans Road’ to salvation? It’s based on four simple steps found in the book of Romans. Step one: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of […]
Knowing what God’s Called You to Do Finally, they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John 1:22 When asked, ‘Who are you?’ John the Baptist replied, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of […]
Being at the End of Your Rope Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalms 27:14 The Psalmist 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 […]
God Will Back You Up! “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 God told Joshua, ‘Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand’ […]
Do Not be Dismissive Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10 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 […]
2023-06-06 Build Your Life on the Word of God
Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 1 Samuel 16:10
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). 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).
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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, keep me focused on YOU know if YOU want me to do something YOU will make it happen. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-06-04 Has Your Love for God Grown Cold?
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Revelation 2:3
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).
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).
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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me when I take You for granted Lord and fail to grow closer to You each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-06-03 Start Your Day Right
Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. Genesis 19:27
Abraham was known as ‘the Friend of God’ (James 2:23). What an honor! 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, realize 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). ‘Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days’ (Psalm 90:14).
Prayer Heavenly Father, today let me start (and finish) with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-06-02 Find a Mentor – Become a Mentor
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12
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 recognize 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 visualizing and verbalizing 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, as I have been helped and mentored, use me to help and mentor someone else. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-06-01 Pause and Calmly Think About It – Selah
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. Selah Psalms 48:8
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 the Psalmist 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).
When you hide God’s Word in your heart through meditation and memorization, 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). ‘The word of our God stands forever’ (Isaiah 40:8). 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). Then He told Jeremiah, ‘I am ready to perform My word’ (v. 12). The only thing you can count on for sure is that God will keep His Word. Selah!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to read, think and meditate on Your Word and ask – speak to me Lord on what You want me to hear. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Develop a Joy Workout Part 2 I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. John 17:13 Here are two more ways to increase the level of your joy: 1) Start serving others. […]
2023-05-30 Develop a Joy Workout Part 1
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalms 28:7
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). 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). 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). 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). 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 to God, 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). 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.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me show gratitude to You by showing gratitude to others and to practice giving to others. In Jesus’ Names, Amen
2023-05-29 How to be Blessed at Work Part 4
Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 10:2
In order to be blessed on the job, you must practice 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). 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).
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 rationalized 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). 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to always be honest at work and in all that I do so that I reflect You and set an example for those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-28 How to be Blessed at Work Part 3
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
Here is another important key to being blessed on the job: thoughtfulness. That’s true whether you’re the company president or the night time janitor. 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).
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 honored’ (v. 18). If you keep criticizing 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to be intentional, thoughtful and caring for those I work with, as You are. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-27 How to be Blessed at Work Part 2
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4
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). 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). 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). 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). 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’.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to work hard at all I do – either at work or as a volunteer – give it my all and my best. I remember that I reflect my Creator. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-26 How to be Blessed at Work Part 1
Skilled workers are always in demand.. Proverbs 22:29
Solomon writes, ‘Skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone’ (v. 29). But skillfulness 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 skilled workers, 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). 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 skillful 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to always do my best in the most upright moral way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-25 Ways to Develop Resilience
for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Proverbs 24:16
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) Visualize 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). 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). 16) Recognize 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me practice at least some of the items below each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-24 Use Your Gift!
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
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).
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). That means some of the things other people find boring will actually energize and enrich you.
The Bible says that God is building a ‘spiritual house’ (1 Peter 2:5). 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). So today, instead of apologizing for skills you don’t have, unpack the gift God has given you and put it to work.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me put to use the gift You have blessed me with in serving You and serving others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-23 Pray God’s Word
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalms 119:28
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 center 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). ‘Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I mediate on Your wonderful works’ (vv. 26-27). ‘Strengthen me according to Your word’ (v. 28). ‘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). ‘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). ‘Give me understanding, and I shall live’ (v. 144). Today, pray God’s Word.
Prayer Heavenly Father, let Your Word guide my life and my prayer time today and every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-22 Don’t Worry, God will Take Care of You
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Psalms 37:25
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).
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). ‘Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you’ (Psalm 55:22). Don’t worry, God will take care of you!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me cast my worries on You and trust You in all things – and always seek Your guidance in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-21 How to Handle Disappointment Part 3
So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:20
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). 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 in 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. When you’re disappointed in those you work with and feel like giving up, it’s what you must do, too.
Prayer Heavenly Father, when I am disappointed with those I work with – let me remember to turn to You for guidance and encouragement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-20 How to Handle Disappointment Part 2
Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. Job 30:26
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). 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).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me keep focused on You even when others disappoint me or turn against me, knowing you have the whole situation under control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-19 How to Handle Disappointment Part 1
for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Proverbs 24:16
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 Jesus saying, ‘Everyone else may abandon you but not me. I’m yours until death!’ (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 (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, rationalize, 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.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Forgive me for all the times that I have failed doing what You would want me to do. Thank You for Your forgiveness and restoration. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-18 Be Wise with Your Money
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20
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). 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). 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). 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). 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?
Prayer Heavenly Father, all that I have belongs to You. Help me use it as You would have me use it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-08 You are Commanded to Love Part 2
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2
The Greeks used four words to distinguish different types of love: 1) Storge, which means natural affection; 2) Eros, which means sexual attraction; 3) Philia, which means emotional affection or friendship; 4) Agape, which means unconditional giving, sacrificial love. When the Bible tells of God’s love for us and the type of love we are to have for Him and others, the word is always ‘agape’, indicating a commitment to act.
Do you know it’s possible to love someone you don’t even like? Indeed, if God is going to educate us to love, He will bring certain hard-to-love people into our lives. The truth is, our lives are full of people we don’t like. We do not like the way some people speak. We do not like the way some behave. We do not like what others wear. But most of all, we tend to dislike people who don’t like us.
If you think about it for a minute, you can probably produce a list of people you don’t like. They would probably be people with whom you have difficulty getting along. Everyone is hard to love sometimes – even you – but some are hard to love at any time. But Jesus never demanded that we have a tender fondness for everyone. He did not feel warmth for the Pharisees. We don’t have to like everyone – isn’t that a relief? – but we must love them. What does the Bible mean when it says, ‘Walk in love’? Like physical walking, this unconditional love a) requires effort, b) moves in a certain direction, and c) is something you do every day.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me walk in love as You did each day – bringing Your love to others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-07 You are Commanded to Love Part 1
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34
Love is almost certainly the most misunderstood word in the world. We dilute its meaning by overuse: ‘I love my wife, I love my country, I love pizza.’ Giving and receiving love is difficult when we don’t even comprehend what it is. So we need to clear up a couple of misconceptions. We think love is a feeling – a sentimental knot in your stomach. True love does create feelings, but it is more than a feeling.
A second misconception is that love is uncontrollable. Have you ever said, ‘I fell in love’ – as if you had stumbled? We say, ‘I can’t help it if I’m in love,’ or the opposite, ‘I can’t help it; I just don’t love him (or her) anymore.’ The fact that Jesus commands us to love one another means that we do have control over whom we love and whom we do not.
Love, at its core, is two things. First, love is a matter of choice. ‘Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity’ (Colossians 3:14). Notice those two small words, ‘put on’. Like you choose the clothes you wear each day, you choose the attitude you will display. So, love is controllable.
Second, love is a matter of behavior. ‘Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth’ (1 John 3:18). It works like this: when you reach out towards someone with genuine love and concern, your feelings towards that person change. And even if they don’t return your love, God is pleased with you. That’s reward enough.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember that love is an act of the will, and not of the emotions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-06 It’s an Inside Job Part 4
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
The twin pillars of a believer’s daily life should be prayer and Scripture. But, while praying may be simple, it’s not always easy. We lack motivation, we are easily distracted, and we are not always sure what we should be praying for. So, recognizing our human inadequacies, God provides help for us in the form of the Holy Spirit.
Paul writes: ‘The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father…knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us…in harmony with God’s own will’ (vv. 26-27 NLT). That means, no matter how you feel when you pray, the Holy Spirit is in prayer with you and for you, transforming your feeblest prayers into powerful appeals to the Father.
And when it comes to the second pillar, namely the Word of God, the Holy Spirit’s role is equally dynamic. Jesus said, ‘When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come’ (John 16:13).
Note, the Holy Spirit does three things. 1) He guides us as we study the Word of God and seek to understand it. 2) He takes what Jesus wants us to know and reveals it to us. 3) He opens our understanding about things that are still to come. No question, good reference books, Scripture-based resources, and skilled Bible teachers are necessary and helpful, but they’re no substitute when it comes to hearing from the Holy Spirit for yourself and listening carefully to what He wants to tell you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, keep me rooted in Your Word and In Prayer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-05 It’s an Inside Job Part 3
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — John 14:16
In the New Testament account, Jesus told his disciples, ‘I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.’ The Greek source for the word ‘Comforter’ is Parakletos, which means ‘one who comes alongside’ to strengthen, encourage, and advise you.
How good is that! When you feel discouraged, confused, and powerless, you have access to a wise, compassionate, competent helper who will show up to support you and supply you with what you need. So instead of struggling to go it alone, learn to lean on Him, draw on His power, and trust Him to do His mighty work in you.
Paul also tells us, ‘He [the Holy Spirit] will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to’ (Galatians 5:16). The battle of the Spirit versus the flesh is unrelenting. And our fleshly nature can never be subdued by human thinking; that just produces defeat and discouragement. What’s the answer? The Holy Spirit ‘will tell you where to go and what to do’.
And here is another wonderful benefit the indwelling Holy Spirit will bring you: ‘For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God’ (Romans 8:14). Praying and taking your best guess isn’t God’s way. The Holy Spirit’s guidance – not our guesswork – should direct our lifestyle. So, the word for today is – remember ‘it’s an inside job’.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-04 It’s an Inside Job Part 2
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7
Even as the disciples’ hearts ached about Jesus’ departure, He assured them it was to their advantage because it would bring them a new era of power and authority (see John 14:12). Being ‘under new management’ wasn’t the end but a continuation of Jesus’s ministry as the Holy Spirit took the baton from the Son’s hand and placed it in theirs. The Son would leave, but the Spirit would ‘abide with [them] forever’ (John 14:16). This was their ‘advantage’. The Spirit would enter their human bodies and live permanently in them!
This is no tentative, vague connection. It’s God’s Spirit choosing us as His permanent dwelling place. Have you ever considered the advantage this gives you? For example, you might awake tomorrow feeling stressed, weary, and irritated, and, humanly speaking, these feelings could easily dictate your day. But because the Spirit lives in you, these things don’t have to control you.
Paul writes, ‘Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?’ (1 Corinthians 6:19). Once you accept that promise by faith, you become God’s temple. You can be at work, driving the kids to school, walking the dog, waiting for biopsy results, or attending the funeral of your best friend, and as you go about your everyday life, God’s Spirit is living in you. Can you see now why Jesus told the disciples it was good for Him to leave and send the Holy Spirit? Whatever you do, don’t let this life-changing truth slide by you!
Prayer Heavenly Father, Your Presence, The Holy Spirit, is always with me so I am never alone! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-03 It’s an Inside Job Part 1
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — John 14:16
Remember dinner without mobile phones, voice mail, texts, and brain overload? Friends and family enjoying each other’s company, uninterrupted by technology? We’re a generation that’s losing the art of communication and intimacy – and it’s impacting the time we spend alone with God.
Although Jesus preceded the high-tech age, He was in constant demand; multitudes pursued Him at all hours of the day and night. Nevertheless, the Scriptures tell us: ‘A great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed’ (Mark 1:35 ). Jesus made time to be alone with His Father.
It requires spiritual discipline to eliminate life’s noise and racket and be still and listen. But if you practice it, you will discover a heart-satisfying intimacy and fellowship with God. Invest a few minutes reading John chapters 14-16, and let your spirit absorb Jesus’ message. Notice, He wants His disciples to have peace, and He comforts them with the assurance that they are never left alone. These are blessings He wants you to share too.
So, how can you find this peace and comfort? Answer: ‘It’s an inside job,’ because the Holy Spirit lives in you. Jesus told His disciples, ‘I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.’ It may be Christianity’s best-kept secret, that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer and is available to provide everything we need to handle life’s difficulties. The Comforter was promised by the Son, sent by the Father, and today He is ours by faith. Embrace Him, trust His power, experience His peace, and follow His unfailing guidance.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit inside me who is my counselor. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-02 Let God’s Peace Be Your Yardstick
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
You can have peace today regardless of your circumstances: ‘The Lord of peace Himself [will] grant you His peace…at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]’ (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Think about it: God has no worries or problems because He controls everything. And as you learn to trust Him, ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and…minds in Christ’.
One Christian author put it like this: ‘If you lived in a town constantly harassed by enemy raids, one option for the military would be to send troops to actually live beside you. They wouldn’t just provide protection during an attack, they would dissuade the enemy from launching future attacks. This is the implication in Philippians 4:7. The Holy Spirit has set up a garrison [a stronghold…a defense army…an occupying force] within us. And God’s garrison of peace will indwell your heart and mind, protecting you, and healing the wounds of worry and fear that threaten to invade your life. It’s the kind of peace that transcends human understanding because it’s God-powered and Spirit-connected. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).’
Are there areas in your life where you lack peace? Give them to God. The psalmist said, ‘He speaks peace to his faithful people’ (Psalm 85:8). Diane Eble observes, ‘When God speaks, peace is the message…never settle for any course that’s not characterized by peace…it’s not God.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember each day the Peace I have in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-05-01 Zip It!
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 1 Timothy 5:13
The Bible says gossip is nothing less than ‘meddling in other people’s business’. Jon Zens says: ‘I have watched friends and…families suffer untold pain because of gossip…[the] information someone dumps on you without your consent and consent of the person [involved]. [It] can be true, partially true, or completely false. It can be motivated by good intentions, but it always contains negative…information…[and colors] people’s perceptions of [someone] unjustly. The person being torn down is out of the loop [because] talebearers usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are demeaning.’
One Christian leader said, ‘The Christian army is the only one that shoots its wounded.’ So set the standard for your own life by evaluating people based on your experience with them, not on what somebody else says. Second-hand information is notoriously unreliable and misleading, and it violates Christ’s command to ‘treat people the…way you want them to treat you’ (Matthew 7:12). When you have been hurt by tittle-tattle, you can relate to the wisdom of those words. Rumors and innuendos may seem innocent and come to you subtly, but even if someone isn’t operating in malice, their motive is irrelevant. Spreading gossip defies walking in love and looking ‘for the best’ in others (1 Corinthians 13:7).
A.W. Tozer said, ‘Never pass anything on…that will hurt [somebody]. “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8), and the talebearer has no place in God’s favor. If you know something that would hurt one of God’s children…take it out…bury it and say, “Here lies in peace the story about my brother.” God will take care of it.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to only speak words that build others up! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-30 Give It Your All
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16
Esther, a Jewish girl married to a pagan king, broke with long-standing tradition, marched into her husband’s throne room, spoke her mind, and rescued her people from annihilation. One girl saved a nation because she was willing to put everything on the line. Are you feeling inadequate today? Are you thinking, ‘Someone else should be doing this job instead of me’? Then read these words written by clergyman Edward Everett Hale: ‘I am only one; but still I am one. I can’t do everything; but still I can do something: and because I can’t do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.’
How many people did it take to rescue the dying man on the Jericho Road? One Good Samaritan. How many people did it take to confront Pharaoh and lead the exodus out of Egypt? One man, Moses. A respected leadership expert writes: ‘God has put a dream inside you. It’s yours and no one else’s. It declares your uniqueness. It holds your potential. Only you can give birth to it. Only you can live it. Not to discover it, take responsibility for it and act upon it is to negatively affect yourself as well as all those who would benefit from your dream.’ Poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, ‘For all sad words of tongue and pen; the saddest are these, “It might have been.”’
In your twilight years, will you look back and feel like you’ve spent your life struggling to fulfil other people’s expectations? Or know that you lived it to the fullest by striving to fulfil your God-given dream? Think about it now, while there’s still time to change direction.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me get off my south side going north and do something that You have prepared for me to do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-29 Three ‘Cheers’
“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
In the mid-eighties, Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as ‘Moz’, dominated the British rock charts. Known for his melancholy as much as for his music, Morrissey’s songs had predominantly depressive themes. They dwelled on fractured relationships, lonely nightclubs, and the hopeless weight of the past. In short, Morrissey was a singer who lived a cheerless life in a minor key.
How different from the life Jesus called his followers to live! On three different occasions, He encouraged his disciples to ‘be of good cheer’. Bible teacher Philip De Courcy calls them ‘the three cheers of the New Testament’. The first reason to be cheerful is because your sins are forgiven and forgotten in Christ (see Matthew 9:2). Because of Calvary, your faults and failings will never be used in judgment against you (see John 5:24).
The second reason to be cheerful is because we’re not fighting for victory but from the vantage point of victory. ‘In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33).
And the third reason to cheer is because Jesus will be with you no matter what life throws at you or who comes against you. Like the terrified disciples on board a storm-tossed boat, He will be there when you need Him. You have His word on it: ‘They were troubled…But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid”’ (Matthew 14:26-27).
Peace isn’t the absence of storms. It’s knowing Christ is with us and ‘nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God…in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:39).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to live a life of good cheer each and every day because of what YOU have done for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-28 Science Recognizes the Power of Prayer Part 3
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Paul writes, ‘Instead of worrying…shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down’ (Philippians 4:6-7). Here are three final thoughts on the power of prayer:
1) Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that when prayer and religious practices are important to people, their stress levels plummet and they experience much less anxiety.
2) University of Texas researchers determined that people who regularly attend church take a more active role in maintaining their health. They’re more likely to get regular check-ups and take vitamins, and less likely to abuse alcohol and tobacco. They also tend to exercise daily and get a good night’s sleep. Consequently, they live longer, healthier lives. The Bible says your body is the home of the Holy Spirit…it doesn’t belong to you (see 1 Corinthians 6:19), so you must respect and take care of it.
3) Research on Aging published study results from three major universities showing that people who hold meaningful religious beliefs and live accordingly are less likely to suffer from heart disease. The key lies in the critical role of blood pressure and heart disease. People who described their perspective as, ‘My religious beliefs are what lie behind my approach to life,’ had healthier blood pressure readings and weren’t negatively affected when they experienced stress.
It’s important to note that all these research reports were published by secular, non-religious institutions. The truth is, daily prayer enriches and enhances every aspect of your life.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to science what Your Word has always said. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-27 Science Recognizes the Power of Prayer Part 2
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
Seven more thoughts to consider:
1) When it comes to praying and getting involved in church, a University of Michigan study found that it reduced the emotional toll of financial stress.
2) A respected gerontologist reported that following heart surgery, private prayer can improve your overall state of well-being and make you feel less anxious.
3) A National Survey of Children’s Health confirms that kids who get involved in church have higher educational expectations and do better in math and reading. And kids who went to church as little as once a month are less likely to repeat a year in school.
4) Psychiatric Services journal cites several studies showing how positive religious beliefs play an important role in recovery from alcohol and/or drug abuse, and greatly reduce the rate of recidivism.
5) When researchers at Yale School of Medicine studied 2,000 people over sixty-five, they found that the ones who attended church were less likely to lose their mental faculties in future years.
6) Anger puts your stress reaction into overdrive, and raises your blood pressure. Ohio State University studies confirm that praying for the person you’re angry with can calm your anger and foster positive emotions like compassion, which improves your overall health.
7) And Sociological Quarterly reports that teens who find meaning and importance in their faith have better relationships with their parents, which leads to a more satisfying experience for the whole family.
Prayer Heavenly Father, in ALL things teach me to pray and use me to teach others to do the same. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-26 Science Recognizes the Power of Prayer Part 1
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
God’s Word clearly tells us to ‘pray about everything’. Today, science is beginning to recognize the value and the power of prayer. Researchers investigating the role of faith in health are discovering evidence that’s hard to refute. For example, a 2014 study conducted by The Mind Health Report confirmed that people who engage in private prayer, intercessory prayer, and church activities are healthier and live longer. Here are some additional benefits:
1) Florida State University researchers found that praying for somebody increases your readiness to forgive them. When a group of men and women prayed for the well-being of a close friend every day for four weeks, they were more willing to forgive not only the friend but people in general. Forgiveness is associated with better overall health and satisfaction with life.
2) University of Miami researchers discovered that prayer and religious practices improve your ability to pursue and achieve long-term goals. Prayer affects regions in your brain that improve self-control, and people who view their goals as sacred are more determined to attain them.
3) A research study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison concluded that victims of abusive relationships recovered a positive self-image and reduced their emotional pain when their lives included prayer.
4) Columbia University researchers found that people who value religion and regularly attend church are 90 per cent less likely to suffer from depression than their non-religious peers.
That’s pretty strong evidence in favor of prayer, wouldn’t you say?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to pray, first and through and last in all situations! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-25 When You are Tested
Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. Genesis 22:10
We are not all tested in the same ways, but we’ll be tested on the same issues. Consider Abraham. After waiting for twenty years, God gave him a son destined to ‘father…many nations’ (Genesis 17:5). Then God told him to sacrifice that boy on a remote wilderness altar. It didn’t make sense because it contradicted God’s promise, yet Abraham obeyed.
Now, it’s unlikely you’ll be called to face the same challenges as Abraham, but, rest assured, you’ll be tested on the same issues. For example, you’ll be tested on your level of commitment. When the going gets tough, will you stay committed to God and obey His Word, or will you look for a way out? When it doesn’t make sense, isn’t fair, and you don’t deserve it, will you trust God and remain faithful to Him?
You’ll be tested on the issue of who is in control of your life. When you can see the hand of the enemy at work or identify the person responsible for your predicament, pressure, or pain, will you remember that ‘all things work together for good’ and God is still running the show? (see Romans 8:28.)
Another area where you’ll be tested is on the issue of your faith. When it looked like God was reneging on his promise, yet ‘by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac’ (Hebrews 11:17). How could a loving father do such a thing? Because he never doubted that God could raise Isaac up, ‘even from the dead’ (v. 19).
So when you’re tested, ‘hold fast the profession of [your] faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)’ (Hebrews 10:23).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to hold on to You sooner rather than later and longer rather than less as I am tested more each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-24 Getting Older and Better
No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. Isaiah 65:22
In 1968 a scientist discovered a six-hundred-year-old necklace in a Native American grave. It was made up of seeds which had been strung together. He planted one of those seeds, and guess what happened: it sprouted and grew. Although the seed had been dormant for six hundred years, it still had the potential for life.
Maybe you have been a Christian for years and have been spiritually dormant for most of that time, but now you would like to be productive. You desire to be fruitful. The good news is, it’s not too late! You can begin right now. ‘The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock”’ (Psalm 92:12-15).
Did you know that a palm tree produces its greatest harvest of fruit in its final years? That can be your destiny too. ‘For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.’ That Scripture means bunions, bifocals, and baldness notwithstanding, your last season of life can be your greatest season of life. It may take you longer to do what you do, but fueled with the wisdom of God’s Word and the years you have walked with Him, you can still make a mark for God in this world.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember that I can get older and hopefully better in service to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-23 You Need Friends Who Encourage You
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17
If you’re wise, you’ll surround yourself with people who support you emotionally and spiritually, and you can share your dreams and ideas with them. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were members of The Inklings, an informal literary discussion group associated with Oxford University. It comprised teachers, writers and friends who met regularly at a well-known Oxford pub to discuss passages from their favorite books as well as their own writings.
In 1936, they decided the world needed more novels that had faith and morality as their central theme. Lewis and Tolkien decided to write science fiction after realizing the inferior quality of similar stories being published at the time. They literally tossed a coin to decide who would write a book on space travel versus time travel. Tolkien got the time travel nod, but his early efforts with such a story never really worked out. Later, however, he would achieve great success with The Lord of the Rings. Lewis wrote his famous series of novels called The Space Trilogy, and from that momentum, he eventually penned The Chronicles of Narnia.
Now, you may not reach that level of success, but you’ll go further with the encouragement of true friends than you will without it. So ask yourself what’s involved in cultivating the kinds of friendships that’ll help you fulfil your God-given potential. It may mean coming out of your shell and reaching out to others. Could you encounter hurt and rejection? Sure! But you’ll succeed only if you’re willing to take that chance.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to have Godly friends that I can share with and seek direction with so that You can work through all of us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-22 Stress Dots
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
Have you heard of stress dots? They are little pressure-sensitive dots that you place on your hand. As adrenaline changes in your body, the dots change color and reveal if you are under stress. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a tiny internal warning light that informed us every time our focus was off the Lord? Or if we had a small beep or signal light that cautioned us we were out of tune with God? We do! It’s known as tension, or stress.
Becoming tense is a sure indication that we have taken our eyes off the Lord and set them on circumstances. We are staring at the problem rather than the solution. And when we do that, we are going to get tense. When you think about it, stress can be God’s way of saying, ‘Get your focus in line: look at Me.’ The Bible says, ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’ You have the choice of focusing on your troubles or focusing on the One who holds the solution.
Corrie ten Boom wrote: ‘The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God. If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at God, you’ll be at rest.’ It’s what you concentrate on that decides your amount of peace. So when trouble comes, focus on God’s presence; He is with you, and He has promised that He will never leave you (see Hebrews 13:5).
Prayer Heavenly Father, when I become tense or feel stress, help me to refocus back on You as the one who holds the solution. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-21 Are You Producing for God?
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16
Ever wonder how some people are able to accomplish so much? What makes them so productive? Fast-forward to the end of your own life. What will it take for you to be able to say, ‘I led a productive life. I accomplished what I set out to do’? What do you consider to be a productive life? More importantly, do you know God’s definition of a productive life?
Let’s consider what it means to be a fruitful Christian. The word ‘fruit’ occurs sixty-six times in the New Testament. Three different kinds of fruit are referred to: the kind we eat – figs and grapes; biological fruit – infants; and spiritual fruit – Christ-like character. The Bible defines this spiritual fruit as nine things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). Now you know the kind of fruit that God wants produced in your life. That’s how He defines a productive life.
Jesus said, ‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples’ (John 15:8). The proof that you are a disciple of Jesus is that you bear spiritual fruit. Perhaps you’re a good ‘fruit inspector’ when it comes to examining the lives of others. But what kind of fruit is growing in your own life? Are you growing more carnal or more Christ-like? To know how fruitful you are, examine what’s growing in your life. If you like what you see, keep doing what you’re doing. If you don’t, get down on your knees and pray, ‘Father, help me to bring forth fruit that glorifies you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to bring forth fruit that glorifies You and furthers Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-20 Responding Like Jesus
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23
When someone disappoints or upsets you, what do you do? Pull out your big guns and react? Do you say, ‘You make me so mad!’? When you say that, you’re admitting someone else is controlling your emotions. You’re acknowledging you have given that person the power to determine your feelings and reactions. No one can take control from you – you give it away the moment you start reacting!
The Bible says, ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:21). To retaliate is to react. But to forgive is to act. It’s saying, ‘I choose the way I respond.’ Do other people control your emotional state? Do you let them raise your happiness level or plunge you into worry, fear, or anger? ‘Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city’ (Proverbs 16:32).
The person who can control their moods and reactions is stronger than a walled city. But a person who cannot control their own spirit is defenseless, like a city with no walls around it. That person has no defense; they are at the mercy of whatever anyone wants to do to them. Strength is found in gentleness, and gentleness has the ability to handle hurt without retaliating; it can absorb the blow without needing to strike back. Jesus called it ‘turning the other cheek’ (see Matthew 5:39). You say, ‘That’s not easy to do.’ No, it’s not; sometimes it’s almost impossible. You say, ‘To respond that way is not natural.’ You’re right, it is supernatural; it is the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). You need God’s power to live this way.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me bury how I would respond and to respond how You would respond to situations and others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-19 Making Wise Decisions
but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.
Proverbs 1:33
Think about the major decisions we make over our lifetime: choosing a mate, deciding where to live and what career to pursue. Looking back, can you say you have consistently made the wisest choices?
As Jennifer Winquist writes, ‘We make choices based on what feels best, what’s easiest…fastest…makes our kids happy…shuts up the boss…stops our problem for the moment…We buy wants instead of saving for necessities. We marry Mr. Right-Now instead of waiting for Mr. Right. We get a job instead of an education. We eat a bag of chips instead of something healthier…We don’t plan to fail, but unless we plan to win by making wise choices, we can end up getting the short end of the stick…Wise choices aren’t usually quick fixes, selfish, or short-term; they involve planning, hard work, sacrifice, and resilience. But the rewards are huge.’
James says, ’If any of you lack wisdom…ask…God…and it shall be given’ (James 1:5). The world spends billions of dollars seeking wisdom, but as God’s children, we have the wisdom of the Creator of the universe at our disposal. Furthermore, when you develop the patience and maturity to make the wise choice instead of the easy one, you never have to live in ‘fear or dread’ of the outcome.
John Mason says growing in wisdom means fearing God, pleasing Him, hearing from Him, looking to Him, choosing His way, staying humble before Him, taking His advice, receiving His correction, maintaining a prayer connection with Him, and knowing His Son personally (see Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Proverbs 2:6; 3:13; 8:10-11; 11:2; 13:10; 29:15; Ephesians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30). So…how are you doing with that so far?
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for too many times making the easy or quick choice rather than the Godly choice guided by You and Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-18 Be Strong in the Lord
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
The Bible says, ‘God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out’ (Eph 6:10-18).
The way to make a comeback is to get back up and move forward. Winning consists of getting up one more time than you were knocked down. Booker T. Washington said, ‘Success is not measured by the heights one attains, but by the obstacles one overcomes in its attainment.’ The God you serve is bigger than the obstacles you face. The strength He provides is greater than the forces arrayed against you. So be strong in the Lord!
Prayer Heavenly Father, my strength does not come from me but Thee! Keep me renewed in Your strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-17 Keep Your Conscience Clear
So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24:16
It’s been said that our conscience was given to us after the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden. In other words, our desire to know the difference between good and evil was granted through the mechanism God placed within us known as a conscience. So we must not ignore its promptings, silence its voice, or allow it to become calloused, because it’s a built-in warning system that protects us from danger and harm. That means you shouldn’t be troubled when your conscience bothers you; you should be troubled when it doesn’t.
Here are ten principles for keeping your conscience clear: 1) Always pay attention to the inner nudging that makes you stop and question your decisions. 2) Think of your conscience as a God-given filter that helps keep your heart pure. 3) Examine your motives in all ‘giving’ situations. 4) If you think you may have hurt someone’s feelings, ask for forgiveness. 5) Invite God to examine your heart and reveal changes that need to be made in your attitudes and actions. 6) To the best of your ability, don’t knowingly involve yourself in compromising situations. 7) Consider others first, and honor them with your words and actions. 8) Remember that your conscience is your moral compass. 9) Establish ethical guidelines in all your business dealings. 10) When a thought leaves you feeling unsettled, take time to pray and talk about it with someone you trust.
The word for today is – always maintain a clear conscience before God.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me always keep in front of me Your spiritual guidelines for my life – and live them and listen to my conscience when I do not. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-16 The Sin of Omission
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:17
We tend to focus on sins of commission – the wrong we do. But what about sins of omission – the good we fail to do? In Christ’s parables, when someone was condemned, it was often over a sin of omission. A man was put out of a wedding because he had no wedding garment (see Matthew 22:12). Five virgins were excluded from the wedding party because they’d no oil in their lamps (see Matthew 25:3-11). A servant who buried his talent in the ground instead of using it, forfeited it (see Matthew 25:25-28). A rich man who failed to care for his neighbor was condemned for it (see Luke 16:19-24). A barren fig tree that failed to produce fruit was cursed and died (see Mark 11:20-24).
You say, ‘But I’m interested in a deeper spiritual life.’ Well, the deepest spiritual life is one spent doing good to others! And it’s the basis on which you’ll be judged and rewarded. ‘Then the King will…say… “I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?” And He will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me”’ (Matthew 25:41-45).
So when you’ve a chance to do good – do it!
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me Your eyes to see the needs as You see them – and then to respond! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-15 A Key to Answered Prayer
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58:7
Max Lucado writes: ‘Ours is the wealthiest generation of Christians ever. We are bright, educated and experienced. We can travel around the world in twenty-four hours or send a message in a millisecond. We have the most sophisticated research and medicines at the tips of our fingers. We have ample resources. A mere 2 per cent of the world’s grain harvest would be enough, if shared, to erase the problems of hunger and malnutrition around the world. There is enough food on the planet to offer every person twenty-five hundred calories of sustenance a day. We have enough food to feed the hungry…When your grandchildren discover you lived during a day in which 1.75 billion people were poor and 1 billion were hungry, how will they judge your response?’
More importantly, what will God say? When the Israelites complained that God wouldn’t answer their prayer, He told them: ‘What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once…Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, “Here I am.”…If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness…I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life’ (vv. 7-11). So instead of focusing on your own needs, focus on the needs of others. That’s a key to answered prayer.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Help me keep my focus on the needs of others and not myself – as You always did. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-14 God Will Help You Succeed
For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, Luke 5:9
[Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch…Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they…left everything and followed him’ (vv. 4-11).
Here are seven life-changing truths you need to learn: 1) Jesus will come to where you work and help you; 2) When what you are doing is not working, He will show you a better way; 3) Even though it may not make sense at the moment, do what He tells you; 4) The success He has in mind for you is greater than anything you can envision for yourself; 5) Your existing systems may not be able to handle what He has in mind, so be willing to change how you do things; 6) When you experience His goodness, you’ll fall at His feet and acknowledge Him as your Lord; 7) When you realize what He has in mind for you, you’ll leave everything and follow Him.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to stop trying to succeed on my own and follow Your lead and direction instead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-13 An Apology That Works
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
A genuine apology can help heal and restore a strained or broken relationship. But as Dr. Gary Chapman tells us, it doesn’t end there. Observe these:
1) Saying ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t enough! It’s a good and necessary start, but it’s not a good finish. For example, ‘I’m sorry you took it that way’ isn’t an apology; it’s a covert attack! You need to specifically confess what you’re remorseful about. ‘I’m so sorry that what I said insulted you’ acknowledges what you did and affirms the wounded person.
2) Take full responsibility for your behavior. Without that, there is no healing or reconciliation. ‘I was wrong to speak to you like that’ is honest, humble, concrete, and responsible. It helps the injured party see your apology as genuine. Genuineness diminishes anger and encourages others to trust and accept your words.
3) Offer to make amends where possible. Ask, ‘Is there anything I can do to make things better?’ Putting yourself on the line to do everything you can do makes your apology heartfelt and sincere. James puts it like this: ‘Tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed.’
4) Ask for forgiveness – don’t take it for granted. ‘Will you please forgive me for what I did?’ You need to say it and the other person needs to hear it before healing and restoration can start. When you ask for forgiveness and it’s been granted, you have ‘signed on the dotted line’ together. You’re recording your mutual commitment to move beyond the hurt and work towards a healthier relationship.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to ask others to forgive me for any wrongs I may have done. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-12 Control What You Say
my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Proverbs 23:16
Never underestimate the power of a spoken word. Only one man in American history ever resigned from the presidency: Richard Nixon. Have you ever considered what brought Mr. Nixon down? Traditional thinking says it was the tapes of his private conversations. But it wasn’t the tapes, it was his tongue. It wasn’t the tapes but what he said on the tapes that determined his demise.
The words tongue, mouth, lips, and words are mentioned in the book of Proverbs almost 150 times; roughly five times in each of the thirty-one chapters. The fact that so much importance is placed on our words tells us we had better take care of what comes out of our mouths. Stop and consider this: in a period of fifty years, the average person says enough words to create twelve thousand volumes of three hundred pages each. If that’s the average, think about the libraries you’re filling and the legacy you’re leaving behind. And sadly, some of the words you speak will never be forgotten!
The poet wrote, ‘If 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.’ Solomon wanted his children to grow up with a heart of wisdom, so he said, ‘My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right’ (vv. 15-16). So today, control your tongue.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me today (and all days) to think before I speak and to be careful in what I say to make sure it is not causing hurt or harm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-11 Peace in the Tsunamis of Life
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Life is full of tsunamis. Many of us have encountered personal tsunamis – those tidal waves that hit unexpectedly, out of the blue, leaving in their wake anger, bitterness, depression, brokenness, mistrust and unbearable grief. But somehow life goes on. We survive and most of us will admit that we could not have done it without God. As we reach out, He reaches down and plucks us out of the debris. He comforts us and sets us down on solid ground so that we in turn can comfort others in their time of need. (2 Corinthians 1:4) Many a ministry has been born out of personal suffering and distress.
When we ask: “Where is God in all this?” we should remember that there is no amount of grief, pain, humiliation, rejection, mental or physical torture we might experience that Jesus Himself did not suffer. The cross is a permanent reminder. In answer to the question, “Where is God in all this?” I can only say – at the same place when His Son was crucified on the cross for our sins.
And remember, after the crucifixion there is always Resurrection Sunday! Amen! He is risen indeed!
Prayer Heavenly Father, in the midst of personal struggles, help me remember that You are there, You understand, and You use me by comforting me so that I can comfort others.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-10 The Resurrection Calls for a Decision
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:4
‘Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time…Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all…I also saw him’ (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NLT).
Some of history’s greatest intellectuals started as atheists and ended up putting their trust in Jesus. Why? They examined the evidence! If Jesus was who He claimed to be, God incarnate, taking upon Himself human form, dying for our sins and rising again, then they knew they had a life-changing decision to make: either accept Him or reject Him. And you must make that same decision.
Peter told his listeners on the day of Pentecost: ‘You nailed him to a cross…But God…raised him back to life’ (Acts 2:23-24). They said, ‘What should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God’ (Acts 2:37-38). That day three thousand souls came to Christ and the church was launched. Bottom line, Jesus died for your sins and rose again to represent you as an advocate before the throne of God. If you are wise you will accept Him as your Lord and Savior knowing that He will give you an abundant life now, and eternal life in heaven.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I have eternal life because You live! Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-09 The Resurrection is God’s ‘Sting’ Operation
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
In a ‘sting’ operation, law enforcement agents set the bad guy up in order to bring him down. That’s what God did to Satan at the cross. For three days it seemed as though Satan had won. Then Jesus rose from the dead and turned his plans upside down: ‘He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross’ (Colossians 2:15). The thing Satan feared most, the birth of a church with the power to change the world through the gospel, had come to pass.
‘The rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord’ (1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT). Christ’s enemies even tried to stop the truth of the resurrection from getting out: They decided to give the soldiers a large bribe…“You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body’”…So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say’ (Matthew 28:12-15).
Normally hatred for a person ends when they die. So why then do some people hate Jesus? Because the resurrection is the ultimate proof that He is Lord! Indeed, you cannot be saved unless you believe in the resurrection: ‘If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation’ (Romans 10:9-10).
Prayer Heavenly Father, the only place You are NOT is in the tomb! I now have life because of You. Thank You in Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-08 Burial Practices for the Jews
Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:42
The Body
According to Jewish interpretation of the Old Testament Law, burial had to occur within 24 hours (Deut. 21:23). This was partly due to the climate in Israel, and partly because the body was considered to be ceremonially unclean and therefore had to be prepared for burial as soon as possible.
Shortly after death, family members came to mourn and prepare the body. The body was washed, anointed with various oils and spices, and wrapped with special, white linen grave clothes that contained spices (John 19:39-40).
The Mourning Process
Family and friends gathered for a very intense period of mourning involving loud expressions of sorrow and lamentation. Those who grieved frequently wore sackcloth mourning clothes, made of rough goat-hair fabric, as an expression of sorrow.
After the body was prepared, it was carried to the cemetery in a procession which included professional mourners hired to express the appropriate public grief. Often they were joined by someone playing the flute.
The period of mourning varied. Some believe that it lasted seven days as it does today in Orthodox Jewish tradition. However, a rabbinical document refers to the mourning period lasting three days, possibly because after this amount of time it was certain that the person was actually dead. After the third day, on the forth day, the tomb would be reopened and the body officially declared dead. The tomb was then sealed and one year from that date opened again for the bones to be gathered and placed in an ossuary.
Following the sealing of the tomb after the fourth day, mourning continued for a total of thirty days.
Community Support
The home of the deceased was considered unclean during the mourning time; nothing could be prepared to eat in the home. Neighbors provided food or the family members went to neighbors’ homes to eat, which provided a time of comfort and encouragement as the community helped the grieving family.
This extensive burial process served as a reminder of the many family members who had died in the past, and it made death a very significant part of community life.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son which gives me hope in death, knowing that we have eternal life because of You and death is no longer our enemy. You have prepared a table for me. Thank You Jesus! Amen
2023-04-07 I.N.R.I.
It was the third hour when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. Mark 15: 25-26
An inscription was written on whitened board and placed upon the Cross, probably by or above His sacred head now, indeed, painfully wounded. It was intended to give the reason for the execution, the crime that had led to this sorry end. According to Luke (23:22), Pilate had had the charge written up. In a final act of defiance against the chief priests, he wrote that Jesus was guilty of being ‘Rex Ioudaeorum.’ Four letters summarized both His name and the charge: I.N.R.I., which means, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. This was the crime of which Jesus was found guilty.
Pilate had taken his petty revenge upon the chief priests by affixing to the Cross the very words to which they had objected. He might have done better to have upheld the Law. The inscription was even in three different languages (Aramaic, Latin and Greek) so that no one might miss the point (John 19:20). The chief priests were outraged (John 19:21), but Pilate would not change what had been written. So they began to taunt the Savior with the words, daring Him to come down from the cross if He was, in fact, King of the Jews (Matthew 27:42).
The temptation must have been great for Jesus. All He had to do was to ask and legions of angels would have leapt to His command, but He knew that to do so would be to fail. Christ had not come in order to defeat evil and foolish men; He had come to defeat the entrenched power of sin, Satan, and death. He knew that to do the greater deed He would have to be obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Yes, He was a king. He was the King, but one such as they had never imagined.
What do we do when people ridicule us? Do we seek revenge? Do we become angry? Or do we leave judgment in the hands of God and stay focused on why God has us here – to reflect Him and tell others about Him. To love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, to be like Jesus.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me always to see beyond my current moment and to see You and Your will in all that I do. Help me to return evil with good, hatred with love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-06 Crucifixion Prophecies
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Psalm 22:24
The Christian faith is built upon the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus’ death removed the barrier of sin between humankind and God, and brought into being a new era of relationship.
Prophecies given hundreds of years before Jesus was even born were precisely fulfilled when Jesus died. Every one of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion was carried out.
Some Examples:
The Old Testament prophesied that Jesus’ soldiers would pierce his hands and feet, cast lots for his clothing, and hurl insults at him. This prophecy was, indeed, fulfilled.
Mark 15:25-32 says, “It was the third hour when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: ‘the King of the Jews’… those who passed by hurled insults at him… in the same way the chief priests and teachers of the law mocked him among themselves…Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” (See also Ps. 22:16-18 and John 19:23-24).
Another Old Testament prophecy predicted that none of Jesus’ bones would be broken. This prophecy was carried out as well. John 19:33 says, “But when they came to Jesus, and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. (See also Ps. 34:20; Zech 12:10)
Isaiah predicted that Jesus would be despised and rejected by men, and in addition would experience much sorrow and suffering. Jesus certainly did face sorrow and rejection. During his ministry Jesus was rejected by some of his followers (John 6:66), the Pharisees (John 7:47), Peter (Matt. 26:69-75), and all the disciples.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Your everlasting plan, as in the past, still today moves forward. Help me be part of Your will to carry out Your plan to touch those who hurt with the salvation/hope that can be found only in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-05 Resisting Arrest
The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Mark 14: 46-47
We are told that they ‘laid hands on Him.’ But this was no gentle arrest, there was no deference given to Jesus. In the original, the word means ‘they clapped hands on Him.’ There is more than a hint of violence involved. Despite His reputation as a preacher of peace, Jesus was treated like a common, dangerous criminal. It was, of course, a taste of things to come.
One of those present was so outraged by the treatment that Jesus was receiving that he drew his sword and lashed out, cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. John, writing later, tells us that this was impetuous Peter; the other Gospel-writers, wisely, decide not to give the name. We should notice that he had a sword, in fact there were two swords amongst the disciples, indeed, just before His death, Jesus had advised His disciples to take swords.
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied. Luke 22:36-38
However, Jesus also said that those who take up the sword would die by it. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Perhaps Jesus’ point to the disciples was to be a test, would they allow to happen what he had told them repeatedly what MUST take place….
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Luke 9:22
Or would they act in the same way as those coming to arrest Jesus? Obviously, at least one of them failed the test.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to handle opposition in the same way You faced opposition, with love and forgiveness. Let me trust You in all situations. Help me to “turn the other cheek” as You taught us to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-04 Take This Cup
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14: 35-36
After moving off a little way, Jesus prostrated Himself before His Father and continued in prayer. That we know what He said can only be due to His intimacy with His disciples after the resurrection. Jesus admitted that He prayed that God might find some other way to achieve His purposes. “If it is possible… let this hour pass from me.”
This was not an attempt to evade responsibility. Jesus knew that He had been sent to offer His life as a sacrifice, an atonement for sin, and He did not seek to shirk that responsibility at all. But He did not relish the thought of being betrayed, of being deserted by those He loved, of suffering the mockery and scorn of the crowd. If He could have avoided such things He would, at least, have saved Himself much heartache; but it was not to be.
Jesus appealed to God as His “Abba, Father,” using the familiar term still used by Hebrew children today. This was a cry from the heart. What father could deny it? Yet even as He asked, Jesus knew that the cup He must take, the cup tainted with so much bitterness added by the wickedness and folly of His enemies, had to be drained to the dregs. The Father, who would not cause His child an unnecessary tear, had in view a far larger purpose: the salvation of those who would call upon His Name. Jesus’ submission should stand for that of His people: “not my will but Yours be done.”
Prayer Heavenly Father, there are many “painful things” that I wish I could avoid in my life, but in Your love and mercy You have me face them because of the outcome that You have in store for me. Help me to trust You, as Jesus did, and to say, “not my will but Yours be done.” Amen
HISTORY OF THE TEAR CUP
Though the Bible is filled with joyfulness and the like, there is a fair amount of weeping and wailing, of crying and gnashing of teeth. This is part of life, and the biblical writers do not avoid these expressions of sadness or sorrow.
The ancient Hebrews especially honored suffering and crying, understanding this behavior as a sign, a symbol, of the depth of their caring and their passion.
For example, when they were sad, distraught, filled with pain, the Israelites cried into tiny ceramic tear cups, some of which are still preserved today.(see picture of a tear cup I got in Israel that dates to the time of Christ) When they finished weeping, they capped their tear cups and put them away for the next time. It was a way of saving their tears. Why save them? Because they believed they were precious; tears showed that a person cared. A full cup of tears was proof of deep feelings, that one had suffered terribly and had survived.
Many of us go through life, pretending it’s not as hard as it really is. We men especially avoid crying as much as possible. We’re taught not to cry, to tough it out, to hide our feelings, otherwise we’ll be seen as weak or soft. By building up calluses on our hearts, we tough men (and some women also) think that we protect ourselves from being emotionally wounded. But not so those Hebrews, especially the men. They were not only not afraid to cry, but their tears were sacraments of love, and the fuller a person’s tear cup, the more that person was admired and esteemed. Great-hearted people apparently cried more than others. Life touched them more deeply, and they wept into their cups of tears until they could truly say, “my cup runneth over.”
2023-04-03 Scriptures Fulfilled
Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Mark 14: 49
It would have been the easiest thing in the world for the authorities to have taken Jesus while He was in the temple teaching. Most recently, at least, He had been there ‘day by day.’ Instead, the chief priests and scribes made their move in the middle of the night, in an olive grove. Why? Two reasons are apparent.
“But not during the Feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” Matthew 26:5 and Mark 14:2
First, they were afraid of the crowds. Palm Sunday was apparently not an abnormality. Jesus did enjoy enormous popular respect, especially from those that were outcasts. Many people followed Him and paid attention to His teachings. Rather than face the very real possibility of a riot in the temple courts, they decided to move against Him when the crowds would be absent. Fear drove them.
Second, it happened as it did because it was part of God’s plan for it to happen that way. When Judas went to arrange for Jesus to be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law, they specifically told him that they did not want it to take place during the Feast! (Mark 14:2) But man’s plans are not God’s plans, and HIS plans always win out. It was in the upper room, when Jesus was with the disciples, that He told Judas that now was the time (John 13:27).
As much as each of us likes to think that we are in control, that we are in charge of things, that we can determine our destiny, we are painfully confronted with the reality that the only plans that matter, the only plans that will come to fulfillment, are the plans that God has. His WILL BE DONE!
Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, help me be submissive to Your will, to Your way, to Your walk. Only in You will I find fulfillment and happiness and eternity for my life – life with You!
In Jesus name, Amen
2023-04-02 Palm Sunday
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19:41-44
The Passover
For the Jewish people, Passover was more than a religious observance. It was the time of year when they celebrated liberation from Egyptian bondage.
During Jesus’ time, they also used this opportunity to express their longing for political freedom from Rome. Jews who claimed to be “messiahs” had so often caused riots during Passover that the Romans brought extra troops into Jerusalem during the Passover season. The Roman soldiers did not hesitate to shed blood to keep the peace.
Jesus on His way to Jerusalem
On the Sunday before Passover, Jesus came out of the wilderness on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives (just as the prophecy said the Messiah would come).
People spread cloaks and branches on the road before him. Then the disciples “began, joyfully, to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen” (Luke 19:37). The crowd began shouting, “Hosanna,” a slogan of the ultra-nationalistic Zealots, which meant, “Please save us! Give us freedom! We’re sick of these Romans!”
The Palm Branches
The people also waved palm branches, a symbol that had once been placed on Jewish coins when the Jewish nation was free. Thus the palm branches were not a symbol of peace and love, as Christians usually assume; they were a symbol of Jewish nationalism, an expression of the people’s desire for political freedom.
Jesus as the Passover Lamb
Yet Jesus came to the people as the Lamb of God. Jesus, the sinless Messiah who would die on humankind’s behalf, appeared on the very day that people chose their spotless Passover lambs!
It’s almost as if God said to the world, “Here’s my Lamb. Will you chose Him?” But instead of turning to Jesus as the Lamb of God, the crowds misunderstood the type of Messiah Jesus was. They wanted Him to be their political-military deliverer.
Jesus Wept
In response, Jesus wept. The tears Jesus shed as the people cried out their political “Hosannas” were tears of grief for the hearts of His people.
Jesus foresaw the terrible devastation of Jerusalem that would result because the people did not recognize Him as God’s Messiah. The people were looking for a messiah who offered political deliverance and a political kingdom. However they would have nothing to do with the Messiah who offered forgiveness and deliverance from sin. In His grief over their distorted beliefs, Jesus wept out loud.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I hate to think how many times You have wept over me – seeing me go in directions that take me anywhere but to You and the source of my peace. Thank You for Your forgiveness and the Peace that I have in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-04-01 Is God Saying ‘Wait’?
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalms 84:11
Often the toughest times in life are those moments when all we know about God doesn’t seem to help or get us the results we want. That’s when we learn about His silence. Whenever God doesn’t say a word, He’s teaching, even in stillness. He’s allowing us to grow by encouraging us to think, study and arrive at conclusions while He stands by like the loving parent He is.
Faith comes by hearing, but patience comes by silence. Patience is what God gives you when bad things remain unchanged. It’s His sedative for the troubled heart. It’s the balm He rubs into your aching muscles when it feels like you’re being stretched to breaking point. These are the times when the pain lasts so long that only God can release the patience required – the sheer grace to get you through it.
There are great benefits to waiting. For example, if you learn to wait and observe, you’ll make better choices. The thing you think you can’t live without today, you may be glad to live without tomorrow. ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.’ So when God says, ‘Wait,’ trust Him. Either it’s not what you need at this time, or He has something better in mind for you. You say, ‘But what am I going to do in the meantime?’ The Bible says, ‘Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart’ (Psalm 27:14 NKJV). Stop fussing, stop pushing, allow God to work and you’ll come out of this stronger and with a better result.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Give me patience as I wait upon You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-31 Keep Exercising Your Faith Part 2
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2:29
It’s not enough to simply listen to a sermon, you must try to hear what God is saying to you. You can hear something very different from what the person sitting beside you in church hears. Why? Because God is personalizing the message to you.
The Bible is called ‘the living Word’ (see Hebrews 4:12) because certain Scriptures suddenly come to life and take root within you. Sometimes you will hear what nobody else hears. You may even miss several of the sermon points and still come home with the answer you need.
Paul says, ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17). When you can say, ‘I get it, it’s mine,’ the faith that comes by hearing is doing its special work within you. Before Israel went into battle, the prophets would consult God to be sure He was leading them. That’s because God honors faith only when it’s based on what He promised. So what you should fight for is what God has promised! Remember, you can’t say God failed you if He didn’t promise it to you in the first place. And you shouldn’t get upset when your own misguided desires make you reach for what He gave to somebody else.
The old-timers used to sing, ‘Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line,’ and that’s true inasmuch as God loves us all equally. But there are specific promises He wants to fulfil in your life because your calling is different from others. That’s why you must always seek God for clarity and confirmation.
Prayer Heavenly Father, as I read and meditate on Your LIVING WORD, help me listen to what You are saying to me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-30 Keep Exercising Your Faith Part 1
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
Paul writes, ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for’ (Hebrews 11:1). Observe the words ‘now faith’. Thank God for the faith of our fathers, but to move the mountain that stands in your way, you need ‘now faith’. Jesus said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move…and it will move”’ (Matthew 17:20). Your grandmother’s faith may have moved her mountain, but it’s going to take your own faith to move ‘this mountain’. We all have mountains in our lives, and God is willing to move them. So what’s the problem? Doubt! Other people’s opinions! Failure to understand God’s Word!
Even though Jesus gave His disciples power to heal the sick, they were rendered helpless by a demon-possessed boy. ‘Why could we not cast the spirit out of him?’ they asked (see Matthew 17:19). Notice what Jesus told them:
1) Be willing to start small. A tiny ‘mustard seed’ can grow into something much bigger. So start where you are and believe God for ordinary, everyday things, and when He honors your faith, thank Him and build on it.
2) Watch what you say. ‘If you have faith…you will say to this mountain, “Move…and it will move.”’ Your words release the life-giving force of God’s Word. So line up what comes out of your mouth with what’s written in Scripture.
3) Be willing to do what’s needed. Some mountains need a little extra prayer, or in the case of this demon-possessed boy, the power that comes through fasting.
The bottom line is this: when you do what God’s Word says, you will see mountains moved in your life.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me focus more on being obedient to You and Your Word to face the mountains in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-29 Try to Slow Down Part 2
Whoever believes will not act hastily. Isaiah 28:16
Every time you get in hurry mode, you send a ‘state of emergency’ signal to your body. And it responds by releasing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that prepare you to deal with danger. The body cannot distinguish between physical danger, or the danger of losing your job, or any other form of stress and pressure. It only knows that action has to be taken and that it must energize you to deal with it.
Now, this is a good thing if you’re indeed physically threatened. But to live with your body constantly on high alert is like fighting a fifteen-round nonstop boxing match. Sooner or later, you pay the price in the form of heart disease, ulcers, forgetfulness, and a multitude of other conditions.
What’s the cure? A-B-C: Awareness, Belief, Change. Become aware of your continual high-gear mode and what part you play each time you hurry. Ask yourself, ‘How could I have prevented this?’ Believe that the Holy Spirit will give you victory if you ask Him and begin to change your behavior. Change – consciously slow down. Talk slower, move slower.
‘Haste makes waste.’ Haste causes duplication of work, accidents, and other things that result in wasted time. Question: are you speed-reading today’s devotion? If so, this is the word for you today: try taking twice as long to read and meditate on what you’re reading, and ask God, ‘What are you saying to me? What changes do you want to bring about in my life? In what ways do you want me to improve?’ God is not in a hurry, so slow down and get in sync with Him.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me slow down to make the best use of the time You have given me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-28 Try to Slow Down Part 1
But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12
Have you heard of ‘hurry sickness’? Those who have it zoom in and out of lanes in congested traffic; try to be the first off the plane, even though they must wait forever at baggage claim; honk at you if you don’t take off like a racehorse when the traffic light turns green; tap their fingers against anything they can find when they have to wait; punch the elevator button repeatedly to attempt to move it faster.
They remind us of hummingbirds. These tiny birds can fly forward, then hover in mid-air going nowhere. Their tiny wings can move up to seventy-five times each second! The trouble is, their average life span is only three years compared to an eagle that lives thirty years. What’s the difference? The eagle has learned to conserve its energy by riding the God-given wind currents. The message here is simple: when you draw on the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, you last longer and go higher than you ever dreamed.
One pastor said he was a ‘stress-distributing machine’ when he was younger, and everybody around him felt it. One day one of his kids said to him, ‘Daddy, I’ll try to hurry up and tell you this.’ He replied, ‘It’s okay, honey, you can speak slowly.’ After a long pause, he had an ‘aha’ moment when his child said, ‘Then – listen – slowly!’ Deciding to move at a slower pace will definitely improve the quality of your life and your relationships.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to slow down, listen better, and serve others more effectively. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-27 God Will Provide ‘All Things’ You Need
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
The Bible says, ‘He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ One author gives this analogy:
‘Suppose a man comes upon a child being beaten by thugs. He dashes into the mob, rescues the boy, and carries him to a hospital. The youngster is nursed to health. The man pays for the child’s treatment. He learns that the child is an orphan and adopts him as his own and gives the boy his name. Then one night, months later, the father hears the son sobbing into his pillow. He goes to him and asks about the tears. “I’m worried, Daddy…about tomorrow. Where will I get food to eat? How am I going to buy clothes to stay warm? And where will I sleep?” The father is rightfully troubled. “Haven’t I shown you? Don’t you understand? I risked my life to save you. I gave my money to treat you. You wear my name. I’ve called you my son. Would I do all that and then not meet your needs?”
Honestly, now. Did God save you so you would fret? Would He teach you to walk just to watch you fall? Would He be nailed to the cross for your sins and then disregard your prayers? Come on! Is Scripture teasing us when it says, “He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11)?’
You know better, don’t you? So stop worrying, and stand securely on His promise that He will ‘graciously give us all things’.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for ALL You have and continue to do for providing for my needs – not my greeds. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-26 How Are You Treating Your Family?
Is it not my family God has chosen? 2 Samuel 23:5
Whether in church or in the workplace, if you’re ‘the person in charge’, here is a question you need to seriously address: if you don’t love and take care of your own family, why should the people who look to you for direction think you will love and take care of them? Does that question make you uncomfortable? Does it cause you to react by saying, ‘My personal life is nobody else’s business’? Well, that’s where you’re wrong! You lead by example. And while the people around you may not feel free to tell you what they think of you, that doesn’t keep them from thinking it or voicing it to others.
In your quest for success, are you taking your family with you or are you leaving them behind? Are you giving them the time and attention they deserve, or are they routinely subjected to your frustrations at the end of a trying day? Are they more important to you than your career, your success, or your personal happiness? They should be. If you win every accolade and award available in the workplace and fail on the home front, what have you gained? Who will celebrate with you?
Psychologist William James said, ‘In every person…there is a deep craving to be appreciated.’ And the shallow comments of fellow workers who praise your talent and accomplishments won’t meet that need. It can only be met in a home where acceptance, love, and encouragement bonds each family member together. Your home should be your haven – the place where you find shelter from the storms of life. What are you doing to make it like that?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me appreciate my family more and treat them with love and respect. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-25 Mind Your Mind
for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. Proverbs 23:7
When we’re young, we’re told, ‘Mind your manners.’ When we launch out into a career, we’re told, ‘Mind your business.’ Well, here is some wise counsel that applies to all of life: ‘Mind your mind!’ When you lose out in that arena, you lose out everywhere else! In Proverbs 23, Solomon outlines six principles to live by when it comes to thinking:
1) Your thoughts determine your character. ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.’ Before you tell a lie, you first entertain it and think like a liar. Before you commit adultery, you first entertain a fantasy. So if you don’t want to do something, stop dwelling on it!
2) Don’t waste your thoughts on people who don’t value them. ‘Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words’ (v. 9).
3) The first person you must learn to lead is yourself. ‘Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge’ (v. 12). As long as you keep growing, you can keep leading.
4) Be sure your role models are people of principle and integrity. ‘Do not let your heart envy sinners’ (v. 17).
5) Remain confident that the vision God has given you will come to pass. ‘Be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off’ (vv. 17-18).
6) Remain steadfast in what you know is right. Don’t get side-tracked. ‘Hear…and be wise; and guide your heart in the way’ (v. 19).
Bottom line: mind your mind.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me mind my mind and follow Your Word and directions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-24 Wait on God!
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalms 27:14
When we become impatient and react without thinking, we can do damage to ourselves and others. Sometimes when we pray and God doesn’t respond quickly enough, we decide to take matters into our own hands and things get worse as a result. When God tells you to wait, He is saying, ‘Trust me with the timing, the ways and means, and you will get a better result.’
David wrote: ‘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; wait, I say, on the LORD!’ (vv. 13-14 NKJV). It can be tough to wait on the Lord. It’s much easier in the heat of the moment to lose your calm. Stop and look back. How did the hasty and prayerless decisions you made in the past turn out? Do you think this situation will be different? Not a chance! What do you want? Temporary relief or a permanent solution? Haste makes waste! When you act in haste, you do things you end up regretting and having to apologize for, or worse, justifying!
Impulsiveness got King Saul into serious trouble. Instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel to arrive and the priests to offer a peace offering to God ensuring their victory over the Philistines, Saul grew impatient, usurped the role of a priest, and offered the sacrifice himself. When Samuel asked him why, he replied, ‘I felt compelled’ (1 Samuel 13:12). And the result? ‘Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly…now your kingdom shall not continue”’ (vv. 13-14). So, wait on God.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me overcome being impatient and instead to wait and follow Your lead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-23 Jesus Knows Your Potential
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Have the experiences you have been through made you a different person from the one God intended you to be? Have the people, pursuits, and pleasures you chose resulted in a feeling of hopelessness about your future? When you lose your sense of worth, it’s hard to believe God could love you – but He does. He knows that hidden inside you is a person who can do great things for Him. That’s why He is stirring your heart and letting you know He is moving in your life. So respond to Him in faith. Dare to believe that He can make you ‘a new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Shift your confidence from your own weakness to His power. Trust in Him rather than in yourself. Whether your wounds were self-inflicted or caused by others, Jesus will heal you and raise you up again.
You say, ‘But you don’t know the things I have done, and the people I have hurt.’ Jesus does. And He wants to straighten out the crooked places in your heart and make you whole. But you must allow Him access to every area of your life. When He comes into your heart, you will never be the same broken person again.
David’s sins became a national scandal. But when God forgave and restored him, he wrote: ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things’ (Psalm 103:2-5). Notice the potential benefits of committing your life to Christ: forgiveness, healing, freedom from destructive habits, mercy, and satisfaction.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me and loving me and seeing something in me that I could not see. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-22 When You Fail, Jesus Prays for You
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32
‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’ (vv. 31-32). Are you involved in things you never thought yourself capable of doing? You never thought you would have an affair. You never thought you would cheat, steal, and lie to get ahead. You never thought you would become jealous and resentful of someone else’s success. You never thought you would neglect or mistreat your family. You never thought you would get hooked on pornography. You never thought you would become addicted to drugs and alcohol. You’re not alone!
Peter swore that he would never deny Jesus, but he did. And not just once but repeatedly. Did Peter love the Lord? Absolutely. But because he was weak, he turned his back on Him. What a load of guilt to carry. No wonder he ‘went out and wept bitterly’ (v. 62). But Jesus knew in advance it would happen and told Peter that He would be praying for him.
Here is an amazing thought: when you sin, Jesus prays for you! ‘Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them’ (Hebrews 7:25). Picture this: you’re struggling with a sinful habit, while at the same time, Jesus presents His cleansing blood to the Father and petitions Him for help and mercy on your behalf. Will Jesus’ prayers on your behalf be answered? Of course. And like Peter, however long it takes, He will work with you until you’re restored.
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for all of my failures. Thank You for still loving me back to restoration and change. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-21 Sparrows
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
Jesus said: ‘Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?…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’ (vv. 26-33).
If you need some more scriptural promises to stand on, here they are: ‘Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need’ (Psalm 34:9). ‘Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house…He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord’ (Psalm 112:1-7).
God recorded these promises in His Word so that you could read them over and over, and in reading them, rise above worry and live your life with joy and confidence.
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me when I worry and am fearful about what is going to happen rather than trusting You knowing “You have this and care about me”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-20 How to be Financially Secure
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; Psalms 37:21
Your desire for financial security can discourage you from giving. Why? Because each dollar you give away feels like it’s no longer available for your protection. But the opposite is true. Our sense of freedom and security actually increases when we give, because giving is a declaration that our security rests someplace other than the bank or our own earning capacity. Giving is an act of confidence in God, and it’s the only way to overcome financial insecurity.
Think of all the things in life over which we have little or no control. Illness. Accidents. Job losses. Economic conditions. No wonder we’re insecure! The Bible says: ‘One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed’ (Proverbs 11:24-25). To the rational mind it sounds counterintuitive, but to the kingdom mind it makes good sense.
Paul writes: ‘“A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.” Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don’t feel sorry that you must give and don’t feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others’ (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). In your hand, a dollar will never be worth more than a dollar. But when you sow it into God’s kingdom, it begins a harvest you can reap when you have a need. Giving is truly the key to financial security.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me be faithful and generous with what You have entrusted to me that always belongs to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-19 Do Not Withhold It – Give It!
and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, Genesis 22:16-17
God won’t ask you for what you don’t have, but sometimes He will ask for the thing you really want to keep. Why? To see if there is anything you value or depend on more than Him. Abraham was tested like nobody else in history. But he passed the test and was blessed like very few others in history.
Imagine having God say to you, ‘Take now your son, your only son…whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you’ (v. 2). Can you envision the questions that would swirl through your mind? Little wonder Abraham was called ‘the friend of God’ (James 2:23) and ‘the father of all them that believe’ (Romans 4:11). And when the test was over, God said this: ‘Because you have done this thing, and have not withheld…your only son…I will bless you, and…multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore… In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice’ (Genesis 22:16-18).
So here is the question: what is God asking of you? Are you wrestling with it? Are you withholding what He wants, or are you ‘all in’? Isaac was the hardest seed Abraham ever had to sow. But that seed produced a harvest of blessing greater than anything Abraham ever dreamed or thought possible. What is God asking you to do today? When you say yes to Him, you will experience a whole new level of blessing in your life. Try it and see.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me let go of all the things that I want to hold on to for security – all of which are false – so that I can hold on to the only true security, You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-18 You Need a Support System
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
God created our physical bodies with internal systems that support each other. And it’s the same in our relationships. Everybody needs a support system. Sometimes when others disappoint us, we say, ‘From now on it’s just going to be God and me!’ That’s a big mistake! It’s the sheep who strays from the fold that gets eaten by the wolf. Satan will isolate you in order to destroy you. ‘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).
Studies show that people who have caring support live longer, recover from illness faster, and find life more meaningful. Support gives us a sense of connection and acceptance, which are core human needs. It provides an arena in which you can be vulnerable; a place where you can feel safe in saying, ‘I don’t know,’ or ‘Can you help me,’ or ‘I need a hug.’ This is support – God’s way. And if you can’t find it in your own family, turn to the family of God.
And one more thought: don’t forget to express your appreciation to those who support you. Tokens of gratitude go a long way in saying, ‘I’m grateful for your help.’ Support is not a one-way street: ‘Share each other’s burdens.’ Don’t get so engrossed in your own problems that you forget others have problems too. Take the time to inquire about their concerns. No one likes a taker. It’s in the give-and-take of mutual support that we grow and fulfil our God-given potential in life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me remember that I need people who know You around me and not to try to do things alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-17 Like Seeds Growing Within You
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
When you read God’s Word and believe it and act on it, it’s like seeds growing inside you. Those seeds have life! In the natural world, you don’t have to understand the process by which seeds grow; you just have to water, nurture, and protect them. And it’s the same with Scripture.
Paul writes, ‘You welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe’ (v. 13). Note the phrase ‘effectively works in you’. God’s Word is self-sustaining; it doesn’t require others to validate it. In the New Testament account, when Jesus was walking on the water towards His disciples, Peter said, ‘Lord, if it’s you…tell me to come’ (Matthew 14:28). Jesus gave him one word, ‘Come’ (v. 29), and Peter started walking. The other disciples probably didn’t believe Peter could do it. That’s because they didn’t understand who was speaking to Peter. ‘They thought [Jesus] was a ghost’ (Mark 6:49)!
There is a lesson here for us all. When God speaks to you through His Word, don’t expect everybody to understand, agree, or support you. It’s only human to want certain people to see what you see and believe in what you do. But in this Scripture, God prepares us for rejection by those who don’t understand what God has told us. If you’re not careful, people’s opinions can make you doubt what God has said. Sometimes He confirms what He told you through others, and sometimes He doesn’t. But as long as you feed on His Word and believe it, it ‘effectively works in you’.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking to me – and for Your Word to confirm what You are saying. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-16 God Speaks to You Through His Word
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. John 6:63
God will speak to you through His Word. Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life,’ but don’t go cherry-picking for feel-good Scriptures. To grow in faith, you must spend time each day reading through your Bible. You can’t arbitrarily decide that one verse applies to you while another doesn’t. ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives…God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
To profit in business, you must know your business thoroughly, otherwise you will be out of business. And the way to succeed in your Christian life is to make it your business to know your Bible. It’s like the analogy of the sperm and the egg. Neither the male sperm nor the female egg is capable of reproduction. It’s only when the sperm impacts and is embraced by the egg that conception occurs, leading to life and birth. And it’s the same with your spiritual growth. When God’s Word and a receptive heart get together, something is going to happen!
You can’t beat prolonged exposure to Scripture. Without it, you won’t hear what God is saying to you. You will always be dependent on somebody else’s interpretation. Can you imagine communicating with your husband or wife on that basis? How long do you think your relationship would last? The same principle applies to your relationship with God. Today let God speak to you personally through His Word.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your Word and my open heart keep me connected and growing. Keep me from distractions that keep me from spending time in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-15 The Godly Art of Letting Go
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, Hebrews 11:17
In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave his country, his family, and his security. When he said yes to God, he travelled an unfamiliar path to an unknown destiny based on the strength of a promise. Without hesitating, the seventy-five-year-old patriarch ‘went, as the LORD had told him’ (Genesis 12:4).
Now fast-forward twenty-five years and Isaac is born; the miracle son who would fulfil God’s promise that through Abraham’s descendants ‘all the nations of the earth [will] be blessed; because… Abraham obeyed my voice’ (Genesis 26:4-5). Then God makes a heart-wrenching demand: ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering’ (Genesis 22:2). And in obedience to God’s Word, ‘the next morning Abraham got up and…took with him…his son Isaac’ (v. 3).
God’s promised blessing was contingent upon Abraham’s willingness to let go of what he loved most. Holding on to Isaac would have been natural and understandable, but it would have short-circuited the promised blessing. So, what are you clinging to that’s blocking God’s blessing in your life? Is it your children, friendships, reputation, power, possessions, comfort, habits?
Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac was the supreme act of faith. ‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.’ How could he do it? ‘Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life’ (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham believed that, with God, letting go never means losing but getting back something better. And you will too!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me let go of things so I can be freed up to more fully serve You and do what You have planned for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-14 Speak Words that Promote Wholeness
if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, Proverbs 6:2
Stormie Omartian says: ‘Early in my walk with the Lord I spoke many negatives…“I’m a failure,” “I’m ugly,” “Nothing ever goes right,” “Nobody cares about me,”…[Then] the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart…“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
‘I had been speaking words of death, not life. One clear example had to do with my speech problems. I’d had them since childhood and was teased about them all through school…[When] I was old enough to afford professional help, I worked with a speech therapist…I practiced day after day, year after year, to gain…little improvement…I still lost my voice…halfway through each [speaking] engagement…“I’ll never be able to speak right,” I cried…But as I spoke those words…the Lord [said]: “You’re bringing death to your situation because you’re not speaking the truth…Do not speak what you think…or what seems to be truth…speak what you know to be the truth of my Word…‘The stammering tongue will be fluent and clear’ (Isaiah 32:4)…‘I have put My words in your mouth’” (Isaiah 51:16)…
‘Soon after, when I was asked to speak at a…women’s meeting, I took my fears…to [God]…and…spoke [His] truth instead of voicing my own negative opinions.…My talk went so well…an entire speaking ministry opened up…
‘The Bible says, “You are snared by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2). That includes [your self-talk]…Wipe [out] words of hopelessness, doubt, and negativity from your vocabulary. [They] may seem harmless…but [they] affect your body and soul…Speak words that reflect the wholeness you desire.’
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me speak words that are led and inspired by You that help others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-13 God is Faithful to You
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:13
Here is something you should be very glad about: God’s faithfulness to you doesn’t depend on your faithfulness to Him. The Bible says, ‘If we are faithless, he remains faithful.’ Your mistakes may take you out of God’s will, but they will never place you beyond His reach.
Catherine Marshall tells of a great personal struggle she experienced after writing a novel titled Gloria. She began the book in 1969 and abandoned the project two-and-a-half years later. To her, the shelved manuscript was like ‘a death in the family’. Attempting to reconcile her conflicting thoughts and feelings, she spent time at a retreat house. And while there, she reread the Bible story from Numbers about a time when poisonous snakes filled the Israelite camp. The people recognized the snakes as punishment for their sin, and cried out in repentance. The Lord told Moses, ‘Make a [bronze] snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live’ (Numbers 21:8).
Catherine realized that just as the Israelites took that which had hurt them, lifted it up to God, and were healed, we can take our mistakes and sins, lift them up to God in prayer, and trust Him to heal us. She writes, ‘When any one of us has made a wrong (or even doubtful) turning in our lives through arrogance, lack of trust, impatience, sin or fear – God will show us a way out.’
Even when you stray, God loves you so much that He will draw you back to Himself again. ‘If we are faithless, he remains faithful.’
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me even when I stray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-12 Unconditional Joy
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:3-4
When joy is absent from your life, power is also missing (see Nehemiah 8:10). Our happiness should not be based on what’s happening around us; it should be dependent on our relationship with Jesus. John says, ‘We can be completely filled with joy’ (1 John 1:4).
Pastor Reimar Schultze notes: ‘John did not say this when all was well, but when…everything had turned to shambles. 1) All his fellow apostles had been murdered. 2) Rome had destroyed the temple [so]…not one stone was left upon another. Flavius Josephus, an eyewitness wrote, “The multitude of those that…perished exceeded all the destructions men or God ever brought upon the world.” 3) Many Jews and Christians became refugees. Average life expectancy was about forty years and 25 per cent of the people in Rome were slaves. 4) John himself lived as a condemned criminal on the Isle of Patmos. He had no earthly comforts;…no assurance of living another day. When the cup of misery was full, God commissioned [him] to show the world the absolute power and triumph of Christianity over everything…[John’s] writings, in reference to our daily walk, put a capstone on all that heaven intended to reveal in the Word: if we have apostolic fellowship, our joy will be full. You do not need pleasant circumstances for this to happen.’
The psalmist said it best: ‘In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore’ (Psalm 16:11).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, if I stay focused on You I will experience unconditional joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-11 Who Advises You?
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20
You may be good at what you do. Indeed, you may be better than most, but without the help of others you will never be as good as you could be. You will never reach your highest potential without a good adviser. It’s impossible.
Why would a world-class tennis player need a coach, especially one who is not as good on the court as he or she is? André Agassi answered the question this way: ‘Tennis requires subtle adjustments crucial to winning and my coach, Gill, is the best at making them. The older I get, the more valuable he becomes.’ Why is that? Because age and experience don’t necessarily make you better; often they just deepen the rut you’re in.
In life, as in sports, you never reach the point where you don’t need good input. Yet many of us operate under the misguided assumption that because we lead, we don’t need to be led. We make the mistake of measuring ourselves against others instead of our own God-given potential and in the end we never become what we could have been. Self-evaluation is important, but the evaluation of others is crucial. A good coach measures your performance against your strengths, not somebody else’s. That’s because he or she knows what you’re capable of and they will push you to your limit. And by the way, good coaches are constantly on the scene observing, not back at the office waiting for a report. That’s because they are personally invested in your success; a win for you is a win for them. Ruth needed Naomi and Timothy needed Paul. Who advises you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me find and keep Godly people to advise instead of praise me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-10 Learn to Respect Differences
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. Titus 3:1-2
None of us escapes adversity; Jesus told His disciples, ‘In this world you will have trouble’ (John 16:33). But Verdell Davis writes, ‘Though we may endure the same disease, broken relationships, disability and failure, trying to compare sufferings is to ignore the unique dynamics of each individual life. To listen to stories in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where all are brought together by their common addiction is to find that each pain, each heartache, each loss, each interplay of relationships is highly charged with some twist no one else in the room has experienced in quite the same way. We must resist seeing our own sorrows as more devastating or less important than someone else’s. Mine are unique to me, and if I’m going to deal with them honestly and openly, I must accept that what’s going on deserves my respect.’
Paul writes, ‘Be gentle, showing every consideration for all people.’ Respect the differences between yourself and others, even when you’ve been through a similar experience. Don’t barge in with a three-point sermon and a pre-planned speech. ‘The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive’ (Proverbs 16:21). You can’t go wrong with somebody who’s hurting by simply showing up, giving them a hug, letting them know you care and that you’re praying for them. It may be clichéd, but it’s still true: people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care! You don’t demonstrate the love of God by being pushy, opinionated and acting like a know-it-all. You only do so by being ‘peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, [and] full of mercy’ (James 3:17).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to truly care and listen to others and not lecture them on what they should do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-09 The Know Why of Jesus
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
Imagine you’re a child studying astronomy. You read about the first mission to the moon and you begin to ask your teacher all sorts of space travel questions. ‘What’s it like on the moon?’ The teacher replies, ‘Well, I would guess’ or ‘I think’ or ‘Perhaps’. She’s never been there. But next day Astronaut Neil Armstrong enters your classroom. ‘Now ask your questions,’ the teacher says, and Armstrong answers each with certainty. He knows the moon; he’s walked on it. No speculation or hesitation – he speaks with conviction.
So did Jesus: ‘He taught them as one having authority’ (Matthew 7:29). Jesus knows the dimensions of heaven. He knows the words of the songs sung by the angelic choir. He has unrivalled knowledge of God – and He wants to share His knowledge with you: ‘No one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him’ (Matthew 11:27).
But notice what Jesus says next: ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens…Let me teach you…and you will find rest for your souls’ (Matthew 11:28-29). Underline the words ‘Let me teach you’. ‘Let me teach you how to handle your money, your marriage, and your mood swings. Let me teach you how to live the right way on earth, and how to go to heaven when you die.’ And don’t we need to learn? The age of information has become the age of confusion: too much know-how, and hardly any know-why. We need answers. Answers only Jesus has. ‘But can I trust Him?’ There’s only one way to find out!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, let me learn from you the WHY and not just the how. Shape and mold me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-08 Prove Yourself Faithful
Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Daniel 3:29
The story of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace teaches us these four lessons:
1) Doing God’s will can land you in trouble. Don’t expect the world to appreciate you. Look at Jesus: ‘In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it’ (John 1:4-5).
2) God will be with you in your trouble. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he said, ‘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’ (Daniel 3:25). Instead of destroying them, the fire destroyed the ropes that bound them, setting them free. Be encouraged! It may look like circumstances have you locked in, but God is going to vindicate you and bring you out victoriously.
3) It’s your trouble that produces your testimony. People are watching you. The things they’re trusting in don’t work, and they’re wondering if what you’re trusting in does. Your faithfulness to God and His intervention on your behalf will touch their lives in ways your theology never will. Everyone in Babylon knew what the Hebrew children believed. But they wanted to know, ‘Does it work when you’re in the fire?’ It does!
4) The greater your trouble, the greater your blessing. ‘Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon’ (v. 30). Here is a scriptural principle you can count on: when you prove yourself faithful in times of trouble, God will promote you to higher levels of blessing.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me remember when I am in the fire that my trouble is what produces a testimony. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-07 Wish You Had Given More?
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
The film Schindler’s List tells the story of one man’s efforts to make the most of a desperate situation. As the director of a munitions factory in Poland, Oskar Schindler decided to use his position to save Jewish lives. By employing them in his factory, Schindler rescued many condemned Jews from the gas chambers. But keeping them employed was costly, and little by little he liquidated his personal property to keep his business afloat. At the end of the story, the Nazis are defeated, and the full impact of Schindler’s efforts is revealed as the dead are counted and the living stagger back to freedom.
In one scene, kneeling by the railway tracks that had carried thousands to their deaths, Schindler had a startling realization. He could have saved a few more! Overwhelmed with regret, he laments keeping the few personal assets he still owns. If only he had known when the war would end, he would have done more. Now it was too late.
Oskar Schindler was a hero. He is credited with saving more Jews during World War II than any other single person. But interestingly, all he could think about was what he didn’t do. He wished he had done more.
A powerful lesson in Schindler’s story is this: even joyful givers will look back on their lives and wish they had done more. There are also others who gave less than they could have given, or who never gave at all. Can you imagine their thoughts as they stand before God. ‘God loves a cheerful giver,’ so today look for opportunities to give.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to give and not regret having not given, You gave everything for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-06 Keys to Answered Prayer Part 4
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Boldness. Boldness isn’t arrogance, presumption, or a sense of entitlement. It’s confidence based on who you are in Christ.
Paul writes, ‘Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find his grace to help us when we need it most’ (v. 16). As God’s redeemed child, you have a right to approach Him at any time. And understanding that enables you to overcome Satan’s attempts to make you feel unworthy. It removes your natural inclination to say, ‘I know God can do it, but it’s hard to believe He will do it for me.’ You think like that when you feel unworthy. But the glorious truth is – Jesus has made you worthy! (See Colossians 1:12.)
Note also, ‘We will find grace to help us when we need it most,’ and grace is simply undeserved favor. In other words, God will give you what you don’t deserve when you’re confident enough to ask Him. Plus, you’re asking in Jesus’ name, not your own. You’re presenting to the Father all that Jesus is, not all that you are.
And here is another thought: when you have hidden sin in your heart, you can’t pray with confidence. Unconfessed sin locks you in and shuts God out (see Psalm 66:18). But the good news is, when you ask God to reveal your sin, He will. And when He does, you must deal with it if you want to keep the lines of communication open. If God reminds you of a situation in which you didn’t do the right thing, don’t try to sweep it under the rug. Acknowledge it, receive His forgiveness, and then you can pray with confidence.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You know my sins – I need to remember them so I can come clean with You to gown in my relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-05 Keys to Answered Prayer Part 3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3
Right motives. The reason you pray is much more important than the words you say. The motive is the why behind the what. And having a pure heart that loves God and loves people is always acceptable to the Lord. On the other hand, selfishness is unacceptable, revenge is unacceptable, manipulation and control are unacceptable, jealousy is unacceptable, pride is unacceptable, and praying to win the lottery is unacceptable (please do not send me emails on that comment!). In fact, anything that’s selfishly based is an unacceptable motive.
Somebody once asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. He thought about it for a second and replied, ‘No, some nights I don’t need anything.’ Sound familiar? The first and foremost reason for prayer is to develop an intimate relationship with God. Think about it: how long do you think your marriage or any relationship would last if you only contacted or saw them if you needed something? Not very long, right? The same principle applies to prayer.
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). When you focus on ‘abiding’ in Christ, you will get a response to your ‘asking’. James writes, ‘Your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons.’ The truth is, we’re innately self-centered. That’s why we need to purify our hearts on a regular basis – and that calls for examining our motives. It may be painful at first, but you must do it if you want to see your prayers answered and to grow in your intimacy with God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me examine my motives for what I think, do and ask. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-04 Keys to Answered Prayer Part 2
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14
Knowing God’s will. John writes: ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him’ (vv. 14-15).
One of the surest ways to know you’re praying according to God’s will is to pray according to His Word. Use the Scriptures to back up what you’re praying for. Say, ‘Lord, you promised it in your Word, and I’m believing you for it.’ Sometimes there are things we want to pray for, but we aren’t sure whether those things are God’s will for us according to Scripture. In that case, you need to ask God to give it to you if it’s His will – and to help you be satisfied with His decision.
Saint Augustine prayed, ‘Grant that I may do Thy will as if it were my will, so that Thou mayest do my will as if it were Thy will.’ D.L. Moody put it this way: ‘Spread out your petition before God, and then say, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” The sweetest lesson I have learned in God’s school is to let the Lord choose for me.’
Now you may have to wait, because God’s timing is part of His will. Be patient, it will happen. You may not see it yet, but God has promised and it’s on the way. And remember, if He doesn’t give you what you asked for, He will give you something better when you walk in faith and keep a good attitude.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to keep remembering that it is all about Your will, not my will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-03 Keys to Answered Prayer Part 1
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Just as the right key opens the door, there are scriptural principles that act as keys to prayer. For the next few days, let’s look at them.
Faith. ‘Without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him’ (v. 6 CEV). God doesn’t necessarily respond to your need. Look around and you will see that everyone has unmet needs. So what does God respond to? Your faith!
But Satan will try to fill your mind with doubts. And when he does, you need to examine your heart and see what it says. You can believe God’s Word in your heart even when your mind questions it. So stand on what’s in your heart instead of what’s in your head. Sometimes doubt begins with distraction. When you’re distracted from God’s promises, you start to doubt. And as you focus more and more on your problems, your faith begins to waver. When that happens, you must refocus like a laser on God’s promises – and merely glance at your problems. Don’t try to deny them, but don’t give them undue attention.
The Bible says: ‘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 1:6-8). Stay anchored to God’s Word, and don’t drift all over the place when your circumstances begin to change.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to keep focused on Your promises that you are always with me and will get me through whatever I face. I believe – help my unbelief. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-02 Intimacy with Jesus– the Secret to Victory
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3:10
Paul said, ‘I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death.’ Let’s take an in-depth look at this verse.
1) ‘I want to know Christ.’ In Scripture, the word ‘know’ indicates physical intimacy between two people who love one another. For example, ‘Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain’ (Genesis 4:1).
2) ‘And experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.’ What’s dead in your life that needs to be raised? There is no problem that Christ’s resurrection power can’t handle. And how do you access it? When you make intimacy with Christ your top priority, you tap into His power.
Some of us would be more comfortable if the verse ended after the words, ‘the mighty power that raised him from the dead’. But the truth is, if you want intimacy with Christ, you must be willing to ‘suffer with Him’. Here, the word ‘suffer’ isn’t referring to a bad allergy season or a losing streak on the stock market. For Paul, it meant being beaten, betrayed, and beheaded. But it brought a level of intimacy with Jesus that can’t be experienced any other way.
If you have ever suffered deeply with another person, you understand this principle. You will never experience true intimacy with somebody by telling them, ‘I only want to share the good times with you.’ Often, the strongest relationship bonds come from the suffering we go through together; trials that cause us to know, love, and trust each another in a newer, deeper dimension.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I want to continue to grow daily with You. Help me, as I know it will mean suffering to fulfill Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-03-01 Recognize Your Triggers
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24
A weapon can either protect or destroy; it all depends on who is using it. Anger works the same way; that’s why it’s wise to know what triggers or sets you off. Some of the most common triggers surface at these times:
1) When your rights have been violated. Is it always bad to get mad? No, sometimes the problem that infuriates you most is the one God has called you to help solve. This world is a better place because of men and women who devoted their lives to fighting disease, poverty, corruption, and injustice. That’s what Jesus did when He purged the temple of extortionists. The Bible says, ‘If you are angry, be sure that it is not out of wounded pride or bad temper…don’t give the devil that sort of foothold’ (Ephesians 4:26-27).
2) When you’re frustrated because things aren’t going right for you. A recent news report told of a man who went hunting on his mountain bike. When it broke down, he got mad and shot it to pieces. That makes no sense! As one author observed, ‘Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind.’
3) When you’re under constant stress. Paul writes, ‘Have a sane estimate of your capabilities’ (Romans 12:3). By cramming too much activity into too little time, you set yourself up for stress. Like a violin string that’s pulled tighter and tighter, you end up snapping. Then you feel guilty and think you’re not spiritual enough. In life, ‘it’s always something,’ so anticipate challenges and allow time for the unexpected.
Bottom line: ‘Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm.’
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be less stressed out about things, lose my temper, and give the devil a foothold. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-28 Begin to Say What God Says
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
Don’t speak without thinking. And don’t say things that contradict God’s Word. Those aren’t easy principles to live by, but they’re life-and-death issues. The Bible says, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue.’ That means you can bless yourself by what you say. ‘He who invokes a blessing on himself…shall do so by saying, “May the God of truth…bless me…because the former troubles are forgotten”’ (Isaiah 65:16 AMPC).
Notice two important things in this Scripture:
1) Your own words have more power to influence you than anyone else’s words. In the final analysis, it’s not what others say that matters, it’s what you tell yourself when they’re finished talking. Bottom line: you always have the last word!
2) You will never enter into what God has planned for your future while you’re still living in the past. You can’t undo your past, so don’t relive it over and over in your head. God said, ‘Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing’ (Isaiah 43:18-19). It’s time to come into agreement with God and start saying what He says about you. That’s no small matter.
What you say from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night not only influences your day; it influences the entire outlook and direction of your life. If you have been praying and asking God for specific answers, you can affect the outcome by making sure what you say lines up with what He says. So when you speak, always keep that in mind!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to consider what I am about to say before I say it so it lines up with what reflects You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-27 When You Die! Part 6
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 2 Corinthians 5:2
Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a leading authority on death and dying, and Dr. Raymond Moody Jr, two well-known psychiatrists, examined the case histories of over five hundred people who came back to life after being pronounced dead by their physicians. Their research convinces anyone with an open mind.
The people in the study described either a location of beauty, marvel, joy, and peace, or they described something dreadful. And although their bodies were real, they reported floating outside them. After being confirmed ‘dead’, some who were blind were able to see. They talked about people who came into the room, what they looked like, and what they did while they were there. Yet when these people were brought back, the ones who were blind could no longer see.
In his book Life After Life, Dr. Moody writes: ‘A doctor told me of his experience in attending a man who had been pronounced clinically dead. He succeeded in resuscitating the man, who then sued the doctor for bringing him back into this miserable existence from the glory he had experienced. One woman, describing her situation after she had suffered a respiratory arrest, reports that the doctors trying to resuscitate her were pounding on her body trying to get her back while she was over them, looking down, and saying, “Leave me alone!”’
The apostle Paul explains why: ‘For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling’ (vv. 1-2). Bottom line: when you die – you really come to life!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I long to come to life in its fullest with You – who has already given me New Life – Thank You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-26 When You Die! Part 5
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:15
The Bible says: ‘Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage’ (vv. 14-15).
Theologian Adolf von Harnack said this: ‘Christ’s grave was the birthplace of an indestructible belief that death is vanquished and there is life eternal. It is useless to cite Plato…useless to point to the Persian religion and the ideas and literature of later Judaism. All that would have perished; but the certainty of the resurrection and of a life eternal which is bound up with the grave in Joseph’s garden has not perished; and on the conviction that Jesus lives we still base those hopes of citizenship in an Eternal City, which make our earthly life worth living and tolerable. He delivered them “who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage”.’
Good news: you don’t have to be in bondage to the fear of death! Dr. Simon Greenleaf, the Royal Professor of Law at Harvard, one of the world’s greatest authorities on legal evidence, shone the searchlight of his immense knowledge on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and revealed every thread of that evidence to the most probing critique. And when he did, he concluded that the evidence was so tremendous that in any unbiased courtroom on earth, it would be proclaimed a historical fact.
So what does all this mean for us as believers? Simply this: Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in a hopeless world – I have daily hope and assurance that this is NOT my home. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-25 When You Die! Part 4
And I — in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Psalms 17:15
There has never been a race of mankind that didn’t believe in some kind of future life; whether it’s reuniting with ancestors as some Native Americans believe, or the sensual abode of bliss of the Muslim. How do you explain that?
Long before any evidence for this worldwide belief had been gathered, Cicero said, ‘In everything the consent of all nations is to be accounted the law of nature, and to resist it is to resist the voice of God.’ On the night Socrates died, Crito asked him, ‘In what way would you have us bury you?’ He replied, ‘In any way that you like, only you must get hold of me, and take care that I do not walk away from you.’
In his Phaedo, Plato presented powerful arguments in favor of immortality. Others argued for it, too; great thinkers like Thomas Carlyle, Thomas Jefferson, and the German poet Heinrich Heine. Alfred Lord Tennyson’s most famous poem goes like this: ‘For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place the flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crost the bar.’ And Byron writes, ‘I feel my immortality o’ersweep all pains, all tears, all fears, and peal, like the eternal thunders of the deep, into my ears this truth – “Thou liv’st forever!”’
All these great minds shared the conviction of the psalmist: ‘As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.’ When you think about it, ‘good night’ here just means ‘good morning’ over there.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being able to turn my night into morning. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-24 When You Die! Part 3
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; Philippians 1:23
In his Analogies of Nature, William Jennings Bryan wrote:
‘Christ gave us proof of immortality, and yet it would hardly seem necessary that one should rise from the dead to convince us that the grave is not the end. If the Father deigns to touch with Divine power the cold and pulseless heart of the buried acorn and to make it burst forth into a new life, will He leave neglected in the earth the soul of man, made in the image of his Creator? If He stoops to give to the rosebud whose withered blossoms float upon the autumn breeze, the sweet assurance of another springtime, will He refuse…words of hope to the sons of men when the frosts of winter come? If matter, mute and inanimate, though changed by the forces of nature into a multitude of forms, can never die, will the spirit of man suffer annihilation when it has paid a brief visit like a royal guest to this tenement of clay? No, I am as sure that there is another life as I am that I live today!’
Paul tells us: ‘As long as I’m alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I’d choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better’ (vv. 22-23). So no matter how difficult or blessed your life is here and now, your best days are ahead; days without end, experiencing the joys of heaven. Make sure you’re ready to go when your time comes!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I desire to depart and be with You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-23 When You Die! Part 2
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1
When you die, you simply leave a lesser form of life and enter a greater one. Consider the first law of thermodynamics: neither energy (as in your soul and spirit) nor matter (as in your body) can be destroyed. They can be transformed into other forms, but they can’t be annihilated.
Burris Jenkins said it this way: ‘No single atom in creation can go out of existence, according to the scientists; it only changes in form. We cannot burn up anything; we simply change it from a solid to a gaseous state. Neither is any energy or force ever destroyed; it is only changed from one form to another.’ If a person ceases to exist, they will be the one thing in the world that does. So when you die, what happens?
The Bible says:‘When these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven – God-made, not handmade – and we’ll never have to relocate our ‘tents’ again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move – and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less’ (vv. 1-5).
Think of it like this: your last day on earth will be your best day ever! How awesome is that?
Prayer Heavenly Father, I long to be with You, but know until then You have work to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
2023-02-22 When You Die! Part 1
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14
After AD 616, the first Christian missionaries came to the courts of King Edwin in Northumbria, England. In his great hall, ablaze with the light of numerous torches, they presented the gospel. The king listened, then consulted his advisors. One nobleman said: ‘Life is like a banquet hall. Inside is light…fire…warmth and feasting, but outside it is cold and dark. A sparrow flies in through a window at one end…and out through a window at the other end. That is what life is like. At birth we emerge from the unknown, and for a brief while we are here…with a fair amount of comfort and happiness. But then we fly out into the cold…dark…unknown future. Can this new religion…lighten that darkness for us?’
We who believe in the resurrection can answer, ‘Yes!’ A faulty heartbeat, a malignant cell, or a tragic accident can end life as we know it. But that’s not the end. And unless you believe that, here is what you’re left with: ‘If Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It’s even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they’re already in their graves. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries’ (1 Corinthians 15:17-20 MSG). For the believer, the end of life on earth is the beginning of a glorious life with Christ in heaven!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me keep focused on You and the undeserved future for eternity that I have in and with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-21 Conquering Selfishness
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Paul writes, ‘Consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought’ (vv. 3-5). That kind of thinking goes against our natural instincts, but Jesus showed us how to do it. Hanging on the cross, He took time for the condemned criminal hanging next to Him (see Luke 23:39-43).
As he was being stoned, Stephen prayed for those who were killing him, asking God not to lay the sin to their charge (see Acts 7:60). Beaten and wrongly imprisoned, Paul and Silas took time to minister to their jailer. Even after God sent a powerful earthquake that broke their chains and opened their prison doors, they stayed for the sole purpose of ministering to their captor. How tempting it must have been to escape while the opportunity was there. How easy it would have been to look out for themselves and not worry about anybody else. But their act of love moved the jailer to ask how he might be saved, and as a result, he and his entire family came to know Jesus (see Acts 16:25-34).
In a world whose philosophy is ‘look out for number one’; selfishness is an instinct you will need God’s help to overcome every day. And when you do, people will take notice. You will never win others by being just like them, so here is the question you need to answer: how many of your friends and loved ones may come to know Jesus if you demonstrate that you genuinely love them instead of ignoring, judging, and rejecting them? Go ahead – try it! ‘Consider others more important than [yourself].’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me think about others instead of myself. Teach me the humility that You showed others in Your life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-20 Use Your Faith
Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48
The Bible says: ‘Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years…touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped…Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden…she declared…she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately’ (vv. 43-44, 46-47). There are three important lessons for us in this story:
1) Recognize and seize your moment of opportunity. This woman understood that Jesus was visiting her town and might not be back. There are ‘God moments’ in life when you must rearrange your priorities, overcome your fear, and exercise your faith. If you don’t, you will miss God’s best.
2) Be willing to try a different approach. Since she couldn’t get Christ’s attention because of the crowd, this woman touched the hem of His garment and was healed. Many times, faith calls for stepping into the unknown, doing something you have never done before, and discovering God’s grace at work in ways you never expected.
3) Establish a precedent for others to follow. Until this time, no one in Scripture had been healed by touching Jesus’ garment, and this woman’s faith opened a door for others to follow her example. ‘People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed’ (Matthew 14:35-36). The fact is God is looking for people who are willing to break with tradition. And when He finds them, He uses them to unlock new dimensions of His power so others can be blessed and made whole.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Help me to never forget that You are there for me to touch and hold on to. Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-19 Feeling Good About Yourself
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
When you don’t feel good about yourself, you live with a sense of insecurity. You keep looking to others for approval, and when you don’t get it, your sense of worth shrivels. As a result, you can spend your life living far short of your God-given potential. You are the only person you can’t get away from, and until you learn to accept yourself based on the fact that God loves and accepts you as you are, you will always battle insecurity.
Stop and think about the last time you were around somebody you didn’t particularly enjoy. How did it feel? Not too good, right? Good or bad, we project onto others the thoughts and feelings we have about ourselves. So if you want people to think well of you, you must have a good opinion of yourself – one based on God’s Word.
Now, the Bible cautions about having an over-inflated opinion of yourself – but don’t go to the other extreme. Living in continual self-rejection is an open invitation to Satan, whom the Bible says is like a roaring lion who goes about looking for someone to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8). You say, ‘But didn’t Paul write, “Nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature”?’ (Romans 7:18). Yes, but that means the good qualities you do possess are evidence that God is at work in your life.
The Bible says, ‘We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us’ (2 Corinthians 4:7). Today, instead of focusing on your flaws and feeling bad, recognize the ‘treasure’ of God’s presence, power, and potential that lives within you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You that Your Holy Spirit dwells in me, sinner that I am! Lord work in and through my life to bring glory to YOU. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-18 Dress for Success
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:14
Since first impressions are important, we’re encouraged to ‘dress for success’. And that’s a good thing. But as a redeemed child of God, your first concern shouldn’t be how you look to others, but to God.
Just like a mirror reflects your physical appearance so that you can make adjustments, the Bible reveals your spiritual condition and tells you what to do about it. James writes: ‘Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do’ (James 1:23-25). You must spend time each day in the Scriptures; otherwise, you will run around spiritually threadbare. Paul writes, ‘Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh’ (Romans 13:14).
As Chuck Swindoll observes: ‘The number one enemy of change is the hard-core, self-satisfied sin nature within you. Like a spoiled child, it has been gratified and indulged for years, so it will not give up without a violent temper tantrum…The flesh dies a slow, bitter, bloody death – kicking and struggling all the way down.’ Lasting change takes place in first gear, not overdrive. So expect occasional setbacks, and don’t let them derail you. When you feel like throwing in the towel, get down on your knees and ask God to help you get back on track. He will do it.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to be dressed spiritually and in my behavior to reflect You today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-17 Intercede with God for Them
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — 1 Timothy 2:1
Paul writes: ‘I exhort…that…intercessions…be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth’ (vv. 1-4).
Intercession means ‘to mediate between parties with a view to reconciling those who differ or contend’. It happens every day in the court system when lawyers intercede on behalf of their clients. It also happened in Scripture. When Israel made a golden calf and worshipped it, Moses interceded with God on their behalf, saying: ‘Oh, these people have committed a great sin…Yet now, if You will forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written’ (Exodus 32:31-32). And it worked. God told Moses, ‘Go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you’ (v. 34).
Later when Israel turned again to worship false gods, Samuel said, ‘Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray [intercede] to the LORD for you’ (1 Samuel 7:5). As a result, the Lord sent a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were defeated before Israel (see 1 Samuel 7:10).
Interceding can be a lonely business, and it’s also hard work: ‘Always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God’ (Colossians 4:12). But when nothing else works, intercessory prayer does!
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for those who intercede for me. Help me be one that intercedes for others to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-16 Understanding God’s Love for You
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
Question: since we’re naturally drawn to people who love us, why is it so difficult for us to go to God in prayer? Answer: because we need a fresh revelation of His love for us! Paul prayed that the Ephesian church would ‘be able to take in…the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love’ (Ephesians 3:18). The word ‘extravagant’ means going above and beyond all that’s expected or deserved. The truth is, God couldn’t love you any more than He does right now.
‘What’s His love like?’ you ask. Look at the cross. Had you been the only person who ever lived, Jesus would have died just for you.
‘What does His love cost?’ you ask. Nothing! It comes with no strings attached. You didn’t do anything to deserve it, and when you mess up, you don’t forfeit it.
‘Absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love’ (Romans 8:39). Once you accept that, you can acknowledge your weaknesses, seek God’s help, grow strong, and use the talents He has given you. When you believe God loves you based on who you are in Christ, you have the ultimate self-esteem – born of God’s esteem for you. And since His is the only ‘perfect love’, it removes your ‘fear’.
So, what are you afraid of? That you won’t get what you need? That you will lose something you have? John tells us: ‘His perfect love for us eliminates all dread…If we are afraid, it…shows…we are not fully convinced that he really loves us’ (1 John 4:18). Ask God today for a fresh revelation of His love for you, bearing in mind that what He loves, He prizes, protects, and provides for.
Prayer Heavenly Father, sometimes it is hard to imagine Your love for me – since no one else can love me like You do. Thank You – in Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-15 A Love for God’s Word
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalms 119:105
The psalmist highlights two important things Bible reading does for you:
1) It shows you your spiritual condition. In Bible times there were no paved roads, so when guests entered a house, they paused to wash the sand, dirt, and grime from their feet. That’s what Bible reading does. The Psalmist said, ‘How can a young man [and an older one] cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word’ (v. 9).
2) It shows you the direction you need to go. Your word is…a light to my path.’ When you’re faced with an important decision and you don’t know which way to go, God will guide you through His Word. David, who loved God’s Word and meditated on it constantly, prayed, ‘Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness’ (Psalm 143:10). Many of the mistakes we make could be prevented if we stopped long enough to seek God’s guidance. He knows what lies ahead; we don’t. So ‘commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass’ (Psalm 37:5).
Just like children need to be taught to cultivate a taste for healthy food instead of junk food, you need to cultivate a taste for God’s Word. The psalmist said, ‘I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love’ (Psalm 119:47). ‘Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it’ (v. 140). Today ask God to give you a love for His Word. That’s a prayer He will answer!
Prayer Heavenly Father, Your Word provides me guidance for my day, and more so for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-14 What Does it Mean to Mediate?
I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Psalms 119:15
Another word for meditation is rumination. Rumination is what a cow is doing when she chews her cud. The cow eats grass, chews all she can, and then swallows it. It sits in one of her stomachs for a while, and then a little later, she burps it up – with renewed flavor. The cow chews on it some more and swallows it again. This process continues in all four stomachs. That’s rumination. The cow is pulling every ounce of nourishment from the grass.
Meditation is simply thought digestion. Meditation doesn’t mean putting your mind in neutral and thinking about nothing. On the contrary, it’s thinking seriously about what you’re reading. For example, you dwell on one verse of Scripture and ask, ‘What does this mean for my life?’ You talk to yourself about it and talk to God about it. The Bible says this: ‘Keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise…And God, who gives peace, will be with you’ (Philippians 4:8-9). Notice that we are to ponder different categories of things and, by implication, to avoid thinking about the opposite kind of things.
Colossians 3:16 says, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’. You need to spend time every day – a minimum of ten to fifteen minutes – where you sit down, read a portion of the Bible, and think deeply about what you have just read. Then talk to the Lord about it in prayer. That’s the starting point for spiritual change and growth.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me focus on You and Your Word, and let You speak to me through it – to shape and mold me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-13 How God Changes Us Part 2
Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being. Proverbs 20:30
Another way God changes us is through circumstances. Problems, pressures, sorrows, hardships, and stress always get our attention. C.S. Lewis said, ‘Pain insists on being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures…but shouts to us in our pain.’
The J.B. Phillips translation of Romans 8:28-29 reads: ‘To those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good. God…chose them to bear the family likeness of his Son.’ Nothing can come into your life without your heavenly Father’s permission; it must be ‘Father filtered’. The interesting thing about how God uses circumstances is that their source makes no difference to Him. We often bring problems on ourselves. Sometimes they’re caused by other people. Other times the Enemy causes things to happen to us. But the source of the circumstances is irrelevant. God said, ‘I will make it fit into my plan for your life, to make you like Jesus Christ.’ That means there is no circumstance from which we can’t learn if we maintain the right attitude.
Why did Solomon say, ‘Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being’? Because we change only when our fear of change is surpassed by our pain. If you want to become more like Jesus, think about this: ‘Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered’ (Hebrews 5:8). If God used the challenges, conflicts, and circumstances of life to prepare His Son for His destiny, won’t He do the same in our lives? So instead of trying to escape your circumstances, learn from them and grow stronger.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me grow and learn from the things and events that happen to me and see how You can shape and mold me by them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-12 How God Changes Us Part 1
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
One of the ways God changes us is through His Word. ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work’ (vv. 16-17).
The story is told of a converted cannibal in the South Sea Islands. He was sitting by a large pot reading his Bible when an anthropologist approached him and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ The native replied, ‘I’m reading the Bible.’ The anthropologist scoffed and said, ‘Don’t you know that modern, civilized man has rejected that book? It’s nothing but a pack of lies. You shouldn’t waste your time reading it.’ The cannibal looked him over from head to toe and slowly replied, ‘Sir, if it weren’t for this book – you’d be in that pot!’ The Word of God had changed his life – and his appetite.
If you’re serious about changing your life, you have to get into the Bible. You need to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, speak it, and apply it. ‘But my faith is weak,’ you say. Are you reading your Bible regularly? Are you studying it? Are you memorizing it? No? Then how do you expect your faith to grow? The Bible says, ‘Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17). Bottom line: the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us more like the Son of God – Jesus.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Your Word, Your Spirit helps me grow in my understanding and relationship with Your Son Jesus. Thank You for Your written AND living Word – Jesus. In the name of Jesus, Amen
2023-02-11 Think Right, Live Right
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23
Someone has wisely said, ‘You’re not what you think you are, but what you think – you are.’ Lasting change always begins with new thinking.
How do you become a Christian? By repenting of your sin and placing your trust in Jesus Christ. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, and it means to change your mind – to change your way of thinking! We’re not changed by willpower, but by the transforming power of God’s Word when we use it to renew our minds each day. The Bible clearly teaches that the way we think determines the way we feel, and the way we feel determines the way we act. So if you want to change your actions, you have to return to the source and change the way you think. At times you may act resentful. Why? Because you feel resentful. And do you know why you feel resentful? Because you are thinking resentful thoughts. The same is true of anger, worry, lust, and other destructive thought patterns.
Jesus said, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32). When you base your life on truth – when you live with the right kind of thoughts, not misconceptions or false beliefs, and you base your life on thinking from God’s Word – you will be set free. You will find your old habits, feelings, and actions beginning to fall away. When you focus solely on removing bad thoughts, you create a vacuum into which the bad thoughts can return. But when you replace bad thoughts with good ones – scriptural ones – you are empowered by God to live the life of blessing He wants you to enjoy.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to repent and change my way of thinking – to change my way of doing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-10 Work It Out
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13
The Bible says, ‘Work out your own salvation…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’ This Scripture almost sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But instead, it is a paradox. G.K. Chesterton described a paradox as ‘truth standing on its head to get attention’.
The key to understanding this particular paradox lies in the little word out. Notice that the Bible doesn’t say, ‘Work for your salvation.’ To work for something means to earn it, deserve it, merit it. And the Bible plainly teaches that salvation isn’t something we have to work for or earn. It’s a free gift of God’s grace (see Ephesians 2:8-9). When Paul says, ‘Work out your salvation,’ he is talking about a ‘spiritual workout’. What do you do during a physical workout? You develop and tone the muscles God has already provided you. To ‘work out’ means to grow and make the most of what you have been given. What Paul is saying here is this: develop your spiritual life!
God has a part in our spiritual growth, and we, too, have a part. He provides the power, but we must access it, flip the switch, and let it flow through our lives to fulfil His will for us. Practically speaking, how do we do that? By spending time praying and reading God’s Word each day. By sharpening and strengthening one another through fellowship. By exercising the gifts God has given us. The fact is, He has already done His part; now it’s up to you to do yours.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me in my spiritual workout to grow more and more into Your image and will for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-09 Do It Today!
“Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said. Moses replied, “It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God. Exodus 8:10
Every plague God sent on Egypt mocked one of their gods. For instance, the Egyptians worshipped a goddess with the head of a frog for fertility, so God sent them a lot of frogs.. Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses and said, ‘All right, I give up.’ But when Moses asked him, ‘When do you want me to get rid of the frogs?’ Pharaoh’s response was classic; he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ He must have been insane! Why would you wait any longer to have the frogs removed?
But we do the same, don’t we? We procrastinate by putting off the changes we know would be good for us. Maybe we’re unconcerned. Maybe we’re too lethargic to change. Maybe we’re fearful because we don’t know what the changes will entail. Maybe we’re just too proud and stubborn. Whatever the reason – we procrastinate.
NASA space engineers tell us most of the fuel that is used in a rocket launch is burned during the initial few seconds of lift-off. It takes enormous energy and thrust to move the rocket off the launching pad. Once it’s moving and headed for orbit, it needs much less fuel and is simpler to control and direct. It has conquered inertia.
It’s one thing to know God can solve your problem and change your life. It’s another matter to overcome your inertia and let Him begin to do it now! We keep saying, ‘One of these days…’ The truth is, Jesus Christ has the power to make changes in your life today. He will give you the power to begin and the power to keep going. It’s not too late. He can put your life back together again. So the word for today is – do it today!
Prayer Heavenly Father, enough is enough, help me start now with the changes I know You want to make in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-08 Good Leadership
The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: Numbers 1:1
A good leader is like a ship’s good captain; they plan the whole trip in their mind before they leave the dock. They have a clear vision of their destination, they understand what it will take to get there, they know who needs to be on board for the trip to be successful, and they recognize obstacles long before they appear on the horizon. And because they prepare well, good leaders can take their people just about anywhere.
Moses was such a leader. He spent forty days praying and fasting on a mountain, refusing to leave until he understood what God wanted him to do. Then he came back and communicated it to the people so they could participate in the vision.
In Leadership Promises For Your Week, Dr. John Maxwell writes: ‘As a good leader, Moses methodically arranged the tribal camps in the wilderness (see Numbers 2:34). We would do well to organize as he did. 1) Give time for planning and organizing. Determine your primary purpose. 2) Understand where you are before trying to develop a strategy. 3) Prioritize the needs and goals of the team by asking the right questions. 4) Write goals that are realistic, measurable, and convicting. 5) Clarify goals and communicate with your team. 6) Identify possible obstacles. Have an open system approach to your planning. 7) Budget your cost and time by scheduling everything you can and setting deadlines. 8) Study the results. Evaluation prevents stagnation and exaggeration.’
If you want God to bless your plan, you must have a plan He can bless. And it must come from God Himself! So, talk to God today about His plan for your life. Good Leadership is God Leadership.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me plan according to Your plan – not my plan but Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-07 The DNA of God is His Word
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
On a cold day, have you ever tried breathing on your hands to restore warmth and life? That’s like what happens when you meditate on God’s Word, because ‘all Scripture is God-breathed’. Imagine yourself at a party where people are blowing up balloons and popping them with pins. A scientist could figure out which balloon was yours because your DNA (the genetic configuration that makes you unique) is in your breath.
Now apply that principle to reading the Bible, and you will understand how vital it is to your spiritual life. John tells us ‘the Word was God’ (John 1:1), so anytime you ingest God’s Word, you’re ingesting His attributes. That’s why the Enemy will try to keep you so busy that you have no time to read your Bible.
The truth is, many of the issues we struggle with could be resolved or eliminated altogether if we developed a hunger for God’s Word. Job said, ‘I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food’ (Job 23:12). Jeremiah, who was so dejected that he became known as ‘the weeping prophet’, said, ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart’ (Jeremiah 15:16). Jesus experienced every test and trial known to man; He even went toe-to-toe with the tempter. What was the secret of His strength? He said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’ (Matthew 4:4).
Today get God’s Word into you – it’s His DNA.
Prayer Heavenly Father, keep me rooted and anchored in You by remaining steadfast in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, amen
2023-02-06 Be Faithful
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
In Scripture, to be faithful means to be steady, stable, dependable, and consistent. Do those attributes describe you? They should, because faithfulness pays big dividends with God. ‘A faithful man will abound with blessings’ (Proverbs 28:20). Jesus said, ‘Many are called, but few chosen’ (Matthew 20:16). Why is that? Because talent may open the door and get you the job, but character and faithfulness will keep you there.
When it comes to faithfulness, God will test you in two ways:
1) Your faithfulness in someone else’s vision. ‘If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?’ (Luke 16:12). If you’re critical, caustic, complaining, competitive, or constantly comparing yourself with others, you will be disqualified for what God has in mind for you. Faithfulness calls for serving with love and humility.
2) Your faithfulness in small things. ‘His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things…For to everyone who has, more will be given…but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away”’ (Matthew 25:23, 29). God wants to know He can trust you. You prove that by how well you serve others and by your faithfulness in small things.
These are proven biblical principles that don’t just work in spiritual matters, but in everyday life. So today, take a few moments to prayerfully ask yourself the question, ‘Am I faithful?’ When you are, God will bless you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to be and keep me as one who is faithful in all You would have me do, directly or through others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-05 Aim for the Target
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
Paul writes: ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [mature], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you’ (vv. 14-15). Paul describes the Christian as a marksman. In Paul’s day, the mark would have been hit by an arrow, but in our day, the mark could also be hit at a firing range. If you have ever fired at a target, you know this:
1) Your aim must be unbroken by distractions. When you have the bullseye in your crosshairs, something as insignificant as taking a breath at the wrong moment can make you miss the mark. So what is Paul saying? Simply this: ‘Forget what’s behind you and around you and stay focused on winning the prize.’ He is not referring to your salvation. Jesus already purchased that and gives it to you freely by His grace. No, he is talking about fulfilling your God-given destiny and obtaining the reward that waits beyond it.
2) Your bullet has to have the right amount of powder. Otherwise, it will start dropping off before it hits the mark. Are you getting the idea? Your powder is your power! And where does your power come from? The Holy Spirit! Jesus said: ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem [at home], and in all Judea and Samaria [on the job and in your relationships], and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8 NKJV). So the word for today is – aim for the mark and don’t get distracted by other things.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me keep focused on the target and not get distracted by things that do nothing but keep me from being focused on You and Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-04 Leaning on Your Own Staff
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:21
The Bible says, ‘By faith Jacob, when he was dying…worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.’ Picture this: each time Jacob had an experience with God, he took a knife and cut a ring around his staff as a reminder of what happened. The rings started at the bottom and worked their way to the top. One would surely have symbolized the night he wrestled with God and his name was changed to ‘Israel…a prince…with God’ (Genesis 32:28). Another would have represented the night God showed him a vision of a ladder extending into heaven with angels on it. In short, Jacob’s staff represented a lifetime of experiences with God. So, it’s not surprising that he died worshipping God – and leaning on his staff!
Now consider the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. Her son suddenly became ill and died, so Elisha sent his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff to let the woman know he was coming. But when Gehazi placed the prophet’s staff on the dead boy, nothing happened. Only when Elisha himself came was the child restored (see 2 Kings 4:32-35).
The fact is, you can’t lean on anyone’s staff but your own! You can’t stand on anyone else’s experience with God but yours. When it’s time to face life’s challenges – including death – you can only lean on the faith you have developed during your personal walk with God. That’s why it’s essential to be faithful and consistent in your spiritual journey. By leaning on his staff when he was dying, Jacob, in essence, declared, ‘The God who preserved, protected, and prospered me thus far will take me the rest of the way.’ What blessed assurance!
Prayer Heavenly Father, grant me the faith to lean on in all circumstances in my life until I depart to be with You in Heaven. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-03 The Power of God Given Ideas Part 3
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Genesis 28:14
In What the World Owes to Christians, Dr. Victor Pierce, an Oxford scholar, shares the story of the typewriter. ‘The typewriter was a forerunner to the modern word processor. But how did a Christian come to invent it? To write sermons. Seriously!
Christopher Sholes was concerned about his pastor who’d been busy all week visiting victims of an epidemic, comforting the bereaved and conducting funerals. Consequently, he had no time to write his Sunday sermons. One day Sholes, discussing with a friend what could be done, said, “It seems a pity there ain’t some quick method of writing for busy folks like parsons.” His friend replied, “Why not invent a machine?” Sholes responded, “I’ll try.” That rainy afternoon was the beginning of months of hard work. Finally a group assembled one day to see him tap out on paper, in capital letters, C LATHAM SHOLES, NOV 1867.
Six years later the Remingtons recognized the typewriter as something that could revolutionize business. In those days clerks were mostly men, but the Young Women’s Christian Association started offering courses in typing for women. Initially it created a scandal, but as the first typists to be trained were women, employers rushed to hire them. Hence the typewriter and the YWCA determined that a woman’s place was not only at home, but could also be in the office. Is it okay for me to pray for God to bless my business? Yes! God wants to bless your business so that you can help carry out His, which is the business of reaching the world with the gospel.
Prayer Heavenly Father, Bless the ideas You give me so that the Gospel can reach the world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-02 The Power of God Given Ideas Part 2
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Genesis 28:14
One God-given idea can change so much. Braille sure did! In 1824, Louis Braille, a Christian, invented a system of raised dots on paper so that blind people could read. He invented 63 symbols representing every language, hence God’s Word was placed into the hands of the visually impaired for the first time.
And communications? In part, you owe your mobile phone and your computer to a Christian named Samuel Morse. How different the world was before him! First-class news took two weeks to reach the USA. And reports of a major victory could take six weeks to reach Britain. One day a friend said, ‘Morse, when you were experimenting did you ever come to an absolute deadlock, not knowing what to do?’ Morse replied, ‘More than once.’ His friend asked, ‘What did you do then?’ Morse shared a secret, ‘I got down on my knees and prayed for light, and light came, and when my inventions were acknowledged by flattering honors from America and Europe, I said, “Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but unto Thy name give the glory.”’ That’s why the first message sent by transatlantic cable read, ‘What God has wrought.’
Now add another Christian named Louis Pasteur, the French scientist who showed us that infection is the result of things we cannot see, namely germs and viruses. He introduced sterilization methods that eventually saved the lives of multitudes. Think God has run out of good ideas? Not a chance! Ask Him for one for your life, your ministry or your business!
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me ideas and help me act on them for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-02-01 The Power of God Given Ideas Part 1
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Genesis 28:14
Good ideas come from God, so ask Him for one. The world’s been blessed by those who did. Consider anesthesia: how would you like to be operated on without it? That is the way they did it until a Scottish doctor named James Young Simpson introduced something he called ‘artificial sleep’.
As a student at Edinburgh University, he was attracted to surgery because he was troubled by the pain and mortality rate experienced during operations. As a result of reading ‘And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam’ (Genesis 2:21), Simpson thought chloroform might be the answer. He first experimented on himself. Finally, in 1847, the first three operations with chloroform took place. One of the patients, a young soldier, enjoyed it so much that he seized the sponge and inhaled again. ‘It was just too good to be stopped,’ he said.
At first Simpson encountered opposition. Some thought it was a sin to interfere with nature. ‘Hand me the Bible,’ said Dr. Simpson. ‘This is how God operated on Adam.’ Simpson made speeches, wrote letters and pamphlets and tried to convince those who opposed him that this was the way forward. In a setback, when three deaths attributed to chloroform were reported from other hospitals, Simpson was able to show them that they were not applying the anesthesia correctly. The tide turned when Queen Victoria gave birth to her eighth child under chloroform and declared that she was ‘greatly pleased with its effect’. Today ask God to give you an idea that blesses others. Then act on it!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to act on those ideas you give me that can help others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-31 The Smell of Sin
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15
When food in your fridge goes bad, you know it the moment you open the door. And your life is like that. When there is something wrong inside, the people who come in contact with you often sense it. Jesus spoke some of His harshest words to Peter: ‘Get thee behind me, Satan…for thou savourest [smell] not the things that be of God, but those that be of men’ (Matthew 16:23). What was Peter’s sin? Pride. He openly contradicted Jesus (see Matthew 16:22). There are sins of the spirit and sins of the flesh. Peter’s was a sin of the spirit, whereas David’s was one of the flesh that manifested itself in adultery and murder. Later David wrote, ‘Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me’ (Psalm 19:12-13).
Now, God doesn’t want you to become self-absorbed and introspective to the point where you live in condemnation. But He does want you to be sensitive to sin and deal with it immediately. Scripture gives us three ways to stay clean in a spiritually polluted world.
1) Walking in the light (see 1 John 1:7). That means striving to be honest before God and man.
2) Being accountable. That can mean having someone in your life who is mature enough to deserve your confidence, gracious enough to put up with your inconsistencies, and honest enough to confront you (see Ecclesiastes 4:9).
3) Dealing with your sin right away (see Psalm 32:3-5). The moment that brings consciousness of sin should lead to confession of sin resulting in cleansing of sin. Then you must get back up and go on with God!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to immediately deal with those temptations in my life that keep me from moving forward in my relationship with You and others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-30 Monitor Your Mind Part 2
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16
There is a natural mindset, and there is a spiritual mindset. To live victoriously, you must develop a spiritual mindset. The Bible says: ‘The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God…and cannot understand them because they are [spiritually] discerned…But we have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:14, 16).
As you program your life in accordance with God’s Word and consciously submit yourself to do His will every day, He will plant His thoughts in your mind. What an advantage! For example, someone criticizes you and your feelings get hurt. In that moment, the Lord speaks to you and says, ‘Yes, your feelings are hurt, but part of it is just wounded vanity and we can deal with that. I love you despite all your baggage. Your standing with me isn’t at risk. The person who criticized you may see a flaw. But nobody thinks you’re perfect anyway, and it’s better not to have to pretend. Here is a chance to grow. Use it!’
Even though there are elements of pain in these kinds of thoughts, instead of paralyzing you, they energize you. They’re true, they give you ground to stand on, and you realize that if you can keep your mind centered on them, the right feelings and actions are more likely to flow from them. Now you’re starting to live out the promise, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’ (Isaiah 26:3). Instead of focusing on your critics, focus on God, on your spiritual growth, and on what you can learn from the experience.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help my mind and thoughts to be things that help me grow in my relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-29 Monitor Your Mind Part 1
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
If a thief came to your door, would you invite them in? No, you would call the police and have them arrested. And that’s what you need to do when wrong thoughts come to your mind! Take them captive – before they take you captive. And you must do it the moment the first one tries to enter your mind. When you entertain a thought, you empower it, and it will overcome you.
The Bible says, ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7). On your own you don’t have the power to resist Satan, so don’t try it! But the moment you call on God and submit your will to Him, you’re more than a match for Satan. You get to decide who will control your mind: ‘The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace’ (Romans 8:6).
When a thought keeps turning over and over in your mind, ask yourself, ‘What direction is this thought leading me in? Is it towards spiritual death, or towards “life and peace”’? Think about it: you don’t buy insurance after a storm has flattened your house. If you’re wise, you do it before the storm comes.
So instead of failing and saying, ‘I’ll never be any different,’ look back and ask yourself, ‘What was I thinking that led to my failure? Was I in the wrong company, or the wrong place, or the wrong mindset? Have I been reading God’s Word and praying regularly? Have I built my life around people who strengthen me?’ In the long run, monitoring your mind pays great dividends!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me keep my thoughts focused on You and Godly things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-28 Who are You Depending On?
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
How can you tell when you’re depending on people rather than God? When you get upset with your boss because you didn’t get the raise you think you deserve. When you become angry with a loved one because he or she turned you down for a loan. When you do things like that, you’re sitting at the wrong door waiting for your blessing! Yes, it hurts when your efforts aren’t acknowledged. But you must understand this: God will use people as instruments to bless you, but He alone must always be the source of all your blessings!
Ponder these Scriptures: ‘You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). ‘When God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them…this is a gift of God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:19). ‘She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her…silver and gold’ (Hosea 2:8). What was her problem? She ignored God and forgot that He was her true source.
We generally pursue and nurture relationships that are rewarding – and that’s important information. Why? Because only when you recognize God as the source of all your blessings will you commit to nurturing your relationship with Him. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33). When you pursue God, sow generously into His kingdom, and expect Him to meet your needs – your efforts will be blessed – in ways you could not imagine!
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for relying on others and myself in way too many things and to trust You as the source and provider for all my needs. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-27 Look Before You Leap!
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2
When it comes to making commitments and keeping them, Solomon doesn’t mince any of his words: ‘Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think…When you tell God you’ll do something, do it – now. God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it”’ (vv. 2, 4-6).
That means don’t be impulsive, listen as much as you speak, get as much information as you can, then consult God in prayer before you make a commitment. People often say what they think others want to hear, but that can get them into a lot of trouble. Don’t promise something you can’t deliver. And don’t make excuses. Nothing diminishes your influence like trying to reverse a mistake with a lame excuse.
When you make a commitment based on emotion, you will only follow through if you feel a certain way. True commitment doesn’t work like that. It’s not a feeling; it’s a character quality. Human emotions constantly fluctuate, but commitment has to be rock solid. Real dedication shines through in times of trouble and adversity. It doesn’t depend on gifts or abilities, but on integrity. It’s a result of choice, not conditions. And it only lasts when it’s based on values. Bottom line: ‘Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God’ (v. 2). So look before you leap, and think before you commit.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me think things through before I commit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-26 Teach Your Children
Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time. Deuteronomy 4:40
As a parent, you’re constantly transmitting your values to your children, so do these:
1) Let them see you pray. Help them to understand that prayer is how we build a lifelong friendship with God. And they will need His friendship when you’re not around to help them. God said, ‘When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them’ (Psalm 91:15).
2) Show them what God is like. Your child’s concept of God is formed by you. Whether you’re loving and protective or distant and cold, they will grow up understanding God through the interactions they have with you. Some examples are that God is never too busy to listen, He constantly tells us He loves us, and He is never abusive. Getting the idea?
3) Help them to see God in others. When kids are encouraged to see God at work in their own lives, they begin to discern Him at work in the lives of others too. When that happens, they will value and respect others and be valued and respected in return. That will help them to be secure and successful in life.
4) Don’t send them to church; take them. Children need to believe – and belong. Teach them that just like a limb dies that’s disconnected from a body, we die spiritually unless we are connected to a local church. ‘Belonging’ means they will always have a place to go. The Bible says, ‘Obey his laws…that things will go well for you and your children’ (Deuteronomy 4:40). Helping your kids to find the right path is the greatest gift you can give them.
Prayer Heavenly Father, no matter what age I am or my children or those children I am close to, help me reflect You to them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-25 The Benefits of Being Unselfish
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4
Unselfishness does three things for you:
1) It improves the quality of your life. It gives you an appreciation for life and a comprehension of its higher values. Seeing people in need and giving to meet those needs sets a lot of things into perspective. One leader writes: ‘There is no life as empty as the self-centered life. There is no life as centered as the self-empty life.’ If you want to enhance your world, focus your attention on assisting others.
2) It makes you part of something greater than yourself. In the mid-1980s, Merck & Company, the global pharmaceutical corporation, developed a medication to cure river blindness, a disease that infects and causes blindness in millions of people, mainly in developing countries. While it was a good product, potential customers couldn’t afford it. So, what did Merck do? It produced the drug anyway and announced that it would give it free to anyone who needed it. As a result, they gave away more than 250 million tablets. George W. Merck says, ‘We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It’s not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear.’ The lesson to learn? Simple. Instead of attempting to be great, be part of something greater than yourself.
3) It creates a legacy. Jack Balousek, former president of True North Communications, said, ‘Learn, earn, return – these are the three phases of life.’ When you think unselfishly and invest in others, you gain the opportunity to create a legacy that will outlive you. And that should be your goal.
Prayer Heavenly Father, all good things come from You. Help me learn, earn, and return. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-24 Have Confidence in Your Prayers
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14
A leader wrote these words:
‘My dad was a busy man…to get him at work you had to go through a switchboard unless you knew his private number. He gave it to a few business partners, but all of his kids had it…We knew, no matter how busy he was, we could call anytime on his direct line. I’ve the same thing…my kids know my number…they can call me anytime for anything. And you know what? No voices sound sweeter to me than my kids’ voices. When one of them says, “Hi, Dad,” it doesn’t matter what I’m juggling…they’re an absolute priority…Now multiply that out exponentially – and listen to me. Nothing sounds sweeter to God than your voice saying, “Hello, Father.” There’s nothing going on in the cosmos that would keep Him from directing His full attention to your conversation or your request.’
That means when God is your Father, you can call home anytime. He is never more than a prayer away! Jesus said: ‘Ask, and God will give to you…If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? Or if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!’ (Matthew 7:7, 9-11).
You can talk to God without begging and groveling, ‘confident that he hears…whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And…he will give us what we ask for’ (1 John 5:14-15). So, whatever is robbing you of your confidence in prayer, deal with it today.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for Your direct Number to always be there for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-23 Strive for Integrity
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Proverbs 11:3
Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 19:19). But in order to love yourself, you must first be able to respect yourself. And self-respect is based on personal integrity.
Author Ted Engstrom tells the following story in his book called Integrity: ‘For Coach Cleveland Stroud and the Bulldogs of Rockdale County High School [Conyers, Georgia], it was their championship season: twenty-one wins and five losses on the way to the Georgia Boys Basketball Tournament last March, then a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the state finals. But now the new glass trophy case outside the high school gymnasium is bare. Earlier this month the Georgia High School Association deprived Rockdale County of the championship after school officials said that a player who was scholastically ineligible had played forty-five seconds in the first of the school’s five postseason games.
‘“We didn’t know he was ineligible at the time; we didn’t know it until a few weeks ago,” Coach Stroud said. “Some people have said we should have just kept quiet about it, that it was just forty-five seconds and the player wasn’t an impact player. But you’ve got to do what’s honest and right and what the rules say. I told my team that people forget the scores of basketball games; they don’t ever forget what you’re made of.”’
Every honest or dishonest word and action either adds to or takes away from your character. That’s what the Bible means when it says, ‘The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.’ So today, strive for integrity in all your dealings.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me walk the talk and show spiritual integrity in all I do to reflect You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-22 How to Keep From Falling
who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. Psalms 15:5
In The Message paraphrase we read, ‘For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, there’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it’ll be too late to help them”’ (Proverbs 29:1). King Solomon was reputed to be the wisest man who ever lived. He wrote these words, but sadly he didn’t live by them, so he ‘crashed and burned’. And if it could happen to Solomon, none of us are immune!
Character has become a crucial issue today because so many political, business, and religious leaders have fallen so publicly. As a leader, you don’t operate in a vacuum. You influence many others, and when you fall, they feel the repercussions. When a big oak tree falls, it takes the little trees with it. So how can you guard against falling? By not favoring gifts over character. Today we have an unhealthy tendency to celebrate and reward someone’s gift and overlook their character; both must be developed. Character is the sum total of your daily habits.
In Psalm 15, the Psalmist gives us eight traits to look for in a leader worthy of respect: 1) They have integrity. 2) They don’t take part in gossip. 3) They don’t harm others. 4) They speak up against wrong. 5) They honor those who walk in the truth. 6) They keep their promise, even at personal cost. 7) They’re not greedy to profit at the expense of others. 8) They’re strong and stable. The Psalmist concludes the psalm by saying those who do these things ‘will never be shaken’. That’s how you keep from falling!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me develop those things that Your Word says I should develop and do and forgive me where I have failed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-21 Competence Does Not Compensate for Insecurity
And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 1 Samuel 18:9
One of the truest tests of leadership is how you respond to somebody else’s success. Do you rejoice, or secretly resent them? Do you feel like their blessing somehow came at your expense? King Saul sent David out to fight Goliath. When he succeeded and the Israelites began to sing David’s praises, Saul couldn’t handle it. ‘From that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.’ Leaders who lack confidence are a danger to themselves, their followers, and the groups they lead. That’s because leadership doesn’t camouflage your flaws; it puts them on display. Whatever negative baggage you’re carrying grows heavier when you attempt to lead others. Insecure leaders generally have four common traits:
1) They don’t provide security for others. To be a good leader, you must make your followers feel good about themselves. Honor them. Reward them. Promote them.
2) They take more than they give. Insecure leaders are on a continual search for validation, acknowledgement, and love. And because of that, their focus is on obtaining personal security, not instilling it in others.
3) They continually limit their best people. Insecure leaders don’t see their best people as co-workers; they see them as potential competitors who might rise up through the ranks and threaten their position. Such leaders generally find ways to take the credit for work that was done by others.
4) They continually limit their organization. When followers are undermined and go unrecognized, they become disheartened and eventually stop performing to their potential. When that occurs, the whole organization suffers.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me help others to blossom and grow and lead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-20 Do Not Be a Slave to the Wrong Things
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey — whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16
Consider some of the people who are enslaved today through no fault of their own – children sold into the sex trade and immigrants sold into forced labor. That’s not the kind of slavery Paul is talking about when he writes, ‘You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.’
When it comes to sin, the Bible draws a line in the sand and tells us not to cross it. Why? Because when you cross it once, it’s easier to cross it again. Whether your ‘drug of choice’ is alcohol, illegal or over-the-counter drugs, pornography, gambling, or overeating, you start out believing you’re the master and end up realizing you’re the slave. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, ‘I can stop whenever I want to.’ The Prodigal Son was forgiven and restored, but he still lost his inheritance. Spiritually, you can lose your confidence before God. Personally, you can lose your sense of self-worth. Publicly, you can lose respect and influence with others. And if you’re not careful, even ‘good’ things can hurt you. A strong work ethic can lead to neglecting your family and losing your marriage. Vegging out in front of the TV can stunt your spiritual growth. Even too much caution and thoughtfulness – good qualities – can prevent you from stepping out in faith and fulfilling your God-given potential.
When God says no, He is not being a killjoy and trying to make your life difficult; He is protecting you! If something has the potential to enslave you, don’t do it. And if you’re already hooked, turn to God and He will set you free.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to let go of those things that are holding me back from being what You want me to be and do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-19 Knowing When to Let Go
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:31
When our children are young, we’re so busy providing them with things like love, protection, discipline, training, and authority that it feels like these responsibilities will go on forever. But they don’t. When our children reach their late teens and early twenties, we must open the door for them to the world outside.
If you’re going through this right now and feeling anxious, try to realize that you’re in one of the most challenging and difficult parts of parenting. Your tendency to hold tightly to the reins of control in order to keep your children from making mistakes is natural. But your children are more likely to make good choices if they aren’t compelled to rebel in order to achieve their freedom.
The simple truth is that responsibility and maturity flourish best in an atmosphere of freedom. ‘As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother.”’ The secret of success is in granting your child autonomy at the right time, in the right amount, and with the right attitude. Your goal should be to allow independence little by little through the years, as your children are able to manage new responsibility.
The final release, then, should represent a small step in the direction of freedom instead of a tumble into anarchy. In the final analysis, we all learn by trial and error. You did, and try as you may to avoid it, your children will, too. ‘So what should I do?’ you ask. Pray for them daily, release them into God’s care, and let them know that you will always love them and be there for them.
Prayer Heavenly Father – Trusting You – Trusting my children – and Letting them go – help me trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-18 Make the Most of It
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7
Are you at a place in your life and you’d rather not be there? Well, God has a word for you, but it may not be one you want to hear.
It’s the same word Jeremiah brought to his people when they were slaves in Babylon, far from everything near and dear: ‘You’re not going home anytime soon, so change your attitude, dig in and make the best of it. Buy homes, plant gardens, let your children get married…and in addition, pray for the peace and prosperity of the city where you’re living because when it prospers, you will prosper’ (Jeremiah 29:5-7, paraphrased).
The Israelites were in exile because God had allowed them to be taken captive. So, could it be that you are where you are today because God placed you there to bless those around you? Instead of putting your life on hold waiting for circumstances to change, start sowing into other people’s lives what you want to come back as a harvest in your own. Why? Because when they are blessed, you’ll be blessed too! How do we know? Because Jesus said, ‘Give, and it will be given to you…the measure you use…will be measured to you’ (Luke 6:38).
Martha Washington said, ‘I’m determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be. I’ve learned that the greater part of happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.’ That sounds just like Paul: ‘I have learned [to be] content in any and every situation’ (Philippians 4:12). If you want to go from surviving to thriving, make the most of where God placed you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I may not like where you placed me but help me know You have me where You want me for now – and for me to help others where I am at. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-17 He Did It With You in Mind
and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. Matthew 27:29
The hymnist Isaac Watts wrote, ‘See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?’
Jesus wore a crown of thorns so you could wear a crown of glory. Thorns in Scripture represent sin. In Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed, God said, ‘The ground will be under a curse…[…it] will produce thorns’ (Genesis 3:17-18). Later He told Israel that unless they purged the land of their enemies, ‘they will be like…thorns in your sides’ (Numbers 33:55). Solomon cautioned: ‘Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road’ (Proverbs 22:5). And Jesus warned, ‘You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes’ (Matthew 7:16).
A well-known author writes: ‘The crown of thorns Jesus wore represented all our sins. As we were caught in the brambles of envy, anger, shame, discouragement, guilt, bitterness, and unforgiveness, so Jesus, who knew no sin, became “an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Not once did Christ use His supernatural powers for personal comfort. With just a word He could have transformed the hard earth into a soft bed…hurled the spit of His accusers back into their faces…and paralyzed the hand of the soldier who braided the thorns. But He didn’t. Instead, “He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to Christ’s cross”’ (Colossians 2:14). And He did it with you in mind. Amazing!
Prayer Heavenly Father, You sacrificed for me. Help me to be willing to sacrifice for others well-being. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-16 Leadership Responsibility Part 2
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
David was ‘on a roll’. He kept winning battle after battle. He had the Midas touch; everything he touched turned to gold! But success can go to your head, and David wasn’t exempt. He started wondering, ‘Just how strong are we?’ At that point, he conducted a census and discovered he had ‘one million one hundred thousand [fighting] men’ (1 Chronicles 21:5). That could tempt any of us to think, ‘With an army this size, and given our track record of success, who needs to pray for God’s help or ask Him for a plan?’ That was the point at which God stepped in and judged David, and seventy thousand Israelites died needlessly (see v. 14).
So here is another aspect of leadership you need to be aware of: your mistakes have the potential to hurt others. You’re not just accountable to those who are over you; you’re responsible for those under you. After all, if your good decisions have the ability to bless and guide people, your bad decisions have the potential to harm them.
‘David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong…let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people”’ (v. 17). God graciously answered David’s prayer, and judgment was lifted from Israel. So, you need God’s guidance for your own sake, the sake of the people around you, and to give you the grace to accept responsibility when you fail. Don’t try to hide your failures, blame others, or run from God. Acknowledge them, grow through them, and go on to become wiser.
Prayer Heavenly Father, forgive me for my failures that have hurt others. Help me to follow YOUR direction in the decisions I make. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-15 Leadership Responsibility Part 1
Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1
Fresh from a major victory over the Philistines, King David made a major mistake. Instead of trusting God for his next battle, he conducted a census designed to measure his military power and determine his chances of winning. As a result, seventy thousand Israelites perished.
This story teaches us three very important lessons about leadership responsibility:
1) As a leader, you’re Satan’s special target. He knows that in order to get to others, he must go through you, so he will use every strategy he has to bring you down. ‘Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census.’ The average board of directors would probably have considered it a good idea, but God saw it as an act of arrogance and unbelief.
2) Don’t be presumptuous. Don’t let your last victory make you overconfident about your next battle. There will never be a time when you don’t need God! The fact that God had just granted David a great victory should have made him more, not less, dependent on God. Paul wrote, ‘Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent’ (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
3) Listen to wise counsel. Joab, one of David’s generals, warned him he was making a grave mistake. ‘The king’s word, however, overruled Joab’ (1 Chronicles 21:4). You may have great gifts, but you don’t have all the gifts. Where you have blind spots, others often have 20/20 vision. ‘In the multitude of counselors there is safety’ (Proverbs 11:14), so listen to the people God put in your life to guide and protect you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me follow the guidance from Your Word and not my mind. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-14 Forgive and Forget
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
Building a successful relationship calls for focusing on the other person’s strengths instead of their weaknesses. Concerning marriage, Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Keep your eyes wide open beforehand and half shut afterwards.’ It’s a mistake to rush into a lifetime relationship without taking time to get to know the other person. Without due diligence on the front end, you are sure to have problems on the back end. But an important relationship principle lies in learning to forgive and forget. American politician Edward Wallace Hoch is attributed with saying, ‘There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it hardly behooves any of us, to talk about the rest of us.’
Forgetting can be harder when the offence is great. Small offences can usually be forgiven quickly; big ones involve a healing process. But until you decide to forgive and forget, the process can’t even start. Paul writes: ‘Be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other…forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything… It is what ties everything…together’ (vv. 12-14).
One author puts it this way: ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can‘t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.’ In other words, when it comes to facing facts you can’t change, pray for grace and learn to live with them. Why do we need to forgive and forget? Because God says so! You are not designed to carry the physical and mental stress that comes with harboring resentment. Added to which, ‘You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out’ (Galatians 6:1).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me release any resentment towards others and forgive them as You forgive me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-13 Understanding Your Willpower
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3
We have exaggerated ideas about our capabilities. We like to think we can do it all. But no matter how disciplined you are or how hard you try, without a ‘sane estimate of your capabilities’, you’re setting yourself up to fail.
John Ortberg says: ‘Willpower is…finite…You don’t get separate stockpiles for different areas…That’s why a long list of New Year’s resolutions is almost certainly doomed…It takes a whole lot of willpower to get on an exercise program, to lose weight…If you add on the list: get on a budget…keep your office clean, and read Calvin’s Institutes every week, you set yourself up for failure…For most of us…our wills get depleted…more quickly than our bodies.’
Ortberg suggests these:
1) Schedule your most important tasks for when your willpower is strongest. For many people, that’s the morning. One study shows prisoners have a better shot at parole if their case is heard in the morning when the judge has a higher reserve of willpower and is more inclined to take a chance.
2) Spend willpower wisely by not taking on too many tasks at once, even after you have prayed about them. Generally, God works through your will, and He seldom gives you a free pass to disregard the laws of finitude He created.
3) Set goals – but not too many. Lacking a few, we drift, but having an overabundance means we worry about them, accomplish less, and suffer emotionally and physically.
4) Remember that the one act of your will that replenishes willpower instead of depleting it is surrender. God meant for prayer, solitude, worship, and meditation to be done in a way that restores us.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me surrender to You in order to accomplish the things You will for me to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-12 A Safe Place to Unload
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? You have, haven’t you?
Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘We act impulsively and realize, after the fact, how foolish we were…On top of all that, we hurt the ones we love the most. All this stuff caves in on us…and we wonder how anybody could ever love us…especially God. When we start thinking like this, we need to turn our mind to the “one anothers” in the New Testament. Love one another, build up one another, live in peace with one another, confess your sins to one another, speak to one another, admonish one another, comfort one another, pray for one another. “Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).
‘Imagine two mountain hikers. One…has a…light pack…while the other poor soul…is…loaded down…It could be a long-standing grudge…poisoning his insides…[Or,] a broken relationship with his wife or one of his kids. That pack could be loaded with unpaid bills. The question is, Where can…[he] go to unload? By sitting in church alongside a…couple thousand other folks? Hardly. What he needs…is…a place where there is person-to-person caring and…authentic sharing. Where he will feel free, without embarrassment…to tell his secret or state his struggle; where someone will listen, help him unload, and give him fresh strength.
‘Adult fellowships…are not miniature church services. They are pockets of people who love Christ and believe in helping one another. They don’t point fingers or preach or compare. They are your brothers and sisters in Christ…Are you involved in a…fellowship group? If not, consider joining or starting [one].’
Once you begin unloading, you will discover how much easier the journey seems.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to “unpack” some things I have been carrying around for too long. Lead me to safe people to help me unpack. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-11 What Color is Your Tongue?
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34
When Mary Southerland came down with a raging fever, her doctor suspected viral meningitis. ‘How long have you had the solid white coating on your tongue?’ he asked. Mary was puzzled. Why did that matter? The doctor continued, ‘The health of the tongue is a very strong indicator of the health of the entire body.’
And spiritually speaking, the same principle applies. ‘The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts…so they say good things…evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things’ (vv. 34-35). The problem isn’t the tongue itself; it’s more serious. The problem lies in your heart, your attitude, your outlook, and your temperament.
Southerland continues: ‘The tongue is a spiritual thermometer that reflects the condition of the heart…Words are power tools that can build…encourage…destroy and cause confusion. We have all been hurt and even defeated by words spoken in anger or words rising out of a wounded heart…If my words are boastful, my heart is insecure. If my words are filthy, my heart is impure and if my words are critical, my heart is filled with pride and anger…Solomon said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11)…The right word, spoken at the right time and in the right way can bring order in the midst of confusion and light on a very dark path. “Good people know the right thing to say” (Proverbs 10:32). God gives us spiritual “radar” so we can assess a situation and speak the right word for that circumstance. We just need to check the “radar screen” before we speak.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, change my heart so my tongue will be healthier. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-10 A Heart of Flesh
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
When you have been hurt, it’s easy to put up barriers. But be careful – a protective shell can turn into a ‘heart of stone’: resistant, unreceptive, impenetrable even to God.
One Christian author writes:
‘The only thing more painful, and with…more serious ramifications than a broken heart, is a frozen one.…Paul warns us [about]…allowing our hearts to harden. “They are darkened in their understanding…separated from the life of God…due to…hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18). A soft heart is not weak or naive. To the contrary, wisdom, experience, and faith make for a strong heart, weathered by compassion and seasoned with mercy. A hardened heart is not protected, it’s merely encased in injury, and it is painfully obvious to everyone but you…After a weekend that felt like one painful test after another, I called my best friend in tears. “Why won’t this end? How strong does God want me to be? I can’t take it anymore!” Being a godly woman…she replied, “Perhaps it’s the other way around. You have been strong enough. God wants your heart to be soft and open.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way. In response to heartbreak, betrayal, or shame, it is…easy to develop a heart of stone. We think this will protect us from…more pain. The problem with stone is…it feels nothing – no pain, but no love. It is a trap that feels like self-preservation, but it is actually self-destruction. God wants to give you a heart of flesh. With His love you can emerge from a painful season of loss with a heart that is yielding, porous, and ready to receive the gifts He has…for you.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me and keep my heart a heart of flesh and not stone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-09 Jesus’ Philosophy on Work Part 2
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4
Like the rest of us, Jesus sometimes got tired (see John 4:6). But He was never stressed out by the job. He was led, but never driven. He knew what needed to be done and the amount of time required to do it, and He picked a team to accomplish it. Three of them – Peter, James, and John – were in His inner circle. It wasn’t that He showed favoritism; He just recognized the particular gifts of the people He worked with and what He needed from each of them to get the job done.
An important step towards accomplishing something big is knowing the kinds of people you will need. In other words, you need to know who should be on your team. Jesus spent three-and-a-half years training His disciples before delegating responsibility to them. Was He afraid they would make mistakes, outshine Him, or make Him look bad? No, He told them, ‘He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father’ (John 14:12). Jesus was a team player who got things done through others.
But even when you break a task down, strategically plan it, and recruit terrific people, you need one more component to succeed: teamwork! Teamwork is the glue that brings people together – and keeps them together. There are more than a billion Christians in the world today. And it all started two thousand years ago with one man who had a vision, a man who recruited and trained a team to fulfil that vision. If you’re wise, you will study His work philosophy.
Prayer Heavenly Father, it is Your will that Your people work together for Your Mission. Help us to do that. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-08 Jesus’ Philosophy on Work Part 1
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:34
Instead of confining Jesus to church on Sunday, let’s study His work philosophy (attitude, values, and beliefs) on how to get things done. The principles He lived by call for these:
1) Being clear about your assignment. He said, ‘I must finish the work…he gave me to do.’ Jesus understood that focus maximizes skill and opportunity. So if you’re talented, energetic, and active and you’re still not seeing concrete results, your problem may be lack of focus. When Nehemiah was rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, his enemies said, ‘Come, let us meet together’ (Nehemiah 6:2). That’s when Nehemiah sent back this message: ‘I am doing a great work, so…I cannot come down’ (v. 3).
2) Prioritizing tasks in the order of their importance. When you don’t do what has to be done according to its importance, jobs start to arrange themselves according to their urgency. And when that happens, you miss great opportunities. The Bible says Jesus ‘needed to go through Samaria’ (John 4:4). To the disciples, this probably looked like a diversion because it wasn’t the shortest route to where they wanted to go. But there was a woman in Samaria Jesus wanted to redeem; a vessel through which He reached the entire city with the gospel. Bottom line: Jesus was clear about His priorities. Are you?
3) Creating a definitive timetable. In other words, set deadlines and stick with them. Jesus knew He had only three-and-a-half years to get the job done, and He made every day count. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, ‘I’ll get to it later.’ To succeed in life, let Jesus’ work philosophy become your master plan.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me get and stay clear on what it is You would have me do and to place that as the Main Thing guiding my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-07 Say No to Sin
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
If you want to grow roses, you must declare war on weeds; otherwise, they will run amok in your garden. In other words, you must beware of weeds! There is a spiritual parallel at work here, and it’s this: unless you deal decisively with sin, it will take over your life.
The Message paraphrases Paul’s words like this:
‘Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life – no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time – remember, you’ve been raised from the dead! – into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God’ (vv. 6-14).
So, the word for today is – say no to sin!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me each day to conform more and more to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-06 Be Courageous Part 2
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
It takes courage to face a painful reality. It’s easier to bail out of a troubled marriage than to stay and work your way through to a better place. It’s easier to give in to despair and self-pity than go back to school and train for a new career. It takes guts to stand up for your convictions when you’re under fire. But somebody said, ‘Unless you stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.’ The truth is, anytime you’re willing to stand for something or try something new, somebody will take a shot at you.
The English word courage is derived from the French word cœur, meaning ‘heart’. Hence the phrase ‘don’t lose heart’. It’s easy to be brave when you feel strong, but it’s much harder when you feel weak and inadequate. Yet, that’s when you need courage the most. General Omar Bradley remarked, ‘Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.’ And the courage he is referring to isn’t hollow hype. It has nothing to do with a ‘fake it till you make it’ mentality. Courage means saying, ‘If God promised it, I believe it’ and moving forward despite the obstacles.
If you need an injection of courage today, read and meditate on these verses: 1) ‘Be strong and do not give up…your work will be rewarded’ (2 Chronicles 15:7). 2) ‘Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! GOD is…on his way…He’ll save you!”’ (Isaiah 35:3-4). Now that’s courage!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be courageous, guided by Your presence and Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-05 Be Courageous Part 1
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Knowing the battles he would have to fight in order to conquer the promised land, God told Joshua this, no less than three times: ‘Be strong and of good courage.’ Anytime you move forward, obstacles will block your path. Count on it!
H.G. Wells asked, ‘What on earth would a man do with himself, if something did not stand in his way?’ What did he mean? That adversity is your friend – even when it feels like your enemy. Every obstacle you face reveals your strengths and weaknesses. It also shapes you and makes you wiser and more confident.
Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: ‘Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.’
Anytime you leave your comfort zone and step out in faith to follow God, you will be tested. But you will also reach heights you thought were beyond you and go further than others who had greater talent but settled for the status quo.
In The Message paraphrase, Paul tells us: ‘Every detail works to your advantage…So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace’ (2 Corinthians 4:15-17). Courage can be defined as simply ‘not giving up’.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me lead with courage in all the situations You place me in! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-04 Be Secure in Leading
God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts. 2 Timothy 1:7
The foundation of good leadership is security. Paul told Timothy, ‘God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.’ You must know with certainty that God called you, equipped you, and guaranteed your ultimate success. And you must keep this in mind when people stop liking you, when funding drops, when morale dips, and others reject you. If you feel insecure, fear will eventually cause you to sabotage your own leadership.
Confident leaders see what is, while maintaining their vision of what can be. They’re rarely content with things the way they are. As President Ronald Reagan once quipped, ‘Status quo…is Latin for “the mess we’re in”!’ By definition, ‘to lead’ is to be out in front, breaking new ground, vanquishing new worlds, and proceeding away from the status quo. Dissatisfaction with the status quo doesn’t mean having a bad attitude or complaining; it has to do with a readiness to be different and to take risks. A person who won’t risk change is someone who fails to grow. A leader who loves the status quo is someone who soon turns into a follower.
Raymond Smith of Bell Atlantic Corporation once remarked, ‘Administrators are easy to find and cheap to keep. Leaders – risk takers – are in very short supply. And the ones with vision are pure gold.’ Many people are more comfortable dealing with old troubles than doing what it takes to find new solutions; risk seems dangerous to them. The secret lies in having a winning attitude – one that comes from being secure in who you are and what you have been called to do. Think about it!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to always keep my focus on You and be secure in leading where You want me to go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-03 Choose Peace
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
Panic and anxiety are often our first reactions to conflict and problems. In those initial moments, choosing peace seems impossible. Your subconscious whispers, ‘If you really care, you will worry.’ But a seasoned counsellor writes: ‘Don’t panic! No matter what the situation or circumstance, we usually have…a moment to breathe deeply and…let peace flow through our body and mind…Panic, not the task, is the enemy.’ Anxiety just empowers and enlarges the problem. Your best problem-solving resource is always peace. Fear and anxiety block solutions; answers flow more easily and naturally from a peaceful state of mind. And God’s peace is always available to us – if we choose to use it.
Paul writes, ‘When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce…in us…peace.’ Refuse to let your negative emotions run amok or decide your response. Jesus said, ‘[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful…intimidated…cowardly and unsettled]’ (John 14:27). That means you have options; you can choose between peace and inner conflict.
In the same verse, Jesus also said, ‘My [own] peace I…bequeath to you’ (v. 27), and ‘bequeath’ relates to executing a will. When someone dies, they leave their most cherished possessions to the people they love. But just because Jesus left us His peace doesn’t mean it will automatically operate in us. Plus, when we lose our peace, it’s harder to hear from God. When Paul says, ‘Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule…in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15), the word ‘rule’ means ‘to govern and to control’. So instead of letting yourself get anxious and panicky today, choose peace.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I want Your Peace – not as the world gives but only from You, who holds my destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-02 How to Forgive Yourself
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25
God says in His Word: ‘I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted’ (vv. 25-26). Today if you’re condemning yourself because you think your sins are too big to merit God’s grace, go back and reread those Scriptures carefully. Why did God say He would forgive your sins? ‘For My own sake.’ So what should you do? ‘State your case, that you may be acquitted.’ Why do we have such a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness? 1) Because in some cases we feel like we’re reaping what we have sown. 2) Because we have condemned someone else for doing the very thing we ourselves did. 3) Because we think God likes to keep us twisting in the wind for a while so we will think twice before committing the same sin again. 4) Because growing up, when we disobeyed our parents, they took away certain privileges until we had proven ourselves. 5) Because we think we have to be ‘worthy’ of God’s mercy. But when you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re implying that your transgressions are beyond the scope of God’s grace. And that’s a bigger sin – pride! And here is another thought. When you always have ‘issues’ with other people, you may be looking for someone to offend you. That way, you can point to how bad the other person is and feel better about yourself. When you adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving yourself because you know God has exonerated you, it’s easier to forgive other people’s mistakes. People who cannot forgive themselves have a hard time forgiving others!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to always remember Your forgiveness of me. Help me forgive myself and others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2023-01-01 Glorify God and Enjoy Him This Year
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
In 1643, the Houses of Parliament in England abolished the Episcopal system of government in the Church of England. An assembly of one hundred and twenty-one ministers and thirty laypeople was called to Westminster Abbey to rebuild the English church. The documents coming out of that six-year assembly are some of the most famous in church history. The first question in the Shorter Westminster Catechism reads, ‘What is the chief end of man?’ Answer: ‘To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.’ The implications of that question and answer are profound in their simplicity. And if you’re wise, you will make them a blueprint for your life this coming year. Glorify God. Obey God. Enjoy God. When you know your life is glorifying God, you enjoy His presence, but when you know your life is not glorifying God, you tend to avoid Him. And that’s bad, because without God’s presence in your life, what are your chances of true success? Not good! As you look back on last year, are there things you regret because you know that God was not glorified in them? Well, God is giving you a new year to do things differently. And if you’re making New Year’s resolutions, base every one of them on the foundation of this Scripture: ‘Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ If you follow that rule, you will stay on the right path, and you will have the peace and joy of knowing your life is pleasing to the Lord. Whatever circumstances may arise, you will face them with peace and confidence, knowing that God is with you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me this year to do all things to Your glory and to enjoy the journey You have me on. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-31 Living by Faith
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” Hebrews 10:38
Living by faith is something you learn to do by practicing it daily. Before you became a Christian, you trusted in your own ability and intellect. But those things only took you so far and no further, right? Now you’re trusting God for the wisdom, guidance, resources, and ability to fulfil His will for your life.
The Bible tells us, ‘By faith Noah…prepared an ark for the saving of his household’ (Hebrews 11:7). Think about it: when Noah built the ark, there was no sign of rain. Living by faith doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t mean your problems will vanish into thin air.
Sometimes faith changes your circumstances; other times it changes your perspective. How? By giving you the firmness to hang in there when the check doesn’t come in the mail, or the doctor says the condition is incurable, or your spouse asks for a divorce, or the kids are running amok, or the company where you have worked for the last twenty years closes its doors. Faith gives you the fortitude to endure, confident that God will work things out on your behalf.
Paul tells us, ‘Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’ (Hebrews 11:1). Living by faith means 1) obeying God and believing He will never let you down, 2) following in the footsteps of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for God, and 3) using your faith because you know it’s the only currency heaven recognizes.
When the Bible says, ‘The just shall live by faith,’ it doesn’t mean little, sporadic bursts of faith; it means making faith a lifestyle. Will you do that this coming year?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me this year to “live by faith” and not my own understanding. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-30 Being Yoked Together with Jesus
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burned out trying – and failing – to observe a long list of rules and regulations. Here is what He told them: ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light’ (vv. 28-30). The ‘yoke’ Jesus spoke of was a harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could pull the plow in the same direction. In each team of oxen, one was the leader and the other would follow. There is an important lesson here – don’t miss it. Jesus will take the lead, but you must stay in sync with Him to enjoy His blessing on your life. He promises His yoke won’t choke you; it won’t be wearisome or confining, and you won’t chafe under it. In fact, if you want to be truly free, you must let yourself be yoked to Jesus by submitting your will to His. But it doesn’t work to accept Christ’s yoke for a while and then start pulling the other way when things don’t go the way you want. When you do, the load gets heavier and you start to feel worn out. Peace and rest come when you relax in the yoke and let Christ lead. Jesus said, ‘You will find rest.’ That means your options are to resist Him or to rest in Him! Which will it be?
Prayer Heavenly Father, anything but You that I get “yoked” with does not give me rest. I want the rest with and in You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-29 Self-Control
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 2 Peter 1:5-6
Ever notice how we tend to blame our circumstances for our character deficiencies? We attribute our problems to poor upbringing, financial difficulties, or other people’s shortcomings. Your circumstances may be beyond your control – but your character isn’t. You can no more blame your character flaws on circumstances than you can blame a mirror for how you look. Integrity is always a choice, and every time you make a character-based decision, you take a step forward in your spiritual growth. Think about the times you have faced temptation and adversity. Jot them down, and beside each one, note your choice: to escape, excuse, capitulate, avoid, persevere, or overcome. What problem areas can you identify? How can you do better? If the things you listed were due to circumstances beyond your control, then choose to take greater control of your life. How? ‘By adding…self-control’ to your arsenal. Our lives resemble icebergs, in that 15 per cent is visible; that’s our reputation. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure – and success. At the end of a brilliant career, Joshua challenged Israel with these words: ‘Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD’ (Joshua 24:15). Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone: ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’ (Philippians 2:13).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me work on my self-control and character issues to be more in line with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-28 Be a Restorer Part 2
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
After listing some of the worst sins imaginable, Paul told the Corinthians, ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (v. 11). So, before you pass sentence on someone else, remember what God has lifted you out of! Many of us think a ‘good’ sermon is one that goes over our head and hits our neighbor squarely between the eyes! In Scripture, the word restore has two shades of meaning. One is to remove a tumor. A tumor can kill you, and it needs to be removed. Paul writes, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently…in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:1-2). Make no mistake, sharing someone’s shame and humiliation can be a burden. Nevertheless, ‘we should do it…[giving] special attention to those…in the family of believers’ (Galatians 6:10). If you tend to be quick to condemn others – something we have all done from time to time – ask yourself this question: if people don’t find grace among the people who preach it, where can they find it? The other means to reset a broken bone. Scripture tells us, ‘Christ makes us one body…connected to each other’ (Romans 12:5). In fact, your spiritual family is more important than your earthly family because it will last forever. By lifting a fallen family member, you help heal their pain and enable them to become a vital, functioning part of Christ’s body again. So, the word for today is – be a restorer.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be one that lifts others up when they need help, as You have lifted me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-27 Be a Restorer Part 1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1
Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone they are condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32). Why should we be restorers? 1) Because God tells us to. ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves…you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else; incapable of falling like they did. You would be surprised what you would do in certain circumstances! Paul writes, ‘We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so…self-confident…You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else’ (1 Corinthians 10:12). 2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But not one time did He condemn someone who was caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. Someone has said the church is the only army that shoots its wounded. Today, others are watching us to see if the grace we preach to others is the same grace we extend to one another. Let’s not disappoint them.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to reach out to those who have fallen to help them get back up. Thank You Father for helping me back up when I have fallen – time and time again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-26 Celebrate Christmas Part 2
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah 8:9
The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means ‘holy day’. So, when Nehemiah announced, ‘This day is holy,’ he was declaring a celebration; a time to ‘eat and drink before the LORD’ (1 Chronicles 29:22). Today, overindulgence and overspending have become synonymous with Christmas, making Christians hesitant to celebrate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘Often it is from those newly associated with our fellowship who have allowed themselves – perhaps for the first time – to enter into the wonder and fullness of Christmas joy and celebration…Christmas is more than merely “merry”. Christmas is mighty. Celebration – unfettered enjoyment, love…laughter…gifts and giving, trees and tinsel,…carols and bells…all of it – has an inherent potential for mightiness. The qualifying factor is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is present, the accoutrements of Christmas…can bless, strengthen, heal, [and] restore…When He is absent, carols ring hollow. Greetings, wishes and smiles lie on the surface, like glitter glued on a flat card. Lights and decorations…can leave the heart more desolate than ever. But where the Holy Spirit is there is power…to change entrenched habits…transform cold hearts…grudges and expectations…lift lives out of the shadow…This Christmas, let Him come upon you. Welcome the…Holy Spirit…to move upon your life, and then make your own move…into the season’s best opportunities to bask in the wonder of it all…Reach out to those around: encourage, bless, bake, give, visit, invite, share, and lift hearts wherever you can. By…New Year…you’ll find Christmas to…have been marvelously, and even miraculously, mighty.’
Prayer
Today’s Prayer is Jesus’ word from John 14:15-31
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But 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. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
2022-12-25 Celebrate Christmas Part 1
O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.” Hosea 14:8
The word ‘celebrate’ means to rejoice, delight in, revel, and appreciate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘There is so much done in the name of Christmas that is neither pleasing nor honoring to Christ. Even so, I find myself doing battle…with…religious superstitions which argue against almost every observation of Christmas…against giving…against decorations, trees, or just plain fun, as though such participation defiled something holy. Such harsh debunking is nothing more than “holy humbug”. A Christmas tree…is a specific statement…By means of this tree we are saying: We believe in celebration. We serve the God who “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17) and who through history assigned…sacred appointments of feasting and rejoicing…”great gladness” (1 Chronicles 29:22)…Although no one can make a “biblical case” for Christmas trees, we gather around ours with joy. We see in its living branches a symbol of everlasting life given us because of Jesus’ death on the tree – whose naked crossbars X’ed out death and ushered in forgiveness…and eternal hope. The lights…gleam a testimony of His Light-of-the-world glory. The ornaments reflect the decorative splendor with which His kindnesses adorn our lives. The star beams hope, with a heavenward ray, reminding us that from there He shall come again to receive us.’ As you gather around the tree this Christmas, don’t forget to celebrate the One who said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me…will have the light of life’ (John 8:12).
Prayer Heavenly Father, keep me focused today on You – the Light in the midst of Darkness, that brings Hope and Joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-24 The Best Gift Ever!
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10
For many people Christmas is filled with dread instead of delight. Author Jon Walker writes this: ‘I’m sitting in a fast-food restaurant observing a young girl celebrating an early Christmas with her mother. Her presents are spread out across the booth and she just said, “I miss you, Mommy.” “I miss you too, Baby,” her mother says. Beyond the booth…a woman casually, but carefully watches them. Using my journalist’s eye, I put it all together. The watching woman is a social worker supervising a structured visit for a mother and child who are doing their best to celebrate Christmas…a few minutes later foster parents arrive and take the little girl home. The mother leaves alone. There’s a darker side to Christmas we rarely acknowledge. We create this fantasy that seldom matches reality, even in the best of homes…many Christmas memories are full of tension, not tinsel…the holidays are just another excuse for Mommy to get drunk, or Daddy to be with his new family…yet another reminder that the one we love is far away or perhaps never coming back…The suicide rate is extraordinarily high in December…depression as common as “Joy to the World”…more people hurt at Christmas than we initially imagine. For those tired of the hollow hope…of Christmas, the good news is, God is with us. Jesus came to earth to “bring…good news…for all the people.” Regardless of your situation, Christmas is the best gift you’ll ever get, because: 1) it’s the costliest you’ll ever receive because it cost Jesus His life; 2) it’s the only gift that lasts forever; 3) it’s one you can enjoy for the rest of your life.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me this Christmas to remember and stay focused that YOU are the Gift that makes Christmas. Help me share that with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-23 Heaven is Real
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5
John wrote: ‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is…among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true”’ (vv. 2-5). When an atheist died and his friends filed by his casket, one of them remarked, ‘How sad – all dressed up and nowhere to go!’ Not so for the believer! As a redeemed child of God, you are assured of a home in heaven and citizenship in ‘the new Jerusalem’. John continues, ‘The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city’ (v. 15). The city is an exact square of about fourteen hundred miles (see v. 16). It would stretch from the Carolinas to California and from Canada to Mexico. It’s approximately twenty-one times the size of the UK, ten times the size of France, and bigger than India. And that’s just the ground floor! It’s as tall as it is wide; six hundred thousand stories high – more than enough room for billions of people to come and go. So here is the question: when you die, will you go to heaven?
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for coming to earth to bring salvation and eternity to me and all who accept You as Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-22 Have You Sinned? God Will Forgive You!
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
The story of David and Bathsheba is the stuff movies are made of – lust, adultery, premarital pregnancy, murder, and cover-up. And it looked like David was home free, except for one important detail: ‘The thing that David had done displeased the LORD’ (2 Samuel 11:27). The Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out’ (Numbers 32:23). So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David, ‘I made you king…So why have you treated the word of GOD with…contempt?’ (2 Samuel 12:7, 9). Then God passed sentence: ‘Because you despised me…I am going to bring calamity on you…before all Israel’ (2 Samuel 12:10-12). From that day on, tragedy and turmoil plagued David’s family. On many levels, ‘the way of transgressors is hard’ (Proverbs 13:15), not the least of which is that sometimes God takes away your peace so that you will acknowledge your sin. It took an unplanned pregnancy, the murder of an innocent man, a child’s death, a prophet’s persuasion, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit before David’s heart softened and he admitted, ‘I have sinned against the LORD’ (2 Samuel 12:13). And when he prayed those words, God treated David’s sin the same way He treats ours: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9). As long as you keep excusing, defending, and rationalizing your sin, God can do nothing for you. But the minute you confess it to Him, He will forgive you. Isn’t that wonderful?
Prayer Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned against You and others and seek Your eternal forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-21 Listen to the Right Voice
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
A respected author, along with her husband and friends, were on a mountaintop discussing which direction to go. One man said, ‘That’s south!’ Another countered, ‘No, that’s east.’ Everybody threw in their two-cents’ worth, until finally the woman’s husband produced a compass and said, ‘We can settle this real fast.’ Within seconds the compass confirmed they were, in fact, facing due west! The only reliable source had the final say, and nobody was about to argue with it. In the course of a day, many voices vie for your attention, and some that sound like experts can be dead wrong. Bottom line: you had better know which voice to listen to, because if you look only at your circumstances, you will become disoriented. An unexpected phone call, a floundering relationship, a lost job, or a sick child can make north look like south and east look like west. When that happens, it’s easy to lose your bearings, jump to conclusions, and end up on the wrong path. The Bible says, ‘Whether you turn…right or…left, your ears will hear a voice…saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’ There is only one true source of wisdom and truth, and Peter recognized that when he asked, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6:68). You don’t need to know every detail in advance; that’s not how God works. Often, He doesn’t show us the big picture because we would be overwhelmed and think it was impossible. He wants to develop in you an unshakeable trust in His character and goodness, an acceptance that in order to fulfil His plan, you must depend on His strength.
Prayer Heavenly Father, You alone are the credible source of direction. Help me always seek You in determining which way to go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-20 Stick with God’s Plan Part 2
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. Philippians 1:6
Paul writes, ‘God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain…he won’t stop before it is complete’ (v. 6). You will notice that Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: ‘The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing’ (John 5:19-20). Under the weight of our sins, He cried from the cross, ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46). And His words teach us three important things: 1) We can be following God’s plan and still feel overwhelmed and alone at times. 2) When God doesn’t answer, we must practice standing on the promises He gave us in His Word. 3) The pain we’re feeling will eventually give way to the joy that awaits us on the other side of it. So stick with God’s plan; as long as you do that, there is nothing the enemy can do to destroy you. The Bible says, ‘No weapon turned against you will succeed…These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD’ (Isaiah 54:17). When you feel like you have reached the end of your rope, do what Jesus did and pray, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46). In other words, turn it all over to God. Trust Him to do what you can’t do and to bring you through in victory.
Prayer Heavenly Father, even when I am discouraged, remind me that the constant given is You and to stick with Your Plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-19 Stick with God’s Plan Part 1
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:11
God said, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22:13). God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works towards it. He ‘always does what he plans’. Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20). But don’t confuse ‘good’ with ‘comfortable’. When God corrects or redirects you, it does not always feel good. But it is good! David said, ‘When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me’ (Psalm 119:71). If you’re not sure of God’s plan, seek Him until He shows it to you. Other things may seem more urgent, but nothing is more important. And if you already know God’s plan, rest assured that no human action can cancel it. The psalmist wrote, ‘The LORD will vindicate me; your love…endures forever’ (Psalm 138:8). There is no situation Satan can devise for which God hasn’t already made ‘the way of escape’ (1 Corinthians 10:13). Paul reassures us: ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [tested] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [testing] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (v. 13). It’s in your times of testing that you discover ‘God is faithful’. He will stretch you, but never beyond your breaking point. His plan is for you to come out of this experience stronger and ready for what’s next on His agenda.
Prayer Heavenly Father, when people try to trip me up on where I am going, remind me that Your plan will always win out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-18 God’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Grace Part 2
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah Psalms 3:2
Regardless of how badly you have failed or how often you have failed – God won’t give up on you. So don’t give up on yourself! Nothing you’ve done is beyond the scope of His grace. Others may give up on you, but not God. King David fell as low as a person can get. He was guilty of adultery, deception and murder – all major offences. But God forgave and restored him. He writes about it in two psalms. In the first psalm he writes: ‘Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side…Deliver me, my God!’ (vv. 2-7). In the next psalm, he writes: ‘He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him’ (Psalm 40:1-3). And the God who turned David’s greatest mess into a message, and his greatest test into a testimony, will do the same for you when you turn to Him and receive His forgiveness, mercy and grace.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me take my failures and tests – and by Your Grace and Mercy, turn them into a testimony. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-17 God’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Grace Part 1
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
God cares about you too much to leave you in any doubt about His love. The Bible says His ‘perfect love expels all fear’. If God loved us with an imperfect love we’d have cause to worry. Human love is flawed; it keeps a checklist of our sins and shortcomings – and consults it often. God keeps no such list. His love casts out our fear because it casts out our guilt. John writes, ‘If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart’ (1 John 3:20). When you feel unforgiven, question your feelings but don’t question God. Go back to His Word; it outranks self-criticism and self-doubt. Nothing fosters confidence like a clear grasp of God’s grace, and nothing fosters fear like ignorance of it. The fact is if you haven’t accepted God’s grace, you’re doomed to live in fear. No pill, pep talk, psychiatrist or earthly possession can put your mind at ease. Those things may help numb your fear, but they can’t eradicate it. Only God’s grace can do that. Have you accepted Christ’s forgiveness? If not, get down on your knees and do it now. The Bible says, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9). The place of confession is also the place of cleansing and restored confidence towards God. Your prayer can be as simple as this: ….
Prayer Heavenly Father, I admit I’ve turned away from You. Please forgive me. I place my soul in Your hands and my trust in Your grace. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Now, having received God’s forgiveness, mercy and grace – live like it!
2022-12-16 Learning from Lepers
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. Luke 17:14
‘Ten…lepers…lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”…He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and…glorified God…So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the [other] nine?”…And He said to him…“Your faith has made you well”’ (vv. 12-19). This story teaches us these three things: 1) Sometimes the answer comes quickly; other times it comes slowly, step-by-step. The Bible says, ‘As they went, they were cleansed.’ You don’t know which step will bring the answer, so you must keep walking in faith. Mosaic law dictated that before a leper could be welcomed back into society, the priest must pronounce him ‘clean’. Think about it: Jesus saw the change in these men before it ever took place; that’s because He has the power to make it happen! 2) Don’t give up because others reject you. As social outcasts, these men expected Jesus to treat them accordingly. But when you draw close to God, He will draw close to you (see James 4:8). Are you struggling with an issue that has caused others to shun you or cast you aside? Jesus won’t do that. He said, ‘Whoever comes to me I will never drive away’ (John 6:37). 3) Always remember to thank and praise God. Only one of the ten lepers passed the gratitude test. Would you have passed it? When you realize how much your thanks means to the Lord, you will never let a day go by without praising and worshipping Him.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for all the blessings and healings You give me! Forgive me for failing to thank You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-15 Do Not Let Your Feelings Control You
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23
When it comes to everyday living, you can walk according to the unchanging principles of God’s Word or by your constantly changing feelings. When you live by God’s Word, you have stability. When you live by your feelings, it’s like riding a roller coaster; one day you’re up, the next day you’re down. God wants to bring you into emotional maturity, but you have to cooperate with Him. This calls for a daily act of your will; choosing to do things His way rather than your own. And once it becomes a habit, you discover that life is more enjoyable. Now, you don’t let everyone who knocks on your door come in and make themselves at home, so why would you let every emotion that surfaces dictate the direction of your day or decide your responses? ‘Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life’ (v. 23). It’s your thinking that produces your feelings, not vice versa! That’s why Paul writes, ‘Capture every thought and make it…obey Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5). In other words, if a thought doesn’t line up with God’s Word, don’t give it a voice or a vote. ‘We walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7). This may come as a surprise, but as a Christian, you won’t always feel God’s presence. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the Emmaus road, yet they didn’t recognize Him. Why? Because they were occupied with their feelings! How did He lift them out of their negative emotions? ‘He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself’ (Luke 24:27). Bottom line: you must be led only by God’s Word!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me keep my thoughts on You and not be led by my feelings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-14 Acknowledging Sovereignty of God
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
Paul writes, ‘God is good. So…offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice…Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him’ (vv. 1-2). There are two ways to understand God’s sovereignty: a) through His initiative, and b) through our response. In essence, Paul is saying this: 1) Resist the pressures of a world system that pulls you in the wrong direction. 2) Renew your mind every day through prayer and reading God’s Word. 3) Recognize His will for you and live accordingly. But Paul doesn’t stop there. He writes: ‘Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of…needy people…Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you…When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone’ (vv. 9-18 CEV). God’s sovereignty doesn’t release us from personal responsibility. It doesn’t mean we should lose interest in current affairs or in making informed decisions. God still expects us to strive for excellence and show concern for a lost world. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty sets you free from playing God and enables you to enjoy walking with Him.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me discern the good and bad and hold on to that which is good to further my walk with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-13 He is a God of Restoration Part 3
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Are you saying, ‘If only I hadn’t said, or done…?’ You’re not unique; we all have our regrets. But God wants us to learn from them, not live in them. ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ Jesus wore the crown of thorns so you could wear the crown of righteousness, and be in right standing with God. ‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 5:1). Being justified gives you the right to stand before God and claim His best. Is your business struggling or failing? Peter the fisherman experienced that too. So Jesus, the Restorer, said to him: ‘“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink’ (Luke 5:4-7). Just one word from Jesus, and you can go from the threshold of bankruptcy to adding a second boat. Jesus actually gave Peter back more than he lost. So the word for today is, ‘Believe for more than you expected, because our God is a God of restoration.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, You bless always so we can be a blessing to others in Your name! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-12 He is a God of Restoration Part 2
and David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” 1 Samuel 30:8
One day the Amalekites swept down on King David’s home town, burning it to the ground and taking its families captive. In this scene of devastation, David and his men ‘lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep’ (1 Samuel 30:4). Now, God will let you grieve your losses because that’s healthy, but He won’t allow you to stay there too long. So God said to David, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all’ (v. 8). Did David and his men get back everything they had lost? Yes, and much more besides, for our God is not only a God of restoration but a God of abundance. You say, ‘I feel so ashamed of the years I have wasted.’ The God Who created time can give you more of it. ‘I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…the consuming locust…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the Name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame’ (Joel 2:25-26). Notice the word, ‘plenty’. When God blesses you, it will not come from an eyedropper or from a rationed supply. No, you’ll be able to sing, ‘His love hath no limit; His grace hath no measure, His power no boundary known unto men. For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.’ Ever since Adam and Eve ‘blew it’ in Eden, God’s desire and plan has been to restore to us all that we have lost. So come to Him today and let the restoration begin.
Prayer Heavenly Father, You not only restore – You restore more than I need so I can be Your agent to someone else. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-11 He is a God of Restoration Part 1
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten — the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you. Joel 2:25
Whatever life has taken from you, God can restore. He may not give you exactly what you want, but He will give you what is best. Even when you fall under His corrective hand through disobedience, if you repent, He will reinstate you to a place of blessing. You say, ‘But what about the time I’ve wasted, the opportunities I’ve squandered, and the mess I’ve made of my life? Sometimes I wonder if I’ve fallen so low that even God cannot reach me.’ No, there’s hope for you. The Bible says, ‘Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear’ (Isaiah 59:1). After wasting all that he’d inherited from his father, the Prodigal Son returned home, penniless and embarrassed. All he wanted was three square meals and a job in the servants’ quarters. But the moment he said, ‘Forgive me,’ his father called for the best robe, the fattest cow, the newest shoes, and a ring of son-ship restoring him to his rightful place as a member of the family. Even under the crushing weight of the Old Testament law, with demands that no one could live up to, God said, ‘If a man steals an ox or a sheep…he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep’ (Exodus 22:1). Now if God would do that for those who lived under the law and on the wrong side of the cross, how much more will He do for those He has redeemed? So you can go to Him today with confidence, knowing He’s a God of restoration.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for restoring me – time after time – so that I can continue to go forward and serve You by serving others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-10 Become a Worshipper
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23
Let’s talk about how to become a worshipper. First of all, there is no one-size-fits-all.The Bible doesn’t say you must worship God in a certain way. That’s because worship is such a powerful outpouring of our hearts towards the Lord that it can’t be limited to words or defined by a song, a shout, or silence. Jesus said, ‘True worshippers are…led by the Spirit…These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him’ (v. 23). Second, God created you to worship Him. Perhaps you have never thought of this – God created us to do the one thing He can’t do for Himself – worship! John the Apostle wrote, ‘Thou art worthy…to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created’ (Revelation 4:11). Nothing brings pleasure to the heart of our heavenly Father more than the love and adoration of His redeemed children. Third, worship can be expressed by anybody, anywhere, anytime.The Samaritan woman in Scripture grew up believing that true worship must be expressed at a sacred mountain called Gerizim, whereas the Jews believed it should be practiced in the temple at Jerusalem. But Jesus said it wasn’t to be confined to church or a particular day of the week. The psalmist, in his inimitable style, puts it like this: ‘Servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD’s name is to be praised’ (Psalm 113:1-3). So, become a worshipper.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember that worshiping You is not something that someone else prescribes how I should do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-09 The Pharisee and the Prostitute
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:47
One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee when a prostitute came in. ‘The woman kissed his feet and poured…perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If [Jesus] really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him!”’ (vv. 38-39). But Simon the Pharisee got it wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know, it’s that He didn’t care! That day, He forgave her sin and sent her on her way redeemed, restored, and redirected. This story confirms what we already know; Jesus came to save sinners on the street and hypocrites in the church. No one is beyond the reach of His grace. With that in mind, think this way: 1) Never forget what God saved you from! Note what Jesus told Simon the Pharisee: ‘Anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love’ (v. 47). Remembering the sins of his past, David wrote: ‘He…brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay…set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD’ (Psalm 40:2-3). 2) Remember that Jesus isn’t looking at your past but at your future. The crowd saw this woman as a weed, but Jesus saw her as a rose, and He watered it. Bottom line: if you need forgiveness today, come to Jesus. And if you have been forgiven, pour out your heart to Him in praise.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for saving a sinner like me. Help me be an instrument to tell others so they too can experience Your mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-08 Your Prayers Can Make Great Things Happen!
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16
While holidaying in England, D.L. Moody visited a London church that was spiritually dead. The pastor recognized him and asked him to preach at the morning service. Reluctantly, Moody agreed. Afterwards, he told a friend the congregation was so unresponsive it was all he could do to finish his sermon. Later, he remembered he had committed to preach there again that night. Wishing he had never interrupted his holiday plans, he spent the afternoon dreading what was ahead. But behind the scenes, something was happening that Moody knew nothing about. After the morning service, an elderly lady met her invalid sister for lunch and told her about Moody’s upcoming visit. Her sister’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, ‘I’ve been praying God would send Moody to England! Put away the lunch, Sis. We’ll spend the afternoon fasting and praying for tonight’s service.’ When Moody took the pulpit that night, an ‘electric’ sense of God’s presence filled the sanctuary. He preached like a man on fire, and when he issued an invitation for people to follow Christ, five hundred responded. Thinking they had misunderstood, Moody had them sit down while he re-explained the gospel call. But when he issued a second invitation, the same five hundred stood to receive Christ. That Sunday initiated one of the greatest revivals ever to sweep England. What helped make it happen? Two elderly ladies who understood their church desperately needed the fire of God’s Spirit. They believed God’s promise, ‘When a believing person prays, great things happen.’ Today, tap into the power of prayer. Your prayers can help ignite the fire of God and make great things happen.
Prayer Heavenly Father, have Your presence and Your Spirit fill me and those who do not know You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-07 What Only God Sees
so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:18
Have you ever been to a concert where they used the latest audio-visual equipment? Chances are you were blown away by the multidimensional sights and sounds, and afterwards, left talking about the amazing skills of the performers. If the performance went without a hitch, you probably didn’t think about the sound and lighting techs. Usually we only notice them when the equipment fails. They’re the invisible element; the people who do their job by making the star look and sound great. The real accolades go to those in the spotlight. That’s the order of things in the kingdom of man. But the kingdom of God operates on the principle that ‘the last shall be first, and the first last’ (Matthew 20:16). Jesus said when you fast, pray, and give without looking for recognition, ‘your Father who sees [your actions] in secret will reward you openly’. On a big ship, only the captain and a handful of officers are visible on the bridge. But the crew below deck determine the ship’s progress for most of the voyage. And in God’s church, it’s the ‘engine-room crew’ who faithfully carry out much of the work: caretaking staff, nursery workers, bus drivers, car park attendants, nursing home visitors, prison outreach workers, and prayer warriors. While high-profile people tend to get most of the kudos, God reserves special recognition and rewards for the below-deck crew! And if you’re one of them, soon enough you will hear His public announcement, ‘Good servant…you have been faithful in a small matter’ (Luke 19:17). And when that happens, everything else will pale by comparison!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to not care if others notice what I am doing knowing that You see. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-06 Become a Conduit
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11
Think how ridiculous it would be for an electric company to generate power and then hoard it. Their customers would be in the dark, and the company would be out of business in short order! The same principle applies to our finances. ‘God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others…You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous’ (vv. 7-8, 11). Some people refuse to give because they’re greedy, but in most instances, that’s not so. The truth is, we’re concerned that if we don’t look out for our own interests, they might not get looked out for at all. But that kind of thinking doesn’t make sense. That’s like a farmer refusing to plant his next harvest because he is afraid to let go of his seeds. The Bible says, ‘Honor the LORD by giving him your money and the first part of all your crops’ (Proverbs 3:9). Is that because He is poor and He needs it? No! He wants us to sow into His kingdom so that 1) His work and His will can be done on the earth, and 2) you will have a harvest when you need it. Jesus said when you ‘put God’s work first and do what he wants…the other things will be yours as well’ (Matthew 6:33). When you become a conduit for God’s kingdom, ‘you will be blessed in every way’. In fact, when you consider your finances from a biblical perspective, the thing to fear isn’t giving away too much – it’s sowing too little!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to always remember that You own and are the giver of all things – help me be a conduit of Your mercy and compassion to others so they see You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-12-05 Releasing the Power Within You
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13
The engine in your car is its power source, and it’s activated when you put the car in gear. Only then do you have the momentum you need to get where you need to go. One of the dangers in seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit is that you can reduce it to an ‘experience’, rather than ‘putting it in gear’ to accomplish great things for God. In the New Testament when someone was filled with the Holy Spirit – things happened. People turned to Christ. Healings took place. On one occasion, they had a book-burning in the town square (see Acts 19:19). They didn’t just celebrate in church – they took it to the streets! In Scripture, the first picture we have of God is of Him in His creative role. He creates us in His image, breathes life into us, then tells us, ‘Go out and become productive’ (see Genesis 1:28). If you’re praying for someone with all the answers to come along and change your circumstances, it won’t happen. You’re not a helpless bystander. What God has placed inside you will change what’s outside you – provided you put it to work! What’s within you is greater than the trouble you have been through, the situation you’re in, or the obstacles that lie in your path. When everything around you is saying no and something within you is saying yes, that’s God, working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. The ‘willing’ is your part; the ‘able’ is His part. When you get those two things working in sync, your life will change.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I am willing and I know You are able! Help me get moving knowing You will direct my path. It will be a fun ride! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
It Is Not Too Late For You Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Judges 16:28 In prison, Sampson prayed: ‘LORD…please strengthen me just one more time…Then Samson […]
The Reason You Are Still Here So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” Genesis 32:30 ‘Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above […]
Do Not Give Place to Envy LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Psalms 16:5 Have you allowed envy to form a ‘stronghold’ in your life? Do you find yourself avoiding or feeling resentful of certain people because of their success? The Bible says, ‘Envy rots […]
What to Do When You Feel Down Part 2 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. Psalms 3:3 When Elijah was at his lowest point, God told him these three important things: 1) Spend more time with God. ‘Go out, and stand on […]
What to Do When You Feel Down Part 1 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. James 5:17 Elijah got so ‘down’ that he was ready to end it all. And it happened […]
When Conflict Comes Home Part 2 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Genesis 13:8 Family conflict brings out the worst and the best in all of us. But conflict itself isn’t the problem – character is! Conflict […]
When Conflict Comes Home Part 1 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Genesis 13:8 The conflict between Abram and Lot teaches us important principles about our families. Lot had lived peacefully in his Uncle Abram’s home. Abram […]
Take Time to Rest and Sharpen Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 A competition was held between two men to see who could […]
Forgiving Others Part 2 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God. Jeremiah 31:18 The Bible tells us: ‘Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well…But the herdsmen of Gerar […]
Forgiving Others Part 1 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19 Long after you think you have forgiven someone, you can still be harboring hard feelings. Some indicators that you still have work […]
Practice Being Unselfish So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 2 Corinthians 12:15 Helping people brings great fulfilment. When you spend your day serving others, you can lay your head down at night and sleep soundly. […]
Adjusting Your Vision “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5 Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He […]
It’s a Blessing in Disguise All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15 If you’re going through a difficult time right now, let Paul’s words encourage you. ‘Surrounded and battered by troubles…we’re not […]
When Preparation Meets Opportunity I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 Seneca the Younger said, ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’ As you read in Scripture about the people God used to accomplish great things, you discover that much of their […]
Are You Doing It for the Right Reasons? By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 When you grow up with rejection, […]
Servants to God’s Will Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Ephesians 6:6 The word ‘servant’ can have a negative connotation, but not in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our […]
God Will Give You Another Chance Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12 Because they disobeyed God, the Jews spent seventy years as slaves in Babylon. They lost their joy, their freedom, and their identity; all the things that make life worth […]
To Succeed You Must Read God’s Word Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalms 119:18 The key to reading your Bible is to do it daily, systematically, and prayerfully. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’ This involves three things: 1) […]
Where There is Strife – Sow Seeds of Peace For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16 When a well-known pastor was asked by a sceptic, ‘Do you believe there is such a thing as a real devil?’ he smiled and replied, ‘Have you ever […]
Don’t Exaggerate To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Proverbs 8:9 King Solomon wrote: ‘Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain […]
Making Jesus Look Good – On the Job “You are the salt …You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:13-14 Do the people you work with know that you are a follower of Jesus? What do they think of your attitude towards those in authority? How about the people who work under you – […]
Remember to Say ‘I Love You’ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. 1 Samuel 20:17 Hoping to save their relationship, a woman dragged her husband to see a counsellor. During their session, the counsellor asked him, ‘Do you tell your wife […]
Learning to Confront Part 2 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 Healthy confrontation calls for putting the other person’s well-being above your own interests. So how do you confront someone in […]
Learning to Confront Part 1 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:18 We don’t enjoy confrontation, but it’s impossible to grow without it. Healthy confrontation calls for ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15) to those we value. Just as God confronts each of us […]
What Are You Called to Do? how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10:38 Your value in God’s eyes was established at the cross. The Bible […]
The Supporting Cast He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, Luke 22:10 At Oscar time, Hollywood hands out awards to the best actor, producer, director, editor, costume designer, etc. But the Screen Actors Guild knows there would […]
Praying and Meditating on Scripture Can Improve Your Health pray continually; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Gone are the days when gun-shy theologians bowed to the god of science. Reliable scientists are now affirming how ingenious God is and how His principles hold up under the piercing light of scientific scrutiny. Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, MD, who studies […]
For God’s Sake, Please Control Yourself! Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 Trials, disagreeable people, and frustrating circumstances are potentially upsetting – and the bad news is, they’re not going away anytime soon. However, the good news is, they’re not your problem! The fact is, […]
Is God Teaching You Patience? Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalms 37:7 Patience is born of trust. David said, ‘Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be […]
Give Jesus a Chance “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 When others don’t see your potential, Jesus does. In common fishermen, He saw the capacity to change the world. Here is something you may not have considered: there are two sides to following Jesus – you […]
Overcoming Rejection How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 When you struggle with a sense of rejection, it will […]
Taking In and Giving Out He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Isaiah 6:9 When you’re involved in God’s work, it’s easy to get out of balance and end up enjoying the work of the Lord more than the Lord of the work. […]
Speak Life to Their Spirit Part 2 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Genesis 28:16 We have all heard people say, ‘The Lord told me,’ and it turned out not to be so. As a result, we have become […]
Speak Life to Their Spirit Part 1 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:16 Paul writes, ‘From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh…anyone…in Christ…is a new creation; old […]
Remember What You Used to Be Like? Part 2 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22 It’s easy to develop ‘spiritual amnesia’. You forget what you used to be like. And […]
Remember What You Used to Be Like? Part 1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; Isaiah 51:1 If you want to gain people to Christ, you won’t do it with a […]
Speak Words of Healing But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. Job 16:5 Even when a surgery is successful, the patient can carry within them scar tissue that causes lingering pain and discomfort. And it’s the same in life. Some people around you wear a mask of success, […]
Build On Your Strengths For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:7 Your success isn’t found in your similarity to others, but in your difference. Instead of comparing […]
There Is No Turning Back But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” Hebrews 10:38 A little boy in Sunday school heard the story of how Lot’s wife looked back towards Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt (see Genesis 19:26). ‘That’s […]
Be Gentle – Part 4 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:18 When someone corrects you, be teachable and not unreachable. ‘Let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper’ (James 1:19). If you do […]
Be Gentle – Part 3 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 When someone disagrees with you, be tender without surrender. You will never be able to please everyone. You will always meet people who like to argue and quarrel. Some people will contradict everything you say. […]
Be Gentle – Part 2 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1 When someone upsets or disappoints you, God expects you to be gracious towards them instead of judgmental. The Bible says, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that […]
Be Gentle – Part 1 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 The Greek word used for gentleness means ‘strength under control’. It pictures a wild stallion that has been tamed. It doesn’t mean to be weak and wimpy. The only two people in the Bible who were called […]
Relationships – Part 3 Therefore do not be partners with them. Ephesians 5:7 Letting go of a person doesn’t mean you no longer love them; it just means the relationship is not right for you. How should you handle it? 1) A gradual separation is sometimes the best solution. There are relationships you need to […]
Relationships – Part 2 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 Not everyone who starts out with you is capable of going where God wants to take you. Sometimes they don’t have the emotional capacity required. Other times their vision differs from yours. So how […]
Relationships – Part 1 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Amos 3:3 Having the right relationships will help you to soar in life; they’re like the wind beneath your wings. But the wrong relationships will drag you down; they’re like a ball and chain around your feet. To know which […]
Lord, Teach Me to Pray Part 4 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. Psalms 33:15 Your prayer style should be consistent with the way God designed you. Yes, you can learn from people who are more experienced in prayer than you are, but you need to be careful not […]
How to Be Fruitful – Part 2 A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. Proverbs 12:3 You must cultivate deep spiritual roots. ‘Blessed are those who trust in the LORD…They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not […]
How to Be Fruitful – Part 1 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16 When Jesus said, ‘I chose you…that you might…bear fruit – fruit that […]
Be Wise – Say Nothing! ‘The prudent hold their tongues.’ Proverbs 10:19 The story is told of a wealthy grandfather who went to his doctor to be fitted for a unique hearing aid. The device not only allowed him to hear perfectly, it was hidden so no one could see it. When he went back […]
Go Back and Make Things Right Tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD. Psalm 78:4 A legacy, good or bad, is something handed down from one person to another. I hope, over time, God has healed your hurts and you have moved on, but what are you leaving behind? The harsh words […]
Weigh Your Words Carefully We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James 3:2 God spoke through the prophet Joel saying, When it comes to your tongue, here are three rules: 1) Don’t speak […]
Believe In Your Vision Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. Joel 2:29 God spoke through the prophet Joel saying, ‘Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and…maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in […]
No Need to Hide Anymore But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 When you don’t feel good about yourself, you use things like work, food, relationships, money, and mood-altering substances to build a wall and keep people from getting too close. But lasting relationships can only be built when […]
Your Heart Must Be Circumcised The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. Deuteronomy 30:6 Hebrew baby boys went through the rite of circumcision. It signified that they were in a covenant […]
Avoid Habits That Can Enslave You “Everything is permissible for me” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” — but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12 Paul said, ‘Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean…it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I […]
Love Is a Decision Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 When a lawyer asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, He replied that he must love God, others, and himself (see vv. 37-39). Observe that He said, ‘You […]
Handling Your Money Wisely Part 3 A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. Proverbs 15:27 J. Paul Getty’s estate exceeded four billion dollars. He was considered the richest man on earth. The Los Angeles Times quoted something Getty wrote: ‘I have never been given to envy, save […]
Let Their Criticism Strengthen You and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. Judges 7:11 Are you being criticized? Has it shaken your confidence? God told Gideon, ‘If you are afraid to attack, […]
The Reasons for Your Discontent “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13 Let’s take a moment and try to understand some of the reasons for our discontent: 1) Looking for happiness in the […]
You Are in a Time of Testing till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. Psalms 105:19 God may not respond exactly when you want Him to, but He is always on time. ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly’ (Psalm 84:11 NKJV). […]
Take the Initiative – Part 3 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25 Fourth, change your mindset. Does risk scare you? Are you discouraged by past failures? Do you not see the potential that opportunity offers? You won’t be able to move […]
Take the Initiative – Part 2 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7 Second, take action. There is an old saying ‘you can if you will’. Initiators don’t wait for others to motivate them. They know it’s their responsibility to move themselves forward beyond their […]
Take the Initiative – Part 1 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. Deuteronomy […]
The Danger of Rising Too Quickly Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 1 Timothy 5:22 Before David became the king of Israel, he spent years tending a flock of sheep in the wilderness. That’s not an impressive start. But […]
Positioned for God’s Blessing Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. Exodus 33:21 God told Moses, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you’ (v. 19). But in order to see that promise fulfilled, Moses had to be properly positioned, so God said, ‘Here […]
Do Not Get Ahead of God! though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalms 37:24 When God gives you a promise or a vision for your life, it’s like a seed; it needs time to take root before it can bear fruit. It’s like the birth of […]
To Be Godly Is to Be Good – Part 2 They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty. 2 Kings 12:15 In the Old Testament, when King Joash repaired the temple, we’re told: ‘The money brought into the temple…was […]
To Be Godly Is to Be Good – Part 1 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him. Proverbs 15:26 Sometimes we say to people, half in jest, ‘Try to be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful!’ The idea being that if you […]
A Memo from Heaven Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 It’s easy to forget why God saved you, what He’s called you to do, and how you’re supposed to live. So here’s a memo from heaven: ‘Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what […]
Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.” John 7:24 John Wesley said, ‘We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.’ Why did Jesus say, ‘Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly’? (v. 24). Because He had experienced the pain […]
Walking With a Limp The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Genesis 32:31 Concerning Jacob, the Bible tells us: ‘A man came and wrestled with him until…dawn began to break…He touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let […]
Have An Attitude Of Faith Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2 Shortly before he was executed, Paul wrote: ‘I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. […]
Try Praying And Fasting He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29 Are you facing a problem that prayer alone hasn’t yet solved? Do you have a loved one who has been taken captive by drugs, or alcohol, or some other destructive power? Try praying – and fasting. Sometimes […]
Overcoming Your Insecurity – Part 2 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 If your sense of well-being comes from any source other than God – including yourself […]
Overcoming Your Insecurity Part 1 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 […]
Does Your Love Have Staying Power? Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 When we watch celebrities move through multiple marriages and hop from one relationship to another, it reminds us that you can have charisma […]
You Must Hear From God For Yourself “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua 5:14 In the New Testament, God emphasized different things to […]
He Understands – Part 2 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15 Are you disappointed in people? Jesus understands, because in the final analysis, […]
He Understands Part 1 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15 The Lord understands what you are going through today because He has been […]
Understanding The Schemes Of Satan in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11 One of Satan’s favorite schemes is getting us to use legitimate things in an illegitimate way. During the wilderness temptation, he tried to take advantage of Christ’s hunger by saying, ‘Turn […]
Night Vision – Part 3 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment. Isaiah 50:11 When the darkness you […]
Night Vision – Part 2 I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:3 Sometimes God doesn’t tell us why because He wants us to know who. In Psalm 23, […]
Night Vision – Part 1 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Isaiah 50:10 God promises us peace, but not smooth sailing or immunity from life’s […]
Prepare Through Prayer Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. Matthew 26:40 In Gethsemane, Jesus ‘came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one […]
God Is My Dwelling Place Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Psalms 90:1 Even though the Israelites were God’s people, they ‘wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them’ (Psalm 107:4-5). If you feel that way […]
We Need Each Other that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Romans 1:12 Next time you walk in the woods, stop and think about what’s taking place right under your feet. As the roots of the trees connect with each other, they form a support system. One has […]
His Servant And His Witness ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. Acts 26:16 A ‘servant’ focuses on doing his master’s will. And a ‘witness’ testifies […]
God Is Still In Control – So Be At Peace But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4:7 Mother Teresa is attributed with saying, ‘I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!’ Is that how you […]
Conquering The Giants In Your Life – Part 2 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world […]
Conquering The Giants In Your Life – Part 1 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19 When he went out to fight Goliath, David said, ‘You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I […]
Green Lights And Red Lights – Part 3 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 Someone quipped, ‘When Columbus set out, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know […]
Green Lights And Red Lights – Part 2 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalms 32:8 Vincent’s passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, fed the hungry, and earned a place in the […]
Green Lights And Red Lights – Part 1 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7 When God gives you a green light, you […]
The Answer Is Gratitude How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? Psalms 116:12 The surest way to ruin your child’s prospects for a happy life is to indulge their every whim, teach them that the world ‘owes them’, cultivate in them a sense of entitlement, under no circumstances allow them […]
How To De-Stress The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 Answer the following ten questions honestly. 1) Are you sometimes grumpy without knowing why? 2) Do you work hard but feel unappreciated? 3) Do you feel guilty and unproductive when you’re caught relaxing? 4) Do […]
The Seven Sons of Sceva – Part 3 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:5 Here are three more important lessons from the seven sons of Sceva: 1) Those around you aren’t necessarily with you. Just because somebody hangs out with you, admires you, […]
The Seven Sons of Sceva – Part 2 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 From the seven sons of Sceva we learn two very important things: 1) Satan knows who you […]
The Seven Sons of Sceva – Part 1 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Acts 19:17 The Bible says: ‘Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that […]
God Connects The Dots I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:10 One day a businessman called his wife to say that he was bringing a foreign visitor home for dinner. […]
Don’t Short-Change Your Children My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; Proverbs 23:15 If you succeed in making a good living but fail to teach your children how to live ‘right’, your success will be empty, and you’ll end up living with regrets. The average child spends six to […]
What Goes Around Comes Around 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 In the late nineteenth century, a member of the British parliament went […]
How Is Your Spiritual Appetite? Part 3 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Psalms 119:143 Thank God for skilled doctors who know how to diagnose illnesses and prescribe medications that bring health and healing. But here’s something for you to think about: what if many of our stress-related […]
How Is Your Spiritual Appetite? Part 2 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side. 2 Chronicles 15:15 Prolonged starvation can have a profound effect on your health. You lose your ability […]
How Is Your Spiritual Appetite? Part 1 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalms 107:9 When you’re sick, one of the first questions a doctor asks in order to diagnose your problem is, ‘How’s your appetite?’ That’s because when you lose your desire for food, something’s wrong in your […]
Recognizing The Voice Of God So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:9 As a boy working in the temple, Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice when He spoke to him. […]
Practice Humility For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12 Paul had one of the greatest ministries the world has ever known, yet he said of himself, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief’ (1 Timothy 1:15). When people told […]
Be An Exhorter – Part 3 But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. Deuteronomy 1:38 When it comes to being an exhorter, observe two things: 1) Exhortation is a neglected gift. No ministry is more needed in the church today, as that […]
Be An Exhorter – Part 2 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Acts 14:22 An exhorter has the ability to do three things: 1) Confirm. ‘When they had preached the gospel to that city and […]
Be An Exhorter – Part 1 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 The Greek word for ‘exhort’ is parakalew. It comes from two words, one meaning ‘alongside of’ and the other meaning ‘to call’. This is […]
How God Deals With Our Self-Centeredness Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24 It’s estimated that the average person speaks about nine million words a year, and more than half are, ‘I, me, my, mine.’ But following Christ means dying to self, and self-centeredness […]
Speculation or Revelation? No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. Hebrews 5:4 When it comes to knowing what God has called you to do in life, you have two options. 1) Speculation. Dr. Hugh Moorhead, who heads the philosophy department at Northeastern Illinois University, wrote […]
God’s Answer To Worry For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 The Bible says, ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ Overcoming fear begins with understanding that fear is […]
What’s In A Name? Everything! -Part 6 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. “And the name of the city from that time on will be: the LORD is there.” Ezekiel 48:35 During Israel’s twenty-fifth year in captivity, Ezekiel received from God the name Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is there. He described their future home, […]
What’s In A Name? Everything! -Part 5 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6 The name Jehovah-Tsidkenu: the Lord my righteousness, was given by God to Jeremiah, announcing the coming of Jesus. ‘I […]
What’s In A Name? Everything! -Part 4 But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” Judges 6:23 The name Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace, was discovered by Gideon when God assigned him the job of leading Israel against the Midianites – a position Gideon saw as […]
What’s In A Name? Everything! -Part 3 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Exodus 14:13 Let’s look again at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. It isn’t easy to hand […]
What’s In A Name? Everything! – Part 2 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 When Israel was threatened […]
What’s In A Name? Everything! -Part 1 Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD — that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. Psalms 83:18 The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they thought of as incommunicable and inexplicable. The name means the ‘self-existing one’; the ‘I am’. He […]
Let God’s Love Dispel Your Fear There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 Modern science confirms the truth of the Scripture: ‘There is no fear in love…perfect love casts out […]
Practice Self-Control Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6:12 Paul writes: ‘Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let […]
Spiritual Growth Is A Group Project I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Psalms 122:1 The psalmist said, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”’ Do you feel that way about God’s house too? And […]
God Will Never Abandon You At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And […]
Don’t Lose Sight Of Your Goals I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Psalms 122:1 To achieve success in life there are three obstacles you will have to be aware of and overcome: 1) Weariness. Racehorses run at approximately the same speed; sometimes the difference […]
Love Is A Verb Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8 Love is not just a noun; it’s a verb. It’s not what you think or feel; it’s what you do. When Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta in 1948, one of the first things she did was […]
Put Away The Measuring Stick! Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3 Before the Passover meal, all the disciples forgot to wash Jesus’ feet. Bad performance! And after Jesus explained how the bread and wine represented his upcoming crucifixion, they […]
Words My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding. Psalms 49:3 The Bible says that you are to be gracious in what you say. That means your goal in conversation should always be to bring out the best in others, not denigrate them or cut them off. Good […]
When You Do Not Understand The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29 When you don’t understand what’s happening in your life, start with what you know for sure; namely, […]
Prioritize Your Relationship With God The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:2 Admission to certain social clubs depends on your family of origin: blue blood, or blue collar. Sadly some employers and some churches do that too. But God doesn’t. Imagine you […]
Speak Positively – Part 4 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; Romans 8:6 Pessimism affects you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Negativity is directly related to heart disease, immune system deficits, and the ability to cope with physical pain. The famous Mayo Clinic […]
Speak Positively – Part 3 Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8 Positive self-talk isn’t a new concept; it’s a scriptural one. Paul writes, ‘Fix your thoughts on […]
Speak Positively – Part 2 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’ Job 9:27 Let’s begin by acknowledging that sometimes life is hard. And some of us have it harder than others. That’s why the Bible says there is ‘a time to cry and a time to […]
Speak Positively – Part 1 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 When you can’t choose or control your circumstances, you can still decide how you’ll respond to them. Paul was in prison when he wrote, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ (v. 4). We’re addressing those who have a perpetually […]
Giving Brings Receiving Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Jim Penner says: ‘It was a cold snowy day as my mother drove my sister and me to church. Living at the bottom of the Rocky Mountains I’d become accustomed to slipping […]
Seasonal Friends Take The High Road Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark […]
The “If Only” Trap Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 Author Betty Mahalik says in this day and age we’re surrounded by messages that scream, ‘My life would be perfect if only I’d a different job…house…car…nose…spouse…bank account (you fill in the blank). Or if […]
Use The Smile Strategy When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them. Job 29:24 A pastor tells of being in a church for twelve years. He had a custom during Sunday morning service of calling the children forward just before his sermon so that they […]
There Are No Menial Jobs – June 3, 2022 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 David said, ‘I’d rather scrub floors in the house of…God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin’ (Psalm 84:10). Along those […]
God Is Only A Prayer Away – June 2, 2022 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. Psalms 34:6 J.C. Penney has died and gone to heaven, but hundreds of department stores across America still carry his name. When he started out in life he […]
When We Pray – God Works! pray continually; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Two things about prayer are truly amazing: 1) God listens when we pray. ‘You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it’ (see Mark 11:24). You may not have much clout anywhere else, but when you pray God listens. 2) […]
Change Your Thinking! For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. Isaiah 54:3 God told His people: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ (Isaiah 43:18-19). So, if you’re asking […]
How To Find Your Calling While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2 The Bible says: ‘As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas […]
Strive For Excellence – Part 2 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, Philippians 1:10 Excellence requires two things: extra time and extra effort. It calls for going ‘above and beyond’ what is required of you by others, because you […]
Strive For Excellence – Part 1 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. Daniel 5:14 Even though Daniel lived in captivity, he refused to settle for mediocrity. This brought him to the attention of the king of Babylon who said, ‘I […]
How To Approach Bible Reading = The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalms 19:8 How you approach reading the Bible is crucial. You must do two things: 1) Approach it with integrity. When a new Christian in […]
A Spirit-Controlled Mind = The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; Romans 8:6 The Bible says: ‘Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind […]
Thinking Of Yourself Less = Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 Here’s a true saying: ‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.’ That doesn’t mean being a doormat for people to walk on or being spineless with no convictions and opinions. True […]
Do You Want To Do Right? Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 Solomon said, ‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.’ Note the progression of events that led to David’s downfall: ‘He saw a woman bathing…inquired about the woman…and […]
Build Others Up – Part 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Romans 15:2 Albert Schweitzer once said, ‘I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought […]
Build Others Up – Part 1 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 The apostle Paul writes, ‘Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words […]
What Has God Promised You? Stand On It! He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39 Jesus said to his disciples: “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the […]
God Will Guide You But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Isaiah 52:12 When you’re under pressure and tempted to move too quickly, if you stop and pray you’ll hear God saying: ‘You shall not […]
Focus On What’s Good Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8 Let’s face it, we don’t have to look very far to find things to complain about. God […]
Confession Is Good For The Soul 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 Sunday school teacher Ranai Carlton writes: ‘I was trying to teach the children that we all need God’s forgiveness. So, I asked one of […]
Communicating With Your Family By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; Proverbs 24:3 The storms of life will test whether or not you’ve done a good job with your family. And an important key to succeeding at home is communication. So, ask yourself these four questions: 1) How well do […]
Don’t Meddle In Other People’s Business We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 Scan any tabloid or watch any TV talk show and you’ll discover that ‘meddling’ has become a multibillion-dollar business. But it’s not the kind of business a follower of Jesus should […]
The Rewards of Kindness – Part 2 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” Genesis 24:19 The story of Rebekah teaches us a very important truth about life: when opportunity knocks, make sure you’re ready to answer the door. Rebekah didn’t […]
2022-05-04
The Rewards of Kindness – Part 1
After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” Genesis 24:19
One day Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac. Standing by a small town well, Eliezer prayed, ‘Let the woman who offers to water my camels be the one you have chosen.’ Suddenly Rebekah shows up and says, ‘I will draw water for your camels also’ (see Genesis 24:13-14). Rebekah had no idea that Eliezer would change her life. She didn’t know that her act of kindness would open the door to great blessing. In the Old Testament it was customary to offer water to a stranger. It was called the law of hospitality. The Hebrews believed the words: ‘Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels’ (Hebrews 13:2). But who on earth offers to water thirsty camels? One camel can drink forty gallons, and Eliezer had ten of them. That’s a half-day project! Rebekah was generous to a stranger, seeking nothing but the joy of serving. What she didn’t know was, these camels would transport her back to Isaac, make her his bride, shower her with great wealth and put her in the lineage of Christ. So if you want to succeed, show up on time, stay focused, work hard, and be a problem solver instead of a problem causer. Live by Christ’s saying, ‘Go the extra mile’ (see Matthew 5:41). The key to success in life is in doing not only what is expected, but in doing a little more. Yes, camels are obnoxious and ugly, but out of that ugly situation came the most beautiful thing that ever happened to Rebekah.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to be one that “entertains strangers”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-05-03
Throw Them All Out!
But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. Mark 5:40
When you’re trusting God for a miracle, nothing will drag you down faster than unbelief. Plus, it’s impossible to know what God is doing based on how things look on the surface. ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). So in order to stay strong, it’s important to fill your mind with the right things: ‘the best, not the worst;…things to praise’ (Philippians 4:8). One pastor writes: ‘There were times Jesus didn’t allow unbelief around Him, like when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. When He heard the little girl had died, Jesus told her father, “Do not be afraid…only believe” (Mark 5:36)…You can believe, or you can be afraid. You can’t do both; and people who truly believe bypass human reasoning. When Jesus dealt with the spirit of death that day, there was no room for contaminated faith. So when He went to Jairus’ house, “He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter, James and John” (v. 37). He took those who believed in miracles, and when “they came to the house…and…saw…people loudly weeping…He said…‘Why make a commotion…The child has not died, but is asleep.’ They began laughing at Him. But putting them all outside, He took…the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was…Taking [her] by the hand, He said…‘Little girl…get up!’ Immediately the girl got up and began to walk”’ (vv. 37-42). Humanly speaking, your situation may look impossible, but when you throw out the naysayers and the doubters and believe what God says, you’ll get results.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me put out those that only want to hold You back and me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-05-02
Become Willing To Change
If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be! Deuteronomy 32:29
Unless you’re willing to change, in a few years from now you’ll be exactly the same as you are today, except you’ll be older, with less time and fewer options. The Bible says, ‘Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.’ How do you become willing to change? Recognize that change will happen whether you like it or not. If you do that, you’ll be prepared. One author writes: ‘The only thing certain about tomorrow is that it will be different from today. If you doubt that, consider this: My grandfather had a farm, my parents had a garden, and I’ve got a can opener! It’s a different world than it was twenty years ago, and it will be different in another twenty. But the good news is that the world changes so fast that you couldn’t stay wrong all the time if you tried!’ The difference in who you are today and who you’ll be twenty-five years from now depends largely on three things: the books you read, the relationships you build, and the time you spend with God. Do you want to be wise? The Bible says, ‘The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6). Do you want to be happy? ‘Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding’ (Proverbs 3:13). Do you want to feel fulfilled in life? ‘Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me be a vessel that you can shape and mold, and not a vessel that is fixed and unchangeable. Help me to be willing to be changed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-05-01
Invest In Your Children
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. Job 8:7
The Lazy B ranch sits on two hundred and sixty square miles. Most of it is scrub brush, and it’s been in the Day family since 1881. When Harry and Ada Mae Day had their first child, a baby daughter, they travelled two hundred miles to a hospital for the delivery and brought her home to a difficult life. The four-room adobe house had no running water or electricity, and there was no school within driving distance. You would think with such limited resources, the little girl’s future might be limited. But Harry and Ada Mae were determined their children would have the best education possible. They subscribed to metropolitan newspapers and magazines, and read to their child hour after hour. When her daughter was four years old, Ada Mae began her on the Calvert method of home-schooling and later saw that she went to the best boarding schools possible. One summer they took their children on a car trip to visit all the state capitals in America west of the Mississippi River. When young Sandra was ready for college, she went to Stanford University, then on to law school, and eventually she became the first woman justice to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States of America. So the word for today is – invest in your children. And be willing to start small, otherwise you won’t start at all. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have, use what God’s given you and He will bless it. Stand on this Scripture for your children: ‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, without investing, you will not get a return. Help me invest in my children – time – so they know You and grow up serving You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-04-30
Refuse To Be Fearful
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
We pride ourselves on our ability to judge people and situations based on appearance – and lots of time we’re wrong. Goliath issued the same challenge to Israel for forty days: ‘Send me your best fighting man, and I’ll kill him. I’m the champion. I’m the greatest.’ That kind of fear-based thinking applies to every giant you encounter in life. Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘Fear and worry…don’t come just once; they come morning and evening, day after day, relentlessly trying to intimidate. They come in the form of a person, a pressure…a worry…fear that hammers on your heart…day in and day out, yelling across the ravine in your own personal valley. Few things are more persistent and intimidating than our fears and worries…especially when we face them in our own strength.’ When picking Israel’s next king, God told the prophet Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or…physical stature.…For the LORD does not see as man sees;…man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’ (v. 7). As human beings, we look at what’s on the outside and form opinions based on what we see. Goliath was a giant with a booming voice and lots of bravado – three traits designed to instill fear into the bravest heart. But God was neither impressed nor intimidated by him. And what’s more, He gave David the ability to see Goliath through His eyes. Fears are like babies; the more you nurse them, the bigger they grow. Once you start seeing the giants in your life from God’s perspective, they lose their power to immobilize and intimidate you. So refuse to be fearful.
Prayer Heavenly Father, remove fear from my thinking and help me to see and look at things as YOU look at things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-04-29
Take a Load Off Your Mind
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30
Jesus said: ‘I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly’ (vv. 28-30). Note the words, ‘I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.’ It’s good to know we don’t have to worry about things, figure everything out, or carry the burdens in our lives. It can actually be quite refreshing to realize that we don’t need to know everything about everything! We need to get comfortable saying, ‘I don’t know the answer to this predicament, and I’m not going to worry about it because God’s in control, and I trust Him. I’m going to relax in Him and live freely and lightly!’ When we’re overburdened with the cares of life – struggling, laboring, and worrying – we need a mental and emotional break. Our minds need to rest from thinking about resolving problems, and our emotions need to rest from being upset. Worry robs us of rest and its benefits. So the next time you find yourself worried and anxious, remember, you can ‘live freely and lightly’. All you have to do is rest in the assurance of God’s love, provision, and guidance. If someone asks you what you’re going to do about your problem, tell them you’re not thinking about it right now. If they ask you why, tell them you’ve turned it over to God, and you’re trusting Him to work it out for you.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to turn things over to You and let You handle them knowing that You will lead me to take action as You direct. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-04-28
Today Magnify the Lord
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3
Notice two things about the Lord’s Prayer. It begins with the words ‘Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name’ (Matthew 6:9), and ends with ‘Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen’ (v. 13). God wants you to begin and end your prayers thinking of Him. Why? Because it does you twice as much good to focus on God as it does to focus on anyone or anything else! When you magnify an object, you enlarge it so that you can see and understand it more. When we magnify God, we do the same thing. We enlarge our awareness of Him, so we can understand Him more. This is what happens when we worship Him – we take our minds off ourselves and set them on God. We put the emphasis on Him. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases the final words of the Lord’s Prayer this way: ‘You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes’ (Matthew 6:13). Could it be any plainer? God is in charge! Speaking of Jesus Christ, Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words like this: ‘God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules’ (Ephesians 1:20-23 MSG). So when you magnify the Lord, you’re saying: ‘You not only rule the universe, you rule my heart!’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me focus on You as the source to actually do something about all the other things I bring before You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-04-27
Become a Nurturer
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
The Bible says, ‘A good leader motivates, doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit’ (Proverbs 16:10). Jesus was a good leader. He loved people, but He never used them for His own ends. He was busy, but never too busy to stop and help them. In relating the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus said: ‘As he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him…bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him’ (Luke 10:33-34). Note the words, ‘took care of him’. To lead someone, you must be able to influence them, and you do that by taking the time to nurture them. At the heart of the nurturing process is a genuine care for others. If you want to help and positively influence people, you can’t dislike or disparage them, because they’ll sense it. You must love and respect them. The old adage ‘Fake it till you make it’ won’t work; people know whether or not you care. Maybe you’re wondering why you need to assume a nurturing role; after all, isn’t that something they should get somewhere else, like from their family? Many of the people you come into contact with every day are desperate for encouragement, and, sadly, if they don’t get it from you, there’s no one else who will give it to them. When you become a nurturer in the life of another person, you have a real opportunity to influence them for good and for God. So become a nurturer!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me today (and every day) to take the time to be a nurturer of others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-04-26
Ask and Listen
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. Revelation 12:10
Have you ever been guilty of accusing someone before you knew all the facts? If so, be aware that you’re tugging on the same end of the rope as Satan, the official ‘accuser’ of God’s children. The Bible says: ‘The accuser of our brothers…who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down’ (v. 10). Emotional and spiritual maturity demand that you first seek to understand, rather than making a hasty accusation. Look at the example God gave us in the garden of Eden. He could easily have said, ‘Adam and Eve, you unappreciative sinners, I should never have trusted you in my garden!’ God’s non-accusatory style in confronting Adam and Eve about their sin supplies a powerful model for those of us who tend to speak before we’re in possession of all the relevant information. The Bible says: ‘The LORD God called to Adam…“Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”’ (Genesis 3:9-11). Notice God already knew the answers to all three questions He asked. Nevertheless, He gave Adam an opportunity to explain his side of the story. And in Adam’s case, he couldn’t. However, the divine principle still stands: asking a clarifying question and listening carefully to the response are key steps in overcoming your tendency to criticize or accuse. Have you ever been unjustly accused? If you have, don’t do it to others. Ask, and listen!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to ASK and LISTEN more than SPEAK and TELL. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-04-25
Be Tenacious
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
One of the most prevalent themes in the Bible is perseverance. The apostle Paul writes: ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.’ Again he writes: ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ (Galatians 6:9). And James adds: ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him’ (James 1:12). The dividing line between winning and losing isn’t talent; it’s tenacity. Being tenacious means this: 1) Giving it everything you have, not more than you have. Some people inaccurately believe that being tenacious demands more than they have to offer. As a result, they get discouraged and stop pushing themselves. But being tenacious means giving 100 percent – not more, and certainly not less. 2) Working with determination instead of waiting on destiny. Persistent people don’t rely on luck, fate, or destiny for their success. They recognize that trying times aren’t the times to stop trying. 3) Stopping when the job is finished, not when you’re tired. To succeed, you often have to push beyond what you think you can do. Remember, victory isn’t determined until the last step in the race has been run. So draw on God’s grace, refuse to give up, and keep going until you cross the finish line and win the prize.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to complete those things You have assigned for me to do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-31 How to Handle Disagreements – Part 2
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
Lesson one: sometimes the best resolution to a conflict is a separation, even if it’s temporary. When emotions run high, you need space to think clearly. And God can use this time of separation for His glory. Because Paul and Barnabas parted, the gospel was preached in even more cities. But when a temporary separation is the best option, you need to agree on how long it will be. In some friendships, one person may have outgrown the relationship. But this should be handled with love and wisdom, realizing that we can all learn from our mistakes and grow through them. Later Paul wrote, ‘Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry’ (2 Timothy 4:11 NKJV). Lesson two: when you realize that you’ve been wrong, you need to acknowledge it. For a single, focused leader like Paul, this called for humility. Indeed, it’s a comfort to us to know that someone as anointed and brilliant as Paul could rethink his position and come to a different conclusion. Mistakes may be bad; but they’re not as bad as the pride that seeks to defend and perpetuate them. Lesson three: you must learn to disagree without being disagreeable. It’s noteworthy that nowhere in Scripture do we find a time when Paul talked publicly about their disagreement. Both Paul and Barnabas focused on their respective missions. The only behavior you have the power to change is your own. And this should be your reason for doing so: ‘We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ’ (Ephesians 4:15).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to speak the truth in love – and never to tear down someone else. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-30
How to Handle Disagreements – Part 1
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. Acts 15:37-38
Paul and Barnabas were a great missionary team. On their first tour, a young man named John Mark had joined them. But it seems he had grown homesick and returned to Jerusalem. On their second missionary tour, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again, but Paul said no. ‘Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark…Paul chose Silas’ (vv. 39-40). Can you imagine it; two spiritual giants couldn’t resolve their conflict! Yes, it happens in the best of circles. Paul was the totally focused, no-nonsense type. Barnabas, whose name means ‘son of encouragement’, was the long-suffering and lovable type who believed in reconciliation and refused to strike anybody off his list. There are two valuable lessons in this story about handling disagreements. 1) When it comes to our friends and family members, we all have blind spots. Rare is the leader who has the objectivity to look beyond a blood bond and focus on what is best for the organization. As a result, the vision God gave them often suffers. 2) Sometimes you need a wise and trusted third party to help resolve the problem. When it comes to trouble in the church, Jesus laid down clear guidelines. First, you must go privately, one on one, and deal with the issue. Second, if that doesn’t work, you should take one or two others with you and try to resolve it. Third, you must take the situation to mature spiritual leaders and get their input (see Matthew 18:15-18). That’s the scriptural way to handle disagreements, and it must be our way too.
Prayer Heavenly Father, let YOU and Your word guide me when there are disagreements among Christians – so that honor can be given to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-29
Don’t Doubt God’s Word
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
You may doubt your own ability, but never doubt God’s – or His promises and His willingness to fulfil them. The psalmist wrote, ‘You have magnified Your word above… Your name’ (Psalm 138:2). The only thing in the universe that God has placed above His name is His Word. So fill your mind with it, speak it daily, and don’t ever question it. Doubt often originates from our inclination to portray ourselves as self-confident. Self-confidence is a concept touted by the world; it encourages us to rely on our own skills and abilities. But the Bible says, ‘Those who trust in themselves are fools’ (Proverbs 28:26). Reportedly, the verse at the center of the Bible is: ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man’ (Psalm 118:8). So center your confidence around God, not yourself or anybody else. Do you doubt yourself and your own worth? Do you question your ability to pursue your career? Do you doubt your aptitude to form healthy relationships? Despite having lived with Jesus for almost three years and hearing His promise that He’d rise again from the dead, Thomas still said, ‘Unless I can see his wounds and touch him, I will not believe’ (see John 20:25). Did Jesus turn His back on Thomas because of his doubts? No, He never rejects a sincere, doubting heart! Jesus showed up in person and resolved all of Thomas’ doubts. And as you read His word and seek His face, He will alleviate your misgivings and qualms too. When you stop living in the ‘sense’ realm and learn to ‘walk by faith’, your doubts will begin to die (see 2 Corinthians 5:7).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to not trust in my own understanding but in Your truth and guidance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-28
Answering the Big Questions – Part 4
Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. Romans 9:5
Some people say that Jesus Christ never existed. A Christian minister writes: ‘While sceptics may choose to reject the Bible’s moral message, they cannot deny its historical accuracy. Over 25,000 archaeological finds demonstrate that the people, places, and events mentioned in the Bible are real and are accurately described [25,000, no less!]. No archaeological finding has ever refuted the Bible. In fact, the descriptions in the Bible have often led archaeologists to amazing discoveries. Non-Christian journalist Jeffrey Sheler, author of the book Is The Bible True?, concluded, “In extraordinary ways, modern archaeology is affirming the historical core of the Old and New Testaments, supporting key portions of crucial biblical stories.” Jesus’ birth, ministry, death and resurrection are irrefutable historical facts. Josephus, among the most renowned of Jewish historians, is attributed as writing this: ‘Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works – a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this date.’ Jesus not only lived, but He died that you might have eternal life. Receive Him today as your Savior.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the Bible and the evidence it contains! The other evidence is changed lives – including mine! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-27
Answering the Big Questions – Part 3
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
How can we trust the Bible when men wrote it? Answer: Do you write the letter or does the pen? The pen is merely the instrument you use. In the same way, God used men as instruments to write His ‘letter’ to humanity. That’s why Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible, than in any profane history whatsoever.’ That’s why Billy Graham said of Scripture: ‘If I didn’t believe that the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ held the answer to this world’s baffling problems, I would go back to the farm and the rural life that I love and spend my days in peaceful solitude.’ There’s a reason why Abraham Lincoln said, ‘I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.’ Josh McDowell, a Christian apologist says: ‘Here’s the picture: 1,500 years, 60 generations, 40 authors, different walks of life, different places, different times, different moods, different continents, three languages, writing on hundreds of controversial subjects. Yet when they are brought together there is absolute harmony from beginning to end…There is no other book in history to even compare to the uniqueness of this continuity.’ You can trust your Bible. Its prophecies have been fulfilled, its promises have been time tested, and its principles for living really work. Do you know why the Bible was written? John gives us the answer: ‘These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life’ (1 John 5:13).
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the Bible and the truths it contains. The fact that 40 men were involved – yet the message is consistent through the whole thing – well that in itself is evidence that Your hand worked in spite of them! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-26
Answering the Big Questions – Part 2
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4
Isn’t the church full of hypocrites? The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word for ‘actor’. Hypocrisy is ‘the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold’. The true church of Jesus Christ is made up of true believers; hypocrites are ‘pretenders’ who sit among God’s people. Jesus even had one among His twelve disciples. Let’s be honest; people have left the church because of hypocrisy. There are more actors in the church than in Hollywood. Hypocrisy runs rampant in the modern church – but be careful if you judge it. Remember the old bumper sticker: ‘Christians are not perfect, just forgiven’? Before you take it upon yourself to pass judgment upon people who make mistakes and struggle with weaknesses, read these words: ‘You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?’ (vv. 1-4). Don’t worry about the hypocrites in the church; God will sort them out, the ‘wheat’ from the ‘tares’ (see Matthew 13:30).
Prayer Heavenly Father, Your people are a group of sinners – of which I am one – forgiven! Thank You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
2022-03-25
Answering the Big Questions – Part 1
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13
What about suffering – doesn’t that prove there isn’t a loving God? Adam was given a choice: to obey God or disobey Him. He chose disobedience, and God said, ‘Cursed is the ground [earth] because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life’ (Genesis 3:17). Note the word ‘painful’. Think how many people are living with cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, emphysema, Parkinson’s disease, and other debilitating illnesses. Did God ‘blow it’ when He created humanity? Sadly, many use the issue of suffering as an excuse to reject any thought of God, when its existence is the very reason we should believe in Him. In the beginning God created perfect humans, and they lived in a perfect world without suffering – it was heaven on earth. When sin came into the world, death and misery came with it. What’s the ultimate answer? ‘We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found…at peace with him’ (2 Peter 3:13-14). Suffering reached its zenith when Jesus said from the cross, ‘It is finished.’ Those words mean ‘paid in full’. They mean when you surrender to Jesus as your Savior, you will go to heaven when you die, and you will live in a glorious earth made new without sin or suffering. ‘No eye has seen…no ear has heard…no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love him’ (1 Corinthians 2:9). If you’re not sure this is true, today put your trust in Jesus.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me daily remember this is not my home, You have a new creation for me free of suffering and pain. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-24
Putting ‘Self’ on the Altar
If we have built our own altar to turn away from the LORD and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD himself call us to account. Joshua 22:23
In the Bible an altar represented different things. It represented sacrificing to God by giving Him the best of the sheep in your flock. It represented worshipping God and putting Him above all else in life. It represented humility, acknowledging your need of God and your total dependence on Him. But it’s also possible to build an altar ‘for ourselves’. By doing so, we rob God of His rightful place in our lives and begin to put ourselves first. In other words, we build an altar to self-interest, self-promotion, self-preservation, self-importance, and self-exaltation. That’s why Jesus sets the following standard for discipleship, and it’s a high standard: ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’ (Matthew 16:24). Your ‘cross’ has only one purpose, and that’s for ‘self’ to die on. Paul writes: ‘For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live’ (Romans 8:13). Note the words ‘put to death’. Your flesh, or your ego and carnal nature, will not willingly roll over and die; it must be crucified each day. And the power to do this can only be accessed by spending time in prayer with God and renewing your mind constantly with the Word of God. So today the choice is yours; to build an altar to the Lord, you must first put ‘self’ on the altar. Are you ready to do that?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to put myself on Your altar – and to stay there. Forgive me for my false thinking that I can run my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-23
Be Generous
Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. Deuteronomy 15:8
God instructed the Israelites, ‘If there is among you a poor man…you shall open your hand wide to him’ (vv. 7-8). Giving is the loftiest level of living. Generous people focus their time and effort on what they can give to others, not what they can get from them. And the more you give, the better your attitude becomes. Many people don’t understand this concept. They think the amount you possess determines the amount you should share. It’s not what you have that matters; it’s what you do with what you have. And that’s determined by your attitude. A famous saying puts it this way: we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. And serving others is something you can start doing today. Whether it means spending more time with your family, mentoring an employee who shows potential, helping people in your church or community – it’s about putting your own desires on hold to bless someone else. The Bible says, ‘Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!’ (Proverbs 31:9). The only way to maintain an attitude of generosity is to make a habit of giving of your time, attentiveness, money, and resources. Author Richard Foster says, ‘Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon [of] greed.’ Think about what you’re already giving, what you’ve been asked to give, and what you would like to give. Your reasons for granting or denying a request for financial help may be valid, but are they Godly? Think about how it feels when you give, and let that be your guide.
Prayer Heavenly Father, as You entrust to me what is Yours – help me share my time and Your resources with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-22
Either Rule, or Be Ruled
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
At creation God said something interesting about us: ‘Let them rule.’ In other words, He invested you with full authority for managing your life. You serve as His agent on earth to make sure His will is done. But beware. Satan will try to get you to hand your rule over to him, or deceive you into believing you have no power and he has it all. Or else he’ll encourage you to rule your life based on your own skewed judgments and distorted views. It’s not until you rule with wisdom and walk according to the precepts of God’s Word, that you enter into a complete and comprehensive realization of His design for your life. God reigns over all, but He has given you dominion in your sphere of influence. ‘The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of mankind’ (Psalm 115:16). God empowers you to make right choices and decisions, and tailors His reactions to your actions. Sometimes we sit around waiting for God to act, when the truth is, He’s waiting for us to make a move. One pastor writes that God ‘has maintained a base of sovereign boundaries, a sphere He will not allow [people] to trespass on…[but] simultaneously opened up a field where we get to call the plays, leaving Him to respond accordingly.’ For example, if you want to reap bountifully, you must sow generously. If you want to be forgiven, you must forgive others. And if you want to walk in His blessings, you must walk in obedience. You are called to ‘reign in life by…Jesus Christ’ (Romans 5:17).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me remember what You called me to do in this life, and by Your guidance and Word – to do it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-17.mp3
The Secret to Surviving Hard Times
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Philippians 3:8
The secret to surviving hard times doesn’t lie in what you know, but who you know. You say, ‘Right now I’ve got more troubles than Job.’ Well, when the bottom dropped out of Job’s world, he said: ‘He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread’ (Job 23:10-12). And Paul’s life wasn’t a picnic either: ‘I have been in danger from rivers…from bandits…from my fellow Jews…from Gentiles; in danger in the city…in the country…at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and…often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and…often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches’ (2 Corinthians 11:26-28). Reading that list makes us ask the question, ‘How did he do it?’ Paul knew the secret to surviving hard times. What was it? He allowed his troubles to drive him closer to the Lord: ‘I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Do you want what Job and Paul had? Then draw closer to the Lord – that’s the secret!
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for being there and for the others You put in my path during tough times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-16.mp3
Harmony at Home – Part 3
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. Proverbs 14:29
It’s never okay to explode at those God has entrusted to your care. The Bible says, ‘Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry and don’t give the devil a chance’ (Ephesians 4:26-27). Satan would like nothing better than to gain entry to your home and turn it into a living hell, and every time you fly into a rage, you lose ground to him. That’s why the Scriptures say, ‘It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.’ The key to managing your anger lies in finding healthy ways to express it so that it doesn’t end up hurting more than helping. It’s important to share your feelings, but you must always do it in the right way. Ultimately it’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong, or who can shout the loudest. It’s about finding the solution that’s best for everyone. Understand this: nobody can be everything you want them to be all the time. It’s impossible to have a long-term, loving relationship without learning to accept human weakness. So instead of dwelling on one another’s shortcomings, focus on your collective strengths as a family. Clinical neuropsychologist Paul Pearsall says, ‘Most of us would give our own life for…a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.’ Learn to control your temper; your family is worth it. After all, who else loves you regardless of what you do? And where else can you go to find the comfort and strength that comes from that kind of support system?
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me control my words and my quick emotions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-15.mp3
Harmony at Home – Part 2
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. Luke 11:17
They say, ‘The apple never falls far from the tree,’ and Jacob certainly proved that. Nearing the end of his life when he should have been preparing to bless his sons Simeon and Levi, he told them, ‘I…curse…you because of your…anger’ Genesis 49:7). But their behavior should have come as no surprise. The fact is, Jacob had already shaped them by his own example when he deceived his father (see Genesis 27) and his father-in-law (see Genesis 30). And his mother facilitated the deception. Behavioral patterns are passed from generation to generation. Your attitudes and actions will either blight your children or bless them. The Word of God says, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6). Your children inherit more than just your looks. They end up with the values you taught and the emotional disposition you displayed. Don’t involve them in your marital disputes. The Bible says, ‘Anger rests in the bosom of fools’ (Ecclesiastes 7:9), and kids are easy targets for misdirected rage. Even when your outbursts aren’t aimed at them, they still suffer the effects. For example, your boss disciplines you at work, and because you can’t retaliate, you come home like a bear with a headache and make everybody around you walk on eggshells. Lower the decibel level! Don’t let your anger run amok. King David shone on the battle front but struggled on the home front. Perhaps that’s why one of the last psalms reads like this: ‘Help me to guard my words whenever I say something’ (Psalm 141:3).
Prayer Heavenly Father, guard my mouth and words – today – and beyond. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-14.mp3
Harmony at Home – Part 1
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
Building a good relationship at home is like building a wall: It’s done brick by brick. And the mortar that holds it together is unconditional, uncondemning, unselfish love. The only way you’ll know how good a job you’ve done is when it’s tested by the storms of life. One of the most important keys to succeeding at home is – communication. So: 1) Become creative. Spend time together as a family. Call your mate during the day and try to meet sometimes for lunch. Drive your kids to school or extracurricular activities so you can talk to them. Communication can happen anywhere, but it won’t happen unless you make it a priority. 2) Identify communication killers. Internet, mobile phones and TV are the chief culprits. The average couple spends less than one hour a week in meaningful communication; they spend five times more each day watching television. This is a ‘screen test’ you’ll have to pass if you want to succeed at home. 3) Encourage every member to speak their mind. And when they do, don’t criticize or retaliate. Differences of opinion are healthy. Handled right, they can make things better. 4) Be conscious of how you interact with your family. You may have unwittingly adopted a style that stifles communication. Stop and consider; do you: a) retaliate – that has a degrading effect b) dominate – that has an intimidating effect c) isolate – that has a frustrating effect d) cooperate – that has an encouraging effect. If you’re in the habit of using any communication style other than a cooperative one, start working immediately to change it. You’ll have to, if you want to build a good relationship with your family.
Prayer Heavenly Father, not only do I need to work on harmony at home but also at work – and in whatever circumstance You place me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-13.mp3
Don’t Listen to the Accuser
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. Revelation 12:10
A man who worked in an office loved to play a particular trick on new employees. He would approach them and whisper, ‘They know what you did,’ then walk away smiling. First, the person would look bewildered. Then they would get anxious and wonder, ‘What have I done?’ Then they would think, ‘Who are they?’ ‘What do they know?’ and ‘What are they saying about me?’ And since even the most innocent have a knee-jerk tendency to conceal and protect, the new employee would walk around all day anxiety ridden. That’s exactly how Satan works! He casts aspersions! But there’s good news: ‘The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony’ (vv. 10-11). There’s an unfailing strategy for silencing the voice of the accuser. What is it? Remind him that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed you from all sin. Just as Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness, you can defeat him every time by standing on the truth of God’s Word. It’s not God who makes you feel condemned. He wants you to know you’re loved, forgiven, and fully accepted. Paul writes, ‘Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?…Christ…is at the right hand of God…pleading…for us’ (Romans 8:33-34). So stop beating yourself up. Jesus came to save you and let you know that the penalty for your sin has been removed and its power over your life has been broken. God sees you today as righteous – and that’s how you need to start seeing yourself – remember his sight is better than yours! (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Prayer Heavenly Father, only one opinion counts and that is Yours! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-12.mp3
Are You Struggling with Change?
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
They say a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out. And once you get into a rut, it’s hard to get out, especially if it’s comfortable. But you’ll never become what God wants you to be, or all that you could be, as long as you resist change and insist on staying as you are. There are two kinds of change. 1) The change you personally must make. Astronaut James Irwin said: ‘You might think going to the moon was the most scientific project ever, but they literally threw us in the direction of the moon. We had to adjust our course every ten minutes, and landed only fifty feet inside of the five hundred-mile radius of our target.’ On that mission every change, no matter how small, was essential to success. Let’s face it, we dislike change, so we try to resist or postpone it as long as possible. Yet in the end it’s the only thing that brings growth. The Bible says, ‘Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored’ (Proverbs 13:18). Wise people are willing to change their minds, the foolish never do. 2) The change only God can make. His goal for your life is to develop in you the character qualities of Jesus. And since that cannot be accomplished through self-effort, His Word says: ‘But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory…by the Spirit of the Lord.’ What brings about change? Drawing on God’s power each day.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me accept change as a good thing – each day getting better and closer to what You have planned for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-11.mp3
Conquering Your Toughest Enemy – Yourself!
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21
Richard C. Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate, said: ‘Want to be a winner? Compete against yourself, not somebody else…Outrunning your rival doesn’t mean you ran your best race. You can win over another and still not fulfil your potential…To be your best, you must compete with yourself. It’s life’s biggest contest. A loser is a winner – however many his losses – if he conquers himself. A winner is a loser – however many his victories – if he loses the battle with himself. Alexander the Great conquered the world, and cursed his own lack of self-control. Victory over others may in fact be the very thing that contributes to the winner’s failure to conquer self. Winning makes him proud, arrogant, independent, thoughtless – and sometimes cruel. To put it another way, it isn’t what happens to you that makes the difference, but how you handle it. The one who stops maturing spiritually because he thinks he knows more Scripture than others or has more success in ministry, is still far from being what Christ planned for him.’ Compared to others you may look good, but God’s plan is to produce in you the character qualities of Christ. ‘This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind…Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and…how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right’ (vv. 2:21-23).
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to stop comparing myself to others but rather to what YOU can do in and through me and what Your plan is for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-10.mp3
Seek God’s ‘Peace’ Concerning It
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
God reveals His will in several ways. One is by giving us a sense of ‘peace’ that we are doing the right thing. Paul writes, ‘Let the peace of God rule in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15). That means you should follow ‘the peace rule’. Again he writes, ‘The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds’ (Philippians 4:7). You don’t need all the answers to have peace about it. General Eisenhower was faced with the responsibility of making one of the most far-reaching decisions ever posed to a single man: changing the date of D-Day at the last moment. If he got it wrong, thousands of Allied soldiers could die. Talk about pressure! But he was the supreme commander and the only man who could make the decision. Looking back on it, he wrote: ‘I knew I did not have the required wisdom, and turned to God. I asked Him to give me wisdom. I yielded myself to Him, and He gave me clear guidance. He gave me insight to see what was right, and He endowed me with the courage to make my decision. And finally He gave me peace of mind in the knowledge that, having been guided by God to a decision, I could leave the results to Him.’ Are you feeling anxious because you are being called upon today to make a decision; one that will not only affect you but others too? The word for you today is – pray, trust God for guidance, ask Him for peace, act, and trust Him for the right result.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I seek Your wisdom (in Your Word) and Your direction and peace in making decisions that I need to make. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-03-09.mp3
Approval Addiction
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25
You can be addicted to a lot of different things like alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, and even food. But did you know you can also be addicted to approval? When Moses chose seventy leaders to help govern Israel, he told them, ‘Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any [man]’ (Deuteronomy 1:17). That is advice Peter should have taken. ‘Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group’ (Galatians 2:12). When your identity is wrapped up in other people’s acceptance, you set yourself up for approval addiction, because your sense of self-worth is always on the line. A notable French author said, ‘We’re so accustomed to wearing a disguise before others, that eventually we’re unable to recognize ourselves.’ That’s not how God wants you to live! No one’s approval or disapproval can affect you – unless you give it credibility. Jesus spoke without feeling the need to create an impression; therefore, He was free to speak the truth in love. Someone wisely pointed out, that when we are young we worry about what people think and try to please them. When we are middle-aged, we get tired of trying to please everybody. And as we get older and wiser, we realize, most of the time, they weren’t even thinking about us at all! Guess what? There are times when pleasing God means you won’t be able to please people – and you must accept that!
Prayer Heavenly Father, as much as I like to be liked, help me remember, the only opinion or approval I need is Yours, and You have given it. In Jesus’ name, Amen
2022-03-08.mp3
Give God the First Moments of Your Day
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalms 63:1
What are the first moments of your day like? Do you turn on the TV, or rush into the bathroom, or allow your ‘to do’ list to come rushing in? Instead, try lying there quietly and allowing God to speak to you. With your mind a blank slate and your heart open, He will give you insights, ideas, solutions to problems, and the knowledge that He will be with you today. Author Colleen Townsend Evans writes: ‘Silence need not be awkward or embarrassing, for to be with one you love without the need for words is a beautiful and satisfying form of communication. I remember times when our children used to come running to me, all of them clattering at once about the events of their day – it was wonderful to have them share their feelings with me. But there were also times when they came to me wanting only to be held, to have me stroke their heads and caress them into sleep. And so it is, sometimes, with us and God our Father. At times your most powerful prayers will be thoughts rather than words. Your words are limited by your vocabulary, but your thought life is an arena of infinite capacity in which God can give your life-changing concepts. Paul writes, ‘We have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16). So be still and let Him think His thoughts through you. John writes, ‘You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things’ (1 John 2:20). God can cause you to ‘know’ what you need to do, so give Him the first moments of your day.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me start today and every day to be with you in Your presence and quietness. In Jesus’ name, Amen
2022-02-10
Prayer Can Change Your Life
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — 1 Timothy 2:1
Prayer is simply communicating with God. And communication can be spoken or silent. It can even be expressed in song. Many of the psalms are just prayers set to music. Prayer is connecting with God. Whether it’s confessing a sin, praising His name, pursuing His will, interceding for a friend, or petitioning for your own needs, your prayer must be God-centered, never self-centered. Sincere prayer comes from a heart that longs for God to reveal what He desires. So you must allow adequate time for listening and waiting intently before your heavenly Father. And prayer must be your first priority. Paul instructs Timothy: ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made’ (v. 1). Note the words, ‘First of all’. Before you slide out of bed, before you take a shower, before you make your way to work, and before your first appointment, pray, pray, pray! Every afternoon at three o’clock, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. In the middle of the day, they interrupted their schedule to gather for one purpose: prayer. So when your day is rolling along at its own pace and in its own direction, interrupt it with prayer. As your day builds towards a crisis, deliberately stop to pray. When your morning begins to go south, pull away for a few moments of solitude to seek God’s mind and ask for His instruction. When your attitude starts to sour, pause for an attitude adjustment prompted by prayer. Don’t wait – pray immediately. Make prayer your first priority in all things and at all times. If you do, you’ll find that prayer changes your life for the better.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to hold prayer as a priority of my life and what I do. Keep me from ignoring that. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-09
Goodness – Part 2
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
When you stand at the judgment seat of Christ, you’ll have one final opportunity to hear the word ‘good’: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Note, He doesn’t say well thought, or well intentioned, but well done! You’ll be rewarded for what you do. On that day, God will zero in on your actions, not your opinions or intentions. Goodness should be the last thing you think about when you go to bed and the first thing you think about when you wake. The Bible says, ‘Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?’ (Proverbs 20:11). You know what you’re really like on the inside, but the only you others see is from the outside. One Christian leader writes: ‘Talk is cheap. No matter how much you claim to be a good person, the only public measuring stick is your actions. You may think that by being good you’re not doing a lot of good. But never underestimate the power of even one person to exert tremendous influence by simply doing the right thing, at the right place, and at the right time.’ Mother Teresa always shied away from the limelight. She saw herself as a servant, not a star. Her greatest desire wasn’t to be famous, but to be faithful. As a result, she ended up touching the lives of multitudes even though her only thought was to help the next hurting person. Among her favorite Scriptures were these words given to us by Christ: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these…of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:40). So today, seek to do good. Just so there is no confusion – you are NOT saved by Good Works – You are saved FOR Good Works!
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me always remember that my actions DO matter in my witness reflecting You and the goodness that You always show. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-08
Goodness – Part 1
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
It’s easy to forget why God saved you, what He’s called you to do, and how you’re supposed to live. So here’s a memo from heaven: ‘Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always. When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out…If someone mistreats you…pray that God will bless him. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone will see you are honest clear through. Don’t quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible…never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said that He will repay those who deserve it…Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be heaping coals of fire on his head. In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. Don’t let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good’ (v. 9-21).
Prayer Heavenly Father, Help me daily to read and heed Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-07
Today Try To Be Gracious
Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. Ecclesiastes 10:12
Aesop, the famed fable author, said, ‘No act of kindness, no matter how small, ever is wasted.’ As one pastor writes, ‘It costs to be unkind, but it pays to be kind.’ Now, being kind doesn’t mean tolerating wrong or refusing to confront a problem in order to be politically correct. Sometimes we must confront. But it should always be done in a gracious way. A calm demeanor will go a lot further than a harsh comment or an ugly tone of voice. You can make your point with a kind spirit, and even a sense of humor. Don’t be like the man who was standing in line to buy a plane ticket. When he reached the counter, he said, ‘I’d like to purchase a ticket to New York City.’ The agent said, ‘No problem, how many pieces of luggage do you have?’ The passenger replied, ‘I have three.’ The agent asked, ‘Would you like me to check all three to New York?’ The man replied, ‘No, I want to send the first bag to Phoenix, the second to Seattle, and the third to London.’ Dumbfounded, the clerk looked at him and said, ‘I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t do that.’ The man smiled and said, ‘I don’t see why not; that’s what you did last week.’ You will always make your point more effectively with a butter knife than a butcher knife. Remember: ‘Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.’ If you’re serious about living by the teachings of God’s Word, today, try to be gracious.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help my words be honest but with grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-06
Can You Pay The Price?
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26
Long-distance runners don’t just focus on speed, but on endurance. They pace themselves so that as they approach the finish line, they can pull out all the stops. Paul said, ‘I’m running hard for the finish line…giving it everything I’ve got…I’m not going to get caught…telling everyone else…then missing out myself’ (vv. 26-27). For long-distance runners, giving up isn’t an option. Despite delays and disappointments along the way, they know they’ll never be satisfied sitting on the sidelines cheering for those who’ve paid the price to run the race. So if you’re the kind of person who longs to fulfil your God-ordained purpose in life – give it everything you’ve got. Go for it, and don’t forget that Jesus said, ‘Great gifts mean great responsibilities’ (Luke 12:48)>. It’s one thing to achieve success; it’s another thing to handle the pressures that go along with it. ‘Jesus…finished this race…Because he never lost sight of where he was headed…he could put up with anything’ (Hebrews 12:2). Having something great to look forward to enables you to endure. And God will expose you to opposition and criticism to strengthen your character; that way when greater blessings and responsibilities come, you’ll be able to handle them. Success is only possible when you have a passion to cross the finish line. So the question is, can you pay the price? When the pressure is on, can you stand up like Nehemiah when he rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and tell your opponents this: ‘My work is too important to stop’ (Nehemiah 6:3)? If your answer is yes, fix your eye on the goal and run to the finish line.
Prayer Heavenly Father, give me the endurance to pay the personal sacrifice to do Your will in furthering Your mission. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-05
People Pleasing – Part 2
Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise –in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:9-11
The approval of others is something we all enjoy, but you don’t need it in order to have self-worth. In fact, people pleasing will cause you to lose self-worth. You turn yourself inside out for others, and just when you think you’ve succeeded, they change their minds. Besides robbing you of your peace of mind, people pleasing makes it impossible to follow God’s direction – and that ultimately is your greatest loss. If you’re a people pleaser, changing the habits of a lifetime won’t be easy. It will require facing what you fear and asking God for the courage to follow through. David said, ‘I know…you are with me.…I…am not afraid. No one can harm me.’ When it comes to people pleasing, you must understand two things: 1) Breaking the cycle means risking rejection by saying no when others expect to hear yes. When the people in your life are used to meek, compliant responses, they’ll react negatively until they get used to ‘the new you’. Navigating these waters will be intimidating at first, but is it really any worse than living your life in fear of other people’s reactions? 2) You may have to explain to others that in the past you sought their approval because you felt insecure, but that’s no longer the case. The important thing is to act now! Breaking any habit involves temporary discomfort, but your only other option is to spend your life feeling trapped. You can choose to suffer short term on the way to freedom, or long term by continuing to engage in the struggle to please others. Today, make the right choice.
Prayer Heavenly Father, I seek to please You to do and follow Your will. Forgive me when I let others take that from me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-04
People Pleasing – Part 1
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” Acts 23:1
To ensure victory in battle, King Saul was supposed to wait for Samuel the prophet to come and offer a sacrifice to God. But as the day wore on and the people grew impatient, Saul offered the sacrifice himself. When Samuel demanded to know why, ‘Saul replied: “When I saw…the people…slipping away from me…I…offered the burnt offering.” Samuel said…“You have done foolishly…The Lord would have established your kingdom…now your kingdom will not continue”’ (1 Samuel 13:11-14). Because Saul needed people’s approval, he lost everything. Speaking truthfully may not be easy or comfortable, but the Bible tells us to do it anyway, like Samuel did. People pleasing is inherently dishonest because you’re telling others what they want to hear, instead of what you need to say. Now, you can’t be rude and insensitive, but you can’t be intimidated either. Just because somebody doesn’t want to hear the truth doesn’t negate your responsibility to speak it. Have you ever felt uneasy about something somebody asked you to do? One of the ways God leads us is through a sense of inner peace. Isaiah says you’ll be ‘led forth in peace’ (Isaiah 55:12). And Paul writes, ‘Pursue…things which make for peace’ (Romans 14:19). When something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Say, ‘I don’t have peace about this.’ People shouldn’t expect you to proceed until you do, but that rarely happens when others place demands on us. Jesus told His disciples when someone ‘will not receive…you nor listen to your message, as you leave…shake the dust…from your feet’ (Matthew 10:14). When somebody’s reaction threatens to stop you from doing what you know is right – it’s time to shake it off and move on.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to say and do what is right and what I have peace from you to say and not be pressured into anything different. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-03
Always Keep Your Conscience Clear
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” Acts 23:1
At the Mark Twain memorial in Hartford, Connecticut, you will find these words framed: ‘Always do right. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Truly yours, Mark Twain, New York, February 16, 1901.’ When your conscience is programmed and governed by God’s Word, it will lead you to do the right thing every time. And it’s created by the first lessons you learn about right and wrong; which is why as a parent, you have the most important job in the world. If you’re never taught those lessons, you fail to develop a conscience. If you’re taught them poorly or incompletely, you develop a stunted conscience. If you override your conscience and refuse to obey its inner voice, you develop a hardened conscience and, over time, you will live your life as if you don’t have one at all. You’ll compromise, cover up, and cut corners to get what you want. You can’t see a conscience or autopsy one, but you can hear it whispering in your mind and feel it tugging at your heart. And those are the whispers and tugs you must respond to in order to walk in the blessing of God. Paul said two important things about his conscience: 1) ‘I myself always strive to have a conscience without offence towards God and men’ (Acts 24:16). 2) ‘I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’ Above all, don’t neglect your conscience – it is either healthy or becoming unhealthy. And as it goes, so goes your character, your reputation, and the quality of your life.
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me shape my conscience by Your Word and Your Will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-02
Be Of Good Courage And Do It
Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” Ezra 10:4
You probably may not have heard of Harlow Curtice because he wasn’t a graduate from a prestigious university; he was a country boy with only a high-school diploma. But he had big dreams. He started out as a bookkeeper in General Motors and rose to become a company president by the age of thirty-five. By the time he was forty, he was the general manager of General Motors’ esteemed Buick division. He worked his way to the top of his profession with a talent for new ideas and action. He bravely designed new styles and models. And he personally travelled throughout the United States to inspire dealers and instill in them a renewed enthusiasm about their Buick products. And guess when he did it? In the middle of the Great Depression! Under his leadership, the sale of Buick cars quadrupled; his division became the second biggest moneymaker in General Motors’ history. When he was asked what he attributed his success to, he cited these three things: 1) He set goals for himself and required the people around him to do likewise. 2) He took pride in confronting and overcoming obstacles. 3) He was willing to take risks and do the things talented but fearful people around him refused to do. As a result, winning became a habit and a lifestyle. Those three principles are solidly scriptural and time tested, and they will lead you to success in whatever you put your hand to. So the word for today is – ‘Arise, for this matter is your responsibility…Be of good courage, and do it.’
Prayer Heavenly Father, help me work for the things You have for me to do – even when I am not sure how I am going to do it but know YOU KNOW. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
2022-02-01.mp3
Use What God Has Given You
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24
Jesus taught His disciples to be distributors of His blessing and ‘first responders’ to those in need. That’s why He involved them in the process; He was equipping them to represent Him in the future. In the feeding of the five thousand, the miracle of multiplication did not take place when the food left Christ’s hands, but the disciples’ hands. He blessed the five loaves and two fish, gave it to them, and they set out to do what seemed ridiculous: feeding a multitude with a boy’s lunch. But as they did it, they experienced the miraculous. Why? Because when the Lord’s blessing is upon what you have, you’ll succeed in spite of the challenges and obstacles. God has given each of us something that others need. But sometimes we fail to recognize it, or we doubt its worth. So we conclude, ‘I don’t have what it takes.’ You do – but it’s in seed form! Jesus described it this way: ‘First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head’ (Mark 4:28). God has deposited within you something He wants you to recognize, nurture, and use for His glory. When He blesses it, you’ll be amazed at the underdeveloped potential you’ve been running around with. This miracle began when a boy found an unmet need and decided, ‘These people are hungry and need to be fed.’ That’s also when the disciples discovered what Jesus could do with what they had, even though it looked hopelessly inadequate. The word for today is – use what God has given you!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive me for thinking I do not have what it takes to do what You want me to do. Of course I do not! But You do! Thank You Jesus. Amen