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21 October 2023 07:00

Be a nurturer

“I too was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.” Pr 4:3 NLT
 
In order for your child to thrive physically and emotionally in later life, you must nurture them with love during their earliest and formative years. Indeed, health experts are now saying that it’s essential to their survival. One Christian leader writes: “A study conducted at Harvard University shows unmistakably that the quality of the bonding between a boy and his mother is related to his physical health and well-being forty or fifty years later. Remarkably, 91 percent of college men who said they had not enjoyed a close relationship with their mothers developed coronary artery disease, hypertension, duodenal ulcers, or alcoholism by the midlife years. Only 45 percent of the men who recalled maternal warmth and closeness had similar illnesses. The same was true of men and relationships with their fathers. And consider this: 100 percent of the participants in this study whose mothers and fathers were cold and distant suffered numerous diagnosed diseases in midlife. In short, the quality of early relationships between boys and their parents is a powerful predictor of lifelong health. And you can be sure, the same is true of girls and women. It comes down to this: Where early needs are not met, trouble looms down the road.” Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, said, “For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.” David and Bathsheba were Solomon’s parents, and the story of what they did wrong is recorded for us all to read. But when it came to raising their son Solomon, they got it right. And by God’s grace you can too.

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19 October 2023 07:00

Character (1)

“A principled life can stand up to the worst.” Pr 11:4 MSG
 
Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” It’s easier to focus on our talent because, generally speaking, it produces results that are rewarded and celebrated by others. In other words, there is an element of ego connected to our gifts. Character is built in private. Your reputation is what people think you are, but character is what God (and you) know you are. If you want to go the distance, focus more on character than talent. The writer of Proverbs says, “Live right, and you will eat from the life-giving tree. And if you act wisely, others will follow” (Pr 11:30 CEV). If you’re praying for greater results, being must precede doing. To achieve greater goals, you must become a more effective leader. To attract better people, you must become a person of great character. When you consistently display character, competence, and purpose, you make a powerful statement to those around you and draw them closer to you. Great things are rarely accomplished alone, so if you want to attract good people, you have to become a better person yourself. This is particularly true if you’re a person of great ability. Your talent may lift you up before others, but your lack of character will bring you down. The Bible says, “A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst” (Pr 11:4 MSG). A wise leader is willing to admit, “I’m not perfect, but I know who is. And I’m doing my best to become more and more like Him in my professional and personal life.”

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17 October 2023 07:00

When you feel angry (2)

“Cease from anger…it only causes harm.” Ps 37:8 NKJV
 
Your anger may or may not hurt the person toward whom it’s directed, but it can definitely hurt you. Prolonged anger releases toxic chemicals into your body that elevate your blood pressure, create cholesterol, and increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. Every minute given to anger is a minute taken away from joy. And it can hurt you personally and professionally. Everybody gets upset from time to time. But when you walk around with your anger barely concealed, people avoid you. Plus, you’re giving whoever angers you power over your attitude and your responses. That’s too much power to give anybody! God wants you to live in peace. Here is how to let go of your anger: (1) Recognize the main hurt and emotion at the root of your anger. (Pride?). (2) Become mindful of how your anger is exhibiting itself (such as surliness or profanity). (3) Restrain anger’s effect on your body by inhaling deeply and exhaling, adding an affirmation such as “Thank you, Father” or “I receive Your peace now.” Watch your tone of voice in all your communications, not just with someone who has angered you. Request rather than order. You will feel more in control, and people will be more inclined to cooperate with you. (4) Decide to forgive. You will know you have forgiven when you no longer desire to see your offender penalized. Don’t mistake this with the reality that you still feel hurt. Feelings follow behavior. If you continue to reopen the wound by constantly talking about it, it will never heal. Just keep walking in love, and your emotions will fall into line with your decision.

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15 October 2023 07:02

Don’t be afraid of failing

“I will be with you.” Jos 1:5 NKJV
 
Because we are keenly aware of our limitations, we tend to limit our pursuits to our comfort zone. And that can lead to a life of mediocrity and unfulfilled dreams. Your efforts don’t rest solely on your shoulders, but on God’s. Yes, you have a part to play. But when you have done your best, you must trust God to do the rest. On the threshold of the promised land, God said to Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you, nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage” (vv. 5-6). Your ability is limited, but God’s ability is unlimited. You may experience failure on your way to success, but God’s guarantee is, “I will not fail thee.” The fear of failure is often based on the erroneous belief that success rests solely on our abilities. And because we’re aware of our inadequacies, we stay in our comfort zone instead of tackling the giants in the promised land. This can lead to a life of frustration over “what could have been.” When you know that what you want lines up with God’s will, be bold and know that you will eventually succeed. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1Jn 5:14-15 NKJV). When your confidence is “in Him,” your success is assured. When you know that what you want is what God wants, you can move forward in strength.

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13 October 2023 07:01

Set healthy boundaries

“Our word to you does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’” 2Co 1:18 NLT
 
Paul writes, “Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say ‘Yes’ when they really mean ‘No’? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver” (vv.17-18 NLT). Paul had learned to set boundaries on his relationships, and you must do the same. A wise man said, “Never complain about what you permit.” Unless you set boundaries, you have no right to complain about people who take advantage of you and waste your time. “Jesus…does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No’…he always does what he says” (v. 19 NLT). And as His follower, you must learn when it’s appropriate to say yes and when it’s appropriate to say no. When people back you into a corner, confront them promptly, privately, and personally. And if they won’t listen, take someone with you. And if they won’t listen to both of you, take it to the church leadership (See Mt 18:15-17). Be clear about what you will and won’t tolerate. In the words of the country song, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Get comfortable voicing your wishes and preferences without fear of rejection and alienation. Make this your prayer today: “Lord, let me serve and give to others from a pure heart rather than a need for love and acceptance. On the authority of your Word, I command the spirit of fear that has prevented me from setting healthy boundaries to leave now. I place my trust in you. I will not fear what people can do to me (See Ps 56:11). In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

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11 October 2023 07:01

Contrary winds (2)

“The voyage will be with…much loss.” Ac 27:10 RSV
 
Paul told everyone on board the ship bound for Rome, “The voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but…our lives” (v. 10 RSV). One author writes: “Paul didn’t talk about a little skirmish…a little loss…This voyage would be beset with disasters, with much loss, even to their lives…To Paul this journey meant eventual martyrdom. However, Paul would not die until his mission was completed, until he would strike a fatal blow at the heart of the Roman Empire, its political genius, military supremacy…pride and pomp. When Paul walked into Rome with the Gospel, hell shook and all heaven rejoiced. We are all beneficiaries because that little battle-scarred man with a chain around his ankle started to convert many in Rome [and gave] us the books of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon while he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ…[These phrases] from Acts 27 bring this journey more to life: The winds were contrary…we sailed slowly…passing with difficulty…sailing was now dangerous…tempestuous winds arose…we secured the skiff with difficulty…we used cables to undergird the ship…exceedingly tempest tossed…we threw the ship’s tackle overboard…neither sun nor stars appeared for many days…all hope that we would get saved was given up…the stern was broken up.” The destination is within reach—but not without “much loss.” Thank God that’s not the end of the story. The centurion, “wishing to save Paul…commanded those who could swim to throw themselves overboard…and make for the shore…the rest on…pieces of the vessel…escaped safely to land.” (Ac 27:43-44 AMPC). When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will make it in spite of the storm. Guaranteed!

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09 October 2023 07:00

Humble yourself

“Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Lk 18:14 NLT
 
Jesus said: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (vv. 10-14 NLT). You can appear to be the most devout person in church yet have a heart filled with pride. And the worst part is that you don’t know it. For example, when you take all the credit for things God enabled you to accomplish and acquire, that’s pride. When you compare yourself with others, that’s pride. When you think you can do the will of God without the power of God, that’s pride. When you exclude people who don’t fit into your peer group or social circle, that’s pride. And it will cost you, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (Jas 4:6 NIV). So if you want to walk in His favor today, then humble yourself before Him.

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07 October 2023 07:01

Do you know why you’re here?

“He chose us.” Eph 1:4 NKJV
 
When it comes to God’s will for your life, He decides it and you discover it. It’s not something you can change, a topic for debate, or a plan you get to have a say in. The truth is, you can miss God’s will and be miserable, or do things His way and experience “glorious, inexpressible joy” (1Pe 1:8 NLT). The choice is yours. “But I don’t know God’s will for my life,” you say. Then pray this prayer: “Father, I’m tired of going through life with no real purpose because it brings no glory to you. You created every living thing, including me, that they may bring you pleasure (See Rev 4:11). I know that you have a specific job for me to do. Your Word says you formed me in the womb to be your servant (See Isa 49:5 NIV). I’m getting lots of input from other people, but I need to know the path you have chosen for me. Help me to stop ignoring and minimizing the gifts and talents you have invested in me; acting like they’re of no significance. I know we are all called to serve, and I need your help to discern who, where, when, and how I should serve. I want to do what you have destined me to do and not be sidetracked by wrong priorities, busywork, or other people’s desires and demands. At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and say like Jesus, ‘I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to’ (See Jn 17:4 NIV). In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”

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05 October 2023 07:01

Finding common ground (3)

“I…tried to experience things from their point of view.” 1Co 9:22 MSG
 
To establish common ground, you must be adaptable. Thomas Aquinas said, “To convert somebody, go and take them by the hand and guide them.” You must be willing to move from where you are to where they are; to adapt and try to see things from their point of view. Anytime you’re aware of distance between you and the person you’re trying to reach, it’s good to search for something in your own background and experience that relates to theirs. Don’t start the process by telling them about yourself. Begin by moving to where they are and trying to see things from their perspective. Adapt to them—don’t think they should adapt to you. Instead of telling people how you feel, find out how they feel. Instead of telling them what you see, discover how they see things. Instead of trying to tell them what you want, discover what they want. Abraham Lincoln said, “When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.” The truth is, you can’t take someone on a journey unless you’re willing to start where they are. Only then can you truly connect and lead them to where you want to take them. You can know a lot about a person and still not understand them. More information isn’t always the answer. The Bible says, “Deep calls to deep” (Ps 42:7 NIV), and to really understand people, you must move beyond head knowledge and learn to speak the language of the heart.

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03 October 2023 07:00

Finding common ground (1)

“I try to find common ground with everyone.” 1Co 9:22 NLT
 
To influence someone, you must first connect with them. And to do that, you must look for common ground. Paul writes, “I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.” In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words: “Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” (vv. 19-23 MSG). Note the words “I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view.” When it came to preaching the truth, Paul wouldn’t yield an inch. But when it came to reaching and influencing people for Christ, he tried to remove every roadblock between them and Christ. And you must be willing to do the same. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. That’s why you must approach them heart-first, not headfirst. Before someone can receive the truth you have to share, they must be convinced that you love and care for them. And that means finding common ground.

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01 October 2023 07:01

Do what God says

“The Lord came to Abram in a vision.” Ge 15:1 NKJV
 
When God gives you a vision for your life, He doesn’t give you all the details up front. He simply says, “Don’t be afraid; just do what I say, and I will guide you and prosper you.” What did Abram’s vision involve? “The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation” (Ge 12:1-2 CEV). How old was Abram? “Abram was seventy-five…when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran” (Ge 12:4 CEV). What was Abram leaving? “Abram was very rich…and had a lot of silver and gold” (Ge 13:2 CEV). How did Abram respond? “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Heb 11:8 NKJV). Abraham couldn’t have told you where his final destiny was or how he would get there. He just knew God had told him to leave the safe harbor of where he was. Understand this: What you’re willing to walk away from often determines what God can entrust to you. You say, “But I need to have more information.” You will know as you go! With each step of faith you take, God will reveal another detail. He will inform you on a “need-to-know” basis. So, is the God who said to Abram, “Go to the land that I will show you” saying something similar to you today? Don’t be afraid; just step out in faith and obey Him.

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29 September 2023 07:01

Praying God’s promises (1)

“Let my teachings become part of you.” Jn 15:7 CEV
 
According to one count, there are 3,573 promises in the Bible. That’s almost ten promises for each day of the year. When you know which of those promises apply to you, and you fulfill the conditions that go with them, you can literally begin to pray God’s promises into existence in your life (See Jn 15:7 AMPC). Will your prayers be answered overnight? Some will, others won’t. “Be…followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:12). The most powerful prayer you can pray is, “Lord, you promised in your Word that you would…and today I am praying and believing you for it.” Here is how to pray: (1) When you need guidance and direction. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Ps 32:8 NKJV). (2) When you need deliverance from a situation, or to be set free from a habit. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Ps 50:15 NKJV). (3) When you need the strength to stand. “Fear not; for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa 41:10 NKJV). (4) When you don’t have enough to meet your needs. “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Php 4:19). If you meditate in God’s Word every day, each time a need arises, you will know which of His promises to claim in prayer (See 2Pe 1:4 NIV).

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27 September 2023 07:00

God will rescue you

“We stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.” 2Co 1:9 NLT
 
Are you feeling hopeless about the situation you’re in and don’t know which way to turn? Maybe you’re struggling to find a reason to keep going, but you’re so tired and overwhelmed that you just want to give up. If that’s the case, you’re in a vulnerable place. Look out—Satan will try to convince you there must be sin in your life, or that you’re out of God’s will, or that He is unhappy with you because you have disobeyed Him in some area you’re unaware of. Don’t buy it! You can be in the center of God’s will doing everything the right way, and still experience adversity. The apostle Paul writes: “You ought to know…about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety” (2Co 1:8-11 NLT). Two elements are at work in your life today. First, God is teaching you to lean on Him instead of on yourself. Second, people around you are being strengthened and encouraged as they see the grace of God at work in your life.

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25 September 2023 07:00

The art of being a sheep (1)


“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Ps 23:1 NIV
 
Perhaps you memorized Psalm 23 as a child. The vivid visual images remain with us lifelong. Author Hannah Whitall Smith said, “What we all need is just to get back into the nursery again, and take up our childish verses once more, and, while reading them with the intelligence of our grown-up years, to believe them with all our old childish faith.” As adults we become jaded, losing the simple joy that stress-filled lives require. We need to remember these three things: (1) Who our shepherd is—“The Lord.” He is the source of everything we will ever need, beginning with salvation. Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11 NKJV). (2) What the shepherd’s job is—protector and provider for the sheep. And He knows how to handle wayward, headstrong, vulnerable sheep and care for them. Long before Jesus came as our shepherd, the Father said, “I will rescue [my flock] and no longer let them be mistreated…I will give you a shepherd from the family of my servant King David…All of you, both strong and weak, will have the same shepherd, and he will take good care of you” (Eze 34:22-23 CEV). (3) What the sheep’s job is—to trust the shepherd completely. Attempting to do His job will exhaust and defeat us. We must believe “with all our old childish faith” that Jesus is a dependable, committed, and capable shepherd—and then act like we believe it. Knowing that His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives lifts our present worries and dispels all our future concerns.

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23 September 2023 07:01

What makes you glad, sad, or mad?

“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown.” Job 6:14 NKJV
 
A pastor writes: “What makes you glad or sad or mad? What puts a holy smile on your face? What causes your spirit to sob uncontrollably? What makes you pound your fist on the table out of righteous indignation? Somewhere in the mixture of that gladness, sadness, and madness is your God-ordained passion. Or maybe we should say compassion, because you are feeling what God feels. And once you identify it, doing something about it isn’t optional. You can’t not do something about it.” In 2006, Blake Mycoskie was touring Argentina when he noticed that many of the children didn’t have shoes. He could have returned to the United States and gone about his business. Instead, he started TOMS shoes, a business with a mission of putting shoes on the feet of children in third-world countries. It works like this: When you buy a pair of TOMS shoes, you’re giving a pair of shoes to a barefoot child somewhere. For every pair of shoes purchased, a pair is given away. Their mission is straightforward: one for one. Blake identified a need. He personalized it. And he decided to do something about it. It didn’t start out big, it started out small. Yet that is how primal moments begin. A person decides to do something about something that makes him glad or sad or mad. It was barefoot kids who broke Blake’s heart. And he literally placed shoes on his faith. When you discover the thing that makes you glad or sad or mad, the only question left is this: What are you going to do about it?

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20 October 2023 07:01

Character (2)

“When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy.” Jas 1:12 NCV
 
Because he was handsome, Joseph attracted the unwanted attentions of his boss’s wife. Day after day, she tried to seduce him. Now fast-forward to later in his life: If Joseph encountered that level of temptation when he was just a household slave, can you imagine the level he was exposed to when he became Egypt’s prime minister? Acting with integrity in small things equips you to act with integrity in big ones. In the hour of temptation, you will be called upon to choose one of two paths: character or compromise. And every time you choose character, you become stronger, even when your choice comes at a cost. Observe: (1) Character is more than just talk. Do you remember the old show-and-tell method of teaching in school? If you’re all tell and no show, you lose credibility. (2) Talent is a gift, but character is a choice. Generally speaking, talent is something you’re born with; you have little say in the matter. But character is a choice you get to make each day, and usually it’s made when only God and you know about it. (3) Character brings lasting success. It’s said that early Stradivarius violins were made from wood taken from the side of trees that had faced the brunt of a storm. Why? Because weather-beaten wood produces the sweetest music. Are you getting the idea? (4) Temporarily you may rise above your character limitations, but you won’t be able to sustain it. Eventually you will be seen for what you are. So, the word for you today is—don’t just work to build your career, work to build your character.

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18 October 2023 07:01

Winning the battle over apathy

“Stir up the gift of God which is in you.” 2Ti 1:6 NKJV
 
Paul told Timothy, “Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” That Scripture means, even though you’re gifted, you can become apathetic if you don’t keep doing the right things. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Heb 2:1 NKJV). The word “drift” is not only slow and subtle, it’s deadly. Let’s look at two of the things that can rob you of your passion, enthusiasm, motivation, and focus. (1) Lack of goals. “Without a vision the people perish” (See Pr 29:18). What used to enthuse you? What destroyed your interest in it? Is it a desire you could revive? Put it down in writing. Ignore the potential cost or reasons it might not work. Just indulge your mind in the luxury of feeling optimistic and excited about something, even a small thing. (2) Wrong goals. Are you pursuing a goal you feel was imposed upon you by someone else? Or like Jonah before he was swallowed by the whale, possibly you’re rowing against the tide of God’s will for your life. Check with Him and see if this is so. Did God really lead you to pamper yourself in that extravagant item that’s now requiring you to work two jobs? Or maybe the time has come to an end for a goal that was part of God’s plan for a specific season of your life. Moving on is sometimes difficult, but oh, the joy and peace of knowing that you are in the center of God’s perfect will!

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16 October 2023 07:01

When you feel angry (1)

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” Jas 1:19 NLT
 
The Bible gives us three keys to handling our anger the right way. Let’s look at each one and see what we can learn: (1) “Be quick to listen.” Don’t react, and don’t rush to judgment. Slow down and try to get the facts, then prayerfully and carefully consider how God wants you to respond. (2) “Slow to speak.” If you’re unsure, or you don’t know, just say so. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “It’s better to say nothing and appear to be a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it.” Your need to be in control, or to look like you have all the answers, can come back to bite you. What you don’t say, you won’t have to explain or apologize for later. (3) “Slow to get angry.” Note, the Bible doesn’t say that you should never get angry. It says you should get angry about the right things, in the right way, at the right time. Solomon says, “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool” (Ecc 7:9 NLT). That’s why it’s so important to deal with your hurts. An unhealed wound causes pain which often manifests itself in anger. The trouble is, we carry our anger around with us and vent it on others. As a result, they distance themselves from us, or distrust us, or deny us the intimacy and closeness we desire with them. The Bible says, “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (Pr 19:11 NKJV). Christlike character grows through exercising patience, love, and restraint.

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14 October 2023 07:01

Meditate on the Scriptures

“I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.” Ps 119:15 NKJV
 
If you want to grow spiritually, you need a consistent diet of Scripture. In fact, you will never outgrow your diet of Scripture. There is no substitute. There is no supplement. The poet T. S. Eliot said, “Everything we eat has some…effect upon us. It affects us during the process of assimilation and digestion; and I believe that exactly the same is true of anything we read.” We are what we read. But let’s take that a step further. Reading without meditating is like eating without digesting. If you want to absorb the nutrients, you can’t just read it; you have to chew on it. Meditation is the way we metabolize Scripture. That’s how it gets into our spirit and our soul. The French writer Jacques Réda had a particular habit. He would walk the streets of Paris with the purpose of seeing one new thing every day. It was how he renewed his love for the city. We renew our love for God in a similar way. Our love grows as we see new dimensions of His personality, and His personality is predominantly revealed in the pages of the Bible. What if we approached God’s Word the way Jacques Réda walked the streets of Paris? Here is the secret of spiritual growth: You can’t merely read the Bible, you have to meditate on it. Reading provides breadth to our understanding, but meditation provides depth. If all we do is read Scripture, our understanding of God and our experience with Him is one-dimensional. The Bible is a kaleidoscope. Each time you turn it, another beautiful pattern of truth is revealed.

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12 October 2023 07:01

Contrary winds (3)

“Stormy wind, fulfilling His word.” Ps 148:8 NAS
 
The winds were contrary when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they were contrary on their way to the promised land, and they were contrary when they got there. There is no such thing as a storm-free voyage: “Through…hardships and tribulations we…enter the kingdom” (Ac 14:22 AMPC). When you have to fight to stay afloat day after day, it’s easy to get discouraged. Paul said, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days…all hope…we would be saved was…given up” (Ac 27:20 NKJV). Maybe you’re weary and discouraged because of what you’re battling. You’re ready to call it quits—and humanly speaking, nobody would blame you. But before you give up, ask yourself this: What if God is the One engineering this storm to get me where I need to go? What if He is the One who “spoke and raised a stormy wind” (Ps 107:25 NAS), so I would have to keep my eyes on Him? What if He is the One who “hurled a great wind on the sea” (Jnh 1:4 NAS), to see if I would keep the faith when I can’t see the far shore? A psalmist tells us God uses “fire…hail, snow…clouds [and] stormy wind” (Ps 148:8) to fulfill His word. In Exodus 10, He “directed an east wind on the land all…day…and…night; and…it…brought the locusts…[He] shifted the wind to a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea” (vv. 13, 19 NAS). One author adds, “When the Lord fought for Israel…stormy winds brought about their deliverance…And one day, by God’s great mercy, we too shall stand upon the sea of glass and see how stormy winds brought about our deliverance.”

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10 October 2023 07:00

Contrary winds (1)

“The winds were contrary.” Ac 27:4
 
When you set out to do anything for God, the Enemy will make sure you encounter “contrary winds.” In fact, if you’re not sailing against the wind, chances are you’re headed in the wrong direction! The Bible says Jesus was “tempted of the devil” (Mt 4:1). Satan never let up, including the night before Jesus was crucified when “Satan entered into Judas…one of the twelve” (Lk 22:3 NLT). Reimar Schultze says, “Wherever you go today, Satan will…try to get you at some street corner, at the office, or in the field. He will make you fall if you leave home without your spiritual armor on; if you leave your belt of truth…in the closet, your breastplate of righteousness…by the door, your gospel shoes under your bed, or if you leave your shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit and the helmet of salvation behind you…If you say at daybreak, ‘I will pray whenever I get a chance today,’ you just gave away your victory. Before long the wrong words will come out of your mouth, you will look at forbidden fruits and display an improper attitude. The most foolish thing [you] can do is to leave home unarmed and spiritually naked. A fool says, ‘I have no time to pray,’ but later…he finds all kinds of time to attempt to repair the damage prayerlessness…produced….Following Jesus is not a walk in the park…Every good thing in the kingdom…from Adam on has come to us through men and women who stuck it out when the going got tough. The biblical history of the church ends with [these victorious words]… ‘and so we came to Rome’” (Ac 28:14 NLT).

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08 October 2023 07:01

How to pray when you are sick

“Is anyone among you sick?” Jas 5:14 NIV
 
The Bible says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up” (vv.14-15 NIV). So, let’s be in no doubt; when we’re sick, we are told to call for the church elders to anoint us with oil and pray over us, believing that we will be healed. In times of sickness, we’re also told to pray for one another. Jesus said, “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk 16:17-18 NKJV). If you are sick today, pray: “Lord, even though the doctor’s report is negative, you have the last word concerning my life. Your Word says, ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book’ (Ps 139:16 NLT). Forgive me for any door I may have opened to this illness by failing to be a good steward of my health. Raise me up as testimony to your healing power. You are the changeless miracle-working God yesterday, today, and forever (See Heb 13:8). I take authority over every defective part of my body and command each one to be made whole in the name of Jesus. I decree that I will not die before my appointed time but will live to report what you have done (See Ps 118:17). By faith I stand on your Word and declare, ‘By your stripes I am healed’” (See Isa 53:5).

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06 October 2023 07:01

A father’s blessing

“My son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.” Ge 27:27 NIV
 
Every child longs for their father’s blessing, and every father is called to bless their children. When Isaac blessed his sons, he was acting on God’s behalf, using his divinely delegated power to impart blessing. A father’s blessing was a cherished institution, but its effectiveness rested on the fact that Isaac blessed his sons as an act of faith and not out of mere sentiment or favoritism. By Hebrew custom, a father’s blessing comprised two elements. (1) A meaningful touch. “Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him…Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come here, my son, and kiss me’” (Ge 27:22, 26 NIV). A patriarch’s blessing included the laying on of hands, a kiss, and embrace of acceptance and love. Jesus knew exactly what children needed, that’s why “he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mk 10:16). And such expressions of love still bless our children who crave them from us. (2) A spoken word of affection. Before blessing Jacob, his father said to him, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed” (Ge 27:27 NIV). To a city dweller these words may not mean much, but not to Isaac’s boys. This old outdoors patriarch who loved nature was in essence saying, “That’s my boy—a hunter, a man’s man, just like his dad!” He couldn’t have spoken more affirming words to his son. Dad, let your words not be critical, demeaning, or insensitive, but words that say, “I couldn’t be prouder than to call you my child!”

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04 October 2023 07:01

Finding common ground (2)

“I have voluntarily become a servant to…all.” 1Co 9:19 MSG
 
Whether you’re applying for a job, trying to win someone to Christ, counseling and advising, or correcting someone’s behavior, to be effective you must look for common ground. Let’s look at some of the qualities that calls for. Availability. Paul writes: “I have voluntarily become a servant to…all…to reach a wide range of people.” Establishing areas of common interest takes time. It also takes effort. It’s been reported that today a typical business executive has an on-the-job attention span of six minutes. That’s pathetic! In six minutes a person can hardly get his or her feet on the ground, much less find common ground. Identifying areas you can agree on calls for empathy and a willingness to listen to what the other person has to say. In her book How to Talk So People Listen, Sonya Hamlin reports that most people find this challenging because of the “Me-First Factor.” She writes: “Listening requires giving up our favorite human pastime—involvement in ourselves and our own self-interest. It’s our primary, entirely human focus. And it’s where our motivation to do anything comes from. With this as a base, can you see what a problem is created when we’re asked to listen to someone else?” So, what’s the solution? First of all it’s essential to acknowledge and answer two of the listener’s instinctive, unspoken questions, which are: “Why should I listen to you? What’s in it for me if I let you in?” Anytime you’re willing to listen to people and figure out how what you’re offering meets their needs, you are halfway toward your goal of finding common ground.

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02 October 2023 07:01

Meditation for beginners

“We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God.” Ps 48:9
 
Hopefully by now you are convinced that the power that comes from meditating on God’s Word is a power you need working in your life. But maybe you’re a beginner and you need a starting point. You’re thinking, “Yes, I know I need to spend more time meditating on God’s Word, but how do I do it? Here are a few ideas to get you started: (1) Meditate on God’s blessings. “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Ps 103:1-2 NKJV). Meditation leads to a thankful heart. (2) Meditate on your relationship with God. “You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Ro 8:15-16 NKJV). (3) Meditate on God’s love for you. “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When 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” (Ps 63:3-8 NKJV). You can meditate on God’s promises to protect you, or guide you, or instruct you, or correct you, or bless you. The point is, you need to get started!

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30 September 2023 07:01

Praying God’s promises (2)

“Call to Me, and I will answer you.” Jer 33:3 NKJV
 
When you begin to pray scripturally based prayers, you will get the answers you need. Here is why: The Bible is God’s Word, and He always keeps His Word. Here is how to pray: (1) When you don’t have the answer. “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (v. 3). (2) When you’re worried and under stress. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn 14:27 NKJV). (3) When you need spiritual insight. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come” (Jn 16:13 NKJV). (4) When you need power for service. “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. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do…that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (Jn 14:12-14 NKJV). (5) When you need God’s blessing on your endeavors. “I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing” (Eze 34:26 NKJV). Once you see the results of praying God’s promises, you will never pray any other way.

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28 September 2023 07:00

Meditate on God’s Word

“In His law he meditates day and night…and whatever he does shall prosper.” Ps 1:2-3 NKJV
 
Thomas à Kempis wrote, “If you wish to grow in your spiritual life, you must not allow yourself to be caught up in the workings of the world. You must find time alone, away from the noise and confusion, from the allure of power and wealth.” You say, “Does that mean God doesn’t want me setting goals and achieving things in life?” No, quite the opposite! The Bible says, “In His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (vv.2-3 NKJV). What’s the secret of a tree’s fruitfulness? Having deep roots that are connected to life-giving streams of water. And as the demands on your time and energy become greater, you must discipline yourself to spend even more time in the Scriptures, not less. When your inner life is not in order, your outer life becomes dysfunctional and begins to fall apart. And working harder will only make it happen faster. You will be like the pilot who announced to his passengers, “Folks, there is bad news and good news. The bad news is, our instruments have failed and we don’t know where we’re going. The good news is, we’re making great time!” What’s the answer? David says: “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (Ps 119:14-16 NKJV).

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26 September 2023 07:01

The art of being a sheep (2)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Ps 23:1 NIV
 
We need to know two things: (1) Our shepherd’s character. Jesus distinguished good shepherds from bad ones (See Jn 10:11-16). Bad shepherds look out for their own interests, not the welfare of the sheep. They’re unreliable; when a threat arises, they abandon the flock. But Jesus claimed, “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11). What makes Him good? “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (v. 11 NKJV). Their needs and their security come before his own, and if necessary, he will die for them. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (v. 14 NIV). Jesus knows each of His sheep individually and desires an intimate relationship with them. He calls each one by name; they trust Him and follow where He leads (See Jn 10:3). You can rely on your shepherd to protect and guide you! (2) The sheep’s condition is the shepherd’s business. He can’t be a good shepherd if his sheep’s needs aren’t being met. Sheep don’t know the path to the pasture, the location of the watering hole, or the strategy for their own safety. But the shepherd does. His sheep believe in him, rely on him, and follow him. But believing in and relying on His protection and provision isn’t instinctive—it’s the only decision you make; an act of your will. Regardless of your feelings or circumstances, you make up your mind to trust the shepherd to handle things and act as your security. When you turn your worries and concerns over to Him and rest in His goodness, He fulfills His promise that you will “lack nothing.”

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24 September 2023 07:00

You are a wonder

“I praise you because I am…wonderfully made.” Ps 139:14 NIV
 
Despite your aches and pains, you are a living, breathing, walking, talking wonder. The psalmist said, “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (vv. 13-14 NIV). One author explains: “Most of us take our eyesight for granted, but even the simplest of processes is divinely complex. The retina, for example, conducts close to ten billion calculations every second, and that is before an image even travels through the optic nerve to the visual cortex. The human nose can detect one-millionth of one milligram of garlic floating in the air and distinguish among ten thousand distinct odors. The hairs blanketing your body magnify the sensation of touch so that you can discern a thousandth of an ounce of pressure on the tip of a half-inch hair. Amazing, isn’t it?” Trillions of chemical reactions are taking place in every cell of your body every second. You are inhaling oxygen, metabolizing energy, digesting food, maintaining equilibrium, purifying toxins, producing hormones, exhaling carbon dioxide, repairing tissues, and circulating blood. As you read this, millions of electrical impulses are firing across billions of synaptic pathways, and you don’t even think about it. But you should, and you should praise God for the gift of life and the multitude of His blessings you enjoy. And you should do one more all-important thing: Discover your life’s purpose and dedicate yourself to fulfilling it. It has been said the two most important days in a person’s life are the day they’re born and the day they discover why they were born. Think about it!

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22 September 2023 07:02

Pray for a “sympathy breakthrough”

“Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Col 3:12 NLT
 
The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” In his documentary on twentieth-century wars, Jonathan Glover refers to what he calls “sympathy breakthroughs.” Even in the situation of war, acts of compassion supersede the conflict. Most sympathy breakthroughs, according to Glover, are triggered by eye-to-eye contact, and that eye-to-eye contact displaces hand-to-hand combat. Have you ever had a sympathy breakthrough? If not, pray for one. It’s a moment when your tendency to hate is overcome by your will to love. A moment when proactive compassion overrules negative anger. A moment when you’re concerned more about someone else’s pain than your own. Those are the moments when you discover what it really means to love God with all your heart. It’s much simpler to act like a Christian than it is to react like one. Anybody can put on an act. But your reactions expose what is really in your heart. And if you love God with all your heart, you won’t merely act like it. You will react like it. The apostle Peter puts it this way: “Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (vv. 12-14 NLT).