The Word For You Today

March – April – May 2008

Copyright 2008 CE

Saturday – March 1

“When they began to…praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people…who had come against Judah.” 2 Chronicles 20:22 NKJV

Praise your way through (1)

There’s no law that says praising God is reserved for church on Sunday. It can be a lifestyle: at work, at school, at home, in the shower. Praise brings God’s presence, along with His direct intervention. The Psalmist said, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps 34:1). Before David was a soldier or a king, he killed Goliath with a slingshot and a stone. You don’t need an army to defeat your giants, just a well-aimed Scripture backed up with a shout of praise. Praise is an expression of faith; it’s a declaration that God’s in control. Praise is not something you engage in simply when you feel like it. The Bible says we’re to “offer the sacrifice of praise to God” (Heb 13:15). The more it costs, the more it pays off!

In the Old Testament when their enemies were arrayed against Judah (which means praise), Jehoshaphat their king sent the choir to the front lines ahead of the army to praise God. What a crazy strategy. But it worked! As they went forward worshipping, “the Lord set ambushes against the people…who had come against Judah,” and they were defeated. Anybody can praise God when “everything’s comin’ up roses,” but learn to praise Him when you’re in the trenches and He’ll defeat whatever’s waging war against you. A praise-filled environment stops Satan dead in his tracks – because he knows that God “lives” in that kind of atmosphere! (See Ps 22:3.)

Sunday – March 2

“Those who have learned to acclaim you…walk in…your presence.” Psalm 89:15 NIV

Praise your way through (2)

Prisons in Bible times were miserable places, devoid of even the most basic creature comforts. It was in such a place that “Paul and Silas were…singing praises to God…[when]…a strong earthquake shook the jail….The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners” (Ac 16:25-26 CEV). And it can happen for you too. If you want to shake things up, see doors open and chains break, begin to praise God “in spite of.” The secret to soaring above your circumstances is approaching God on the wings of praise. David said, “Those who have learned to acclaim [praise, applaud, honor, pay tribute to] you…walk in…your presence…Lord.” Praise isn’t simply a reaction to coming into God’s presence; it creates a channel through which He enters to go to work on your problem.

When you’re down and depressed there’s no incentive for your natural mind to praise God. It’ll actually encourage you to wallow in misery and feel sorry for yourself. But that’s completely opposite to what you should be doing! God is “Looking for: those who are…themselves…in… worship…[who] do it out of their very being” (Jn 4:23-24 TM). It’s not a matter of emotion; it’s a matter of faith. It’s not something that comes naturally; it’s something you choose to do. Whether you’re in the wilderness or the Promised Land, when you “rejoice, and sing praises” (Ps 98:4 NKJV) things start to happen; as your praises go up, God’s blessings come down. Nehemiah says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Ne 8:10). Praise actually helps to heal your emotions and lift the weight of negativity you’re living under. Try it!

Monday – March 3

“Forgiving one another…as God…has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Hit the delete button

Imagine living in a society where adulterers wear a scarlet letter and thieves wear a ball and chain. Imagine being identified only by your past. “They probably deserved it,” you say. Really? Jesus said if you look at a member of the opposite sex with lust, you’ve committed adultery in your heart (See Mt 5:28). Ouch! Then He went on to say that the standard of judgment you impose on others, is the standard by which you’ll be judged (See Mt 7:1-2). Can you live with that? Now, God’s not soft on sin. His love won’t let you off. “The Lord disciplines those he loves” (Heb 12:6 NIV). But His love won’t let you go. “Nothing can separate us from the love of God” (See Ro 8:38-39).

We’re not too familiar with scarlet letters or balls and chains, but we are with computers. And when someone hurts or upsets us, God says, “Forgive, and hit the delete button!” Otherwise you’ll be corrupted with a virus that controls the way you think, act and talk. Worst of all, it’ll keep you chained to the memories. “But forgiving is hard,” you say. Sure; that’s why Jesus said, “Pray for those who mistreat you” (See Mt 5:44). Forgiving someone begins with praying for them. “But I need to try and understand why they did it.” Smart people do stupid stuff. Good people do bad stuff. And misguided people don’t know what they’re doing. That’s why Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). You may understand someday, or you may never understand. Either way, for your own sake forgive, hit the delete button and move on!

Tuesday – March 4

“That by his death he might…free those who…were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV

The promise of long life

If a parent died when you were young, you may be living with the unspoken fear that you won’t live longer than they did. The Bible addresses this: “Only by dying could he break …the power of death…[and] set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying” (Heb 2:14-15 NLT). Observe: (1) When your work on earth is done, God promotes you to a home in heaven. Imagine your dream home, then add the words: “far better” (Php 1:23). And who is the architect, builder and designer of this home? Jesus: “I go to prepare a place for you” (Jn 14:2). (2) By disobeying God you can shorten your life; by honoring Him you can lengthen it. King Hezekiah proved this. Fighting illness and facing death he cried out to God: “Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes (2Ki 20:3 NIV). God answered, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you…I will add fifteen years to your life” (2Ki 20:5-6 NIV). You say, “Can God still heal today?” Absolutely! James writes, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (Jas 5:14-15). (3) If you’re worried about dying, stand on God’s Word. “With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation” (Ps 91:16 NIV).

Wednesday – March 5

“Follow me, and I will make you.” Matthew 4:19

Come as you are

Understand this: Jesus doesn’t invite us to follow Him because we believe in Him. He invites us to follow Him because He believes in us! He says, “Follow me and I will make you.” He knows what we can become when His grace touches our lives. Matthew, a Jew, collected taxes for the Romans who enslaved his people. In their eyes he was lower than scum. Yet Jesus called him and he ended up writing the first book in the New Testament. When Nathaniel was invited to meet Jesus he was downright skeptical. “Can…any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see” (Jn 1:46). Even after 3 years of exposure to His miracles and messages, they still had doubts. Check how often He says to them, “O ye of little faith…why do you not believe? …If only you believed you would see.” Knowing they were anxious about what would happen when He left them and went back to heaven, Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [the Holy Spirit], that he may abide with you for ever” (Jn 14:16). The Greek word for comforter is paracletos which means “one who comes alongside to help.” There will never be a day when you won’t need God’s help!

So, come as you are. Come with your self-righteous or sordid past. Come with your halo or your hang-ups. Come, even though you wonder if He can do what He promises. Let His power and presence rub off on you. What do you have to lose? You’ve tried your way and it didn’t work, now try His way. Come. You won’t be disappointed!

Thursday – March 6

“All Scripture is God-breathed.” 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

Be faithful to the Scriptures

The first lie ever recorded was the one Satan told Eve when he said that God didn’t really mean what He said. And he’s still peddling the same line. You hear it in comments like: (a) “If you’re sincere, it doesn’t matter what you believe.” What if you’re sincerely wrong? If your car brakes don’t work your sincerity won’t stop you; telephone poles and buildings will. (b) “We must be careful not to offend anyone.” What if people don’t want to hear the truth or live according to it? Should we soften or edit the Scriptures based on what we think they can handle? If you love someone, wouldn’t you interrupt their sleep to keep them from burning up with the house? (c) “There is truth in the Bible, but not all the Bible is true.” Paul writes that “All Scripture is God-breathed.” And Isaiah says, “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa 8:20). Twelve inches must make one foot, otherwise we’re all open to each other’s interpretations and subject to each other’s value judgments – and somebody’s going to get the short end of the stick.

Now, when we become arrogant in presenting the truth, the cause of Christ suffers and spiritually hungry people are turned off. We who have received grace and mercy must show it. But let’s not compromise what God’s Word says. Interestingly, when polled recently, the majority of today’s young people (16-29) said, “Give it to me straight. And if you don’t live it, don’t give it!” How refreshing! Bottom line: God’s Word is wholly, solely, fully, completely and altogether true. So be faithful to the Scriptures!

Friday – March 7

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are.” Ephesians 1:11 TM

Discovering yourself

One day a boy climbing in the mountains found an eagle’s nest with an egg in it. When he got home he put it under a hen along with her other eggs. When the eagle hatched he thought he was a chicken. He learned chicken behavior and scratched in the chicken yard with his “siblings.” He didn’t know any better. Sometimes he felt strange stirrings within himself but he didn’t know what to do with them, so he ignored or suppressed them. After all, if he was a chicken he should behave like a chicken. One day an eagle flew over the chicken yard and the eagle looked up and saw him. In that moment he realized he wanted to be like that eagle, to fly high, to go to the mountain peaks he saw in the distance. As he spread his wings he suddenly understood that he was like that eagle. Though he’d never flown before, he possessed the instinct and capabilities. At first he flew unsteadily, then with greater power and control. Finally as he soared he knew he’d discovered his true self – the creature God made him to be.

Phillips Brooks remarked, “When you discover you’ve been leading only half a life, the other half is going to haunt you until you develop it.” Self-discovery is what Paul had in mind when he wrote, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.” You were made by God and for God. Until you understand that, your life won’t make sense. It’s “in Christ” that we discover our purpose, our significance and our destiny. In other words, we discover our true selves!

Saturday – March 8

“I am sending you.” John 20:21 NIV

Knowing and doing God’s will

Gladys Aylward was just a simple woman who did what she believed God called her to do. In 1920 she sailed to China where she opened a home for orphaned children who’d been left to starve or wander the streets until the government placed them in wretched warehouses. She’d read the Scripture, “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed…The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs” (Isa 58:10-11 NIV). When the Japanese invaded China Gladys was forced to flee. She ended up on the island of Formosa with over 100 children to care for. In the face of extreme difficulty and danger she devoted her life to becoming a mother to each of them. Years later when she was publicly honored, she explained her amazing work like this: “I did not choose this. I was led into it by God. I’m not really more interested in children than I am in other people. But God gave me to understand that this is what He wanted me to do – so I did it!”

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (Jn 20:21 NIV). The mission Jesus had while on earth, is now our mission. “All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, for there is little time left” (Jn 9:4 TLB). William James said, “The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” Only the kingdom of God is going to last; everything else will eventually perish. To fulfill your kingdom-purpose here on earth is to have lived well, and lived successfully!

Sunday – March 9

“A word out of your mouth…can accomplish nearly anything – or destroy it.” James 3:5 TM

Are you a gossip? Mend your ways!

There’s a saying that goes, “The deepest wounds in life come not from swords but words.” If you don’t believe it look at the walking wounded; they’re all around you! Are you yourself still struggling with the hurtful words of an insensitive parent, a schoolteacher, a marriage partner, or a boss? Or worse, a Christian who thinks God’s Word on the subject of gossip doesn’t apply to them? God takes the sin (yes, it’s a sin!) of gossip so seriously that He devotes an entire chapter of the Bible to it. If we were to read James, Chapter 3 regularly we might show more consideration before opening our mouths. The Bible says: “A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything – or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire!”

One day a woman came to her pastor with a troubled conscience. She had “sliced and diced” just about everybody in church. “How can I make things right?” she asked. He said, “Take a box of feathers and drop one on the doorstep of each person you’ve criticized.” After doing so she came back and said, “Is that all?” “No,” he said. “Now go, pick up them all up and bring them back to me.” A week or so later, the woman returned without a single one: “The wind blew them all away,” she said. After a long silence the pastor said, “That’s how it is with words; they’re easily spoken, but you can never take them back again.” Are you a gossip? Mend your ways!

Monday – March 10

“Joshua ordered the officers of the people.” Joshua 1:10 NIV

A Word to leaders (1)

Before Israel entered the Promised Land God gave 2 important instructions to their leaders:

(1) “Cross over ahead of your brothers” (Jos 1:14 NIV). If God has called you to lead, step up to the plate and swing the bat. Believe in yourself and your mission! Accomplishment is more than just working harder and smarter; it’s about believing the right thing. Someone called it the “sure enough” syndrome. If you expect to fail, sure enough you will. If you expect to succeed, sure enough you will. Personal breakthroughs begin with a change in your beliefs. What you believe deep down determines what you expect, and what you expect determines how you will act. In the long run, a belief is more than just an idea you possess, it’s an idea that possesses you!

(2) “Be strong and courageous” (Jos 1:6). Your life will expand or shrink in proportion to the measure of courage you display. If you’re willing to take risks you’ll go further than those who timidly follow the safe and predictable path. Orison Swett Marden writes: “The moment you resolve to take hold of life with all your might and make the most of yourself at any cost, to sacrifice all lesser ambitions to your one great aim, to cut loose from everything that interferes with that aim, to stand alone, firm in your purpose whatever happens, you set in motion the forces implanted within you for your own development. Live up to your resolve, work at what God meant you to work at for the perfecting of His plan, and you will be invincible. No power on earth can hold you back from success.”

Tuesday – March 11

“Joshua ordered the officers of the people.” Joshua 1:10 NIV

A Word to leaders (2)

God said to Israel’s leaders when entering the Promised Land: “Help your brothers” (Jos 1:14 NIV). “How long do I have to keep investing in this person,” you ask. Want a Bible answer? “Until they too have taken possession of the land that…God is giving them” (Jos 1:15 NIV). It’s not an occasional act of assistance; it’s a lifestyle of serving. At the end of every day we should each ask ourselves, “Did I do a good job today? Was I an asset and not just an expense?” Author Richard L. Evans remarked, “It’s priceless to find a person who will take responsibility, who will finish and follow through to the final detail – to know when someone has accepted an assignment that it will be effectively, conscientiously completed.” And Paul raises the bar for followers of Christ! “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus” (Col 3:17 NLT).

People who take advantage of others inevitably fail. Dr. John Maxwell writes, “If you desire to succeed, live by these 4 simple words: add value to others. That philosophy will take you far. All talented people have a choice to make: to do their own thing and get all the credit, or do the team thing and share it. My observation is that not only do talented people accomplish more when working with others, but they are also more fulfilled than those who go it alone.” So here’s the deal: you are only qualified to enjoy the privileges and benefits of leadership when you’re willing to (a) go first and (b) put others first. God says: “After that, you may go back and occupy your own land” (Jos 1:15 NIV).

Wednesday – March 12

“So here I am today, eighty-five years old!” Joshua 14:10 NIV

“Good to the last drop!”

When the Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey ran the 100 meters in 9.84 seconds he was hailed as the world’s fastest man. But it could all have ended very differently, because with so many wins to his credit Bailey had problems accepting instructions and committing to the rigorous training necessary to meet the challenge. After his big win experts who critiqued videos of the race made an interesting discovery: Bailey never once lost momentum. In fact, he was still accelerating as he crossed the finish line.

Isaiah says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isa 40:29 NIV). Live fully until the day God calls you home! Caleb did; listen: “So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I’m still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then…give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day…Then Joshua blessed Caleb…and gave him Hebron as his inheritance…because he followed the Lord…wholeheartedly” (Jos 14:10-14 NIV). Christian author Alma Barkman writes: “I’ve already covered half the miles in this ‘race…set before us’ (Heb12:1). Sprinting is out of the question. Jogging is risky. Even a brisk walk leaves me puffing…at my stage of the game I just want to enjoy life. But my Coach won’t allow me to coast. Growing older means I’ve more time and resources to exercise the gifts God’s given me. Instead of slowing down, I want to be accelerating when I cross the finish line.” Or as the folks at Maxwell House Coffee used to say: “Good to the last drop!”

Thursday – March 13

“In everything God works for the good of those who love him…because that was his plan.” Romans 8:28 NCV

It’s all part of His plan

When you’re in a situation where you’ve got more questions than answers, it takes faith to accept that “in everything God works for the good of those who love him.” What you consider wasted experiences can become confidence-builders and priceless sources of insight – when you make up your mind to learn from them! If you don’t, they’ll keep happening till you do. The Israelites went in circles for 40 years before they finally wised up. Don’t let that happen to you.

When you get too comfortable God stirs things up. The mother eagle teaches her little ones to fly by making their nest so uncomfortable that they’re forced out of it. Next they are pushed off a cliff edge. Can you imagine their thoughts: “It’s my mother doing this?” Who and where you are at this moment in time has been divinely appointed. God in His wisdom knows that you need the challenge of certain situations to mature and stretch you. The job you dread going to every day is developing your skills, endurance and sense of responsibility. Those people who rub you the wrong way are actually making you more like Jesus! Paul says, God “understands…and knows what is best for us at all times” (Eph 1:8 TLB). So instead of asking Him to change things, thank Him for the experience and the lessons you’re learning. And if you can’t figure out what those lessons are, ask Him. James says, “If…you need wisdom…ask God” (Jas 1:5 CEV). When you do, you’ll discover – it’s all part of His plan!

Friday – March 14

“God’s gift to us is…happiness.” Ecclesiastes 3:13 CEV

The martyr attitude!

People with a “martyr attitude” do things out of a sense of duty, not joy. They feel guilty about enjoying life. They tend to begrudge happiness to those around them. They resent it when others don’t do things for them, yet they won’t ask for help in case they create a sense of obligation. The fact is, “martyrs” don’t value themselves so they think nobody else does. That’s not how God wants you to live. The Bible says there’s a time to work…to play…to laugh, and enjoy life, because “God’s gift to us is…happiness.” Jesus said, “I came to give life…in all its fullness” (Jn 10:10 NCV). You need fun and relaxation. They’re not unspiritual! Without them you become unbalanced and you open yourself to stress-related illness, mood swings and compulsive behaviors. You find yourself constantly vulnerable, driven and unable to relax.

Refuse to take on a false sense of responsibility. Don’t neglect or deny your own legitimate needs. Yes, you’re called to help others, but it’s not wrong to do things for yourself, to receive from God, and those He sends to bless you. If somebody compliments you, accept it graciously. If they attempt to belittle you, ignore it and move on. One counselor writes: “When you find yourself trying to prove how much you’ve been hurt, or trying to ‘top’ someone else’s pain, stop and figure out what’s going on. The reward is learning to stop the pain and move into joy, peace and fulfillment.” David said, “In Your presence is fullness of joy” (Ps 16:11 AMP). So begin to spend more time with God. You only get to make the journey once, so enjoy it and make it count.

Saturday – March 15

“An enemy did this.” Matthew 13:28 NIV

Weeds growing in the wheat!

Matthew, Chapter 13, verses 24-30 is an eye-opening parable. Jesus warned that while we are planting wheat (God’s Word), the enemy is planting weeds (error). And it’s happening in the same field! Why? (1) Because we’ve fallen asleep. “While everyone was sleeping, his enemy …sowed weeds among the wheat” (Mt 13:25 NIV). Wake up! Dynamic personalities and big crowds don’t guarantee truth is being taught. Paul warns the Ephesian church: “After I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock” (Ac 20:29 NIV). (2) Because the sowers look and sound alike. Who are these people sowing bad seed? Paul answers: “From your own number men will arise and distort the truth” (Ac 20:30 NIV). Note, they started out right but went wrong. You say, “Should we pull up the weeds?” No. Jesus said, “While you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn” (Mt 13:29-30 NIV). There are many “voices” speaking today and you need discernment as to the spirit that’s at work in them. Think it’s no big deal? One degree off course may seem harmless enough, but stay on that trajectory and you’ll end up far from where God wants you to be, then realize, “An enemy did this.” Protect yourself by living in God’s Word, staying filled with the Holy Spirit which will “guide you into all truth” (Jn 16:13) and surrounding yourself with those of “like precious faith” (2Pe 1:1).

Sunday – March 16

“The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” John 16:15 NIV

Knowing God better

Spiritual activities can never replace spiritual intimacy. A lot of us go to church with the wrong focus. We want to know what the pastor’s subject is. What we should be thinking is: “Lord, whatever the preacher says today, I want You to speak to me personally so I’ll know what Your will is for my situation.” When God’s Word starts coming alive for you in ways that change you and take you in a direction you would never have discovered for yourself, you’re on the same wavelength as the Holy Spirit, whose job is to clarify and reveal God’s purpose for your life. Living on this wavelength puts you in a world apart from others, even many professing Christians.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 2, verse 14, that the “natural man” can’t grasp anything from God because his spirit is dead. He says the things of God are “foolishness” to such a person. So a mature believer is worlds removed from the understanding of the spiritually dull or dead person. The truth is, even church-goers don’t understand the mature believer. Paul said such a person “is appraised [properly understood and evaluated] by no one” (1Co 2:15 NASB). Folks can’t figure mature believers out because they have “the mind of Christ” (1Co 2:16 NIV). This kind of intimacy with God is rare today, even though the mind of Christ is God’s will for, and is available to each of us. Spiritually mature believers have a passion to pursue and know God, and they aren’t satisfied until they are in an intimate relationship with Him. So make your goal – knowing God better.

Monday – March 17

“The Lord is the judge of our motives.” Proverbs 16:2 CEV

How’s your attitude?

Solomon said, “We may think we know what is right, but the Lord is the judge of our motives.” Writer Isabel Wolseley says, “I’m a placid, get-along-with-everybody person. But that changed when my friend and I had a disagreement. I told her I was right, and why, and others commended me for having been right. The trouble is, I didn’t feel any better…I felt worse. ‘Lord,’ I prayed, ‘You know I was right, so why do I feel so terrible?’ I stewed for several days then I sensed His answer: ‘Yes, you were right, but your attitude was wrong!’ I won a little victory in a difference of opinion, but I’d lost in the realm of friendship. I asked my friend to forgive me. She did, and our relationship was restored. This happened several years ago, and know what? I can’t even remember what the argument was about. It seemed so all-absorbing at the time. Not now.”

Don’t let your need to “always be right” rob you of opportunities to show grace and allow God to deal with others. To the hard-headed amongst us James writes, “Be quick to hear [and] slow to speak” (Jas 1:19 NRS). You must earn the right to speak into someone’s life, and that takes time. It also means trying to understand what they’re going through, otherwise they’ll tune you out. Ask yourself, “What’s my goal? To win the argument? To look good and sound smart?” That’s a guaranteed formula for damaging relationships. Paul writes, “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (Eph 4:23 NLT). Bottom line: when you pay attention to the Holy Spirit He will tell you when you need an attitude adjustment.

Tuesday – March 18

“Henceforth know we no man after the flesh.” 2 Corinthians 5:16

Speak to their spirit! (1)

We’ve all heard the stories of people in a coma, incapable of response, yet fully aware of what was going on around them. One patient tells of feeling trapped inside his body, listening in despair as his loved ones gave up on him and doctors talked about pulling the plug. There’s an important survival principle here. When you speak to someone battling adversity or serious illness, speak life to their spirit. Speak to the part of them that’s capable of rising up in faith and responding. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Ro 10:17). How does faith come? By hearing what God thinks, what God says and what God can do when others have given up.

You say, “But the situation looks hopeless.” Maybe, but until God has been heard from, the last word hasn’t been spoken. God told the prophet Ezekiel to go and stand in a valley full of dead bones (that’s about as bad as it gets!) and say, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life” (Eze 37:5 NIV). Now, you can’t hold on to a loved one when God in His sovereign wisdom decides it’s time to take them home. But until then, speak words of life to their spirit. And speak them to yourself too. Faith does not deny the reality of the circumstances – it just refuses to be intimidated, limited or ruled by them. That’s why Paul writes, “Henceforth know we no man after the flesh.” So speak life to their spirit – and to your own spirit too!

Wednesday – March 19

“Henceforth know we no man after the flesh.” 2 Corinthians 5:16

Speak to their spirit! (2)

When God speaks to us He often does it through people. The trouble is, our spiritual ears are not developed and attuned to His voice. In some cases we have become doubting and cynical. What a loss! Your fear of “getting it wrong” will rob you of vital input only God can give you. Jacob woke up one morning after having an encounter with God the night before and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Ge 28:16 NIV). You need to wake up spiritually and (a) desire above all else to hear from God; (b) eliminate mental clutter, slow down and take the time to understand what He’s saying; (c) believe that God will actually speak to you. If you don’t, you’ll be at the mercy of your own best thinking, or worse, the influence of others just like you. Self-sufficiency is the enemy of hearing from God! As long as you can do it without God, you won’t reach for God. Seven times in two chapters of the Book of Revelation God says, “He that has an ear [a spiritually developed one] let him hear what the spirit says.” Until you hear from God you’re working with severely limited information and you’ll keep making mistakes, costly ones. Hearing from God must become a priority so great, you adjust your schedule and your attitudes to it every day. Paul writes, “Henceforth know we no man after the flesh.” Stop shutting out the people God wants to speak to you through because they are flawed. God doesn’t speak to you through their flesh; He speaks through their spirit – to your spirit!

Thursday – March 20

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 NIV

Press through!

To reach your God-ordained destiny you must do these 7 things: (1) Refuse to give in to wrong thoughts. Guard your mind. Make it a walled city that refuses to allow negative thoughts and harmful influences to penetrate. (2) Resist any temptation toward introspection. Only the Holy Spirit has the right to search the hearts and minds of men. When the Lord is ready to reveal an area of your life that needs correction, He will. (3) Fight, using God’s Word. Let the Rhema Word, the God-breathed Word found in Scripture, be your strength in times of difficulty and testing. In the wilderness temptation, Jesus used Scripture to put Satan to flight. And the weapon of God’s Word still works today. (4) Listen to the still small voice of God within. God doesn’t play hide-and-seek with His will. Discipline yourself to spend unhurried time with Him and you’ll thrive. (5) Shift to a higher level of faith. Before killing Goliath, David had to kill a lion and a bear. Today we are contending with issues that require us to move to a new level of faith. (6) Get into proper alignment. God’s aligning His people – putting together those who’ll stand as one in the day of battle. It’s imperative to know who you can go to war with. You only discover such people in times of testing. Treasure them, they’re “covenant relationships.” (7) Ask God to give you understanding about the place you are in. Knowing you are in preparation for your destiny will keep you from pulling back, vacillating or throwing in the sponge. The word for you today is – press through and seize your God-given destiny!

Good Friday – March 21

“God put his love on the line…” Romans 5:8 TM

Forgive, because you’ve been forgiven!

Telling of his experience as a POW, Ernest Gordon related how after work one evening a guard noticed a shovel missing. Insisting one of the prisoners had stolen it, he screamed for the guilty party to come forward. Then he prepared to kill them one by one till someone confessed. Suddenly a Scottish soldier broke rank, stood to attention and said, “I did it.” The guard beat him to death on the spot. When he’d exhausted his fury the other POW’s picked up their friend’s body along with their tools and returned to camp. At that point the shovels were re-counted. The guard was wrong. None was missing!

What kind of person would take the blame for something he didn’t do? Christ! “We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for…how someone…noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son…while we were of no use whatever to him” (Ro 5:7-8 TM). Think about it: “God…piled…everything we’ve done wrong, on him” (Isa 53:6 TM), hence, the only “Mediator who can reconcile God and [man]… Jesus” (1Ti 2:5 NLT). A mediator reconciles differences and negotiates agreement. At Calvary, Jesus stood between God’s anger and the punishment for our sins. Having lived the life we couldn’t live and taken the punishment we couldn’t escape, He offers us redemption we couldn’t afford. Now the question we must answer is: If He so loved us, can we not love each other? Having been forgiven, can we not forgive?

Easter Saturday – March 22

“I could ask my Father for thousands of angels…and he would send them.” Matthew 26:53 TLB

That’s how much He loves you!

The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. It’s almost impossible to go anywhere without seeing it on a steeple or headstone. So how did an instrument of torture come to represent forgiveness and hope for so many? After all, we don’t wear little gold guillotines round our necks or display replicas of firing squads on our church walls. The answer can be found in the cross itself. Its horizontal beam symbolizes the breadth of God’s love – it includes us all. Its vertical beam symbolizes the height and depth of His love – it reaches from the highest to the lowest of us. It’s why God can be just and merciful without lowering His standards, and why He can redeem us without sanctioning our sin. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). Thankfully it doesn’t say God loved only the wealthy or the famous or the beautiful or the sober, or we’d all be in trouble! No, if you live in the “world” you’re included!

Jesus didn’t have to die, He chose to! He told his captors, “I could ask my Father for thousands of angels…and he would send them instantly…But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what is happening now?” Max Lucado writes, “The force behind the hammer wasn’t an angry mob…the hand squeezing the handle wasn’t a Roman infantryman…the verdict…wasn’t decided by jealous Jews. Jesus himself chose the nails…Had the soldier hesitated Jesus himself would have swung the mallet.” That’s how much He loves you.

Easter Sunday – March 23

“Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” John 20:29 NLT

Testifying without a touch

Asking for proof before you believe something, can stop you from receiving what God wants you to accept based on His Word. Thomas watched Jesus die. That’s hard evidence to refute. As a result Thomas decided to believe only what he could see and verify. When your faith’s been shaken you’re inclined to cling to things that are practical, absolute and tangible. Jesus graciously gave Thomas the proof he needed, and said, “You believe because you have seen…Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” The fact remains, however, if Thomas hadn’t been permitted to see and touch Jesus, it wouldn’t have changed the reality of the Resurrection one iota. Thomas’ problem wasn’t lack of faith, it was misdirected faith. He trusted only what he could process on a human level. Sound familiar?

By contrast, when Mary Magdalene met Jesus at the tomb He told her, “Don’t touch me… But go find my brothers and tell them” (Jn 20:17 TLB). Mary once washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair; touch was important to her. And touching Jesus at that moment would have confirmed what she’d seen and heard. This time, however, Jesus asked her to trust His Word and not His flesh; to be willing to testify without a touch. It’s wonderful when we “feel the touch of God” calming us, strengthening us, reassuring us He’s still in control. The truth is, His touch has often kept us from giving up or going over the edge. But sometimes He asks us to trust Him without the crutch of sensory perception, to testify without a touch. That’s faith at its highest level.

Monday – March 24

“Holding on to faith and a good conscience.” 1 Timothy 1:19 NIV

A conscience – grounded in God’s Word

Paul writes to Timothy: “My son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander” (1Ti 1:18-20 NIV). What do we know about Hymenaeus and Alexander? Not much. But what we do know is sobering. Having failed to develop, protect, and live by a conscience grounded in God’s Word, they ended up spiritually shipwrecked. What a picture. A fine sea-going vessel lies shattered on the rocks because it got off course. The saying, “Let conscience be your guide,” needs one more phrase added: “As long as your conscience is grounded in God’s Word.” When we want to do our own thing and go our own way, we tend to justify it by saying, “If it feels so right how can it be wrong?” Understand this: if God’s Word says something is wrong – it’s wrong, no matter how right it feels! Your conscience must line up with the unchanging truth of Scripture. When the ultimate arbiter of your choices and actions is “feelings,” the winds of temptation, compromise and comfort will sweep you off course and you’ll end up shipwrecked. The apostle John gives us an all-important reason for keeping our conscience in good repair: “If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him” (1Jn 3:21-22 NLT).

Tuesday – March 25

“Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.” Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

Do you have a vision? (1)

In the early stages of pregnancy a baby is easier to lose. The same applies to your God-given vision; you need to protect it. The enemy tried to destroy Moses and Jesus before they reached their second birthday. Why? He feared their future – and He fears yours too! Furthermore, when a prospective mother is not “showing,” she has to go on the word of her physician. Getting the idea? There are certain things you need to do in order to “deliver” what God has promised. When your doctor says, “No smoking, drinking or eating certain foods, etc.,” he’s thinking about your future. “But others can do these things,” you say. Yes, but they’re not carrying within them what you are. The call to give birth to a vision means daring to be different, even radical: it means disconnecting from relationships that can hurt you, staying out of certain places, and reordering your priorities according to your God-given destiny, not popular consent. If you think fulfilling a vision is easy, check the price tag! Like childbirth, it’s hard, it’s lonely, it’s sleepless, it’s appetite-changing, it’s schedule-altering. It involves pain and leaves stretch marks. So before you give lip service to, or play around with God’s purpose for your life, ask yourself, “Am I ready to carry this thing full term?” Visions aren’t for the immature, the impatient or the faint of heart. And you can’t downsize them when things get tough.

Esther’s vision meant putting her life on the line and saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Est 4:16). Did she perish? No, but she had to be willing to. Are you?

Wednesday – March 26

“Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.” Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

Do you have a vision? (2)

Many people wear themselves out trying to fulfill a vision God didn’t give them. So where did their vision come from? (a) The most dominant influences in their life. (b) Their need to “prove” something to someone. (c) Their unresolved issues: trying to win a parent’s love, or to demonstrate they’re as talented as their brother, sister, peer, or in some cases the pastor of the bigger church across town.

Abraham learned this lesson the hard way. God promised him a son. But he got impatient, worried about getting old, took bad advice and ended up fathering Ishmael. Be careful; all your praying, planning and pushing won’t turn the wrong road into the right road! Furthermore, God won’t empower you to do what he put into somebody else’s heart to do. That’s why it’s foolish to compare yourself with others. God didn’t promise to give you what He gave them. You’re unique. So is His plan for your life. People who make this mistake end up with a sense of failure and frustration because they’re constantly measuring themselves by somebody else’s assignment. If you’re not “graced” to do it, you’ll wear out yourself (and everybody else). Identify the origin of your vision!

Even when your vision is of God you’ll experience disappointment, discouragement and delays. The truth is, the greater your vision the greater the attack that will come against you. But when you know deep down that your vision is of God, you’ll be able to persevere through the hard times, and you’ll have the assurance of the Psalmist, “The Lord will work out his plans for my life” (Ps 138:8 NLT).

Thursday – March 27

“Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.” Habakkuk 2:3 TLB

Do you have a vision? (3)

When God gives you a vision – He also gives you the provision needed to fulfill it! Often He’ll use something you already possess even though you don’t know it, or think it’s not equal to the challenge. Faced with feeding 5000 hungry people, the disciples felt totally inadequate. But Jesus said, “How many loaves do you have…Go and see” (Mk 6:38 NIV). God will open your spiritual eyes to see what you already have – or is within your reach. And when you recognize it, give it to Him and He blesses it, it will be more than enough. The key to your success is found in the words “go and see.”

Stop procrastinating, making excuses, feeling sorry for yourself, “talking down” to yourself, or being intimidated by those who say you don’t have what it takes. Listen to God! He has provided everything required to get you where you need to go. Paul writes, “Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we could ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (Eph 3:20 TLB). Notice the words “far more” and “his mighty power at work within us.” Look in the mirror and announce, “I am full of resources. God has given me everything I need to fulfill His plan for my life.” This is not hype, pride, or mind-over-matter. It’s faith speaking, it’s faith connecting with God, it’s faith tapping into the resources needed to do what God has called you to do!

Friday – March 28

“Isn’t this the carpenter?” Mark 6:3 NIV

“I knew you when…”

Be careful around those who love to say, “I knew you when…” in an attempt to label or limit you. When David volunteered to fight Goliath his faith was an embarrassment to his big brother Eliab, an officer in King Saul’s army. Eliab was thinking, “If my little brother wins everybody will ask, ‘How come you didn’t go out and fight him?’” Understand this: your decision to step out and follow God will put pressure on others. And the first place you’ll feel it will be amongst those closest to you, especially if your calling sets you apart, and takes you to a higher level. The Bible records that Eliab “burned with anger at [David] and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is’” (1Sa 17:28 NIV). Before David could overcome Goliath he had to overcome the thoughts and opinions of those around him. And you will too!

Look at the life of Jesus. When He went back to His hometown they said, “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son…And they took offence at him. Jesus said to them, ‘Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mk 6:2-6 NIV). Bottom line: be careful around those “who knew you when.”

Saturday – March 29

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 NIV

“Give God the reins”

Cliff Schimmels says: “When I was young my dad had a team of horses. One day he said to me, ‘Son, would you like to drive?’ So I took the reins. I was in control. I was driving. But the plodding bothered me, it was too slow. So I clucked the horses along and they began to trot. Then Babe and Blue came up with a better idea. They decided that if they ran we would get home faster. Soon they were running as fast as I’ve ever seen horses run. As the prairie-dog holes whizzed by I concluded that we were in a dangerous situation, so I tried my best to slow down the runaway team. I tugged on the reins until my hands cramped. I cried and pleaded, but nothing worked. Old Babe and Blue just kept running. I glanced over at my dad and he was just sitting there, watching the world go by. By now I was frantic. My hands were cut from the reins, tears streaming down my face, frozen from the winter cold. Finally in desperation I turned to my dad and said, ‘Here, take the reins, I don’t want to drive any more.’ Now that I’m older and people call me grandpa, I re-enact that scene at least once a day.”

Regardless of how old we get or how capable we think we are, there’s always that moment when the only way out is to turn to our Heavenly Father and say, “Here, take the reins, I don’t want to drive any more.” And He will, but you’ve got to give them to Him!

Sunday – March 30

“I gave her time to repent.” Revelation 2:21 NLT

The gift of repentance

When God tells you to repent, He gives you time and grace to do it. If you don’t, there are consequences. “I gave her time to repent, but she [would] not…Therefore…[she] will suffer greatly” (Rev 2:21-22 NLT). This Scripture is an arrow to the heart of that stubborn sin you want to keep holding on to. Sin is always a choice. If you choose to keep sinning you can reach a place where your ability to say “no” is so weakened, you become enslaved to what you’ve chosen. As long as you prefer the rewards your sin brings, you won’t seek deliverance from it. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia; it means “to change, to turn around and go the other way.” One counselor writes, “I kept trying not to commit a particular sin, praying about it over and over, only to do it again. Finally I got mad at God and cried out, ‘Why don’t you help me with this?’ He answered, ‘Because you aren’t disgusted with it yet. You’re still enjoying it.’ I protested, ‘I do not. I hate it.’ God replied, ‘If you hated it enough you’d quit it.’ In that moment I realized that I enjoyed the rewards of my sin more than the rewards of obedience. I also discovered something else; I couldn’t hate sin enough by the power of my own fleshly will to come to true repentance. I stood helpless in corruption. Repentance is a gift of love which comes from God. And until that love is allowed to work in us, touching and exposing those carefully guarded areas, we cannot change.” So today ask God for the gift of repentance.

Monday – March 31

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1 NIV

Before you die – live!

In The Finishing Touch Chuck Swindoll writes, “The plane was headed for New York – a routine, normally very boring flight. But this time it proved to be otherwise. As they were on their descent pattern the pilot realized that the landing gear was not engaging. He messed around with the controls, trying again and again to get the gear to lock in place…without success. He then asked ground control for instructions. As the plane circled the landing field and emergency crews coated the runway with foam, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles moved into position. Meanwhile the passengers were told to maneuver in that calm, unemotional voice pilots do so well. Flight attendants glided about the cabin with an air of cool reserve. Passengers were told to place their heads between their knees and grab their ankles just before impact. There were tears, panic and cries of despair. Then when the landing was only minutes away the pilot suddenly announced over the intercom, ‘We are beginning our final descent. At this moment, in accordance with international aviation code established at Geneva, it is my obligation to inform you that if you believe in God you should commence prayer.’ Scouts’ honor…that’s exactly what he said.”

So what’s the message? “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Live each day in the light of eternity. Seize the moment and wring every drop out of it. Love and enjoy the people who matter. Take another step towards your goals and the fulfillment of God’s plan for your life. In other words, before you die – live!

Tuesday – April 1

“Our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are.” 1 John 3:1 NLT

Rejection-proofed

Ever wonder how anybody could find you lovable? For many of us the question becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The fear of rejection is so intense that we protect ourselves by: (a) Vowing never to let anybody get close enough to hurt us again. Sounds good in theory, but by closing others out we close ourselves in, and all our relationships suffer. (b) Putting on our best “game face.” I’m tough! Who needs other people anyway? As a result nobody meets our needs. (c) Pushing others away. When we feel rejected we imagine we’re being attacked even when we’re not. So we put on our boxing gloves and come out swinging. (d) Trying to buy rejection-protection by doing favors for people. Or by putting up with abusive relationships because we think it’s what we deserve and it may be our last chance at love. (e) Practicing perfectionism. Give it up! God already loves you unconditionally, and human standards vary so much that you’ll never make everybody happy however you try.

As long as you keep trading with a diminished sense of worth, you’ll keep attracting the wrong people. So listen up. “Our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are.” And “that’s only the beginning…when Christ is…revealed, we’ll…become like him” (1Jn 3:2 TM). If your self-worth comes from any opinion other than God’s, you’ll always be vulnerable. Your critics will diminish you; trying and failing will keep you from rising again. Worst of all, you’ll never discover or be discovered for the unique and wonderful person God made you to be.

Wednesday – April 2

“Find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to.” Ephesians 5:17 TLB

Overcoming procrastination!

To overcome procrastination you must: (1) Take responsibility for your life. No matter how hard you wish, the tooth fairy isn’t going to come while you’re sleeping and replace failure with success. Great souls have wills, feeble souls have wishes. You need to do something! (2) Examine your excuses. An excuse puts the blame on something other than you, which means the solution is beyond your reach. Excuses are like exit signs on the road of progress; they take us off track. It’s easier to move from failure to success, than from excuses to success. So examine your excuses and eliminate them. (3) Focus on the benefits of completing a task. To get you over the hump, focus on what you’ll “get out of it” when you get it done. Will it bring you benefit? Clear the way for something else you’d like to do? Be a milestone in your personal development or the completion of something bigger? Will it help to clear the decks for you emotionally? Admiral William Halsey said, “Problems become smaller if you confront them. Touch a thistle timidly and it pricks you, grasp it boldly and its spines crumble.” (4) Ask for help. Columbus didn’t discover the New World on his own, he needed a crew. Speaking of the church, Paul writes, “Each part…helps the other parts grow” (Eph 4:16 NLT). There’s no way to value the assistance others can give you when it comes to breaking old habits and beginning new ones. Yes, it means taking a risk because you will be vulnerable in sharing your hopes and fears. But the risk is worth taking.

Thursday – April 3

“This treasure…is from God.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

Discover what’s within you!

Do you know you have treasure within you? God put it there. It’s in your unique qualities, plus the fire in your soul. Life may have thrown cold water on that fire but God can rekindle it. Note, this treasure within you “is from God.” And what He owns He protects, He nurtures, and will use to His glory. But God is a wise businessman; when He invests He expects a return!

It’s said that the wealthiest spot on this planet is not the oilfields of Kuwait or the diamond mines of South Africa. No, the richest deposits lie in your local cemetery. Buried beneath those sacred grounds are dreams that never came to pass, songs that were never sung, books that were never written, ideas that were never shared, inventions that were never designed, plans that never got beyond the drawing board of the mind, and purposes that were never fulfilled. Only a tiny percentage of those who live on this planet will discover and fulfill their true potential. Do you want to be one of them? Ask yourself: “Who am I? Why did God put me here? How much potential do I have? How can I maximize my ability for His glory?” Within the answers to these questions lie the keys to a fulfilled life.

If you haven’t found your life’s purpose yet, talk to God. “Everything…finds its purpose in him” (Col 1:16 TM). Before you spoke your first word or took your first step, God had a plan for your life. You say, “But I have failed so badly.” Maybe, but it’s amazing what God can do with a broken life – when you give Him all the pieces!

Friday – April 4

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” Hebrews 12:2 NIV

Becoming unselfish

The Bible says: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Now we might be tempted to think that Jesus is just the finish line, and that we should keep our eyes on Him as a runner would focus on the tape. No, this Scripture is urging us to think of Jesus as our example. As the starter and finisher of our faith He not only designed the course of the race, He ran it perfectly and completely. The Greek term which is translated, “Fix our eyes on Jesus,” means to look exclusively at something and study it intently while looking away from all distractions.

As great athletes study the films of champions to discover their techniques, we are encouraged to go to the film vault and peer intently at one scene after another as we study Christ. In other words, “look exclusively and thoughtfully at the one who not only designed the course, but ran it flawlessly. And run exactly as He ran.” As He lived, you are to live. As He decided, you are to decide. As He obeyed, you are to obey. As He pleased the Father, you are to please the Father. As He surrendered, you are to surrender. Do you want to be like Christ? Begin thinking less about yourself. Work toward becoming unselfish. For one full day, let go of anything that serves your own interest to the exclusion of others. On that same day, fix your attention on Jesus by surrendering in complete selflessness.

Saturday – April 5

“If the Lord is with us, why has…this happened?” Judges 6:13 NIV

Trusting God in the dark (1)

A hundred years ago Germany’s exclusive textile mills had special rooms dedicated to spinning the world’s finest lace. Each room was dark, except for the light falling from a small window onto the weaver’s work. That’s because lace is more beautiful when the weaver is in darkness and his work is in the light. Usually God’s purposes are revealed and His power displayed, in our darkest experiences when like Gideon you ask, “If the Lord is with [me], why has…this happened?” When there seems to be no rhyme or reason, God’s promise is, “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord …who [calls] you by name” (Isa 45:3 NIV).

Anybody can be faithful in good times, but standing “by night in the house of the Lord” (Ps 134:1 NIV) takes real commitment. Hymn writer George Matheson wrote: “Will I remain in God’s house at night…love Him for who He is…know I desire not the gift but the Giver? When I can remain…during the darkness of night and worship…I’ve accepted Him for Himself alone.” When the Israelites faced their greatest challenge, the Red Sea, the Bible says, “All that night the Lord drove the sea back” (Ex 14:21 NIV). Be encouraged, God is working, even though you can’t see Him.

After all, how can God give us “songs in the night” (Job 35:10) if the sun always shines? Jesus said, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight” (Mt 10:27 NIV). It’s in life’s dark places that God shares things which strengthen you, and encourage those around you.

Sunday – April 6

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will.” John 13:7 NIV

Trusting God in the dark (2)

Mary and Martha were upset that Jesus didn’t come until their brother Lazarus was dead. “Lord…if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (Jn 11:21 & 32 NIV). But instead of giving them reasons, Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you…if you believed, you would see [God glorified in this?]” (Jn 11:40 NIV). When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac he didn’t understand, but later he witnessed God’s faithfulness when Isaac was restored to him. Moses didn’t understand why he had to spend 40 years in the wilderness, but later when God called him to lead Israel to freedom, he got it. Joseph didn’t know why his brothers mistreated him or why he was imprisoned unfairly, but later he saw God’s hand in everything. His father questioned why Joseph had been taken away from him, but later, looking into the face of the man who had been made governor and who’d saved the lives of the nation, God’s purposes became clear.

Just like your children don’t always think your decisions make sense, we don’t understand God’s ways. That’s why Jesus said to Mary and Martha, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will.” God doesn’t expect you to understand, but He does expect you to trust Him. In spite of his boils, bankruptcy and bereavement Job said: “When he has tested me, I will come forth” (Job 23:10 NIV). Is God testing you in this situation? If He is, what are you learning? Is the experience making you bitter, or making you better by causing you to draw closer to Him?

Monday – April 7

“Commit thy way unto the Lord.” Psalms 37:5

Give it to God

One day a child playing with a valuable vase got his hand stuck in it and couldn’t get it out. Before resorting to breaking the vase, his father said, “Son, relax, just open your hand and pull it out.” To their astonishment the little guy said, “I can’t. If I do I’ll drop my penny.” A lot of us are just like him, so busy holding onto something of little worth that we can’t accept what God offers! Let go! Let God have His way! Loretta P. Burns writes: “As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God because He is my friend. But then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, ‘How can you be so slow?’ ‘My child,’ He said, ‘What could I do…you never did let go.’”

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Ps 37:3-5). The words, “trust, delight, and commit” are your keys to success. Give up trying to handle life by yourself. Put it into God’s hands and allow Him to work. He’s neither intimidated nor stumped by your circumstances. Check His résumé. Do you seriously think your problem is too big for Him, or that He can’t do it without your help? Come on, give it to God and watch what happens!

Tuesday – April 8

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial.” James 1:12 NASB

Seeing your trials the right way

Too many of us view our trials the way we watch television. Some televisions have a second channel in the corner of your screen that enables you to divide your focus and watch 2 programs at once. A lot of us try to superimpose our human viewpoint on the screen of God’s will for our lives. God gives us a divine perspective, then we open up a second screen, a human one, and try to figure it all out. Don’t waste your trials by trying to fit them into your limited vision and understanding or you’ll end up frustrated. It’s much better to trust God, rest in His wisdom and take Him at His word.

A spiritual perspective on your trials will keep you from buckling under the weight of them when times are hard. When you begin to look at your trials from God’s perspective, your spirit is renewed and you’re enabled to press on and receive what God has waiting for you. James writes, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of Life.” Now the Crown of Life is not just something you receive in Heaven, you can enjoy it today. And who’s it for? Those who “persevere.” When God gives you this Crown, He’s saying, “You’ve passed another of life’s tests, now you’re ready for a new level of blessing.” Remember the wonderful feeling you had when you passed some of your hardest tests in school? Don’t get discouraged. God is up to something good. Keep going – don’t stop until you receive the Crown of Life.

Wednesday – April 9

“The Father seeketh such to worship him.” John 4:23

Worth-ship

Jesus revealed some of His greatest insights on worship to a flawed woman with 5 failed marriages and a live-in boyfriend. No wonder His disciples were “shocked to find him talking to [her]” (Jn 4:27 NLT). So what is Jesus teaching us about worship?

(1) That anybody can do it! True worship has nothing to do with your religious denomination (Jews and Gentiles), and cannot be limited to a physical location (Mount Gerizim or the temple in Jerusalem). Once you’ve made Him Lord of your life, Jesus accepts your worship. You’re in! (2) That God is actually looking for people who will do it. Here’s a stop-you-in-your-tracks thought: God created you to do the only thing He cannot do for Himself – worship! “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev 4:11). We were actually created to worship God! (3) That there’s no “only” way to do it. According to Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, “The worship of God is nowhere defined in scripture.” That’s because it’s such a powerful outpouring of our hearts toward the Lord and represents such love, gratitude and devotion that it cannot be put into words; nor can it be defined by a song, a shout, or silence. Jesus said, “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:23 NIV). True worship comes from the depths of your spirit and is based on the truth of God’s Word. To understand worship, think: worth-ship! How much do you value the Lord? We never get tired of talking about what we value most!

Thursday – April 10

“You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.” Romans 6:16 NLT

Don’t cross the line

Set clear boundaries for yourself–and keep them! Wisdom says: (1) Don’t cross the line. The first time you do you tell yourself, “just this once.” But what you don’t know is, you’ve opened a door you may not be able to close. (2) It’s easier to cross it the second time. The man who slips downstairs while his wife’s sleeping to watch pornography on his computer soon discovers that, like an addict, you have to increase the dosage. Before you know it you’re driven to seek ever higher states of arousal. Paul writes, “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?” (Ro 6:16 NLT). (3) Eventually the line gets blurred. You keep commuting between what’s right and what’s wrong, thinking, “I can quit any time I want,” and Satan whispers, “Gotcha!” (4) Finally the line disappears. Like the Prodigal Son, you lose everything. Spiritually, you lose your confidence before God. Personally, you lose your sense of self-worth. Publicly, you lose respect and influence with others.

And “good” things can hurt you too. A work ethic is a good thing, but lack of balance can make you neglect your family and lose your marriage. Rest and relaxation are good things, but too much time “vegging out” in front of the TV will stunt your spiritual growth. Caution and thoughtfulness are good things, but too much of them will clip the wings of your faith and keep you from rising to fulfill your God-given destiny. So draw a clear line for yourself – and stay on the right side of it!

Friday – April 11

“Let’s keep focused…those of us who want everything God has for us.” Philippians 3:15 TM

Stay focused (1)

You become effective by being selective. It’s human nature to get distracted. We’re like gyroscopes, spinning around at a frantic pace but not getting anywhere. Without a clear purpose you keep changing directions, jobs, relationships, churches, etc., hoping each change will settle the confusion or fill the emptiness in your heart. You think, “This time it will be different,” but it doesn’t solve your real problem – lack of focus.

The power of focusing can be seen in light. With a magnifying glass the rays of the sun can set paper on fire. But when light is focused even more as a laser beam, it can cut through steel. Nothing is as potent as a focused life. The men and women who make the greatest difference in life are the most focused. For instance, the Apostle Paul said, “I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing” (Php 3:13 TLB). Paul’s obsession was to make Christ known. So if you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Turn away from even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. Poet William Matthews wrote, “One well-cultivated talent, deepened and enlarged, is worth a hundred shallow faculties. The first law of success in this day when so many things are clamoring for attention is concentration – to bend our energies to one point, and to go directly to that point, looking neither to the right nor to the left.” Does focus come easily or naturally? No, it’s a discipline that must be practiced every day.

Saturday – April 12

“Do not swerve to the right or the left.” Proverbs 4:27 NIV

Stay focused (2)

Focus does 3 things for you: (1) It keeps you on target. We find ourselves pulled in a dozen different directions, spending much of our time and energy on things we don’t really care about. Author Don Marquis put it this way: “Ours is a world where people don’t know what they want, and are willing to go through hell to get it.” The Bible says: “Let your eyes look straight ahead…Do not swerve to the right or the left” (Pr 4:25-27 NIV). (2) It increases your energy. Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will suck the life out of you. Focus gives you energy. Admiral Richard Byrd, the Polar explorer, said, “Few men come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.” One of the reasons those wells go untapped is lack of focus. The mind doesn’t reach toward achievement until it has clear objectives. (3) It lifts you. It’s been said that “the world stands aside to let anyone pass, who knows where he or she is going.” In a sea of mediocrity, just knowing what you want to do and making an effort to pursue it, distinguishes you from almost everybody else. Henry David Thoreau asked, “Do you ever hear of a man who had striven all his life faithfully and singly toward an object, and in no measure obtained it? If a man constantly aspires, is he not elevated?” Just by striving to become better than you are, you become elevated – even if you don’t accomplish what you desire, and even if others don’t step aside for you. By trusting God and aiming higher, you move to a higher level.

Sunday – April 13

“Acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

Stay focused (3)

When it comes to staying focused, keep in mind: (1) Focused people always look for a better way. What got you where you are, won’t necessarily get you where you need to be. A family who moved into a new neighborhood got a late start one morning. As a result their 6-year-old missed her school bus. Though it would make him late for work her father agreed to take her to school if she gave him directions. After 20 minutes of going in circles they finally arrived at the school, which turned out to be only a few blocks away from where they lived. Steaming, her dad asked why she drove him all over the place when the school was so close to home. “We went the way the school bus does,” she said. “That’s the only way I know.” (2) Focused people concentrate a little harder and a little longer. Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron says, “What separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.” Focused thinking is the ability to remove distractions and mental clutter so that you can concentrate with clarity. (3) Focused people make commitments, not excuses. A sign on the desk of an officer at the Pentagon read: “The secrecy of my job does not permit me to know what I’m doing.” It’s a cute joke, but not so cute when it’s true. When you don’t know what you’re doing, you become frustrated and end up failing. That’s why praying and getting direction from God, is critical for your life. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Monday – April 14

“Forgetting the past.” Philippians 3:13 NLT

Stay focused (4)

Notice: (1) Focused people don’t live in the past. Too many of us yearn for the past and get stuck in it. Instead we should learn from the past and let go of it. Elbert Hubbard wrote, “A retentive memory may be a good thing, but the ability to forget is a token of greatness. Successful people forget. They’re running a race. They can’t afford to look behind. Their eye is on the finish line. They’re too big to let little things disturb them. If anyone does them wrong, they consider the source and keep cool. It’s only the small people who cherish revenge. Be a good forgetter… success demands it.” (2) Focused people don’t think about the difficulties, but the rewards. If you dwell on the difficulties too long you’ll start to develop self-pity instead of self-discipline. As a result you’ll accomplish less and less. By focusing on results you’ll stay encouraged. Make Christ your example. “He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards” (Heb 12:2 TLB). (3) Focused people choose their friends carefully. Here are 5 types of people you’ll encounter: (a) Refreshers – who strengthen your faith and energize you. (b) Refiners – who sharpen you and clarify your vision. (c) Reflectors – who mirror your energy, neither adding to nor subtracting from it. (d) Reducers – who try to diminish your goals and efforts to their comfort level. (e) Rejecters – who don’t understand you or what God’s called you to do. So, remain focused and you’ll stay grounded; the praise of others is less likely to go to your head, and the negative impact of your critics will be minimized.

Tuesday – April 15

“That special gift…you were given…keep that dusted off and in use.” 1 Timothy 4:14 TM

Stay focused (5)

Paul told Timothy to focus on his strengths. “That special gift…you were given…keep that dusted off and in use.” Focused people don’t hide their weaknesses or excuse them; instead they focus on their strengths! There’s a story about a couple who decided to build a farm. Then they began to argue. The wife wanted to build the house first. The husband wanted to build the barn first to house the animals. They went back and forth until finally the man said, “Look, we have to build the barn first – because the barn will enable us to build the house, the garage, the silo, the kids’ swing set, and everything else!” When you focus on putting first things first, everything else is more likely to fall into place.

Anthony Campolo says, “What you commit yourself to, will change what you are and make you into a completely different person. The future conditions you, not the past. What you commit yourself to become, determines what you are – more than anything that ever happened to you yesterday. Therefore, I ask you, ‘What are your commitments? Where are you going? What are you going to be? Show me somebody who hasn’t decided, and I’ll show you somebody who has no identity, no personality, no direction.’” Focusing on weaknesses instead of strengths is like having a handful of coins, a few made of gold, the rest of tarnished copper, and setting aside the gold coins to spend your time shining the copper ones in hopes of making them more valuable. No matter how long you spend, they’ll never be worth what the gold ones are. So, stay focused on your God-given strengths!

Wednesday – April 16

“His sheep follow him because they know his voice.” John 10:4 NIV

Learning to hear God’s voice

One evening a friend visiting Peter Lord’s home told him he could hear no fewer than 18 different kinds of crickets in his garden. Peter was amazed – he’d lived there for years and never heard one. The difference was, this man was a professor of entomology and he had learned to distinguish over 200 different cricket calls with his natural ear. Imagine learning to listen to crickets! Looking back, Peter wrote, “I suddenly understood that a person must want to hear, and learn to hear, and there were many sounds I was not hearing.” Think what you’ve been missing all these years because you haven’t wanted or learned to hear the voice of God speaking to you.

God often speaks to us through others. But the very gifts He speaks to us through can weaken our desire to hear from God for ourselves. The children of Israel said to Moses, “We want you to hear from God for us” (See Ex 20:18-19). The problem is, when you only hear from God through secondary sources it’s easier not to make any real commitment, or to obey what you’ve heard. But when you know God is speaking to you personally you must make a clear-cut decision. Jesus said, “His sheep follow him because they know his voice” (Jn 10:3-4 NIV). Examine the “heroes” in your Bible. They were all flawed! So what gave them the strength to accomplish such great things? They knew God’s voice! Nothing, absolutely nothing in your life is more important than learning to know God’s voice when He speaks to you!

Thursday – April 17

“I have…plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 TM

There’s hope for you

No matter where you are at this moment, if you haven’t found God’s plan for your life – stop what you’re doing and start looking for it! There’s nothing in your past or your present that He can’t use. Maybe you’ve veered off course; we all have at one time or another. Read the stories of those God used and you’ll discover that “blowing it” isn’t unusual. It’s actually part of the learning curve.

When we come into this world kicking and screaming, none of us know exactly what we’re supposed to do with our lives. That’s okay. Just start where you are right now. When God puts your life on track, He begins by giving you a sense of hope. Only God-given hope will sustain you through the tough times. Maybe you’re wondering, “Am I ever going to get to where I’m supposed to be?” If that’s how you feel today, read these words spoken by God to a group of people who’d spent their last 70 years in Babylonian slavery as a result of having done things the wrong way: “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed…I’ll turn things around for you” (Jer 29:11-14 TM). And those words are from God’s mouth to your ear!

Friday – April 18

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” Proverbs 3:7 NIV

Overcoming your pride

To overcome your pride you must: (1) Recognize your pride. Benjamin Franklin observed, “Not one of our natural passions is harder to subdue than pride. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.” In The Indispensable Man, Saxon White Kessinger writes: “Sometime when you feel that your going, would leave an un-fill-able hole, just follow these simple instructions, and see how they humble your soul. Take a bucket and fill it with water, put your hand in it up to the wrist; pull it out and the hole that’s remaining, is the measure of how you’ll be missed.” It’s humbling how quickly the hole we think we’re leaving, disappears or gets filled in by others. (2) Express gratitude often. Paul writes, “No matter what happens, always be thankful” (1Th 5:18 TLB). Oprah Winfrey suggests, “Keep a gratitude journal. Every night list 5 things that happened this day that you are grateful for. It will change your life. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you’ll never have enough. If you focus on what you have, you will always see that the universe is abundant and you’ll have more.” Selfish people never think they get as much as they deserve. Continually expressing gratitude helps to break that kind of pride. (3) Learn to laugh at yourself. The Chinese proverb says, “Blessed are they that laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be entertained.” People who have the problem of pride rarely laugh at themselves. Engaging in humor at your own expense shows that pride isn’t the problem, and that if it is, it’s one you’re determined to deal with!

Saturday – April 19

“Then you will understand what is right and just and fair.” Proverbs 2:9 NIV

Shukhov’s standard

It’s not easy to maintain a strong work ethic when you feel overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated. But that’s the point at which your character is tested – and developed. Having a work ethic means (a) doing what you don’t feel like doing, in order to achieve the results you want; (b) paying a higher price than others for something worthwhile; (c) standing up for your principles when someone’s trying to knock you down.

In his first novel, author and Nobel prizewinner Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote about Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, a political prisoner in a Siberian labor camp. Shukhov is forced to build a wall in weather 20 degrees below zero. As it gets darker and colder the foreman gives the order to hurry the job by throwing leftover mortar over the wall instead of using it, so they could be finished for the day. “But Shukhov wasn’t made that way,” wrote Solzhenitsyn, telling how the man resisted the order, determined to finish the job right. “Eight years in a prison camp couldn’t change his nature. He worried about everything he could make use of, about every scrap of work he could do – nothing must be wasted without good reason. The foreman yells at him and then hurries away. But Shukhov – and if the guards had put the dogs on him it would have made no difference – ran to the back and looked about. ‘Not bad.’ Then he ran and gave the wall a good look-over, to the left, to the right, his eye as accurate as a carpenter’s level, straight and even. Only then did Shuklov stop working.” So, measured by Shukhov’s standard, how’s your work ethic?

Sunday – April 20

“Forgive – only then will your heavenly Father…wipe your slate clean.” Mark 11:25 TM

Forgiveness (1)

How heavy is a glass of water? That depends on how long you have to carry it. A minute is no problem, and after an hour your arm might ache. But after 24 hours you’ll probably be in bad s