Devotional

Law and Order (1)

“Discipline your children; you’ll be glad you did—they’ll turn out delightful to live with.” Pr 29:17 TM

We’re producing a generation of kids who are allowed to rear themselves with the aid of television, violent videos, and the Internet (which can be a minefield!). Often both parents work, leaving one child to supervise another. As a result they become a law unto themselves. “A child left to himself disgraces his [parents]” (Pr 29:15 NIV). Most of us are loving parents, but our children need discipline and rules to live by. Love has a backbone; it’s called law and order. Without it, love is just license. “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love” (Pr 13:24 TM). Remember the cute cartoon where Dad, strap in hand, makes disobedient Dennis “assume the position”? He says, “This is going to hurt me more than you.” Dennis responds, “Don’t feel obligated to hurt yourself on my behalf.” Enforcing law and order isn’t easy. But the alternative is a betrayal of our children and our God-given responsibility! Failure to enforce law and order to gain short-term popularity with our kids always ends up costing us their long-term respect. Expecting younger kids to figure out what’s right and wrong is a burden they shouldn’t have to bear; their neurological and moral equipment isn’t sufficiently developed yet for such responsibility. The Bible says, “Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline” (Pr 22:15 TM). Your children learn to make good decisions from the rewards and consequences of dealing with law and order at home. So don’t fail them!

The Answer to Your Worries

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Pr 18:21 NKJV

Your words either work for you or against you. The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” The old saying, “You’ll eat your words,” is more than a meaningless cliché, it’s the truth! Jeremiah the prophet writes, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jer 15:16 NKJV). The Psalmist writes, “They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses (worries). He sent His word and healed them” (Ps 107:19-20 NKJV). God’s Word is the medicine that heals worry. So what God has to say about the issue must be what you have to say about it too; otherwise you’re contradicting Him and disconnecting yourself from the source of all blessing. If you’re wise, you will surround yourself with like-minded people who speak God’s Word into your life, and limit your time with those who have no interest in it. If you want to grow the right kind of fruit, you must have the right climate. And the words you speak (and listen to) determine the climate of your life, the direction in which it goes, and the results you get. There is no “secret” to success. The Bible says that when you learn to “meditate day and night” in God’s Word, you “will prosper in all you do” (See Ps 1:1-3). So the answer to your worries is in God’s Word!

Step Out in Faith!

“Why should we sit here waiting to die?” 2Ki 7:3 NLT

Unless you’re willing to take risks you won’t succeed in life. Yes, there’s a time for playing it safe. But when caution becomes a lifestyle, you get bogged down in mediocrity and failure while life passes you by. When you finish praying, searching the Scriptures and listening to godly counsel—you’ve got to step out in faith.
Four lepers sat outside the famine-stricken city of Samaria. They considered their situation. “We’re starving to death. There’s food in the city. Enemy soldiers are in the city. We can play it safe, sit here and die. Or go into the city and see whether they feed us or kill us!” They knew their worst option was playing it safe and doing nothing. So what happened? They were saved by taking a step of faith. Now, your risks may be less dramatic, but unless you take them you’ll never fulfill your God-given assignment in life. The Bible says, “Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them” (Ecc 10:8-9 NIV). By trying to avoid falls, bites, injuries, danger, etc., you miss out on life’s opportunities. Walking by faith means: (1) Accepting worthwhile risks. You’ve got to go out on a limb, for that’s where the fruit is. (2) Preparing wisely for your risks. God rewards excellence. “Using a dull axe requires great strength, so sharpen the blade…That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed” (v. 10 NLT). So go ahead, step out in faith!

When You Feel Down (2)

“Let us not grow weary while doing good.” Gal 6:9 NKJV

Fatigue: Remember the old saying, “You can’t burn the candle at both ends”? Today we’ve gone from candle power to atomic power, and few of us pay heed to that old saying anymore. We want bigger homes, fancier cars and more exotic vacations, etc. So we start earlier, work harder, and finish later. Then we stagger home and fall asleep in front of the television, worn out and feeling guilty about spending so little time with our family. We forget that God designed us to need one work-free day a week for rest and spiritual renewal (See Ex 20:8-11). As a result, fatigue saps our creative energy, distorts our outlook, diminishes our joy, erodes our confidence and drains us spiritually. Elijah is a great example of this. Single-handedly he defeated the prophets of Baal (See 1Ki 18). In answer to his prayer, God sent fire from heaven that consumed the altar and turned Israel back to God. It was a spectacular victory, yet on the heels of it he got so down that he actually asked God to take his life. Now that’s a major league downer! So what did God do? Like any good doctor, He diagnosed the man’s problem and prescribed three things: proper diet, adequate rest, and a good assistant: Elisha. Many of us who love what we work at, tend to get out of balance. We have no boundaries so we risk burning out. We “grow weary while doing good.” What’s the answer? “He restores my soul” (Ps 23:3 NKJV). The word “restores” has two parts: “rest” and “store.” Relax physically, and replenish spiritually. That’s what to do when you feel down!

When You Feel Down (1)

“We will stand in your presence…cry out to you…and you will hear us and save us.” 2Ch 20:9 NIV

A parishioner asked his pastor, “Do you ever feel down?” “Sure,” he responded. “What do you do about it?” the parishioner said. “I get up again. Being down isn’t my problem—staying down is. I’m either up, or I’m getting up. I’ve learned not to park in between.” Although feeling down is universal, sociologists warn us to guard against its two most common causes: fear and fatigue. Let’s look at them:
Fear: When Edomite armies marched against Israel’s king, fear gripped him and his nation. Feeling powerless, they feared losing their God-given land and possessions. If the stress of the last few years has left you feeling fearful, do what Israel’s king did. He turned to God and prayed: “Whenever we are faced with any calamity…we can…stand in your presence…We can cry out to you…and you will hear us and rescue us” (v. 9 NLT). Don’t let fear cause you to abandon your hope and your vision. Instead, stand in God’s presence, cry out to Him, and watch Him rescue you. Throughout the Old Testament God reminded Israel of His track record of goodness. He wanted them to remember it and take courage. But sometimes fear would cloud their memory and they’d begin to doubt. Sound familiar? So He told them, “Do not be…discouraged…the battle is not yours, but [mine]” (v. 15 NIV). In other words, “You don’t have to defeat the foe, that’s My job. I’m in charge; trust Me to work it out.” So remember Who’s in control of your circumstances today. Stand in His presence; believe His promise!

Put Your Faith into Action!

“If you know these things…do them.” Jn 13:17 NKJV

The Bible says, “Faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:20). Certain prayers only get answered when you take action. When the woman with the issue of blood took the initiative, pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, He told her, “You took a risk of faith…now you’re well” (Mt 9:22 TM). And on another occasion we read, “As He entered a certain village, there met Him ten…lepers…they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ So…He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests’” (Lk 17:12-14 NKJV). According to Jewish law, an unclean person discovered in the vicinity of the temple could be stoned to death. So by following Jesus’ instructions these guys were literally putting their lives on the line. But they did it, and “as they went they were cleansed” (v. 14 NKJV). Jesus said, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Your decisions and actions are based on what you believe. One teacher writes: “Anybody can believe sitting in church, or when all is right in their life. But when you get outside, you find out what you’ve really got. Healing power was obviously available, and these men believed Jesus could heal them. That’s why they came to him in the first place. They didn’t doubt His ability…The key was, as soon as they did what Jesus told them they were healed.” So the word for you today is: Put your faith into action.

Evict Your worries

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.” Heb 13:6 NIV

Worry is a squatter; you must evict it. In certain situations if a house lies empty long enough, whoever likes can move in and occupy it. Worry does that too. It roams around looking for an empty mind, then moves in. Has worry taken up residence in your mind today? Is it there when you wake in the morning and go to bed at night? As a follower of Christ you have the authority to serve worry an eviction notice and it must leave. The only thing that enables it to stay is your ignorance of that truth. When your mind is occupied with God’s Word, worry sees a “no vacancy” sign and moves on. Paul writes: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Co 10:3-5 NKJV). The weapons God has given you to fight with are greater than the fears you face. But you must know your weapons, keep them in good repair, and be able to use them. “Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: ‘Because you speak this word, behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, and [your worries] wood, and it shall devour them’” (Jer 5:14 NKJV). When you believe God’s Word with all your heart and begin to speak it in the face of your worries, “It shall devour them.”

The Healthy Edge of Competition

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1Co 9:24 NIV

We say things like, “It’s a rat race out there, and the rats are winning,” “Nice guys finish last,” “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing!” Such sentiments characterize our culture, driving workaholic lifestyles that destroy health, fracture family life, and eliminate the spiritual discipline required to have a growing relationship with God. So what should we do? Avoid all competition? Opt out of the race? Retire and watch the world go by? No, those are not options for a follower of Christ. So: (1) Beware of competitiveness that leads to jealousy. Cain’s competitiveness toward his brother Abel led him to murder (See Ge 4:1-8). He tried to put his brother down in order to lift himself up. King Saul tried to kill David when the crowd sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1Sa 18:6-11 NKJV). Those words caused jealousy to grow like a cancer in him. (2) Understand that by seeking to excel in your calling, you exalt Christ. Paul writes: “You’ve…seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard…for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally” (1Co 9:24-25 TM). No second-rate effort, no settling for mediocre outcomes. “I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me. I’m staying alert and in top condition” (1Co 9:26 TM). Getting ahead of others isn’t what it’s about; it’s about maximizing all you do for God’s glory! “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Col 3:23 NIV).

You Can Overcome Bitterness

“Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others.” Eph 4:31 CEV

A man who had been bitten by a rattlesnake was rushed to the hospital. When he asked the doctor, “Is it life-threatening?” the doctor said, “The bite isn’t, but the poison is.” The “bites” you suffer at the hands of others are painful and upsetting, but they’re not lethal. What happens to you normally doesn’t destroy you, but what happens in you afterwards can. Like venom, bitterness first poisons your mind, then your relationships. It causes you to replay the hurt until it controls you, stealing the future God planned for you. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can overcome bitterness. God says, “Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others.” And what God commands, He will give you the grace to do. When Peter asked Jesus, “Should I forgive my brother seven times?” Jesus said, “No, you must forgive him seventy times seven” (See Mt 18:21-22). In other words, “Forgive, and keep on forgiving until it no longer bothers you.” What causes bitterness? Anger that’s allowed to take residence in your thought-life. God’s purpose for anger is to motivate you to tap into His power for solving problems; otherwise they become permanent. Solving the problem resolves and relieves your anger. But anger can become long-term bitterness when you fixate on “who did it to me,” making you hostile, critical, blaming and punitive. You say, “Can I really stop my anger?” Yes, with God’s help you can control your reactions and behaviors, and starve your anger to death. “The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control” (Gal 5:22-23 NIV).

Thanks, Mom!

“The most precious treasure a man can find.” Pr 31:10 CEV

Erma Bombeck wrote: “When God was creating mothers, on His sixth day of overtime the angel said, ‘You’re fiddling around a lot on this one.’ God replied, ‘Have you seen the specs on this order? She’s to have 18,000 replaceable moving parts, run on black coffee and leftovers, have a kiss that cures anything from broken legs to disappointed love affairs…and six pairs of hands!’ ‘Six pairs of hands? No way!’ the angel said. God said, ‘And the challenging bit is the three pairs of eyes mothers need. One pair that sees through doors, another in back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t be able to see, another in front for looking at a child who’s goofed and saying, ‘I understand, and I love you,’ without speaking.’ The angel said, ‘Lord, take a break. Tomorrow…’ ‘I can’t,’ God said. ‘I’m close to creating something so like Myself. Already she can heal herself when she’s sick, feed a family on a pound of hamburger, and get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower!’ Touching her, the angel said, ‘She’s too soft!’ ‘But so tough!’ God replied. ‘You can’t imagine what this mother can endure.’ ‘Can it think?’ asked the angel. ‘Not only think, it reasons and compromises,’ God said. Running his finger across the mother’s cheek, the angel said, ‘There’s a leak!’ ‘It’s not a leak,’ God said. ‘It’s a tear.’ ‘What’s it for?’ asked the angel. ‘It’s for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness and pride.’ The angel declared, ‘Lord, You’re a Genius!’” Just a columnist’s fictional story, but well worth pondering. Thanks, Mom!

How to Raise a Timothy

“Your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice.” 2 Ti 1:5 NIV

Leaving your mark on your children isn’t optional, but leaving a godly mark on them is. The seeds you sow today will continue to grow in them lifelong, and in your grandchildren too. Paul saw in Timothy the potential harvest he’d produce for Christ. He saw, too, that the fruit originated with the root: a mother and grandmother who were sold out to Christ. What an encouragement for widowed, divorced, single mothers and those without believing husbands. These two women raised a servant of God without the help of a Christian father. And Mother, God can enable you to do likewise!
What does it take to raise a Timothy? Two things: (1) It takes a role model. Paul spoke of Timothy’s “sincere (Greek: un-hypocritical) faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and…now lives in you.” The faith they imparted “first lived in” each of them. If it’s to live in our kids, they must first see it living in us. In a world where phonies sometimes masquerade as Christians, genuine faith stands out like a beacon against the night sky. Our children have a built-in “phony-baloney detector” that picks up on counterfeits and rejects them. But the genuine article will draw them like a magnet. (2) It takes teaching God’s Word. Timothy’s mother and grandmother planted the Scriptures in the receptive soil of his young heart before the surrounding culture could get to him. Paul reminded him, “How from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures” (2Ti 3:15 NIV). That’s how to raise a Timothy.

You Owe It to Them

“Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me.” Isa 8:18 NIV

You may not be able to give your children everything you’d like to, or everything they want, but here are four things you owe them: (1) Connect with them. The story’s told of a couple who decided to buy a new playpen for a friend, on the arrival of her sixth child. A year later the friend wrote back saying, “Thank you for the pen. It’s wonderful—I sit in it every afternoon and read, and the children can’t get near me.” Seriously, what do you really know about your child? Their struggles, their heroes, their music, their friends, their fears, their dreams? If your answer is “not much,” start making changes right away! (2) Listen to them. If some of us paid as much attention to our garden as we did to our children, we’d be living in a weed patch. You’ll never understand your child until you take time to listen to what they’re saying—and what they’re not saying. (3) Believe in them. As a child, the great Caruso was told by a music teacher that he had no talent at all. Parent, make sure your voice is the loudest. Build their confidence; give them the faith and the self-worth required to overcome the obstacles they’ll face in life. (4) Let them see God in you. Three kids were discussing their fathers. One said, “My father knows the mayor.” Another said, “My father knows the governor.” Confidently the third said, “That’s nothing; my father knows God!” Dad, Mom, do you know God? If you don’t, commit your life to Him today.

The Blame Game (3)

“You can’t get forgiveness…without…forgiving others.” Mt 6:15 TM

Blaming creates enemies. The person you are blaming will ignore you, compile numerous proofs of their innocence, and resent you. And their friends will defend them and become your enemies. Even your own friends will get fed up with your complaining and distance you. Your “root of bitterness” will spread, causing “many [to be] defiled,” and making things worse (Heb 12:15 NKJV). Blaming rubs off. Blamers beget blamers. Your family gets pulled in, so they suffer too. “Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected” (Pr 22:24-25 TM). Stop it, you’re passing on your misery and dysfunction to those who love you! Blaming is addictive. The justification we feel in blaming hooks us for the long run. It manipulates our anger, making us feel okay about shifting responsibility. It gets progressively easier to complain rather than to resolve the problem. Like any addiction, it has to be fed more and more to achieve its reward. Sooner than you think, you’ll become a skilled, confirmed “blame-aholic.” Blaming sabotages forgiveness. You can’t forgive someone while you’re judging and resenting them. And while you’re squandering your time and energy blaming them, you forfeit your right to receive God’s forgiveness. “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Mt 6:15 NIV). It’s time to give up the blame game, own responsibility for your life, and take back your God-given power to respond to things according to His Word!

The Blame Game (2)

“The woman you put here…gave me some…and I ate it.” Ge 3:12 NIV

Blaming came naturally to Adam and Eve, the father and mother of the human race. After all, who could fault them? God did! Their blaming was a result of how sin had changed them. Their relationship to themselves, each other, their environment, and even God, was radically changed by their irresponsibility. And since God can do nothing with people who won’t take responsibility for their decisions, He dismissed them from Paradise. What a price to pay! Here are two good reasons for giving up the blame game:
(1) It makes you a victim. When you make someone else responsible for your circumstances, you put the power to change things in their hands. That means nothing will change unless they decide to change it. You make them master of your fate. Only by accepting personal responsibility can you retain the power to change your circumstances. (2) It makes you miserable. You say, “But they hurt me.” Yes, and by harboring resentment you are hurting yourself over and over. The Bible says, “Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time” (Heb 12:14-15 TM). Before you know it your entire outlook gets distorted. “Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite …Esau later regretted that…and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears” (vv. 16-17 TM). Forgive, take back your life, and get out of the blame game!

The Blame Game (1)

“I am innocent…It is your responsibility!” Mt 27:24 NIV

More and more, we are becoming a blame-oriented culture. Today our misfortunes are deemed to be somebody else’s fault. “I’m this way because of them. They did it to me.” And it didn’t begin with us. It goes all the way back to Adam in the Garden of Eden when he told God, “The woman…You gave…me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Ge 3:12 NKJV). It’s in our DNA! We say the breakdown in our marriage was our partner’s fault, or we drink too much because somebody drives us to it, or we’re sick because of the fast-food industry; let’s sue them! Shifting responsibility may alleviate momentary guilt, but it’s a deadly game with no winners. In sentencing Christ to die, Pilate said, ”I am innocent of this man’s blood…It is your responsibility!” He thought by dumping the blame onto the Jews he would avoid upsetting either his wife or his critics, and prove himself innocent. But the buck stopped at his desk! Understand this: God holds you responsible for your decisions and actions (See Ro 2:6). And your failure to make the right decision, or take the right action, also earns you His guilty verdict. Paul writes, “You cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant” (Gal 6:7 NLT). Others may be guilty of offending you, and that’s their harvest to reap. But your harvest depends on your reactions. Accepting responsibility before God is how you alleviate your guilt, discouragement and stress.

Deal with the Rooster

“There is…no condemnation.” Ro 8:1 NKJV

Booker T. Washington tells a wonderful story about his mother. Every morning of his young life, he, along with all the plantation slaves, was awakened by the crow of a rooster. Long before daybreak the unwelcome noise would fill the shanties, reminding Washington and his fellow workers to crawl out of bed and leave for the cotton fields. That rooster’s crow came to symbolize a life of long days and backbreaking labor. But then came the Emancipation Proclamation. Abraham Lincoln pronounced freedom for all slaves. The first morning afterward, young Booker was awakened by the rooster again. Only this time his mother was chasing it around the barnyard with an axe. That day the Washington family fried and ate their alarm clock for lunch. Their first act of freedom was to silence the reminder of their slavery. Are any roosters stealing your sleep? You might need to sharpen the blade. The great news of the gospel is, yes, His grace is real, and so is your freedom! “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Forget your sins for God’s sake, because when you keep bringing them up you bother Him! Does that sound too strong for you? Then read what God says about your sins: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isa 43:25 NKJV). God has buried your sins in the “depths of the sea” and posted a sign beside it which reads, “No fishing in these waters” (See Micah 7:19).

Keep Your Vision Alive!

“We grope…feeling our way like men without eyes.” Isa 59:10 NIV

The Pilgrim Fathers who founded America landed at Plymouth Rock full of vision. The first year they established a town, the next year they elected a town council. In their third year the town council proposed building a road five miles out into the wilderness for westward expansion. But the townspeople criticized it as a waste of public funds. Amazing! Once they had been able to see across oceans to new worlds, now they couldn’t see five miles down the road. What happened? They failed to keep their vision alive. How can you keep that from happening to you?
(1) Keep your vision before you at all times. “Write the vision and make it plain…that he may run who reads it” (Hab 2:2 NKJV). Your vision is the road map for your life. So write it down, read it regularly and keep it before you at all times. (2) Make sure the vision is yours, not somebody else’s. In the name of being “sensible,” or “practical,” many of us ignore our God-given desires. We undertake a career to please our parents, our spouses, or others. That may make you dutiful, but it won’t make you successful. You cannot fulfill a vision that is not your own! (3) Believe in yourself even when others don’t. You may succeed if nobody else believes in you, but you will never succeed if you don’t believe in yourself. No matter how old you are, always stay young at heart. Pearl S. Buck said, “The young do not know enough to be prudent, therefore they attempt the impossible, and achieve it generation after generation.”

Hindrances to Prayer (2)

“You do not have, because you do not ask.” Jas 4:2 NIV

Here are two more hindrances to answered prayer: (1) Failure to pray. It’s estimated that out of the 667 prayers for specific things mentioned in the Bible, there are 454 specific answers. That means the Bible is a book of prayers—and answers. Our problem is, we spend a lot of time talking about prayer and fail to get down to the business of praying. Charles Trumbull said, “Prayer releases the energies of God.” The goal of prayer is not to overcome God’s reluctance, but to believe Him and take hold of His willingness. His Word says: “You do not have, because you do not ask.” C. E. Cowman wrote: “No praying man or woman accomplishes so much with so little expenditure of time, as when he or she is praying.” Until you learn to pray in faith and wait on God for the answer, you’ll get nowhere. (2) Failure to care. When the Israelites complained that God wasn’t answering their prayers He told them, “Stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly …share your food with the hungry…Clothe those who are cold and don’t hide from [those] who need your help. If you do these things…the Lord will answer” (Isa 58:6-9 TLB). Sin and unbelief are not the only things that hinder your prayers; self-centered living will! A little girl prayed for several weeks asking God for a certain thing. Finally in frustration she said, “By the way, Lord, I’ve mentioned this to You several times before.” If that’s your situation, stop thinking about your own needs and focus on the needs of others.

Hindrances to Prayer (1)

“So that nothing will hinder your prayers.” 1Pe 3:7 NIV

Here are two hindrances to answered prayer: (1) Unconfessed sin. “Your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa 59:2 NIV). As a believer, God expects you to walk in obedience. “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8 NIV). Notice, these are “requirements.” If you don’t meet them you’re wasting your time praying, unless it’s a prayer of repentance. You must seek God’s forgiveness, then He will hear your prayers. (2) Unresolved conflict. “Husbands…be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect…so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” There’s no point praying if you are always fighting with one another. “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness” (1Jn 2:9 NIV). God will answer when you come out into the light, deal with the thing that drove you apart, and attempt to mend the relationship. Now, sometimes it isn’t possible to make amends. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Ro 12:18 NIV). Sometimes the other person would rather keep the issue alive than accept your apology. When that happens look into your heart. Do you really want restoration, or would you rather “blame place” and let things fester? If your attempts have been wholehearted and honest, God won’t let a broken relationship stand in the way of your prayers. But if your attempts have been half-hearted and self-serving, try again—this time for real.

Stop Doubting Your Salvation

“Perfect love casts out fear.” 1Jn 4:18 NKJV

Are you trying your best to serve the Lord, yet you sometimes doubt your salvation? Though you’re unaware of any particular sin in your life, you still feel unworthy to stand in God’s presence, confident of His acceptance. Read this Scripture. Better yet, write it down and carry it with you: “Perfect love casts out fear.” Now, if God loved you with an imperfect love you’d have cause to worry. Man’s love, which is imperfect, keeps a list of sins and consults it often. But not God’s love. The moment you place your trust in Christ He views you as “righteous” and fully accepted from that point on. His love casts out your fear because it casts out your sin. Do you remember these words from John’s epistle? “If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (1Jn 3:20 NKJV). That means it’s possible to be forgiven, yet feel unforgiven. So when you feel unforgiven, doubt your feelings instead of doubting God. Don’t give your emotions a vote. Go back to Scripture. God’s Word outranks all self-criticism and self-doubt. As Paul told Titus: “God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone!…Tell them all this. Build up their courage” (Tit 2:11,15 TM). Are you trusting in Christ as your Savior? Then begin to love boldly and live robustly. Nothing fosters courage like a clear grasp of grace. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9 NKJV). Note the words, “All unrighteousness.” Having received God’s forgiveness, live forgiven!

Let God Restore You

“I…lifted my eyes to heaven, and…I was restored.” Da 4:34-36 NKJV

When King Nebuchadnezzar repented, his “understanding…reason…honor and splendor returned…and…[he] was restored.” But when we have an image to maintain we’re reluctant to ask for help in case people think less of us. One author writes: “To fall is bad enough, but to fall and not cry out for help is worse…Some people are so full of pride and self-sufficiency they think, ‘If I can’t get up myself, I won’t let anyone help me.’ Stop being so proud; that’s what caused you to fall in the first place! The Bible says: ‘Those who walk in pride [God] is able to put down’ (Da 4:37 NKJV). Pride is dangerous; it forces you to lie needlessly in a helpless state for days—and sometimes years. If you’d asked for help immediately, you could have gotten up and gone on with your life.” Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is…death” (NKJV). Have you ever tried to rescue an injured animal? It doesn’t know your only desire is to help; it just knows it’s in pain, and as a result it strikes out at the person who least deserves it. This is especially true when you’ve been wounded by someone close to you and didn’t see it coming. You can hurt so much that you stop trusting everybody, including God. You stop praying and reading the Bible, you avoid those who want to help, and you refuse to let anybody pray for you. The Bible says, “Do not harden your hearts” (Heb 3:15 NKJV). Today, acknowledge that you’ve fallen and let God restore you.

Confidence Before God

“Your sins are forgiven.” Mt 9:2 NAS

Jesus said to a quadriplegic lying on a cot, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” Perhaps you’re asking, “What sins could a quadriplegic commit?” There are three ways to sin: (1) Commission: the things we do. (2) Omission: the good we fail to do. (3) Disposition: our wrong attitudes. Why didn’t Jesus just say, “Arise, take up your bed and walk?” Because when you know that your sins are forgiven you have the confidence to ask God for what you need, and the courage to rise up in faith and do what He tells you. Knowing his sins were forgiven enabled this man to do what everybody thought was impossible. There’s an important lesson here. After Adam sinned he hid from God. When God said to him, “Where are you?” he replied, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid” (Ge 3:9-10 NKJV). How can you know when something is wrong for you? When it causes you to hide from God! When it makes you avoid prayer, Bible reading, and fellowship with God’s people. The Bible condemns sins such as stealing and lusting, but what about other things that are not so clearly spelled out in Scripture? To know whether something is right or wrong for you, you need only ask one question: “How will this affect my confidence before God?” You’ll never go wrong asking that question. “If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1Jn 3:21-22 NKJV).

Don’t Rush Into This Relationship (2)

“No one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again.” Jn 4:14 CEV

We all want to be loved and appreciated for who we are. And when it doesn’t happen on our timetable, it’s tempting to rush into another relationship hoping it’ll make everything better. One author writes: “There’s no Prince Charming to sweep you off your feet and make you happy with yourself. Even when the first part of the story seems to go well, Sleeping Beauty wakes up to discover her prince is just a common frog…You can’t expect a person to give you what only your heavenly Father can provide. Mere mortals, even with good intentions, can never come close. When you pin all your hopes and dreams on someone else you’re bound to be disappointed…When you sell your soul in an attempt to attain the unattainable…the cost is high and the potential for peril is steep. Don’t let obsessive desire lead you down a path of despair…obsession is powerful. It fuels fantasies and drives you to reckless behavior…You won’t find love till you love and respect yourself enough to stop looking for someone or something outside yourself to give you worth.” One day Jesus met a woman who’d been married five times and was pursuing yet another relationship. Recognizing that her need was not for another man, but a relationship with God, He said, “No one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again” (vv. 13-14 CEV). Jesus saw beyond her sin to her real need, and restored her sense of self-worth. Bottom line: only the water Jesus gives will quench your soul’s thirst.

Don’t Rush Into This Relationship (1)

“Don’t excite love…until…you’re ready.” SS 2:7 TM

When we feel hurt and rejected there’s something inside us that wants to prove we’re still worthy and desirable; as a result we can jump into the next relationship too quickly. But just like an infant doesn’t go from crawling to driving overnight, there’s a process involved, and if you try to circumvent it you’ll end up back at square one, wondering what happened. One author says: “A new relationship won’t successfully heal you, avoid aggravating inflicted wounds, or instantly clean up a mess…Regardless of the temporary bliss, sooner or later you’ll end up faced again with your old stuff…If this is your situation, do things the right way. Take your time…These things can’t be feigned…rushed or…pursued. They’ll be given to you when you’re ready, and not a moment sooner… you want the real deal this time…and [God] wants to be your filter, so in order to reach the treasure of your heart, a person must first pass through Him.” Solomon writes, “Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready.” Don’t be in such a hurry to take the edge off your pain that you run ahead of God. It takes time for Him to make you into the person He wants you to become. While He’s working on you, He’s preparing the heart of the right partner to show up at the right time. In the meantime there’s a way to fill the emptiness inside; work on developing a closer relationship with God and He will “fill you with…joy and peace” (Ro 15:13).

Don’t Live in Regret

“Godly sorrow brings repentance…and leaves no regret.” 2Co 7:10 NIV

There’s the kind of regret that leads to despair because you don’t think God’s grace is sufficient to cover your sins. Then there’s “sadness…used by God [which] brings a change of heart…and…no regret” (GNT). This kind draws you closer and makes you more dependent on Him. You become “more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent…more passionate, more responsible…[and] come out…with purity of heart” (2Co 7:11 TM). Jon Walker writes: “As the economy closed in I began to regret not buying a less expensive home. If only we’d bought a cheaper house. If only we’d rented. If only we’d stayed in our first house. I can ‘If only’ myself into depression and stagnation where I’m stuck between regret and forward motion. When my focus is not on the One who provides…I let regret become bigger than God…and following that logic, I believe past choices, an event, a tragedy, a compromise, a mistake—is more powerful than the God who spoke the world into existence…We live in ‘if only/what if’ moments more than we realize. They wrap us in a sense of hopeless paralysis; we fear the bad choices we made [and] the choices we face. God pours His grace into the present…our walk is one where we make a decision and stick with it, trusting that even if we make mistakes, God’s big enough to turn them around. When regret becomes ungodly sorrow versus godly sorrow, you find yourself submerged in self-pity instead of looking to Him to work things out for the good of ‘those…he has called according to his purpose’” (See Ro 8:28).

“Faith Is”

“Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Lk 17:5 NKJV

Faith answers the question, “How?” in one word: “God!” The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1 NKJV). Notice: (1) Faith is a “substance.” Some people see faith as something ethereal and “other worldly.” But it’s not; we use faith every day. For example, you pick up the phone, call a department store, place an order, and they ask for your credit card number. Then they send you a receipt. The receipt is what you hold on to while you’re waiting for the item to arrive; it gives you the assurance that the product is on the way. And the same is true in the spiritual realm. God promises to answer your prayer, you believe Him, but your faith is the “substance” or the receipt you hold on to while you’re waiting. (2) Faith is also “evidence.” Why would you believe that someone you can’t see on the other end of a phone line would send you something just because you order it? Because it happens every day for others, and it’s probably happened to you before. Therefore you’re not being presumptuous or silly when you go to your mailbox expecting it to be there. You are not the first person to trust God and you won’t be the last. “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations” (Ps 90:1 NAS). People have been trusting God for thousands of years and He has never let them down. His faithfulness is all the “evidence” you need. So it’s not foolish to put your trust in a God like that, is it?

Earning the Right to Lead (2)

“If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.” Ro 12:8 NLT

Earning the right to lead calls for asking yourself: (1) Can I live with the results of this decision? Before you launch out into something be sure you have what it takes to handle it. If you can barely cope now, how will you handle more? Before God builds the ministry He builds the man or woman, because added success brings added responsibility. (2) Is the return worth the investment? When you overcommit and overextend yourself, the first thing that suffers is your time with God. The next thing that suffers is your family. And without the covering of both, you’ll be vulnerable. There are a lot of good causes in this world, but God will only prosper you when you focus on what He has called you to do. (3) Are my expectations realistic? Hudson Taylor said, “Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” When human wisdom and ability won’t take you a step further, faith will, because faith holds the hand of God. And with God, “All things are possible” (Mt 19:26 NKJV). Just make sure you’re operating in faith and not presumption! (4) How can I survive today in order to thrive tomorrow? Obstacles and opposition are inevitable; they’re part of the journey. But you must not allow them to make you doubt God and what He’s called you to do. Be like Abraham—don’t “stagger,” stand on God’s Word. “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was also able to perform” (Ro 4:20-21).

Earning the Right to Lead (1)

“Don’t begin until you count the cost.” Lk 14:28 NLT

Earning the right to lead calls for the following things: (1) Prayerfully evaluating before you act. The very thing that makes leading others so appealing to your ego, makes you vulnerable to their pressures and praise. “When Jesus perceived that they were about to… make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone” (Jn 6:15 NKJV). Let’s be honest; who amongst us doesn’t want to be “king” sometimes? But Jesus wasn’t led by the applause of the crowd, He was led by the will of His Father. And you must be too. (2) Not just filling the slot, but filling it with the right person. Sometimes we give people jobs because we can’t find anybody else to do them. But what happens when the job outgrows them? There’s more at stake here than sparing somebody’s feelings. Your fear of confrontation will permit people to languish in the wrong slot, slowing down the vision and discouraging the gifted folks around you who keep wondering, “How long are you going to put up with this?” (3) Seeking the best counsel you can find. “Be with wise men and become wise” (Pr 13:20 TLB). Don’t pay twice for the same information. Seek advice from someone you respect; someone who’s already done what you want to do, particularly when your decision affects others and will be called upon to stand the test of time. What looks good to you today, or in somebody else’s polished sales pitch, may not look so good tomorrow when you’re presented with better options. Jesus bottom-lines it: “Don’t begin until you count the cost.”

God’s Disaster-Preparedness Kit

“In the day of my disaster…the Lord was my support.” 2Sa 22:19 NIV

A phone call in the wee hours, a malignant tumor, a police cruiser at your door, a child addicted to drugs—if you live long enough you’ll be confronted with “the day of… disaster.” And it’s the strength of your relationship with God that will dictate your response. C. S. Lewis said that we can either acquire the wisdom assigned to a trial, or keep repeating it until we “get it.” One author points out that God’s “disaster-preparedness kit is found in Psalm 31:24 NIV: Be strong. Why? Because God is fighting for you. You must know God, know your convictions, and know how to tap into God’s unlimited power. You are not who you, or anyone else thinks…God says you are strong. Believe Him! Take heart. Don’t let your pain shut you down. Take the broken pieces and offer them to God…choose to live with love. A closed heart isn’t worth fighting for. You’ve worked too hard to get this far, so work with Him to see your healing all the way through. Hope in the Lord. Put no stock in emotion, circumstances, or chitchat…Place your hopes and dreams at the altar… God makes all things new and possible. Any other counterfeit will fail…No matter how long I’ve spent in God’s workshop my progress is proven only in the moment of peril. We prepare in advance so our responses are involuntary…There isn’t a situation, a temptation, or a question where Ephesians 6:10 doesn’t apply: ‘Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power’ (NIV). On multiple-choice tests it’s the answer…God isn’t telling you to be tough on your own…rely on His strength and let Him do for you what He knows is best.”

God Is Committed to You

“So we might be the most important of all the things he made.” Jas 1:18 NCV

Be careful around people who don’t value themselves, because they’re incapable of valuing you. Look for those who enhance you, not inhibit you; who fertilize your mind and fortify your faith. When you’re around them you’ll see your best qualities mirrored, and be nurtured by the words that come from their lips. When you encounter somebody who says you have nothing to offer, be sure to laugh; it’s impolite to hear a joke and not laugh. When God made you He stepped back and said, “That’s very good” (See Ge 1:31). So stop entertaining contrary opinions. You have so much potential that the word “possibility” is written all over you. By God’s grace you can be everything He desires. “God decided to give us life through the word of truth, so we might be the most important of all the things he made.” You say, “But I’ve so many regrets.” If you’ve repented and learned from them, get your eyes on the future! God’s love isn’t based on your performance. He didn’t pick you because of your virtues. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro 5:8). He’s the God of second chances, and third ones too. Paul writes, “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish” (Php 1:6 TM). The God Who brought you this far will take you the rest of the way; He’s committed to you. Just make sure you’re committed to Him.

Caring for Those God Cares About

“Look after…widows.” Jas 1:27 NIV

Miriam Neff says: “With my husband Bob’s exit to heaven…life changed: my calendar, my checkbook…the contents of my refrigerator, and the look in my children’s eyes when they step through the door on holidays. My living space is more cluttered. I seldom use make-up…there are other changes so personal they can’t be shared. Loneliness and solitude are not descriptive enough…Widows experience so many firsts, we stop counting…As a widow I’ve learned that we all change. And much of the change is good. We become faith-filled because we can’t face the day any other way. We become strong because we’ve no choice. We’re compassionate because our heart has been broken.” The fact is, women whose husbands die lose 75 percent of their friendships; 60 percent experience health issues, one-third are clinically depressed one year later, and most face financial hardship. As one pastor says, “Widows move from the front row of the church to the back, and then out the door. They go from serving and singing in the choir, to solitude and silent sobbing.” God cares so much about widows He mentions them over one hundred times in Scripture. He’s a “defender of widows” (Ps 68:5 NIV); He “watches over… and sustains [them]” (Ps 146:9 NIV). James says, “Religion that God…accepts as pure and faultless is…to look after…widows.” Miriam Neff adds: “No one can comfort a widow like another widow…when we see another woman enter this experience…we want to comfort her…While the need for financial support and help…is common, the need for connection is more pressing…we need believing friends near us.”

Debbie Russell

“These were all commended for their faith.” Heb 11:39 NIV

Debbie, a radiant thirty-seven-year-old who worked at The Word For You Today in Atlanta, died after battling cancer. People everywhere prayed for her healing, including the elders at Northpoint Church. Some of those who attended her funeral wondered, “Why?” The truth is, sometimes God heals us in response to the prayer of faith (See Jas 5:14), other times He takes us to heaven, which Paul describes as “far better” (See Php 1:23). This raises the question: “Why are some people healed in response to prayer and others not?” The answer is: “We don’t know, and God doesn’t tell us!” Paul, who wrote half the New Testament, had a ministry so miraculous that the dead were raised. Yet he confessed, “We know in part” (1Co 13:9).

Pastor James Bradley sheds light on this difficult subject. He points out that in Hebrews chapter eleven, some “escaped the edge of the sword” (Heb 11:34 NIV), while others “were put to death by the sword” (Heb 11:37 NIV). But notice in verse 39, “These were all commended for their faith.” Bradley writes: “It seems clear that we can’t always measure faith by results. Faith is a virtue and value on its own merit. Our faith is not based on what we get, it’s based on who we trust.“ Speaking of Debbie’s death, he wrote: “She did not fail her faith and her faith did not fail her. She was, and is, a wonderful example of trusting God in the most difficult of life’s challenges. She’s a champion of faith, and I was inspired by her unshakeable trust and love for the Lord.”

Know When to Be quiet!

“Fools vent…the wise quietly hold it back.” Pr 29:11 NLT

Carol Kuykendall writes: “My very pregnant daughter got her hair cut…from long to stylishly short. She was trying to get used to her new look when we ran into one of her friends. ‘Oh no!’ her friend wailed…‘I don’t like it!’ Then as if to rationalize her words, she quickly added, ‘You know me. I’m a Truth-Teller!’ As we walked away my daughter told me she could’ve done without the truth that day!…It made me more aware of that critical moment in conversation when I’m faced with a choice: Do I say what I’m thinking? Or do I zip it? I keep hearing that ‘telling it like it is’ and ‘being real’ is good for relationships. Reality TV, confessions on Oprah and tweeting the truth add to our reverence for authenticity. But here’s what I know about myself: if I say everything I think, I can slay people in my path. And just because I think something—doesn’t make it true…A good question to ask is: Is it helpful—or hurtful—to the person or our relationship? What about the timing and tone? [For example] a comment about a spouse’s appearance is hurtful when they can’t do anything about it, and will only make him or her self-conscious the rest of the evening.” The Bible says, “Fools vent…the wise quietly hold it back.” Knowing when not to speak is often more important than knowing what to say. That’s what Paul had in mind: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph 4:29 NIV).

“There You Are!”

“I will give…you…people for your life.” Isa 43:4 NKJV

Thousands have attended the Women of Faith conferences every year. Many have gone in search of hope, meaning and self-worth. After hearing one speaker after another describe God’s love for His children, an attendee sent this email: “In the movie Hook, Peter Pan had grown up, become old and overweight, and looked nothing like the Peter the lost boys knew. In the midst of the boys’ shouting that this was NOT Peter, one of the smallest boys took him by the hand and pulled him down to his level. Then he placed his hands on Peter’s face and proceeded to move the skin around, reshaping his face. The boy looked into Peter’s eyes and said, ‘There you are, Peter!’ I brought a lot with me to Women of Faith, things that only God could see. But throughout the weekend I could feel God’s hands on my face, pushing away all the ‘stuff’ I had brought. And then I could hear Him say, ‘There you are. There you are!’” Listen: God is saying the same words to you today, finding the beauty the years bury, the sparkle that time tries to take. Seeing you and loving the you He sees. Saying, “There you are. There you are.” You say, “I’m afraid I will never find someone to love me.” Don’t you believe it! God says: “Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.” If you seek God, and reach out, God will bring to you the right people for your life.

Keep Your Job, and Earn a Promotion! (4)

“Work from the heart for your real Master…God.” Col 3:22 TM

Keeping your job and earning a promotion calls for:

(1) Initiative. Think outside the box. Better still, throw the old box away and ask God for a new one! Intelligence is more than just IQ. The average employee with initiative will always excel over the degreed one without it. If you don’t believe it, read history. Education alone won’t make you productive, but the Spirit and the Word of God will. Paul writes, “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (Eph 4:23 NLT). Peter writes, “I have written…to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” (2Pe 3:1 NIV). Let God stimulate your mind with ideas that make you an in-demand employee.

(2) Perseverance. What is it? It’s the energy and desire to achieve; it’s motivation, determination, commitment, faithfulness, patience, resilience in the face of difficulty, and a willingness to work hard. Those who avoid the more demanding route and choose the easy way are costly to employ, decrease morale, reduce quality, and lessen the company’s productivity. Paul challenges his readers to persevere in their assignment. “Here is my advice…you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now” (2Co 8:10-11 NLT).

(3) Respect. Always consider the rights and needs of others. Treat them sensitively, kindly, courteously, and within the limits of law, conscience and Scripture. “Do what you’re told by your earthly masters…Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God.” When you become such a worker God guarantees your financial security and professional success.

Keep Your Job, and Earn a Promotion! (3)

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col 3:12 NIV

Succeeding at your job requires:

(1) Empathy. Always show consideration for other people’s situation, needs, feelings and perceptions. Try to understand what it’s like to walk in their shoes. By doing this you increase their motivation, improve the working environment, and raise the productivity level. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” You are supposed to “wear” these qualities to work every day.

(2) Flexibility. It’s the capacity to adapt, adjust, and advance. In an environment driven by economic difficulty and downsizing, rigid, reactive employees are often the first to be laid off or fired. Learn to “roll with the punches.” Paul did that. “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…in any and every situation…I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Php 4:11-13 NIV). When the winds of change blow, flexible people bend rather than break. They live to stand again, and even get promoted.

(3) Humor. Start seeing yourself and the world around you with a sense of enjoyment. Refuse to take yourself too seriously. Look for the humor hidden in life’s serious moments and you’ll find it. People who are dispensers of misery just drag everybody down. God’s Word says: “A cheerful disposition is good for your health” (Pr 17:22 TM). “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (v. 22 NIV). A good sense of humor improves things and makes the workplace better for everybody.

Keep Your Job, and Earn a Promotion! (2)

“Get wisdom…get understanding.” Pr 4:7

In his book, Emotional Intelligence, psychologist Dr. Daniel Goleman says that IQ amounts to only 20 percent of success. To keep your job and earn a promotion you need more than intelligence. Goleman suggests several things to help you succeed on the job:
(1) Confidence. Confident workers trust their God-given abilities. And where do you get this confidence? From God! “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Ps 118:8). Confidence in God gives you the assurance that you “can do all things through Christ who strengthens [you]” (Php 4:13). (2) Curiosity. “Get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Curiosity is eagerness to know, learn and understand more. Curious workers are interested in what’s not obvious. Others presume that a solution doesn’t exist or is too difficult, so they quit at the point at which they should be starting. But when others are saying, “It’s way beyond me,” the curious employee says, “There’s an answer. There’s a better way. We just need more understanding.” Every boss wants curious workers. (3) Decisiveness. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2Ti 1:7 NKJV). Fear is a “spirit.” It’s an attitude that makes you pull back, or freeze in place, or give up. That spirit doesn’t come from God, so resist it. Don’t be afraid to take a prayed-over risk, or accept responsibility for an outcome.

Keep Your Job, and Earn a Promotion! (1)

“A hard worker has plenty of food.” Pr 28:19 NLT

Even in a bad job market, “good help is hard to find.” So when employers find it they do all they can to keep it. Even in a long economic downturn there are still practical rules that increase the likelihood you’ll keep your job, and maybe earn a promotion. These rules line up with what’s taught in God’s Word:
(1) Understand that hard work is a blessing. God created paradise, then He created us. Then He put us to work, saying, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (Ge 3:19 NIV). God rewards “sweat” (See Pr 28:19). Giving your job, even a menial one, your best, pleases Him. And ultimately He, not your boss, controls your future. (2) Accept reality. Wishing away your present circumstances while feeling entitled to better, will just make you feel worse and get you nowhere. Our “God [turns] the curse into a blessing” (Dt 23:5 NIV). He gives “beauty for ashes” (Isa 61:3 NKJV). In hard times God raises up people with fresh ideas that actually make the future better than the past—not only for themselves but for others. And you can become one of those people. (3) Make God your source. “I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go” (Isa 48:17). Make God your life coach. Give your boss the hard work he or she deserves, but trust only in the One Who promised to “use his wonderful riches…to give you everything you need” (Php 4:19 NCV).

Do You Know Any Needy People?

“I sat where they sat.” Eze 3:15

In an attempt to insulate ourselves against the evils in the world, we can isolate ourselves from those God’s called us to reach out to. At the beginning of Ezekiel’s ministry he wrote, “The hand of the Lord was strong upon me. Then I came to the captives…and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days” (vv. 14-15 NKJV). True ministry begins with sitting in the other person’s seat. Former President Jimmy Carter was a Sunday school teacher in his church. Recalling it in an interview, he said: “Most church members—including me—rarely reach outside to people who are different from us or less fortunate. Quite often my Sunday school class will say, ‘Why don’t we take up a collection and give a nice Thanksgiving meal to a poor family?’ The next question is: ‘Who knows a poor family?’ Nobody does! We have to call the Welfare Office to get the name and address.” So, do you know any needy people? Compassion is putting yourself in the other person’s place. It’s asking God to help you understand what’s really going on with them. It’s hearing what they’re not saying as well as what they are. It’s understanding that sometimes their anger is only masking their fear, that they’re crying out for help in the only way they know how. Before Peter denied the Lord, Jesus said to him, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Lk 22:32). When God’s grace touches your life you will always reach back for others! And here’s why: people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Don’t Go There!

“I will set before my eyes no vile thing.” Ps 101:3 NIV

Fearing the population growth of the Israelites, Pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives, “When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him” (Ex 1:16 NIV). This word “stool” is the same word that’s used to describe a potter’s wheel. If Satan can destroy you while you’re still on the wheel, in the process of being formed, he’s accomplished his goal. And today one of his strategies for destroying men and boys is pornography. David’s affair with Bathsheba began with the words, “From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone [to get] her” (2Sa 11:2-3 NIV). Looking back on this painful chapter in his life, David wrote, “I will walk in my house with a blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, a man named Joe from Rockford, Illinois, ran a live Internet sex site called Video Fantasy. Joe had a ten-year-old son. On his home computer Joe installed filtering software to limit what his son could do on the Internet. Joe explained: “It’s not that I keep him sheltered, but my wife and I pay close attention to what he reads, what he watches on TV and what he does on the computer, because we have a responsibility to him to be the best parents we can.” What hypocrisy! Pornography is as addictive as any drug. It puts images on file that mold your mind, images the Devil can replay and use to enslave you. So, don’t go there!

Break Free from Perfectionism (2)

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Ro 12:6 NIV

One Christian writer says: “When my friend had her first child she applied all her career talents to making a smooth transition into motherhood. She kept a rigid schedule, napped her son on time, planned time for grocery shopping, and always managed to have a nice dinner prepared by the time her husband got home. She kept up this façade till she could handle the stress no longer. Finally, she cracked. She left the house a mess, forgot to shower, never went to the grocery store, and when her husband came home she handed him the dirty baby…and declared the house a dinner-free zone! What did her husband do? He fell to his knees in an exaggerated ‘Hallelujah!’ then spun his long-lost wife into a magnificent hug. ‘You’re back!’ he declared…Her gifts, apart from being a great wife, mom and businesswoman, are her sense of humor, her sass, her fun, and her authenticity…all the things her husband missed when her personality went on a postpartum hiatus.” If you’re “trying to become perfect by your own human effort” (Gal 3:3 NLT), it’s not going to happen! “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” When you strive to be somebody other than the person God intended, you end up feeling angry, inadequate and frustrated. God purposely gifted us all in different areas. Once you realize that, you can start to minister from your particular area of giftedness. Remember, every one of us is a work-in-progress, so cut yourself some slack. Instead of trying to become perfect, begin to thank God for making you one-of-a-kind.

Break Free from Perfectionism (1)

“Trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” Gal 3:3 NLT

Columnist Ann Landers wrote, “Rose-colored glasses are never made in bifocals. Nobody wants to read the small print in dreams.” The small print in every dream is— reality. You may fulfill your dream, but you won’t do it perfectly. Looking back you’ll say, “If I knew then what I know now.” But if you could live all over again you’d probably say the same thing. The truth is, the journey will take longer than you hoped. The obstacles will be more numerous than you thought. The disappointments will be greater than you expected. The lows will be lower than you imagined. The price will be higher than you anticipated. Stop expecting more than what’s reasonable. Stop seeing minor mistakes as major catastrophes. To break free from perfectionism, Dr. Chris Thurman says: “Humble yourself: repent of being so filled with pride that you think you’re equal with God. Be reality focused: accept life as it is, not how you think it should be. Establish attainable goals: make them realistic and achievable in the here-and-now. Set reasonable time limits: instead of spending time struggling to do one thing perfectly, prioritize, and allot a reasonable amount of time to each activity. In less-important areas, accept good-enough; not every job has to be (or can be) done exceptionally well. Lose the all-or-nothing thinking: not every situation is black and white…most contain shades of gray. Learn from your mistakes: then move on. Confess your shortcomings: acknowledging your weaknesses releases you from the pull of perfectionism. Find your worth in God: not in ‘your own human effort,’ in what you do and how well you do it.”

A Word to Single Parents

“Love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1Pe 4:8 NIV

Are you struggling to raise children on your own? If so, teach them these three principles. As you do, they’ll be reinforced in you. You’d be surprised how many instructors learn while they teach. So: (1) Teach them how to love imperfect people. Let them know that loving is a risk, but it’s worth taking. Hearing you say that will help them to grow up and not become cynical because of what they’ve been through. Explain that when you love people, you must love what’s good and accept what’s still under construction. And it’ll save them heartache if you teach them that sometimes we’ll disappoint each other, and that God’s remedy for this is, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.” (2) Tell them that the future can be better than the past. We are fueled by the past, but fuel only works when it’s combusted into another form. So allow the pain of the past to fuel your future with compassion, wisdom and hope. Many of the people we admire have experienced failure. This year’s winner was last year’s runner-up. So learn from your mistakes and seize the new day. Once you do that, “All things are possible” (Mt 19:26 NKJV). (3) Show them how to adapt to change. When you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. After the initial shock is over and your anger has dissipated, start making plans. Draw closer to God and decide to live again. Don’t get stuck in a stage that was just meant to be part of a process. This too shall pass; let it!

Believe God for “Good Things”

“You…promised…good things to your servant.” 2Sa 7:28 NIV

We strive each day to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7 NKJV). But it doesn’t come easily. It takes a mind saturated in Scripture to make a faith choice when you’re looking down the barrel of a situation that seems impossible. So how do you develop that kind of faith? For a relationship to thrive, both parties must invest time and energy into getting to know one other. Lasting connections are based on trust, and an intimate knowledge of the other person’s habits and character. And it’s the same with God. Over time, as you prove His faithfulness it becomes easier to let go of your fear and replace it with trust. One author writes: “Getting to know God means walking with Him, spending time in His Word, getting to know His spotless character and the countless examples of His unfailing love illustrated in His ironclad promises. It means praying, talking, sharing all the details of your life and the inner workings of your heart. He knows it all already, but He enjoys the intimacy of the conversation. And like any balanced relationship, we can’t always be the one talking. We have to make time to listen, to come before the Lord and get quiet, by silencing the noise of our thoughts and the rush of our emotions.” Remember, the only place fear has to work is in the empty space where your faith should be. Fear is based on what you see and hear. Faith is based on knowing that God’s Word is reliable, and that He has promised “good things” to those who believe Him for them!

“I Matter, Because God Loves Me”

“We are God’s masterpiece.” Eph 2:10 NLT

The fear of being nothing but a big zero can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. It works like this. When it’s time to go for a job interview your fear kicks in and you think, “I’ll never impress them; I’ll look stupid. They’ll ask me questions I can’t answer.” A mouse in a lion’s den has better odds of success. So you fail miserably, and descend yet another level into the basement of self-defeat. Or consider the girl who’s asked out on a date by a good looking guy. So good looking, that she wonders what he sees in her. She’s sure that once he gets to know her, he will drop her. So insecurity drives her to use the only tool she trusts, her body. She sleeps with him on the first date for fear there won’t be a second, and she ends up feeling like the disposable woman she didn’t want to become. The fear of insignificance creates the very result it dreads, and arrives at the very destination it tries to avoid. Stop! You’re disagreeing with God! You’re questioning His judgment and second-guessing His taste. His Word says He can’t stop thinking about you. If you could count His thoughts of you, “They would be more in number than the [grains of] sand” (Ps 139:18 NKJV). Why does God love you so much? For the same reason an artist loves his paintings. “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” So when you get up each morning, look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I matter, because God loves me!”

“God Is Able”

“Being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” Ro 4:21 NKJV

The reason we don’t turn to God more often is because at some basic and unconscious level we are not “fully convinced” He is able and willing to move on our behalf. Being able to admit that to yourself is humbling; it’s also the point at which you begin to deal with your lack of faith in God. Nothing in your life will change until you pray, “Lord, help me. I say things with my lips that I don’t follow through in my behavior.” Once you begin to pray that way you can start walking through your Bible, rediscovering that “God is able.” He’s able to provide for you when you’re in a wilderness. He’s able to defeat the giants that stand in your way. He’s able to go through fiery trials with you and bring you out unharmed. He’s able to promote you when you’ve been overlooked or opposed. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph 3:20 NKJV). Whatever it takes to own the words, “God is able,” do it; otherwise you won’t be able to pray with confidence. You’ll make a few wishes on your knees, but you won’t be able to persevere in prayer until you know in your heart of hearts that God is able—and that He’s willing! Nothing is too difficult for Him. He’s just waiting for you to recognize that, and come to Him in faith asking for help.

The Foundation of True Friendship

“We have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus…cleanses us from all sin.” 1Jn 1:7 NLT

The Bible says, “Better a nearby friend than a distant family” (Pr 27:10 TM). Sometimes it’s easier to develop close friendships with those outside your immediate family circle. But there’s another kind of “blood relative” mentioned in the Bible: brothers and sisters joined together through the blood of Jesus (See 1Jn 1:7). It’s the kind of relationship that doesn’t allow you to go off and do your own thing (See Col 3:15 TM). It requires us to “do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with…honor” (Jas 3:18 TM). It calls for a long-term commitment not readily understood by the “me generation,” where, when the going gets tough it’s acceptable to bail out of a relationship and move on. One pastor points out that the world doesn’t understand the Christian concept of brotherhood and sisterhood: “It says find friends among like-minded, like-income people who vote like you and have the same golf handicap. These friendships work until the bottom falls out of your life, you face a pressing problem, or a tragic loss, or a serious illness, and suddenly you realize that no one cares much about you. Why? Because you’ve made no investment in anybody’s life, and now when you need to make a withdrawal there’s no money in the friendship bank.” Sacrificial love is the foundation of true friendship. Paul writes, “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves…But you know how Timothy has proved himself” (Php 2:20-22 NLT).

“Where Does This Path Lead?

“Do not walk in the way of evil.” Pr 4:14 NKJV

Every path you take in life leads to somewhere. The Bible says, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it” (vv. 14-15 NKJV). Today our children are getting hooked on drugs—some so powerful that it takes just one hit and they are addicted. So talk to your children early in life about the traps that Satan has set for them. Let them know that: (1) any habit you feed always grows stronger; (2) any habit you feed always demands more; (3) any habit you feed always takes control of you.
Comedian and actor Chris Farley was found dead in his downtown Chicago apartment on December 18, 1997. He died of a drug overdose. His death at age thirty-three was no surprise to his friends. He had been in and out of various rehabs to clean up his life. Shortly before his death he told a reporter: “I used to think that you could get to a level of success where the laws of the universe didn’t apply. But they do. It’s still ‘life on life’s terms,’ not on movie-star terms. I still have to work at relationships. I still have to work on my weight, and some of my other demons. Once I thought that if I had enough money in the bank, if I had enough fame, everything would be all right. But I’m a human being like everyone else. I’m not exempt.” So before you step onto the path stop and ask yourself, “Where does this path lead?”

Take Care of Your “Flock”

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you.” 1Pe 5:2 NLT

Projecting too far ahead can keep you from devoting your energy to the task at hand. The Bible says, “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you…And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of…glory” (vv. 2-4 NLT). One Bible School director says: “There was a time when God began to do great things in my life…it was the fulfillment of many dreams…During this period I started experiencing more problems and confrontations…I felt like a fireman. As soon as one blaze was extinguished, another cropped up…I felt run down and discouraged. I thought, ‘I’ll go to the mission field where the work is fun and I can just send back postcards.’ Then I saw a vision of David being anointed by Samuel, and the Lord asked me, ‘What did David do after he was anointed king?’…I answered, ‘He went back to tending his father’s sheep’ (1Sa 17:15). The Lord continued, ‘Had David gone looking for a giant to kill at that time, the lion and the bear would have eaten his flock. This Bible school is your flock, so tend to it.’…Whether you’re a pastor, an associate, a music director, or a layman, each of us has a flock… David’s flock was his assignment from God, and…although he’d been anointed king…his first priority was to tend to his first assignment. The giants will come, and if you stay with your assignment, at the right time you’ll meet and conquer yours. You’ll be exalted—after you’ve proved yourself faithful.” Wherever your “flock” is right now, that’s where God expects you to be.

Be Honest

“Be careful to do what is right.” Ro 12:17 NIV

Jeremiah writes, “Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means…in the end he will prove to be a fool” (Jer 17:11 NIV). Don’t think that you can do whatever you like in small things, and be okay as long as you’ve no major lapses. Whether you steal a dollar or a million dollars, you’re still a thief. Webster’s Dictionary defines integrity as—honesty. Every time you break a moral principle it becomes harder, not easier, to act with integrity. Everything you’ve done in the past, including the things you’ve neglected to do, comes to a head when you’re under pressure. That’s why developing integrity requires constant vigilance. John Morley observed, “No man can rise beyond the limitations of his own character.” And that’s particularly true when you’re a leader. So: (1) Keep your promises. When you make a promise you create hope. When you keep a promise you create trust. (2) Acknowledge your mistakes. When your decisions don’t turn out the way you intended, you owe people an explanation. (3) Apologize and try to make amends. When your actions hurt others you need to admit that what you did was wrong and say you’re sorry. This is usually very painful in the moment. But not only is it the right thing to do, it can actually shorten the agony and help you to put the incident behind you. That’s why you should heed the advice of Thomas Jefferson on this subject: “If you have to eat crow, eat it while it’s young and tender.”