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Timing Is Everything
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Scripture declares in Proverbs that for every purpose, there is a season. This means you can’t just have purpose. Purpose is connected to timing.
In the late 1800’s, there was no standard for keeping time in the United States. Back then, people just went by the position of the sun. Then, eventually, they started to build big town clocks on steeples or towers. They would set the clocks, but the time would vary from town to town. Then, the railroads came along, and they realized that they had to have a unified way to measure time, or else the trains could collide. The railroads wanted every town to set their clocks to railroad time. Unfortunately, many cities refused to synchronize their clocks with the railroad’s clock. Towns were split over this issue, but 35 years later, the standard time system was enacted into legislation in America, and the entire country came under one set time. A greater power decided that they didn’t care what everyone’s own personal clocks said.
We need to get our clock in sync with God’s clock. You may be thinking, “It’s time, Lord. Why hasn’t it happened yet?” And God may be saying, “Get in sync with my clock.” David said, “My times are in your hands.”
Jesus understood this principle. In John 7, Jesus’ brothers urged him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go…my time has not yet come.”
God told Abraham that he would bear a son through his wife Sara, who was already up in age. Instead of Abraham and Sarah waiting on God’s timing, they took matters into their own hands and decided to have Abraham sleep with her younger servant, Hagar. This decision had many ramifications that echoed throughout history. You often miss out on His best when you stubbornly try to force God to conform to your time.
Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman…to buy freedom for us…so he could adopt us as his very own children.” Ephesians 1:10 says, “And this is the plan: At the right time, he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ.” God has a plan. He knows what He is doing, and you can trust His timing.
Are You In The Right Place?
“The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters; he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalms 23:1-3
To experience God’s provision in your life, you need to make sure you are in the right place. In the Bible, we often see the blessing connected to a location. This was the case for Elijah. When a famine came to the land, God told Elijah to go to the little brook. He said, “I’ll cause the birds to feed you.” But eventually, the brook dried up, and God said, “Go to the widow woman. I have commanded her to feed you.” Sometimes, God will cause the “brook” to dry up in order to bring you back to the real source. Trust Him and follow His lead.
Many times, we tend to trust in systems rather than God. When God is urging you to move, and He tells you to “change locations,” you need to obey. This may not just be a geographical move. God may be urging you to move spiritually. He may be calling you to do a fast for a season or to volunteer in a ministry. He may want you to move some things out of your life or shift your priorities if you have become distracted with the cares of this world.
There’s an interesting story found in 1 Kings. Elijah runs up to Elisha while he’s working in his field and throws his cloak on him. This signified that Elisha would be his predecessor as a great prophet of God. Elisha not only accepts the call, but he runs back and breaks the plow! The plow was his livelihood and was the source of his provision. It represented the system that provided for his family. Elisha had become comfortable being a farmer but broke the plow and ran after Elijah.
Later on, Elisha was told by Elijah that in order for him to get a double portion of God’s anointing, he had to be present with him when he was taken to Heaven. So again, we see that the blessing was connected to being in the right place. Elisha made sure he was there and received the double portion.
God does not want you holding on to old plows that have served their purpose in a different season. Like Elisha, dare to be open to God doing something fresh and mighty in your life. When you position yourself in the right place, God is able to bless you beyond measure.
Your Own Hand
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:23-24
In your life, you will see provision through the hand of man and the hand of God. But another way you will experience provision is by your own hand. Joshua 5 tells us that the manna ceased when the Israelites crossed over the Jordan. The hand of God had provided food for the Israelites for 40 years, but God wanted to move them into a new season. God doesn’t want you waiting for miracles all of the time. He doesn’t want you to be constantly calling out to him with emergency needs like, “We’re going to lose the house, we’re going to lose the car.” God will give you miracles at times, but He doesn’t want you to live in that state all of your life. God has a greater plan for you than just scraping by.
In Deuteronomy 11:9-12 God said to the Israelites, “If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey! For the land you are about to enter and take over is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you planted your seed and made irrigation ditches with your foot as in a vegetable garden. Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain—a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!”
You see, when they were in Egypt, the land was so dry and parched that they had to pipe water from the Nile River with foot pumps. They had to use these foot pumps all day just to get barely enough water for their crops to live. But God did not want them to live a life of just barely getting by. He wanted to bless their hands of labor. He wanted to move them from a “foot pump” mentality to a land flowing with abundance. He wanted them to go to another level of living.
Each one of you are gifted at something. Use the gifts God has given you to be prosperous and blessed. When you partner with Him and step out in faith, He will bless the work of your hands. Pray this prayer today: “God, please anoint the work of my hands. Whatever my hand touches, let it increase, multiply, and be highly fruitful as I do it all for your glory. Amen.”
The Hand Of Man
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you…and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25
God provides everything you need in life. One of the ways He does this is by the hand of man. In Genesis 45, Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers, finally gets the chance to confront them. Despite the misfortunes of his younger years, he has now risen into a place of power and wealth as the right-hand leader of the Pharaoh. His brothers showed up begging for food because there was a famine in the land. Joseph told them, “Don’t be angry with yourselves that you have done this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives…Therefore, I, Joseph, will provide for you and your household all you have…lest you come to poverty…”
These brothers had thrown Joseph into a pit and stolen his birthright, but he responds by telling them he’s not angry or bitter. Joseph says, “But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” Then he instructs them to (paraphrased) “Go get your families. I’m giving every one of you a ranch. Every one of you are going to get acreage in Goshen, the richest farmland in the world.” God used the hand of man to save Joseph’s family and an entire nation.
Don’t be surprised if God uses more than just Christian people to bless you. The prophet Elijah was fed by a bird that was considered to be “unclean.” A raven brought him meat and bread two times a day. It is not in the nature of a raven to deliver food, but God used the bird to bless Elijah. Some of the people who bless you may not be serving God, but He can still choose to use them to be a blessing in your life.
If you are trusting and honoring God, Kingdom connections and power relationships are coming your way. You may meet someone who has already gone to the level that you want to, and God may be lining them up in your favor to help take you higher. God will cause you to stand out in someone’s heart and mind, and they will be drawn to you. They’ll notice you, give you jobs, open doors, and invest in your future.
Did you know that when God blessed Jacob, part of the blessing was “power with God and favor with men?” Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus grew in favor and in wisdom with God and man.” Using the hand of man is a big way God blesses His people. Get ready for God to use the hand of man to bless you this year!
No Greater Love
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Yesterday, we shared about the power of Jesus, but what is even more astounding about Jesus is His love for people. When the angry mob and guards came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Peter did this to defend Jesus, but Jesus reprimanded Peter and then healed the man’s ear. Then Jesus made a profound statement. He said, “Do you not think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) In Roman culture, twelve legions would have equated to 72,000 angels! In the book of Chronicles, just one angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Jesus was saying no man could take His life.
In John 10:18, Jesus says, “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up.” It wasn’t the spikes that held Jesus to the cross; it was His love for the human race. He did what He did because He loved you. He laid down His life to pay the price for your sins.
Can you imagine the heaviness Jesus felt carrying all the weight of the world’s sins on His back? He bore every evil thing that mankind was capable of. He was made a sin for us. (1 Peter 2:24) Every sickness that has ever come upon the human body and all our griefs and sorrows were placed upon Him on the cross.
“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6
The most amazing thing about the life of Jesus was the way He chose to spend it. He had unlimited power and resources, yet He chose to humble Himself by allowing religious leaders to slander His name and send him to die a terrible death. He made that choice because of His great love for you. You will never experience a greater love.
Are You A Risk Taker, Caretaker, Or Undertaker?
“This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” 1 John 3:11
Three types of people can be found in a church. First, there are “risk takers.” These are the people who seek God for a revival in their community. They go out to the prisons, nursing homes, and pregnancy centers to find anyone who needs Jesus. They are full of the love of Jesus and continually take risks to reach more and more people who are lost. Risk-takers are always ready to try something new or change things up to see more growth.
Then there are “caretakers.” These are the church members who are happy with the way things are. Maybe the church has plateaued and isn’t growing anymore, but they are fine with seeing the same faces every week gather for a “holy huddle.” They just want to maintain the status quo and are content to have the same number of people attending church. Caretakers aren’t aggressive or motivated to reach hurting people.
Lastly, there are “undertakers.” People in this frame of mind aren’t bothered if there are no young people in the church. They are comfortable with decline and actually fight against creativity or innovation. They have decided that the church exists to serve their needs, and oftentimes, these church members become complainers and backbiters. They come to be blessed but don’t have any desire to be a blessing.
God wants us all to be risk-takers who are filled with excitement and ambition to see souls won for Him. Faith is spelled “R-I-S-K.” Maybe you have grown content and have become a spectator going through the motions of church. You may need to get out of the boat of complacency and pray for the heart of Christ. Jesus was a risk-taker. He dined with the sinners and stood up for those who were cast out of society. There were no limits to what He would do to see just one soul enter eternal life. He proved that by giving His life on the cross for each of you.
Which type of Christian are you?
The Lamb Is More Than Enough
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony…” Revelation 12:11
Jesus Christ is the lamb that takes away the sins of the world. You may think what you have done is too ugly or terrible to be forgiven, but Jesus was the lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world. So, even before the world was in the condition that it is in now, the lamb was already more than enough. Sometimes, it may be hard to get over the horrible thing you did that hurt so many people, but God looks beyond that moment and sees the blood that Jesus shed and pardons you from your sin.
When the very first humans, Adam and Eve, messed up, the Bible tells us that “God slew an animal, and He took the covering, and He covered their nakedness.” Then, the next generation in their family, Cain and Abel, had a fight, and Cain murdered his own brother. Even though Cain was living in a society that encouraged “an eye for an eye” mentality and would have endorsed Cain being killed as punishment, God forbid anyone to touch him. He showed him mercy because the lamb was more than enough. God’s mercy even extends to generations.
Then, a godly man named Lot got into a terrible mess in Sodom and Gomorrah. He had no business being there and was trapped, doomed, and headed for judgment. But God said the lamb is enough, and He extended mercy to his family, and an angel led them away from that terrible place.
Your family is not too far gone. They are not out of God’s reach. It doesn’t matter if they are in “Sodom and Gomorrah” right now; the lamb is mightier, and His blood cannot be conquered! Don’t give up on what God told you He will do with your child, marriage, or difficult situation.
In the New Testament, there was a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. Right out of the bed, barely clothed, she was thrown at the feet of Jesus. She was ashamed, embarrassed, and humiliated. The Pharisees wanted to stone her, but Jesus stood by her side and showed her mercy. The lamb was all she needed, which was more than enough to save her from a life of sin.
“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:14. Jesus will stand by your side in your times of failure. He will never leave or forsake you. His sacrifice is more than enough to cover all your shortcomings. Remember, you are an overcomer by the blood of the lamb, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
See Yourself As God Sees You
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
How do you see yourself? How do you see your future? To do what God wants you to do with your life, you must see yourself as God sees you.
There’s a remarkable story in the book of Judges 6 about a man named Gideon. The Midianites had taken over the nation of Israel, and Gideon was hiding in a cave. God sent an angel to encourage him. The way that the angel greeted him was very significant. The angel appeared to him, saying, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” Then Gideon began to tell the Lord what he thought of himself: "How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest…and I am the least in my entire family!”
God responded, “Go with the strength you have...I will be with you.” You may not be able to see the future and what future you can do, but God can see it!
You may have been told in the past that you are the least in your family or that you aren’t capable of doing great things. Those voices don’t matter. Only one voice matters and that is the voice of your Creator. He knows you inside and out and better than anyone else. If you stay in the Word, He will tell you who you are.
God wants you to understand that it’s not about what you are now; it’s what you will be. Gideon tried to tell the Lord he had the wrong person, but God told him, "I am sending you!” He assured him, “You will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” In other words, God told Gideon, “No, I have the right man, and this task is going to be easy for you.”
You have to choose each day whose voice you will listen to. The enemy wants to hold back your potential by making you believe lies about yourself, but God knows what you can do. God doesn’t see you as pitiful, weak, and defeated by life. He sees you as an overcomer and as royalty. He sees you as the head, not the tail, and as one of His heirs. Don’t ever forget who you are and who is with you. God said you will live from “glory to glory.” God says you are a winner.
Create The Right Atmosphere
“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.” 1 Samuel 16:23
For you to be used by God and to live a life that is pleasing to Him, you need to create the right atmosphere. Have you ever noticed that emotions create atmospheres? If someone is sad and you walk into the room with them, you feel that sadness. If someone is fearful or angry about something, without having to say a word, they project those negative emotions into the room's atmosphere.
There is an amazing story in the Old Testament about King Saul. In our day and age, King Saul would have been diagnosed as manic depressive. He had fits and times when waves of darkness and depression would take over his mind. But when this happened, he would make a strange request. He would ask for David to come and play his harp. When David entered the room and filled the place with praise, Saul would return to a place of peace again.
Even when things you are praying for aren’t changing yet, you can still control the atmosphere of your life through praise.
God is drawn to atmospheres of praise. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas had just been severely flogged and thrown into prison for praying deliverance over a slave girl who was involved in witchcraft and fortune-telling. Crowds of angry people wrongfully claimed they were throwing the city into an uproar. You would have thought that the atmosphere of that jail cell would have been one of discouragement and fear. But Paul and Silas were in the jail singing hymns to God! This attracted God’s attention so much that He sent a violent earthquake to break the prison doors open to release them. This atmosphere impacted even the jailer, who fell at their feet and asked how he could be saved.
When you praise the Lord, even when circumstances look bad, you confuse the strategy of hell. When you praise the Lord, you attract the presence of God, and when He shows up, your situation will begin to change. Psalm 34 reveals the key to living your life correctly: “I will always praise the Lord. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord…Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy.” What atmosphere are you creating today?
God Believes In You
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1-2
Never let anyone else’s opinion become your reality. The Bible is full of doubters who tried to stop the momentum of God-given dreams. As you walk in God’s path toward His dream for your life, you will always experience naysayers.
Ten people in the Old Testament caused three million people to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. The Israelites let ten people’s opinions become the reality for millions. How many people would it take to talk you out of what God has called you to do? That generation of Israelites missed out on the promised land because they believed in men rather than God.
Noah had a goal to build an ark. He was ridiculed by everyone who saw what he was doing, but the Bible says several times, “Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.” He obeyed God one day at a time, one task at a time until the vision was fulfilled.
Keep doing all that God leads you to do. Don’t let the voices of people stop you. They may even mean well, but they are not the ones who have been entrusted with the task.
King Saul also tried to force his negative opinion on David when David told him about the great task that God was calling him to do. He said, “You are not able to go against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David decided that he wasn’t going to let one man’s opinion become his reality. He was convinced he could trust God to help him see the victory. David had a vision of how the fight would go and even told the giant exactly how he would be defeated! God believed in David, God believed in Noah, and God believed in you!
When Nightmares Come
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done…” Genesis 50:20
Did you know that everything built or accomplished in the world today directly results from the dream of someone who would not give up? We learn from Joseph’s life that nightmares follow dreams. As soon as Joseph received his dream from God, he had to go through the pit, false accusations, and prison. He experienced years of hardships, but God was still working out the dream for his life through them all.
Joseph’s obstacles were the very pathway to his dream being fulfilled. All the difficult experiences showed him who he was and, more importantly, who God was. As you look back over your life, you will discover that you grew and learned the most in the lonely and dark places where you felt you were forgotten.
Nightmares are filled with hopelessness, despair, and feelings of no escape, but they are also a sign that you are getting closer than ever before to seeing your dreams come true. When the enemy uses his biggest obstacles to make you quit, you know you are getting closer to your dream. He wants you to give up and spend the rest of your life wandering in the wilderness of stagnation.
Determine today that you will never quit because God has promised to finish what He started in you. The dream God birthed in your heart is greater than any nightmare you may face today. Be encouraged by Psalm 30:5: “…His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Who’s Leading You?
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
When the Israelites were traveling to the promised land, God would lead them by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. They wouldn’t make one move unless God’s cloud or fire moved. They knew that He had their best interests in mind.
Are you following God’s leading for your life? There are several ways you can be sure you are being led by God and not “leaning on your own understanding” for the decisions you have to make.
One way to be led by God is to make sure you are living according to His Word. The Bible is a roadmap that will lead you to great places if guided by it. God’s Word is “a lamp for your feet and a light on your path” Psalm 119:105. If you are making a decision not supported by the Bible, you are headed down a destructive path. The boundaries of the Bible are there to protect you and your family.
Another way to know what path you should be taking is to pay attention to doors. If a door closes, you know God did not want you taking that route. He is the doorkeeper and may need to shut some doors for your own protection. Sometimes, He shuts the door on an opportunity that could have led you away from Him or even a relationship that needed to end. God also opens doors that can help raise you to new levels. You must trust Him to open the right doors for you at the right times.
Lastly, to ensure you are going down the right path, allow God to give you a vision for your life. If you can see it, you can be it. You will never get there if you don’t have a visual picture of where you want to go.
In 2 Kings 2:9-10, we see a double portion of Elijah’s spirit given to Elisha simply because he was determined to see Elijah’s miracle when he was taken to heaven. Elijah had told him that he had to see it to receive it.
In the same way, you have to see where God wants you to be and who God wants you to be before it ever comes to pass. The only way to move from where you are to where you would like to be is to take your eyes off your current situation and let God give you a new picture. Spend time with God and ask Him to give you a vision for your life.
Psalms 73:23-24 says it best: “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.” You can trust that God has the best plan for your life. Let Him lead you today.
Have You Lost The Fire?
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20
In Revelation 3, God gives a message to the church of Laodicea, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
Like many people in the modern age, the church of Laodicea had become so comfortable with its wealth and success that they had forgotten about God. The message went on to say, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous, therefore, and repent.”
God challenged the church to be zealous. The word zealous literally means to boil. His response to lukewarmness was to “be zealous and repent!” God’s answer to their complacency was to recapture their fire for Him.
We must repent from being “professional” Christians who do all the right things but have no fire or passion for God. We need to return to spending time with God in the secret place. Pray, read your Bible, and let the intimate time you spend with God keep you passionate about Him. In Luke 24, the disciples said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts feel strangely warm as He talked with us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?” Spending time with Jesus will rekindle your fire.
The greatest threat to Christians today is not some wild hedonistic sin; it is simply a distraction. If Satan can keep you distracted with all the things the world has to offer, then he has already won. Matthew 24:12 tells us that in the last days, “because iniquity will abound, the love of many will wax cold.” The word “wax” means “to slowly grow cold.” Without realizing it, we can become distracted and miss the one thing that is the most important thing in life, which is simply being with Him.
Lead The Way
"Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them…being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:2-3”
Every time God would command the Israelites to move to a new territory, He would have the tribe of Judah (which means praise) go first. Judah would lead the people forward in victory. In the church, the tribe of Judah would be the worship leaders. The people on the stage that everybody sees.
But what about that pitiful twelfth tribe? The one at the very end of the line? They had to be in the back of the line to help those who were weak, feeble, and couldn’t handle the heavy demands of the journey. This twelfth tribe of Dan could represent the parents, grandparents, youth, and children’s leaders who always faithfully serve behind the scenes.
Thank God for the people in “the back of the line.” They are important for molding the next generation. Like a potter, your job is to take the clay, smooth out the lumps, put it on the wheel, and begin to mold it into a vessel that can be used. It is so vital to have people who will encourage our children and youth and pour into their lives. Remind them that they are still loved by God when they mess up. Teach them how to be worshippers, church lovers, and men and women of character. Mentor them in the areas of their strengths so they can gain the confidence to take their place as leaders one day.
Parents, kids need fewer people telling them what they can’t do and more people reminding them of who they are in Christ. If you speak to the fool in your child, the fool will stand up. If you speak to the king in your child, the king will stand up. When you show them that you believe in them, God will raise them to do things you could never do. This next generation needs potters. They need people to shape their mentality, demonstrate the right spirit, and mold their way of seeing things.
Get involved in your child’s life. Ask them who their friends are and check their phones. Let them serve with you at an outreach or take them on a mission trip. If you work in “the tribe of Dan,” consider it a high honor. You may not be in the limelight but are making a lasting impact. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
Average Or Extraordinary?
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
You can’t be average and see God do extraordinary things. When you have an “and then some” attitude, God really starts blessing your life. So many people are unsuccessful at sharing their faith at work because they are not an example others want to follow.
You’re not going to win anyone to Jesus just by putting Christian bumper stickers on your car. Quoting scriptures and testifying at your job when you’re not giving maximum effort wastes time. People are watching you. They will see if you are coming in early or if you are taking on more tasks than what your manager has given you. People see when you stay late because you want to ensure you complete your assignments excellently.
Your coworkers don’t care about your testimony if they see you taking two-hour lunches while still on the clock or goofing around instead of helping customers.
People are attracted to winners. Winning the big contract, being the top employee every month for a year, or being named MVP of your team will earn you a platform. You will get people's attention when you have exceeded expectations and are now reaping the benefits of that hard work. Then, you can tell them the source of your success in those moments. You can share Jesus with the platform He has given you. People will gravitate to you because they want to know more about the “it” factor that makes you stand out.
Jesus went above and beyond to ensure we would have a chance to be with Him in heaven forever. He not only willingly gave his life, but He carried His own cross and was even kind to His persecutors. He was the ultimate example of a person who gave all He had and then some. As our lives reflect the light of Jesus, we will see people come to know Him at our jobs, and everywhere we go.
Are You With The Right People?
Pursue righteous living…Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” 2 Timothy 2:22
If you want to be in God’s will and experience His blessings, you have to be around the right people. The people who are right for you are the people who will be honest with you. They don’t just tell you what you want to hear, but they tell you what you need to hear. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (Proverbs 27:6). Good friends are not afraid to confront you.
Get around the right people because everybody who comes into your life brings a spirit. Sometimes, it is easy to gravitate to people we can relate to and who are similar to us. But the problem with that is, if you both share the same weaknesses, you will not grow in that area. You need to get around someone who is strong in the areas where you are weak. They know how to help get you to where you want to be.
In 2 Chronicles 10, Rehoboam had just been appointed king. Some of the leaders of Israel met with him and asked him to lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that had been imposed on them. So Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon (the wisest man on earth). They advised him to listen to the people; however, Rehoboam had a group of friends he had grown up with that gave him the opposite advice. They told him to place even harder demands on the people to show that he was even more powerful than his father. Unfortunately, Rehoboam took the advice of his friends, which caused a complete rebellion. This decision eventually led to him being run out of the kingdom. The course of his life was forever altered due to his decision to be around and listen to the wrong people.
David’s story shows us the value of good friendships. David chose to be friends with Jonathon. The Bible tells us that Jonathon loved David as himself. David’s choice of friends paid off. Jonathon saved David’s life and even pushed him into his destiny to be king. Good friends will not try to hold you back. They will help you believe in yourself. Like iron sharpens iron, a good friend will make you a better person.
Remember, “bad company corrupts good character” (I Corinthians 15:33). Being in the company of the wise will keep you in God’s will. If you show me your friends, I will show you your future. Be careful who you choose to let into your inner circle. The people who you surround yourself with will shape your destiny.
Be The Hand
“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; I needed clothes, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35-36
Many times, we may get into a mindset of “How can I be blessed?” Or, “How will my needs get met?” However, God wants you to look around and be the hand that blesses others. He wants you to be the hand that helps the single mother, or the waitress in the restaurant, or the friend who is really struggling. God may whisper to you, “Go up to that person in the grocery store and pay for their bill,” or “Go tell that family that you’re going to buy them Christmas this year.” Desire to be the hands that help feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and reach out to the prisoners. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
In 1 Kings 17, the prophet Elijah was about to starve to death, and God said, “Go to Zarephath. I’ve commanded a widow there to sustain you.” When Elijah arrived, the widow was cooking her last meal, but he said, “Make me a cake first.” God often will test you to see if you will trust Him with your finances and giving even when times are hard. The widow gave him her last meal, and God fed her for three and a half years! The same God who is able to feed thousands with three loaves and two fish will provide for you exceedingly above all you could ask or think.
In Mark 12, Jesus notices the giving spirit of a widow woman. “Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then, a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.’”
God will notice when you take your eyes off of your own needs and start meeting others’ needs. As God sees that He can trust you with the little you have, He will bless you with more. You are never more like Jesus than when you are meeting another person’s needs.
The Hand Of God
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.” Matthew 6:25-26
Another way God provides for you is by His mighty hand. Joseph took care of his family for many years, and for a long time, they had nothing to worry about. Pharaoh was their source. God used the hand of man as their provision in that season. But then the Bible says, “And there arose another Pharaoh after he died that knew not Joseph nor his God,” and everything changed. Suddenly, all the resources they had put their faith in were removed from their life.
You may be in a season where you feel like suddenly the source you had been relying on is now gone. Maybe you’ve lost your job, lost a big contract, or have become unable to work due to an illness. When a big financial shift occurs in your life, God can teach you a principle. People may bless you in many ways, but do not become reliant on them as your source. They were a faucet that the source flowed from, but you only have one source, and that is God. The ravens and the widow who fed Elijah were just a faucet to pour out God’s provision, but they were not the source.
God doesn’t want you to fall to pieces every time your financial situation changes. He wants you to know that He is your source in that moment of change. In Exodus 16:14, God sent manna from heaven in the wilderness to feed the children of Israel. There are still miracles of provision today. God can and will bless you supernaturally when you have a need. Declare today, “My God will supply all my needs according to His riches.”
In Matthew 17, Peter was in need of money to pay his taxes. Jesus tells him, “Go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us.” Jesus could have just had some rich follower pay the taxes, but He wanted Peter to witness a supernatural provision so he would never forget who his source was.
Take time today to look around and praise God for all the blessings you have that you may have never dreamed you could have. He opened doors no man could shut, and He paved the way for you to have what you have. But you’ll never be blessed with more until you become grateful and give Him the glory for what you have now. God has been good to you, so give Him thanks today!
You Have Unlimited Access
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22
After Jesus gave up His spirit and died, the Bible tells us, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51) The sky went black, and there was an earthquake, and the veil was torn. In the Old Testament, the veil was the curtain that separated mankind from the holy of holies. Behind that curtain was the mercy seat. Only the high priest could go behind the curtain once a year, and he would sprinkle blood onto the mercy seat seven times. Then, if the sacrifice was accepted, it meant the favor of God would be on the people. Their sins would be covered, they would see a blessing on their crops, and they would experience protection from their enemies. The veil was as thick as the palm of your hand and made out of linen. Historians have said it would take 20 teams of oxen to pull it in two. But it was ripped from top to bottom by the hand of God.
When Jesus died, the veil was ripped, and suddenly, the mercy seat was exposed to everybody. Jesus had made grace available to everyone. His grace isn’t just for one man, or a certain group, or a specific religion, but all people can enter in through the veil that was torn. The ripping of the veil was symbolic of the sacrifice of Jesus. He died so we could get to the heart of God. We have the same access to God now as the high priest did in the days of the Old Testament. Through Jesus’s blood, He has now opened a way to the mercy, favor, and forgiveness of God. Now “in Him, and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12
The Miracle Of Jesus
“And I suppose that if all the other things Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books.” John 21:25
The life of Jesus was one continuous miracle from the time of His birth to His death and resurrection. Jesus was a child from Heaven who was born of an earthly virgin mother. He was divinity-clothed in human form.
There are 41 recorded miracles of Jesus in the Bible, even though we are told there were too many to list them all. Jesus opened the eyes of the blind and raised the dead. He did what no man on earth could do. He defied the laws of this earth. Jesus commanded the wind and even walked on top of the water! When approached by people with sickness and disease, He simply commanded them to be healed. When there wasn’t enough food for the crowds to eat, Jesus would generate matter out of thin air that provided enough food for thousands.
In John 18:5, when the angry mob arrived to arrest Him, Jesus asked, “Who do you want?” Then, after they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth,” Jesus said, “I am He.” When He spoke those three words, they were all knocked to the ground! He was so powerful that just mentioning His name knocked them down.
Death itself could not hold Him. Jesus was tortured and then killed in a horrific way by being crucified on a cross. He was buried in a tomb for three days, but not even the laws of death could touch Him. He superseded all the limits of this world. He ascended into Heaven after He rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples. Even the laws of gravity didn’t apply to Jesus. He said goodbye and rose into the clouds.
One of the greatest miracles of Jesus was His sacrifice for all of humanity- for all the people who have walked the earth in the past and for all the future generations of people to come. His power reaches every one of us. Never stop being amazed by the miracle of Jesus.
The Lamb Is Too Good Not To Share
“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’” John 4:10
Jesus’s last words were to “Go into all the world.” Go. Reach. Stretch. He didn’t save you just to sit in church every week to hear sermons, be entertained by good music, and socialize with friends. His last word ought to be our first priority.
The very first evangelist in the Bible was a Samaritan woman who was divorced 5 times. Jesus met her at a well and explained to her that He was the living water that gives eternal life. Once He told her that He was the Messiah, she immediately dropped her water jug, ran to her village, and told everyone about Him. She shared her encounter with Jesus with everyone she saw, and an entire village came to meet him because of her boldness!
Somewhere out there today, there is an alcoholic who is waking up in his addiction and shame. There is a teenage girl who has gotten pregnant out of wedlock and is thinking about aborting her baby. There’s a couple on the verge of divorce. There’s maybe even someone who has lost all hope for living and is planning to end their life.
If you know Jesus, you have living water. You have the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and you must share Him. You may have gone through some hardships yourself. Use your victories to encourage others that God will carry them through if they will trust Him. Share your own story of how Jesus has changed your life. Like the Samaritan woman, be bold and excited to share Jesus with everyone you encounter.
You don’t have to be perfect to share the good news. If you’re drinking from the well of living water, you have something to offer men and women who have never even heard about the power of Jesus. You know, the one who can turn their life around. Don’t keep this gift to yourself.
The Power Of The Lamb
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins.” Colossians 2:13
In the Bible, the lamb represents Jesus. Exodus 12 says that God instructed the Israelites to put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their homes to protect them from the destroyer. After they ate the Passover meal, God told them to get ready to leave Egypt.
When you give your heart to Jesus and partake in the “meal of the lamb,” be ready to leave your old life behind! You may be held captive by an addiction, bondage, or stronghold that has been passed down for generations, but the blood of the lamb is still powerful enough to break you free. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for 470 years, but that did not stop God from moving them into a new life. Egypt represents a sinful life, and God is saying to you that the lamb is the way out of Egypt. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Vaping, alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual immorality, or any other sin can stop His power from setting you free. The lamb (Jesus) covers it all.
In Revelation 5, there was a frantic search for someone worthy in Heaven. John said, “And then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.” No one could meet the standard, not Abraham, Samson, or David- all of these had fallen short. But then suddenly, someone told John to stop weeping, and when he looked up, he saw “a lamb standing that had been slain.” Despite all the sin in the world, there was “a lamb still standing.” Jesus is still standing today. He is standing in the gap to offer you a way into eternal life. If you haven’t accepted Jesus, the lamb of God, as your Lord and Savior, it’s not too late. His sacrifice is more than enough to cover all your sins today.
If you would like to leave your old life and accept Jesus as your Savior, you can pray this prayer right now: “Jesus, I am a sinner. I need to be full of you, and I need your sacrifice to cover me. I ask for your forgiveness, and I will give my life to you from this day forward.”
Change Your Focus
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…” Philippians 3:13
What are you focused on today? Your focus is a choice. You need to have the right focus to fulfill God’s plan for your life. In the story of Job, you see a man who has lost everything. His wife even told him just to give up, curse God, and die. But in Job 42:10, right in the middle of his trial, Job shifted his focus. It reads, “When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes.” Instead of focusing on his sorrows, needs, and future, Job focused on others, and the moment he decided to do that, God turned his situation around and blessed him.
You can tell what you’re focusing on by what you are speaking. Proverbs 18:21 says that the tongue can bring death or life. You can tear your life to pieces by talking negatively and focusing on all the bad all the time. You create either an atmosphere that attracts God or one that repels God from your situation. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Suppose you are obsessed with your own hurts, constantly wallowing in self-pity, and continually rehashing the details of all the hardships you are going through. In that case, you are focusing on yourself and ignoring the God who can change things.
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, was asked to give a speech at a graduation. Everyone was really looking forward to him speaking because he had the reputation of being a gifted orator, but when he got up, all he said was the word “others,” and then he turned around and left the stage.
You have the right focus when you think of others in the middle of your own hardships. Don’t wake up every day trying to get your needs met, but think of others and how you can help them. Proverbs 11:25 says, “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Keep your words and focus off of yourself, and watch how God will turn your life around.
Picking Up Dropped Dreams
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
In Genesis 21, a mother named Hagar gave up on her dream. She dreamed of raising a son who would one day become a strong and mighty man. Finding herself homeless and in the wilderness, she allowed despair to take over and eventually dropped her dream. The baby’s frantic and desperate cries for food and water melted Hagar’s heart. With nothing else to give, she laid the child under a bush and left him to die.
But then an amazing thing happened. God heard the boy’s cries. The boy, Hagar’s dream, was crying out, and God said to the mother, “Go back!” God may be leading some of you in this season to go back and pick up your dropped dream. You may have given into discouragement and laid it down, but God may want you to return and pick it up again.
Hagar was at rock bottom. She had done all that she knew to do, but it looked like her dream wouldn’t happen. But God was not going to let her give up. He opened her eyes to His resources and showed her where the provision was and how to keep the dream alive.
God was with the boy as he grew up, and His promise to make him into a great nation came to pass. God will not leave you alone as you continue on the pathway to do His work. The Word assures us, “You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” Psalms 139:5
He is preparing the way before you and also following after you in case you should fall. Have the courage today to pick up your dropped dream. He will be with you every step of the way.
God’s Dream
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but receive everlasting life.” John 3:16
God loves you so much that he wants to be with you forever. This is possible because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The enemy thought he could stop this dream from coming true by having Jesus arrested and nailed to a cross, but ironically, calvary became the pathway for God’s dream to become a reality.
Jesus proved that you have to look beyond the situation you are currently in to get to your dream. Even one of his closest friends, Peter, tried to stop him from staying on the path of his dream of saving all of humanity.
In Matthew 16, Jesus told his disciples that he would soon be tortured and killed by the chief priests and teachers of the law. Peter reprimanded Jesus and assured him that this would never happen. Jesus turned to him and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God but merely human concerns.” Jesus knew that if he endured the nightmare of being hung on a cross, you would have the opportunity to experience forgiveness and eternal life.
Some people in your life may be offended by your dream, but never let that deter you from marching forward. Stay focused, and never allow distractions to prevent you from becoming the man or woman God calls you to be. Just like Jesus, keep your focus on where he is leading you. Always let his voice be loud, and trust him with your future.
God Given Dreams
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
In Genesis 28, Jacob slept on a stone, and God gave him an incredible dream and promise for his life. At the time this promise was given, Jacob was in the process of fleeing from his homeland because his brother wanted to kill him. He was forever changed by this dream that filled him with hope and purpose.
God wants to give you a dream, mission, purpose, and plan for your life. You can compare it to how a film director makes a movie. They will often shoot the last scene first so everyone watching already knows the movie's final outcome. Even though you see the character going through hardships and trials, everyone knows how the movie will end. God also knows how your life will turn out. He knows the ending, “I make known the end from the beginning…my purpose will stand…” Isaiah 46:10.
God sees the future and is committed to bringing that future to pass. His dream is a projected destiny of what you, your family, your marriage, and your purpose will be. It is a vision or a picture of your life once He places His hand on it.
Every God-given dream comes with obstacles and challenges. How you handle those adversaries makes all the difference. If you can’t endure the hardships, you will never experience the dream. The moment that most people give up is often the moment of the greatest opportunity. Obstacles are part of the pathway to your destiny. The question is, “Can God trust you with trouble?” You have to realize that the messes of your life can lead to miraculous things in your future.
The closer you get to God’s dreams and goals, the tougher it gets. It’s like when a woman becomes pregnant with a baby. At first, she just smiles and carries around the dream, and it’s easy. But it gets harder and harder; the end is the worst…and then comes the miracle. The same is true in your life when God places something to birth inside of you. The closer you get to the dream, the more pressure you feel. It will cost you something to get to where God wants you to be. You may feel like it’s too hard at times, but never ever allow anything to make you give up on the dreams God has for your life!
How God Uses Fire
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
Fire is mentioned 549 times in the Bible. God uses fire to serve many different purposes, and every use is for the benefit of His people.
God uses fire to protect you. In Zechariah 2:5, God says, “I’m going to put a wall of fire around your city.” He wants to keep the bad out of your life. He wants to keep your heart pure and separated from this sinful world. God will use the wisdom of pastors, the prayers of parents, and His daily word to be a firewall of protection around your life.
God will also use fire to restore you. Isaiah 42:3-4 says, “A smoking flax He will not quench, a bruised reed He will not break…” You may be tested with trials in this life, but with God on your side, you are unbreakable. There may be seasons where you go astray, only having just a small puff of “smoke” left, but God can still fan it back into a fire of passion for Him. Just take that little bit of faith and say, “God, I’ve left your path, but I need you to come help me!” God will hear your prayer, and He will be waiting to blow fresh wind on that little bit of faith you have left.
God also uses fire to ignite you. In Exodus 3:2, Moses saw a burning bush: "The bush was not consumed.” One day, you may find yourself in a place where you have lost the zeal for God that you once had. The enemy would love to keep you there, but these are serious times, and we cannot allow ourselves to be rocked to sleep. We have to stay alert and zealous for God. No matter how long you have been a Christian, you must seek God with all your heart. Take notes during the message, go to the altar to pray and allow God to speak to you, fast to humble yourself, and give all your to worship Him even when you don’t feel like it. Get around other people who are on fire for God. Take regular prayer walks, go on spiritual retreats, and do whatever you have to do to fan into flame that love for God that you had when you first got saved.
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor…” Romans 12:11
How To Keep Your Ship From Sinking
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Ezekiel 27 mentions the mighty ships of Tyre, the trading center of the world at that time. The ships were made from the finest cypress wood with sails crafted from Egypt’s best linen. They were “glorious” and “perfect in beauty.” The Bible goes on to say, “Wise old craftsmen from Gebal did all the caulking.” These were the workers down at the bottom of the boat who would caulk and seal the ship if it started to leak. It was their sole job to prevent water from getting inside. God thought these people were worth mentioning and immortalizing in scripture.
It didn’t matter how beautiful the ship looked on the outside. The caulkers knew if the ship started leaking on the inside, it would only be a matter of time before it went down. You may have a wonderful Christian family or a beautiful marriage, but like a ship, you have to maintain it. You have to be on the lookout for things seeping in that don’t belong there. You may need to go through your ship (or home) and “caulk” what’s on the internet, what’s being watched on TV, what music is being listened to, or what friends are coming in. Like the wise craftsmen, examine what’s leaking into your life.
When you first see sinful things seeping into your life or your children’s lives you need to do everything you can to caulk it. The Bible warns us to be watchful because the enemy prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Your boat will not stay afloat if you allow anger, bitterness, addiction, sexual immorality, idolatry, false doctrines, or any other evil thing to leak in. You need to safeguard your marriage and be on watch for threats to you or your children’s spiritual lives. Don’t wait until you are knee-deep in problems; identify them early. You need to be at a place in your relationship with God where you are regularly discerning right from wrong and not just letting anything into your home.
Our perfect example can be found in Jesus. Ephesians 4:30 promises you are “sealed for the day of redemption.” God has guaranteed that if you have confessed Jesus as Lord, you are saved. Jesus is the master “caulker,” we are so grateful for His great sacrifice for us that while we were sinners, He still loved us.
God Can Use Anyone
“These names all come from ancient records. They were the potters…they all worked for the King.” 1 Chronicles 4:23
1 Chronicles 4 specifically lists the names of potters that worked for the king. They are mentioned on a list with powerful people; however, the potters worked in the background using clay to make vessels to serve the food and basins that would hold the candles that gave light to the king’s palace. Interestingly, the Bible takes time to notice and acknowledge these potters and even places them on the same list as these great leaders.
When you often think of people God used, you may think about heroes like Abraham, Isaac, Samson, or David. Their achievements can make you feel like you could never measure up to their level of greatness. But don’t forget about the many unseen heroes in the background, hidden in the shadows of scriptures. Remember the people who designed and built the temple, provided room and board for the prophets, and made meals for Jesus and His disciples. These lives were also used to spread the gospel to the world.
Anytime you see someone in the limelight doing great things for God, you will find people in the background, making it all possible. These are the heroes running the sound systems, greeting new visitors, helping people plug into discipleship groups, praying for people at the altar, and even cleaning the church's bathrooms. Some of you are un-named, and nobody ever sees what you do. But God sees.
You may not be able to sing or preach, but you may have the gift of growing a business. That business could flourish, and your giving could make ministries possible that could not exist otherwise. You may be gifted with social media and can reach people in other countries that no one else could reach. Not every soul is won from the pulpit. It takes everyone using their gifts and giving what they can to reach people for God. Your life is so important.
Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up.”
And Then Some
“After she had given him a drink, she said ‘I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.’” Genesis 24:19
God is looking for people with an “and then some” attitude.
In Genesis 24, Rebekah stood out because when asked for a drink of water, she gave water to all the man’s camels! One camel can hold 40 gallons of water, and she gave all of them water until they couldn’t drink anymore. This was no small task! In Middle Eastern culture, it was common to offer someone a cup of water, but what Rebekah did was way above and beyond the norm. This act of service led to her being chosen as Isaac’s wife and catapulted her into a blessed life.
This mentality will elevate your life above average. When you do what is required of you and then some, you will start to get the attention of God. God blesses people who do something Jesus called “the extra mile.” Jesus said, “If a man compels you to go a mile and carry his bag for him, you are to go the second mile without being asked.”
Decide that you’re not going to be average on your job. You may not love where you work right now, but applying this principle will elevate you. You will not remain hidden and in the shadows. Three words distinguishing highly successful people from average people are “and then some.”
Be an outstanding Christian who doesn’t just do the bare minimum. Be an excellent spouse, parent, student, employee, or athlete. Decide to do everything expected of you…and then some, and then watch what God will do with your life!