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God’s Leadings
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2Co 5:7
Good leaders will tell you there are times when they’re not sure; when they don’t know all they’d like to know. And if they’re really frank they’ll admit, “I’m glad the people I’m supposed to lead don’t know how much I don’t know!” Whether you’re a leader or a follower, the Bible says, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” But let’s be honest; sometimes we know what God wants us to do but we don’t like it. So we pray hoping He’ll change His mind and rubber-stamp what we want. But it’s not going to happen. God can’t bless you beyond your last act of disobedience. In the book of Hebrews we read, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Heb 11:8 NIV). When you follow God, most times you’ll go out not knowing as much as you’d like to. Counselors, study groups, success manuals, committees, business plans, and projections can help you. But there comes a time when you have to leave your comfort zone and move in the direction God is pointing. Will you have answers to all your questions and clarity about all your concerns? No. Just like your car’s headlights don’t shine round the next corner, God will give you instructions on a “need-to-know basis.” And it’s the only way to live! It keeps you dependent on Him, helps you to remember who’s in charge and who deserves credit for your successes. And by the way, God’s leadings take a lifetime to learn, so don’t get discouraged.
Blessed On The Job
“In all to which you set your hand.” Dt 28:8 NKJV
The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means “spiritual calling.” Every vocation, regardless of what it is, is a calling from God. And once you start to see your job in that light, you’ll find it easier to believe God wants to bless you on the job. So with that in mind you need to: (1) Pursue work compatible with your gifts. “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised” (1Pe 4:11 NIV). (2) Learn everything possible about your job. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (Pr 1:5 NIV). (3) Recognize God as your true employer. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does” (Eph 6:7-8 NIV). (4) See work as God’s gift, not punishment. “When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God” (Ecc 5:19 NIV). (5) Use criticism to your advantage. In fact, make it work for you. Ask for suggestions and correction. “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured” (Pr 13:18). (6) Do more than what’s expected. “Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him [two]” (Mt 5:41). (7) See the Lord as your work partner. Stay Christ-conscious throughout the day as you perform your duties, and “the Lord shall command blessing on you…and in all to which you set your hand.”
People-Building (2)
“Each of us should please his neighbor…build him up.” Ro 15:2 NIV
Two men who shared a hospital room ended up becoming friends. One was allowed to sit up for an hour every day. His bed was beside the only window. The other man spent his life flat on his back. Each day the man at the window would describe the activity and color of the outside world: the park overlooking the lake, ducks swimming, children playing, couples walking hand-in-hand, the skyline in the distance. His friend, who could see none of this, smiled and imagined it all in his mind’s eye. One day the man by the window died and his roommate moved into his place. He propped himself up to look outside and was amazed to see a drab cinder-block wall! Confused, he asked the nurse how come his friend had described the scenery in such glowing terms. She replied, “Actually, he was blind and he couldn’t even see the wall. He just wanted to encourage you.” Paul said, “Each of us should please his neighbor…to build him up.” There’s great satisfaction in encouraging people, especially when your own situation is less than ideal. One author writes: “When you tell someone they’re beautiful, you change how they see themselves. A girl in love thinks she’s the most beautiful girl in the world because her young man said so. When a teacher tells a student he’s smart, he works harder and achieves more. When a parent tells a child she’s loved, she has confidence to reach for the stars. On the other hand, a doctor who point-blank tells a patient that he’s ‘terminal’ can speed up the death process.” Words are powerful; use yours to build people up.
Find A Prayer Partner; Pray In Agreement
“When two of you get together…heaven goes into action.” Mt 18:19 TM
The Bible says, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action.” Becky Smith was eighty-four years old and her sister Christine was eighty-two. The years had taken sight from the first and bent the body of the second, so they couldn’t attend church. Yet their church needed them. They lived on the Isle of Lewis off the coast of Scotland, and a spiritual darkness had settled on their village of Barvas. The congregation was losing people, and the youth were mocking the faith, speaking of conversion as a plague. In October 1949 the Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland called upon their members to pray. But what could two elderly, housebound sisters do? Quite a lot, they determined. They turned their cottage into an all-night house of prayer. From 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. two nights each week, they asked God to have mercy on their city. After several months, Becky told Christine that God had spoken these words to her: “I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground” (Isa 44:3 NKJV). She urged her pastor to conduct a revival and invite the well-known evangelist Duncan Campbell to speak. When Campbell refused to come, she insisted: “God says he’s coming and he’ll be here in a fortnight.” And it happened! For five weeks Campbell preached every night to overflowing crowds at 7:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m., midnight, and 3:00 a.m. Sinners were converted, pubs closed for lack of patrons, and the Isle of Lewis tasted the presence of God—all because two women prayed in agreement.
Nothing Can Separate You From God’s Love
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” Ro 8:35 NLT
Paul asked the great question: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” When you don’t know why God loves you in the first place, it’s easy to doubt His love at times. You want to know how He feels about you when you act like a jerk, when you snap at anything that moves, when your thoughts are gutter-level, and when your tongue is sharp enough to slice a rock. You ask, “How does He feel about me then?” And what about when bad things happen—does God care then? Does He love you in the midst of fear? Is He with you when danger lurks? In other words, “Will He ever stop loving me?” That’s the great question, isn’t it? Perhaps you crossed the line this week. Or you started drinking and kept at it until you couldn’t walk. Or your business took you where you’d no business being. Or you cursed God for making you stand at the grave of a loved one you weren’t ready to give up. Did you drift too far? Did you wait too long? Did you slip too much? Were you too uncertain? “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” No, absolutely not. Paul reassures us: “I am convinced that…Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power…above or…below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God…in Christ Jesus our Lord (vv. 38, 39 NLT).
Do What God Has Told You (6)
“You need to persevere.” Heb 10:36 NIV
Try to imagine what life on the ark must have been like for Noah. He probably didn’t get much sleep. He was feeding, cleaning, and caring for thousands of animals around the clock. And it must have smelled to high heaven. Did you know that African elephants produce eighty pounds of waste per day? It was smelly and messy. And that’s a pretty accurate picture of what obedience sometimes looks like. It’s hard work, and it gets harder. The blessings of God can complicate your life. But unlike sin, they bring a level of joy and fulfillment you have never known (See Pr 10:22). No matter what vision God has given you, it will take longer and be harder than you ever imagined. Noah offers a little reality check, doesn’t he? If a decade sounds like a long time to patiently pursue a God-ordained passion, try twelve decades! It’s amazing what God can do if you just keep hammering away year after year! We tend to overestimate what we can accomplish in a year, but we underestimate what God can accomplish in a decade. The key is to be a planner and a plodder. Planners see into the future and cast a vision; plodders put one foot in front of the other and keep going one day at a time. Success is not just about getting where God wants you to go, it’s about who you become in the process. It’s crossing the finish line the way the apostle Paul did: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2Ti 4:7 NLT). So, do what God has told you to do.
Do What God Has Told You (4)
“Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Ge 6:8 NIV
You ask, “What is the favor of God?” It’s God doing for you what you cannot do for yourself. It opens doors of opportunity. It turns opposition into support. It can help you land a promotion, make the list, or seal the deal. The Bible says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk 2:52 NIV). Note, just as you can grow in wisdom and stature, you can also grow in favor with God and men. So instead of being content with the level of favor you enjoy, ask God for an increase. You ask, “How do I find favor?” Obedience! It begins by surrendering your life to Christ. “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps 84:11 NAS). And God’s favor is not limited to the spiritual realm; it extends to the material realm as well. In Noah’s life, it translated into ingenious inventions. He didn’t just build the first boat and pioneer the shipbuilding industry, he also held a wide variety of patents. According to Jewish tradition, Noah invented the plow, the scythe, the hoe, and a number of other implements used for cultivating the ground. The favor of God translated into good ideas. It doesn’t matter what you do, God wants to help you do it. He wants to favor your business plan, your manuscript, your lesson plan, your legal brief, your sales pitch, etc. But you’ve got to position yourself for that favor by acting in obedience. If God knows He’ll get the glory, He will bless you beyond your ability and beyond your resources.
Don’t Be So Easily Upset
‘Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.’ Psalm 119:165 ESV
Are you easily upset? Even over little things? Spend more time praying and reading your Bible. The following article turned up in a newspaper: ‘A lady took my seat in church. She’s very nice… a good friend, in fact. I can sit anyplace; no big deal. My seat’s on the right as you enter the sanctuary. I can rest my arm on the end. It’s a good seat, but I wouldn’t raise a fuss about a seat… never hold a grudge. Actually, it was three months ago she took it and I really don’t know why. I’ve never done anything to her… never taken her seat. I suppose I’ll have to come an hour early to get my seat. She took it because it’s one of the best seats in the house. She’d no business taking it… and I’m not going to church two hours early to get what’s rightfully mine. This is the way social injustices begin: abusive people taking other people’s seats. It’s the way seeds of revolution are sown. A person can only stand so much. Where’s it all going to end? If somebody doesn’t stand up and be counted, nobody’s seat will be safe. People will sit anywhere they please, and next time they’ll take my parking place. World order will be in a shambles!’
We smile, but it’s amazing how quickly we get bent out of shape when our little routine is disrupted. Do you know why the Christian life is described as ‘the high calling’ (Philippians 3:14 KJV)? Because it means taking the high road and serving others, rather than taking the low road and putting ourselves first.
Ask God for the Impossible
“Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own”(Jeremiah 33:3b The Message).
Daniel gives us a great example for how to handle an impossible situation. When asked to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2, Daniel responded in a manner we can model.
In recent devotionals, I’ve told you that Daniel didn’t panic, and that he tried to understand why the king made the request. He also asked for more time, and then gathered a prayer team.
Daniel also prayed and asked for God to give supernatural help.
When you’re put in an impossible situation, your talent, logic, and education won’t solve your problem.
Only God can.
That’s why you pray and ask God for his supernatural help. God told Jeremiah, who lived at the same time as Daniel: “Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own”(Jeremiah 33:3b The Message).
That’s what Daniel needed. He needed the Lord to show him what he would never be able figure out on his own.
Daniel could guess for a thousand years and never figure out the king’s dream. But God could tell him in an instant.
The Bible says we don’t have because we don’t ask.
So many times we miss out on God’s best simply because we never ask him for it.
I’ve seen God do this over and over again in my life. I’ve faced big odds that I couldn’t fathom solving on my own. So I’ve prayed.
And God has answered. My life is a series of answered prayers.
I want God to do the same for you.
Will you ask him for his best for your life?
Do What God Has Told You (1)
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Ge 6:22 NIV
Noah’s ark measured 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height. A cubit is the equivalent of 17.5 inches. That means the ark was the length of one and a half football fields. The internal volume of the ark was 1,518,750 cubic feet—the equivalent of 569 train boxcars. If the average animal was the size of a sheep, it had capacity for 125,000 animals. To put that into perspective, there are 2,000 animals from 400 different species at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. That means you could fit sixty National Zoos on board Noah’s ark. And since it was the first boat ever built, it’s not like it came with an instruction manual. It was back-breaking work that required blood, sweat, and tears. And it took an incredible amount of faith to build the ark. Who builds a boat in the desert? Who hammers away for 120 years on something they might not even need? Who banks their entire future on something that has never happened before? According to Jewish tradition, Noah didn’t just start building the ark. He planted trees first. After they were fully grown, he cut down the trees, sawed them into planks, and built the boat. And here’s an interesting piece of information: Not until the late nineteenth century did a ship that size get constructed again. Yet that design ratio is still considered the golden mean for stability during storms at sea. Noah’s act of obedience literally changed the world. And obedience will change your world too, so do what God has told you
Don’t Be A Hypocrite
“All their works they do to be seen by men.” Mt 23:5 NKJV
Here’s a working definition of the word hypocrisy: “to be seen by men.” Jesus had a no-tolerance policy when it came to hypocrisy. Why? Because He knew it turns people against God. Instead, He taught: (1) Expect no credit for your good deeds. None. If no one notices, you aren’t disappointed. If someone does, you give the credit to God. Stop and ask yourself this question: “If no one knew of the good I do, would I still do it?” If not, you’re doing it “to be seen” by people. (2) Give your financial gifts in secret. Money stirs the phony within us. We like to be seen earning it. And we like to be seen giving it. So Jesus said, “When you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Mt 6:3 NLT). (3) Don’t fake your spirituality. When you go to church, don’t select a seat just to be seen, or sing just to be heard. If you raise your hands in worship, raise holy ones, not showy ones. When you talk, don’t doctor your vocabulary with trendy religious terms. Nothing nauseates more than a fake “Praise the Lord,” or a shallow “Hallelujah,” or an insincere “Glory be to God.” Ever hear children in a playground shouting, “Watch me?” That’s acceptable because they’re still immature, but it’s not acceptable in God’s kingdom. Silence the trumpets. Cancel the parade. Enough with the name-dropping. If accolades come, politely deflect them before you believe them. Slay the desire to be noticed. Stir the desire to serve God. In other words, don’t be a hypocrite!
Seven Scriptural Steps To Success
“He was…successful…because he obeyed the Lord.” 2Ch 31:21 CEV
Here are seven scriptural steps to success in life: (1) Put God first. He wants you to succeed; what good parent wouldn’t? So work on your relationship with Him. “Acquaint now thyself with him…thereby good shall come unto thee” (Job 22:21). (2) Help others to become successful. “Whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord” (Eph 6:8). Don’t just be interested in yourself, become interested in others too. (3) Create a climate of confidence around you. As long as you keep speaking words of doubt, you’ll never experience victory. Remind yourself that your “sufficiency is of God” (2Co 3:5). (4) Stay informed. “A wise man will hear and increase in learning” (Pr 1:5 NAS). Observe, read, and grow. If you’re willing to pay money for a good meal but not for a good book, perhaps you value your appetite more than your intellect. (5) Visualize yourself attaining your goal. Think and talk in success pictures. Moses did that: “He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept right on going” (Heb 11:27 TM). (6) Write down your plan and establish deadlines. Make a detailed list of required activities, and set checkpoints. Guard your mind and prioritize your time. “Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get” (Eph 5:16 TM). (7) Set a realistic goal. And work toward it one priority at a time. Many things in life fail for one reason—broken focus. So avoid distractions: “A double minded man is unstable” (Jas 1:8). If you do these seven things, you’ll succeed in life.
“Lord, What Should I Do?” (2)
“The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” Pr 12:15 NIV
Another way God will lead you is: Through godly advice. Moses experienced this. Instead of getting help, he tried to do it all himself. At that point his father-in-law, Jethro, said to him, “What you are doing is not good” (Ex 18:17 NIV). Then he told Moses to delegate responsibility to capable leaders who could share the load with him. “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said” (Ex 18:24 NIV). As a result, Moses’ problem was solved, and Israel made it successfully to the Promised Land. Some of the time God will speak to you directly and reveal what you should do, but much of the time He will speak to you through relationships. He will bring wise and seasoned people alongside you. At that point you need to be humble enough to heed their advice. You may be good; indeed, you may be better than most. But you’ll never be as good as you could be, without the help of others. But you must be careful who you listen to—trustworthy counselors and persons who want only what God wants. Such persons will stay objective, listen carefully, and answer slowly. Often they won’t give you an answer at the time you ask for it. They want to sleep on it; they want to pray about it; they want to think about it. Such a person is like having an extra set of eyes and ears. Why would you want to live without them? So today be open to those God sends into your life to help guide you.
“Lord, What Should I Do?” (1)
“God is working in you.” Php 2:13 NLT
Another way in which God will lead you is: Through the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. As a parent, you wouldn’t allow your children to get into trouble if you could stop them—and neither would God. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” God will give you a desire to do His will, plus the power to carry it out. You ask, “But how can I know God’s voice?” Through time, through testing, through experience, and most of all through intimacy with Him. When a loved one calls you on the phone, they don’t have to say, “Hello, this is your husband or your wife calling.” You know their voice! And learning to recognize the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit is crucial, because much of the time you won’t be able to figure it out. “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Pr 20:24 NLT). When all is said and done, you will say, “Honestly, I didn’t figure this thing out. It must have been God.” The longer you walk with God the less you’ll know about why He leads as He does, but you’ll know with assurance that He does lead you. Knowing that is what will draw you back to Him time and time again to seek His guidance. The apostle Jude said, “I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith” (Jude v.3 NIV). Those words—“I felt I had to”—are nothing less than the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Be A Peacemaker
“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Mt 5:9 NIV
Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar told of a little guy who was confronted by three big bullies, any one of whom could have flattened him. And clearly, that’s what they had in mind. But the little guy was very bright. He backed away, drew a line in the dirt, backed up a few more steps, looked into the eyes of the biggest bully and said, “I dare you to step across that line!” The guy did. Then the little boy grinned and said, “Good, now we’re both on the same side!” When you find yourself in the midst of conflict, you can decide to do one of two things: become a troublemaker or a peacemaker. You can add to the stress or try to bring a solution. Peacemakers look for common ground and try to get everyone onto it. Their goal is to find a win-win solution. Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Consolation,” stood up for the newly-converted Saul of Tarsus. The leaders of the church felt threatened by him, and you could hardly blame them. But Barnabas wasn’t thinking about Paul’s violent background; he was considering his value to God. In essence, he was thinking, “If we can harness and direct this guy, he can win the race for us.” And he was proved right. Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle. But not until Barnabas put his credibility on the line (See Ac 9:26-30). Peacemaking calls for taking risks. It means evaluating people by their best moments and qualities. Peacemakers are “big picture” thinkers who are governed by grace, not petty opinions and temporary conditions. So be a peacemaker.
Keep On Praying
“Never stop praying.” 1Th 5:17 CEV
Have you become discouraged and stopped praying about the problem? If so, the word for you today is: “Keep on praying.” God may not answer in the way you think He should, or within the timeframe you think He should, but when you pray according to His Word, He has promised to answer: “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps 84:11 NKJV). When the children of Israel went to battle against a vastly superior army of Amalekites, Moses selected the Mountain of Prayer over the Valley of Battle and the Israelites won (See Ex 17:8-13). When Abraham learned about the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he “remained standing before the Lord” (Ge 18:22 NIV) rather than rushing out to warn the cities. When advisors informed Nehemiah that Jerusalem was in ruins, what did he do? Before he laid one stone in the foundation, he built a foundation of prayer under the whole project (See Ne 1:4). Paul’s letters contain more requests for prayer than they do appeals for money or comfort. And what about Jesus? He rose up early to pray (See Mk 1:35). He dismissed people to pray (See Mt 14:23). He climbed a mountain to pray (See Lk 9:28). Before going to the cross, He prayed all night (See Lk 22:39-46). Every word He spoke and every work He performed was saturated in prayer. And if He needed to do that, you do too! Bottom line: You can accomplish great things after you’ve prayed, but nothing great until you’ve prayed. So the word for you today is–keep on praying.
People-Building (3)
“We…ought to bear with the failings of the weak.” Ro 15:1 NIV
If you think you’ve nothing of real value to offer others, consider the words of an unknown poet: “One song can spark a moment; one flower can wake a dream. One tree can start a forest; one bird can herald spring. One smile begins a friendship; one handclasp lifts a soul. One star can guide a ship at sea; one word can frame the goal. One vote can change a nation; one sunbeam lights a room. One candle wipes out darkness; one laugh can conquer gloom. One step can start a journey; one word can start a prayer. One hope can raise our spirits; one touch can show you care. One voice can speak with wisdom; one heart can know what’s true. One life can make a difference; you see…it’s up to you.” Author Jon Walker says: “Encouragement is part of God’s nature. The New Testament word for encouragement is the same word Jesus used for the Holy Spirit who comes alongside us as an advocate…constant comforter…resident reminder…holy helper…indwelling guide…supplier of courage. Another way God encourages us is when other believers come alongside us as agents of encouragement. Encouragers offer affirmation and confirmation to those who see God’s hand working in their lives (See 1Th 2:3-4); exhortation and reassurance to those who walk through trials and tribulations (See 1Th 5:14); and reconciliation and restoration to those who stray (See Gal 6:1). While there are many ways to bring out the best in others, in reality it only takes one: a willingness to ‘bear with the failings of the weak and not…please ourselves.’ That’s how we strengthen them in the faith. It’s called ‘people-building.’”
People-Building (1)
“Phebe…hath been a succourer of many.” Ro 16:1-2
Your church needs members committed to supporting and encouraging each other. People like Phebe, whom Paul calls “a succourer of many.” Succor: In Greek, it applied to Olympic coaches who supported athletes and made sure they were trained and equipped to win. Bible scholar H. F. Moule describes Phebe as “a champion…who stood up for others…a devoted, brave friend of converts in trouble, who fought battles of protest where she found oppression…and pleaded the cause of the poor.” That’s a heavy-duty assignment! And in today’s “Me Generation” not many are willing to take it on. But the truth is, there’s no greater investment than people. When you invest in another person you give yourself a gift, because you can’t light their path without brightening your own. And the divine rewards outweigh any earthly compensation: “Whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord” (Eph 6:8 NKJV). As one pastor observed: “You have something nobody else can give. Think about how you can make somebody else’s life better. Who can you support and strengthen? Somebody needs your encouragement today…needs to know you believe in him, that you’re for him, that you think he has what it takes to succeed. Looking back, chances are someone played a pivotal role in helping you get where you are today. A parent or teacher who had confidence in you…a boss who placed you in a higher position when you didn’t feel qualified…somebody who saw more in you than you saw in yourself.” Now it’s your turn!
Pray That God Will Open Their Heart
“As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart.” Ac 16:14 NLT
Some of us think that successful people are difficult to win to Christ because they don’t have the same needs as others. But they do. Everyone has an emptiness within them that only God can fill, and He wants to use you to fill it. Consider the story of Lydia. “One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth…As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. ‘If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my home.’ And she urged us until we agreed” (vv. 14-15 NLT). Not only did Lydia respond to the gospel, she opened her home so that others could come and hear it too. In many cases it’s easier to reach successful people with the gospel. Why? Because they know that to be successful you must be open to new ideas and concepts. And they understand that in order to enjoy continued success, you must stay open to change. Don’t let the fact that someone is not your social peer keep you from telling them about Jesus. Note the words, “As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart.” It’s your job to tell them, and it’s God’s job to open their heart! So sow the seed of His Word into their life when you have an opportunity, and believe that the “Lord of the harvest” will do the rest.
How To Pray For Others
“May God…give you grace, mercy and peace.” 1Ti 1:2 NLT
Let’s face it; much of the time we don’t know what problems people are dealing with or what they’re going through. So when you decide to pray for them, follow Paul’s example, in which he asked God to give Timothy these three things: (1) Grace. In the Bible, the word grace implies two things: first, God’s unmerited favor; second, “all of God’s ability you’ll ever need to handle whatever you are facing.” Here’s a great Bible promise you should stand on in times of difficulty: “God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong…support you and keep you from falling” (1Pe 5:10 NCV). (2) Mercy. A large publishing house had a machine that automatically mailed reminders to its readers when their subscriptions had expired. One day it malfunctioned and a rancher in a remote Colorado town received 9,734 notices. So he drove for miles to the nearest post office, mailed his check, and wrote, “Send me the magazine. I give up!” That’s how it is with God; He keeps sending us notices. “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (La 3:22-23 NKJV). (3) Peace. The peace God gives can sustain us through the worst of circumstances. And it’s different from the peace the world offers. At best, the world offers temporary relief. But “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds” (Php 4:7 NIV). So when you’re not sure how to pray for someone, ask God to give them His grace, His mercy, and His peace.
Do What God Has Told You (5)
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.” 1Co 1:27 NIV
As long as you need man’s approval, God is limited in what He can do through you. Faith is the willingness to look foolish. That’s why faith and humility go hand in hand. Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish believing she would conceive at ninety. Moses looked foolish asking Pharaoh to let his slaves go. The Israelite army looked foolish marching round Jericho blowing trumpets. David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a slingshot. The wise men looked foolish following a star. Peter looked foolish stepping out of the boat in the middle of a storm. And Jesus looked foolhardy hanging half naked on the cross. But the results speak for themselves, don’t they? Noah stayed afloat during the flood. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Moses delivered Israel out of Egypt. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. David defeated Goliath. The wise men found the Messiah. Peter walked on water. And Jesus rose from the dead. There comes a moment when you must quit hedging your bets, quit playing it safe and doing what you’ve always done. You need to build the ark, or at least plant some trees or saw some planks! Faith is acting as if God has already answered our prayers, and acting as if God has answered means acting on our prayers even if, as in the case of Noah, it takes 120 years. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mk 11:24 NIV). What has God told you to do? Start doing it!
Do What God Has Told You (3)
“Noah walked with God.” Ge 6:9 NKJV
What went through Noah’s mind when God told him to build a boat in the middle of dry land? Nobody had ever done it before. Yet the Bible says, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (v. 22 NIV). How did he do it? Answer: “Noah walked with God.” Walking takes place step by step. The trouble is, we want God to reveal the second step before we take the first step of faith. But until we take the first step, He won’t reveal the next step. We’ve got to be obedient to the measure of revelation He has given us, if we want more of it. That’s why we get stuck spiritually. We only want to follow Christ to the point of precedence—the place where we have been before—but no farther. We’re afraid of doing what we’ve never done before because it’s unfamiliar territory. So we leave unclaimed the new gifts, new anointings, and new dreams God wants to give us. You’ve got to push past the fear of the unknown. You’ve got to do something different. The African impala can jump ten feet high and thirty feet long, yet it can be contained in a small enclosure with four-foot-high walls. Why? Because it will not jump if it cannot see where it’s going to land. We have the same problem, don’t we? We want a money-back guarantee before we take a leap of faith, but that eliminates faith from the equation. We are called to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7). So the word for you today is: Do what God has told you.
Worshipping God Is First Step in Learning
“Start with God — the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning” (Proverbs 1:7 The Message).
How do you become a great student?
Worship God.
The Bible says it like this: “Start with God — the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning” (Proverbs 1:7 The Message).
The apostle Paul once told Timothy that the problem with many people was they knew a lot — but not what was most important. In fact, Jesus told the religious leaders, “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me!(John 5:39 The Message).
One day, after your life has ended, you’ll stand before God. It’ll be your final exam. It’ll be far more important than any exam a teacher or professor gives you.
At that final exam, God won’t talk about how you did in math or social studies.
He’ll ask, “Did you know me?”
How will you answer?
Do What God Has Told You (2)
“By faith Noah…built an ark.” Heb 11:7 NIV
Noah built the ark because God commanded it. It’s what he was called to do in life. Sawing planks and hammering nails for him was an act of obedience. And when everything was said and done, it was the longest act of obedience recorded in Scripture. From start to finish, Noah’s one act of obedience took 43,800 days! And with each daily act of obedience, he glorified God. No matter what tool you use in your trade—a hammer, a keyboard, a mop, a football, a spreadsheet, a microphone, an espresso machine—using it is an act of obedience. It’s the mechanism whereby you worship God. It’s the way you do what you’re supposed to do. The Bible says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17 NIV). Stop putting yourself down and thinking what you do is not important. Remember the old proverb, “For want of a nail”? It goes like this: “For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the message was lost. For want of a message the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” In God’s eyes, small acts of obedience are big things. When you joyfully do little things like they are big things, then God will do big things like they are little things. That’s how His kingdom advances. So the word for you today is: Do what God has told you.
Don’t “Go It Alone”
“‘It is…by my Spirit,’ says the Lord.” Zec 4:6 NLT
Zerubbabel was called to rebuild the temple. It was a huge undertaking, so God told him, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord…‘Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way” (vv. 6-7 NLT). When God calls you, you need to know: (1) You may have to walk alone. When God uses you, people often assume you’re strong and don’t need anything. They don’t realize you’re just a regular person who’s half scared to death at times, and who’s more amazed by your success than they are. And when nobody stands with you or ministers to you, you become vulnerable to discouragement. (2) You need God’s help or you’re in trouble. Samson discovered this: “He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him” (Jdg 16:20-21 NIV). God stepped back and let Samson see that it was the Lord doing it, and not himself. So you must live with a sense of dependence on God. (3) It’s God’s power, not yours, that makes the difference. If you’re waiting for God to give you exceptional equipment before you decide to get into the fight, you’re not going to experience victory. God’s “strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Co 12:9). The way you know you’re truly anointed is when God takes substandard equipment and performs supernatural feats. And that only happens when you say, “Lord, I don’t see how You could do this through me, but I’m trusting You to.” That’s when He gets involved!
Labor And Laziness
“Hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Pr 14:23 NIV
In the book of Proverbs, Solomon uses the word sluggard no less than seventeen times. A sluggard isn’t a person who would work but can’t find a job; a sluggard is a person who could work but won’t. The story is told of a fellow who applied for assistance at the welfare office. The official asked, “Why do you need financial aid?” He replied, “Because I’m having trouble with my eyes.” The official asked, “What’s the nature of your eye trouble?” The man replied, “I just can’t see myself going to work every day.” And every sluggard has eye trouble. Or it doesn’t bother him as long as somebody else is doing the work. President Theodore Roosevelt was right when he said: “Extend pity to no man because he has to work. If he’s worth his salt, he’ll work. I envy the man who has work worth doing, and does it well…far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Somehow we’ve lost the spirit, if not the letter of President Roosevelt’s thinking. Ask any employer and they will tell you that someone who’ll work, work hard, do the job right, and finish the task, is getting harder to find. God’s not against leisure. A worker who’s rested and refreshed will be a better worker. Solomon’s contrast in the book of Proverbs is between labor and laziness. Parent, one of the best things you can do for your children is to pass a strong work ethic on to them, and set them up to succeed in life.
“Lord, What Should I Do?” (3)
“Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.” Isa 42:16 NIV
Another way God will lead you is: Through confronting your fear and taking a step of faith. Are you feeling uncertain or afraid as to God’s will in the situation? His promise to you is: “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them” (v. 16 NIV). Pay particular attention to the words: “unfamiliar paths”…”darkness”…“rough places.” When you’ve sought God’s guidance through the Scriptures, when you’ve tried to listen to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit, and when you’ve reached for the wisdom of trustworthy people, then you must step out in faith and do what you believe God is calling you to do. It’s one thing to ask, “Lord, what should I do?” It’s entirely another thing to ask, “Am I willing to do it once You make it clear?” Try to answer these two questions: (a) What makes risk so difficult for you? Be honest. For most of us risk and change are uncomfortable, challenging, and even threatening. That’s why the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Pr 3:5). If you’ve been in the habit of leaning on your own understanding, it’s a hard habit to break. Now, God doesn’t say, “Don’t use your understanding”; He says, “Don’t lean on it—lean on Me.” (b) Are you willing to make a major change in your life—assuming that it’s the Lord’s will? You must answer these two questions. And not until they are answered correctly are you ready to move ahead.
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Pass It On
“Ask yourself what you want people to do for you…and do it for them.” Mt 7:12 TM
The Bible says, “As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed…self-promoting…dog-eat-dog…the kind…who smooth-talk…and take advantage” (2Ti 3:1-6 TM). If you don’t believe that, try sliding into a parking space another motorist wants. Or watch shoppers in a checkout line elbowing one another to save thirty seconds. And how about “your seat” in church; you know, the one you’ve been warming for thirty years? The Bible says, “Be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves” (Php 2:3-4 CEV). Jesus said, “Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.” In other words, practice putting others first. Nobel Prize-winning medical missionary Albert Schweitzer said, “The only ones among you who will really be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” If you need motivation, start looking for the good qualities in people instead of the bad ones. And remember, they have to do the same in your case. Do something to help them. If you really want to get ahead in life, love others a little bit more than they deserve, just like God loves you. Too often we expect everyone else to practice the Golden Rule. Hymnast Henry Burton wrote: “Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on. ’Twas not given for thee alone, pass it on. Let it travel down the years, let it wipe another’s tears, till in heaven the deed appears—pass it on.”
The Answer’s On The Way!
“Shunem, where [there] was a great woman.” 2Ki 4:8
The Bible refers to this woman as “a great woman.” That’s because she had a “great” strategy for her life! She prepared a bedroom in her house for Elisha the prophet to use when he passed through town. As a result she got her heart’s desire: a baby boy. And later when her son died suddenly, God used Elisha to raise him from the dead. Notice three things in this woman’s story: (1) She made room for God. (2) Her dream came to pass. (3) When her dream died, God brought it back to life (See vv. 36-37). When her son died, the neighbors probably told her, “It’s over. Go ahead and bury him.” But she refused to accept the opinions of unbelieving people or discuss her situation with those who were unqualified to help. Be careful who you open up to in a crisis! Make sure they know God, and that their words line up with His. This woman believed that if God started it, He could finish it. If He made it, He could fix it. The Bible tells us Elisha stretched out his body on top of the dead boy, and he got warm. But this boy needed more than warmth—he needed life. So Elisha stretched out on top of him again, and he became fully alive. There’s a lesson here for you. No matter how bad things look, stay on top of the situation by believing God. Walk the floor and pray all night if you have to, but keep standing on His Word. Your dream may not yet be fully alive, but it’s getting warm. Things are improving…God is moving…the answer’s on the way!