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Fresh Grace Every Day
“I am concerned about the big business deal that I have to close tomorrow.” “I am worried about tomorrow’s job interview.” “My medical test results will be out tomorrow. I am afraid it won’t be good.”
God does not want you to worry about tomorrow. He wants you to know that He gives you all the help you need for today, and when tomorrow comes, so will fresh help from Him.
This is God’s principle even in the Old Testament. When the children of Israel were in the desert, God gave them fresh manna from heaven every morning. (Exodus 16:13–16, 31) They did not have to worry about tomorrow because when tomorrow came, there was fresh manna again. He was their provision every day.
Today, God’s manna is the grace He gives you every day. If you are worried about a situation tomorrow, know that there will be sufficient grace for that situation when it comes. God wants you to simply rest in His ability to heal, deliver, protect and provide for you every day.
In the Old Testament, when the armies of Moab and Ammon came against King Jehoshaphat, God told the anxious king, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle…stand still and see the salvation of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 20:15–17)
When the next morning came, King Jehoshaphat saw how God caused such confusion to come upon his enemies’ camp that it brought about their own slaughter. Amid all that fighting in the enemy camp, God’s people merely stood still and saw Him fight the battle for them just as He had promised.
My friend, when you see a problem looming in your tomorrow, don’t be afraid or dismayed. Look to the Lord, and see His grace and salvation deliver you.
God wants you to live a stress-free life, not one filled with worries about tomorrow’s problems. When tomorrow comes, His grace will be there for you as your help, protection, favor and enabling!
Pray Perfect Prayers In The Spirit
Wouldn’t you like to pray effective prayers that are always in line with the will of God and which always hit the mark? Well, when you pray in the Spirit, you can.
You see, when we pray in English or our known language, and according to our limited understanding, we can pray amiss. Sometimes, our heads get in the way and we find ourselves asking, “Isn’t it selfish of me to pray like this?” or “Am I praying in line with God’s will?”
My friend, that is why God gives us the gift of praying in tongues. When we pray in tongues or in the Holy Spirit, we can never pray out of God’s will because the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God”.
In other words, we pray perfect prayers in line with God’s will when we pray in tongues. And the Bible goes on to tell us that “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him”. (1 John 5:14–15)
Isn’t it wonderful that God has put in you the Holy Spirit who prays perfectly? He knows the heart of God and precisely what you need. And He makes intercession for you because He loves you very much.
The Holy Spirit is like your lawyer or legal counselor. He knows what belongs to you legally. He knows what your blood-bought rights are in Christ. Best of all, He knows exactly how to enforce them in your life!
Beloved, when you pray in tongues, you allow the Holy Spirit to pray perfect prayers through you. He pleads your case before God. He knows where you have gone wrong and what the root of the problem is. He also has the wisdom, solution and power to win your case. With the Holy Spirit on your side, you cannot but come out victorious!
What Have You Been Saying?
Many things in life can cause us to fear—losing our jobs, deadly diseases, terrorist attacks and so on. When these things confront us, we tend to give in to worry and fear, and start talking about our fears.
Job was no different. He constantly feared that God would punish him and his family because he kept thinking that his sons had sinned against God. He would get up early in the morning to offer burnt sacrifices, saying, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” And the Bible tells us that he did this “regularly”. (Job 1:5)
So Job kept confessing the sins of his sons and fearing that something terrible would happen to him and his family. In fact, his sin-consciousness didn’t just produce fear, the Bible tells us that he “greatly feared”. (Job 3:25)
It is important that we understand that it was Job’s sin-consciousness that opened the door to Satan. His preoccupation with sins that his family may have committed gave Satan the opportunity to bring death and destruction into his life. God had a hedge of protection around Job. But when he started being sin-conscious and having a fearful expectation of judgment, the hedge was removed and Satan could attack him. (Job 1:9–12)
My friend, today, if you have sinned, don’t say, “I have failed again. I deserve to be punished by God.” Know that you already have forgiveness of sins because Jesus was punished and condemned in your place! (Ephesians 1:7) So say, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ. Jesus, You are my holiness and perfection.” (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
We must be mindful of what we believe and say regularly because “death and life are in the power of the tongue”. So when you hear of a deadly virus taking many lives, don’t say, “I’m next because I have not been a good Christian!” Instead, say, “Jesus, You are my righteousness and protection. Surely You shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence!” (Psalm 91:3)
Beloved, such believing and confessing not only please God, but they also shut the door on Satan so that he cannot make any inroad into your life!
“God is” (3)
“The Lord is…the Creator of…the earth.”
Isa 40:28 NIV
Contrary to what we’ve been led to believe, science and Scripture aren’t necessarily opposed. The ranks of Bible-believing scientists have grown rapidly since the discovery of quantum physics, which demonstrates the amazing symmetry and order that make up the universe. Did you know that one of the most brilliant scientific books of our time was written by no less than sixty notable scientists, including twenty-four Nobel Prize winners? The book’s title is Cosmos, Bios, Theos,which means Universe, Life, and God. And one of the contributing authors, Yale physicist Professor Henry Margenau, concludes, “There’s only one convincing answer” for the intricate laws that exist in nature. And what does this brilliant man think it is? Evolution? Coincidence? Happenstance? No! Margenau believes that “creation is by an omnipotent omniscient God.” So to believe in God is to believe in science…and the infallible Word of God. The Bible says: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth…He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (vv. 28-31 NIV). That means through prayer you can tap into the greatest power and most loving care in the universe. Amazing! Howyou face each day depends on Who you’re looking to. So look to God. Put your trust in Him. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Pr 16:3 NIV).
“God is” (1)
“God is…a very present help in trouble.”
Ps 46:1 NKJV
The Bible says, “God is…a very present help in trouble.” But first you must believe that “God is,” otherwise the best you can hope for is good luck or human help. And how far do you think that’ll get you? When the doctor says he can’t do any more to save you or a loved one, who will you turn to? When you’ve run out of answers and need guidance, where will you go to find them? When you’re guilt-ridden and long for peace and forgiveness, who’ll provide them for you? When you do away with God you become your own god, because you recognize no greater power in the universe than yourself. You can see why the Bible says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Ps 14:1 NKJV). How foolish to cut yourself off from the greatest source of help in all the universe! For the next few days let’s talk about why “God is,” and why you should put your trust in Him.
First, let’s look at astronomy. The Bible says: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship…night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word…Yet their message has gone throughout the earth” (Ps 19:1-4 NLT). Did you know that 90 percent of the world’s astronomers believe in God? That’s a higher percentage than can be found among butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers! The great minds who have thoroughly examined His handiwork, believe that “God is.” How about you?
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Prepare yourself
“We rebuilt the wall…for the people worked with all their heart.”
Ne 4:6 NIV
To succeed, Nehemiah needed favor with his boss, the king. So he prayed that this heathen potentate would finance the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. It was a bold prayer, and it wasn’t answered overnight. But Nehemiah didn’t sit around waiting. In the meantime he put together a plan, assembled a team, and scheduled a date to begin the work. That way when the king said yes, he was ready to move. Some folks think if God’s going to do something, why should we do anything? Then there are those who think they don’t need God at all, so they try to do it on their own. But both extremes are wrong. Sometimes God has to balance what He’s doing in your life with what He’s doing in somebody else’s life, so that “all things work together for good” (Ro 8:28). In Nehemiah’s case, waiting for a letter of authorization from the king and funding for the project was like waiting for a government grant—it can take a while. But the Bible says, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Pr 21:1 NAS). Nehemiah exercised bold confidence in God’s willingness to provide. He also understood that while he was waiting, it was his responsibility to prepare and set things in place so that when God gave him the green light he was ready to move. He exercised faith—and wisdom. He knew he couldn’t do God’s part, and that God wouldn’t do his part. So the word for you today is: “Prepare yourself!”
Be an Esther
“These things happened to them as examples for us.”
1Co 10:11 NLT
It’s a mistake to think the great achievers in the Bible were somehow different from us and say, “In my situation a life like that isn’t possible.” Esther was born into slavery, and because of her beauty a pagan king made her one of his wives. Talk about feeling out of place! But no place is out of place, when you’re in the place God wants you to be! When Haman plotted to have the Jews exterminated, Esther was strategically positioned by God to save them. She discovered her life’s purpose when her uncle Mordecai told her she had “come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Est 4:14 NKJV). And what was her response? “I will go to the king [on behalf of my people]…and if I perish, I perish!” (v. 16 NKJV). But instead of perishing, she prevailed! So what can we learn from Esther? (1) When you first start out, God won’t give you all the details.That doesn’t mean He doesn’t have a plan. It’s in seeking Him that you discover His plan and draw on His strength. (2) Knowledge is power. Whether you’re a slave or a sovereign, when you know God has called you it enables you to overcome each obstacle as it arises. (3) Knowing God’s in control gives you boldness. When Esther said, “If I perish, I perish,” she was simply putting herself into God’s hands, knowing that even death can be faced with confidence when you trust Him. Not only does God have a place for you here on earth, He has an even better one for you in heaven. And that puts you in the ultimate win-win situation.
Staying power (4)
“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him.”
Ge 37:5 NIV
Staying power overcomes misunderstanding and rejection. Sometimes the people you count on to support you will actually try to undercut you. When God gives you a vision too big for them to handle, they’ll say, “You’re getting too big for your boots,” and then try to cut you down to size—their size! Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, then went home and told their father he’d been killed by a wild beast. Can you imagine how Joseph felt when someone asked, “Tell me about your family”? General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “There are no victories at bargain prices.” And sadly, betrayal happens as often in church as in secular society. When Charles Spurgeon was in his early twenties, such large crowds came to his church that the building couldn’t accommodate them. So he met with thirty of his church leaders and suggested they build an auditorium that would seat 5,500 people. Allegedly, he told them that if any of them doubted the possibility of accomplishing this, they should leave. And twenty-three did! But Spurgeon held true to the vision God had given him. He had the “stickability” to see it through, and for over thirty-five years crowds packed the Metropolitan Tabernacle morning and night, making it one of the most influential churches in history. “Got any rivers you think are un-crossable? Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible; He can do just what no other can do.”
Staying power (2)
“Here on earth you will have many trials.”
Jn 16:33 NLT
Two more reasons you need to develop staying power are: (1) It overcomes prolonged illness. When sickness saps your physical, emotional, and mental strength—that’s when you need staying power. The Bible says, “The strong spirit of a man [or woman] sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?” (Pr 18:14 AMP). Charles Spurgeon was known to multitudes as “the prince of preachers.” His ministry impacted London and much of the British Isles. Yet he was so sick that he had to spend a lot of his time resting in Southern France. His wife, who became an invalid after the birth of their twin sons, transcended her physical limitations with staying power. Though paralyzed, she directed from her bed an unprecedented book distribution effort. And it’s largely because of her staying power that Spurgeon’s books are on the shelves of more people around the world than the books of most other ministers. (2) It overcomes financial limitations. George Müller, who founded homes for orphans in England, is a prime example of staying power. He saved the lives of thousands of children, and he did it by faith. Many times he didn’t have the money to buy food for their next meal, but he never complained. Instead he prayed. And in response to his faith, money poured in from all over the world, much of it from people he never knew. Müller lived by the scriptural principle: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Ro 12:11-12 NIV).
What it means to really love
“Love cares more for others than for self.”
1Co 13:4 TM
Some of the greatest insights on what it means to love someone come from the pen of the apostle Paul: “No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always ‘me first,’ doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies” (vv. 3-8 TM). John had been married to Mary for fifty years. One night in bed she said, “When we were young you used to hold my hand.” A little irritated, he slowly reaches out his hand. “When we were young you used to snuggle up to me,” Mary said. Even more slowly, John’s body creaks and turns, nestling against hers. “When we were young you used to nibble on my ear,” she whispered. Abruptly he throws back the covers and jumps out of bed. Bewildered, Mary asks, “Where are you going?” “To get my teeth!” he grumbles. To nibble on an ear when you’re full of romance and bubbling hormones is one thing. To nibble on that same ear years later when it holds a hearing aid, when the scent in the air is Vicks VapoRub, and when you have to get up to get your teeth—that’s love!
God Is A Giver, Not A Taker
Some Christians mistakenly believe that God gives and also takes away. At funerals, we sometimes hear the minister say, “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
I remember an occasion when I was looking at a baby who was suffering from cancer. I heard one of his family members comment, “You can’t be sure what God’s will is. He may or may not heal.” What that person meant was that although the Lord had given the parents this baby, He might later take the baby away from them.
Job displayed this very same attitude when he received the news that he had lost his property and children. Thinking that God was the source of his problems and not knowing that it was actually Satan who had come against him, he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Such a statement seems to honor God, but in reality, it reveals an erroneous view of our heavenly Father.
As children of God, we know what the Father’s will is for us. He is a giver, not a taker! Jesus said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) It is the devil who is the thief. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus came to give us life more abundant. (John 10:10)
Jesus met every need and healed every sickness brought before Him, and at the cross, He gave His own life. Never once did He take anything away from the people who came to Him. And the Bible says that whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father. (John 14:9)
Beloved, your heavenly Father wants you to know today that He is the one who gives you all good things. And if He has already given us heaven’s best—Jesus, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?
Compassion With Action
Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
My friend, there is no trial, difficulty or challenge we face today that our Lord Jesus cannot identify with. The moment we experience a trial, right there and then, because He “was in all points tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:15), He feels it too and is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.
Jesus’ compassion for you is the same compassion He felt for the widow at Nain when He saw the dead body of her only son being carried out of the city gate to be buried. (Luke 7:11–15) It must have been terrible for her to experience the death of her only son after having already experienced the death of her husband. What a horrible thought to be left all alone in the world with no means of support! When Jesus saw her, He was moved with compassion and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Now, some religious leaders might also be moved to approach her, but only to say, “Look sister, something is terribly wrong. Your husband died. Now, your only son has died. You must find out what is wrong. You better ask God what sin you have committed and repent. Or perhaps there is a curse in your life that needs to be broken.”
Isn’t it beautiful that Jesus did not extend more confusion or condemnation toward her? He only extended His compassion to her, telling her, “Don’t weep.” This same Jesus will also come to you when you are most distraught and say, “Don’t cry.”
And Jesus’ sympathy does not stop at “Oh, you poor thing! I am so sorry about what has happened to you.” No, His sympathy will move Him to give you the miracle you need in your life. That is why He raised the widow’s son back to life!
Beloved, rest in the truth that He who is seated at the Father’s right hand today understands what you are going through and sympathizes with your weaknesses. The compassion of Jesus toward you causes Him to breathe life into your dead situation and turn it around for your good!
Four steps to overcoming fear
“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.”
Ps 118:6 NIV
First, be willing to take a risk. Yes, you might be hurt or embarrassed—so what? To overcome insecurity and gain confidence you must allow yourself the freedom to take a chance. Start writing that book, take those music lessons, stand up and speak at the meeting! Feel the fear and do it anyway! “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Pr 29:25 NIV). Second, learn to laugh at yourself. Get over your obsessive need for approval and acceptance and learn to laugh at your mistakes. We’re all human; stop taking yourself so seriously! When you make a mistake, be the first to see the funny side, and you’ll find people more supportive than you think. Third, start thinking realistically. It’s time to drop the security blanket and realize it’s not all about you. You are not the center of the universe, and your little faux pas don’t mean that much in the bigger scheme of things. Besides, mistakes are often better teachers than success. Fourth, reward yourself for little victories. When you complete a project, reward yourself. When you take advice or correction without retaliating, reward yourself. Often the people we lash out at, are those trying the hardest to help us. Get used to the idea that you’re valuable, talented, and skilled, and your worth in God’s eyes is inestimable. Stop scrutinizing yourself through distorted lenses and start seeing yourself with 20/20 vision. Once you can do that, your fears will be replaced by confidence in yourself and in your future.
Getting what you want (3)
“You do not have because you do not ask.”
Jas 4:2 NKJV
Notice: (1) There are benefits you won’t receive unless you ask for them. Plus, “asking and receiving” works wonders for your self-esteem. Imagine the joy these five daughters felt when their petition was granted. Obviously they were emotionally secure or they wouldn’t have tried it. So as a redeemed child of God, declare, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Ro 8:31). (2) Timing is important. “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences” (Pr 27:12 NLT). The daughters of Zelophehad spoke up while they were still in the wilderness; the Promised Land hadn’t yet been conquered. There’s nothing like good planning. You can’t just sit around and assume others are thinking about your welfare. For example, after the raises are announced is not the time to petition your boss for an increase. Zelophehad’s daughters made life better for every other woman in Israel. So by speaking up and confronting the situation not only will you be blessed, others will too. (3) Strive for a win-win situation. The battle was not yet over. The daughters of Zelophehad had uncles who appealed the new ruling, pointing out that if these women married men outside their tribe then their land holdings would go to other tribes. So God made another ruling; to possess land you must only marry within your own tribe (See Nu 36:5-11). And when it comes to marriage, spiritually speaking that principle still applies. “She is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord” (1Co 7:39 NKJV). The same for men.
Submit to God’s correction
“I…reprove and chasten.
Rev 3:19 AMP
God’s correction humbles us in ways we need to be humbled. And when He does it, we have three options: (1) Rebel against Him. (2) Rationalize and make excuses. (3) Receive His correction and get back on track. But lasting change can’t evenbegin until you accept that God loves you unconditionally and just as you are. Without that, you’ll keep trying to change yourself in a vain attempt to earn His love and acceptance. The truth is, you already have it—you just don’t know it! Many of us think that by accepting ourselves we’re excusing all the things that are wrong with us. Not so! You can’t properly receive God’s correction until you’ve a clear understanding of how much He loves you. Without that you’ll interpret His correction as rejection, and see His disapproval of yourbehavior as disapproval of you. To grow spiritually you must believe that God is committed to you, especially when He deals with you correctively and leads you in ways you don’t understand. During such times you must have an unshakeable trust in His love for you. The apostle Paul was convinced that nothing could separate him from God’s love (See Ro 8:39). In Revelation chapter three God is speaking to each of us when He says, “Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults…convict and convince…reprove and chasten.” One of the strongest evidences of God’s love and acceptance, is His correction. Indeed, you should be concerned about theabsence of it! So if God’s correcting you right now, take heart and rejoice! It means He has good things in store for you.
To Hear God, Get Near to God
“It is the Lord who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding”(Proverbs 2:6 TEV).
You say, “I want to trust God, but I don’t hear him.”
You don’t hear God when your mind is filled with a thousand other distractions. To hear God, you’ve got to get near to God. You’ve got to get alone with God and be quiet.
The Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV). That means sit down and shut up. That’s how you hear God and get near to God. You have to sit alone and just be quiet with your Bible and say, “God, is there anything you want to say to me?” You read God’s Word, and you talk to him about what’s on your heart.
And, God says he will give you the wisdom you need to recognize his voice and follow through on what he says: “It is the Lord who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6 TEV).
Pray this today: “God, I want to listen to you, not the voices of doubt. I want to get close to you and get to know you better. I want to hear you, and I promise to then obey you. I want to be one of the people that you can use and bless.”
“God is” (4)
“I…made the earth and created mankind upon it.”
Isa 45:12 NIV
Ever wonder why we’ve failed to find life on any other planet, yet ours is designed to sustain us and meet our most basic everyday needs? It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Do you think it’s just a coincidence? Not according to the Bible. In it God says, “I…made the earth and created mankind upon it.” Did you know that if the earth was 10 percent larger or 10 percent smaller, life as we know it wouldn’t be possible? Or that we’re just the right distance from the sun so we receive the right amount of heat and light? If we were any farther away we’d freeze, and if we were closer we wouldn’t be able to survive. Consider for a moment the amazing tilt of the axis of the earth. None of the other planets are tilted like ours at 23 degrees. This angle allows the sun’s rays to touch every part of the earth’s surface over the course of a year, as the earth circles the sun. If there was no tilt to the axis, the poles would accumulate enormous masses of ice, and the center of the earth would become so hot we couldn’t stand it. Like an excited parent designing a room for the arrival of their newborn child, God made this earth specifically for us. “For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited” (v. 18 NIV). That’s how much God cares for us.
“God is” (2)
“Lift your eyes…to the heavens; Who created all these?”
Isa 40:26 NIV
Many of the world’s greatest thinkers believe that God not only exists, but that He created the universe and its inhabitants. So the next time someone tells you that only simple, uneducated people believe in God—don’t buy it. Dr. Robert Jastrow, founder and director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies at NASA, writes in his blockbuster book, God and the Astronomers: “The astronomical evidence supports the biblical view of the origin of the world…The details differ, but the essential elements in the astronomical and biblical accounts of Genesis are the same…Science has proved that the universe exploded into being at a certain moment…What cause produced this effect? Who or what put the matter or energy into the universe? Science cannot answer these questions…and for the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountain of ignorance…is about to conquer the highest peak, and as he pulls himself over the final rock he’s greeted by a band of theologians who’ve been sitting there for centuries.” Pierre-Simon Laplace, another of the world’s great astronomers, said that proof in favor of an intelligent God was infinitely more probable than that a set of writing implements thrown promiscuously against parchment would produce Homer’s Iliad. The evidence for God as opposed to the evidence against Him as the creator of this universe, is infinity to one. It can’t even be measured. So rejoice: “God is.” He’s accessible and available, if you’ll just take time to pray and invite Him into your life.
Is it you?
“Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely not I, Rabbi?’”
Mt 26:25 NIV
In a sermon about commitment to Christ, the great preacher Charles Spurgeon said: “I’ve known some who preached the gospel with power, but lived to depart from it altogether. I’ve known others who discharged the duties of deaconship and eldership with considerable diligence, who have afterwards given way to their evil passions. I’ve thought some of them to be the holiest of men. While they’ve been praying I’ve been lifted up to the very gates of heaven; if anyone had said these would one day fall into gross sin, I wouldn’t have believed it. I’d sooner have believed it of myself. Those who seemed stronger than we have fallen, so why not we? Our Lord’s disciples who sat at the table with Him, when they were told that one of them would betray their master, each enquired: ‘Lord, is it I?’ That was a very proper question. There wasn’t one who asked, ‘Lord, is it Judas?’ Probably not one of them suspected him. And it may be that the worst hypocrite in this assembly is the one upon whom there doesn’t rest at this moment a single shade of suspicion. He has learned to play his part so well that his true character hasn’t yet been discovered.” If those words hit too close for comfort, don’t walk—run to the foot of the cross today! Run to the One who, with full knowledge of your struggles and temptations, loves you unconditionally; the One whose blood cleanses you from sin, whose grace can lift and sustain you, and whose power can help you live an overcoming life.
How to improve your relationships
“Let us not love with words…but with actions.”
1Jn 3:18 NIV
Here are five scriptural ways to improve the quality of your relationships: (1) Always show appreciation. Who are the people that really matter in your life? Let them know you love them, and do it often. Practice the ten-to-one rule: ten compliments to every one criticism! Many of us think the best way to help people is to “straighten them out.” No, the best way to help others is to look for the best in them. Dr. John Maxwell calls this “the 101 Percent Principle.” Look for one thing you admire in somebody, then give them 100 percent encouragement for it. That’ll help you to like them, and vice versa. (2) Put others first. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men” (Eph 6:7 NIV). If you adopt that mindset in your dealings with others, you will go far in life.(3) Serve others gladly. Talking about how difficult it is to hire and train people, an airline executive said, “Service is the only thing we have to sell, but it’s the toughest thing to teach because nobody wants to be thought of as a servant.” (4) Forgive it, resolve it, and move beyond it. If someone has hurt you and you need to address it, do it immediately. Then forgive it, resolve it, and move beyond it. And if it’s not worth bringing up, forget it and move on. (5) Make time for the people who matter. Don’t give away your time on a first-come-first-served basis. Don’t devote so much energy to “the squeaky wheel” that you shortchange the people in your life who matter most.
Enjoy each day
“Each day is God’s gift.”
Ecc 9:9 TM
Solomon writes: “Seize life! Eat bread with gusto…Oh, yes—God takes pleasure inyour pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love…every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance…for there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think in the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed” (vv. 7-10 TM). So, what are you waiting for? To graduate? To get married? To have children? To retire? Life is about the journey, not the destination! Your life is here and now, your family is here and now, your marriage is here and now, your career is here and now. The journey takes place every day, and you can find meaning when you search for a greater purpose. You can find small joys every day if you have eyes of faith. Solomon recognized that ultimately we all end up at the same destination—the grave. The only difference lies in how much we enjoy the journey. Instead of obsessing over the things you can’t control, focus on what you cancontrol and leave the rest to God. Phil Cooke writes: “I have to believe that God’s in control, and for me to always demand answers is to assume His role. I’ve decided to sit back and let Him be God and let me be me.” That’s a philosophyyou would do well to adopt!
Five all-important answers
“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
Ro 8:31 NLT
Paul asks five all-important questions: (1) “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” The assurance of God’s presence tilts the scales in your favor. So whatever you’re facing today, remind yourself, “God is for me.” (2) “Since [God] did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t [God]…give us everything else?” (v. 32 NLT). Think about it: Would God save your soul, then leave you to fend for yourself? Or address your eternal needs and not your earthly ones? No! (3) “Who dares accuse us…? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself” (v. 33 NLT). Every accusing voice, including your own, counts for nothing in the court of heaven. God’s acceptance trumps everybody else’s rejection—and He accepts you because He sees you “in Christ.” (4) “Who then will condemn us?…Christ Jesus died for us…he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us” (v. 34 NLT). When your accusers rise up and speak against you, Jesus, your defense attorney, silences them. Why? Because His blood covers you! (5) “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” (v. 35 NLT). Paul answers his own question: “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…nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv. 38-39 NLT). Knowing these five truths will help you enjoy your day, and sleep better at night!
Staying power (3)
“I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.”
Jdg 11:35
Staying power overcomes family opposition. When Jephthah’s family disowned him and threw him out of the house, he built an army that delivered Israel from the hands of their enemies. As a result, he ended up becoming the nation’s youngest judge. When faced with the challenge to “fold up or hold up,” David Livingstone demonstrated staying power. His wife, Mary, gave him so much trouble, always complaining and criticizing, that she made his life’s work almost impossible. The tension between them became so great that Livingstone sent her home to England for a period of more than twelve years while he suffered, bled, and ultimately died in Africa for the cause of Christ. When Jesus went home to Nazareth to minister to the people He grew up around, some of them tried to throw Him off a cliff. And in spite of His teachings and miracles, His family thought He was mad. Did that hurt Him? Of course. But He didn’t let it stop Him. He said: “Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—yes, more than his own life—otherwise, he cannot be my disciple. And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me…don’t begin until you [first] count the cost” (Lk 14:26-28 TLB). When your family opposes you, love them and pray for them because God can change their hearts. And until He does, keep serving Him.
Staying power (1)
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed.”
2Co 4:8 NIV
Here’s a saying that has proven to be true: “What doesn’t destroy us makes us stronger.” And here are four sayings that have proved to be false: (1) “When you become a Christian all your problems are over.” Whoever told you that didn’t get it from Scripture. Paul said, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (vv. 8-9). (2) “All the problems you’ll ever encounter are addressed in the Bible.” God tells us many things in His Word, but He still requires us to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7). That means receiving guidance from His Word, from the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and from the counsel of godly friends. (3) “If you’re having problems you must be unspiritual.” The opposite is true. Satan’s attack is proof that you haven’t been conquered, that you represent a threat to the kingdom of darkness, and that you’re doing the will of God. And the greater the attack, the greater the level of blessing that awaits you beyond it, so keep going. (4) “Being exposed to sound Bible teaching automatically solves every problem.” It will certainly help you solve your problems, but it won’t solve them for you. You must be a “doer” of the Word and not a “hearer only” (See Jas 1:23). Paul writes, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies [and tricks] of the devil” (Eph 6:10-11 NLT). In other words, you need “staying power.”
Be joyful!
“You shall go out with joy.”
Isa 55:12 NKJV
Every morning say, “Today, I will go out with joy.” That will set your attitude straight! Generally speaking, there are three kinds of people: (1) Those who feel bad about feeling good. They believe we’re not supposed to be happy, just “responsible.” (2) Those who rain on your parade because your joy bothers them. Often these folks have been hurt by life and anger simmers just beneath the surface. (3) Those who lift your spirit and breathe life into you. You say, “But doesn’t the Bible tell us believers are supposed to be different from nonbelievers?” Yes, but not negatively different—positively different! And unless you commit yourself to walking in the joy of the Lord, you’ll find negative ways of distinguishing yourself from nonbelievers. Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Php 4:4 NIV). If you’re thinking, “That’s easy for Paul to say; he doesn’t have my problems,” think again! When Paul wrote those words he was in prison with no chance of getting out. For him joy was a decision, not a reaction to circumstances. You ask, “How could Paul be joyful in prison?” Because he understood that true joy comes from devoting yourself to something bigger than your own interests. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10). True joy calls for three things: (a) Making a conscious choice to focus on God’s goodness every single day. (b) Reaching out to bless others every chance you get. (c) Understanding that joy produces strength, which explains why your joy is the Devil’s primary target. When you lose your joy you lose your strength, and he wins—so be joyful!
Divine guidance
“God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power
to do what pleases him.”
Php 2:13 NLT
Underline these words: “God is working in you.” He does this as you engage your mind, open your mouth, move your feet, and use your hands to do what He’s already put into your heart. The moment you say yes to His will, He gives you the ability to perform it. Notice, He doesn’t reveal His will to you, then call you. He calls you, and as you step out in faith and obey Him, He reveals His will to you step by step, empowering and equipping you as you go. If you’re thinking you’d like a little more detail before you make a commitment, take note. First: God may make you uncomfortable where you are. “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest…The Lord…led him” (Dt 32:11-12 NIV). To teach her children to fly, a mother eagle literally pushes them out of the nest. Talk about being out of your element! Can you imagine what they are thinking? “It’s my motherdoing this to me.” But until a baby eagle is forced out of its comfort zone, it doesn’t realize it was born to fly, spread its wings, release its power, and take its place in the heavens. Is God stirring up your comfort zone today? Second: God’s direction is impossible to follow without His help. He plans it that way. Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5 NKJV). Third: There’s persistence in His leading. Human ideas go away, but God’s direction stays. That means time is on your side—so stay in step with God and don’t get ahead of Him.
Bound by a commitment to love
“Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.”
SS 8:7 NLT
The story’s told of a wedding where the minister said to the groom, “Do you take this woman for better or for worse? For richer or for poorer? In sickness and in health?” And the groom said, “Yes, no, yes, no, no, yes.” We all want the better, richer, and healthier parts of marriage, but that’s not the way relationships work. In some modern marriage ceremonies the bride and groom pledge to stay together “as long as love shall last.” Let’s hope they both know a good divorce attorney, because they’re probably going to need one. The truth is that relationships which are based on feelings don’t last. The only real stability in marriage is produced by a firm commitment that holds two people steady when emotions are fluctuating wildly. Can you imagine a parent saying to a child, “I’ll care for you as long as I shall love you?” No, and neither does a wishy-washy expression of love hold much promise for the future of a marriage. Think about it this way: Emotion is like the caboose on a train, but commitment is the engine that pulls the relationship through all the ups and downs of everyday living. Solomon puts it this way: “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.” And one more thought—the theme of the Bible is resurrection. That means even though your love may feel dead, God can cause it to live again if you’re both willing to let Him work in your heart.
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Eccl 4:9-10: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up."
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