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He's always a step ahead (3)
'No plague will come near your home.’ Psalm 91:10 NLT
For nine-year-old Keith Pulles, winterising the family swimming pool signalled the end of summer. He writes: ‘I watched glumly from the window as Dad opened a jug and started dumping chemicals into the pool. Then he got another jug and added more stuff. “That’s a lot of stuff to put into the pool,” I thought. Just then the phone rang and I ran to check the caller ID. “Unknown name, unknown number.” Mum and Dad had warned me about talking to strangers, but that day a voice inside said, “Pick it up!” The urge was so strong I lifted the receiver and said hello. “May I speak with Steve Pulles, please?” I didn’t recognise the voice. Probably a telemarketer, but something made me say, “Hang on. I’ll go get him.” I went outside, phone in hand, and shouted, “Dad! Phone!” He walked around the side of the garage from the backyard and took the cordless phone from me. “Hello? Hello? Who’s calling?” he hollered. A couple of seconds later he took the phone from his ear and turned it off. “Nobody there,” he said. Suddenly there was an enormous boom from the back yard. “The pool!” Dad shouted. It turned out he’d mixed two chemicals he shouldn’t have. The mixture exploded out of the water, leaving toxic fumes… if Dad had been out there at that moment he could have died. Unknown caller? I don’t think so. The person on the phone that day certainly had our number.’
The Psalmist said, ‘No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.’ Today, pray for God to protect you and your loved ones.
*He’s Always A Step Ahead (1)*
_Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.’ Isaiah 65:24 NKJV_
When Wilda Lahmann’s husband woke in the small hours of the morning gasping for air and clutching his chest, there wasn’t time to wait for an ambulance. She got him into the car and he slumped against the door. She writes: ‘Fifteen miles to the hospital…we’re not gonna make it. Please send help, Lord! A mile down the road I saw something. Were my eyes playing tricks? It was an ambulance with a paramedic standing beside it. Was he waiting for us? Who could’ve known to call? I slammed on the brakes and ran screaming for help. They started treatment immediately and rushed Randy to the hospital. The next three days were touch-and-go. I never left his bedside, praying he’d wake up. When he did, he asked, “What happened?” “You had a massive heart attack. Another minute or two and who knows?” “You called the paramedics?” Randy asked. “No,” I replied. “They were responding to an accident at that intersection. They even called headquarters to confirm they had the right location. Then we came along seconds later.” Fifteen miles on empty roads in the middle of the night; Randy’s heart attack would’ve been fatal if the paramedics hadn’t been there. I’d say they were in the perfect location.’
Often in a crisis there’s no time to call the pastor or your prayer partner. That’s when it’s good to know God said, ‘Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.’ He’s on the job 24/7, redeeming ‘your life from destruction’ (Psalm 103:4 NKJV) long before you even know you are in trouble!
Be Teachable
‘That the Lord…may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.’ Jeremiah 42:3 NKJV
Twelve bees were placed in a jar in a darkened room. A light was beamed onto the bottom of the jar, and then the lid removed. Instinctively, the bees flew toward the light and couldn’t escape. So they died trying to buzz their way through the bottom of the jar. Next the researchers took twelve common houseflies and repeated the experiment. Within seconds the flies had found their way out of the jar. Now, bees are more intelligent than flies and their survival instincts are better. Yet it was those very instincts that doomed the bees. There’s a lesson here. You may be very intelligent, yet your preconceived notions can doom you to failure in life. Assumptions, rigidity and force of habit can cause you to keep doing things that don’t work and make no sense.
Dr. James Dobson says: ‘Until 1992 I wrote books with pencils and yellow pads. I did that for years after word processors were available. The twentieth century was almost over before I decided to join it.’ Are you afraid to abandon an old belief system, or learn a new skill or tackle a new project? When you’re finished learning, you’re finished! The only real limitations are those we place on ourselves by refusing to learn. ‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.’ (Proverbs 9:9 NKJV) ‘The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.’ (Proverbs 18:15 NKJV)
Don’t let your fears and preconceived ideas keep you from growing; be teachable.
Guaranteed By Covenant
Are you discouraged because a breakthrough that you have been praying for has yet to manifest? Maybe it has been days or even weeks and you are asking, “How will I know that I will get it?” Abraham faced the same situation and asked God the same question. And God answered, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” What a strange answer!
But if you read on (Genesis 15:10–21), you will realize that God took Abraham’s question very seriously, and went on to show him just how serious He was about being his provider, protector and blesser. God was so serious that He was willing to bind Himself to a covenant.
What is a covenant? It is like a contract. Yet, it is more than a contract. A contract is binding only for a period of time, like five years or seven years, or until certain terms are fulfilled. But a covenant is perpetual. It is permanent. The only way out is through death. That is why marriage is a covenant, not a contract. It is permanent—“Till death do us part”.
In Bible times, when you cut a covenant with someone, you bring an animal, usually a ram or goat, and kill it by cutting it in two. Next, you will face your covenant partner and walk toward each other between the two pieces of the animal, passing each other in the center.
What all this means is that both parties are obligated to protect and provide for each other. Whatever belongs to you is your partner’s and whatever belongs to your partner is yours. Of course, the one who benefits is the lesser or poorer party.
Today, God is in covenant with us. We are the lesser, poorer party. We have nothing to offer God. But God, the richest and most powerful being in the universe, has everything to offer us!
My friend, God has bound Himself to a covenant, an iron-clad guarantee of His blessings and provision in your life, and it is all for your benefit. The breakthrough you are waiting for is guaranteed by covenant!
Relationships (2)
“Then the Lord God made a woman…and he brought her to the man.”
Ge 2:22 NIV
Adam lived in a perfect neighborhood and had a perfect job—one God gave him. It doesn’t get much better than that. Nevertheless he was lonely; something was missing from his life. The Bible says, “But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God…made a woman” (vv. 20-22 NIV). God recognized Adam’s need for companionship and He met that need. However, this is where some of us acting on loneliness, frustration, or bad advice, rush ahead of God. There’s a reason one of the nine gifts of the Spirit listed in the Bible is “the ability to distinguish between spirits” (See 1Co 12:10). When someone comes into your life they don’t just bring their looks, talents, and financial assets; they also bring their spirit. If you’ve ever been around someone with a controlling spirit, a vindictive spirit, a resentful spirit, or a negative spirit, you know why this particular gift is so important. So make yourself a hard jury, one that’s not easily convinced, one that requires concrete evidence before reaching a verdict. And remember that it’s better to lengthen the deliberation process and ensure the decision you make is right, than to reach a hasty conclusion and end up with a broken heart. You may not feel wise and experienced when it comes to making such decisions, but hear this: It’s not how much you know that arms you with the tools of great decision making, but how much you ask. The first person to ask is God, and the time to do it is before, not after you get into a relationship.
This Year Let God Be God In Your Life
“Casting down imaginations…” 2Co 10:5
How does God provide for us? One day at a time. Do you remember the Israelites in the wilderness? God fed them faithfully each day by sending manna from heaven. But some of them wanted to make sure they’d have enough for tomorrow, revealing their lack of trust in God, so they gathered more. But God would only allow them to collect enough for each day; when they tried to collect more the excess rotted. Understand this: When you worry over the future or things you can do nothing about, it’s like trying to store up manna for tomorrow. Before you know it, you feel rotten. God wants you to give tomorrow’s concerns to Him because they’re too big for you. You only receive enough grace for today, so stay in the moment. Question: Are you being tormented by the “what ifs”? What if I get hurt or become ill, or the company downsizes and I lose my job? What if people don’t like or accept me? What if I can’t find someone to love me and I end up alone? What if I’m not hearing from God and I make a mistake? The Bible calls this “imaginations”—you’re imagining the worst-case scenario. Paul says, “Cast it down,” for if you don’t, you’ll live in dread concerning things that haven’t happened—and probably never will. What if you “figure it all out,” then God surprises you and does something different, something better? All that time would be wasted. Haven’t you already wasted enough time worrying? Here’s an idea: This year relax and let God be God in your life!
This Year Trust God And Stay Calm
“You…give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity.” Ps 94:13 AMP
There are some things God will do for us, and other things He expects us to do for ourselves. “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law…You…give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity” (vv. 12-13 AMP). Do you want the ability to stay calm regardless of the circumstances? To remain cool when the heat is on? To be an instrument of peace wherever you go? To be on top of the circumstances instead of under them? Today God, in essence, is saying to you: “Live by My Word in every area of your life. Learn to be sensitive to My voice; quick to respond and to obey. My yoke is easy and My burden is light. I’ll never give you anything too hard to handle or too heavy to carry. Give Me your concerns—one by one as they arise. Delight yourself in the assurance of My love, My provision, and My protection, and I’ll give you the desires of your heart. Because the Devil is ‘the accuser,’ he’ll constantly point to your flaws and failures and tell you you’re not worthy. Don’t listen—he’s the father of lies! I’ve saved you by My grace and positioned you in Christ. I see you through His atoning blood, therefore you are always accepted in My eyes. Give Me all your anxieties and cares. Begin to live in the present, not the past or the future. Look for My blessings and you’ll find them. Enjoy life in all its fullness, for this is My plan for you this year.”
The New Year (2)
“With God all things are possible.” Mt 19:26 NIV
Jon Gordon offers us practical New Year’s resolutions: “(1) Stay positive. You can listen to the cynics and believe success is impossible, or believe ‘with God all things are possible.’ (2) Each day when you awake, complete this statement: ‘My purpose is ______.’ (3) Take a morning walk of gratitude. It creates a fertile mind for success. You can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time, and when you combine gratitude with physical exercise you give yourself a double-boost of positive energy and natural antidepressants. (4) Instead of being disappointed about where you are, think optimistically about where you’re going. (5) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college kid with a maxed-out charge card! (6) Believe that everything happens for a reason, and good things come from challenging experiences. (7) Don’t waste energy on gossip, past issues, negative thoughts, and things you can’t control. Invest in the positive, present moment. (8) Mentor someone and be mentored by someone. (9) Live with the 3 E’s: Energy. Enthusiasm. Empathy. (10) Remember there’s no substitute for hard work. (11) Zoom-focus: Ask yourself, ‘What are the three most important things I need to do today?’ (12) Implement the ‘No complaining’ rule. Complaining is like vomiting; afterwards you feel better but people around you feel sick! (13) Read more books than you did last year. (14) Get more rest. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte! (15) Before bed complete these statements: ‘I’m thankful for ______.’ ‘Today I accomplished ______.’ (16) Think of your mind like a garden. If you weed the negative and feed the positive for one day it doesn’t do much, but when you do it every day you create a magnificent garden.”
God Will Keep His Word To You
“I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass.” Isa 46:11
Friends may fail to keep their promise to you, but not God! He has put His reputation on the line by promising to perform every word that He’s spoken. “You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Ps 138:2 NKJV). If God has spoken it, He will do it! But there’s one qualifier: If He’s decreed a condition, you must fulfill it in order to receive His promise. After Elijah’s confrontation with Baal’s prophets on Mount Carmel, he told King Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain” (1Ki 18:41 NIV). Ahab ate and drank, and Elijah, atop Carmel, fell on his face in prayer. It hadn’t rained in three and a half years, but Elijah fulfilled God’s condition and the desperately-needed rains came. Often we claim God’s promises without checking the conditions. Yet His conditions are an integral part of many of His promises—and He expects us to fulfill them. God will do what He says if you follow the simple steps Elijah practiced: (1) Believe the promise. (2) Fulfill the condition. (3) Pray persistently, believing God will keep His Word. (4) Be patient. Elijah sent his servant out seven times to look for signs of rain, never once doubting God’s promise. On the seventh time the rains began. Question: Are you being obedient to the conditions that accompany the promise you’re claiming? Do your part and watch God honor His word to you: “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
Try To Be More Patient
“Be patient with all.” 1Th 5:14 NKJV
You’ve probably heard the joke about the lady who prayed, “Lord, give me patience; and I want it right now!” That’s not so funny when it reflects how you live. If you get annoyed at having to wait for anything, your impatience can hurt you. The only person who has the power to make things happen the way He wants them to, is God. But even He is gracious, and respects our will and waits for us to get in line with His will. And since we’re not God, think how foolish it is to become upset with the grocery store checker, the bank teller, or the slow driver who doesn’t move at warp speed. Jesus said, “By your patience possess your souls” (Lk 21:19 NKJV). Here the word souls refers to our emotions. Jesus is saying, “Take control of your emotions and show a Christlike attitude.” Your ability to handle delays, disappointments, and detours will determine your level of joy and peace. When you discover that you cannot control what’s going on around you, decide to control what’s going on within you. Overcoming impatience involves three things: (1) Admitting you have the problem. As long as you rationalize and justify your attitude, you won’t grow. (2). A commitment to allow the Holy Spirit to produce patience in you. Patience doesn’t come by making New Year’s resolutions or counting to ten; it’s the “fruit” of the Spirit, and it grows with your cooperation (See Gal 5:22). (3) A decision to “be in the moment,” rather than obsessing over what must happen next.
The Christmas Spirit
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.” Col 3:13 NKJV
For some people Christmas is not a time of joy, but depression. In some cases it’s because their families are fractured by divorce and their memories are painful. In their book, None of These Diseases, S. I. McMillen and David Stern described the damage we inflict on ourselves when we dislike someone or refuse to forgive them. “The moment I begin to hate a man, I become his slave. He controls my thoughts. He controls my feelings. He even controls my dreams. Stress hormones constantly surge through my bloodstream and wear down my body…the one I hate hounds me wherever I go.” As your family gathers for Christmas, perhaps there’s a member you don’t like or haven’t forgiven. If so, remember that Jesus came into the world to love the unlovely and forgive the unworthy. The word grace means “unearned, unmerited, undeserved favor.” And Christ will flush the anger and resentment out of your heart if you let Him. If you’re not looking forward to seeing someone in your family this Christmas, offer this prayer: “Lord, I confess that I don’t like _______ and I’m dreading being with them. Help me to forgive and show grace. Let Your love flow through me this Christmas. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” You say, “But they don’t deserve to be forgiven.” Yes, and neither did you deserve God’s love and forgiveness. Jesus said, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you…Do to others as you would like them to do to you” (Lk 6:27-28, 31 NLT). That’s the Christmas spirit!
Why Jesus Came
“Enoch walked with God 300 years.” Ge 5:22 NIV
Life is a journey with a definite beginning and end. And if you’re wise you’ll do what Enoch did for 300 years—he walked with God. Can you imagine how well you’d know God after spending all those years with Him? There’s nothing dull or boring about walking with God. The Psalmist says, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Ps 16:11 NIV). God made you for Himself, and only when you discover His purpose for your life will you find peace and joy. If you were to take a fish out of the ocean and place it on the beach, you’d see its scales dry up as it gasped for breath. Is that fish happy? No. If you covered it with a mountain of cash, would it be happy? No. Would an iPad, a good book, and a cool drink make it happy? No. Would a new wardrobe? No. Only one thing will make it happy: putting it back in the water. That fish will never be happy on the beach because it wasn’t made for the beach. It was made for the ocean, in the same way you were made for fellowship with God. You’ll always feel like a fish out of water—never knowing peace and joy—until you find Him. And the good news is He’s as close to you as a prayer. Once you ask Him into your heart you’ll never feel empty again. Do you know why Jesus came that first Christmas? He tells us: “So that [you] may have the full measure of my joy within” (Jn 17:13 NIV).
Things You Must Overcome (3)
“Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Pr 4:7 NIV The third thing you must overcome on your way to success is ignorance. As writer Don Wood quipped, “Stupid is forever; ignorance can be fixed.” Far too often we don’t think realistically, or we fail to seek out the information and expertise we need. Edison failed many times, but his eventual success didn’t come from luck—it came from preparation. Many of us undervalue knowledge. For example, because computers allow us to try and to fail so many times, we don’t take time to read the manual. Because we’re so rushed, we’re reluctant to stop and find out what we really need to know. Because young people feel pressured into getting a job, often they fail to see the value of investing time in higher education. Golf champion Jack Nicklaus said, “Learn the fundamentals of the game and stick to them. Band-Aid remedies never last.” You may be fortunate enough to get promoted beyond your level of competence. But if your knowledge doesn’t keep up with your position, you’re doomed to fail. Here are some scriptural words to live by: “You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madam Insight. She’s worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary. Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her. With one hand she gives long life, with the other she confers recognition. Her manner is beautiful, her life wonderfully complete. She’s the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her. Hold her tight—and be blessed!” (Pr 3:13-18 TM).
Things You Must Overcome (2)
“I’m giving it everything I’ve got.” 1Co 9:27 TM The second issue you’ll have to address is your emotions. While they can be a gauge of how you feel and a clue to what needs to be changed in your life, never let emotion alone dictate your decisions. Ask anyone who has to perform at the top of their game, and you’ll find that much of their time is spent overriding their emotions. However, listening to your emotions to get to the core of what’s bothering you can be a very revealing indicator of your condition. Consider these two statements: (1) I don’t feel like working today. Why not? Did you stay up too late last night? Perhaps you need to change your schedule. Are you eating well? Maybe you need to adjust your diet. Not motivated? Talk to God, read His Word, spend time with an encouraging friend, etc. Don’t just sit there, do something! (2) I’m a little depressed. Are you getting enough relaxation? Have you taken a vacation lately? Our moods generally swing up after exercise, so start moving and get into shape. You can’t afford to live life based on your emotions. They’ll delay you, stop you, and create detours on your journey to success. You say, “I’m waiting for inspiration!” As novelist Jack London said, “You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” Follow Paul’s example: “I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself” (vv. 26-27 TM).
Things You Must Overcome (1)
“Do not turn…to the right or…the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Jos 1:7 NIV Peter McWilliams said, “To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes, may be the biggest mistake of all.” For the next few days let’s look at some things you must overcome to succeed in life. Situations. Do you feel like you’re mired in a dead-end one? Maybe you’d like to go to college but you can’t afford it. Or change jobs, but you feel trapped by your salary or the fear of forfeiting your retirement pension. Perhaps you feel trapped by a physical challenge or illness. The secret to overcoming is to divide your circumstances into situations you can change and those you can’t. Nearly everything in life can be changed, or approached in a different way. But it can’t always be done right now. Make a list of things you can change. Too many of us fail—and keep failing—because we persist in trying to change what can’t be altered. Stop banging your head against a wall, and practice realistic thinking. Understand the difference between faith and fantasy. Somebody said, “For every problem under the sun, there is a remedy or there is none. If there’s a solution go and find it, and if there isn’t, never mind it.” God has given you certain gifts. When you discover, develop, and deploy them He’ll give you success in the face of seemingly impossible odds. Ignore what you can’t change, focus on what you can, and opportunities will reveal themselves. As Hannibal said during his famous march across the Alps, “We will either find a way, or make one.” You need that spirit too!
He’s Always A Step Ahead (2)
His faithful promises are your armour and protection Psalm 91:4 NLT
A vendor at a fair gave Mavis Gustafson Pigford a free Gideon Bible. She tucked it in her purse and forgot about it. Later as she walked along, a car pulled up, the driver pointed a gun and told her to get in. She writes: ‘I did as he said. He pulled over and tried to force me down on the seat. I struggled… and finally he ordered me out of the car. Before my feet hit the ground, I heard a shot and felt a sharp pain in my side. I collapsed, and the man came around… took my wallet… threw my purse at my head and shot it. I felt a dreadful impact. Still conscious… I heard the car drive away and I stumbled to a nearby farmhouse. The woman called for help… and as I was rushed to hospital, the police closed in on the drug-crazed driver who attacked me. Before surgery to remove the bullet in my side, my sister came to see me. “Do you know what saved your life?” she asked. She handed me the Bible from my purse. A bullet was lodged inside, its tip stopping exactly at Psalm 37:14–15 NIV: “The wicked draw the sword… to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.”’
Yet another example of how God’s always a step ahead: ‘He will rescue you from every trap… shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection… He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go…The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me… protect those who trust in My name.”
Don’t Proceed Without Peace
‘To be controlled by the Spirit results in… peace.’ Romans 8:6 GNT
When your thoughts, actions and plans are approved by God, He’ll confirm it by giving you an inner ‘knowing’. (See 1 John 2:20) The Bible says: ‘Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers].’ (Colossians 3:15 AMP) When you’re being led by God, you’ll have a sense of peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances. His peace is like a baseball umpire who decides what’s ‘safe’ and what’s ‘out of bounds’ for you.
But beware of false peace. Sometimes your desire to do a certain thing will be so strong that it will actually produce a false sense of peace that comes from your own excitement about the idea. As time passes this false peace will disappear and God’s true will, will emerge. So wait for it. As a rule you should never move too quickly on important decisions. The Bible says, ‘To be controlled by the Spirit results in… peace.’ So don’t proceed if your inner peace can’t hold its weight against what you think or hear. You don’t have to explain to others why you don’t have peace about it; indeed, sometimes you won’t know why. Just say, ‘I feel it’s not wise for me to do this at this time because I don’t have peace about it.’
There’s power in having peace. And one more thing: once you know that you’ve heard clearly from God, do all you can to keep your peace and don’t become anxious.
To Know Where You’re Going, Evaluate Where You Are
"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3b NIV).
The first and greatest barrier to change in any area of your life is pride.
The fact is, nobody has it all together. I don’t have it all together. You don’t have it all together. The Pope doesn’t have it all together. The Bible says there’s nothing perfect on Earth except God’s Word. Everything on this planet is broken because of sin.
But we walk around trying to impress people and pretend like we’ve got it all together. The problem is, if you want to have lasting change in your life, you first have to humbly assess your current state and admit that you don’t have it all together. You have to admit you have a problem with your finances, with your health, or wherever you struggle in your life.
Romans 12:3b says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (NIV).
Are you willing to ask the people closest to you, “Where do I need to change?” Do you have the courage to ask other people to be honest about you and with you?
Why is this so important? Because you can only manage what you measure. If you don’t know the measure of your faith, you can’t grow in your faith. If you don’t know the measure of your health, you can’t develop and grow in health. If you don’t know the measure of where you are financially, you can’t set financial goals. If you don’t know the measure of where you are spiritually or vocationally or relationally, then you can’t grow in those areas. You can only manage what you measure.
It’s also important to record your progress in any goal in a journal. If you’re going to set some health goals, financial goals, or any other kind of goal, record your progress throughout the year so you can measure your growth.
Evaluate where you are so that you can know where you should go.
Taking Care of Your Body Is Worship
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship”(Romans 12:1 NIV)
For change to happen in any area of your life, whether it’s financial, vocational, educational, mental, or relational, you have to begin with the physical.
Why? Because your body affects your behavior. Your muscles affect your moods and your motivation. Your physiology can actually affect your psychology.
Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship” (NIV).
The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can choose to crawl off the altar. We do this all the time. We offer ourselves to God, and then we take ourselves back. This is not a once-for-all offer. You’ve got to do it four, five, or maybe 10 times a day!
So what is “your true and proper worship”? There are three things you can do with your body that the Bible says are acts of worship:
Cleanse your body. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (NIV). You cleanse your body by controlling what you allow in your mind through what you watch and listen to, and in your body by what you eat and drink.
Care for your body. Ephesians 5:29 says, “No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church” (NLT, second edition). Keeping your body in shape is an act of worship to God.
Control your body. “Each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable” (1 Thessalonians 4:4 NIV). Control your body so that it doesn’t control you. There is no reason to say, “I couldn’t help myself!”
No matter what kind of change you want to make in your life, it will require energy. To have the energy to meet your goals, change has to start with your body.
Relationships (1)
“I will make a helper suitable for him.” Ge 2:18 NIV Adam lived in a perfect world, yet he was incomplete. So God created “a helper suitable for him.” And since God made you with a core need for companionship, He can introduce you to the right person. But you must be willing to consult Him, follow His guidance, and wait for His timing. That’s not always easy. Some of us find it easier to be unhappy than to be alone. Driven by unfulfilled longings, we make rash decisions that end up hurting us. It’s impossible to make a good decision when you’re motivated by the fear of being alone or of being rejected. There’s nothing wrong with feeling the need to be needed by another person, or to share your life with someone. Don’t let anyone convince you that your need to love and be loved is a weakness. God created man to “multiply,” and it takes two to do that. We are incomplete without one another. A respected counselor writes: “We [must] become willing to open up and let ourselves be loved…let ourselves have needs. Today it’s more fashionable to act as if you don’t need anyone. But God says you do. And since He introduced people to one another throughout Scripture, that gives you a right to pray and believe He will do the same for you.” So pray and believe that God has someone “suitable” for you; someone who fits where you are and will fit where you’re going. When you find the person God has in mind for you, you’ll discover strengths and gifts in yourself you never knew existed.
This Year Recognize Your Calling
“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Php 2:13 NIV
By recognizing and fulfilling your God-given assignment in life, you free yourself from a sense of failure and are able to stop worrying about what others think. Why? Because your self-worth no longer depends on people, but on God! However, you must do these three things: (1) Be honest about your gifts, and recognize your limitations. Don’t go through life as a stranger to yourself. Honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses; ask the hard questions and be willing to live with the answers, even if it means letting some things go. Michael Novak writes, “God knows what’s in us for He put it there. And He intends us to do something with it.” Each of us has been given a calling in life, and happiness belongs to those who find and fulfill that calling. (2) Allow God to work on you. Sometimes an amateur potter limits the potential of clay by seeing it only as a flowerpot. But a master potter sees much more—he or she knows what it can become. Watch them; they don’t merely impose a shape on it, they release the shape that’s already within. And that’s what God does with us. (3) Recognize your source. Fulfilling your life’s assignment begins with identifying the desires God has placed within you. “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Who’s at work within you? God! Where do your desires come from? God! Where do your abilities come from? God! So make knowing God and walking in step with Him be your highest priority this year.
This Year Listen To God
“The Lord will guide you continually.” Isa 58:11 NRS
How can we say we have a personal relationship with God, yet say He never talks to us? Being receptive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit is a non-optional part of Christian living. We can all learn how to be open to the promptings of the Spirit. They are not reserved for “important people” or for those who are ”more spiritual” than you. God will speak to you if you’ll take the time to listen. One author writes: “Much of the adventure of Christian living involves responsiveness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This guidance is not restricted to momentous decisions. It is learned mainly when we practice it on a continuing basis.” That’s why David prayed, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths” (Ps 25:4 NRS). Richard Foster writes: “In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a spirit-led…spirit-empowered people…It has happened before. It can happen again. Such a people will not emerge until there is among us a deeper, more profound experience of an Emmanuel of the spirit—God with us, a knowledge that in the power of the Spirit Jesus has come to guide His people Himself, an experience of His leading that is as definite and immediate as the cloud that led Israel by day and the fire by night.” That experience can be yours when you believe the promise, “The Lord will guide you continually.” And that promise is for you. So memorize it, personalize it, live by it, and see where it takes you this year.
The New Year (1)
“You have crowned the year with Your bounty.” Ps 65:11 NAS
One Bible teacher says: “Like most people you’ve probably made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, exercise, eat better…and improve your life. But did you know that the desire to improve your life with each New Year started in the heart of God? David said, ‘You have crowned the year with Your bounty, and Your paths drip with fatness.’ In Bible times ‘fatness’ was considered a sign of material success. Moses sent twelve spies in to scout out the Promised Land and report back on whether it was ‘fat or lean.’ They brought back word saying that it ‘flowed with milk and honey’ (See Nu 13:26-27). The land was so fruitful that it took two men to carry one cluster of grapes! So what will it take for you to experience God’s blessing this coming year? Note the words crowned, bounty, and paths. In the same way a crown encircles your head, this year you can be surrounded by God’s bountiful goodness. But you must walk in His ‘paths’ throughout the year, because only His paths ‘drip with fatness.’ You can’t expect success if you’re not willing to walk in close fellowship with Him every day…‘I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing…there shall be showers of blessing [of good insured by God’s favor]’ (Eze 34:26 AMP). The places around God’s habitation will be showered with blessing and goodness; so…stay close to God each day of this year.”
Share Your Struggle
“Confess your faults one to another.” Jas 5:16
It’s usually only when addicts “hit bottom” that they’re willing to embrace a twelve-step program of recovery, and submit to the guidance of a “sponsor” who will help them by holding them accountable. Where did the twelve-step principles originate? From Scripture! The Bible says, “Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed.” Have all the years you’ve spent hiding your problem only made it worse? If so, an important step toward your deliverance is having someone in your life who understands, wants to see you set free, will stand by you, identifies with your struggle, and knows how to keep your confidence. And it needs to be someone you trust and respect; otherwise you won’t take them seriously. There must be an agreement between you that you’ll work together until lasting change takes place. That means finding someone who won’t be shocked by your problem and who won’t “shame” you, no matter what. It’s the broken who become masters at mending, so find someone who has won the battle you are fighting. And make sure they share your faith and values. Why do you need to share your struggle with someone? Because we are only as sick as the secrets we keep! Jesus said, “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Mt 18:19-20 NIV). By opening up to another person and asking for help, you’ve taken a major step toward a better life.
“How Silently The Wondrous Gift Is Given”
“You will find a baby…lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12 NIV
One Christmas in London, Phil Yancey went to hear Handel’s Messiah. He says: “I’d spent the morning viewing remnants of England’s glory—crown jewels, a gold mace, the Mayor’s gilded carriage…such images must have filled the minds of Isaiah’s contemporaries who heard the promise, ‘The glory of the Lord shall be revealed’ (Isa 40:5). No doubt the Jews thought back to the glory days of Solomon when ‘silver and gold [were] as common as stones’ (2Ch 1:15 NIV). The Messiah who showed up, however, wore the glory of humility…The God who could order armies and empires like chessboard pawns emerged as a baby who depended on a teenage couple for shelter, food, and love. In London I caught glimpses of the way rulers stride through the world: with bodyguards, trumpet fanfares…bright clothes…flashing jewelry. Queen Elizabeth II had recently visited the U.S. with 4,000 pounds of luggage…two outfits for every occasion…her own hairdresser…and a host of other attendants…God’s visit to earth took place in an animal shelter with no attendants and nowhere to lay the newborn King but a feed-trough. A mule could have stepped on Him! The sky grew luminous with angels, yet who saw that spectacle? Illiterate hirelings who watched the flocks of others, ‘nobodies’ who failed to leave their names.” The story inspired an Episcopal priest visiting Bethlehem in 1865 to pen the familiar words: “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts the blessing of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin; where meek souls will receive Him, the dear Christ enters in.”
Smile, And Start A Chain Reaction
“When I smiled at them…their faces lit up.” Job 29:24 TM If you think you’ve nothing to smile about, consider these words from a man who’d just experienced the death of all his children and the loss of his entire fortune, and was now covered from head to toe in boils. “When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it; their faces lit up, their troubles took wing! I was their leader, establishing the mood and setting the pace by which they lived. Where I led, they followed” (vv. 24-25 TM). That’s the power of a smile! One Christmas a big department store posted this sign: “The Value of a Smile: It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who receive it, without impoverishing those who give it. It happens in a flash, and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich that they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is no earthly good until it is given away. And if in the last-minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours. For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!” Start a chain reaction this Christmas! Walk around with a smile on your face and see what happens.
📚✏️ Bible Study 📝🙏
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever."
— I Chronicles 28:9 NKJV
We don't have the power and authority to design and create a world to live in. Rather, we live in the world that has been designed and created for us long before we ever came on the scene. It is the world that has been designed and created by the Lord God of heaven and earth. We live in this world and it is up to us to acquiesce to the terms of living in this world.
King David was wise. He knew the world he lived in. He knew it was not the world of his own design and making. He knew it was the Lord's world. He knew that if his son was to make it in the world, then he would have to acquiesce to its terms just as he did. He knew that Solomon would have to know the Lord and come to terms with Him.
If you want to come to terms with the Lord, then you must do what David said to Solomon. You must do four things:
First, you must "serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind." Since it is the Lord's world, He is the Sovereign King and Ruler over it. You can't do whatever you want. That's what foolish people do. That's what people do who don't know the Lord and don't know where they live.
Second, you must realize that the Lord "searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts." You can't fool the Lord. You can't pretend to be a faithful servant and still harbor rebellious thoughts and intentions. The Lord finds out everything.
Third, you must seek Him, so He will find you. You must not go your own way in life. You must seek His will and purpose and follow Him. If you seek Him, you will find Him and He will bless your efforts (Hebrews 11:6).
Finally, you must not forsake Him. If you do, then you will be cast off forever. It is His world. It is a privilege to live in it, not a right. If you fail to respect its terms, then you forfeit your privilege.
It's time to stop living in a fantasy world. It's time to acquiesce to the world as it actually is.
📚✏️ Bible Study 📝🙏
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners.
— Isaiah 61:1 NIV
The discipline of God does not last forever. For the people of God, there is always a time of favor yet to come, there is always a time of deliverance on the horizon.
In our verse for today, Isaiah says he has been anointed by God to proclaim a time of deliverance for God's people. Most immediately, this refers to the people of Judah who would become captives in Babylon in the future. As such, his proclamation was for a limited group of people and for a limited time frame. In Luke 4:18, however, Jesus tells us that this prophecy was fulfilled in Him. Jesus proclaimed a time of deliverance available to the whole human race that would last for all eternity. In Jesus, therefore, Isaiah's prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment.
What, specifically, does Isaiah's prophecy proclaim about deliverance for the people of God?
First, it is a proclamation of good news for the poor. The "poor" are those who have been impoverished in any way by captivity of any kind. They are those who have been oppressed by the devil and held down in circumstances less abundant than that which God intended for His people. The poor shall experience release from their sorry situation.
Second, it is a proclamation that the brokenhearted will be bound up. The "brokenhearted" are those who have been deeply affected by their captive situation. They are those who are sorry for their sins. The Lord will bind up, that is, console their broken hearts (see Psalm 34:18).
Third, it is a proclamation of freedom for the captives. The "captives" are those who have been enslaved in any sense of the term. They are those who have been held back by the devil from achieving that which God wants them to achieve in life. The Lord will set them free.
Finally, it is a proclamation of release from darkness for the prisoners. The "prisoners' are those who have been kept from seeing the true nature of their captivity. They are those who have been kept in the dark by the devil. The Lord will release them from darkness into His glorious light (see I Peter 2:9).
In Christ, the Lord is enriching, consoling, freeing, and enlightening you � and His work in you has really only just begun (see Philippians 1:6).
📝📚 Bible Study ✏️🙏
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
— Titus 2:11-13 ESV
Something important has happened and it has implications for all of life. What has happened? The "grace of God has appeared" and it brings "salvation for all people." What is the grace of God? It is the divine love and favor of God that has provided a way of salvation. Specifically, God's love and favor sent Jesus Christ into the world so that "'whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life'" (John 3:16). What has happened is that a way to escape eternal darkness and destruction has appeared, a way to participate in eternal redemption and restoration has been made available.
If we take advantage of this grace by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then it trains or teaches us certain things. What does it teach us? According to the Apostle Paul, there are three things:
First, it trains us "to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions." Since God's grace is ultimately intended to redeem us and restore us, partaking of it teaches us and helps us to say "no" to these sins of the sinful self. What are these things? "Ungodliness" refers to the failure to properly acknowledge and obey God. "Worldly passions" refers to the failure to properly relate to our fellow human beings and the rest of the created order. Together, the two pretty much cover every kind of sin there is.
Second, it teaches us "to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives." God's grace helps us to say "no" to the sins of the sinful self and it also helps us to say "yes" to every positive virtue. Instead of ungodliness, we learn godliness. Instead of worldly passions, we learn to be self-controlled and upright. God's grace, in other words, trains us and helps us to turn our lives around from the fruitless and destructive way of life we once lived.
Finally, God's grace teaches us to wait for "our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." God's grace has begun a good work in us, but it needs completion. We must wait, then, for the day when "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
God's grace has appeared and it is working in us and changing us, but there is much more to come.