2025-03-03
Acts 13:2 NIV
A group of believers met together and dedicated significant time to pray, fast, and worship. And as a result, “the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'” How did they know the Spirit told them this? The passage doesn’t say. It may have been a dramatic moment. Or it may be that later, looking back, they recognized that the Spirit had guided them. But what is certain is that they received guidance from God together.
When it comes to guidance, one of the mistakes we make is called “narrow framing”; we miss the whole range of options God has before us because of our limited thinking. A Christian author explains: “We ask things like ‘Should I end this relationship or not?’ instead of, ‘How might I make this relationship better?’ Or ‘Should I buy that or not?’ rather than, ‘What’s the best way I can use this money?’… On our own, we tend to suffer from confirmation bias. We seek out information that confirms what it is we already want rather than looking for the unvarnished truth. People watch cable channels that reinforce their political bias. We pretend we want the truth… but what we really want is reassurance of the positions we have already staked out.”
Isaiah told about people “who say to the seers, ‘Do not see’; and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions'” (Isaiah 30:10 NRSV). In seeking guidance, operate according to the H.O.W. principle. In other words, be Honest, Open, Willing.
Soul food: Exo 25-27; Luke 13:18-35; Ps 136; Prov 6:30-35
2025-03-02
Romans 8:37 NLT
When you have been abused, rejected, or abandoned, it’s easy to become shame based and end up with a very poor self-image. The devil knows this, so he will attack your personal confidence whenever he can find an opening. He wants you to believe that you are a failure, because without confidence you will never step out and try to do the things you truly want to do. He does not want you to fulfill God’s plan for your life. If he can make you believe that you are incapable, then you won’t even try to accomplish anything worthwhile. And even if you do make an effort, your fear of failure will seal your defeat, which, because of lack of confidence, you probably expected from the beginning.
This is often referred to as the “failure syndrome.” You fail because of wrong beliefs, and you continue to have wrong beliefs because you fail. It’s hard to know which came first, but you find yourself in a trap you cannot seem to get out of.
What’s the answer? As a redeemed child of God, the Bible says that you are “in Christ.” Jesus defeated Satan and triumphed over him at the cross. And because you are “in Christ,” His victory is your victory. You can break out of the failure syndrome and begin to succeed in life. Here is why: “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Note the words “despite all these things.” Regardless of what has happened to you in the past, God has a wonderful future in mind for you.
Soul food: Exo 20:7; Lev 24:10-16; Phil 2:5-11
2025-03-01
Matthew 9:36 NKJV
When you’re self-absorbed and focused on your own interests, it’s easy to overlook people in need and show no concern. But when you commit your life to Christ and decide to follow in His footsteps, that changes.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest'” (vv. 36-38 NKJV). The heart of Jesus was moved by people who were “weary.” The stresses of life had worn them down and the burdens they carried were heavy. He was also moved by people who seemed “scattered.” People with no direction, no focus, no purpose for living. How many of these people were there? “Multitudes.” What was Christ’s response? Because the need was so great, He told His disciples to pray that God would “send out labourers into His harvest.” Note the word “harvest.”
You only get so much time to gather in a harvest, otherwise you lose it. Don’t miss the point Jesus is making, or the urgency in it. You are being called to show compassion toward those around you who are weary and scattered, and to take every opportunity to bring them to Jesus.
A man who couldn’t walk sat begging at the temple gates. Day after day the crowd walked by, but not Peter and John (See Acts 3:1-10). When you’re suddenly moved by a need you have walked past many times before, God is telling you to get involved and do something about it.
Soul food: Exo 22-24; Luke 13:1-17; Ps 77; Prov 6:29
2025-02-28
Romans 1:17 NKJV
The story has been told of a mother who said to her son, “It’s time to get up and go to school.” He replied, “I’m not going to school today!” His mother said, “Why not?” He replied, “Because the children hate me, and the teachers criticize me. Why should I have to go to school and put up with that?” His mother replied, “Because you’re the principal!”
Seriously, the Christian life is a school. Paul describes each grade as going “from faith to faith.” In the school of faith, the Holy Spirit is the teacher, and the Bible is the textbook. If you study well and apply yourself, you can move up through the grades. If not, you stay in the same grade you’re in until you have learned the lessons and can pass the tests. You’re like the lady who quipped, “My favourite grade was the fifth grade. Three of the happiest years of my life were spent in that grade!”
Unless you want that to be your fate, read these words and take them to heart: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV).
If you want to know God, you will meet Him in the pages of His Word. And you will also need to stay filled with the Holy Spirit: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory [grade to grade], just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV).
Soul food: Exo 19-21; Luke 12:49-59; Ps 70; Prov 6:26-28
2025-02-27
Daniel 11:32 NKJV
The Bible says, “The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” This Scripture is not a license to be arrogant and insensitive to the feelings of others, or to have an overinflated opinion of yourself. It means that when you understand God’s Word, God’s ways, and God’s will, you will be confident in who you are and in what God has called you to do.
Question: When was the last time you attempted to do something for the first time? You say, “I am afraid of failing.” Everybody falls; the winners are those who keep getting back up again. Evidently some folks in the New Testament church thought Timothy was too young to be in leadership, so Paul encourages him to be bold in his calling: “I thank God… when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord… but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:3, 5-8 NKJV).
God has not promised that you won’t experience hardship in doing what He has called you to do, but He has promised that you will succeed. So, the word for you today is – be biblical; be bold!
Soul food: Exo 16-18; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Prov 6:23-25
2025-02-26
Romans 12:6 NLT
A fascinating study was done on divergent thinking – which is thinking outside the box. The results? Ninety-eight percent of children between three and five years old scored in the genius category for divergent thinking. Between eight and ten, that number dropped to 32 percent. By the time they became teenagers, it dropped down to 10 percent. And of those over twenty-five, only 2 percent scored in the genius category for divergent thinking. That means the older you get, the greater your tendency will become to resist change. It also means you may fail to discover your God-given assignment in life and develop the skills necessary to fulfill it.
The Bible says, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function… God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (Romans 12:4, 6 NLT). God’s plan for your life involves finding out what makes you different and discovering those things you do well.
Too many individuals in too many churches look and act too much alike. Pastors can create this. Peer pressure can create this. If anyplace should celebrate diversity, it’s the church. There never has been, and there never will be, a person like you. And that isn’t a tribute to you; it’s a tribute to the God who created and redeemed you to fulfill His purposes. And that calls for discovering who you are, and who you’re not. Think about it: Wouldn’t you rather be disliked for who you are than liked for who you’re not? So, discover what makes you special.
Soul food: Exo 13-15; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 66:1-12; Prov 6:20-22
