2024-11-29
Proverbs 16:23 AMPC
The Bible says, “The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body” (vv. 23-24 AMPC). Your thoughts and your words are intimately connected. Because of this, it’s important that you think pleasant thoughts so that you can speak pleasant words. Your thoughts are silent words that not only you and the Lord hear, but when verbalized, affect your emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. Solomon says, “Pleasant words are… healing.”
Your thoughts are silent words that affect your inner man, your health, your joy, and your attitude. The things we think about often come out of our mouths and sometimes make us look foolish. But if we live God’s way, our thoughts and words can make our lives and the lives of others more enjoyable. The New International Version of the Bible says, “The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction” (v. 23). Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can let your thought life run in any worldly direction it wants and then fake it by speaking godly words. Either both are pleasing, or both are negative and sinful. There is no middle ground.
Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). Scripture is your doorway into a new realm of living. As you spend time letting Jesus adjust your thinking, you won’t have to think about speaking pleasant words, wise words, instructive words, or healing words. It will just happen naturally.
Soul food: Gen 20-23; John 14:1-14; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 31:10-13
2024-11-28
1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
The story of Jabez takes up only two Scriptures, but they contain life-changing truth: “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested” (vv. 9-10 NKJV). That prayer could be reduced to these words: “I want to grow; I want to know; I want to go!”
The biggest danger you face is the idea that you will make personal growth a priority later. Don’t fall into that rut. Someone said, “The only difference between a rut and a grave is the length!” If you want to reach your God-given potential, you need to do more than simply experience life and hope you learn what you need to know as you travel along. You must capture growth opportunities as if your future requires it – because it does. Growth doesn’t just occur; you have to pursue it.
You say, “But I’m afraid of failing.” All of us have fears. But there is good news: All of us have faith. “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3 NKJV). The question you must ask yourself is, “Which one will I allow to be stronger, my fears or my faith?” God has great things in store for you, so rise up in faith and begin to seize them.
Soul food: Gen 17-19; John 13:31-38; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 31:6-9
2024-11-27
Philippians 3:13 NKJV
Sam Parker writes: “When you decide to cross the line that separates failure from success, you’ll discover that not everyone will applaud your choice. Nor will everything go your way. There are those who have decided they would rather not cross the line and would prefer you didn’t either. And unfortunately, sometimes those people might be your friends. Maybe they will sprinkle a little doubt or withhold a little encouragement at just the right time (or even encourage you to do the wrong thing). Maybe they will be a little less subtle about it and just step directly in your way.
And then, every once in a while, there will be you – that inner voice that’s trying to tell you you’re not that special and that making something exceptional happen is for other people. Then there will be the work – hard work.
Good things are rarely easy, or cheap. Real effort and attention are the fundamentals behind everything. There are no quick fixes. There are no silver bullets. You have to earn your results and push yourself more often than not. You must also focus. That means eliminate distractions, and minimize your exposure to negative people, thoughts, and things that don’t serve the intent you have to succeed. Time moves quickly, and you can’t get it back. So, take good care of it. And learn to bounce back. Built into every mistake is increased knowledge and understanding.”
Paul put it this way: “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal” (vv. 13-14 NKJV).
Soul food: Gen 13-16; John 13:18-30; Ps 114; Prov 31:1-5
2024-11-26
Philippians 3:14 NKJV
In his booklet Cross The Line, Sam Parker writes: “With everything, there’s a line. On one side of the line is a greater chance to make good things happen (better results, better relationships, more opportunities). This is where you will find all those people you admire. On the other side of the line, there is less of a chance. And with each line, you have a choice. You want to cross the line or you don’t. You want that better chance at making good things happen (meaningful things) or you set off with the lesser chance. Your choice.
Then there will be those times when in the short run it will seem like you can’t cross the line (no matter what you do). But then, those misses (those hurdles) in the short run will sometimes help you over the line in the long run (in a way you couldn’t have seen). They will serve as lessons, giving you more depth to your experience – making you stronger and better prepared for the bigger and more important challenges you’ll face in the future.
But you won’t know that at the time. At the time, you will just see that line. And it might seem like a wall. But it really is just a line (a line you want to cross). And it’s yours to cross, but you have to decide (make that choice).”
Paul chose to cross that line: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Note the word “upward.” It’s a climb. It calls for total commitment. But in the end, it’s worth it!
Soul food: Gen 10-12; John 13:1-17; Ps 95; Prov 30:29-33
2024-11-25
John 10:11 NKJV
Jesus told of a shepherd with a hundred sheep. When one of them was lost, he left the other ninety-nine in the fold and searched until he found the one lost sheep. Then he put it on his shoulders and rejoiced as he brought it home. Good shepherds don’t care about some of the flock, or most of the flock, but all of the flock. That becomes most evident when one sheep gets lost.
The story is told of a little girl who wandered off into the woods and got lost. As darkness fell, fear clutched her heart. She shrieked and cried until, worn out, she laid down and went to sleep. Her father, his voice husky from shouting her name, had been looking for her for many hours when he found her lying in a grassy area. Crying out to her, he rushed to her side. The little girl woke up, leapt into his arms, hugged him, and said, “Daddy, I’m so happy I found you!” That’s our story.
But we don’t find Jesus; He finds us. And He finds us – because He is constantly looking for us. Jesus ended His parable in these words: “I tell you… there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7 NIV). Every time one lost person is found, heaven celebrates. “You mean I matter that much to the Lord?” Yes. Just as the shepherd left ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that was lost, Jesus loves you and died to save you. So, come to Him today.
Soul food: Gen 7-9; John 12:37-50; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 30:24-28
2024-11-24
Luke 10:36 NKJV
Jesus told the story of the Jewish traveler who was robbed, beaten, and left to die on the Jericho road. Two Jews, both in the ministry, walked past him without helping. Then a Samaritan rescued him. No race of people was more hated by the Jewish people than the Samaritans. They were openly cursed in the synagogue and were barred from temple worship.
What this Samaritan does is nothing less than incredible. He utilizes all his resources – personal clothing, oil, wine, his time, animal, money, and energy – to attend to this Jewish man in the best way possible. Then he risks his life by taking the wounded man to lodging in a Jewish area. On top of it all, he pays the innkeeper for the man’s food and room for many days and promises to return and pay for anything more the man owes. This was crucial because anyone who could not pay their bill could be sold as a slave by the innkeepers so that they could receive full payment for a debt.
Jesus ends His story in these words: “Which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?” No law will ever cause you to be a good neighbour, but the love of Christ will. You see, a neighbour is not identified by color or creed; a neighbour is identified by the nearest need. So, here is a prayer for you to pray: “Lord, give me the courage to recognize and help a neighbour in need.” That’s a prayer He will answer!
Soul food: Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-52; Luke 8:19-21
