2024-09-09
Philippians 4:13 AMPC
One of the quickest ways to get discouraged is to try living the Christian life in your own strength. It’s like trying to lift yourself up by your own bootstraps; it cannot be done. Indeed, God designed it that way. Jesus said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17 NKJV).
God’s commandments are never too difficult for us to follow – if we do them through Christ’s indwelling strength. And you must learn to draw on that strength daily. He is in you and with you at all times to enable you to do what you cannot do and to do with ease what you would otherwise find hard to do without Him.
Paul talked about the constant struggle between his flesh and his spirit. At times it drove him to despair. Then he gives us the key to victorious Christian living: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (Philippians 4:13 AMPC). Learn from the light bulb; it cannot illuminate itself. But when it’s connected to an electrical power source, all that’s required is to flip a switch. So, do it in Christ’s strength, not your own.
Soul food: Josh 19:24-21:45; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 112; Prov 23:13-15
2024-09-08
Isaiah 30:18 NKJV
Your concept of God determines your confidence in approaching Him. Do you always view Him like an auditor, and your books don’t balance? Or do you view Him like a father who loves you at all times and wants to be good to you? When approaching God, many of us consult a mental scorecard to see whether we have more wins than losses, rights than wrongs, credits than demerits. If we feel like we’re not performing well, we avoid God or make Him our last resort. That’s a mistake because God sees you “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and therefore, you are always accepted and welcomed into His presence.
You say, “Does that mean I can live any way I please?” No, “the Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12:6 NIV). But His correction is not rejection; it’s proof that you are truly His redeemed child. Here is a Scripture you need to meditate on: “Therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favour, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!” (Isaiah 30:18 AMPC).
Note God’s attitude toward you today: “The Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you.” Keep that picture in mind, and begin to expect good things from God.
Soul food: John 14:6-11; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 16:22-34; Matt 1:18-21
2024-09-07
Matthew 6:6 NIV
When it comes to the importance of having a consistent prayer life, Jesus is our greatest example. Before He calmed the storm on Galilee, called His twelve disciples, or fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, He spent time alone in prayer. And you have been called to follow in His footsteps (See 1 Peter 2:21). In essence, our failures are often the result of our failure to pray. Jesus gave His disciples two prayer principles that will work for you.
First, He said, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6 NIV). In other words, find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted. After all, you are meeting with God. As you spend time there, you will grow to love this place, and it will become your “secret place” (Psalm 91:1 KJV).
Second, Jesus said, “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV). The words “don’t babble” may sound harsh. But what Jesus is saying to us is, “Focus; be with Me. Open your heart. Get real. Stand on My Word and believe Me for answers.” After the church prayed all night for Peter to be delivered from prison, the Bible says “they were astonished” when God did it (Acts 12:16 KJV). You say, “That’s bad.” Actually, that’s good! It means even though your faith may be weak, when you pray, God will answer you. So, keep praying and standing on His Word.
Soul food: Josh 16:1-19:23; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 20; Prov 23:10-12
2024-09-06
1 Peter 3:10 NKJV
The Bible says, “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good” (vv. 10-11 NKJV). Note the words “let him turn away.” That doesn’t mean you should be rude or insensitive, but be solution focused rather than problem focused. Your mouth is a powerful tool that can help or harm. If you can grasp an understanding of the power of the words you speak, it can change the course of your life. You can either speak positive, uplifting, encouraging things into existence in your life, or words that produce negative, discouraging things (See Proverbs 18:21).
None of us want to be a mouthpiece for the devil. But the truth is, the mouth can be used for blessing or destruction, not only in our own lives but also in the lives of others. Your mouth is like a pen, and your heart is like a tablet. When you say something over and over, it gets on the inside of you and becomes you. It’s not something you have to try to do anymore; it’s who you are. Be a mouthpiece for God.
“The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary” (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV). “How forceful are right words!” (Job 6:25 NKJV). “The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom” (Psalm 37:30 NKJV). “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 NKJV). Today, speak life!
Soul food: Josh 14-15; Luke 20:1-8; Ps 142; Prov 23:7-9
2024-09-05
Psalm 101:3 NKJV
Pornography is sweeping across the world, leaving families torn apart in its wake. Many churchgoers who are struggling to break free feel isolated and helpless. One study revealed that 68 percent of churchgoing men view porn on a regular basis. When you watch it, powerful neurotransmitters such as dopamine are released, which bond you to the images you’re looking at. According to neuropsychologist Dr. Tim Jennings, “Any type of repetitive behavior will create trails [neural pathways] in our brain that are going to fire on an automatic sequence.” Some churches treat this issue as strictly a moral one, failing to realize it’s also a brain problem. We advise men to try more, pray more, and love the Lord more. And that’s important. But when you fight the flesh in the power of the flesh, you end up fighting yourself. What’s the answer?
Your mind has to be renewed, and that’s a process. When your brain has been trained the wrong way, it must be retrained the right way. This calls for radical commitment, such as removing pornography from your life and sometimes walking in accountability with a mature Christian friend you can turn to in times of testing. Above all, it involves reprogramming your mind with God’s Word.
Paul writes: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV). You don’t have to live in bondage to pornography. Christ can set you free.
Soul food: Josh 11-13; Luke 19:41-48; Ps 111; Prov 23:4-6
2024-09-04
Matthew 16:18 NIV
Gates are defensive devices, and storming those gates requires offensive measures. Think of the church as a battering ram. Instead of complaining about the culture, we need to present better options. We must produce higher-caliber movies and compose more extraordinary music, write more notable books, and start superior schools and form better businesses. The old aphorism indicates we should stop cursing the darkness and start lighting some candles.
In Roaring Lambs, Robert Briner writes: “Why not believe that one day the most critically acclaimed director in Hollywood could be an active Christian layman in his church? Why not hope that the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting could go to a Christian journalist on staff at a major daily newspaper? Is it really too much of a stretch to think that a major exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art could feature the works of an artist on staff at one of our fine Christian colleges? Am I out of my mind to suggest that your son or daughter could be the principle dancer for the Joffrey Ballet Company, leading a weekly Bible study for other dancers in what was once considered a profession that was morally bankrupt?”
Paul didn’t criticize the philosophers on Mars Hill and tell them they were going to hell. Pointing to their altar to the unknown God, he indicated, “I’ve come to tell you who He is, and His name is Jesus.” What was the result? “Some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter'” (Acts 17:32 NKJV). Go ahead; take a faith-based risk and see what happens.
Soul food: Josh 8:30-10:43; Luke 19:28-40; Ps 103:13-22; Prov 23:1-3
