2024-07-29
Exodus 33:14 NKJV
When you sense God’s presence and know He is with you, you can handle whatever life brings. Try to imagine the assignment Moses had – liberating two million people from the grip of slavery: leading them through a wilderness where they were exposed to enemies and elements such as extreme heat and cold; feeding them, clothing them, settling their disputes, and keeping them moving toward their destiny. Here is what Moses prayed: “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us” (v. 15 NKJV). Moses preferred to go nowhere with God than anywhere without Him. When his affair with Bathsheba was exposed, David didn’t pray, “Don’t take my crown from me, or my kingdom, or my army.” No, he knew what mattered most: “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11 NKJV).
In order to grow spiritually, you must develop an increasing awareness of God’s presence in your life. How do you do that? Instead of being a rock, become a sponge. When you place a rock in the ocean, its surface gets wet but its core remains hard and dry. But when you place a sponge in the ocean, the water alters the very essence of its being.
Slow down and sense God’s presence. Begin by reading this Scripture, writing it down, repeating it over and over, and opening every pore of your soul to God’s presence: “The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you.” (Zephaniah 3:17 GNT).
Soul food: Zeph 1-3; Luke 9:46-56; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 19:15-17
2024-07-28
Hosea 4:6 NKJV
Failing to unlearn irrational fears and misconceptions keeps us from becoming who God wants us to be. The invalid man in John 5 is a great example of this. He had been crippled for thirty-eight years when Jesus asked if he would like to get well. However, the man believed there was only one way to be healed: “I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me” (John 5:7 NKJV).
This man assumed something that may have cost him thirty-eight years! He thought, that in order to be healed, he had to be the first person into the pool of Bethesda when an angel stirred the water. In a sense, he was imprisoned by that thought. But Jesus uninstalled that inaccurate belief with one sentence: “Take up your bed and walk” (v. 11 NKJV). Jesus set this man free physically, and He set him free cognitively.
Faith is unlearning the senseless worries and misguided beliefs that keep us captive. And that’s what we do while we study Scripture. We literally upgrade our minds by a download of the mind of Christ (See 1 Corinthians 2:16). Unlearning something is twice as hard as learning it. Why? Because every mile you go in the wrong direction is really a two-mile error as you have to double back to get to where you need to be. Getting old thoughts out of your mind is harder than getting new thoughts into it. But it’s worth it. So, take time each day to renew your mind with God’s Word.
Soul food: Matt 5:20; 1 Thes 2:13-3:5; 1 Cor 4:11-13; Rev 6:9-11
2024-07-27
Joshua 1:14 NIV
To be worthy of a following, you need more than talent and a title. The essence of leadership lies in doing two things.
(1) Going first! “Cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.” That means if God has called you to lead, you must step out in faith and go first. That requires believing in yourself and your mission. Accomplishment requires more than just working hard; it requires believing the right thing. God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (v. 9 NIV). You don’t need all the answers upfront. Your confidence comes from knowing that God is with you – and ahead of you.
(2) Taking others with you. “Leading your brothers, helping them” (v. 14 MSG). And in case you’re wondering, “How long do I have to keep investing in this person?” the answer is until “they also… take possession of the land that God… is giving them” (v.15 MSG). Many people will serve when they’re compelled to, and some will serve in a crisis. But when you have a servant’s heart, you initiate service to others. You see the need, seize the opportunity, and serve knowing God will reward you. Therefore you serve with gladness (See Psalm 100:2).
So here is the deal: You only qualify to enjoy the privileges of leadership when you’re willing to go first and then take others with you. But that’s not the end of the story. God said, “After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which… the Lord gave you” (Joshua 1:15 NIV).
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; Luke 9:37-45; Ps 42:1-5; Prov 19:12-14
2024-07-26
John 10:10 NAS
Why do 50 percent of marriages, including Christian marriages, end in divorce? Jesus answers that question: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (v. 10 NAS). God performed the first wedding ceremony between Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. And the honeymoon barely began before Satan entered the picture and attacked them, causing feelings of shame and separation from God. Later in Scripture, when Satan couldn’t defeat the patriarch Job through boils, bankruptcy, and bereavement, he attacked him through his wife. Your marriage is one of Satan’s prime targets, and you forget that at your peril. So how can you protect it?
(1) Know your mate’s expectations: Are they realistic? Were they unexpressed or unknown until conflict arose in the relationship? Disappointment often manifests itself as anger.
(2) Familiarize yourself with your spouse’s family history: In many ways, he or she is a product of the environment they grew up in. The truth is, we build with the tools and fight with the weapons our parents gave us. And during quarrels and heated conversations, memories of parental anger, childhood abuse, and family arguments can influence how we react later when we get married.
(3) Start praying for your mate: Better still – start praying with them! Jesus said: “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV). So protect your marriage – it’s one of Satan’s biggest targets.
Soul food: 1 Tim 1-3; Luke 9:28-36; Ps 1; Prov 19:9-11
2024-07-25
Matthew 14:29 NIV
The Bible says, “‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him” (vv. 28-31 NIV).
When you know that you have prayed, prepared, and planned, you must step out and do it. It’s normal to experience fear when you attempt something you have never done before. Perhaps you have read the story of Peter’s attempt to walk on the water and judged him a failure. That’s not so. First, Peter gets an A for being willing to leave his safety zone and do what he had never done before. Second, he experienced the exhilaration of actually walking on water if for only a fleeting moment; no other disciple could boast of that. Third, he learned a valuable lesson: Focusing on Jesus rather than your circumstances is essential when attempting the impossible. Fourth, he recognized that his survival depended solely on Jesus. “He was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said” (vv. 30-31 NIV).
Jesus didn’t condemn Peter for failing, He just told him he needed to develop greater faith. God won’t let you drown in your mistakes. As long as you keep trusting Him, He will keep working with you until you succeed. He is your heavenly Father, and your success is His success!
Soul food: Hab 1-3; Luke 9:18-27; Ps 65; Prov 19:5-8
2024-07-24
1 Corinthians 9:16 NIV
Let’s take another look at how to conquer the fear of failure. (1) Pursue your God-given purpose in life. To truly succeed at something, you must have a passion for it. And God will not only reveal to you His purpose, He will give you a passion to pursue it. Paul had the gift, education, and connections to pursue a number of different careers. But he wrote, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” What do you feel passionately about? Study it; it’s a clue to your destiny.
(2) Ask yourself these three questions: (a) “What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t succeed?” You will still have God, your talents, your family, and other opportunities. (b) “Has this ever been done before?” Even if not, so what? (c) “Is this fear a signal that I don’t have the proper people, processes, or plans in place to succeed at this time?” Then ask the really big question: “What are the benefits I will enjoy if I succeed?” Have a can-do attitude.
Look your fear in the face and boldly assert: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Don’t let the familiarity of this Scripture cause you to recite it by rote. Say it out loud. Really absorb the words; get them into your spirit. Know that Christ strengthens you to succeed for the glory of God. Know that when He guides you, He provides you with all that you need to succeed in whatever He has called you to do.
Soul food: Nah 1-3; Luke 9:1-17; Ps 14; Prov 19:1-4
