2024-05-24
Psalm 119:28 NKJV
When you’re depressed. When depression is physiologically based, God can heal you through a miracle, the right medical treatment, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. But sometimes it goes deeper, and just like your body can suffer from “dis-ease,” so can your soul. Thankfully, God is the ultimate soul doctor! The psalmist said, “The day… I cried out, You answered… and made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3 NKJV).
Instead of giving up and settling for the fact that depression runs in your family, stand on God’s Word. Jesus came to “heal the brokenhearted… proclaim liberty to the captives… comfort all who mourn… to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV).
The Bible says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 NKJV).
“The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness… sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10 NKJV).
“These things I have spoken… that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11 NKJV).
“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24 NKJV).
Every morning when you get up, look in the mirror and declare: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV). God wants to free you from depression, and when you do your part, He will do His.
Soul food: Judg 9:34-11:40; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 129; Prov 20:25
2024-05-23
1 Corinthians 1:9 NLT
When you feel inadequate for the job. Have you been given a job you don’t feel qualified to do? No problem – it’s an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on your behalf (See 2 Chronicles 16:9). Fix your mind on your all-powerful, always-present, loving heavenly Father. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22 NIV).
Instead of fearing the challenge, start feeding your faith. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). Spend more time in prayer and move closer to Jesus: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:7-8 NIV).
Instead of giving in to fear, stand on God’s Word: “Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the weak things of the world to shame the strong… the lowly things of this world… the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV). “To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us… be glory… forever” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV). You are right; on your own, you’re not up to the task. But with God on your side, you’re more than equal to the challenge!
Soul food: Judg 7:1-9:33; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 93; Prov 13:7-8
2024-05-22
Proverbs 27:20 NKJV
When you’re controlled by materialism. The flawed philosophy behind materialism is “more, more, more!” And it’s the result of “eye trouble.” The Bible says, “The eyes of man are never satisfied.” It’s okay to want a nice home, a reliable car, and financial security – and God will provide those things when you’re a good steward of what He has already entrusted you with.
But when you want more than you need or more than what’s required to fulfill His will, the Bible calls it vanity. The word could be defined as being empty, hollow, or without purpose. Solomon writes, “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NKJV). So before you ask God for prosperity, ask Him to reveal your life’s purpose because they’re directly linked. Jesus said, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15 KJV).
God uses a different measuring stick, and His Word says He is “able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and… your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-11 NIV).
Is God willing to bless you financially? Yes, but only when you are willing to be a conduit and a distributor of His blessings.
Soul food: Judg 4-6; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 88:9b-18; Prov 13:4-6
2024-05-21
James 1:5 NIV
When you need to pass a difficult test or exam. The fear of failing can cause your brain to freeze just when you need your thoughts to flow freely. When you know you have done your best to study the material and prepare yourself, trust God with the outcome and stand on His Word:
“Trust in the Lord… do good… and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself… in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust… in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:3-5 NKJV).
“Call to Me… I will answer… and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV).
“He shall call upon Me, and I will answer… I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:15 NKJV).
“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name… will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26 NKJV).
“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22 NKJV).
Don’t be afraid; God will go with you when it’s time to take that test or exam. Long before you prayed, He was already preparing your heart and mind: “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24 NKJV). So square your shoulders and walk into that exam room knowing God is with you!
Soul food: Judg 1-3; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 88:1-9a; Prov 13:1-3
2024-05-20
Isaiah 44:22 NKJV
When you have a hard time forgiving yourself. There is only one unpardonable sin named in the Bible (See Luke 12:10). And as a believer, you probably haven’t committed it, so God will forgive you for everything else. However, when God says He forgives you and you refuse to forgive yourself, it’s like opting to stay in prison after the judge has expunged your record and set you free. And worse, you’re committing the sin of pride. How come? Because when God forgives you and you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re putting your opinion above His.
If you’re having trouble forgiving yourself, stand on God’s Word: “I… am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and… your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 44:22 NKJV). “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and… will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NKJV). “‘Never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,’ says the Lord” (Ezekiel 16:63 NKJV). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 KJV). “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NKJV).
Are you “in Christ Jesus?” Then rejoice; you no longer need to struggle under the weight of condemnation. God has totally forgiven you, so forgive yourself and move on.
Soul food: Ruth 1-4; Mark 9:38-50; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 12:25-28
2024-05-19
Ruth 2:7 NKJV
After ten years of sorrow and hardship in which she lost her husband and her support system, God introduced Ruth to her new husband, Boaz. Where? In the field where she worked each day. Who was Boaz? The owner of the field. One of the things that attracted Boaz to Ruth was her work ethic. The servant in charge of his reapers told him, “She came and has continued from morning until now.” As a result, she ended up married to the boss.
That’s why the Bible has so much to say about the difference between laziness and hard work, sloppiness and excellence, tardiness and punctuality, honesty and dishonesty, a positive attitude and a negative one. Someone is always observing you who is capable of blessing you. Read these three Scriptures:
(1) “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men” (Proverbs 22:29 NKJV).
(2) “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Proverbs 13:4 NKJV).
(3) “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4 NKJV).
Notice the phrases “a slack hand” and “a lazy man.” By expecting much and giving back as little as possible in return, you don’t just shortchange the company you work for, you shortchange yourself. Why? Because God promises to honor you when you give your best. His Word says, “Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6-7 KJV).
Soul food: Lev 23:15-22; Acts 2:1-21
