2023-09-10
Deuteronomy 6:7 NKJV
Dr. Armand Nicholi, a psychiatrist from Harvard University, was invited to speak at a White House conference on the status of the American family. He explained how an overcommitted lifestyle that makes parents inaccessible to their children produces much the same effect as divorce itself. Cross-cultural studies say that parents in the United States spend less time with their children than parents in almost any other nation in the world.
For generations fathers have devoted themselves exclusively to their occupations. But today, mothers have joined the workforce, rendering themselves exhausted at night and burdened with domestic duties on weekends. As a result, no one is at home to meet the needs of the lonely preschoolers and latchkey children.
Nicholi stressed the undeniable link between the interruption of parent-child relationships and the escalation of psychiatric problems we are seeing. “If the trend continues,” he said, “serious national health problems are inevitable.” Year after year we are seeing more and more children suffering from depression, anxiety disorders and panic attacks. And that figure will continue to grow with the incidence of divorce, child neglect, child abuse, and child molestation continuing to soar.
You say, “What’s the answer?” Sacrifice and simplify! Even if it means sacrificing certain material things and simplifying your lifestyle, spend time with your children! God told the Israelites, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house.”
Soul food: Gen 6:9-8:4; Matt 24:37-51
2023-09-09
Nehemiah 6:6 NKJV
To prevent Nehemiah from rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, his enemies spread rumors about him. “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king” (v. 6 NKJV). Now, you can’t control what people think, or keep them from saying it, but you can determine your response. Nehemiah did: “I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?’ But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner” (vv. 3-4 NKJV).
This story teaches you three important principles: (1) Refuse to give more attention to a critic than you would to a friend. To Nehemiah, the people who mattered were those who were for him rather than those against him. So instead of trying to change minds, he changed gears and moved forward.
(2) Realize that with opportunity comes opposition. Paul wrote, “There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me” (1 Corinthians 16:9 NLT). Criticism is a sign of respect; if you weren’t succeeding, they wouldn’t even notice you.
(3) Remember that it’s the big battles that produce the big victories. Satan won’t send you a congratulatory telegram because you have decided to do God’s will; he will fight you every step of the way. But “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4 KJV). Today God is on your side, so your victory is assured.
Soul food: Eze 20-21; Mark 11:27-33; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 20:7-10
2023-09-08
Jeremiah 48:11 NKJV
God said, “Moab has been at ease from his youth; he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied [poured] from vessel to vessel… Therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent [aroma] has not changed.”
This Scripture paints two pictures for us; one is natural and the other is spiritual. In the natural picture, we see how wine is made by being poured from one vessel into another. In the spiritual picture, we see how God changes us by pouring us from one experience into another. And just as in winemaking, when the wine is poured out of one vessel into another, it leaves behind the dregs which must be removed in order to produce good vintage.
Similarly, God will permit you to be poured into situations that reveal your weaknesses so that you can work on them. And no matter how uncomfortable it is or how badly you want to escape, God won’t let you until your issues have been dealt with successfully. How will you know when that’s so? Because as you enter your next experience, you will leave them behind you.
In the winemaking process, the wine doesn’t spend the same amount of time in each vessel. That’s because each vessel serves a different purpose. Only the winemaker knows the purpose of each vessel, and therefore determines the amount of time needed in it. If you’re being poured from one experience into another, read this: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).
Soul food: Eze 16:53-19:14; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 27; Prov 20:5-6
2023-09-07
Luke 8:54 NKJV
The Bible says: “Someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, ‘Your daughter is dead’… when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.’ When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, ‘Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.’ And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, ‘Little girl, arise.’ Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately” (vv. 49-55 NKJV).
There is an important lesson here for you. To experience the resurrection power of Christ, you need the right people and the right environment. Just as oil and water won’t mix, neither will faith and doubt. Notice, Jesus took Peter, James, and John into the house with Him, and put all the others outside. Might some have been offended and criticized Him for this? Sure, but when you’re in a crisis, you need to surround yourself with people who can stand with you on God’s Word and believe Him for the answer.
When Jairus heard that his daughter had died, he doubtless would have thought, “That’s it; nothing more can be done!” But that’s not what Jesus thought. In the original Greek text, Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; only believe, and keep believing and she will be made well.” You need people who will keep believing God with you for the answer.
Soul food: Eze 14:1-16:52; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 112; Prov 20:1-4
2023-09-06
1 Kings 19:12-13 NKJV
When Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life, he fled to a cave. And that’s when God said to him: “‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice… Elijah heard it” (vv. 11-13 NKJV).
God can speak to you anywhere, anytime, through anybody, in any situation. But He will often share His greatest insights when you’re alone with Him. In order to hear God’s “still small voice,” two things must happen: (1) You must have silence and solitude. This calls for shutting out everything else and focusing on God. Not everyone will understand or appreciate what you’re doing, but you must if you’re to hear from Him. (2) You must get close to Him. The average person now gets fifty to one hundred texts and emails every day. Think about that. As long as you’re willing to take the time to stop and listen to others but not to God, your problems will not be solved, and your situation won’t change.
The songwriter, Everett W. Sugg, put it this way: “Shut in with God in a secret place, There in the Spirit beholding His face, Gaining more power to run in this race, oh I long to be shut in with God.”
Soul food: Eze 10-13; Mark 10:35-52; Ps 20; Prov 19:24-29
2023-09-05
2 Kings 20:19 NKJV
The Bible says: “Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: “Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated… shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,” says the Lord. “And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”‘ So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!’ For he said, ‘Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?'” (vv. 16-19 NKJV).
Hezekiah heard that the things he had inherited from his forefathers would be lost and his children would live in slavery to their enemies. But instead of being concerned and praying for God to intervene on their behalf, he said, “At least I will have security and comfort during my lifetime.”
Why did he say that? Was he callous and indifferent? Was he being selfish, thinking only of himself and not about the welfare of his children? Was he being fatalistic, thinking, “The prophet has declared it, and there is nothing I can do to change it?” Earlier in this chapter when the prophet Isaiah told him, “Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live,” he cried out to God to spare his life and was given an additional fifteen years of life (See vv. 1-6 NKJV).
It seems he was more concerned about his own future than his children’s future. How about you? Are you praying for your children?
Soul food: Eze 5-9; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 142; Prov 19:21-23
