2023-03-11
Psalm 23:5 NKJV
David said: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” (vv. 4-5 NKJV). Notice, God didn’t promise that you wouldn’t have to deal with death, or fear, or evil, or enemies. He simply said that in spite of them, and sometimes in the midst of them, your cup will still overflow with His blessing. Next time you pour a cup of tea or coffee and it overflows onto the saucer, you have an “overflowing” or a “surplus.” Your God is a God of surplus.
Paul writes, “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). He saturates you with joy and peace “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV). He bestows a surplus of joy – He causes you to “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8 NKJV). He also provides a surplus of peace – He gives “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 NKJV).
So when you’re struggling to make ends meet, or you fear the future, look in the mirror and say, “God is my source; I have more than enough, my cup overflows.” And don’t just do that in times of need or crisis; make it a habit you practice every day.
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 27; Prov 7:10-20
2023-03-10
Psalm 23:5 NKJV
Next time you sit down at your table to eat a delicious meal, stop and think about all the people it took to make it possible. A farmer grew it or raised it; a food processing company prepared and packaged it; a trucking company shipped it; a grocery store sold it; then someone paid the price to buy it, cook it, and set it before you to eat.
There are many links in this chain, but the first link is God. He made the soil, the seeds, and the livestock. Without Him, you would go hungry. That’s why each time you come to your dining table, it’s proper to “say grace,” or offer thanks to Him. When someone sets food for your enjoyment and nourishment in front of you, common courtesy alone should require that you respond by saying, “Thank you.” Here is a memo from heaven: “Everything you have came from me. Signed: God.” (See James 1:17).
Perhaps you’re thinking, “But I worked hard for what I have.” Then you’re to be commended for your work ethic and your effort. But that’s not the end of the story; here is the rest of it: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV). When God says be “ready to give, willing to share,” He is simply saying, “Just as I have been the provider of all your blessings, now go out and share those blessings with others.”
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
2023-03-09
Psalm 23:3 NKJV
Life is full of choices, decisions, and options. It’s also full of people with strong opinions who will try to tell you which way they think you ought to go. If we could turn back the hands of time, nearly all of us would alter some of our past choices because they have caused us to find ourselves in the path of “wrongness” rather than “righteousness.”
Sheep will gravitate toward whatever appeals to their instincts, such as a berry bush, even though it will take them away from the flock and the shepherd’s protective care. They think they know the right path when they really have no clue.
Question: Have you been following your appetites and instincts rather than your shepherd? You say, “But God has given me a brain to use.” Sure, and you need to develop it. But it’s limited, and it will only take you so far. The Holy Spirit desires to take you beyond those limits. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14 KJV).
How does God lead us? Objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit. As you read His Word, you hear His voice, and as you “lie down” (Psalm 23:2 KJV), He impresses upon your heart what He wants you to do. If you have gotten onto the wrong path, turn to God and He will guide you back onto the right path. You say, “Would God actually speak to someone like me?” Yes, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out… he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4 NKJV). Today, let God lead you!
Soul food: Exo 30-32; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
2023-03-08
Psalm 23:6 NKJV
The psalmist doesn’t lead off with words like “maybe,” or “perhaps,” or “possibly,” or “hopefully.” No, he says, “Surely,” which is a term of certainty. “Surely” means absolutely; without a doubt!
There are a lot of things in life you can’t be sure of. You go for a physical checkup and discover you have a malignant growth. You work in the same company for years believing your job is secure, but they downsize and all you’re left with is a pink slip. You pray for your children, live an exemplary life before them, and teach them what’s right, then you find yourself down at the police station trying to get them out of lockup because they were arrested for drunk driving or doing drugs.
As a redeemed child of God, here are two things you can be sure of: God’s “goodness and mercy.” What’s your concept of God? That’s an all-important question, so think about it before you answer. Your concept of God will determine your confidence in Him. David was far from perfect. Indeed, some of his antics would have made the front pages of the tabloids. But he never doubted God’s goodness and mercy toward him: “This I know, that God is for me” (Psalm 56:9 NAS).
Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). His goodness guarantees every need you have can be met, and His mercy guarantees that every sin you commit can be forgiven. Just as sheepdogs drive strays back into the fold, so God’s goodness and
mercy will drive you back into His loving arms every time.
Soul food: Exo 28-29; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 106:1-23; Prov 7:1-2
2023-03-07
1 Peter 4:10 NLT
The Bible says: “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety… Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God” (vv. 10-11 NLT).
You may not be fortunate enough to work at a job that utilizes your gifts, but you should at least be moving in that direction. Paul worked as a tentmaker to finance his calling as a preacher. So if you know you’re a creative person with aptitude for design and visual arts, and you’re currently exasperated by your accounting job, it may be time to reconsider your career goals. If you love to solve problems when your computer crashes, but you’re currently working as a pastry chef, it’s time to step back and reassess.
You may not be able to make a living at your foremost passion right away, so you’re working in an unrelated field. That’s okay for now. But your sights must stay set on following God’s calling. Moses spent two-thirds of his life getting ready for his real assignment leading the children of Israel into the promised land.
God never wastes experience. Often the wisdom you glean from a job you don’t want equips you to succeed in the one you do; the one God has chosen for you. So keep growing and keep believing God. Then, when He opens the door, you will be ready to walk through it.
Soul food: Exo 25-27; Luke 14:1-14; Ps 136:13-26; Prov 6:32-35
2023-03-06
1 Samuel 10:22 NLT
When Samuel went to present Israel’s first king to the people, Saul was discovered “hiding among the baggage.” The Hebrew word for baggage symbolizes the self-imposed limitations that hinder you from tackling the job God appointed you to do.
Things like these: (1) Feelings of inadequacy. Saul’s first response when he learned he had been chosen as king was, “Am I not… from the smallest tribe of Israel,… the least of all?” (1 Samuel 9:21 NIV). When you fail to figure God into the equation, you will always feel “less than.” Instead of focusing on your own weaknesses and inabilities, concentrate on “the incredible greatness of God’s power” (Ephesians 1:19 NLT).
(2) Fear of what others might think. The writer of Proverbs tells us “fearing people is a dangerous trap” (Proverbs 29:25 NLT). And Saul fell into it headfirst! When Samuel confronted him for failing to obliterate the Amalekites, he replied, “I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded” (1 Samuel 15:24 NLT). God’s Word assures us, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So… we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,… I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV). Once you take hold of that truth and act on it, you will find there is nothing to be afraid of.
(3) Being overly pragmatic. The Bible says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8 KJV). And Saul fit the bill to a tee! When he didn’t hear from God, he took matters into his own hands and consulted a psychic. And after promising not to harm David, he repeatedly hunted him down. Adaptability is commendable, but God requires consistency and commitment.
Soul food: Exo 22-24; Luke 13:18-35; Ps 136:1-12; Prov 6:30-31
