2022-11-17
John 11:21-22 NKJV
Here are three more things we learn from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead:
(1) Whatever you have lost, God can restore. One of the great promises in Scripture is that God can “restore to you the years” that life has stolen (See Joel 2:25). Claim that promise; take it back to the place where you lost so much, and ask God to replace, restore, and renew. He will do it.
(2) Whatever you’re bound by, God can set you free. “He cried… ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes… Jesus said… ‘Loose him and let him go'” (John 11:43-44 NKJV). Today God’s power is greater than any habit, hang-up, or circumstance that has you “bound.” Even though your mind doesn’t fully comprehend it, let your faith respond to Him. Pray with the psalmist: “Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it” (Psalm 119:34-35 NKJV). When you pray that prayer, your faith will grow and circumstances that seem impossible to you right now will be changed by God’s power.
(3) No matter how bad you feel, God understands. At Lazarus’ funeral, “Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!'” (John 11:35-36 NKJV). This story proves we serve a God who cannot only give you back what you have lost but who cares about what you’re going through (See Hebrews 4:15).
So if you’re hurting today, turn to Him and let Him help you.
Soul food: 1 Chron 12:23-15:29; John 9:24-41; Ps 8; Prov 26:17-22
2022-11-16
John 11:4 NKJV
Observe: (1) God has a plan in mind that you don’t see. Why did Jesus wait four days after hearing Lazarus had died before going to visit the family? God waits for two reasons: (a) That your faith may be strengthened. Jesus said, “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe” (v. 15 NKJV). In life, crises come and go. Your next crisis will be different from your last one, but the thing that must remain strong is your faith. (b) That God may be glorified. The Pharisees believed your spirit left your corpse on the fourth day. Had Jesus intervened earlier, they may have said, “He wasn’t really dead.” Hence Jesus said, “This sickness is… for the glory of God.” It’s in looking back that you see God’s wisdom and will at work in the situation.
(2) God will make you deal with issues you have tried to bury. “Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha… said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days'” (v. 39 NKJV). Are you praying for an answer in one area while God is telling you to “take away the stone” and deal with an issue you have buried in another area? When your heart is right with God, your prayers will be answered (See 1 John 3:21-22).
(3) God will make you an example of His grace. Picture Lazarus after his resurrection. Without even speaking a word, his life declared to everyone that Jesus is Lord. And the same can be true of you. God has redeemed and raised you up to be a testimony of His grace.
Soul food: 1 Chron 10:1-12:22; John 9:13-23; Ps 83:9-18; Prov 26:13-16
2022-11-15
Hebrews 10:14 NLT
Stop putting yourself down by saying, “I keep failing, so I’m no good. I never do anything right.” If you keep telling yourself that, you will find evidence to prove it.
One counselor says: “Putting yourself down reinforces rather than corrects your imperfections by placing unnecessary attention and energy on everything that’s wrong, rather than what’s right with you. Why would you do this knowing the only possible result is a negative outlook, more negative feelings, and less appreciation for the gift of life? People who regularly put themselves down are seen as complainers, not to mention the example they set. Everyone has aspects of themselves they’d like to improve, but this doesn’t mean you should beat yourself up.”
The Bible says, “He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” Max Lucado writes: “Underline the word perfect. Note, the word isn’t better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn’t improve; He perfects. He doesn’t enhance, He completes… I realise there’s a sense in which we’re imperfect. We still err. We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don’t want to do… that part of us is ‘being made holy.’ But when it comes to our position before God, we’re perfect. When He sees each of us [who have placed our trust in Christ to save us], He sees someone who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect – Jesus Christ.”
Yes, you should continue to work on improving yourself, but go easy; stop often and remind yourself that you are “being made new… becoming like the One who made you” (Colossians 3:10 NCV).
Soul food: 1 Chron 7:20-9:44; John 9:1-12; Ps 83:1-8; Prov 26:7-12
2022-11-14
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 AMPC
Have you lost your sense of peace? Is your mind besieged with worry? If so, begin to program your thinking with these Bible promises – write them down, carry them with you, and read them regularly:
(1) “The Lord… watches over you… stands beside you…k eeps you from all harm… watches over your life… keeps watch… as you come and go” (Psalm 121:5-8 NLT).
(2) “Those who know your name trust in you, for you…have never forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:10 NIV).
(3) “Our fears for today… worries about tomorrow… even the powers of hell… nothing in all creation will… separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39 NLT).
(4) “They will fight against you, but… not prevail… for I am with you to save… and deliver you” (Jeremiah 15:20 NKJV).
(5) “You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and… rest in safety” (Job 11:18 NIV).
(6) “I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone… Lord, you will keep me safe” (Psalm 4:8 TLB).
(7) “In the world you have… distress and frustration; but… [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!… I have… [deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you]” (John 16:33 AMPC).
(8) “Be not afraid or dismayed… for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15 AMPC).
(9) “Fear not… When you pass through the waters… they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned” (Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV).
(10) “I will rescue you… declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear” (Jeremiah 39:17 NIV).
Soul food: 1 Chron 6:1-7:19; John 8:42-59; Ps 133; Prov 26:1-6
2022-11-13
Jeremiah 30:17 NIV
Why did John write, “I pray that… you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John v.2 NAS)? Because your body thrives in relationship to how well you’re doing spiritually. Too much stress lowers your immune system, elevates your blood pressure, and creates cholesterol that blocks your arteries. It creates the very condition you dread. Job said, “The thing which I greatly fear comes upon me” (Job 3:25 AMPC). A certain amount of stress is necessary to get the adrenaline flowing, but too much will cause you to snap.
If Satan can’t get you to indulge in bad things, he will get you to overindulge in good ones, and your ignorance of his stress-inducing schemes is what enables him to gain a foothold in your thinking. If you’re anxious about your health today, stand on God’s Word:
(1) “Pay attention… to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22 NIV).
(2) “‘I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17 NIV).
(3) “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you… I will give you a full life span” (Exodus 23:25-26 NIV).
(4) “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NIV).
God’s Word is your prescription for health and healing, so take it daily.
Soul food: Deut 9:13-29; Luke 4:1-13; Dan 1:3-21
2022-11-12
Mark 6:31 KJV
Don’t you find it interesting that the most high-tech generation in history is also the most medicated generation? The Bible predicted this. God told Daniel that in the last days “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4 NKJV). That’s us! One researcher says we have trained our brains “to constantly flit around the universe of messages and information seeking brief hits of excitement. Grazing ceaselessly, we never dig too deeply before moving on to the next distraction… and it ratchets up our stress levels in ways we are only starting to understand.”
When was the last time you enjoyed some uninterrupted downtime without feeling guilty and unproductive? Do you even take time to reflect and recharge? Avoiding burnout requires these: (1) Recognising the signs. If you tweet and text people all day and yet you’re still lonely, technology may be dominating your life.
(2) Doing something about it. Make yourself unavailable for short periods and see what happens. The world won’t come to an end, honest!
(3) Realising you have a choice. People who think they should be available twenty-four hours a day exaggerate their own importance, or the control others have over them.
(4) Establishing boundaries. Rein in the emails and text messages. Do you really need all those FYIs about the same thing?
(5) Telling people, unless it’s truly urgent, you answer emails at designated times throughout the day.
(6) Setting a schedule and sticking with it. After a few minutes of surfing the Web, ask yourself, “Should I be doing this now?”
Jesus said, “Come… apart… and rest a while.” Why? Because when you don’t come apart, you fall apart!
Soul food: 1 Chron 3-5; John 8:31-41; Ps 99; Prov 25:26-28
