2022-11-11
Psalm 16:8 NLT
When praying doesn’t seem to bring the answer, the question becomes, “How do I get through this?” The Bible addresses this by telling us Jesus endured “the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew… later on he would be glad” (Hebrews 12:2 CEV). Then it adds this: “Keep your mind on Jesus… you won’t get discouraged and give up” (v. 3 CEV).
The reason Jesus could endure is because He focused on what would happen “later on”; the joy of pleasing the Father, building the church, and reaching the world. Here is how David got through his hard times: “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety” (Psalm 16:8-9 NLT). So instead of denying reality or trying to white-knuckle your way through it, realise that the Lord is with you and draw from Him the strength you need.
It’s difficult to endure hardship at the best of times, but when you don’t understand why, it can be frustrating. God doesn’t give us lengthy explanations about how He works; a God who is used to creating worlds with a single sentence wouldn’t. So, when you can’t find an answer in His Word or through prayer and the counsel of others, you’re left wondering. And you wouldn’t be the first. David repeatedly asks why in the Psalms, and God still called him “a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22 NKJV).
So be encouraged; you will get through this!
Soul food: 1 Chron 1-2; John 8:21-30; Ps 115; Prov 25:23-25
2022-11-10
Acts 4:34 NLT
When we think about the New Testament church, we tend to focus on its power and growth. In Acts 2, Peter preaches, and three thousand people are won to Christ. In Acts 3, a paralysed man who sat begging at the temple gate was healed through the ministry of Peter and John. In Acts 4, we read this: “Many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000” (v. 4 NLT). Preaching! Soul winning! Miracles! Growth! Exciting stuff.
But here is part of their story you must not miss: “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means ‘Son of Encouragement’). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles” (vv. 32-37 NLT).
Yes, our top priority must be winning people to Christ and bringing them into spiritual maturity. But if we are to follow in the footsteps of the New Testament church, we must remember that we are called to take care of each other too.
Soul food: 1 John 3:11-5:21; John 8:12-20; Ps 15; Prov 25:21-22
2022-11-09
James 1:19 CEV
In order to build good relationships, you must become a good listener. And in order to be a good listener, you must do these: (1) Listen without interrupting. And that’s so, even when you know more than the person who is talking to you! Respect them enough to value what they say and listen attentively until they’re finished.
(2) Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking, and needs. In other words, listen to understand. Good listening is hearing what people actually think, mean, or feel, not what you imagine they should think, mean, or feel. Instead of guessing, politely ask, “Am I understanding you correctly? Do you mean …? Are you feeling …?” Don’t assume – verify.
(3) Avoid rushing to conclusions. Listen without judging. If what they say doesn’t quite add up, keep listening. “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV). When you hear more, it may make sense.
(4) Refrain from putting them on the defensive. Listen without correcting, countering, or devaluing. Saying, “That’s not the way it was,” or “What did you expect?” or “You’re just being silly and too sensitive” kills real communication.
(5) Accept their perceptions and feelings as valid expressions of a valued person. Validate the speaker. By saying, “If I understand you correctly, you’re thinking… feeling… am I right?” Ask them to help you get on the same page with them. Saying, “Given what you have told me, I can see why you would feel that way” will increase their willingness to consider your thoughts and accept the solutions you offer. If you want to win people and influence them, learn to listen.
Soul food: 1 John 1:1-3:10; John 8:1-11; Ps 123; Prov 25:18-20
2022-11-08
Romans 12:2 NLT
The letter E stands for experience. How can you know God’s will for your life? Paul answers, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you” (v. 2 NLT). The word “transform” means “to change in shape.”
How is a diamond formed? It’s the result of unrelenting pressure over a long period of time. Your life’s experiences will point you toward your life’s purpose. God never wastes a pain! The psalmist said, “I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word…. My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (Psalm 119:67, 71 NLT). How do we learn to do what’s right? By experiencing the pain of doing what’s wrong.
You say, “But others have mistreated me. Is that also part of God’s will for my life?” It could be. Paul writes, “My imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered” (Philippians 1:12 MSG). Then he adds: “Everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose” (Philippians 1:20-21 MSG).
The reverse side of a tapestry looks like a tangled mess of threads. But that’s what it takes to produce a picture of beauty, order, and value. Getting the idea? Re-examine your life’s experiences.
Soul food: Ezra 9-10; John 7:45-53; Ps 30; Prov 25:13-17
2022-11-07
Hebrews 13:21 NLT
The letter P stands for personality. Before a company hires a leader, they often do a personality profile to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Question: Are you compassionate toward people, or competitive with them? Are you a hard-driving type A personality, or do you have a more nurturing temperament? The worst thing you can do is to envy someone else’s personality type and say, “I wish I was just like them.” That’s like saying to God, “You made a mistake when you made me.”
God will help you to change your conduct and strengthen your character, but you can pray until you’re blue in the face and He won’t change your personality. Instead, He will help you to recognize it and maximize it.
The old saying is true: “Birds of a feather flock together.” Eagles don’t want to hang around with ducks. They don’t want to live in a barnyard or swim in a pond. Their potential makes them impatient with those who cannot soar. Eagles are loners. Ducks, on the other hand, are team players. They fly thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico in a perfect V formation without breaking rank. They know how to defer to one another and care for one another.
Before God assigns you, He designs you. He gives you the right personality to fulfill His plan for your life. So instead of putting yourself down or wishing you had a different temperament, say with the psalmist, “You… knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it” (Psalm 139:13-14 NLT).
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; John 7:33-44; Ps 86; Prov 25:8-12
2022-11-06
Psalm 40:8 NLT
The letter A stands for abilities. The Bible says, “God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (Romans 12:6 NLT). What is your dominant gift? You say, “I don’t think I have any gifts.” No one was born without a gift! Your gift may be undiscovered, undeveloped, unused, underused, or even misused, but you have a gift.
Have you ever heard the saying, “There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come”? When you put together the right opportunity with the right gift at the right time, the results can literally blow your mind. Before, life can seem like you’re just spending it surviving, when suddenly a crisis arises, a situation occurs, or a door of opportunity opens, and you discover abilities that have lain dormant within you for years. Today you may feel locked into a situation with no way out, but God is “a way maker” (See 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV).
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Jews who were taken as slaves to Babylon. Talk about being locked into a situation with no way out! But the Bible says: “God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom… Whenever the king consulted them in any matter… he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom” (Daniel 1:17, 20 NLT).
Does that mean you can just sit around and wait for success to be dropped into your lap? No, the old saying “opportunity knocks” is actually not true. Opportunity waits for those who open the door and go out and look for it.
Soul food: 2 Kings 5:1-27; Matt 6:19-34; Acts 5:1-11
