2022-10-29
Proverbs 20:13 NKJV
Zig Ziegler said, “When you do what you need to do when you need to do it, then…you can do what you want to do when you want to do it.” But you will never do what you need to do if you don’t set your alarm clock, arise, take dominion over the blankets, and go to work.” Solomon warns about the kind of sleep that crosses the line between rest and laziness.
(1) Too much sleep has a dulling influence. “As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed” (Proverbs 26:14 NKJV).
(2) Too much sleep destroys ambition. “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger” (Proverbs 19:15 NKJV).
(3) Too much sleep causes poverty. “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty” (Proverbs 20:13 NKJV).
(4) Too much sleep disappoints God. “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” (Proverbs 6:9 NKJV).
(5) Too much sleep squanders golden opportunities. “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame” (Proverbs 10:5 NKJV).
One guy was asked by a potential employer, “Does hard work bother you?” He answered, “No, hard work doesn’t bother me in the least. I can lie down next to it and go right to sleep.” The Bible calls such a person a “sluggard.” His god is slumber, his bed is his altar, and his body is the sacrifice he readily offers. Seriously, unless you’re willing to work hard, all your prayers for success won’t rise any higher than the roof.
Soul food: 1 Tim 1-3; John 6:52-59; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
2022-10-28
1 John 2:12 NIV
John says, “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name” (v. 12 NIV). When you’re born again, the only thing you know is that your sins are forgiven and you’re in right standing with God. But you have a lot more to learn. The Greek term for “children” refers to toddlers. And toddlers keep tripping and falling. Until they learn to walk, they need someone to pick them up and reassure them that falling down doesn’t mean they will never walk or they’re not part of the family.
In spiritual childhood, it’s essential that you understand two things: the difference between your stage of growth and your standing before God. Don’t get them mixed up! Trusting in the finished work of Christ gives you right standing with God as a fully accepted, redeemed child of His. If you forget that, every time you fall, the devil will make you doubt your salvation.
When you sin, it doesn’t mean that your standing before God is altered; it means your stage of spiritual growth needs work. The forgiveness you receive at the new birth is a judicial act, making you a member of God’s family in good standing. But the forgiveness you receive on a daily basis is a relational act. For example, when you enter some wrong numbers into your calculator, what do you do? There is a little button called “clear entry” that lets you erase your mistake and start over again. That’s what the blood of Jesus does. Repentance allows you to override sin by triggering God’s forgiveness, so that the flow of His grace continues. And when grace flows, growth follows.
Soul food: Habakkuk 1-3; John 6:35-51; Ps 49; Prov 24:19-22
2022-10-27
Philippians 1:9 MSG
Ever notice when you’re dating somebody, you can talk effortlessly for hours, but when you have been married awhile, unless you work at it, conversation can become superficial and even lead to disagreements? The Bible says, “Be willing to listen and slow to speak” (James 1:19 NCV). There is an art to communicating.
(1) Look for opportunities to compliment one another. You may think your partner is wonderful, but they need to hear you say it frequently. It takes twelve compliments to neutralize the effect of one criticism, so when life beats your mate down, build them up.
(2) Don’t try to change them by nagging. Questions like, “Why can’t you?” or “Why do you always?” can sound more like parenting than partnering. Tell your partner once – not a thousand times – what’s bothering you. And before you speak, ask yourself, “Would I say this to a valued friend?” If not, don’t say it!
(3) A marriage can only stand so much “soul-baring.” As a rule, shorter is better. “Honey, can we talk for a few minutes?” is less threatening than the ominous, “We need to talk” announcement. People can only stand so much “soul-baring”; pressuring them just gets the wrong result. If your spouse is unresponsive on an issue, discuss it with a trusted friend or counselor. Then give your spouse the condensed, less emotional version.
(4) Let your mate lead. When your spouse is talking about things you’re not particularly interested in, remember the Scripture, “Submit to one another” (Ephesians 5:21 NIV). Sometimes that means asking, “What would you like to talk about?”
If you want a good marriage, use those four principles every day.
Soul food: Nahum 1-3; John 6:25-34; Ps 98; Prov 24:15-18
2022-10-26
Psalm 127:1 NKJV
Nobody knows more about marriage than God. He not only thought up the idea – He put the first couple together. And His Word says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.” So let’s turn to His Word and see what kind of help He has to offer your marriage.
(1) Be willing to take advice. Solomon says, “Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise” (Proverbs 13:10 NLT). So before the argument reaches a stalemate and the stalemate becomes a full-blown crisis, get input from a trusted friend or counselor. That takes humility, but it pays great dividends.
(2) Don’t stop talking. Even though something seems obvious to you, don’t assume your mate can read your mind. And don’t resort to “the silent treatment.” Tell your husband or wife what’s bothering you, even if it means working through a disagreement. It’s when you don’t care enough to disagree that things fall apart.
(3) Keep your love alive. Building a strong marriage means falling in love over and over again – with the same person. Paul writes, “Use your head… so… your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush” (Philippians 1:9 MSG).
It’s impossible to escape marital stress, but you can control it by scheduling breaks away from the daily grind. Take a walk together, watch a movie you both enjoy, go for coffee, do whatever reconnects you. And let your children know you’re taking time out to be together. Not only will they learn to appreciate it, it will help them build a good marriage of their own later on.
Soul food: 2 Pet 1-3; John 6:16-24; Ps 85; Prov 24:11-14
2022-10-25
Philippians 2:4 MSG
Paul writes, “Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (v. 4 MSG). That means do these five things:
(1) Be genuinely interested in others. “Laugh… when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down” (Romans 12:15 MSG). And you can only do that when you take the time to find out what’s going on in someone else’s world.
(2) Be upbeat. “A cheerful heart brings a smile… a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day” (Proverbs 15:13 MSG). Don’t dump your problems on others, they have enough of their own. Take them to the Lord in prayer.
(3) Be careful what you say, and always say less than you think. “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in” (Proverbs 29:11 KJV). And since how you speak is as important as what you say, always be kind and courteous.
(4) Be reliable. The Bible says, “In the last days… men shall be… trucebreakers” (2 Timothy 3:1-3 KJV), but you don’t have to fulfill that prophecy. When you say you will do something, do it. Character is measured by actions, not words. So strive to be a person whose word has meaning.
(5) Be an encourager. Barnabas was known as a motivator because he “encouraged the believers” (Acts 11:23 NLT). Ever notice what happens when you push a kid on a swing? Eventually he starts pumping and doing it himself; he just needed a little help to get going. Even a smile can work wonders. Job said, “When they were discouraged, I smiled… My look of approval was precious to them” (Job 29:24 NLT). Sometimes it’s that simple!
Soul food: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; John 6:1-15; Ps 126; Prov 24:10
2022-10-24
Jeremiah 1:5 MSG
When God blesses you, get ready for the complainers who think He should have blessed them instead – or at least as much as you. When a dispute arose about which of the twelve tribes should lead Israel, God told Moses to have each tribal leader write his name on his staff and place it overnight in the tabernacle. Then God said, “The man I have chosen… buds will grow on his rod! Then… this… complaining… will stop!” (Numbers 17:5 TLB). Imagine an old stick with no roots or sap blossoming in the dark! The truth is, faith can’t grow without hardship; it must incubate in the darkness of adversity. There is a stage at which you don’t even know you have been chosen by God; only He knows.
He told Jeremiah, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.” Before you were a beep on a monitor, God had plans for you. The reason you didn’t die on the operating table or in that car accident is because God had His hand on you. Furthermore, He didn’t choose you because you’re so virtuous and wonderful. No, “He chose what the world thinks is unimportant… so… no one can brag” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29 NCV).
When God created the heavens and the earth, the Bible says, “Darkness covered the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2 NRS). Then God spoke and said, “Let there be lights… And it was so” (Genesis 1:14-15 NIV). And today God can bring light out of your darkness and hope out of your despair. He is not intimidated by the darkness – it’s where He does some of His best work!
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; John 5:31-47; Ps 5; Prov 24:8-9
