2022-10-12
Revelation 21:5 NIV
It’s said that the Titanic sank because of cheap rivets and poor planning. Faced with a shortage of quality bolts, the shipbuilders used substandard ones that popped when the ship hit the iceberg. So, how sturdy are the bolts of your faith? Reinforce them daily with God’s Word, seasons of in-depth prayer, and fortifying fellowship.
Describing signs of the end times, Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8 NIV), and birth pains signal the onset of the final push. The obstetrician says, “This will hurt for a while, but it’s going to get better,” and Jesus offers us the same assurance about end-time events. We’re in the final hours – just a few pushes away from delivery.
John said: “I saw ‘a new heaven and… earth,’… the first heaven and… earth had passed away, and… the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven… prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying… ‘God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be… their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'” (Revelation 21:1-5 NIV).
People everywhere are searching for answers. So don’t isolate, engage! Your goal isn’t to get out of this world in one piece; it’s to take as many people as you can to heaven along with you.
Soul food: 1 Sam 24-26; John 2:12-25; Ps 23; Prov 23:4-5
2022-10-11
1 Corinthians 14:8 CEV
No matter how great your vision is, if you’re not someone people are willing to follow, it will never be realized. Who you are matters! The most important message you can share is yourself. Here are six thoughts on good leadership:
(1) Trust connects people to a leader’s vision; without it, they will be disconnected. With it, they will get on board and help move the vision forward.
(2) Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about inspiring and encouraging others. Good leaders bring out the best in people by sharing the best in themselves.
(3) Just because you’re the leader, don’t run people over! Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” With power comes the responsibility to serve, develop, and empower others. By helping them grow, you grow.
(4) Rules without relationship lead to resistance. You can have all the rules you want, but if you don’t invest in people and develop a relationship with them, they will rebel.
(5) Paul says, “If a bugle call isn’t clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?” So lead with optimism, enthusiasm, and positive energy, and weed out pessimism and negativity. Focus on solutions, not complaints. Philosopher Nicholas Murray Butler said, “Optimism is essential to achievement, and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”
(6) Good leaders don’t have all the answers, but they build a team that has – or can get them. Success is a process, not a destination. Winning is a by-product of teamwork, focus, and commitment. To succeed, focus on the people and the process, not the outcome.
Soul food: 1 Sam 20:30-23:29; John 2:1-11; Ps 131; Prov 23:1-3
2022-10-10
Colossians 3:2 NIV
Setting your mind is similar to setting a thermostat; it determines the climate you live in. So, set your mind on God’s Word! Instead of trying to stop thinking wrong thoughts – which immediately brings to mind the very thoughts you’re supposed to stop thinking – fill your mind with God’s Word.
Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would remind them of what He had taught them (See John 14:26). So when you file the Scriptures in your memory bank, God’s Spirit will pull those files when you need them.
Picture an amateur pilot navigating through his first storm. He can’t see any landmarks around which to fly because they’re locked in a fog. But then a voice comes from the controller in the tower saying, “Just listen to me, and I’ll guide you.” Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV).
Paul writes: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).
For example, what should you do when the economy is bad? Recognize that neither Wall Street nor Main Street decide your security – God does. What should you do when someone criticizes you? Take what’s good and let no one but God determine your worth. By keeping your mind on God’s Word, you’re at peace in any situation.
Soul food: Lev 23:33-44; John 7:1-40; Zech 14:16-21; Heb 11:8-16
2022-10-09
James 1:19 NKJV
To have a good relationship with someone, you must have good communication. And good communication is based on two things: talking, and listening. Stop and consider some of your recent conflicts and try to identify behaviours and attitudes that may have contributed to them. Fears. Insecurity. Jealousy. Stubbornness. Arrogance. Greed. Sin. Rebellion. Unexpressed or unmet expectations. Unrealistic expectations. Undefined roles and responsibilities. Differing standards, beliefs, philosophies, or views. Competing desires. Ineffective systems and processes. Power struggles. Contradictory goals and objectives. Breach of boundaries (spoken or unspoken). Inadequate or sparse resources (time, money, space). Language barriers. Lack of information. Lack of understanding of the needs of different personalities. Poor relational skills.
James writes, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.” This Bible verse is crucial to good communication. By listening, we create an atmosphere where people feel they have been understood and their views and feelings have been validated. This is half the battle in settling any conflict. And listening is not passive! It requires considerable effort to discern what’s really being expressed or even unexpressed.
But there is good news: If you’re serious about it, God will help you to become a better listener! Isaiah writes: “‘The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning. He awakens My ear to hear as the learned'” (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV). Note the words “tongue” and “ear,” and ask God to help you with both.
Soul food: Joel 2:23-32; Acts 2:1-21
2022-10-08
2 Samuel 12:13 NKJV
God sent the prophet Nathan to confront King David over his affair with Bathsheba. As king, David had the power to have Nathan put to death. But he didn’t. He humbled himself, received correction, repented, and was restored to his throne and God’s favour. Question: Can you be corrected? If you can, your future is bright and your potential is great.
But you must be discerning. Not all correction is constructive and therefore does not have to be accepted. Someone may desire to tear you down, diminish your self-esteem, or manipulate you into accepting their way of thinking. So you must make it a habit to analyze the motives of the person who is correcting you. Ask yourself these questions:
(1) In the past, has this person shown a genuine concern for my personal well-being and development?
(2) What does he or she gain personally if I accomplish the behaviour they are recommending? What do I gain? What do I lose?
(3) Is their attitude one of kindness, or am I feeling attacked and demeaned? (Be careful; don’t confuse a person’s irritation over your behaviour as a personal attack.)
(4) After they criticize me, do I feel like a hopeless failure, or do they communicate faith in my capacity to change?
(5) Are they dedicated to sticking with me through the change?
The Bible says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6 KJV). Since God loves you enough to send people into your life to correct you, receive them because they have your best interests at heart.
Soul food: 1 Sam 18:1-20:29; John 1:43-51; Ps 29; Prov 22:26-29
2022-10-07
Proverbs 3:24 NKJV
What about your sleep habits? Do you go to bed at a certain time and get up at a certain time? Or do you allow events, people, deadlines, or other circumstances to dictate your sleep schedule? If you’re wise, you will allow yourself adequate time to wind down in order to sleep when you go to bed.
We think of sleep as some passive process in which we drift off into oblivion and wake up several hours later well rested. But sleep is an active state. Metabolic and other restorative processes occur during the various stages of sleep. If we don’t sleep long enough for our system to be rejuvenated, we find ourselves irritated by the smallest things, and we tend to overeat. The excess hunger is just our body’s cry for the energy that was supposed to be supplied by a good night’s sleep. David said, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8 NKJV).
It’s hard to sleep when you have pressing matters on your mind. So if you want to “lie down in peace and sleep,” give your worries to God and trust Him to take care of them. If you’re unable to, try this: Get a small box with a lid, write down what’s bothering you and put it into the box, put the lid on it and set it up on a shelf in your closet. By that simple act of faith, you’re saying, “Lord, I’m giving this to you. When I awaken tomorrow, you will give me the strength and wisdom to deal with it.” Try it; it works!
Soul food: 1 Sam 16-17; John 1:29-42; Ps 92; Prov 22:24-25
