2022-07-27
Philippians 4:7 NIV
You can have peace today regardless of your circumstances: “The Lord of peace Himself [will] grant you His peace… at all times… in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMPC). Think about it: God has no worries or problems because He controls everything. And as you learn to trust Him, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and… minds in Christ.”
One Christian author put it like this: “If you lived in a town constantly harassed by enemy raids, one option for the military would be to send troops to actually live beside you. They wouldn’t just provide protection during an attack they would dissuade the enemy from launching future attacks. This is the implication in Philippians 4:7. The Holy Spirit has set up a garrison [a stronghold… a defense army… an occupying force] within us. And God’s garrison of peace will indwell your heart and mind, protecting you, and healing the wounds of worry and fear that threaten to invade your life. It’s the kind of peace that transcends human understanding because it’s God-powered and Spirit-connected. ‘We have peace with God through… Jesus… through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand’ (Romans 5:1-2 NIV).”
Are there areas in your life where you lack peace? Give them to God. The psalmist said, “He speaks peace to his faithful people” (Psalm 85:8 NLT). Diane Eble observes, “When God speaks, peace is the message… never settle for any course that’s not characterised by peace… it’s not God.”
Soul food: Acts 18-19; Matt 27:57-66; Ps 42:1-5; Prov 16:16
2022-07-26
1 Timothy 5:13 NLT
The Bible says gossip is nothing less than “meddling in other people’s business.” Jon Zens says: “I have watched friends and… families suffer untold pain because of gossip… [the] information someone dumps on you without your consent and consent of the person [involved]. [It] can be true, partially true, or completely false. It can be motivated by good intentions, but it always contains negative… information… [and colors] people’s perceptions of [someone] unjustly. The person being torn down is out of the loop [because] talebearers usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are demeaning.”
One Christian leader said, “The Christian army is the only one that shoots its wounded.” So set the standard for your own life by evaluating people based on your experience with them, not on what somebody else says. Secondhand information is notoriously unreliable and misleading, and it violates Christ’s command to “treat people the… way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12 NAS).
When you have been hurt by tittle-tattle, you can relate to the wisdom of those words. Rumors and innuendos may seem innocent and come to you subtly, but even if someone isn’t operating in malice, their motive is irrelevant. Spreading gossip defies walking in love and looking “for the best” in others (1 Corinthians 13:7 MSG).
A. W. Tozer said, “Never pass anything on… that will hurt [somebody]. ‘Love covers… a multitude of sins’ (1 Peter 4:8 NIV), and the talebearer has no place in God’s favour. If you know something that would hurt one of God’s children… take it out… bury it and say, ‘Here lies in peace the story about my brother.’ God will take care of it.”
Soul food: Acts 16-17; Matt 27:45-56; Ps 1; Prov 16:10-15
2022-07-25
Luke 6:13,15 CEV
When Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines met in the 1968 college football championships, Ohio soundly defeated their archrivals 50-14. The game will long be remembered because of what happened minutes from the end. With a commanding lead of 44-14, the Buckeyes pressed heroically to win a final touchdown. Instead of opting for the normal one-point conversion, the legendary Woody Hayes pushed unsuccessfully for a two-point conversion. After the game when he was asked by the press why he had opted for two points when the game was already won, Hayes replied, “Because I couldn’t go for three!”
Giving it your all results in victory not defeat; in satisfaction not regret. Enthusiasm is at the core of every worthwhile accomplishment. Paul writes, “It is good to be zealous in a good thing always” (Galatians 4:18 NKJV).
Among the disciples, one in particular was known for his enthusiasm; Simon the “Eager One.” Before his conversion, Simon belonged to a militant nationalist party committed to Jewish liberation from Rome. By grace, Simon the political zealot became a spiritual firebrand whose passion was channeled into the gospel of Christ and His kingdom. The word enthusiasm comes from the two Greek words en Theos, meaning “God within.” Christian enthusiasm is God-inspired passion, driven by the Glory of God, directed by the Word of God, dedicated to the Son of God, and derived from the Spirit of God. When it comes to loving and serving Christ, giving it everything you’ve got is the only way to go! Today strive like Simon to be known as the “Eager One.”
Soul food: Acts 14-15; Matt 27:33-44; Ps 65; Prov 16:8-9
2022-07-24
John 16:33 KJV
In the mid-eighties, Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as “Moz,” dominated the British rock charts. Known for his melancholy as much as for his music, Morrissey’s songs had predominantly depressive themes. They dwelled on fractured relationships, lonely nightclubs, and the hopeless weight of the past. In short, Morrissey was a singer who lived a cheerless life in a minor key.
How different from the life Jesus called his followers to live! On three different occasions He encouraged his disciples to “be of good cheer.” Bible teacher Philip De Courcy calls them “the three cheers of The New Testament.” The first reason to be cheerful is because your sins are forgiven and forgotten in Christ (See Matthew 9:2). Because of Calvary, your faults and failings will never be used in judgment against you (See John 5:24).
The second reason to be cheerful is because we’re not fighting for victory but from the vantage point of victory. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NKJV).
And the third reason to cheer is because Jesus will be with you no matter what life throws at you or who comes against you. Like the terrified disciples on board a storm-tossed boat, He will be there when you need Him. You have His word on it: “They were troubled… But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid'” (Matthew 14:26-27 NKJV).
Peace isn’t the absence of storms. It’s knowing Christ is with us and “nothing… will… be able to separate us from the love of God… in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39 NLT).
Soul food: Gen 14:18; Ps 110; Heb 5:5-11
2022-07-23
James 5:16 KJV
Paul writes, “Instead of worrying… shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down” (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).
Here are three final thoughts on the power of prayer: (1) Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that when prayer and religious practices are important to people, their stress levels plummet and they experience much less anxiety.
(2) University of Texas researchers determined that people who regularly attend church take a more active role in maintaining their health. They’re more likely to get regular checkups and take vitamins, and less likely to abuse alcohol and tobacco. They also tend to exercise daily and get a good night’s sleep. Consequently, they live longer, healthier lives. The Bible says your body is the home of the Holy Spirit… it doesn’t belong to you (See 1 Corinthians 6:19), so you must respect and take care of it.
(3) Research on Aging published study results from three major universities showing that people who hold meaningful religious beliefs and live accordingly are less likely to suffer from heart disease. The key lies in the critical role of blood pressure and heart disease. People who described their perspective as, “My religious beliefs are what lie behind my approach to life,” had healthier blood pressure readings and weren’t negatively affected when they experienced stress.
It’s important to note that all these research reports were published by secular, nonreligious institutions. The truth is, daily prayer enriches and enhances every aspect of your life.
Soul food: Acts 12-13; Matt 27:27-32; Ps 14; Prov 16:6-7
2022-07-22
James 5:16 NLT
Seven more thoughts to consider:
(1) When it comes to praying and getting involved in church, a University of Michigan study found that it reduced the emotional toll of financial stress.
(2) A respected gerontologist reported that following heart surgery, private prayer can improve your overall state of well-being and make you feel less anxious.
(3) A National Survey of Children’s Health confirms that kids who get involved in church have higher educational expectations and do better in math and reading. And kids who went to church as little as once a month are less likely to repeat a grade in school.
(4) Psychiatric Services journal cites several studies showing how positive religious beliefs play an important role in recovery from alcohol and/or drug abuse, and greatly reduce the rate of recidivism.
(5) When researchers at Yale School of Medicine studied 2,000 people over sixty-five, they found that the ones who attended church were less likely to lose their mental faculties in future years.
(6) Anger puts your stress reaction into overdrive, and raises your blood pressure. Ohio State University studies confirm that praying for the person you’re angry with can calm your anger and foster positive emotions like compassion, which improves your overall health.
(7) And Sociological Quarterly reports that teens who find meaning and importance in their faith have better relationships with their parents, which leads to a more satisfying experience for the whole family.
Soul food: Acts 10-11; Matt 27:11-26; Ps 146; Prov 16:4-5
