2021-12-13
Ephesians 4:25 MSG
Many people have no one who loves them enough to tell them the truth. That’s because it’s easier to say nothing when others are messing up. But it’s not the loving thing to do! The Bible says, “Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship” (Proverbs 24:26 CEV). Usually we know what needs to be said, but fear keeps us from saying it. However, if you knew the brakes on a car weren’t functioning properly, would you allow a loved one to drive it? No?
Well, in a similar vein, Paul writes, “If someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again” (Galatians 6:1 NCV). That’s what “spiritual” people do! More often than not, when an issue arises that might cause tension, it’s glossed over to preserve the peace. We don’t want to ruffle any feathers, so it never gets resolved. Here is how Paul addresses this: “No more pretense. Tell…the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself” (Ephesians 4:25 MSG).
Now let’s be clear here. Frankness doesn’t give you license to be rude and say whatever you want. Thoughtless words can wound people. “Never use harsh words when you correct an older man…talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers, older women as if they were your mothers, and younger women as if they were your sisters” (1 Timothy 5:1-2 GWT).
Bottom line: When a difficult issue comes up, caring means getting involved in an honest and loving way.
Soul food: Neh 11-13; John 19:1-16; Ps 105:8-15; Prov 30:5-9
2021-12-12
Philippians 1:9 NLT
When you find yourself in a crisis, having the right attitude makes the difference between despair and determination. Dr. Jeffrey Rossman offers these six steps: (1) Look for ways to find meaning. Resilient people use their experience to help others. “[God] comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NCV).
(2) Examine your priorities. “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have” (Psalm 90:12 CEV). How would you like to spend your time differently now? Who would you most like to spend it with? How can you use your strengths in the service of what is important to you? If you had only a year to live, what conversations would you want to have? What kind of person would you want to be?
(3) Believe you can bounce back. A crucial aspect of resilience is faith in your ability to cope. Even if you have the practical skills to deal with the issue at hand, unless you believe in your emotional flexibility, you will waiver.
(4) Get moving. Physical exercise boosts your energy and mood. It reinforces your ability to take charge of your health and well-being.
(5) Step out of your comfort zone. “Keep…growing in knowledge and understanding.” Learn a new language or computer program; begin a project at home or work. Embracing the unfamiliar strengthens your confidence and capacity to handle new situations. The more you require of yourself, the more resilient you will become.
(6) Clear the weeds that are choking your optimism. When you start thinking pessimistic or cynical thoughts, step back and reframe your perspective by looking for concrete steps to solve the problem.
Soul food: Eccl 11:7-12:1; Ps 39:4-13; 2 Tim 4:6-8
2021-12-11
Psalm 142:3 NKJV
How you handle a crisis can determine whether you end up feeling overwhelmed or come out stronger. Dr. Jeffrey Rossman suggests five ways to do it: (1) Acknowledge your feelings. David said, “When my spirit was overwhelmed…You knew my path.” God already knows how you feel, and stifling your emotions just saps your energy, leaves you tense, depressed, and slows the healing process.
(2) Confide in someone. That doesn’t mean pouring your heart out to everybody and anybody; it means opening up to those who love and care about you. The Bible says, “A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17 AMPC). Numerous studies have confirmed the power of social support to help us through crises and stay healthy.
(3) Start a journal or a blog. Writing about a traumatic event is a way of letting it out. It minimizes your chances of becoming sick or depressed; the more you write, the more your negative responses to the memory diminish.
(4) Refuse to play the blame game: “It’s the other guy’s fault,” or “The doctor botched the procedure,” or “The boss never gave me a chance.” Blame-shifting makes others responsible for your pain, and more often than not, it results in lingering grudges that prolong your misery. Let go of toxic bitterness and judgment. Stop feeling like a doormat; you can forgive while taking steps to make yourself less vulnerable next time.
(5) Forgive yourself. Surprise – you’re human like everybody else! Acknowledge you made a mistake, ask God for forgiveness, then forgive yourself and move on. God’s Word says when He forgives, He doesn’t “keep a list of your sins” (Isaiah 43:25 MSG). Neither should you.
Soul food: Neh 8-10; John 18:25-40; Ps 105:1-7; Prov 30:1-4
2021-12-10
1 Chronicles 16:41 NKJV
There is a good chance you have never heard of these two men; they’re among the Bible’s more inconspicuous characters. In the wonderful worship choirs of King David, they were appointed to give thanks. Heman and Jeduthun “were under the king’s authority” (1 Chronicles 25:6). It was literally their job. And it’s your job too! You’re under the authority of the King of Kings who commands you to “be thankful,” “offer to God thanksgiving,” “come before His presence with thanksgiving,” “enter into His gates with thanksgiving,” and “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (Colossians 3:15; Psalms 50:14; 95:2; 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV).
Eugene Peterson writes, “The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise” (Philippians 3:3 MSG). Have you ever been so moved that you sprang into spontaneous worship? Nothing is more thrilling. You will never know what you’re missing if you don’t praise your Creator with your every fiber. Sing, lift up your hands, cry out, laugh, whatever…if you do it in a spirit of praise, thanksgiving, and gratefulness, God will love it.
Plus, thanksgiving leads to better physical, emotional, and mental health. The Creator of your soul is a master psychologist. He knows that thanksgiving is not only appropriate but therapeutic. It’s hard to be thankful and at the same time be grumpy, critical, or ill tempered.
Soul food: Neh 5-7; John 18:12-24; Ps 150; Prov 29:22-27
2021-12-09
Psalm 89:15 MSG
To enjoy the benefits of a computer, you must have a password. That’s what enables you to log on, participate, download, and get the information you need. And in a similar vein, the psalmist writes, “Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise.” “Those who have learned to acclaim you…walk in…your presence” (v. 15 NIV).
Praise isn’t simply a reaction to coming into God’s presence; it does much more. It opens the door through which God enters your life and goes to work on your behalf. In other words, praise brings God’s presence along with His direct intervention.
The name Judah means “praise the Lord,” and when the twelve tribes of Israel traveled, Judah led the way (See Judges 20:18). On one occasion when Judah’s enemies arrayed against them, Jehoshaphat, their king, sent a choir to the front line ahead of the army to sing the praises of God. It may sound like a strange strategy, but it brought a supernatural victory. The Bible says, “As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy camp…Then they turned against each other” (2 Chronicles 20:22-23 CEV).
Praise is an expression of faith; an affirmation that you believe God is in control of the situation. The Bible speaks of “the sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). That means you must praise God even when you don’t feel like it. When it doesn’t come naturally, you must choose to do it anyway. Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Praise can heal your emotions and lift the weight of negativity you’re under. Go ahead – try it! Use your “password.”
Soul food: Neh 1-4; John 18:1-11; Ps 148:7-14; Prov 29:16-21
2021-12-08
Proverbs 29:18 KJV
From 1923 until 1955, Robert Woodruff presided over the Coca-Cola Company. He wanted the beverage to be made available to every American serviceman around the world for five cents, no matter how much it cost the company. That’s a bold goal! But it was modest compared to the big picture he saw in his mind’s eye. In his lifetime, Woodruff wanted everybody in the world to taste Coca-Cola.
Observe three things: (1) Vision starts within. When you look inside yourself, what do you see? You can’t buy, beg, or borrow vision; you must look within and draw on your innate gifts and desires. What do you feel passionate about? Think constantly about? Pray about? What would you be willing to sacrifice everything for? Your most persistent desire will point you to your destiny.
(2) Vision draws on your history. Moses grew up in the comfort of Pharaoh’s palace hearing the cries of Hebrew slaves. That experience prepared him to lead the exodus. Vision isn’t some mystical quality that materializes out of a vacuum; it’s interwoven with your past and the history of the people around you. If your vision is born of God, it won’t just benefit you, it will benefit others too.
(3) Vision attracts resources. One of the hallmarks of vision is that it acts like a magnet – attracting, challenging, and uniting people. It rallies finances and other resources, and the greater the vision, the more potential winners it must attract. The more challenging the vision, the harder the participants will fight to achieve it.
So ask God to give you a vision for your life, and watch how it all comes together.
Soul food: Col 3-4; Philemon; John 17:13-26; Ps 148:1-6; Prov 29:11-15
