2021-07-29
Genesis 24:19 NKJV
One day Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac. Standing by a small town well, Eliezer prayed, “Let the woman who offers to water my camels be the one you have chosen.” Suddenly Rebekah shows up and says, “I will draw water for your camels also” (See Genesis 24:13-14 NKJV). Rebekah had no idea that Eliezer would change her life. She didn’t know that her act of kindness would open the door to great blessing.
In the Old Testament it was customary to offer water to a stranger. It was called the law of hospitality. The Hebrews believed the words: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2 NKJV). But who on earth offers to water thirsty camels? One camel can drink forty gallons, and Eliezer had ten of them. That’s a half-day project!
Rebekah was generous to a stranger, seeking nothing but the joy of serving. What she didn’t know was, these camels would transport her back to Isaac, make her his bride, shower her with great wealth and put her in the lineage of Christ.
So if you want to succeed, show up early, stay late, work hard, and be a problem solver instead of a problem causer. Live by Christ’s saying, “Go the extra mile” (See Matthew 5:41 NKJV). The key to success in life is in doing not only what is expected, but in doing a little more. Yes, camels are obnoxious and ugly, but out of that ugly situation came the most beautiful thing that ever happened to Rebekah.
Soul food: Deut 8-10; Luke 10:1-12; Ps 78:9-16; Prov 16:25
2021-07-28
Mark 5:40 NAS
When you’re trusting God for a miracle, nothing will drag you down faster than unbelief. Plus, it’s impossible to know what God is doing based on how things look on the surface. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). So in order to stay strong, it’s important to fill your mind with the right things: “the best, not the worst;…things to praise” (Philippians 4:8 MSG).
One pastor writes: “There were times Jesus didn’t allow unbelief around Him, like when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. When He heard the little girl had died, Jesus told her father, ‘Do not be afraid…only believe’ (Mark 5:36 NAS)….You can believe, or you can be afraid. You can’t do both; and people who truly believe bypass human reasoning.
When Jesus dealt with the spirit of death that day, there was no room for contaminated faith. So when He went to Jairus’ house, ‘He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter…James and John’ (v. 37). He took those who believed in miracles, and when ‘they came to the house…and…saw…people loudly weeping…He said…”Why make a commotion…The child has not died, but is asleep.”
They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took…the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking [her] by the hand, He said…”Little girl…get up!” Immediately the girl got up and began to walk'” (vv. 37-42 NAS).
Humanly speaking, your situation may look impossible, but when you throw out the naysayers and the doubters and believe what God says, you’ll get results.
Soul food: Deut 5-7; Luke 9:57-62; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 16:23-24
2021-07-27
Deuteronomy 32:29 NKJV
Unless you’re willing to change, twenty-five years from now you’ll be exactly the same as you are today, except you’ll be older, with less time and fewer options. The Bible says, “Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.”
How do you become willing to change? Recognize that change will happen whether you like it or not. If you do that, you’ll be prepared. One author writes: “The only thing certain about tomorrow is that it will be different from today. If you doubt that, consider this: My grandfather had a farm, my parents had a garden, and I’ve got a can opener! It’s a different world than it was twenty years ago, and it will be different in another twenty. But the good news is that the world changes so fast that you couldn’t stay wrong all the time if you tried!”
The difference in who you are today and who you’ll be twenty-five years from now depends largely on three things: the books you read, the relationships you build, and the time you spend with God.
Do you want to be wise? The Bible says, “The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). Do you want to be happy? “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding” (Proverbs 3:13 NKJV). Do you want to feel fulfilled in life? “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV).
Soul food: Deut 3-4; Luke 9:46-56; Ps 46; Prov 16:20-22
2021-07-26
Job 8:7 NKJV
The Lazy B ranch sits on two hundred and sixty square miles. Most of it is scrub brush, and it’s been in the Day family since 1881. When Harry and Ada Mae Day had their first child, a baby daughter, they traveled two hundred miles to a hospital for the delivery and brought her home to a difficult life. The four-room adobe house had no running water or electricity, and there was no school within driving distance.
You would think with such limited resources, the little girl’s future might be limited. But Harry and Ada Mae were determined their children would have the best education possible. They subscribed to metropolitan newspapers and magazines, and read to their child hour after hour. When her daughter was four years old, Ada Mae began her on the Calvert method of homeschooling and later saw that she went to the best boarding schools possible. One summer they took their children on a car trip to visit all the state capitals in America west of the Mississippi River.
When young Sandra was ready for college, she went to Stanford University, then on to law school, and eventually she became the first woman justice to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States of America. So the word for you today is – invest in your children. And be willing to start small, otherwise you won’t start at all. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have, use what God’s given you and He will bless it. Stand on this Scripture for your children: “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.”
Soul food: Deut 1-2; Luke 9:37-45; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 16:17-19
2021-07-25
1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV
We pride ourselves on our ability to judge people and situations based on appearance – and lots of time we’re wrong. Goliath issued the same challenge to Israel for forty days: “Send me your best fighting man, and I’ll kill him. I’m the champion. I’m the greatest.” That kind of fear-based thinking applies to every giant you encounter in life.
Chuck Swindoll writes: “Fear and worry…don’t come just once; they come morning and evening, day after day, relentlessly trying to intimidate. They come in the form of a person, a pressure…a worry…fear that hammers on your heart…day in and day out, yelling across the ravine in your own personal valley. Few things are more persistent and intimidating than our fears and worries…especially when we face them in our own strength.”
When picking Israel’s next king, God told the prophet Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or…physical stature….For the Lord does not see as man sees;…man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7 NKJV). As human beings, we look at what’s on the outside and form opinions based on what we see. Goliath was a giant with a booming voice and lots of bravado – three traits designed to instill fear into the bravest heart. But God was neither impressed nor intimidated by him. And what’s more, He gave David the ability to see Goliath through His eyes.
Fears are like babies; the more you nurse them, the bigger they grow. Once you start seeing the giants in your life from God’s perspective, they lose their power to immobilize and intimidate you. So refuse to be fearful.
Soul food: 1 Sam 5:1-6:16; Rev 11:15-19
2021-07-24
Psalm 115:12 NKJV
How much time do you spend worrying about things that usually never happen? Be honest! And has anything improved as a result of your worrying about it? Of course not! Paul writes: “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:5-6 NIV). He then encourages us by saying that when we do this, the peace of God will fill our hearts and minds (See Philippians 4:7).
The instant you begin to worry or feel anxious about something, take your concern to God in prayer. Release the weight of it, and totally trust Him to either show you what to do, or show you that He will take care of it Himself. Prayer is powerful against worry. When you’re feeling pressure, it’s always best to pray about it instead of fretting and talking about it.
Will this be easy to do? No, if you’ve worried all your life, then worry has become a habit. But with commitment, perseverance, and God’s help, you can conquer worry.
Here are two keys to doing it: (1) Instead of trying to get rid of your negative thoughts, which only keeps you focused on them, fill your mind with positive thoughts. Scriptural ones! (See Philippians 4:8).
(2) Take action quickly. As soon as you begin to worry, say, “No, I’m not going to worry about this because it does no good.” You may wonder, “But who’s going to take care of the problem?” God! His Word says, “The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us.”
Soul food: Acts 27-28; Luke 9:28-36; Ps 42:1-5; Prov 16:16
