2020-11-17
Job 33:4 NKJV
You can put metal bars on the windows of your house, a security system in your car, video cameras in your business, and stash your prized belongings in a bank vault. But what are you doing to protect your most valuable possession, namely, your spiritual life?
Elihu told Job, “The breath of the Almighty gives me life.” When God breathes His spirit into you at the point of salvation, you become spiritually alive. Now you have the ability to love Him, serve Him, and bring pleasure to Him. And that’s what the Enemy is after – the part of God that’s inside you! And to get to it he will attack your body, wage war against your mind, and try to control you through habits, doubts, and fears. He will even work through other people, including close friends and family members.
When God breathed into Adam, he became alive. He recognized who he was and what he was called to do in life. Don’t miss the lesson here! Until you recognize that God created and redeemed you for a purpose, other people will try to “breathe” their identity and agenda into you. And that’s dangerous, because when someone can define you they can control you!
“How can I protect myself?” you ask. Live each day with a consciousness of the presence of God! The psalmist said, “You are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!” (Psalm 61:3-4 NLT). When you’re in that place of safety, the Enemy can’t touch you or anything that is rightfully yours.
Soul food: 1 Chr 26:20-29:30; John 11:28-37; Ps 50; Prov 26:27-28
2020-11-16
John 16:24 NKJV
The Bible doesn’t tell us how long the lame man in Acts chapter 3 had sat begging at the temple gate, but it was a daily occurrence. When he saw Peter and John, the odds are he wasn’t expecting anything – just another day trying to survive. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6 NKJV). Here’s what happened next: “He…stood and walked and entered the temple with them – walking, leaping, and praising God” (v. 8 NKJV). There’s an important lesson here for you.
God has set times for doing certain things. He has a calendar and your name is on it: “For the time to favour her [or him]…the set time, has come” (Psalm 102:13 NKJV). If you’re not spiritually attuned you can miss your “set time” and forfeit what God has for you. That means you must learn to live in expectation, because God’s blessings are either coming toward you or passing you by. Miracles happen to those who believe in them, ask for them, expect them, and receive them.
The Enemy will try to keep you so preoccupied, cynical, and hopeless that when God sends the answer you prayed for, you won’t recognize it, reach for it, or receive it. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:23-24 NKJV). So, be ready to receive.
Soul food: 1 Chr 23:21-26:19; John 11:17-27; Ps 8; Prov 26:23-26
2020-11-15
1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT
Whether it’s in the world of sports or the kingdom of God, all winners exhibit these five traits:
(1) Self-awareness. Winners are honest about their strengths and weaknesses. The Bible says, “The Lord searches every heart…If you seek him, he will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NIV). In prayer you see yourself as you are. As you read God’s Word, you begin to see yourself as you can be.
(2) Focus. Wherever you are today, be there – because that’s where God is. People who spend their lives “waiting for their ship to come in” are usually disappointed, or die on the pier. Winners live in the present moment. They refuse to be in one place while their mind is in another.
(3) Confidence. Winners overcome anxiety by keeping their eyes on the goal. As they get closer, their confidence increases. Jude writes, “Dear friends, by building yourselves up” (Jude v. 20 NIV). This is something you must do for yourself, and do daily through prayer and God’s Word.
(4) Toughness. Winners sacrifice the present for the future. They’ve learned to say no to indulgence and yes to discipline, because to them the prize is worth the price. Paul writes: “Like an athlete I punish my body…training it to do what it should, not what it wants” (1 Corinthians 9:27 TLB).
(5) A game plan. Winners recognize that talent alone isn’t enough; you need a plan to live by. So, have you discovered God’s plan for your life? Are you living by it? If not, talk to Him about it today. It’s one of the most important conversations you will ever have.
Soul food: Matt 6:1-4; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 14:12-14; 2 Cor 9:6-11
2020-11-14
Psalm 34:1 NKJV
The psalmist said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth…magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (vv. 1-3 NKJV).
Observe three things in this Scripture: (1) Praise comes from an act of your will. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” It’s not an impulse; it’s a decision you make regardless of your feelings. The word hallelujah is a command form of the word “praise.” It’s an expression of worship, but it’s also an order to start praising the Lord.
(2) Praise stirs your emotions. “My soul [emotions] shall make its boast in the Lord” (v. 2 NKJV). First, David praised the Lord because he was commanded to. Second, he praised Him because he wanted to. That’s the order of things. If you want to change your feelings – change your focus. Before it was over, David was singing, “The Lord redeems the soul of His servants…none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned” (v. 22 NKJV).
(3) Praise rubs off on others. “Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Praise is contagious; it changes the atmosphere around you. When you get together with people of praise, decorum gives way to delight, and you find yourself lifted to a realm of joy you never knew. And praise has many forms of expressions. Psalm 150 outlines nine different ways to praise God. You can speak, shout, sing, clap your hands or raise them. You can play musical instruments, you can stand, kneel, or dance. The point is – be sure to praise God!
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; John 11:1-16; Ps 4; Prov 26:17-22
2020-11-13
Nehemiah 4:14 NIV
Fight a gloomy outlook. Attitude is a little thing, but it makes a big difference. Depression, gloom, pessimism, despair, and discouragement stop more people than all the world’s combined illnesses. The truth is, enthusiasm will take you where talent alone can’t. Think about it: Every day talented people give in to discouragement and quit, while people with less talent and ability keep going and succeed. Winston Churchill once quipped, “I’m an optimist. It doesn’t seem too much use being anything else.” If you really, really, really believe that God is on your side, you’ll be optimistic even in the face of overwhelming obstacles and discouragement.
In the Old Testament, a group of former slaves rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in just fifty-two days, and went on to prosper. How did they do it? Because their leader said, “Don’t surrender to discouragement. Don’t give it an inch. Fight every step of the way!” And that prescription still works today!
One of Satan’s favourite weapons is discouragement. He knows you can never be defeated unless you’re defeated in your thinking. But you have the power to overcome him. The Bible says, “Submit…to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). When Satan brings discouragement to your door, what should you do? Don’t open the door! Don’t invite him in! Don’t accept the package! Don’t sign the receipt! Instead, submit to God – and resist him! From time to time we all experience fatigue, frustration, failure, and fear. But by standing on God’s promises and drawing on His strength, you can choose not to get discouraged. The choice is yours!
Soul food: 1 Chr 16-18; John 10:22-42; Ps 83:9-18; Prov 26:13-16
2020-11-12
Nehemiah 4:14 NIV
Don’t just think about the problem, think about the Lord. Nehemiah said: “After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles…officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.'” What specifically should you remember? Three things:
(1) Remember God’s goodness to you in the past. When you start thinking about all the good things He’s already done in your life, your spirit will be lifted and your anxiety eased.
(2) Remember God’s closeness in the present. What is He doing in your life right now? The truth is, He is with you whether or not you feel His nearness. He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).
(3) Remember God’s power for the future. He will give you strength for your needs.
When you get discouraged, get your mind off your circumstances and focus on the Lord, because circumstances can depress and discourage you. Chances are, if you’re feeling disheartened it’s because you are thinking gloomy thoughts. If you want to feel uplifted, make a concerted effort to think uplifting thoughts. Choose some encouraging Bible verses to memorize and quote them to yourself: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NIV). “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV). “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23 NIV). Keep in mind that it’s your thoughts that determine your feelings, and by filling your mind with promises from God’s Word you can overcome discouragement.
Soul food: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; John 10:11-21; Ps 83:1-8; Prov 26:7-12
