2020-09-22
Psalm 8:6 NIV
How can you know God wants you to succeed in life? Three reasons: (1) Because He created you. In Genesis He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26 NKJV). The words “image” and “likeness” are important. Think about it: We sometimes tell a child, “You’re the image of your father. You’re just like him!” Because you are God’s supreme creation, He poured into you His mind, His power, His wisdom, and everything else you need to succeed. Once you grasp the truth of that and begin to act on it, your outlook will be transformed. You will start thinking like a “no limit person.” (2) Because you have worth. Actress Ethel Waters, who used to sing at the Billy Graham crusades, said, “I am somebody, ’cause My God don’t make no junk!” As the crowning achievement of God’s creation, you are the object of His attention and affection. The psalmist wrote, “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them” (Psalm 139:17-18 NLT). (3) Because everything God made was for you. “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.” Does that mean God will simply drop success into your lap? No, “God blessed them, and…said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it'” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV). God has given you His authority and creative ability to succeed in whatever He calls you to do. So instead of thinking like a victim – start thinking like a victor!
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 34; Prov 21:14-16
2020-09-21
3 John 1:2 NKJV
Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV). And to drive home His point, He told the story of a rich man who died and went to hell, while a poor man on his doorstep went to heaven. Bottom line: Nothing is more important than your salvation! But God also has a plan for your life, and He wants you to succeed. John writes, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Note the phrase “in all things.” That includes your health, your mental and emotional well-being, your family and relationships, your career and finances. “All things” means – all things! There’s not an area of your life that God is not interested in or that He won’t get involved in when you seek Him, obey Him, and honour Him. In the Old Testament, He said, “Keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all…you do” (Deuteronomy 29:9 NKJV). And in the New Testament, Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Aren’t you totally invested in the success of your children? When they succeed in life, don’t you celebrate with them? Well, as His redeemed child, your heavenly Father is invested in your success and celebrates it with you. So start praying and believing Him today for success in all your endeavors.
Soul food: 2 Cor 1-4; Luke 22:63-71; Ps 39; Prov 21:9-13
2020-09-20
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
Some folks think that God’s sole purpose is to save their soul, help them become as morally upright and as spiritually mature as possible, and one day take them to heaven to live with Him. And in a sense that’s true. But here’s what isn’t true – that God is not interested in your job, your health, your relationships, your finances, or your dreams and goals because somehow those things are carnal, worldly, and temporal. When you think like that, you “spiritualize” every promise you read in Scripture, and when you pray, you believe the only thing God wants to do is help you become more spiritual. Let’s look into the Scriptures and see what God really says about this. The truth is, in fact, the exact opposite (See Joshua 1:8; Isaiah 48:17; 3 John 2). By maintaining that God plays no part in your achieving career success or financial security, you’re contradicting His Word. And when you do that, you’re on dangerous ground, because you’re making yourself the sole source of your success, and the Bible calls that – pride! What Jesus taught is this: “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [who do not serve God] seek…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV). So let’s be clear: God wants you to succeed in life for the right reasons, and He wants you to have all the things you need to do it.
Soul food: Matt 17:1-9; John 19:25-27; Rev 1:1-11
2020-09-19
Ephesians 4:23 AMPC
We can learn a lot about the importance of a good attitude by looking at the children of Israel. It’s estimated that about 1.5 million Israelites came out of Egypt. God delivered them from slavery and led them to the Promised Land. The trip should have taken about eleven days, but instead it took forty years. Why? Because they were constantly complaining about everything! They complained about the food God sent from heaven each day. And any time something difficult crossed their path they were ready to give up and go back to Egypt – back to slavery. What’s astounding is that out of the 1.5 million people who left Egypt, only two from the original group made it into the Promised Land. And today there are many Christians who have also escaped from “Egypt” (their former life of slavery to sin), believers who are always looking forward to the Promised Land, yet they end up wandering in the wilderness their entire lives, dealing with the same old problems and issues. Are you one of them? Do you feel like you’ve been circling the same mountain for too long? (See Deuteronomy 2:3). If so, here’s your answer: “Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24 AMPC). In other words – change your attitude!
Soul food: Eze 46-48; Luke 22:54-62; Ps 3; Prov 21:4-8
2020-09-18
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
We usually think of faith in terms of getting answers to our prayers and receiving from God the things that He alone can provide. And that’s okay. But there’s a more important reason for building up your faith. Faith is about pleasing God! “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” What pleases God? Your faith! What displeases God? Your lack of faith! In the past, Christians sometimes described praying passionately as “storming the gates of heaven.” It was a sincere sentiment, but it wasn’t completely accurate. The battle isn’t between you and heaven! You have a red-carpet welcome to approach God at any time. “Let us…come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). If there’s a battle, it’s between you and the forces of hell (See Ephesians 6:12-18). Why are our prayers sometimes not effective? The Bible says, “The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (Hebrews 4:2 NKJV). Yes, God is moved by your needs, but He responds to your faith. That is why nothing is more important than building up your faith. And how do you do that? “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). It works like this: Get into God’s Word, get God’s Word into you, pray, and things will begin to change for the better in your life.
Soul food: Num 29:1-6; Rev 11:15-19; 1 Cor 15:50-58; Matt 24
2020-09-17
Jeremiah 17:9 NLT
We all know well-intentioned people, who, when you ask them to do something, you’re not sure they will follow through. As nice as they are, they’re unreliable. Your feelings are like that; much of the time you can’t count on them because they’re not attuned to what’s best for you. They’re more interested in having their own way. For example, our feelings can get us excited about going shopping when we don’t have the money to spend. They entice us to eat cheesecake when we’re trying to avoid extra calories. They lead us to stay up late at night working or watching TV, when we know we need to get up early the next day. In short, our feelings are fickle. They change like the wind. Yet it’s amazing how much power we give them in our lives. As believers, we have something wiser and more dependable to rely on than our feelings, and that’s the Word of God. When we feel strongly about something, it’s not always easy to determine whether or not we’re in agreement with God about it. Jeremiah tells us, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows…it? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives” (vv. 9-10 NLT). And He does it through His Word, which “is sharper than any two-edged sword…exposing…sifting…analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 AMPC). Here’s the score: If you’re truly interested in rising above your feelings, you’ll let the Word of God be the determining factor in all your decisions.
Soul food: Eze 43-45; Luke 22:39-53; Ps 19; Prov 21:3
