2020-07-13
Psalm 84:6 NLT
If you were raised in a culture where any show of emotion was considered a sign of weakness, you must learn that grieving your losses is a healthy process – and a scriptural one. The Bible says, “When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs…They will continue to grow stronger” (vv. 6-7 NLT). Note, when your strength comes from the Lord, you can walk through “the valley of weeping” and come out stronger. The length of time each of us spends in that valley may differ, but there comes a point where we must accept God’s will and move forward. So often we’re shocked by the death of a loved one, but God is not. David said, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment…laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16 NLT). And try as you will, there’s nothing you can do to change that. The truth is, we don’t grieve “as…those who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 GNT). One day we’ll be reunited with our redeemed loved one in the presence of the Lord, never to be separated again. The farewell is just “till we meet again.” In the meantime, if you need help don’t be ashamed to reach for it. Remember: “A brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17 KJV). Ask God to lead you to a person, a counselor, or a support group that can help you identify the unfinished business that’s keeping you stuck in the cycle of grief. Cherish your loved one’s memory, but move forward and fulfill your divine destiny and purpose.
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Luke 7:1-10; Ps 118:1-9; Prov 15:27-30
2020-07-12
Philippians 4:7 NLT
The word worry comes from a Greek word meaning “to divide the mind.” Worry splits you right down the middle; instead of dwelling on God’s promises, you dwell on your problems. Worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere. Instead of relieving you of tomorrow’s troubles, it robs you of today’s strength – and you can’t afford to lose your strength. So how can you stop worrying? The Bible has a two-part answer: God’s part, and our part. Our part includes prayer and gratitude: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (v. 6 NLT). In order to worry less you must pray more, and also remember to express your gratitude. You can go to God confidently for the next thing, when you’ve taken time to thank Him for the last thing. And what’s God’s part? “If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus” (v. 7 TLB). Note the words “You will experience God’s peace.” Imagine having God’s peaceful state of mind! Do you think He battles anxiety? Or wrings His hands and asks the angels for antacids? Your problem is no more challenging to God than a twig is to an elephant. He enjoys perfect peace because He enjoys perfect power – and He offers His peace to you. When you do your part through prayer and thanksgiving, you’ll have a peaceful state of mind.
Soul food: Heb 11:7; Gen 6:9-22; Gen 8:18-22; Matt 24:36-44
2020-07-11
Psalm 27:13 NKJV
When you choose to see things from God’s perspective, it changes how you feel. The only thing keeping your old negative feelings in place is your thinking. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). When you start thinking the right way, your life starts going the right way. But remember, you didn’t become negative overnight and you won’t become positive overnight. So how do you start? (1) Replace your negative thinking with thoughts that are “praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8 NIV). Deal with destructive thoughts the way you’d deal with flies at a picnic – shoo them away. With practice and persistence you can do it. You have that choice! (2) Remember: Before you take on the future, recall God’s goodness to you in the past. Shakespeare said, “Let never day nor night unhallow’d pass, but still remember what the Lord hath done.” David said: “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV). We don’t have more problems than other people, we just think about them more often. Stop and reread that last sentence! What you think produces how you feel. If you don’t believe that, try feeling angry without first having angry thoughts, or feeling sad without first having sad thoughts. To experience a feeling, you must first entertain the thought that produces it. That’s life-changing information – and it will change your life as you act on it!
Soul food: Jer 45-48; Luke 6:37-49; Ps 109:16-31; Prov 15:23-26
2020-07-10
Mark 10:48 NKJV
Try to imagine being blind all your life, then one day miraculously receiving your sight. And the first face you see – is the face of Jesus! That’s what happened to Bartimaeus. Jesus was passing by the spot where he sat begging every day. Recognizing this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he cried out for help at the top of his lungs. Sometimes dignified prayer won’t get the job done. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. Sometimes you’ve got to cry out to God from the depths of your soul! When Bartimaeus shouted, “Jesus stood still” (v. 49 NRS). Your cry will get God’s attention. David said, “I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me” (Psalm 30:2 KJV). Don’t be reluctant, be confident. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and…grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). The Bible says, “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus” (Mark 10:50 NIV). He did that for two reasons: First, a long robe could have tripped him up. Second, his clothes identified him as a beggar. To get to Jesus, you must be willing to throw aside everything that stands in your way. The shame and failure of your past, your lack and your limitations, the labels other people have put on you. When Jesus restores and makes you whole, you won’t have to wear those old garments anymore. And here’s another thought: When Bartimaeus regained his sight, he decided to follow Jesus (See v. 52), and you must do that too.
Soul food: Jer 41-44; Luke 6:27-36; Ps 109:1-15; Prov 15:22
2020-07-09
Psalm 27:14 KJV
God gave His people an interesting command: “Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel. I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the Lord” (Exodus 34:23-24 NIV). Imagine that! Three times a year they were to stop working and spend time with the Lord worshiping Him, seeking His guidance, and getting direction for the future. Can you imagine what would happen if you did that? Note the words “I will enlarge your territory.” Instead of losing – you’ll gain, and instead of going backward – you’ll go forward. Note also the words “I will drive out the nations before you.” While you worship God and wait on Him, He will fight your battles. And the difference between you and God is that you risk losing, but He’s never lost a battle. Note also the words “No one will covet your land.” You don’t have to worry about the competition getting ahead of you. God used this three-times-a-year pilgrimage to teach His people this principle: “If you wait on Me in worship, I will work on your behalf.” His Word says, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). So here are your choices: Keep stressing out, or draw the strength and strategy you need from God by spending time with Him.
Soul food: Jer 36:27-40:16; Luke 6:17-26; Ps 79; Prov 15:18-21
2020-07-08
Psalm 37:7 NKJV
When you’re in a doctor’s waiting room there are things you shouldn’t do – like try to treat other patients, or have them treat you. Or ask the receptionist for a stethoscope or a blood pressure cuff. And it wouldn’t be wise to ask the person sitting next to you, “What prescriptions are you taking? Perhaps I could try them.” It’s called a waiting room because you’re supposed to wait. But we don’t like to wait. We weave through traffic looking for a faster lane. We drum our fingers on the countertop while the microwave heats our coffee: “Come on, come on.” We don’t like to wait for anything, including God. Over and over in Scripture when it speaks about our relationship with God, the word “wait” keeps showing up. And here’s what we fail to understand: While we are waiting, God is working. Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work” (John 5:17 NIV). The sign on God’s waiting room reads “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). You can be still because He is active, and you can rest because He is busy. To wait, biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, or worry, or fret, or make demands, or take control. Waiting is not inactivity. Waiting is sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and faith. To wait is to “rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him…not fret.” God is the Great Physician. You are in His waiting room. He knows what ails you better than you do, and He has a prescription to fix it. So trust Him, and wait.
Soul food: Jer 33:1-36:26; Luke 6:1-16; Ps 137; Prov 15:15-17
