2020-05-20
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
When you have a spiritual, physical, relational, or financial need, God says He will meet it. But some of us have a hard time believing this. After all, Jesus condemned the rich man for overlooking the poor man sitting on his doorstep. And God hasn’t changed His position on that issue. Jesus told the story of a man so busy making money that he had no time for God. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:20-21 NLT). And He hasn’t changed positions on that issue either. Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple because they were ripping people off. He went so far as to call them “a den of thieves” (Mark 11:17 NKJV). Does that mean God is interested in meeting our spiritual needs but not our material ones? Let’s be clear; your spiritual needs should always be your highest priority, but let’s allow the Scriptures to speak for themselves. When it comes to God and your money, Jesus said: “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). Note the word “everything.” When you’re in right standing with God, you can pray with confidence and ask Him to bless you in all things!
Soul food: Heb 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 88:9b-18; Prov 11:27-29
2020-05-19
2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
Let’s begin by saying it again: What you believe about God and your money will determine what you believe Him for. If the reason you want more is to “keep up with the Joneses,” or brag about what you own, don’t expect God to bless your plans. The Bible says, “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble” (James 4:6 NIV). Humility says, “Lord, everything I have is a gift from You. And everything I’ll ever need comes from You.” Before you ask God for more money, you must know that your heart motive is right. And when you know it is, you can stand on this Scripture: “Whoever sows sparingly will…reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will…reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:9-11 NIV). Who does God give seed to? Sowers – not hoarders. When does God multiply your seed? When you sow it to fulfill His purposes.
Soul food: Titus 1-3; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 88:1-9a; Prov 11:24-26
2020-05-18
Psalm 84:11 KJV
What you believe about God and your money will determine how you pray and what you believe Him for. You say, “But money is the root of all evil.” No, the Bible says, “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10 KJV). That means if you’re a miser, God won’t give you more. “But haven’t some preachers used the Bible to enrich themselves?” you ask. Absolutely – and you wouldn’t want to stand in their shoes when they answer to God! But don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. The best way to tell if a dollar bill is counterfeit is to place it beside a genuine one. So here’s the question: Are you looking for a reason to doubt God’s promises, or a reason to believe them? The Bible says, “No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11 NIV). We all agree that providing for your family, getting a promotion, educating your children, and meeting other people’s needs are all “good” things. So when you “do what is right” before God, you can expect Him to bless you. John wrote, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2 NKJV). Only when our children reach maturity and demonstrate responsibility do we entrust them with the keys to the family car, right? So maturity must precede prosperity. When you demonstrate maturity, you can go to God with confidence, knowing He’ll meet your needs and bless you. Which raises the question: Are you growing and maturing spiritually?
Soul food: Jonah 1-4; Mark 9:38-50; Ps 75; Prov 11:23
2020-05-17
Isaiah 40:29 NKJV
When the battle continues to rage with no end in sight, you grow weary. Is that where you are today? Are things that once ran smoothly no longer working? Have you done all you know to do but it hasn’t helped? What should you do? Spend more time with God in prayer, and listen to Him as He speaks to you through His Word. As long as you don’t give up within, victory is assured without. It’s a matter of replenishing your strength by drawing on God’s strength, refocusing your faith toward victory, and ” [calling] to remembrance” God’s promises (Psalm 77:6 NKJV). When you feel overwhelmed by trouble in your marriage, your business, your health, your job, or your finances, stand on these two Bible promises: “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31 NLT). “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and…thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God…And he did rescue us…We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us” (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT). Instead of trying to escape the situation, seek God and He will give you strength and a strategy to come out of it stronger.
Soul food: Matt 4:12-16; Matt 5:14-16; Acts 9:1-19
2020-05-16
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
When you’re physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained, you become vulnerable. When Samson grew tired, he lay down in Delilah’s lap. Jesus called for 100 percent commitment, but He also knew the importance of staying in balance; of work and rest; of giving out and taking in. “Then Jesus said: ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone” (Mark 6:31-32 NLT). A good general will never commit all his soldiers to the battlefield at the same time. He keeps a reserve force to relieve the exhausted ones when they stagger back from the front lines. Yes, you may have the greatest assignment in the world and be succeeding in it, but unless you “keep a reserve,” you’re opening yourself up to potential danger. That’s why setting aside time each day to be alone with God in prayer and Bible reading is so important. If Satan can’t defeat you outright, he will settle for an exhausted, ineffective version of the person God wants you to be. If you’re a type A, high-energy person, you’re particularly at risk. What’s the answer? “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but 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 40:30-31 NKJV).
Soul food: Num 34-36; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 11:22
