2020-04-28
1 Timothy 6:4 NIV
Some people miss all the good things in life by focusing only on what’s wrong. They miss the flowers in the garden and point out the weeds. Who are they? They’re the “Yes, but” people. In order to help them and to deal with them the right way, you must: (1) Be discerning. Recognize that often their outward bravado masks a deep inner insecurity. It lets them shift the focus off their own fears and onto the faults of others. (2) Be accepting. Our first inclination is to ignore and isolate difficult people. That’s a mistake. Difficult people often want to be ignored, and avoiding them just provides the emotional distance for them to hide. Plus, it confirms their belief that you don’t care and won’t listen because you think they’re wrong and you’re right. (3) Be interested. Show genuine concern for their family, their work, and their well-being. “Yes, but” people usually struggle with giving and receiving love; they’re inclined to elevate opinion and loyalty above communication and reconciliation. And nowhere is it more evident than in their personal lives. So be prepared to empathize with the trail of broken relationships you’re likely to find. (4) Be kind. The Bible says, “Love is patient, love is kind…It…always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV). Avoiding “Yes, but” people doesn’t work; neither does arguing with them or trying to straighten them out. You can’t change the habits of a lifetime in one or two conversations. But given enough time, the one strategy that never fails is love.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 10:24-26
2020-04-27
Psalm 35:13 NIV
Misdirected prayers. Some folks turn the blessing at mealtime into a public airing of their frustrations. Others bounce their prayers off God, hoping to hit the person across the table – the one they’re trying to win to Christ. Don’t do that. God gets enough bad press without you adding to it! Jesus said, “When you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production” (Matthew 6:5 MSG). Judgmental prayers. In one church a childless couple was praying for a baby. The prayer group arbitrarily decided the husband wasn’t “godly” enough to be a father, so they spent their time asking God to change him. If God gave children only to perfect parents, the human race would be extinct! The Bible says, “We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy” (Daniel 9:18 NLT). Quorum-based prayers. You think there’s a better chance of getting your prayers answered if you involve a lot of people, like having a quorum at a business meeting. With God, what matters is the faith with which you pray, not the number of people. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NIV). Now, when you face a situation that’s too big to handle alone, it’s wise to reach for someone who really knows God and can pray in agreement with you. “If two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19 NIV). Which raises the question: Do you have prayer partners you can call on? Are you a prayer partner for someone else?
Soul food: Dan 11-12; Mark 4:26-41; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 10:22-23
2020-04-26
Mark 11:25 NIV
When someone hurts us, our natural response is to either hurt them back or hope they will suffer for what they have done to us. Yet as redeemed children of God, we know this is the wrong response. That is when we discover forgiving someone doesn’t come naturally or easily; it requires supernatural grace on our part. And where do we get that? Through prayer! Jesus said, “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Recalling God’s grace toward you leaves you no choice but to extend that same grace toward someone who hurts you. Someone once said, “Forgiveness is a decision to set a prisoner free, and then discovering that the prisoner is you.” So if you have a desire to forgive someone, get excited; the Holy Spirit has already done half the job. To complete the other half, humble yourself and pray: “Father, I turn from every desire I have to avenge this wrong. You saw the situation before it happened, and in Your infinite wisdom You allowed it to be so. Your Word says that “all things work together for [my] good” (Romans 8:28), so from this moment on, with the help of Your Holy Spirit, I forgive them. I will not dwell on the situation but will declare Your Word instead.” That’s called “a prayer of release.” And you’re not just releasing your offender; you’re releasing and repositioning yourself to walk in God’s blessing. That’s why you must forgive them!
Soul food: Matt 5:8; Ps 24:3-6; 2 Pet 3:3-14; Ps 51:10
2020-04-25
Ephesians 6:7 NIV
If you think your boss is hard to get along with, imagine working for David’s boss, King Saul. The more David tried to help him, the more Saul tried to kill him. So what did David do? Every time his boss flew into a jealous rage and threw spears at him, David ducked and kept on serving him. Why? (1) Because David knew God had called him to be king, and what better place to learn the ropes than right there in Saul’s palace? The truth is, sometimes you can learn more from mistakes and failures than from the achievements of success. So David kept his head down and kept on learning and growing. (2) David recognized that because Saul had been called by God to the position he held, it was God’s job, not his, to remove him. Was that hard to do? Yes. But David understood that how you treat others when they’re in trouble determines how God treats you when you’re in trouble. And before his life was over, David got into lots of trouble and needed God’s mercy big-time! Paul writes, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” Instead of murmuring and complaining, work to excel on the job and pray for favour. Remember: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1 NKJV). Because David acted with grace and integrity while serving under a boss who was a nightmare, God made him the boss! And when you honor God on the job, He can do the same for you.
Soul food: Dan 8-10; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 10:19-21
2020-04-24
Romans 12:10 NKJV
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died after being hurled into the icy water below. News of the disaster got worse when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction, or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence and both could have steered clear. But according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other, because each was too proud to yield. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late. If you’re a tough-minded, strong-willed, make-it-happen kind of person, think about what you’ve just read. If by winning the argument you hurt or lose the relationship, what have you gained? If you save face but lose the relationship, you end up in the loss column. So here’s the word for you today: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men….Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (vv. 10:16-19, 21 NKJV).
Soul food: Dan 5-7; Mark 4:1-12; Ps 7:10-17; Prov 10:17-18
2020-04-23
Philippians 2:14 NLT
Chronic complainers are almost impossible to help. You can never satisfy them but they won’t let you stop trying, so you end up feeling trapped. Once you get a reputation as a chronic complainer, people avoid you like the plague, and you end up feeling lonely and unappreciated. And chances are you’ll never really understand why! Attitudes don’t just happen – you choose them. Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4 NKJV). Joylessness is something many church folks are prone to indulge in, and it’s usually not the kind of problem that gets you tossed out of the choir or removed from the church board. The psalmist writes, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV). Notice that he doesn’t say, “Yesterday was God’s day, how happy I was then.” Or, “Tomorrow will be God’s day, I’ll endure until then.” No, this day is a gift from God! Complaining is often self-centered; it’s about what you like and don’t like. It is self-focused. Real joy is a choice. It comes to those who devote themselves to something greater than their own happiness. There are decisions you get to make every day, like what you eat, the clothes you wear – and the attitude you project. Paul was in prison with no hope of release when he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” His circumstances didn’t dictate his joy, his focus did! And the same goes for you. “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT). So today choose joy!
Soul food: Dan 3-4; Mark 3:20-35; Ps 7:1-9; Prov 10:16
