2020-06-23
Proverbs 4:27 NLT
Many of us fail, not because we aren’t talented, determined, or passionate, but because we get “sidetracked.” God told the prophet Habakkuk, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it “(Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV). Unless you have a clearly defined goal and keep it before you at all times, you won’t run in the direction you should. As motivational speaker and author Sam Horn said: “It’s hard to stay on purpose, if we don’t know what our purpose is.” In his book One Big Thing, Phil Cooke writes: “I’ve never been a fan of the person who invented the ‘open door policy.’ Sure, we want to be accessible to employees and coworkers, but at some point it’s time to shut the door and get to work. After your next interruption by a visitor, make a note of how long it takes to get back to your previous level of intensity and focus. You’ll be shocked at how much time that steals from your day…Too often other people’s needs come before our dream. Obviously we need to care for our children, honor our spouses, and deal with our primary responsibilities around our families or jobs. But the first step in achieving our dream is to take responsibility for it. That means scheduling it, and ‘unscheduling’ the lesser needs of coworkers and friends. These daily commitments chip away at our time, and before long our dream gets lost in the shuffle. Stop doing what other people think is urgent, and start focusing on what matters to you” [and to God!].
Soul food: Hosea 1-5; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 8; Prov 14:9-12
2020-06-22
Psalm 118:5 NKJV
At age twenty-six, Thomas started a publishing company and founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in America. He worked with some of the greatest singers in the history of Gospel music, including Mahalia Jackson. But one night after singing to a Saint Louis audience, he was handed a telegram that said, “Your wife just died.” She had passed away in childbirth. Thomas hurried back home to Chicago, where his newborn son died the following day. He plunged into depression, avoided people, and grew angry with God. “I felt God had done me an injustice. I didn’t want to serve Him anymore or write Gospel songs.” Then a friend took him to a neighbourhood music school. That evening Thomas sat down at a piano and began to play…and pray. He poured out his heart to God, and what wonderful words they were: “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.” Thomas A. Dorsey testified that the Lord healed him that night as he sat at the piano. He went on to pen more than a thousand songs and become one of the most influential Christian songwriters of all time. All because he reached out to God for help. The psalmist did that too: “I called on the Lord in distress, and the Lord answered me.” So the word for you today is – turn to God; He will not disappoint you.
Soul food: 2 Kings 24-25; Luke 2:1-7; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 14:5-8
2020-06-21
1 John 5:14 NIV
Sometimes we pray “Just” prayers. We say, “Lord, we just ask you to protect us, or provide for us…If you’d just help us in this situation, we’d be so thankful.” It’s as if we are saying, “Lord, I hate to bother You with this, but…” It sounds humble, but in reality it demonstrates a lack of faith and confidence in approaching God. Plus it’s not scriptural. The Bible says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). “If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:21-22 NIV). “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV). “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory…forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV). “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV). As a redeemed child of God, you can approach your loving heavenly Father with confidence, knowing that whatever you need, He will provide it – and much more!
Soul food: Acts 4:8-12; Acts 16:22-34; Matt 1:18-21
2020-06-20
Judges 16:22 NKJV
With regard to Samson, the Bible tells us, “The hair of his head began to grow again.” The process of renewal was starting. Samson repented, God gave him back his strength, and he ended his life with an inspiring act of heroism. Maybe you feel like you’ve messed up so badly that God will never love you and use you again – but remember Samson! God never gave up on him, and He hasn’t given up on you. He sees your potential and remembers why He made you: You were created for great things. It’s only as you move into the center of God’s will that you discover why you were made. When you do, things will begin to fall back into place. There is something very encouraging about Samson. He’s included in God’s hall of fame – the panorama of people of great faith detailed in Hebrews 11. Why? Because God can take a person who seems like a total failure and use them to accomplish great things. If He only used people who were perfect, nothing would ever get done. Instead, He uses ordinary people with weaknesses, who sometimes fail in big ways. So what should you do if you’re a Samson? Turn your life over to the Lord. Give Him all the pieces and let Him put them together. He can give you the power to break loose from the things that are tying you down and preventing Him from working in your life. Only God knows your potential, and you will never bring it out on your own. He must do it in His strength – so let Him start today!
Soul food: 2 Kings 21-23; Luke 1:67-80; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 14:1-4
2020-06-19
Judges 13:7 NKJV
You’re asking for trouble when you refuse to take God seriously. The angel who announced Samson’s birth said he was to “be a Nazirite,” indicating that he was to be dedicated to doing God’s will. But Samson was careless about his spiritual life. He prayed only when he was in trouble. He was impulsive; he did whatever he felt like doing. The truth is, we’d save ourselves so many problems and spare ourselves so much pain if we’d just stop and ask God for direction. Samson turned to God only when he got into a jam. It’s what we call “foxhole Christianity.” We pray, “Lord, if You get me out of this dilemma, I promise I’ll live for You from now on.” But here’s the question: Is God just an afterthought, a convenience to you? When things get tough and you’re in a tight spot you turn to Him in desperation, but when everything’s all right you ignore Him? Only when Samson was captured by the Philistines, his eyes gouged out, and he was grinding grain at a mill like an ox, do we read that he turned to God and prayed. What kind of history might Samson have had if he’d prayed right from the beginning? Why did he wait until everything fell apart before turning to God? It doesn’t have to be that way in your life! The psalmist said, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours” (Psalm 128:1-2 NIV).
Soul food: 2 Kings 18:17-20:21; Luke 1:57-66; Ps 139:13-24; Prov 13:25
2020-06-18
Proverbs 1:10 NKJV
You’re asking for trouble when you choose the wrong friends. Somebody wisely said, “If you want to soar with eagles, you can’t run around with turkeys.” Eventually you become like the people you spend the most time with; that’s why it’s so important to choose your friends wisely. The psalmist said, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1 NKJV). Samson developed unhealthy relationships and they led him astray. So here’s the question: Are your friends keeping you from living 100 percent for God? Do they tear you down or build you up? When you’re with them, do you find yourself conforming to things that violate your convictions and your conscience – things you don’t feel good about doing? The book of Proverbs warns us repeatedly about negative associations: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” Constant exposure to wrong attitudes and values will eventually take its toll on your life. It is always easier to pull someone down than it is to lift them up. So, what kind of friends should you keep? The kind who bring out the best in you, who lift you up, who encourage you, and make you a better person. “But aren’t we supposed to love everybody?” you ask. Yes, but you’re not supposed to lean on them, listen to them, learn their wrong ways, and become like them. When it comes to choosing your friends, here’s the scriptural rule you should live by: “[Lord,] I am a friend to anyone who fears [respects] you – anyone who obeys your commandments” (Psalm 119:63 NLT).
Soul food: 2 Kings 16:1-18:16; Luke 1:39-56; Ps 139:7-12; Prov 13:24
