2020-01-25
Psalm 34:18 NLT
When someone has broken your heart. When somebody you love breaks your heart and betrays your trust, you’re in a vulnerable place. And the Enemy will use the experience to get you to do four things that will hurt you even more, derail you spiritually, and rob you of God’s blessing: (1) Isolate yourself, alienate and avoid others. (2) Lose your sense of trust, and suspect the motives of everyone you meet. (3) Cause a root of bitterness to spring up that will impact your relationship with your family and those in your circle of influence (See Hebrews 12:15). (4) Make you strike back and get even, rendering evil for evil (See 1 Thessalonians 5:15). Don’t do it! Instead, stand on God’s Word: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” “I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing” (Jeremiah 31:13 NLT). “The Spirit of the Lord…has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…heal the brokenhearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NKJV). “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT). Has someone done you wrong? Forgive them – and keep on forgiving them until you’re free in your mind. It’s a daily walk that sometimes feels like three steps forward and two back. But if you keep your eyes on Jesus – you’ll get there.
Soul food: Isa 4-7; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
2020-01-24
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
When you violate your marriage vows. You violate God’s Word, break your spouse’s heart, embarrass the cause of Christ, live with the fear of exposure, and trade short-term pleasure for long-term pain. So before you get involved, seek God’s help, and stand on His Word. “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another…God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery” (Hebrews 13:4 NLT). “Put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires” (Colossians 3:5 NLT). “Don’t participate in…promiscuity and immoral living…Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires” (Romans 13:13-14 NLT). “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does…Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT). “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). If you’re toying with the idea of having an affair, or you’re already in one, or you’re trying to get out of one, stand on the Word of God today and believe Him for victory.
Soul food: Isa 1-3; Matt 9:27-38; Ps 96; Prov 3:5-6
2020-01-23
1 Corinthians 9:25 NRS
When you are trying to lose weight. Studies confirm that today over half the population of the western world is overweight. If you are one of the many people battling a weight problem, and the repeated cycles of failure that often accompany it, here’s the good news: God can help you win the battle! Often it’s not about what you are eating, it’s about what’s eating you. We overeat to find comfort and relief from stress and anxiety, but it’s a short-term fix and it doesn’t work. The psalmist went directly to the root of his problem: “Search me…and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT). God can relieve the “anxious thoughts” within you. The Holy Spirit is the greatest therapist in the world. When you surrender and ask Him to take up residence within you, you discover that “the fruit of the spirit is…self control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). He can give you the power to control your appetite, and start living by the Scripture: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT). So make this your prayer today: “O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone” (Jeremiah 17:14 NLT). The word for you today is – with God’s help you can lose weight, and keep it off for good.
Soul food: Exo 39-40; Matt 9:14-26; Ps 91; Prov 3:3-4
2020-01-22
Psalm 119:50 NLT
When you are in pain. Sometimes God lifts you out of your situation. Other times, He carries you through and makes you stronger by proving His love and faithfulness to you. Sometimes He relieves you of the pain; other times He sustains you in the midst of it. If you’re in pain today, read these promises from God’s Word and stand on them: “Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” “Let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live” (vv. 76-77 NLT). “Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble” (Psalm 25:16-18 NLT). “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!” (Psalm 34:17-20 NLT). “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise” (Jeremiah 17:14 NKJV). Notice, God’s promises revive and comfort us in all of our troubles. Your Bible is a prescription from the Great Physician Himself, and the label on the bottle reads: “Take as often as needed for pain.”
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Matt 9:1-13; Ps 89:38-52; Prov 3:1-2
2020-01-21
Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV
When you are facing danger. David said: “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety…my God and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you…If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up…so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone…The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation'” (Psalm 91:2-16 NLT). Note the phrase, “This I declare about the Lord.” When you speak God’s Word over your life, you release the power contained in it. So stand firm today, and expect God to honor His Word!
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Matt 8:28-34; Ps 89:15-37; Prov 2:21-22
2020-01-20
Philippians 2:4 NKJV
If your only motive for giving to someone is to see what you can get back, you will be disappointed. The Bible says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” When you give yourself to another person for that person’s development and well-being, you are truly giving and God will bless you for it. If you’re married or a parent, you know this from personal experience. What does your husband or wife value most highly? Money in the bank, or your time freely given? What would your children rather have? A toy, or your undivided attention? The people who love you would rather have you than what you can give them. It’s wise to invest in yourself and your career, but never at the expense of those who matter most. If you succeed in your career but fail with your loved ones, your success will be hollow and your regrets real. Solomon was famous for his wealth and wisdom. Yet he wrote, “As I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless – like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11 NLT). Learn from his mistakes. Don’t invest in things, invest in relationships. Here is how most relationships often play out: “I win, you lose – I win only once. You win, I lose – you win only once. We both win – we win many times.” When you seek the good of others, God promises that good things will come to you (See Ephesians 6:8).
Soul food: Exo 30-32; Matt 8:18-27; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 2:20
