2019-10-07
Nehemiah 4:9 NIV
God’s sovereignty doesn’t negate our responsibility. Just the opposite. It empowers it. When we trust God, we think more clearly and react more decisively. Like Nehemiah, who said, “We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Note the words: “We prayed…and posted a guard.” Nehemiah did two things. He trusted God for success, and acted on what God had told him to do. Prayer invites God to do what you cannot do. Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Why? Because God comes by invitation. Until you’ve sought God’s guidance you’re at the mercy of your own thoughts, and everybody else’s. When you don’t know what you don’t know, you’re in a dangerous place. Why settle for human knowledge when you can have divine input? God says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV). And when God reveals His will to you, don’t delay and don’t debate – do it! Before God gives you His next set of instructions, He wants to know that you have obeyed His last set of instructions. Why? Because He cannot bless you beyond your last act of disobedience. So stop and take an inventory. If you’ve done the wrong thing, repent, make a course correction, and get back on the right path as quickly as possible. “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you'” (Jeremiah 7:23 NKJV).
Soul food: 2 Sam 12:1-14:20; John 2:12-25; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 23:10-14
2019-10-06
Philippians 2:3 NIV
If you’re a “me first” person, here are some verses of Scripture that is designed to keep you on your toes, and your knees! “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but…to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5 NIV). That’s how Jesus treated people, and you have been called to do likewise. Is doing this easy or convenient? No, it runs contrary to everything in our self-centered natures. And because you were gracious yesterday, is no guarantee you’ll treat people the same way today. Grace is like a garment; you have to put it on each morning and wear it all day. “How can I live like that?” you ask. By drawing daily on God’s grace, and deciding to put others first. By looking for ways to support and encourage them. Everybody you meet is fighting a battle of some kind, and you may be the one person that crosses their path who is able to speak a word of encouragement to them (See Proverbs 16:24 NLT). Don’t let them down. Humility is an attitude that determines ahead of time: “I care about the people around me. I don’t always have to be first. I’m going to help somebody else win for a change.” Humility prays, “Lord, teach me to curb my competitive nature and turn that energy into loving and lifting others. Show me how You did it, and help me to do it too.”
Soul food: Est 4:9-5:3; Heb 4:7-16
2019-10-05
1 Samuel 23:16 NKJV
The first African American to play major league baseball was Jackie Robinson. While trying to break through baseball’s color barrier, he faced insults and abuse in just about every stadium. One day at his home stadium in Brooklyn, he made an error and the fans immediately turned on him. While they jeered, Robinson just stood there at second base, humiliated. At that point shortstop Pee Wee Reese ran over, stood beside him, put his arm around him, and together they faced the crowd. Within seconds the fans grew quiet. Years later when Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he said, “Reese’s arm around my shoulder that day saved my career.” Jesus knew Peter would “strike out” and deny Him, yet He extended grace to Peter even before it happened. Here’s what He told him: “When you have come back to me, help the others” (Luke 22:32 CEV). When God restores you, you’ll want to reach out to others with His love. It will be as natural to you as breathing. You’ll live by the Scripture: “Strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong…for your God…is coming to save you'” (Isaiah 35:3-4 NLT). In Scripture “Jonathan…went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand.” When you feel lost “in the woods” you need a Jonathan. That’s when you prove the truth of the old adage: “In prosperity our friends know us, but in adversity we know our friends.” They’re the people we turn to in times of trouble. So if you think you’ll ever need such a friend, be one!
Soul food: 2 Sam 7:18-11:27; John 2:1-11; Ps 110; Prov 23:6-9
2019-10-04
James 1:26 NIV
When someone gossips about you, keep this in mind: People tend to accuse in others what they excuse in themselves. The story’s told about a husband who suspected his wife of losing her hearing. One night he positioned himself across the room from her as she sat in her favourite chair with her back to him. Very softly he said, “Can you hear me?” When she didn’t answer he moved a little closer and repeated very softly, “Can you hear me?” Still no answer. Then he moved closer and said, “Can you hear me?” Still no answer. Finally he got up behind her chair and said right into her ear, “Can you hear me?” She looked him in the eye and said, “For the fourth time, yes!” Psychologists call this “projection.” We tend to project our fears, feelings, and problems onto others. But you must not let people do this to you. Lady Astor, a member of the British Parliament, was a constant thorn in the side of Winston Churchill, always criticizing him. One day the two of them got into a heated conversation and she said, “Winston, I don’t like your politics, and I don’t like your mustache.” He looked at her and said, “Madam, I see no earthly reason why you should ever come into contact with either one.” Jesus’ critics accused Him of being demon-possessed. Paul’s critics called him a madman, a fool, and a babbler. And you must not expect different treatment at the hands of the same crowd. So the word for you today is: Stay focused and don’t get distracted.
Soul food: 2 Sam 3:22-7:17; John 1:43-51; Ps 23; Prov 23:4-5
2019-10-03
Nehemiah 6:6 NIV
The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. When you attempt anything of value or significance, people are going to talk about you. Nehemiah’s enemies tried to stop him from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem by using gossip and innuendo: “It is reported among the nations – and Geshem says it is true…Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!'” (vv. 6-7 NIV). Notice, no source was given of the accusations against Nehemiah. “It is reported.” Always be prepared when someone comes to you and says something like this: “I heard…” or “somebody said…” or “the word on the street is…” Never receive a criticism from someone who is bringing it on behalf of someone else, someone they won’t even name, someone who won’t say it to your face. Not even slander could keep Nehemiah from the work he was doing. Note how he responded: “I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head'” (v. 8 NIV). In other words: “I don’t care what you think, or say, or like. I’m going to keep building this wall until the job is done.” And that must be your attitude too. Most of the time your friends don’t need an explanation, and your enemies wouldn’t believe one if you held them at gunpoint. So stay focused and get the job done.
Soul food: 2 Sam 1:1-3:21; John 1:29-42; Ps 131; Prov 23:1-3
2019-10-02
Matthew 6:7 NLT
Here’s what Jesus taught about prayer: “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.” Then He gave us two specific instructions. First: “Shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private” (v. 6 NLT). Second: “Your Father knows exactly what you need…before you ask him” (v. 8 NLT). Heartfelt prayer isn’t meant for human ears. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play.” In heartfelt prayer the Holy Spirit brings to the surface things you’ve carefully hidden from others, and even yourself. Like a mirror, He confronts you with the truth and demands that you confess “the hidden things of dishonesty” (2 Corinthians 4:2). Once you’ve done that you can leave God’s presence cleansed, corrected, confident, and clear as to His will. Nothing fuels heartfelt prayer like real need. It causes both the prominent and obscure to acknowledge, “Lord, without you I can do nothing. Indeed anything I could accomplish without you would mean nothing!” This is the place of naked prayer. Hannah was there when she cried to God for a child. She was so passionate that Eli the high priest thought she was drunk (See 1 Samuel 1:13). But God heard her cry. That day, Samuel was conceived in her heart, and shortly thereafter he was conceived in her womb. So don’t leave the place of prayer until you conceive, until the embryo of God’s purpose for your life starts to take form within you, and your vision is born.
Soul food: Eph 4:17-6:24; John 1:14-28; Ps 29; Prov 22:26-29
