2019-05-17
Galatians 6:2 CEV
Your aim should be to help people cope with their crisis and grow through it. This means lowering their fear level and helping them to function normally again by: (1) Making contact with them. People in crisis tend to withdraw rather than ask for help. So you may have to make that first move, showing them understanding and genuine interest. You don’t have to be a professional; two simple steps can make a big difference. Listen attentively to their concerns and perceptions, and maintain eye contact. These two things will make them feel valued and understood. (2) Helping reduce their anxiety. A calming presence can lower their stress. Encourage them to talk about their concerns and offer hope. For example, say, “There are ways to deal with this situation.” Chances are the person’s outlook is distorted or overly pessimistic, so gently suggest other perspectives. For example: “May I suggest another way of looking at this?” Whenever possible give them hope for the future: “I realize it’s tough, but with God’s help I believe you can handle it.” Then give them a Bible promise to back it up (See Jeremiah 33:3). (3) Focusing on real issues. In a crisis people are often overwhelmed by the array of confusing facts, potential problems, and necessary decisions. By offering them assistance in deciding what issues must be faced first, and what problems need to be solved now, you help alleviate their distress. Rather than discussing the past or worrying about the future, concentrating on the present and helping them take action can lessen their anxiety and empower them to cope better.
Soul food: 1 Kings 3-5; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 93; Prov 11:30-31
2019-05-16
Romans 12:8 TM
You say, “It’s not my responsibility. I’m not getting involved!” Psychologists call this “compassionate disengagement,” the tendency to avoid helping someone in trouble. Whether your motivation is inconvenience, self-protection, or indifference, it’s wrong. “Being there” is how you demonstrate your love for God and your neighbor. And helping requires recognizing three kinds of crises: (1) Accidental or situational crises. These involve things like sudden threats to our well-being, disruptive events, unexpected losses, the discovery of a serious illness, the death of a loved one, a family breakdown, the loss of livelihood or security. Job experienced all these events together and wondered why God allowed so many bad things to happen to him. (2) Developmental crises. These occur in the course of everyday life. Moving houses, going away to college, adjusting to marriage, parenting, retirement, aging, declining health, and the loss of friends. Abraham and Sarah moved many times. They also endured years of childlessness and family stress, including the challenge of sacrificing Isaac. (3) Existential crises. These are when we face disturbing truths about ourselves. We may see ourselves as failures, grapple with being divorced or widowed, learn that our illness is incurable, experience rejection because of our race, class, age, or gender, or realize we may be getting too old to fulfill our life goals. True “helpers” understand, get involved, and encourage. They keep their eyes open, and are quick to “give aid to people in distress.”
Soul food: 1 Kings 1-2; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 88:9b-18; Prov 11:27-29
2019-05-15
Psalm 149:6 NKJV
The Christian life is a battlefield with an enemy who’s out to defeat us every day. But God has given us strategies for winning, and praise is one of them. When Israel’s army went into battle, the tribe of Judah led the way. The name “Judah” means “praise the Lord.” So when you go into battle, go with “the high praises of God” in your mouth and He will go before you. This is the “praise strategy” that toppled the walls of Jericho for Joshua, and caused Jehoshaphat’s enemies to destroy one other before the battle even began (See 2 Chronicles 20). It’s a decision to praise God when you face a situation you can’t handle; to focus on Him instead of on your problem. You may not feel worthy – but He is! You may not feel able – but He is! Remind God of His promises. Nothing moves Him like the sight of His children praising His name and claiming His promises in the face of adversity. Jesus said, “You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door” (Matthew 16:19 TM). Praise invites God to intervene, so use it. And find somebody to join you in praise (See Matthew 18:19). Multiply your impact before the throne of God. The Bible says, “At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God…And suddenly…all the doors were opened” (Acts 16:25-26). So, the word for you today is: Use the “praise strategy!”
Soul food: Heb 11:17-13:25; Mark 7:1-13; Ps 88:1-9a; Prov 11:24-26
2019-05-14
Luke 14:18 NIV
Jesus told the story of a man who planned a banquet and invited several guests. Listen to some of their excuses for not attending. “I’ve purchased a field.” “I’ve bought some oxen.” “I just got married.” So the host said, “Not one of those…who were invited will get a taste of my banquet” (v. 24 NIV). Maybe you think you’re different, that you have a good reason for saying no to God. But is it worth missing your destiny for? When God speaks to you, that’s the moment of truth! At that point you either make a commitment or make an excuse. There and then you’re deciding your destiny! What is God asking you to do? What’s making you hesitate? Fear of failure? Fear of being criticized? Fear usually comes dressed up as an excuse. And every time you vacillate or pull back, you lay another brick in the wall that will ultimately keep you from reaching your God-ordained destiny. Author John Mason says, “Opportunity is often lost in deliberation.” So if God’s telling you to do something, take His hand and move forward in faith. You can’t control the direction of the wind, but by God’s grace you can adjust your sails to take you where you need to go. The great educator and scientist George Washington Carver said, “Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.” Remember, opportunity is a visitor: Don’t assume it will be back tomorrow. Now is the time – move while the door is open!
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 75; Prov 11:23
2019-05-13
Luke 19:3 NIV
The Bible says, “Zacchaeus…was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was…So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree…since Jesus was coming that way” (vv. 2-4 NIV). The story of Zacchaeus teaches us that rich people can be as damaged as poor people. How some of them got damaged is in the story of how they got rich. When you violate your conscience, it’s hard to live in your own skin. When you trade your core values for money, your success can be hollow and your guilt heavy. Zacchaeus struggled with this: “Lord…if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (v. 8 NIV). If that’s how you feel today, Jesus is saying to you the three things He said to Zacchaeus: (1) “Make haste.” Don’t put your salvation off a day longer. At any given moment you’re as close to eternity as a faulty heartbeat or a malignant cell. Don’t gamble with your soul; get right with God while you can. (2) “Come down.” Humble yourself. Kneel at the feet of the One who loves you and gave His life to redeem you. It doesn’t matter how badly you’ve failed: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV). (3) “Today I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5). The word “abide” means “to take up residence.” Refuse to live another day without the assurance that Christ lives in your heart, directs your steps, and watches over all that concerns you.
Soul food: Heb 5-8; Mark 6:30-44; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 11:22
2019-05-12
John 4:4 NKJV
Why does the Bible say Jesus “needed to go through Samaria”? To redeem a damaged woman who was called to introduce the gospel to Samaria for the first time. Think about the situation Jesus faced; the heat was smoldering, the journey was long, and He was on foot. He knew He wouldn’t be welcome there because of a long-standing animosity between Jews and Samaritans. Women in those days veiled their faces and were forbidden to speak to men outside their own family. This woman was already the talk of the town because she’d been through five divorces. So why did Jesus feel He “needed to go through Samaria”? Because He saw her as a diamond in the rough. He looked beyond her problem and saw her potential for His kingdom. The Bible says, “Many of the Samaritans…believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified” (v. 39 NKJV). There’s an important lesson here. The schedule didn’t control Jesus; the will of God and the needs of hurting people did. He was willing to go out of His way, turn tradition on its ear, and break new ground to do it. Notice what Jesus told His disciples afterwards: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together” (vv. 35-36 NKJV).
Soul food: Exo 20:13; Gen 4:1-15; Matt 5:21-22
