2019-03-31
Proverbs 23:24-25 NLT
Your goal as a parent should not be to raise perfect children, but to impart to them the wisdom needed for successful living. This raises two challenges: parental neglect and parental obsession. The second one is prevalent among parents who become obsessed with their children, leaving them no time for recreation, romance, or rest. These folks probably wouldn’t even consider Mother Teresa to be qualified as their babysitter! The motives of obsessive parents may be good, but their preoccupation can lead to three serious problems: (1) Making children the centerpiece of life, which is not in their best interests. If you make children the center of the universe, they are in for a rude awakening when they get out into the real world. (2) Emotional and physical fatigue produces what is known as “parental burnout.” Just as a battery cannot continually be drained, you need time to recharge physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When you don’t get it, you run on your nerves and everybody around you feels the negative effects. (3) “Super parenting” can be destructive to a marriage, especially when the mother is the one so inclined. A father may come to resent the children for taking his wife away from him, or she may think her husband is selfish because he doesn’t match her commitment to the kids. Either way, a wedge is driven between them that could eventually destroy the family. The Bible says, “Let your moderation be known unto all men” (Philippians 4:5). Moderation, or balance, is the key to a healthy and happy family life.
Soul food: 1 Cor 9:24-27; Num 6:1-8; Prov 25:28
2019-03-30
Psalm 118:6 NIV
You’ll always have to deal with fear in one form or another. And your fears will be different at different seasons of life. Once you accept that, you can make progress. For example, Julius Caesar conquered the world but he was terrified of thunder. Peter the Great of Russia cried like a child when he had to cross bridges. The celebrated British writer Dr. Samuel Johnson wouldn’t enter a room left foot first. If he accidentally did, he backed up and reentered with his right one. (Talk about putting your best foot forward!) If you let it control you, fear will keep you from living to the fullest. Fear breeds inaction, inaction breeds lack of experience, lack of experience breeds ignorance, and ignorance breeds fear. It’s a cycle, and if you’re caught in it here are some Scriptures that can help you: (1) “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). (2) “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). (3) “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). (4) “In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (Psalm 56:4). (5) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Personalize these Scriptures in prayer, stand on them, and don’t yield an inch to fear.
Soul food: Lev 5-7; Luke 20:27-33; Ps 72:1-11; Prov 9:1-6
2019-03-29
Philippians 4:6 NIV
It happens so easily, especially in the company of the wrong people. Before you know it, you’re criticizing and complaining, and the atmosphere becomes negative. That’s because words are like clouds or sunshine; they create a climate. You say, “But I only say these things because I’m so worried.” Then read this: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds” (vv. 6-7 NIV). You rise above anxiety by giving thanks, not by complaining. Never let your level of thanksgiving be determined by your situation, because God is greater than any situation you face. So how can you overcome your inclination to be negative, and instead develop a positive, faith-filled outlook? (1) Decide to. Abraham Lincoln told the truth when he said, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their mind to be.” Refuse to spend another moment criticizing and complaining. (2) Start now. Change doesn’t come easily, but unless you make a start it won’t come at all. Try to be more aware of what you say. Catch yourself in the act! When your first few sentences are negative, self-correct and steer the conversation back toward what’s positive. Resolve that from now on if you can’t say something helpful, you’ll refrain from saying anything at all. (3) Look for what’s good. “Whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable… think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV). Make this your prayer: “Lord, give me a positive, faith-filled outlook.”
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 31; Prov 8:34-36
2019-03-28
Matthew 5:46-47 NCV
Jon Walker writes: “Send picture and I’ll reply…it’s a common message in personal ads and it makes sense in this day and age to exercise caution…But when it comes to loving others, do you find yourself saying: Send picture first? We all say it in different ways…’I have to see if you’re good enough…I’m not sure you’re worthy of my love…You need to act the way I expect before I’ll love you.'” It’s time we stopped “evaluating [people] by what the world thinks” (2 Corinthians 5:16 TLB). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Your Father in heaven…causes the sun to rise on good people and…evil people…he sends rain to those who do right and…those who do wrong. If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God [do that]…you must be perfect [mature] just as your Father in heaven is” (Matthew 5:45-48 NCV). God’s love toward us is “perfect” because it is unconditional, nonjudgmental, and comes with no strings attached. The Bible says when we were His enemies, “[He] showed his great love…by sending Christ to die for us” (Romans 5:8 NLT). So, is there someone in your life who hurt you and now you’re having a hard time loving them? If so, pray: “Father, I’m struggling to love [fill in the name]. Help me to let go of judging and blaming, and begin to love them the way You love me.”
Soul food: 2 Thes 1-3; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 8:32-33
2019-03-27
Romans 5:8 NLT
Human love says, “I’ll love you as long as you meet my expectations, agree with my politics, attend my church, or fit into my social circle.” God isn’t like that. He didn’t wait for us to become worthy before making the first move. “God showed his great love… by sending Christ to die…while we were still sinners.” And when He did, He changed all the rules. Jesus said, “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other…Just as I have loved you” (John 13:34 NLT); “Love others as much as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:39 CEV); “Love…without hoping to get anything back” (Luke 6:35 NCV). Pastor Bill Hybels says: “When I set about the task of loving, I usually end up giving instead of receiving. Love inevitably costs me the three commodities most precious to me – my time, my energy, and my money…When you’re concerned about the well-being of others, you usually have to sacrifice.” Another author adds: “For a while I was angry at love…it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. It didn’t last. It wasn’t worth it. The deeper it went, the more it hurt. Love was irrational, complicated, elusive and unreliable. And I was done with it. Little by little the Lord healed my heart. My anger…began to fade…Now I…see it’s humanity that scars and strangles love…’Love comes from God’ (1 John 4:7 NIV), and it’s worth it, whatever the cost. No matter what damage has been done in the name of love, we’re incomplete without it.”
Soul food: Est 5-10; Luke 20:1-8; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 26:24-27
2019-03-26
Psalm 30:2 NKJV
We talk so easily about things that don’t matter. But when it’s time to talk about our fears, our loneliness, our guilt, or our need to be loved, we clam up like oysters. Sometimes we act like we don’t even hear, when the truth is we don’t like what we hear. You heard your mate say they needed more of your time, or your child say, “I love you.” And you also heard them sigh when you didn’t say anything in return. You ran and hid because either you don’t know how to give them what they’re asking for, or you don’t want to pay the price. We all have hiding places – like our jobs, our habits, or relationships that require no emotional honesty. And as a result we feel bottled up inside. But every one of our escape mechanisms traps us deeper in the cycle of silence. God created you with a need to feel, to touch, and to express emotions. How long are you going to hide behind the mask and deny your unmet needs and unexpressed fears? God said, “It is not good that…man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). If you keep denying your emotions, you’ll never experience the joy of a good relationship. David wasn’t afraid to admit to God that he felt weak, or sad, or angry, or needed love. He said, “I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed” (Psalm 61:2 NKJV). If you can’t express yourself to others, start by talking to God. What He did for David, He can do for you. So turn to Him today and let the healing begin.
Soul food: Est 1-4; Luke 19:45-48; Ps 69:19-36; Prov 8:30-31
