2018-11-01
Psalm 25:1 NKJV
When you need help, turn to Psalms chapter 25 and note what David did. (1) He knew where to go. “Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” Recently a reader called us to ask for prayer for a family member who had just been diagnosed with stage four cancer. How quickly our lives can change! Where can we turn in such moments? To God. He’s known by many names in Scripture, and one of them is Jehovah-Rapha – the Lord who heals you. How wonderful! His Word says, “He heals your diseases – every one” (Ps 103:3 TM). With God no sickness is incurable, which means you can go to Him today with confidence. (2) He knew Who to trust. “O my God, I trust in thee” (Psalm 25:2). A man or woman without God has to fill the role of God in his or her own life. That may be okay in good times, but what about malignant cells, faulty heartbeats, layoffs at work, home foreclosures, and phone calls that bring bad news in the wee hours of the morning? To whom do you turn then? “Unto thee, O Lord!” (3) He knew how to pray: “Show me, teach me, lead me.” “Show me thy ways…teach me thy paths…Lead me in thy truth…for thou art the God of my salvation” (vv. 4-5). Theologian Richard Foster says, “To pray is to change. It’s the central avenue God uses to transform us. If we’re not willing to change we will soon abandon prayer.” So have you prayed about it? If not, get into God’s presence right away. That’s where you’ll find the help you need.
Soul food: Isa 30-33; John 7:14-24; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 28:5-8
2018-10-31
Ephesians 4:15 NIV
Whether you are a reformer, a server, an achiever, an artist, a thinker, a loyalist, an enthusiast, a commander, or a peacemaker, every one of us wrestles with sin. And knowing that each category of sin has its own hidden temptations should make you less envious of others when you’re not doing well yourself, and less likely to judge them when you are. Recognizing your particular pattern sin lets you know what you need to work on. For example, if you’re a reformer you need to be aware of your tendency toward self-righteousness. However, it’s also important to recognize that you’ve been wired by God with a passion for justice – and that’s a good thing. Indeed, you’ll feel His presence most when you can express these things with freedom and love. Finally, knowing other people’s patterns helps you to empathize and live in harmony with them. As you learn about their patterns you become more patient with those whose sins are different from yours. For example, you can make sure “helpers” don’t always get stuck in the “serving” mode, and encourage “peacemakers” to speak honestly when they’re angry. Our goal should be to take off our religious masks, strengthen one another in our areas of struggle, and do it in a gracious, nonjudgmental way. When we know and accept ourselves and others, we can walk together in love. “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up.” Only then are we free to become the best version of ourselves – God’s hand-signed edition.
Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
2018-10-30
Ephesians 4:25 NKJV
Peacemakers: Peacemakers thrive when life is calm. They love the verse: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1 NIV). They make excellent therapists and mediators, and can usually bring reconciliation to families, neighborhoods, and workplaces. But sometimes they’re inclined to seek peace at any price, use their relational skills to blend in, and avoid taking the initiative or assuming risks because of their undue attachment to comfort and security. They often suffer from “terminal niceness” when courage is what’s really required. Abraham is a great illustration of a peacemaker. When he and his nephew Lot began to prosper, a feud broke out between their herdsmen because the land was too small to accommodate all their cattle. Realizing it could split the family, Abraham took action, dealt with the problem, and saved the relationship. On the other hand, when King Abimelech saw Abraham’s wife, Sarah, and wanted to make her part of his harem, Abraham, fearing for his life, acted like a coward and said, “She is my sister” (Genesis 20:2 NIV). It’s critical to recognize your pattern sins so you can deal with them effectively. Jesus warned about those who go around taking specks out of other people’s eyes, while failing to notice the “log” in their own (See Matthew 7:3). Your pattern sin is so appealing that it’s your biggest danger, and it’s so close to you that you’re apt not to see it. David prayed, “Cleanse…me from secret faults. Keep…thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me” (Psalm 19:12-13 KJV).
Soul food: Isa 26-29; John 7:1-13; Ps 114; Prov 28:1-4
2018-10-29
1 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV
Commanders: Commanders were created to understand power and leadership, to know how it works, and feel a natural pull toward it. If this describes you, an image of strength is important to you. You have a need to lead. Opposition actually energizes you. Winston Churchill was a commander easily bored by agreement, and whose greatest moments were inspired by opposition. He had a running battle with Lady Nancy Astor, who once said to him, “Winston, if you were my husband, I’d poison your tea.” To which Churchill famously replied, “Nancy, if I were your husband, I’d drink it!” When Adolph Hitler came to power in Germany, Churchill found the formidable enemy he’d been waiting for his whole life. And he rose to the challenge. Without good leadership nothing gets accomplished. But power can become an end in itself, and you can become frustrated when you’re not getting your own way. Indeed, other people may feel intimidated about speaking up when they don’t agree with you. And when that happens you may have compliance, but you don’t have love, loyalty, or respect. God help a leader who has no leader, and those who follow him or her! Responsibility without accountability produces instability. Only when you surround yourself with people who have 20/20 vision to compensate for your blind spots, can you see your tendency to use people and employ fear and intimidation to get your own way. Paul, a great leader, wrote, “We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her children.” When it comes to great leadership, there are two words that go hand in hand – “gentleness” and “greatness.”
Soul food: Isa 22-25; John 6:52-71; Ps 127; Prov 27:25-27
2018-10-28
Romans 12:10 NIV
Enthusiasts: Enthusiasts are the life and soul of the party. They’re apt to have a gift for storytelling – and they like to talk about themselves. If you try to talk to them about their problems, they may listen to you at first, but they are like Teflon – it doesn’t seem to stick. Author John Ortberg tells of being in a restaurant with a friend, and every time they ordered something their server said, “Superb,” or “Excellent choice,” or “Brilliant.” When Ortberg asked her, “Do you ever say, ‘That was really stupid,’ or ‘That’s going to taste terrible’?” She replied, “No, in the kitchen we actually have a list of affirmations, and every time somebody orders something we have to give them one of those affirmations.” Well, enthusiasts don’t need a list of affirmations because they are always saying things like “awesome,” “wow,” “fabulous,” or “great.” Sometimes they can go for years without seeing the pain and darkness in other people, or even in themselves. They’re also tempted to make life revolve around their pursuit of positive feelings – the desire for gratification – and they can be miserable when they’re not getting enough attention. So, what’s the answer? (1) Address your need to be the center of attention. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (2) Address your reluctance to deal with pain or unpleasant situations. It’s a trait that can lead to isolation and addiction. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10 NIV).
Soul food: Ruth 1:8-18; Ruth 2:5-12; Ruth 3:1-6; Ruth 4:9-13
2018-10-27
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Loyalists: Loyalists love to be part of a great team. When the chips are down, you can count on them. They crave a cause to which they can give themselves, and want to be part of a group they can believe in. At their best, loyalists help everyone else become better. They’re usually quite bright and articulate, although they may not always volunteer their thoughts. They can become cynical when they feel let down – which is inevitable at times. That’s why the Bible has so much to say about showing grace and extending forgiveness to each other. When twelve-steppers use the term “the God of your understanding,” they’re referring to your personal perception of God. Loyalists often perceive God as hard to please, so their signature sin is fear. Jesus told of three servants who were each given a sum of money to invest. The first two invested wisely, bringing profit to their master and pleasing him. But the third, afraid of failing and incurring his master’s displeasure, buried his talent in the ground (See Matthew 25:14-30). The “takeaway” in Christ’s parable is that God reserves His harshest judgment not for those who try and fail, but for those who fail to try because they give in to fear. Someone estimated that there are 365 “fear nots” in Scripture; that’s one for every day of the year. If God designed a bumper sticker it might read, “Fear not.” So don’t be afraid – He’s with you today!
Soul food: Isa 17-21; John 6:35-51; Ps 98; Prov 27:23-24
