2018-08-13
Psalm 37:23 NKJV
Elijah’s destiny was to stand on Mount Carmel, call down fire from heaven, and deliver Israel from idolatry. But he could only get there one step at a time. That’s how God works. First God sent him to a brook at Cherith (which means “covenant”). At some point in your spiritual journey you must discover that God is a covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. He miraculously dried up the Jordan River, made an axe-head float, and caused fish to swim into an empty net – proving that when He makes a promise He keeps it. When God sent Elijah to Cherith, He told him, “I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there” (1 Kings 17:4 KJV). Had Elijah gone elsewhere, God wouldn’t have met his needs. Why? Because a covenant is two-sided; when you do your part God does His. Next God sent Elijah to Zarephath, saying, “I have commanded a widow…to sustain thee” (v. 9 KJV). Think about it: God used a flesh-eating bird and a penniless widow to feed Elijah, so stop trying to second-guess Him! The Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” So here’s the question: If you truly believe that Scripture, why are you complaining, worrying, and trying to figure everything out instead of trusting Him? “Zarephath” means “a crucible,” a place where metal is refined. If you’re going through a fiery trial today, rejoice – God is separating the gold from the impurities in your character. When you’ve passed the test at Cherith and Zarephath, you’ll be ready for the blessing of Mount Carmel!
Soulfood: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 119:33-40; Prov 20:28-30
2018-08-12
Proverbs 23:15 NKJV
Since there are no perfect people, there can be no perfect parents. So though you love your children dearly, at times you’ll get tired, frustrated, disappointed, and irritable. The secret is to make such times the exception rather than the rule. A Christian psychologist writes: “A few years ago I asked one thousand mothers and fathers to describe their greatest frustrations in raising kids. I heard many humorous stories about sticky telephones and wet toilet seats and knotted shoestrings. One mother actually wanted to know why toddlers never throw up in the bathroom…But in our poll parents didn’t merely laugh about their frustrations – they tended to blame themselves. They said they were overwhelmed and were losing confidence in their ability to do the job. Many were having trouble just coping from day to day. How sad it is that this ancient responsibility of raising children has become so burdensome and laden with guilt. Actually, the facts won’t support that self-condemnation in the majority of cases. Most moms and dads are doing a creditable job at home – and it’s time someone patted them on the back for their commitment and sacrifice. Someday when the frustrations of toddlerhood and the turmoil of adolescence have passed, they’ll enjoy the sweet benefits of being very good and loving parents. Hang in there, Mom and Dad; you’re more skilled than you think you are.” Solomon spells out the parent’s true reward: “My son [and daughter], if your heart is wise, my heart will rejoice.”
Soul food: Exo 16:1-18; John 6:1-15; John 6:25-40; 1 Cor 11:23-24
2018-08-11
Psalm 120:2 KJV
When you deliberately create a false impression, the Bible calls it dealing in “falsehood…error, deception, cheating” (Revelation 22:15 AMPC). That may sound harsh, especially if all you had in mind was making an extra dollar, sparing someone’s feelings, or trying to make yourself look better. No human being would set such a standard, but God does. And He’s serious about it. Case in point: Ananias and Sapphira. When this couple tried to create a false impression about their giving, they dropped dead in the presence of the apostles. As a result, “No one else dared join them” (Acts 5:13 NIV). How long would you have lasted in that church? Peter said, “You have not lied to men but to God” (v. 4 NIV). That puts a whole new slant on it, doesn’t it? The story’s told of a guy who went fishing and caught nothing. So he stopped by the market on his way home and bought three fish. Then he told the shop assistant, “Throw them to me – that way when I get home I can tell my wife I caught them.” Solomon said, “My mouth speaks what is true…All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse” (Proverbs 8:7-8 NIV). Some of the worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves, and end up believing. And another thought: A liar’s biggest problem is they can’t believe anybody else, because “how you live your life is how you judge your neighbor.” So if you have a problem telling the truth, pray, “Deliver my soul…Lord, from lying lips, and…a deceitful tongue.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 10:1-12:22; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 119:25-32; Prov 20:25-27
2018-08-10
Genesis 21:10 NKJV
When Abraham tried to hurry the plan of God and fulfill it through well-intentioned but misguided human effort, Ishmael was born. Perhaps you have tried something similar yourself. We all have our “Ishmaels” – a good idea that wasn’t a God idea. And it can complicate your life. So God told Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son.” In other words: “It’s time to deal with your past and clean out your closet. This thing is holding you back, and until you deal with it you can’t move forward to your destiny. Get it out of your life and don’t look back!” Sometimes your miracle (Isaac) and your mistake (Ishmael) can live together for a while under the same roof. Things can be so good in one area of your life, yet so bad in another. But there comes a time when God says, “Because of the plans I have for you, you must put this thing out of your life.” And that’s not easy. It’s painful letting go of what your flesh craves or cherishes. But you have only two options: Be led by your emotions and miss out on God’s best, or say, “As much as I love this person or thing, I love the Lord more.” When you’re willing to walk away from something you thought you had to have because you love God more, that’s called “the sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). And when you offer it up to God, you position yourself to experience a new level of His blessing. Is God speaking to you today about something similar in your life? If so, let it go!
Soul food: 1 Chr 7:20-9:44; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 119:17-24; Prov 20:22-24
2018-08-09
Romans 10:17 NKJV
Every day fear and faith will arise inside you, and you get to decide which one will prevail. Somebody wrote, “Two natures beat within my breast; the one is foul, the other blessed. The one I love, the other I hate; the one I feed will dominate.” Fear and faith will always be present in your life, and the one you feed will come out on top. You can’t expect fear to simply disappear. If you focus on your fears, entertain them, and give in to them, they’ll increase. The way to overcome them is to starve them. Don’t give them your time or energy. Don’t feed them with gossip, negative news reports, or frightening movies. Focus on your faith, and each day feed it through God’s Word (See Romans 10:17). The more energy and time you devote to your faith, the stronger it will become. Anytime you feel afraid of something but do it anyway, you reprogram your attitude. In other words, when you feel afraid, it means “go” instead of “stop”; it means “fight harder” instead of “give up.” The most important step you can take to overcome fear is trusting God to do the thing you think you can’t do. No matter how strong a hold fear may have on you, it can be overcome. That’s because fear is in your mind, and your mind can be renewed by the Word of God. Here’s the key: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 NKJV).
Soul food: 1 Chr 6:1-7:19; Luke 12:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Prov 20:19-21
2018-08-08
Matthew 6:34 NLT
Yesterday and tomorrow both clamor for our attention. Yesterday wants us to second-guess our decisions and worry if we did the right thing. That’s wasted energy. As President Harry Truman said, “If you’ve done the best you can – if you’ve done what you have to do – there’s no use worrying about it because nothing can change it.” And tomorrow can also cause you to miss opportunities. Let’s face it, most people arrive at a different destination in life than what they expected – some better, some worse, but all different. So focusing on the destination isn’t necessarily a good idea. Besides, tomorrow may come, or it may not. There are no guarantees. Jesus said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Jesus was talking to people who were worried about having the basic necessities in life, like food and clothes. And He said to them, “Don’t worry about these things…your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (v. 31-32 NKJV). The only place you really have any power – is in the present. Do what you can in the here and now despite your fear, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing everything within your power to reach your potential. If you project too far into the future, you’ll suffer from the “what ifs?” and your fears will run wild. American author Mark Twain quipped, “I’ve been through some horrible things in my life – a few of which actually happened!” Give your past and your future to God and live your life one day at a time, trusting Him. That’s how you overcome fear.
Soul food: 1 Chr 4:24-5:26; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 119:1-8; Prov 20:15-18
