2018-02-21
Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land illustrates three different places you can choose to live: (1) The place of “not enough.” As slaves in Egypt they were forced to depend on Pharaoh for everything. And when you have to keep relying on anyone but God, you’re not truly free. Until you understand that God is your provider, you’ll live with a “not enough” mentality. Elijah was living by a stream in the middle of a famine, and ravens brought him meat each day. Then one day the ravens didn’t show up, and the brook dried up. Why? God dried up a temporary source to drive Elijah back to his true source. Understand this: Regardless of what or whom He uses – God is your source. He is called “Jehovah Jireh,” which means “the Lord will provide.” (2) The place of “just enough.” In the wilderness Israel had just enough manna for each day. It’s no fun struggling to just get by. But we appreciate what we have to struggle for, and we learn to trust God more. Plus, living through such seasons builds into us a tenacity to keep moving toward better things. (3) The place of “more than enough.” God’s plan for Israel was “a land in which you…will lack nothing” (Deuteronomy 8:9 NKJV). And His goal for you is abundance in every area of life (See 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV). Is that so you can hoard it? No, it’s so you can bless others and fulfill your assignment in life. So stand on this Scripture: “To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…be glory…forever.”
Soul food: 1 Kings 1-2; Matt 16:1-12; Ps 33:1-12; Prov 5:7-14
2018-02-20
Proverbs 3:25 NAS
In the Bible panic attacks are referred to as “sudden fear.” You can’t breathe, your palms sweat, your chest gets tight, and you feel weak. If you’ve ever experienced a panic attack, you’ll recognize these symptoms. Doctors estimate that in our stress-filled world, about a third of us experience at least one panic attack a year. If you are one of them, here are some things you can do to help yourself: (1) Breathe deeply. Panic makes you breathe in short shallow bursts, whereas breathing deeply helps to calm and relax you. So when you start to feel overwhelmed, stop and breathe the name of Jesus. Try it; it works! (2) Talk to yourself. Say, “By God’s grace I can handle this” (See 2 Corinthians 12:9). If you respond with more panic you’ll just end up in double trouble. Allowing yourself to feel panic without reacting to it may sound difficult at first, but it helps you break the cycle and take control of your thinking. (3) Do something calming. This may be the last thing you feel like doing, because panic attacks make you instinctively think thoughts that feed your fear. So take a minute and whisper a prayer, quote a Scripture, listen to inspirational music, or talk to a friend. And if your panic attacks continue, there’s no shame in getting professional help. After all, it’s God who gives doctors the skills and abilities to intervene. Here’s a Scripture you should write down and keep handy: “You can go to bed without fear…and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster…for the Lord is your security” (Proverbs 3:24-26 NLT).
Soul food: Heb 11:17-13:25; Matt 15:29-39; Ps 28; Prov 5:3-6
2018-02-19
John 10:11 NIV
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Your message may be wonderful and much needed by the hearer, but the look on your face can turn people off before you open your mouth. Ever notice how many people have bad memories of growing up in church? They recall stern, severe, strange-looking people who passed condemnation on the world at large. What a disservice to God! A little girl once saw a mule looking over a fence. Patting him on the head, she said, “It’s okay; my aunt is religious too!” Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” The word “good” comes from the Greek word kelos, which means “winsome” [attractive, pleasant, engaging]. Jesus’ attitude won people over every time! What we say accounts for 7 percent of what people believe. How we say it accounts for 38 percent. What they see accounts for 55 percent. Amazingly, more than 90 percent of the nonverbal cues we give off have nothing to do with what we actually say! So if you think communication is just about words, you’re missing the boat, and the chances are you’ll have a hard time connecting with others. A member of his staff once asked Abraham Lincoln to give a friend of his a job. After interviewing the man, Lincoln turned him down. Asked why, he replied, “Because I didn’t like the look on his face.” The White House staffer protested, “That’s not fair! Nobody’s responsible for the look on their face.” Lincoln replied, “That’s where you’re wrong. Everyone over forty is responsible for the look on their face.” So…what does your facial expression say to others?
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 5; Prov 5:1-2
2018-02-18
James 3:13 NIV
In the first seven seconds people often decide they do or don’t want to hear what you have to say. It may not be fair – but it’s a fact. In How to Talk So People Listen, communication expert Sonya Hamlin says when it comes to hearing and seeing, sight is the more important and powerful sense. She writes: “We remember 85 to 90 percent of what we see, but less than 15 percent of what we hear. Countless numbers of people have lost sales opportunities, ruined job interviews, or been turned down for dates because their appearance didn’t match someone else’s expectations. If you’re wise you’ll ask your family and friends if you’re inclined to display nonverbal cues that capture their attention and take the focus off what you’re trying to communicate.” One pastor says: “I never realized how many nonverbal mistakes I was making until I saw myself on video. Now it’s my regular practice to go back and watch myself to determine not only what I said, but also how I said it. The tape doesn’t lie.” Great actors can tell a story without saying a word, simply by using facial expressions. And whether you are aware of it or not, you convey a message by the expression on your face. Even people who pride themselves on “playing with a poker face,” and on their ability to not let other people know what they’re really thinking, convey an unspoken message of detachment. And that makes meaningful connection with other people well-nigh impossible. If your face is going to “talk” – and it is – make sure you’re communicating the right thing.
Soul food: Exo 20:14; Prov 6:23-35; Matt 5:27-30; 1 Cor 6:9-20
2018-02-17
Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” When you’re in darkness, you see the light before you see the carrier of the light, right? The old saying, “First impressions are lasting impressions,” is true. One communications expert says: “You’ve got just seven seconds to make the right first impression. As soon as you make your entrance, you broadcast verbal and nonverbal signals that determine how others see you. In business those crucial first seven seconds can decide whether you win that new account, or succeed in a tense negotiation. Are you confident? Comfortable? Sincere? Glad to be there? In that first seven seconds you shower your audience with subtle ‘clues.’ And whether people realize it or not, they respond immediately to your facial expressions, gestures, stance, and energy. They react to your voice – the tone and pitch. Audiences, whether one or one hundred, instinctively size up your motives and attitudes.” Whether you’re speaking, selling, interviewing, or dating, your appearance, attitude, and approach make all the difference in the world. People can tell a lot in seven seconds. They may decide they don’t want to hear anything you have to say, or they may be struck by how much they’re drawn to you. Henry Ward Beecher said: “There are persons so radiant, so genial, so kind, so pleasure-bearing, that you instinctively feel in their presence that they do you good, whose coming into a room is like bringing a shining lamp there.”
Soul food: Heb 5-8; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 149; Prov 4:25-27
2018-02-16
Jeremiah 15:16 NIV
People in Bible times dealt with depression too. Elijah said, “I have had enough, Lord…Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4 NIV). Job said, “I loathe my very life” (Job 10:1 NIV). David wrote, “My soul is downcast” (Psalm 42:6 NIV). Now, when you’re clinically depressed you should seek professional help. But the kind of depression we’re talking about here is when your motivation is drained, your desire to pursue God is gone, your conversations have turned sour, you’re blind to your blessings, your enthusiasm is forced, and you’re in a daze regarding the future. Here are some possible causes: (1) Sin. Sin is like a stone in your shoe; you’ll have no peace until you get it out. No vacation, job change, relationship change, or doctor will heal it. But the blood of Jesus will cleanse it (See 1 John 1:7). (2) Greed. King Ahab’s obsession with owning Naboth’s vineyard made him miserable and affected his entire family (See 1 Kings 21:4). (3) Comparisons. Constantly comparing yourself to others will depress you (See 2 Corinthians 10:12). (4) Speaking negatively. “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). (5) Fatigue. Jesus called His disciples aside to rest. Why? Because He recognized that when fatigue walks in, faith walks out (See Mark 6:31). (6) Unforgiveness. When you refuse to forgive someone, you carry them like an albatross around your neck. So what’s the remedy for depression? Often it starts with prayer and Bible reading. Jeremiah, who battled depression, wrote, “When your words came, I ate them…they were my joy and my heart’s delight.”
Soul food: Heb 1-4; Matt 14:22-36; Ps 145:14-21; Prov 4:23-24
