2017-09-29
Isaiah 64:8 NLT
Ever watch a lump of clay being transformed into something beautiful? The clay can’t change itself; the power to do that lies in the hands of the potter. Isaiah says, “We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.” That means you don’t have to live the rest of your life with your phobias and hang-ups; God can change you. Even if you’ve been a worrier all your life, you don’t have to worry for the rest of your life. So what if you were born in poverty or prejudice? You don’t have to die that way. Where did you get the idea that you can’t change? What’s the source of comments such as “It’s just my nature to worry,” or “I’ll always be pessimistic; I’m just that way,” or “I come from a family of alcoholics and addicts so I’ll never be free”? Would you make the same statement about your physical body? “It’s just my nature to have a broken leg. I can’t do anything about it.” Of course not. If your body malfunctions, you seek help. Shouldn’t you do the same with your sinful appetites, sour attitudes, and selfish tirades? What the world sees as trash, God sees as treasure. And like the potter, He can take you, mould you, and make you into a vessel of honour (See 2 Timothy 2:21). All you have to do is place your life in His hands. We sing, “Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way. Thou art the potter, I am the clay.” When you stop trying to change yourself and surrender to God, true and lasting change takes place.
Soul food: 1 Cor 12-14; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 60; Prov 25:21-22
2017-09-28
James 1:22 NIV
When Nehemiah first saw the ruins of Jerusalem, he wept. Then he rolled up his sleeves and went to work. In the face of overwhelming odds and relentless opposition, he rebuilt the walls in just fifty-two days. How? Because it was his vision and his passion! Question: Are you afraid to say, “Lord, I’ll do anything You want me to do,” in case He sends you somewhere you don’t want to go, or asks you to do something you don’t feel ready or qualified to do? You’ve got it wrong! The Bible says God’s will is “good, and acceptable, and perfect” (Romans 12:2 KJV). Now, while God’s will is “good,” it’s not necessarily easy. But He will give you a passion for it. When Jeremiah tried to stop speaking about the Lord, he said God’s Word became “like a fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9 NAS). A God-given vision sets your heart on fire. You begin to see things you never saw before and get excited about them. You may have failed in the past, but God can take your chapters of failure and write a story of success. But it won’t happen if you’re just sitting on the side-lines. The Bible says, “Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says.” You’ll get a passion for God’s will once you start doing it! And when it happens, you will say, “This is what I was made for.” When you have a compelling reason for doing something, and you know God is watching and smiling on you, it makes all the difference in the world. So the word for you today is: Be passionate, proactive, and persistent!
Soul food: 1 Cor 10-11; Mark 15:12-20; Ps 68:19-35; Prov 25:17-20
2017-09-27
Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Here is a prayer for peace: “Lord, Your Word says, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.’ Your Word says, ‘The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace’ (Ps 29:11 NIV). Your Word says, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 NIV). Your Word says, ‘The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:7 NIV). Today I need this peace which transcends understanding to settle my nerves and calm my mind. Instead of thinking about my fears and worries, help me to focus on Your goodness, Your faithfulness, Your healing power, Your overflowing resources, and Your forgiving heart. Take up residence within me and fill me with Your peace. Show me what’s robbing me of it. I really want to know, Father, so I can be specific in what I need to confess, what I need to commit to, and what I need to change. I open myself to You now. Teach me the secret of lasting peace. I thank You now for whatever it will take to help me receive the peace You have so generously offered to me. Your Word says, ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15 NIV). Today I want to be ruled by Your peace instead of my fears and worries. So I give all my concerns to You, trusting You to work them out for my good and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray: Amen.”
Soul food: 1 Cor 7-9; Mark 15:1-11; Ps 68:1-18; Prov 25:13-16
2017-09-26
Philippians 4:11 NIV
Discontentment is a trap that can ensnare you and rob you of joy and fulfilment. That’s why the Bible says you must learn to be content “whatever the circumstances.” The notion that a bigger car or a bigger house or a bigger salary will bring you contentment is a myth. There will always be something “bigger and better” out there. There will always be people who have more than you, so you’ll never be able to get off the treadmill. That’s not to imply you should be satisfied with being enslaved to debt or destructive habits, or settle for complacency and mediocrity and not fulfil the call of God on your life. Not at all! You must keep working to improve yourself, while remaining totally dependent on God to bless you, promote you, and meet your needs. Contentment means not coveting another person’s position, possessions, or personality. Your security and self-worth should be based on who you are in Christ, not what you have in material assets. What a great way to live! Paul lived like that. He said, “I’ve learned…to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am” (vv. 11-13 TM). Each day you have a choice to make regarding your attitude. So the word for you today is: Learn to be content.
Soul food: 1 Cor 4-6; Mark 14:66-72; Ps 91; Prov 25:9-12
2017-09-25
Luke 22:31 CEV
Luke writes: “Jesus said, ‘Simon, listen to me! Satan has demanded the right to test each one of you, as a farmer does when he separates wheat from the husks. But Simon, I have prayed that your faith will be strong. And when you have come back to me, help the others'” (vv. 31-32 CEV). Satan’s attack proves you have an important part to play in the plan of God. That’s why he’s trying so hard to defeat you. The truth is, the intensity and duration of his attack is an indication of your value to God and the level of blessing that God has planned for you on the other side of the attack. So if you belong to Christ, view the attack as a sign of respect. And remember Who is in control. Satan needed God’s permission to attack Job. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18 NIV). And this is proof. The purpose of this test is to provide you with a testimony to God’s goodness. Jesus was allowing Peter to experience a trial so that he could encourage his brothers. Perhaps God is doing the same with you. He knows that the church, and the world, need living testimonies of His power. So your difficulty may be preparing you to be a voice of encouragement to others who are struggling. Remember what Joseph said to his brothers: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20 NAS). Since God loves you and is in control of your life, good things will come from the difficulties you are going through right now.
Soul food: 1 Cor 1-3; Mark 14:53-65; Ps 13; Prov 25:4-8
2017-09-24
1 Corinthians 5:5 CEV
Satan’s attack can be a wake-up call. Do you know that when you refuse to acknowledge your sin and repent of it, the wall of protection around you is breached and Satan is free to come in and attack you? Paul writes to the Corinthian church: “I have heard terrible things about some of you. In fact, you are behaving worse than the Gentiles. A man is even sleeping with his own stepmother. You are proud, when you ought to feel bad enough to chase away anyone who acts like that” (vv. 1-2 CEV). Then Paul instructs the leaders of the church, “You must then hand that man over to Satan. His body will be destroyed, but his spirit will be saved when the Lord Jesus returns.” Later the man repented of his sin and Paul said he should be restored to fellowship in the church. So what Paul was saying, in essence, was: “Let him be driven to despair that he might be driven back into the arms of God.” Again Paul writes: “Some people have made a mess of their faith because they didn’t listen to their consciences. Two of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I have given these men over to the power of Satan, so that they will learn not to oppose God” (1 Timothy 1:19-20 CEV). Does God enjoy seeing us suffer? No more than a parent enjoys disciplining a child. But holy love makes tough choices. (Remember, discipline should result in mercy, not misery.) Some of us are awakened by a tap on the shoulder, while others need a two-by-four on the head. And whenever God needs a two-by-four, Satan gets the call.
Soul food: Prov 25:1-3; Jam 1:2-8
