2025-10-02
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
A Sunday school teacher was telling the story of how Jonah disobeyed God and ended up being swallowed by a big fish. For three days, he cried out from the depths of the ocean, and after three days and nights, God ordered the fish to spit him up on the beach. At the end of the lesson, the teacher asked the class what they had learned, and a little boy piped up, “It just goes to prove that you can’t keep a good man down.”
You don’t drown by falling into the water; you drown by staying there. David said, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord… Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him” (Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV).
When your dreams and plans get rained out, stay focused and “run with perseverance” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). Winston Churchill said, “The nose of the bulldog slants backward, so that he can breathe in comfort without letting go.” When you focus on something, you empower and give it momentum; that’s why Satan wants you to concentrate on things that don’t matter.
Jesus looked beyond the cross. He focused on what lay on the other side of it. The Bible tells us to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Remember, God doesn’t pay by the week; He pays at the end. You will be rewarded based on how you finished, not how you started. Paul says, “These troubles and sufferings… won’t last very long. Yet… result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17 TLB). So, stay focused – and keep on going!
Soul food: Eph 4:17-6:24; John 1:14-28; Ps 29; Prov 22:26-29
2025-10-01
Micah 7:8 NIV
One author writes: “Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It’s a marathon, not a sprint… You’re not just running, but getting hit along the way. Grit keeps you moving forward through the sting of rejection, pain of failure, and struggle with adversity. When life knocks you down, you may want to stay down and give up, but grit won’t let you quit… True grit starts with knowing what you truly want. When you know what you want and you can see it, you’ll work hard and persevere to achieve it. True grit is also driven by clarity of mind, purpose, passion, optimism, faith, love, hope and quite honestly – stubbornness.
Knowing your why, refusing to give up, ignoring the critics, believing the possible, loving what you do, and showing up day in and day out keeps you on the path toward your vision. There’s something inside each of us that wants to feel worthy and be someone of value… The truth is not everyone will share your vision and believe in your project. But always remember that the circumstances around you and the opinion of others don’t create or define you. Life is never created from the outside in. You create life from the inside out. The grit and spirit you possess on the inside will create the life you experience on the outside. If you have a vision, keep it alive. Remember your purpose. Show up every day and do the work.”
John Quincy Adams said, “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear.” So, stay on course and keep moving forward, and you will succeed.
Soul food: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
2025-09-30
2 Corinthians 4:9 TLB
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania tell us that a key predictor of success isn’t talent, title, wealth, or good looks. It’s the ability to work hard for a prolonged period of time toward a focused goal; to keep moving forward despite challenges, obstacles, and failures. Paul writes: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (vv. 8-9 TLB).
Here are some famous people who got knocked down but kept on going. A memo issued after Fred Astaire’s first screen test said, “Can’t act… slightly bald… can dance a little.” Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four and didn’t write until he was seven. His teacher described him as “mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in foolish dreams.” F. W. Woolworth’s employers at the dry goods store said he hadn’t enough sense to wait on customers. Winston Churchill failed at junior school. He didn’t become Prime Minister of Great Britain until he was sixty-six, after a lifetime of defeats and setbacks. He made his greatest contribution as a senior citizen. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”
So when life knocks you down, get back up and keep going.
Soul food: Eph 1:1-4:16; John 1:1-13; Ps 92; Pro 22:24-25
2025-09-29
1 John 3:17 NIV
Author Tim Hansel tells about a seminary professor who set up his homiletics class in an unusual way. Each student was required to deliver a sermon on the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). They were to go from classroom to classroom preaching love and compassion for others. Some students had ten minutes between classes, while others had less time, which forced them to hurry in order to stay on schedule. Each student was also required to walk down a designated corridor past a “beggar” who had been deliberately planted there by the professor.
What happened that day was a powerful lesson. The number of would-be preachers who stopped to help the beggar was extremely low, especially among those who were pressured for time. They were so busy rushing to preach about the Good Samaritan that they walked right past the beggar at the heart of the parable.
Here is a paraphrase of Christ’s words in Matthew 25 that’s designed to make you think, pray, and reach out to hurting people: “I was hungry, and you formed a humanities club to discuss it. I was imprisoned, and you stayed home to pray for my release. I was naked, and you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick, and you thanked God for your health. I was homeless, and you preached to me about the shelter of God’s love. You seem so holy and so close to God, but I’m still hungry, lonely, cold, and in pain. Does it matter to you?” Don’t just talk about God’s love; show it!
Soul food: 1 Sam 27-31; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 63; Pro 22:17-23
2025-09-28
Galatians 6:2 NKJV
Generally speaking, when we’re young, healthy, capable, and socially involved, we can go where we want and do as we please. As the saying goes, “The world is our oyster!” It seldom occurs to us that we’re surrounded by those who, because of age, disability, illness, or social and physical isolation, can no longer enjoy the same benefits we do. They depend on the compassion and care of others to meet their most basic daily needs. Sadly, our self-focused youth-oriented culture often ignores and marginalizes such people: in essence, relegating them to the scrap heap of life. Their intrinsic worth is discounted, and their contribution to society largely forgotten.
This is certainly not God’s way of doing things. Paul tells us to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Note: It’s not a suggestion. It’s a law; a divine directive in which we’re all expected to participate.
Against the backdrop of final judgment, His law of love is illustrated in Matthew 25:31-46. To the sheep he said, “I was hungry… thirsty… a stranger… naked… sick… in prison, and you met my need. Every act of compassion you do for anyone is recorded to your credit as having done it to me.” To the goats he said, “I was hungry… thirsty… a stranger… naked… sick… in prison, and you ignored my needs. Every time you failed to show anyone compassion is recorded as your failure to care for my needs.”
The message is loud and clear: If you truly want to love and follow Jesus, you must intentionally show your love for others in practical ways. In other words – be there when you’re needed.
Soul food: Eze 37:1-14; Matt 27:50-53; 1 Thes 4:13-18
2025-09-27
James 4:2 NKJV
Some people know what they want and have the bravery to ask for it. Others know what they don’t want and have developed the ability of saying it in a way that doesn’t create hostility. If you do not practice asking for what you desire, you will live in frustration. You may also become resentful that people don’t detect your needs or desires without you informing them. Some people let others violate their boundaries while they suffer in silence instead of asking for a change in behaviour.
Asking for what you want may be the hardest in a work environment. Never assume that your welfare is topmost in your boss’s mind. This is not a charge against them but an acknowledgment that they’re probably occupied with their own issues.
Example: If you’re a salaried employee and have been steadily working lots of hours of unpaid overtime, try asking for a special bonus for some of the amount it would have cost the company if they had paid you for the time. Offer a well-thought-out analysis, or ask for some time off equal to a portion of what the hours would convert to in a number of days.
Of course, pray and believe God for favour before you ask. If that fails, keep being excellent at your work and start thinking of Plan B for your career. A businesswoman writes: “One of the most unique attributes that God has given to us is the ability to communicate. We do not have to stress out wishing or hoping that someone will read our minds when we could just ask for what we want.”
Soul food: 1 Sam 24-26; Matt 28:1-10; Ps 51; Pro 22:12-16
