2025-07-23
Galatians 5:15 CEV
Every worthwhile relationship can experience problems. With that in mind, it’s important to recognize this:
(1) Problems are inevitable, normal, and potentially beneficial. They’re inevitable because relationships bring together very different people. They’re normal because all relationships, including great ones, go through ups and downs. And they’re potentially beneficial because, handled effectively, the relationship can grow through problems.
(2) Generally speaking, there are three problem-solving styles.
(a) The avoid style. These are the “don’t-rock-the-boat” kind of people. They bury their feelings without realizing those feelings will undoubtedly rise again down the road. They go from clam up, to build up, to blow up, inviting mental, emotional, and physical side effects. Meanwhile, the problem keeps growing, and the unfinished business erodes the relationship.
(b) The attack style. These are the “get-them-before-they-get-you” people. They’re fighters who refuse to concede, so they inflict wounds on each other, wounds from which it can be hard to recover. The Bible says, “If you keep attacking each other…you will destroy yourselves.” Why? Because attack begets counterattack, and nothing gets resolved.
(c) The approach/assert style. These are the “no-price-is-too-high-to-maintain-a-good relationship” people. They’re sensitive to other people’s feelings while insisting that both parties deal directly with the important issues. They avoid blame fixing, attack the issue instead of the individual, and invite others to partner with them in solving the problem and strengthening the relationship. Try it – it works!
Soul food: Deut 3-4; Matt 12:1-14; Ps 46; Pro 16:20-22
2025-07-22
John 4:34 NIV
No one had more energy than Jesus. He got up early, stayed up late, and sometimes pulled all-nighters. Where did He get all that energy from? The answer is found in a fascinating dialogue. “His disciples urged him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’ Then His disciples said to each other, ‘Could someone have brought him food?’ ‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work'” (vv. 31-34 NIV).
When you see the word “food,” you think energy because that’s what food is. And Jesus makes an insightful point here: God’s will is energizing. So, how do you keep yourself energized? By staying in the will of God. Engaging in God-ordained passions and pursuing God-sized dreams is how we produce energy. Nothing energizes us more. Don’t just repent of doing what is wrong; replace it with what is right.
Paul writes: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labour in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]” (1 Corinthians 15:58 AMPC). If sin is a waste of energy, which it is, then discovering and fulfilling your God-given assignment in life is the most energizing thing that you can do.
Soul food: Deut 1-2; Matt 11:20-30; Ps 42:6-11; Pro 16:17-19
2025-07-21
Hebrews 11:34 NIV
The so-called “secret” to success is really no secret at all! It’s simply getting back up when life has knocked you down and taking with you into the future the lessons you have learned. In talking about heroes such as Samson and David, the Bible goes on to say, “Whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” (v. 34 NIV). Notice these people weren’t always strong, but they became strong. They didn’t win every battle, but they went on to win the ones that mattered.
In 1928, a thirty-three-year-old man named Paul Galvin found himself staring at failure… again. By this point, he had failed twice in industry, his competitors having forced him to fold up his latest venture in the storage-battery business. Convinced, however, that he still had a remarkable idea, Galvin attended the auction of his own business. And with the $750 he had managed to raise, he bought back the battery eliminator portion of the inventory. With it, he built a new company, one in which he succeeded, one from which he eventually retired, and one which became a household word: Motorola. You have probably heard of it.
Business innovator Roger von Oech said: “Remember the two benefits of failure. First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn’t work; and second, the failure gives you the opportunity to try a new approach… Most people think of success and failure as opposites, but they both are products of the same process.” Failure is delay, not defeat. We all make mistakes, especially those who act. It’s only when you become unwilling to risk failure that you stop learning, you stop growing, and you stop succeeding.
Soul food: Acts 27-28; Matt 11:10-19; Ps 42:1-5; Pro 16:16
2025-07-20
John 15:5 NKJV
Because God’s Spirit lives within you doesn’t guarantee His power is at work in your life. God’s power is available, but you must plug into it. Jesus associates our spiritual life with a vine and its branches: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (v. 5 NKJV). In this comparison, the branch is completely dependent on the main vine; it cannot yield fruit on its own. Growing fruit is an internal job.
If someone tied apples onto the branches of a dead tree and said, “Look at this fruit tree,” what would you say? You would probably say, “You tied those things on.” That’s similar to when a Christian says, “I’m going to tie on a bunch of fruit in my life – a little patience now, a little goodness later, a little self-control at another time. I will do it by myself.” Impossible! It’s the fruit of the Spirit, not the efforts of the flesh.
Jesus said, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” How can you tell you’re abiding (or residing) in Christ? Consider your prayer life. Your prayers reveal your dependence on God. What do you pray about? Whatever you pray about is what you’re relying on God for. The Bible says, “Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT). Pray about your decisions, needs, temptations, interests, plans, schedule, problems, purchases; specifically, pray about everything! Doing this is what it means to “abide” – being aware that God is always with you, practicing His presence.
Soul food: 1 Sam 5:1-6:16; Rev 11:15-19
2025-07-19
Ecclesiastes 5:4 NIV
When the pressures in your life begin to mount, the first thing you will be tempted to drop is your time alone with God, praying and reading His Word. And what’s more, Satan knows if he can keep you from it, he has won the battle, and he will get no opposition from you. So, how can you overcome this problem?
(1) By making a covenant with God. Think about it: Why do we make marriage vows? So we will think twice about breaking them! It’s the same in your devotional life: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.”
(2) By scheduling it. Block out time to meet with God each day, just like you would for a doctor’s appointment or a business lunch. Can you think of a more important appointment? Surely not!
(3) By being prepared for the devil’s excuses. Adopt the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared! Dr. Robert G. Lee used to say, “If you wake up in the morning and don’t meet the devil face on, it means you’re headed in the same direction!”
(4) By leaving your Bible open the night before to the verses you intend to read the next morning. When you wake up, it will remind you that the most important thing you have to do today is meet with God.
What if you miss a day? Don’t worry – and don’t go on a guilt trip. If you miss a meal, you don’t give up eating, right? It just means you eat a little more at the next one and move on from there.
Soul food: Acts 24-26; Matt 11:1-9; Ps 1; Pro 16:10-15
2025-07-18
Psalm 63:1 NIV
Dr. Stephen Olford said, “I want to hear the voice of God before I hear anyone else’s in the morning, and his is the last voice I want to hear at night.” Whatever time you set, morning or evening, be consistent. Make an appointment with God like you would with anyone else. And keep it. Don’t stand Him up! “How much time should I spend?” you ask.
(1) Begin with a few minutes and let it grow. Don’t start with a two-hour quiet time, or you will get discouraged. You will create memories of failure rather than memories of success. You must grow in this relationship like you do in any other one.
(2) Don’t take your watch with you. That can ruin your quiet time faster than anything else. Decide what amount of time you can give to God’s Word and prayer – then do it! Sometimes you will spend longer than you have set aside, and other times it will be shorter. Remember, you’re talking to the God of eternity; don’t insult Him by continually looking at your watch. With God, quality is more important than quantity. It’s what you do while you’re with Him that’s important, regardless if it’s ten minutes or one hour.
(3) Have a special place. “The next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord” (Genesis 19:27 NIV). Your special place should be somewhere you can pray aloud without embarrassment, somewhere you’re comfortable. Just don’t do it in bed – that’s too comfortable! As time goes by, your special place will come to mean everything to you because of all the wonderful times you have there with the Lord.
Soul food: Acts 22-23; Matt 10:32-42; Ps 65; Pro 16:8-9
