2025-07-05
1 Samuel 14:7 NIV
Reason two: naivety. An old Chinese proverb says, “Behind every able man there are always other able men.” Even if you can do the job yourself, isn’t it wise to stop and ask, “Who do I know who could help me to do it better?” That question defines the difference between mediocrity and excellence. Business consultant John Ghegan keeps a sign on his desk that reads, “If I had it to do all over again, I’d get help.” We all need that sign!
When you have a few victories under your belt, you’re at an increased risk of thinking you can do anything and everything by yourself. But when your dream is from God, it will always be greater than your individual capacity and gifts, which means you will have to reach for others.
Two men, Jonathan, and his armour-bearer, wiped out an entire Philistine garrison. How? “Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’ ‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his armour-bearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul'” (vv. 6-7 NIV). Jonathan, the leader, needed the encouragement and support of his armour-bearer. And his armour-bearer needed the courage and leadership of Jonathan. Together they accomplished amazing things for God.
The truth is teamwork is at the heart of all impressive triumphs. The question isn’t whether teams have value; it’s whether you are humble enough to acknowledge that fact and become a better team player.
Soul food: Joel 1-3; Matt 7:15-29; Ps 79; Pro 15:18-21
2025-07-04
3 John v. 9 NKJV
Reason one: insecurity. The Florentine philosopher Machiavelli said, “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” Insecure leaders are threatened by talented individuals, so they surround themselves with weak people. As a result, the work suffers, and everybody involved suffers too.
When a leader responds to a genuine question by saying, “How dare you challenge my authority,” they’re dangerous and often not worth following. Insecure leaders usually fail for two reasons: They want to maintain control over everything, or they’re afraid of being replaced by someone more competent. Either way, leaders who don’t encourage teamwork weaken their own potential and discourage those around them. President Woodrow Wilson said, “We should not only use all the brains we have, but all that we can borrow.”
John the Apostle tells us that Diotrephes, a leader in the church, “loves to have the pre-eminence.” What was this man’s problem? He wanted to blow everybody else’s light out in order to let his own light shine. So, John writes: “When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God” (3 John vs. 10-11 NLT).
Let God’s approval – which you already have – make you secure!
Soul food: Jer 51-52; Matt 7:1-14;
Ps 137; Pro 15:15-17
2025-07-03
Proverbs 12:23 NLT
Someone else’s need to know shouldn’t determine your need to speak. When a friend of Jesus wanted to stop His arrest, Jesus said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53 NIV). When Jesus stood in Pilate’s judgment hall, Pilate didn’t have the power; Jesus did! Yet, the Bible says that Jesus “opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7 NKJV). He just stood there and said nothing. Why? Because He was not on trial, Pilate was. Jesus knew His destiny, and more importantly, He knew His heavenly Father intimately.
And when you know God, you can face anything with confidence – and feel free to say nothing. Sometimes the wisest thing is to say, “I don’t have the answer right now. But I will think about it, pray, and get back to you.” “The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness” (Proverbs 12:23 NLT).
When people are anxious for answers, they will try to pressure you into speaking before you have all the facts or have had a chance to pray and consider the situation carefully. If you ask God, He will tell you what to say and when to say it. His promise is, “I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand” (Isaiah 51:16 NIV).
Pride says, “Don’t just stand there; say something!” Wisdom says, “Don’t just say something; stand there!” Quietly ask God for insight. One thought from God can solve the problem in a hurry.
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Matt 6:19-34; Ps 122; Pro 15:10-14
2025-07-02
Colossians 3:13 NIV
It’s impossible to love anyone fully and at the same time resent someone else. You cannot give total love when your heart is divided. And a bitter heart is a divided heart. You may be thinking, “My spouse is a wonderful person, but I just can’t love him.” Look beneath the surface. You may still be reacting to your past and harbouring resentment against someone who hurt you. That’s keeping you from loving your spouse. And it’s not fair to them.
Many people have justified cause for their anger. It’s said that one out of every three women and one out of every seven men will be abused during their lifetime. But you must let go of the past to get on with the present. To begin loving people, you must close the door on the past. And that cannot happen without forgiveness! So, forgive those who have hurt you – for your own sake, not because they deserve it. Do it so your heart can be whole again. The people from your past cannot hurt you unless you allow them to hurt you by holding resentment against them.
Anytime you resent someone, you give them a piece of your heart, a piece of your attention, a piece of your mind. Do you want that person to have that? No? Then take it back by forgiving. Instead of rehearsing the hurt over and over, release it. And you can’t be selective in what you forgive: “I will forgive that, but I won’t forgive this.” The Bible says, “Forgive… if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (v. 13 NIV).
Soul food: Jer 45-48; Matt 6:9-18; Ps 110; Pro 15:8-9
2025-07-01
Luke 5:4 KJV
After Peter had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets.” After explaining to Jesus that the fish weren’t biting, Peter said, “Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (v. 5). Notice an important detail here. When Jesus said, “Let down your nets,” Peter replied, “I will let down the net.” Apparently, Jesus had a bigger catch in mind than Peter! In fact, that night they caught so many fish their net broke because they couldn’t handle them.
When you think small, you prepare accordingly. Scripture describes God as “Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV). As a child of God, you have within you the power to go beyond what you have already accomplished and do more than you ever dreamed possible.
What’s the problem? It’s this: You can have the right amount of power but lack preparation! To handle the pressures that accompany success, you must be prepared; otherwise, success can be your undoing. God says He is prepared to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings so great, you won’t have room enough to handle them (See Malachi 3:10).
The question is, are you preparing yourself for greater blessing or simply settling for the status quo? You say you want success on the job. So, are you sharpening your skills, intensifying your work ethic, and developing new ways of doing things? Are you teachable and open to working with others? In other words, are you preparing yourself?
Soul food: Jer 41-44; Matt 5:38-6:8; Ps 102:18-28; Pro 15:4-7
2025-06-30
Philippians 2:14 KJV
Paul writes: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (vv. 14-15). What was the attitude that Paul zeroed in on? Murmuring! What was the solution? He shared it with the Thessalonian believers: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). Instead of looking for things to gripe about, look for things to be grateful about because they’re all around you. If murmuring comes to you as easily as breathing, here are a few areas you need to pay attention to:
(1) Don’t take on more than you can handle. Say yes to requests for personal favours only when you want to or feel led by God. This will stop you from becoming overworked and resentful toward the responsibilities dumped on you by others.
(2) Limit your time around negative people. “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits'” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV). Don’t get infected!
(3) Focus on other people’s needs. “With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:7-8 NKJV). What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.
In addition to these three strategies for overcoming grumpiness, pray: “Father, deliver me from grumpiness. Reveal the root cause of it and give me courage to take the actions necessary to keep it out of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Soul food: Jer 36:27-40:16; Matt 5:21-37; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 15:3
