2025-07-25
Genesis 40:6 NLT
Joseph was serving a prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, which makes it remarkable that he had the time and energy to care about anybody else. “Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker offended their royal master… and he put them in prison… Joseph… noticed that they both looked upset. ‘Why do you look so worried today?’ he asked them. And they replied, ‘We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean'” (vv. 1, 3, 6-8 NLT). Joseph interpreted their dreams, and as a result, the cupbearer got his job back in Pharaoh’s palace.
When Pharaoh had a dream no one could interpret, the cupbearer introduced him to Joseph, who interpreted his dream. As a result, Joseph became prime minister of Egypt and was positioned to save his family from extinction. But there is more to the story. From the family Joseph saved came the Redeemer of the world who saved you. This amazing chain of events begins with two words, “Joseph noticed.”
Remember the dying man on the Jericho Road? “A certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side… But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So, he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:31, 33-34 NKJV). Jesus ends His parable with these words: “Go and do likewise” (v. 37 NKJV). So, ask God to help you “notice” and for the grace to respond.
Soul food: Deut 8-10; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 78:9-16; Pro 16:25
2025-07-24
Amos 3:3 NIV
Relationships are built on mutual trust – and trust is based on speaking the truth. But there are ways of speaking the truth that help and ways that hurt. The “give-them-a-piece-of-my-mind” approach just drives the wedge deeper. Then there is the Bible way: “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow” (Ephesians 4:15 NIV). Let’s suppose a couple fights because he is habitually late. How can she make sure her message gets across? Well, she could say to him:
(a) “I feel frustrated.” No blame, no attack; just an honest sharing of how she feels.
(b) “When you are late…” No judging, name-calling, or labelling; just a description of how she sees his action.
(c) “It seems to say to me that my time isn’t really important to you.” No moralizing; just honestly sharing her emotions.
(d) “In the future, can you please try to be on time or call me and let me know when you will be here?” Instead of focusing on past actions he can’t change, she is telling him what she would like him to do differently next time.
(e) “Would you be willing to do that for me?” No demanding or taking for granted; just asking for consideration and cooperation. And when he agrees, they have an implied “contract.”
She thanks him sincerely and rewards every effort he makes to keep his word. In effect, she has just realigned the relationship by making him an ally instead of an adversary. She has also redefined the focus as a shared one, not something she “does to him!” Like the Bible says, we can “walk together” when we have “agreed to do so.”
Soul food: Deut 5-7; Matt 12:15-21; Ps 78:1-8; Pro 16:23-24
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
