2025-05-24
Revelation 4:10 NKJV
When we try to impress the people, we consider to be important, we become trophy collectors. “I’m more important because I know this famous person” is how our thinking goes. And all kinds of objects can become trophies: our grades in school, the houses we live in, people we have impressed, our looks, clothing brands, compliments, and promotions. There are even websites you can visit to look for a trophy wife – a woman whose beauty is a tribute to her husband’s wealth and influence.
A trophy is anything you own that causes other people to look at you and say, “Wow!” But living for trophies leaves you empty, unhappy, and tired. They bring a momentary happiness that can be addictive, but the enjoyment always dwindles. It’s notable that in heaven, when images like crowns are used, instead of wearing them, people are casting them at the Lord’s feet. When you give the triumph, admiration, and honour away, they bring you joy. When you collect them, they dull, fade, and become a burden.
That’s why the Bible says: “The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever…and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created'” (vv. 10-11 NKJV).
Anything good you have, anything good you are, and anything good you will receive in the future all come from God. So, be sure to give God all the glory.
Soul food: 1 Ki 18:16-20:43; Mark 9:38-50; Ps 113; Prov 12:15-17
2025-05-23
Luke 6:45 NIV
Do you think of yourself as a person who has faith in God? Do your thoughts and words reflect that? We can deceive ourselves into thinking we have great faith, but if challenges easily defeat us, then maybe our faith isn’t as great as we thought it was. Jesus said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” You can learn a lot about yourself by listening to what you say. Do your thoughts and words show your dependence on God, recognizing that His abilities, not yours, enable you to do anything you need to do?
To get your words right, you must get your heart right. And to do that, you must line your thinking up with God’s Word. That means being willing to face anything He wants to show you and asking Him to change you. If you’re trusting in your own strength, start trusting God instead. If you’re attempting to do things through your own abilities and becoming irritated, let God know that you want Him to work through you, and allow His sufficiency to be yours. Paul writes, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV).
Your words are like containers, so don’t fill them with things that disable you. Instead, stand on this Scripture: “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV). When you speak, always agree with God’s Word.
Soul food: 1 Ki 16:1-18:15; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 108; Prov 12:14
2025-05-22
Philippians 2:4 NLT
You can learn to love by thinking loving thoughts. By focusing on the other person’s needs, pains, difficulties, goals, and desires, not just your own. The old Indian saying goes, “It’s easier to understand someone when you walk a mile in their moccasins.” Hurting people tend to hurt other people. If someone is hurting you, that person may be doing so because they are hurting. How can you love them? By looking beyond their faults and seeing their needs.
The least lovable people are often those who need love the most. The people we would prefer to ignore are the very ones who need huge doses of love. If a person can’t find love, they will seek attention. And if they can’t obtain positive attention, they will work at attracting negative attention. Unintentionally they are saying, “I will be noticed, one way or another.”
Make love the master of your will, not the slave of your emotions. We can’t change our feelings, but we can change our thoughts. When we change how we think about someone, we will steadily change our feelings about that person. When rather than thinking about a person’s faults, we start thinking about their needs, it will change the way we feel.
You say, “If I act lovingly toward someone I don’t even like, wouldn’t that be hypocritical?” No, it’s called “loving by faith.” When you love by faith, you act yourself into feeling the right way toward that person. Try it and find out for yourself!
Soul food: 1 Ki 14-15; Mark 9:14-29; Ps 101; Prov 12:12-13
2025-05-21
John 17:4 NLT
To say yes to the will of God, you will have to say no to other things. And some people won’t like it, especially if they are used to getting their own way. People will make demands on you based on their needs and be oblivious to or uncaring about your needs. So, you have a choice: Be led by God or by others.
No one was busier than Jesus or had a greater assignment. Yet we read, “When they found Him, they said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for You.’ But He said to them, ‘Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth'” (Mark 1:37-38 NKJV). Was Jesus saying no to meeting unmet needs? Yes, He knew what His priorities were, and He remained focused. That way, He was able to say to His heavenly Father at the end of His life, “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4 NLT).
If you have a hard time saying no, stop and mentally picture what you think will happen when you say no. The only way to conquer your fear or insecurity in this area is to begin to take small risks until you are finally comfortable giving a firm no. When a person gets into debt through reckless spending, you’re not doing them a favour by saying yes to bailing them out. You’re enabling them! By saying yes to someone who refuses to learn a new skill set they’re capable of, you’re promoting “learned helplessness.” So, learn to say no.
Soul food: 1 Ki 12-13; Mark 9:1-13; Ps 128; Prov 12:10-11
2025-05-20
James 5:16 NIV
To understand how prayer is powerful and effective, look at it from a neurological perspective. At the base of our brain lies a cluster of nerves called the reticular activating system (RAS), which monitors our environment. We are constantly bombarded with countless stimuli vying for our attention, and it is the job of the RAS to determine what gets noticed and what goes unnoticed.
For example, you download a new ringtone for your cell phone. You’re sure that you’ve never heard it before. But after downloading it, it seems like everybody else has the same ringtone. It’s not that lots of people went out and downloaded it when you did. It’s the simple fact that when you downloaded that ringtone, it created a category in your RAS. That ringtone went unnoticed by you before you downloaded it because it wasn’t important to you. Once you downloaded the ringtone, the RAS recognized it as relevant. Prayer works that way.
When you pray for someone or something, it creates a category in your reticular activating system. And now you notice everything related to those prayers. A pastor writes: “Have you ever noticed that when you pray, coincidences happen? And when you don’t, they don’t? It’s more than coincidence, it’s providence. Prayer creates divine opportunities. But prayer also sanctifies the reticular activating system and enables us to see the God-ordained opportunities that are all around us all the time. And once we see them, we have to [activate our faith and] seize them.” Prayer is the portal to God’s kingdom and through which His blessings flow to us. So, pray each day.
Soul food: 1 Ki 10-11; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 45; Prov 12:7-9
2025-05-19
Romans 12:10-11 NIV
A leadership expert says: “Most leaders focus on two things: the vision and the bottom line. The vision is what usually excites us most, and taking care of the bottom line keeps us in business. But between the vision and the bottom line are all the people in your organization… If you ignore the people and only pay attention to these other two things, you will lose the people and the vision (and probably the bottom line). But if you focus on the people, you have the potential to win the people, the vision, and the bottom line.” Interestingly, the Bible puts these two things together: “Honour one another… Never be lacking in zeal [hard work].”
When business consultant Jim Collins studied great companies, he discovered “level five leaders.” He says these leaders refused to take credit for their organization’s accomplishments. Instead, they humbly gave credit to their employees. Numerous leaders say they value their people and customers. That’s a popular thing to say, and anyone can say it. But if you want to find out whether this is a value your organization actually holds, chat with people who know your organization well but aren’t employed by you. What do they say? Their answers will show you the most accurate picture.
Since you know your own heart better than anyone else, it all starts with you. Ask yourself, “Do I place a high value on people?” If you do, it will show up in how you treat them. If you treat them right, God will bless your efforts. And the Bible says, “The blessing of the Lord makes rich” (Proverbs 10:22 ESV).
Soul food: 1 Ki 8-9; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 47; Prov 12:4-6
