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
2025-05-18
Proverbs 23:24 MSG
As a parent, you want your children to turn out well, and the best way to do that is by modelling proper behaviour at home (See Ephesians 5:1 MSG). Learn to say no.
Susan Alexander Yates says: “There are simply too many demands… choices, and too little time. Maturity means learning to postpone something you’d really like to do now… to focus on something even more important. Maybe it’s that career opportunity so you can have more time with your children, or that outing with your friends so you’re around when your teens have their friends at your house. Maybe you need to say ‘no’ to your kids being in yet another sports team so your family can have dinner together. Ask yourself, in 10 years, what will matter most – that you signed your child up for yet another activity and spent evenings apart, or said ‘no’ and had family dinners together? Or that you participated in… another committee, or said ‘no’ so you could spend more time with your husband?
Pursue Christ with fresh vigor… I pray King David’s prayer: ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me’ (Psalm 51:12 NIV). Resolve to recapture that joy. Vary… your time alone with God. Decide on a new topic for Bible study. Begin a fresh journal… If you… still feel stale, ask God to show you the reason. Is there sin in your life you’re ignoring? A wrong relationship, self-pity, jealousy?”
The Bible says, “Throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV).” Always be aware that the kids are watching you.
Soul food: Exo 20:14; Prov 6:23-35; Matt 5:27-28; John 8:1-11
2025-05-17
Ephesians 5:1 MSG
Susan Alexander Yates offers us scriptural guidelines for influencing our kids.
(1) Reach out to non-Christians. If you want kids to grow in faith, expose them to people who need faith. God called us to be “salt and light” (See Matthew 5:13-16), but that won’t happen if you spend all your free time with fellow believers. Plus, kids are more likely to reach out to others when they see it modelled at home. Befriend someone who is not a believer, like a neighbour, a coworker, a teacher or coach, or your hairstylist. Reaching out can feel scary, but when you risk it, God will work through you in exciting ways.
(2) Model gratitude. No one enjoys a whiny kid, including God. And when we appreciate Him, it delights His heart. “Children… learn… from their parents;” they pick up on your attitude. Your mood fills the atmosphere of your home, and if you whine, they’re more likely to complain. When you dwell on the negative, they learn to focus on what’s lacking.
(3) Make time for your spouse. We get busy with kids, jobs, and church activities, and we think we will spend time with our spouse when things calm down. The problem is – they never do. Don’t let the weeds of so-called important things choke your relationship. Nurture it; look for ways to bring you and your spouse closer. Start with a weekly date. Your kids’ security is based on knowing you love them, and it soars when they know you love each other! The Bible says, “Wise children become proud parents” (Proverbs 23:24 MSG). You’re raising the next generation, and they need to know a happy marriage takes time and effort.
Soul food: 1 Ki 6-7; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 97; Prov 12:1-3
2025-05-16
Isaiah 8:20 NLT
When asked if they believed that the Bible was the inspired and the infallible Word of God, a majority of sixteen-to-twenty-nine-year-olds in America said, “Yes. Give it to me straight. And if you don’t live it, don’t give it!” It’s an honest response! Think about it: Who told the first lie ever recorded? Satan. In the garden of Eden, he convinced Eve it was okay to eat the forbidden fruit and that God didn’t really mean what He said. And he is still peddling the same old lie! You hear it in comments like these:
(1) “You can interpret the Bible many different ways.” That sounds reasonable until you read this: “Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT). Isaiah said, “People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.” Two and two must make four; otherwise, we’re all open to each other’s interpretations and value judgments – and somebody is going to get the short end of the stick.
(2) “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.” What if you’re sincerely wrong? If a doctor prescribes the wrong medication, it could kill you rather than cure you.
(3) “Rather than offend someone, you should say nothing.” If that person’s house were on fire, wouldn’t you warn them in order to save their life?
Before He was betrayed, Jesus said, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night” (Mark 14:27 KJV). The truth hurts, but it heals, so let’s be true to the Scriptures.
Soul food: 1 Ki 3-5; Mark 7:24-37; Ps 93; Prov 11:30-31
