2025-03-06
1 Kings 18:19 NKJV
The greatest chapter in the story of Elijah’s life took place on Mount Carmel. That’s when he called down fire from heaven, defeated the prophets of Baal, and turned the hearts of the Israelites back to God. The word “Carmel” means “fruitful ground.” But before Elijah could get to Mount Carmel, he had to go through two places:
First, God led him to the brook called Cherith. The word “Cherith” means “to make covenant with.” It was here that Elijah discovered that God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God who can sustain you through the hardest of times. It was here during a drought and famine that ravens brought food to him each day and he drank from the refreshing waters of the brook. But the Bible says, “After a while… the brook dried up” (1 Kings 17:7 NKJV). Now, when God allows your brook to dry up, it’s in order to drive you back to your true source, which is Himself, that you may get further instructions.
Second, God led him to a widow in Zarephath. The word “Zarephath” means “to refine as in a melting pot.” Gold is not pure in its original form. It must be refined, and this is accomplished by heating it to the boiling point. The heat separates the raw substance from its impurities, which surface and are skimmed off. And God will do the same for you by using the heat of trials to separate the gold from the dross in your life. He knows the experiences you need to reach Mount Carmel, the place of fruitfulness, so trust Him. He knows what He is doing.
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
2025-03-05
Isaiah 55:8 NLT
A part of us feels as if something is spiritually wrong with us when we experience uncertainty. But that is precisely what Jesus promised us when we are born of the Spirit and start following Him. “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” (John 3:8 NLT).
When it comes to being led by God’s Spirit, the operative phrase is “You can’t explain how.” Even when you have given your best thinking to the problem, the Bible says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8 NLT). So, when you follow God, anything can happen. You never know who you will meet, where you will go, or what you will do. And the sooner you come to terms with that spiritual reality, the more you will enjoy the journey. To do otherwise is to end up with a self-absorbed spirituality that leaves you feeling empty.
Instead of following the Spirit, you’re inviting the Spirit to follow you. Instead of serving God’s purposes, you want Him to serve your purposes. While this may seem like a subtle distinction, it makes an ocean of difference.
Here are your choices: (1) Follow the path of certainty, which keeps you in control but robs you of the adventure God has in mind. (2) Accept the uncertainty of the “how” and “when” that comes from following God, and stand on this promise: “Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23 NKJV).
Soul food: Exo 30-32; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
2025-03-04
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Charles Weigle was an itinerant evangelist who enjoyed traveling and preaching, despite the rigors of the road. His wife, however, grew disillusioned with her frequently absent husband. One day Charles returned home to find this note: “Charlie, I’ve been a fool. I’ve done without a lot of things… from here on out, I’m getting all I can out of what the world owes me. I know you will continue to be a fool for Jesus, but for me, it’s goodbye!”
He was stunned, and depression swept over him like a tidal wave. One day, sitting on the porch of his cottage, he contemplated suicide. A voice within him whispered, “Your ministry is finished. No one cares.” But another voice pierced through the gloom: “Charlie, I haven’t forgotten you; I care for you.” Instantly Charles was on his knees, rededicating his life to Christ.
Later he wrote the words of one of the most beloved of all gospel songs: “I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus, since I found in Him a friend so strong and true; I would tell you how He changed my life completely, He did something that no other friend could do. No one ever cared for me like Jesus, there’s no other friend so kind as He; no one else could take the sin and darkness from me, o how much He cared for me.”
Have the responsibilities you carry brought you to a breaking point? Is the heartache more than you can bear? The word for you today is – “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
Soul food: Exo 28-29; Luke 14:1-14; Ps 106:1-23; Prov 7:1-2
2025-03-03
Acts 13:2 NIV
A group of believers met together and dedicated significant time to pray, fast, and worship. And as a result, “the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'” How did they know the Spirit told them this? The passage doesn’t say. It may have been a dramatic moment. Or it may be that later, looking back, they recognized that the Spirit had guided them. But what is certain is that they received guidance from God together.
When it comes to guidance, one of the mistakes we make is called “narrow framing”; we miss the whole range of options God has before us because of our limited thinking. A Christian author explains: “We ask things like ‘Should I end this relationship or not?’ instead of, ‘How might I make this relationship better?’ Or ‘Should I buy that or not?’ rather than, ‘What’s the best way I can use this money?’… On our own, we tend to suffer from confirmation bias. We seek out information that confirms what it is we already want rather than looking for the unvarnished truth. People watch cable channels that reinforce their political bias. We pretend we want the truth… but what we really want is reassurance of the positions we have already staked out.”
Isaiah told about people “who say to the seers, ‘Do not see’; and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions'” (Isaiah 30:10 NRSV). In seeking guidance, operate according to the H.O.W. principle. In other words, be Honest, Open, Willing.
Soul food: Exo 25-27; Luke 13:18-35; Ps 136; Prov 6:30-35
2025-03-02
Romans 8:37 NLT
When you have been abused, rejected, or abandoned, it’s easy to become shame based and end up with a very poor self-image. The devil knows this, so he will attack your personal confidence whenever he can find an opening. He wants you to believe that you are a failure, because without confidence you will never step out and try to do the things you truly want to do. He does not want you to fulfill God’s plan for your life. If he can make you believe that you are incapable, then you won’t even try to accomplish anything worthwhile. And even if you do make an effort, your fear of failure will seal your defeat, which, because of lack of confidence, you probably expected from the beginning.
This is often referred to as the “failure syndrome.” You fail because of wrong beliefs, and you continue to have wrong beliefs because you fail. It’s hard to know which came first, but you find yourself in a trap you cannot seem to get out of.
What’s the answer? As a redeemed child of God, the Bible says that you are “in Christ.” Jesus defeated Satan and triumphed over him at the cross. And because you are “in Christ,” His victory is your victory. You can break out of the failure syndrome and begin to succeed in life. Here is why: “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Note the words “despite all these things.” Regardless of what has happened to you in the past, God has a wonderful future in mind for you.
Soul food: Exo 20:7; Lev 24:10-16; Phil 2:5-11
2025-03-01
Matthew 9:36 NKJV
When you’re self-absorbed and focused on your own interests, it’s easy to overlook people in need and show no concern. But when you commit your life to Christ and decide to follow in His footsteps, that changes.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest'” (vv. 36-38 NKJV). The heart of Jesus was moved by people who were “weary.” The stresses of life had worn them down and the burdens they carried were heavy. He was also moved by people who seemed “scattered.” People with no direction, no focus, no purpose for living. How many of these people were there? “Multitudes.” What was Christ’s response? Because the need was so great, He told His disciples to pray that God would “send out labourers into His harvest.” Note the word “harvest.”
You only get so much time to gather in a harvest, otherwise you lose it. Don’t miss the point Jesus is making, or the urgency in it. You are being called to show compassion toward those around you who are weary and scattered, and to take every opportunity to bring them to Jesus.
A man who couldn’t walk sat begging at the temple gates. Day after day the crowd walked by, but not Peter and John (See Acts 3:1-10). When you’re suddenly moved by a need you have walked past many times before, God is telling you to get involved and do something about it.
Soul food: Exo 22-24; Luke 13:1-17; Ps 77; Prov 6:29
