2025-02-23
Galatians 6:9 NLT
In life, you’re going to have all kinds of problems. So, what should you do? Persevere! No matter what’s going on in your life, the victory is in refusing to quit. Keep in mind that in the heat of your struggles, the Holy Spirit is often doing His greatest work within you. Paul writes, “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character” (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV). God is not moved by circumstances, and you must not be either.
He will lead you through anything if you will just hang in there and follow Him. This means being diligent in prayer, relentless in your resolve, unwavering in faith, and determined to stand firmly on God’s Word and His promises to you. Don’t be side-tracked by how slowly things seem to be going at the moment. When you’re in the “not much seems to be happening” phase, that’s often when God is laying a strong foundation in order to build something significant in you and through you. The Lord’s work in you is preparation for the work He wants to do through you.
When life seems hard, and progress seems too slow, ask God to help you remain steadfast. He will do it. Here are two Scriptures you can stand on today: “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT). “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT).
Soul food: Exo 20:4; Isa 44:6-20; Rom 1:21-25
2025-02-22
Nehemiah 2:4 NIV
The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls began with two questions the king asked Nehemiah. The first question was “What is bothering you?” (See v. 2). The second question was “What is it you want?” (v. 4 NIV). Nehemiah replied, “Send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it” (v. 5 NIV). Nehemiah knew exactly what he wanted, because a passion for it had been conceived in his spirit. He had been thinking and praying about it for quite a few months when the king asked him what he wanted.
A pastor writes: “Few things are as miraculous as the moment of human conception. A sperm penetrates an egg, and all the genetic data that determine who you will become – everything from facial features to personality traits – is encoded within that single cell. And it begins a nine-month process of gestation. The mother’s body starts producing hormones before she even knows she is pregnant. The baby’s heart starts beating on day twenty-two. At four weeks, that single cell has grown ten thousand times larger. At around day forty-two, neurons start multiplying at the astounding rate of approximately ten thousand per second. Everything from the optic nerve to the auditory cortex to the respiratory system is being formed in the womb.”
And a God-given vision is conceived the same way. It begins small and keeps growing within you until the time of delivery. That’s why the Bible says, “The vision is yet for an appointed time… though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). So, the word for you today is – want what God wants.
Soul food: Exo 4-6; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Prov 6:9-11
2025-02-21
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
In ancient Greece, athletes practiced with weights strapped to their bodies. But on the day of the race, they took them off in order to win. What’s keeping you from running and winning?
(1) Comparing yourself to others? The only person you should compare yourself to – is you. Your objective is to become better today than you were yesterday. You do that by concentrating on what you can do today to improve and develop. If you do that often enough, and if you compare the way you were weeks, months, or years ago to how you are today, you should be considerably encouraged by your progress.
(2) Limiting beliefs? Because of how they were raised, or certain mistakes they may have made in life, a lot of people don’t believe they can accomplish great things. But the greatest limitations people experience are typically the ones they inflict on themselves. For example, what if you want to learn a foreign language but don’t think you can do it? Once you have uncovered that faulty belief system, understand how not learning that language is restricting you. Then imagine what it will be like when you learn that language. How will it make you feel? What will it enable you to do? Then write an inspiring statement that upholds your ability to learn the language! Remember, it isn’t what you are that hinders you; it’s what you think you’re not. Claim this promise: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). That means – by God’s help you can win.
Soul food: Exo 1-3; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Prov 6:6-8
2025-02-20
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
In his best-selling book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey describes an experience he had on a subway in New York. A man and his children boarded the train, and the children were so loud and rambunctious, they disrupted the entire car. The man sat down beside Covey, seemingly oblivious to the situation. Covey finally said, “Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?” The man looked startled. Then he said, “Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.”
Covey’s attitude instantly changed. Looking back on it later, he admitted that he learned a valuable lesson: Seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Sometimes the people who irritate and hurt us do so because they themselves are in pain. They’re dealing with issues we don’t know about. And when they lash out, it’s just the burst dam of personal frustration. And it calls for looking beyond their words and actions and trying to see their hearts. And that’s hard to do when you’re self-absorbed.
The Bible addresses this: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (vv. 31-32 NKJV). If you have been grumpy toward those you live with and work with, the word for you today is – practice being tenderhearted.
Soul food: Gen 50; Hag 1-2; Luke 11:14-28; Ps 40:1-8
2025-02-19
Ephesians 6:10 NLT
Paul tells us two things about his thorn: First, that it was a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him. The word “buffet” means “to render blow after blow.” It was not one battle, but a series of back-to-back attacks that didn’t let up. Satan knows your weakest areas, and he will repeatedly attack you in those areas. How can you defeat him? The Bible tells: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (vv. 10-12 NLT).
Second, that the thorn was in his “flesh.” You are a regenerate spirit, living in an unregenerate body. That’s why the Bible commands us to crucify the flesh, starve the flesh, and refuse to give in to the impulses of the flesh. And in God’s strength you can do it: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).
Soul food: Gen 47-49; Luke 11:1-13; Ps 36; Prov 5:21-23
2025-02-18
2 Corinthians 12:7 NKJV
Paul writes: “A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong” (vv. 7-10 NKJV).
Paul had such great faith that when he prayed, the sick were healed and the dead were raised. Yet, he prayed repeatedly that God would remove his “thorn in the flesh,” and God said no. Why? To keep him humble and make him totally dependent on God. We don’t know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but we know why he had it: “Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations” (v. 7 NKJV).
When God blesses you greatly, with it comes the risk of pride. And with God, that’s a disqualifier. If you have ever had a splinter in your finger, you know it throbs with pain and constantly irritates you. Can you live with it? Yes. Would you rather not? Yes. Note what Paul says: “A thorn in the flesh was given to me.” Not only does he come to see his thorn as a grace developer, but a gift that does two things: (1) Humbles us and makes us more dependent on God. (2) Makes us more tolerant and gracious since everybody has a thorn.
Soul food: Gen 44-46; Luke 10:38-42; Ps 33:13-22; Prov 5:15-20
