2020-05-07
Romans 12:2 NIV
The way we think influences the way we act. It’s important to make sure our thoughts are lining up with God’s truth, so that we can live in a godly way. But it can be hard for us to change the way we’re thinking, or even to realise that our thoughts aren’t actually God’s truth. The things we go through in life can lead us to have certain negative thought patterns. For example, if we’re constantly put down or compared to others, we might feel like we’re not good enough or that we have to earn other people’s love and acceptance. These thought patterns shape how we live, how we relate to other people, and how we relate to God. They pre-programme us to respond in a certain way to situations. But we have a choice. We don’t have to believe and act on everything our mind tells us about ourselves or our situations. The Bible says, ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ We need to learn to renew our minds by replacing negative thought patterns with God’s truth. To do that we need to know what God’s truth is. We can find that out by spending time reading the Bible. God’s Word tells us the truth about who we are, and who He is. But if we don’t take time to read and learn the truth, we won’t easily recognise the thoughts that are lies. The Bible says: ‘Set your minds on things above’ (Colossians 3:2 NIV). By setting our minds on what God thinks about us, we’ll be able to recognise when the enemy is trying to make us believe a lie. We need to uproot the wrong thought patterns in our lives, and instead cultivate healthy, godly ones.
Num 14-15; Mark 7:1-13; Ps 37:32-40; Prov 11:7-8
2020-05-06
Psalm 4:5 NCV
Each day we have many decisions to make. Choosing to do the right thing each time can be challenging. The right things aren’t always the easy things. We might have to overcome the emotions we feel. We might have to go against what we really want to do. But doing the right thing, the thing that God wants us to do, is vital if we’re going to follow Him. In the Bible, Joseph was a man who chose to do the right thing at many points in his life. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, he said no because he knew it was wrong. When his brothers turned up begging for help, he chose to show mercy. This might have been a really hard choice for Joseph to make. His brothers had plotted to kill him, had thrown him down a pit, and then sold him into slavery while pretending to their father Jacob that he was dead. Joseph could have chosen to live a life of resentment. He could have held a grudge against his brothers and refused to help them. But he chose to do what was right in God’s eyes. Firstly, he forgave them. Joseph said, ‘do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you’ (Genesis 45:5 NIV). Secondly, he chose to provide for them. He said: ‘You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me – you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there’ (vv.10-11 NIV). It’s important that we do what’s right in God’s eyes. He’ll give us the wisdom and strength we need to be able to do it.
Num 11-13; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 37:25-31; Prov 11:5-6
2020-05-05
Proverbs 3:24 NIV
We all know that it’s challenging to try and get through the day when we’ve had no sleep. We can become overly emotional or easily irritated. We can lack motivation for the tasks of the day, and can find it hard to concentrate. When we’re afraid, anxious, overwhelmed, or too busy, our sleep can be impacted. So what can we do about it? God wants us to rest in Him. He wants us to trust Him when we have too many thoughts in our minds. The Bible says: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). We can hand over all our concerns to Him, and rest in the knowledge that He’s in control. The psalmist wrote, ‘Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you’ (Psalm 55:22 NIV). Every night when we’re ready to go to bed, we need to spend time handing over all our worries and burdens to God. He promises that ‘When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.’ So let’s make this our prayer today: ‘Father, whatever anxieties are stopping me from resting peacefully, I cast them all on You, knowing You care for me (have a read of 1 Peter 5:7). Calm my racing thoughts and restless mind. Help me to be still and know You are my God (take a look at Psalm 46:10). I bring my needs to You, and thank You for all You have already done. Help me experience Your perfect peace which will guard my heart and my mind (have a read of Philippians 4:6-7). By faith I will lie down tonight without fear or anxiety. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’
Num 8-10; Mark 6:30-44; Ps 37:16-24; Prov 11:4
2020-05-04
Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT
We all know that it’s important to have wisdom, but this wisdom isn’t worth much if we don’t put it into practice in our lives. There’s not much point in knowing the right thing to do, if we’re not going to then do it. The Bible says: ‘So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.’ We need to be living out the wisdom God’s given us. We need to choose to do the right things and make the right decisions. If we don’t use our wisdom, then we’re not really wise people. Jesus said: ‘Everyone who hears my words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock’ (Matthew 7:24 NCV). When we ask for God’s wisdom on a particular issue, we need to then obey what He’s telling us. Sometimes we can ask for God’s wisdom on a particular issue, hear what He has to say, and then choose to do something else. That might be because we think our plans will work better, or maybe because someone else causes us to doubt what we’ve heard from God. But if we’re truly wise, we’ll know that God’s advice is the best advice we could ever have. The psalmist wrote: ‘Wisdom begins with respect for the LORD; those who obey his orders have good understanding. He should be praised forever’ (Psalm 111:10 NCV). When we obey God, and put the wisdom He has given us into action, we’re respecting Him. So let’s make sure that we choose to obey God and live out the wisdom He’s given us.
Num 7; Mark 6:14-29; Ps 37:8-15; Prov 11:3
2020-05-03
Ecclesiastes 8:1 MSG
When we ask God to give us wisdom, what sort of changes can happen in our lives? Firstly, we become prepared for the future. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. The Bible says: ‘Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring’ (Proverbs 27:1 NIV). But when we have wisdom, we’re able to face the future without fear, because we know that God’s with us and will help us. Wisdom also gives us a better understanding of the possible consequences of our actions. Secondly, wisdom helps us to move in the right direction. God’s wisdom helps us to make decisions, and keeps us walking on the right path. If we lack wisdom, we can find ourselves walking down the wrong paths and stalling when we reach a crossroads. God says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls’ (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV). If we ask God for wisdom, He’ll show us which way to go. Thirdly, God’s wisdom helps us to deal with difficult situations and challenging people. Having wisdom changes how we handle things. In The Message, Ecclesiastes 8:1 says: ‘Wisdom puts light in the eyes, and gives gentleness to words and manners.’ Wisdom changes our responses to others. We become more gentle, which helps us to deal well with frustrations. In Proverbs 29, we’re told: ‘Foolish people lose their tempers, but wise people control theirs’ (v.11 NCV). Having wisdom helps us to understand people and their situations. We can see the other side of the story, and we can react in a calm, controlled way.
Matt 5:9; Rom 12:17-21; Jam 3:17-18; Prov 16:7
2020-05-02
Psalm 16:7 NCV
When we have a problem we can’t solve, where do we automatically go to for help? Do we speak to friends and family? Do we ask for advice on social media? Do we search the internet looking for answers? Or do we go straight to God? God’s wisdom is far above the wisdom of anyone, or anything, else. The Bible says: ‘The wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest’ (James 3:17 NCV). And the great thing is, we have access to this wisdom all the time. We can always approach God and ask for His help. God said: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV). We can call to Him anytime, and He’ll reveal things to us. He’s waiting to guide us, advise us, and give us the wisdom we need to make decisions and solve the issues in our lives. James wrote: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’ (James 1:5 NIV). Sometimes God will help us by speaking directly into our situation and showing us what we need to do. Other times, He gives us the wisdom we need to figure out what we should do ourselves. The psalmist said, ‘I praise the LORD because he advises me. Even at night, I feel his leading.’ We can hand all our problems and worries over to Him, and ask for His wisdom and peace in exchange.
Num 4:34-6:27; Mark 6:1-13; Ps 37:1-7; Prov 11:1-2
