2021-12-02
Judges 7:11 NIV
Before the battle with the Midianites, God said to Gideon, ‘If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterwards, you will be encouraged to attack the camp’ (v.10-11 NIVUK). God wanted Gideon to hear what the Midianites were saying, and to encourage him. When they arrived, a soldier was telling a friend about his dream: ‘”A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon…God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped’ (v.13-15 NIVUK).
Listening to those who oppose us isn’t usually something we consider doing, but sometimes when you need encouragement, it can be good to pay attention to what your critics are saying. If they’re talking about you, you must be making a difference – otherwise, they wouldn’t even notice you!
For every battle, problem, and opposition we face, God has a strategy for victory. And a God-given vision will always be greater than the person who is called to fulfil it, so we need His help. The Bible says, ‘If the LORD doesn’t build the house, the builders are working for nothing’ (Psalm 127:1 NCV). God knows how much you can handle, the materials you need, and how it will all fit together in your life. So if He’s speaking to you and, like Gideon, you’re afraid to act, stand on this verse: ‘God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory’ (Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV).
Jos 14-15; John 15:18-27; Ps 65; Prov 28:17-20
2021-12-01
Jeremiah 2:13 NLT
In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul encourages us to be thankful and joyful whatever situation we find ourselves in: ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (v.16-18 NIV). That doesn’t mean we have to like our circumstances, or that we have to be thankful for them. But even when things are going well, when it’s easier to live out Paul’s words, we can feel discontented and dissatisfied with life. So today, let’s try to unpick some of the reasons we might feel this way.
1) We’re looking for happiness in the wrong places. God said: ‘My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me – the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!’ (Jeremiah 2:13 NLT). There’s an emptiness within us that only God can fill, and He will, if we invite Him in.
2) Neglecting to serve others. How we treat others can be a reflection of how we feel about ourselves. Refusing to forgive others might stem from a refusal to forgive ourselves, or we might be more inclined to be kind to others when we treat ourselves kindly.
3) Comparing ourselves with others. When we resent someone else’s achievements or level of blessing, our own joy drains away. The Message paraphrases Romans 12: ‘We are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around…So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves…or trying to be something we aren’t’ (v.4-6 MSG).
Jos 11-13; John 15:5-17; Ps 14;
Prov 28:13-16
2021-11-30
Psalm 105:19 NLT
God might not respond in the exact way and at the exact time we want Him to, but His timing is always perfect. ‘The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right’ (Psalm 84:11 NLT). It’s difficult to watch God blessing others while we’re forced to wait.
The Bible tells us, ‘Until the time came to fulfil his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.’ God’s plan was for Joseph to live in a palace, but for years he lived in a prison, charged with crimes he never committed. But it was there that he met a butler who had the ear of Pharaoh, and through this connection, Joseph was promoted to the number-two spot in Egypt.
When we walk with God, our opportunities are regulated by His plan, not by someone else’s actions. And preparation always comes before promotion. When Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, everybody admired and applauded him. But then he spent years living through a famine, and the only friend he had was an impoverished widow. Together they had to trust God for every meal. That’s when Elijah learned important lessons about humility, divine guidance, and trusting God in times of need; things that don’t necessarily make sense to our human minds at first.
When God is going to build something great, He takes time to lay a strong foundation. ‘Jesus grew…in favour with God and man’ (Luke 2:52 NIVUK). If you’re in a season of waiting at the moment, embrace it, because God’s doing important work within you. Allow yourself time to grow and let Him build a firm foundation under you that will sustain and strengthen you in the years ahead.
Jos 8:30-10:43; John 14:26-15:4; Ps 146; Prov 28:9-12
2021-11-29
Proverbs 29:25 NCV
Next, we may need to change our mindset. If we can see what needs to be done, but we’re reluctant to take the initiative ourselves, it’s important that we try and discover what’s holding us back – otherwise, we won’t be able to move forward. Maybe we’re scared by risk, discouraged by past failures, or worried about what others will think of us. ‘Being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust in the LORD, you will be safe.’ We shouldn’t let our fears rule our lives; instead, we should hand them over to God and trust Him to see us through.
We also shouldn’t wait for opportunities to come to us. Opportunity doesn’t very often just land on our plates. We have to go and look for it. It’s a good idea for us to spend time assessing our skills, talents, and resources. Doing this will give us a more accurate picture of our potential. Maybe you think that there’s nothing particularly unique about you, or that you don’t really have any special skills. But nothing could be further from the truth: ‘We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us’ (Romans 12:6 NCV).
Finally, take the next step. It’s one thing to notice an opportunity; it’s another to act on it. We should choose the best opportunity we see, pray about it, do the best with it that we can, and keep going until we’ve done everything possible to make it happen. And when we’ve done our best – trust God to do the rest. ‘Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock’ (Isaiah 26:4 AMP).
Jos 5:1-8:29; John 14:15-25; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 28:5-8
2021-11-28
Jeremiah 17:7 NCV
Next, we need to take action. Initiators don’t wait for others to motivate them. They know it’s their responsibility to move themselves forward beyond their comfort zone, and they make it a habit. The Bible says, ‘Trust in the LORD and do good. Live in the land and feed on truth’ (Psalm 37:3 NCV). If we stay where we are, waiting for someone else to move us out of our comfort zone, we won’t experience the amazing things that can happen when we step out in faith and trust God.
We then need to learn from our failures and keep moving forward. The good news for initiators is, they make things happen. The bad news is, they make lots of mistakes along the way. The greater our potential, the greater our chance for failure. It’s not about ‘if’ we make a mistake, but ‘when’. Nobody likes to fail, but we’ve only really failed if we refuse to get up again and learn from our mistakes.
Take a minute to think about and answer these questions: Are you constantly on the lookout for opportunity, or do you wait for it to come to you? Are you willing to pray and take a step of faith, or do you endlessly analyse everything? When was the last time you initiated something substantial in your life? If these questions reveal that you haven’t moved yourself forward out of your comfort zone lately, you might have to rekindle your initiative.
The Bible says, ‘You who respect the LORD should trust him; he is your helper and your protection’ (Psalm 115:11 NCV). That means God will help us to succeed. And when we fail, He’ll support, protect and redirect us.
Gen 14:18; Ps 110; Heb 5:5-11
2021-11-27
Deuteronomy 31:7 NCV
When God gives us an unconditional promise, all we need to do is wait for it to happen. But when He makes a conditional promise, we have a part to play in order to see it fulfilled. Sometimes that calls for taking the initiative. For Israel, it meant being willing to face opposition and drive the occupying nations from the promised land so it could be theirs. ‘Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in front of the people, “Be strong and brave, because you will lead these people into the land the LORD promised to give their ancestors, and help them take it as their own. The LORD himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you. Don’t be afraid and don’t worry”‘ (v.7-8 NCV).
God encouraged Joshua to take the initiative, promising that He would go ahead of Joshua and act on his behalf if Joshua would carry out the task and trust Him. And He’s saying the same thing to us today.
Here is what it means to take the initiative: 1) Knowing what you want. We can’t be indecisive and be effective at the same time. We need to be clear about what we want and what God wants us to do, otherwise we’ll come to a standstill and never move from where we are.
2) Being willing to take risks. When God gives us a job to do, He’s promised to go before us and arrange the circumstances in our favour. Taking the initiative can be scary. Faith in God doesn’t eliminate fear – it overcomes it. So be brave and take the initiative.
Jos 1-4; John 14:1-14; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 28:1-4
