2021-01-13
Matthew 5:37 NLT
Good negotiators understand that talking too much can be a sign of insecurity and weakness. Sometimes the strongest word is a simple yes or no, without going into more explanation or detail. Most decisions eventually come to that point anyway. But in order to do that, we must be able to answer these three questions:
1) Can I make this decision myself? We need to think about if there’s anyone else we need to talk to before making a decision. And whether there is or not, we should always talk to God first. ‘If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking’ (James 1:5 NLT). Once we’ve gained God’s perspective, and we’re the final decision-maker, we shouldn’t hesitate or waver – just make the decision.
2) What will happen if I put off making this decision? In most cases, things will either get better or worse for someone involved. We need to weigh our decisions carefully, thinking about who could be affected and how, and then decide. At this point, we should stand on the Scripture: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
3) Does every decision have a moral and spiritual dimension? When we compromise our beliefs or character to gain popularity or profit, we end up morally and spiritually bankrupt. We need to hold on to your values, base our decisions on them, and remember this Scripture: ‘The LORD approves of those who are good, but he condemns those who plan wickedness’ (Proverbs 12:2 NLT).
Exo 28-29; Matt 6:19-34; Ps 74:1-11; Prov 2:6
2021-01-12
Acts 20:24 NLT
There are two things you’ll need if you’re going to live your best life: purpose and persistence. And if you ask Him, God will help you develop them.
1) Let’s look at purpose. Author Jack London wrote: ‘I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than that it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.’ To make a difference, you need to discover your God-given assignment, allow it to spark a fire inside you, and then totally commit to it. Paul did that. ‘My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.’
2) Let’s look at persistence. In 1923, sprinter Eric Liddell was taking part in a quarter-mile race in Stoke-on-Trent. During the race, he tripped over the legs of another competitor and fell. By the time he’d got back up, all the other runners were well ahead of him, and he was unlikely to even come close to winning. Many of us would have given up at that point. But, determined, he carried on, overtaking the leader in the last few yards and winning the race. The following year he went on to become a gold medallist. His determination and refusal to give up are a great model of the purpose and persistence we need in life.
Exo 25-27; Matt 6:9-18; Ps 71:17-24; Prov 2:3-5
2021-01-11
Romans 1:12 NCV
Did you know that trees communicate with each other? They use a network of fungi in their roots to create a support system that allows them to share resources and send out warnings. A tree that’s being attacked by insects can send a warning to other trees. A tall tree that gets plenty of sunlight can send vital nutrients to shaded saplings. Alone they’re more vulnerable, but together they can grow, thrive, and withstand problems. It’s a great illustration of how God wants His church to function.
‘The whole body depends on Christ, and all the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part does its own work to make the whole body grow and be strong with love. (Ephesians 4:15-16 NCV). Often, we want to work alone, especially if we’re a more independent type. But sooner or later, we’ll come up against a problem that makes us realise our need for:
1) Encouragement. Even Paul needed cheering on. He wrote: ‘Everyone in Asia has left me, even Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, who has often helped me and was not ashamed that I was in prison. When he came to Rome, he looked eagerly for me until he found me’ (2 Timothy 1:15-17 NCV).
2) Sympathy. We all need to be understood and have our feelings validated. But sometimes we’re in such a hurry to ‘fix’ people, we forget to sympathise with them.
3) Grace. ‘Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others’ (Colossians 3:13 NLT). God’s grace to us should motivate us to show grace to others, and we’ll never be asked to show more grace to someone than God has already shown to us.
Exo 22-24; Matt 6:1-8; Ps 71:1-16; Prov 2:1-2
2021-01-10
Habakkuk 2:3 NIV
Before leaving our series about things that prevent our prayers being answered, let’s make sure we remember one thing: some of our unanswered prayers have been answered – it’s just that we don’t like the answer. Sometimes God says, ‘Wait’. Nobody really likes waiting, so we might keep hoping He’ll have a change of heart. The truth is God won’t change His mind to accommodate us. So we have two options: 1) Keep complaining to Him. 2) Start cooperating with Him.
When the prophet Habakkuk needed an answer to his prayers in order to give direction to Israel, God told him to wait. ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it…Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay’ (v.2-3 NIV). God works according to His own plan and schedule, and we can’t rush Him. When we try to get ahead of Him, we’ll end up in trouble. Sometimes God answers our prayers with ‘No’.
He knows what we can handle and when we’ll be ready to handle it, and He won’t give it to us before then. Paul said, ‘Three times I pleaded with the Lord…But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”‘ (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV). Instead of delivering Paul from his problem, God used it to develop him. Without his thorn in the flesh to counterbalance his great talent and potential pride, Paul wouldn’t have been nearly so effective in the service of God. Whether God says, ‘Yes’, ‘No’, or ‘Wait’, we can be sure that He has our best interests at heart, and is working to make us more effective servants in His kingdom.
1 Sam 17:4-51; Eph 6:10-18
2021-01-09
Matthew 5:24 NIV
The fifth obstacle to answered prayer is an unforgiving spirit. Our anger might feel justified, but it can end up hurting us in the long run. If we refuse to let it go, we can become bitter. Jesus said, ‘If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift’ (v.23-24 NIV).
Even if we’re certain the other person is at fault, we should set aside our anger and resentment and forgive them before bringing our requests to God. He says, ‘I am the One who erases all your sins, for my sake; I will not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 NCV). We need to remember that just as He forgives us and forgets what we’ve done wrong, He does the same for others. That means we shouldn’t keep bringing up the sins and wrongs of others. We might think that they don’t deserve to be forgiven; in fact, none of us do, but God keeps forgiving us anyway. The Bible says ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).
When we forgive someone, it doesn’t mean the hurt we feel isn’t valid. Instead it means we’re letting go of the anger and trusting God to deal out His justice as He sees fit. Before we pray, we need to check if we’re holding on to any resentment, then bring it all into the open before God.
Exo 19-21; Matt 5:38-48; Ps 46; Prov 1:32-33
2021-01-08
John 15:7 NIV
The fourth thing that can prevent our prayers being answered is when we’re praying unscriptural prayers. Jesus said, ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.’ People who live by the principles of God’s Word don’t pray to win the lottery, or for bad things to happen to others. They know that those are unscriptural prayers that God won’t honour.
When we pray, our requests must line up with His will. After leading the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness, Moses naturally longed to enter the Promised Land and celebrate victory with them; to ‘go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan – that fine hill country and Lebanon’ (Deuteronomy 3:25 NIV). But in spite of his prayers, it didn’t happen. Why? ‘Because…the LORD was angry…and would not listen…”That is enough,” the LORD said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan”‘ (v.26-27 NIV).
We can sometimes fall into the trap of wanting all the benefits of God’s kingdom, but on our own terms. Prayer isn’t a lucky charm or a religious formula we repeat until we get the results we want. When our prayers line up with the Scriptures and are in harmony with God’s will, He’ll answer them.
Exo 16-18; Matt 5:27-37; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 1:28-31
