2023-10-21
Mark 11:24 NLT
The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). God’s greatest desire is to be believed. You can pray regularly and ritually, and even feel closer to God as a result, yet not expect Him to answer your prayers or for your situation to change.
Peter had been put in prison and sentenced to death, and his execution was scheduled for the next day. So, the church prayed all night for his release. And it happened miraculously. God put the guards to sleep, opened Peter’s prison door, and set him free. Yet when he appeared on the doorstep of the house where the believers were praying, they couldn’t believe it: “A servant girl… told everyone, ‘Peter is standing at the door!’ ‘You’re out of your mind!’ they said. When she insisted, they decided, ‘It must be his angel'” (Acts 12:13-15 NLT). Even the early disciples struggled to believe God would hear them. Even when the answer knocked on their door, they still hesitated.
And we do too, don’t we? We struggle with prayer. We forget to pray, and when we remember, we rush through prayers with insincere words. Our thoughts disperse like a covey of quail. Why does this happen? You can pray anywhere, at any time, using your own words, and God promises to answer. So, what’s the problem? We need to realize the incredible power and potential of one praying believer: “Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NCV). So don’t just pray; believe God for the answer. Then talk and act like you believe!
Soul food: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; John 5:16-30; Ps 15; Prov 24:7
2023-03-04
Revelation 3:7 CEV
Here are two more ways to know God’s will for your life: (1) Providential circumstances. When God is leading, the way will open up for you. When He sends you, He goes before you (See John 10:4). His Word says, “When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it.” Who opens the right doors? God. Who closes the wrong doors? God. The right doors lead to blessing, but the wrong doors lead to pain and loss. Plus, nothing but unbelief can keep a door closed once God commands it to open. The only help God needs from you is: “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you” (Exodus 14:13 NAS).
(2) Inner “traffic lights.” The old-timers in the faith would say, “I always watch for the ‘checks’ in my spirit!” You’re a new creature with a new spiritual nature that’s “alive unto God,” equipped to sense God moving within you (See Romans 6:11). And while the counsel of wise and mature Christians can help, the last word must be spoken in your own heart. “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). If your will is surrendered to God, He is at work in you directing your will and behaviors. Believe it, because He declares it! He will give you the “red light” when He wants you to stop, and the “green light” when He wants you to go. Don’t go on red! Don’t stop on green!
Soul food: Exo 19-21; Luke 13:1-17; Ps 77; Prov 6:29
2022-12-24
Matthew 2:11 AMPC
The Bible tells us: “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem… [astrologers] from the east came… asking, ‘Where is He… born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east… and have come to worship Him.’… and behold, the star… went before them until it… stood over the place where the young Child was… And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to him gifts – gold… frankincense and myrrh” (vv. 1-2, 9, 11 AMPC).
One Bible teacher says: “We all remember the Christmas story: how… Wise Men came from the east following a star which led them to the Holy Child, how they came in and worshiped Him, laying before Him precious gifts… Mary and Joseph didn’t go out seeking gifts. Although they were forced to spend the night in a cold, dark stable, they didn’t send out messages asking for gifts. But because they were in the middle of God’s will, He sent them Wise Men… on camels, loaded down with provisions… If we are in the will of God, He will… bring our provision to us. We don’t have to try to chase it down; it will seek us out. We don’t have to try to make things happen; God will bring them to us… The camels will come for each of us if we will stay in the will of God. The only way we can expect this kind of provision is by being faithful… where God has placed us… When we begin to believe this, we are free to cast our care upon Him. We don’t have to stay up all night fretting and worrying.”
Soul food: Isa 9:1-7; Micah 5:2-5a
2022-04-30
Deuteronomy 4:40 NCV
As a parent, you’re constantly transmitting your values to your children, so do these: (1) Let them see you pray. Help them to understand that prayer is how we build a lifelong friendship with God. And they will need His friendship when you’re not around to help them. God said, “When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them” (Psalm 91:15 NLT).
(2) Show them what God is like. Your child’s concept of God is formed by you. Whether you’re loving and protective or distant and cold, they will grow up understanding God through the interactions they have with you. Some examples are that God is never too busy to listen, He constantly tells us He loves us, and He is never abusive. Getting the idea?
(3) Help them to see God in others. When kids are encouraged to see God at work in their own lives, they begin to discern Him at work in the lives of others too. When that happens, they will value and respect others and be valued and respected in return. That will help them to be secure and successful in life.
(4) Don’t send them to church; take them. Children need to believe – and belong. Teach them that just like a limb dies that’s disconnected from a body, we die spiritually unless we are connected to a local church. “Belonging” means they will always have a place to go. The Bible says, “Obey his laws… that things will go well for you and your children” (Deuteronomy 4:40 NCV). Helping your kids to find the right path is the greatest gift you can give them.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 94:1-11; Pro 10:24-26
2022-04-16
1 Corinthians 15:55 NLT
In a ‘sting’ operation, law enforcement agents set the criminal up in order to bring them down. That’s like what happened to Satan at the cross. For three days it seemed as though Satan had won. Then Jesus rose from the dead and turned his plans upside down: ‘He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross’ (Colossians 2:15 NLT).
The thing Satan feared most, the birth of a church with the power to change the world through the gospel, had come true. ‘The rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord’ (1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT).
Christ’s enemies even tried to stop the truth of the resurrection from getting out: ‘They decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say’ (Matthew 28:12-15 NLT).
The resurrection is the ultimate proof that Jesus is Lord, and we can be sure of our salvation when we believe in the resurrection. ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved’ (Romans 10:9-10 NCV).
Lev 26-27; Luke 23:50-56; Ps 69:7-21; Pro 10:6-7
