2022-02-22
2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV
Seneca the Younger said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” As you read in Scripture about the people God used to accomplish great things, you discover that much of their time was spent preparing for what seems like a relatively brief assignment. The ego in each of us craves two things – limelight and longevity! But with God only one thing matters: doing His will. When you can say like Paul, “I have finished the race,” you have lived successfully.
So, who does God use? Those who are prepared! Whether you’re called to business, art, education, politics, medicine, or ministry, this principle is immutable: Opportunity comes to the prepared. That means every experience in life has potential value. Disraeli said, “One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”
And it’s not enough to simply get prepared; you must stay prepared. Solomon writes, “Hold on to instruction…guard it well, for it is your life” (Proverbs 4:13 NIV). Knowledge in most fields doubles about every five years, and unless you keep growing, you will end up with outdated skills that don’t match the challenges of the world you live in.
And here is another thing: Preparation doesn’t start with what you do; it starts with what you believe. When you believe that tomorrow’s success depends on today’s preparation, you see today differently. Queen Elizabeth I reputedly offered the royal physicians up to half her estate if they could extend her lifespan. But of course, they couldn’t. That’s why the Bible says it’s important to recognize “how short our lives really are so that we may be wise” (Psalm 90:12 NCV).
Soul food: Isa 58-62; Luke 11:1-13; Ps 36; Pro 5:21-23
2022-02-11
Genesis 4:1 KJV
Henry Kendall from Boston and Richard Taylor from Medicine Hat, Canada, achieved a breakthrough in our understanding of matter and expanded the theory of the structure of protons and neutrons. Mikhail Gorbachev from the USSR contributed to a development in our understanding about how East and West might better relate through glasnost, a plan of open dialogue and peaceful coexistence which led to the unraveling of the Iron Curtain that separated the East from the West for decades. Octavio Paz from Mexico City was a political commentator, diplomat, essayist, and poet who wrote fervently throughout his life about man’s desires for “wider horizons,” because he believed our future can be greater than our past. Edward Donnall Thomas from Mart, Texas, proved it was possible to transplant organs and rescue the lives of dying patients. Henry M. Markowitz from Chicago studied the growth market and developed the theory that combinations of economic assets of varying risks could reduce the overall risk of investment.
What did all these historymakers have in common? Two things. First, although they represented vastly different backgrounds, interests, and talents, they each won a Nobel Prize in 1990. Second, nobody could have predicted their achievements before they were born. “And [Eve] conceived…and said, ‘I have gotten a man from the Lord.'” Think about it: Anyone created by the Lord has the potential to achieve great things in life. And that is true of your children and your grandchildren, so believe in them.
Soul food: Isa 26-29; Luke 9:28-36; Ps 141; Pro 4:18-19
2022-02-02
Matthew 4:19 NLT
Even when other people don’t see your potential, Jesus does. He told Simon Peter and Andrew, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ Where everyone else just saw ordinary fishermen, Jesus saw the capacity to change the world. There are two sides to following Him: you believe in Jesus, and He believes in you.
But we can have doubts. When Nathaniel was invited to meet Jesus, he was doubtful: ‘Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the man that Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathaniel said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and see”‘ (John 1:45-46 NCV).
Even after witnessing Jesus’ miracles for three years, His disciples still had doubts and moments of uncertainty. Several times He said to them, ‘You of little faith.’ He knew they were anxious about what would happen when He left them and went back to heaven, so He said, ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever (John 14:16 NCV). The Greek word for helper (or comforter) is parakletos, which means ‘one who comes alongside to help you’. And the helper God sent was the Holy Spirit.
There’ll never be a day when we don’t need God’s help, and there’ll never be a day when it isn’t available to us. The truth is, even when we doubt, don’t believe, or find it difficult to trust, Jesus never gives up on us. He loves us at all times and wants to help us. Today, know that Jesus believes in you!
Rom 12-14; Luke 7:24-35; Ps 107:33-43; Pro 3:27-28
2021-12-12
Philippians 1:9 NLT
When we find ourselves in a crisis, having the right attitude makes the difference between despair and determination. Here are some steps to take: 1) Look for ways to use the experience for something positive. Resilient people use their experience to help others. ‘[God] comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NCV).
2) Check your priorities. ‘Teach us to use wisely all the time we have’ (Psalm 90:12 CEV). How would you like to spend your time differently now? Who would you most like to spend it with? How can you use your strengths in the service of what is important to you? What kind of person would you want to be?
3) Believe you can overcome. A crucial aspect of resilience is faith that God will bring us through the crisis. Even if we have the practical skills to deal with it, we still need to lean on God’s strength to keep us going.
4) Step out of your comfort zone. ‘Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.’ Learning something new, like a foreign language or a sport, or trying a new hobby, can help build our confidence. Embracing the unfamiliar strengthens our capacity to handle new situations. The more we ask of ourselves, the more resilient we’ll become.
5) Clear the weeds that are choking your optimism. When we start thinking pessimistic or cynical thoughts, we need to step back and reframe our perspective. And the best way to do that is to consult God. Talking to Him about the problem helps us gain insights into His perspective and discover the steps we need to take towards the solution.
Eccl 11:7-12:1; Ps 39:4-13; 2 Tim 4:6-8
2021-12-08
Proverbs 29:18 NLT
When God gives us a vision, it doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone else will support it or believe in it. And if God gives us a big vision, we might not either. We might think it’s too big, or that there’s no way we’re qualified or capable of fulfilling it. But when we say yes to God and trust Him to guide us, nothing will stop us from achieving what God’s laid out for us to do.
Here are three things to bear in mind: 1) Vision starts within. When you look inside yourself, what do you see? You can’t borrow someone else’s vision; you must look within and draw on your God-given gifts and desires. What do you feel passionate about? What do you think constantly about? What are you always praying about? What would you be willing to give up everything else to achieve? Your most persistent desire will help point you to your purpose.
2) Vision draws on your history. Moses grew up in the comfort of Pharaoh’s palace hearing the cries of Hebrew slaves. That experience prepared him to lead the exodus. Vision isn’t some mystical quality that appears from nowhere; it’s interwoven with your past and the history of the people around you. If your vision is born of God, it won’t just benefit you, it’ll benefit others too.
3) Vision attracts resources. One of the sure signs of vision is that it acts like a magnet, attracting, challenging, and uniting people. It draws the resources needed to complete it. The more challenging the vision, the harder the participants will fight to achieve it. So ask God to give you a vision for your life, and watch how it all comes together.
Col 3-4; Philemon; John 17:13-26; Ps 148:1-6; Prov 29:11-15
