2022-12-27
Genesis 15:5 NLT
Vision is the God-given ability to see the invisible. Without it, “people… stumble all over themselves” (Proverbs 29:18 MSG). When God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations, he and Sarah were old and childless. Naturally speaking, it looked impossible. So God “took Abram outside and said…’ Look up… and count the stars… That’s how many descendants you will have!'” It wasn’t enough to hear what God said: Abraham needed to see it in his mind’s eye. And although the promise wasn’t fulfilled for twenty years, every night when Abraham looked up at the heavens, the stars were a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Woodrow Wilson said, “No man that does not see visions will ever realise any high hope or undertake any high enterprise.” To give birth to something, you must first conceive it by seeing it through the eyes of faith and burning the image on the canvas of your mind. Jesus said, “If your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness” (Matthew 6:22-23 NAS).
Legend has it, when Michelangelo looked at a chunk of marble the owner told him was worthless, Michelangelo said, “It’s priceless to me. There is an angel locked inside, and I must set it free.” What you “see” will change the direction of your life. Like a thermostat, it dictates how high you rise or how low you fall. And the good news is, no matter how dark things look on the outside, today God can give you a fresh vision and a new future.
Soul food: Zech 1-5; John 20:1-9; Ps 113; Prov 31:14-17
2022-08-06
Psalm 112:4 NIV
Faith is like film; it’s developed in the dark. Dark days make you lean on God. The truth is, if your faith was never tested, you wouldn’t be motivated to draw closer to Him. Hymnist Edward Mote wrote: “When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace… When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
It’s easy to praise God when your health is good and your bills are paid. But it’s during the dark days that you discover what your faith is made of and where your trust truly lies: in yourself, in others, or in God. When your days feel as dark as your nights, here is a Scripture you can stand on: “Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God” (Isaiah 50:10 NIV).
Job lived an exemplary life, yet he lost everything. Troubled and perplexed, he cried, “He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness” (Job 19:8 NIV). Job could see no way through or around the situation. Then he discovered that when you can’t find the reason, you can trust the relationship. “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5 NIV). When he made that discovery, everything changed: “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part” (Job 42:12 NIV). What God did for Job – He will do for you.
Soul food: Deut 11-13; Mark 2:23-3:6; Ps 78:65-72; Prov 17:1-2
2022-08-05
Genesis 18:14 NKJV
Much of our stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time – to be in control. Even after we pray and supposedly turn the problem over to God, we live by the philosophy “hope for the best and plan for the worst”! You don’t put your money into the bank and then stay awake all night worrying about it, right? Well, have at least that much confidence in God!
When you find yourself in the downward spiral of “How? What? When? Where?” stop and give it to God. Not the limited God of your understanding, but the unlimited God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask, “Is anything too hard for [me]?”
Jesus never suffered from the fear of failure like we do. Why? Because He never entertained the thought that He couldn’t do something that His Father had assured Him He could do. And He didn’t suffer from the fear of lack, either. Even though He lived a simple life, He was responsible for supporting Himself and a team of others. How did He do it? The Bible says He prayed morning, noon, and night, staying in constant touch with His heavenly Father. Consequently, He knew how to catch fish when they weren’t biting, and even find tax money in a fish’s mouth when He needed it.
Now, God may not provide for you in exactly that way, but He has promised to take care of you. Here is a promise you should live by today: “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him” (1 Peter 5:7 CEV).
Soul food: Deut 8-10; Mark 2:13-22; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 16:33
2022-06-19
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
The beloved radio commentator, Paul Harvey, wrote: “At a time when being a buddy to one’s son is popular, I am going to stay a Father… If a gap exists between my sons and daughters and myself, I am going to work hard to understand, but I am also going to work hard to be understood… when they tell it like it is, I will listen, even if I like it better the way it was. If old fashioned things such as prayer, Bible study, worship and faith in God ever seem to my children to be out of date, square, or whatever – I trust God’s help to have faith enough to yet pray for them, and I pledge with the patriarch Job to offer additional sacrifices for them.
With love in our home, I will answer their questions about the facts of life, but at nudeness and lewdness I refuse to wink… If experimentation with drugs or Marijuana is ever a problem, it will be in violation of my every prayer and request… I want my children to know that I make mistakes, that I am foolish, proud and often inconsistent. But I will not tolerate that as an excuse for my hypocrisy. I will ask them to help me change… and to expect me to help them change…
Others may look to the under-thirty crowd for the wisdom to throw away the past, and to say what will remain for future generations; others may let the offspring in the house determine the foods, the music, and the spending of the household, but I am going to stay a Father.”
Soul food: Est 4:9-5:3; Heb 4:7-16
2022-06-05
Hebrews 11:6 CEV
Just as the right key opens the door, there are scriptural principles that guarantee your prayers will be answered. For the next few days, let’s look at them.
Faith. “Without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him” (v. 6 CEV). God doesn’t necessarily respond to your need. Look around and you will see that everyone has unmet needs. So what does God respond to? Your faith!
But Satan will try to fill your mind with doubts. And when he does, you need to examine your heart and see what it says. You can believe God’s Word in your heart even when your mind questions it. So stand on what’s in your heart instead of what’s in your head. Sometimes doubt begins with distraction. When you’re distracted from God’s promises, you start to doubt. And as you focus more and more on your problems, your faith begins to waver. When that happens, you must refocus like a laser on God’s promises – and merely glance at your problems.
Don’t try to deny them, but don’t give them undue attention. The Bible says: “When you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all” (James 1:6-8 CEV). Stay anchored to God’s Word, and don’t drift all over the place when your circumstances begin to change.
Soul food: Lev 23:15-22; Acts 2:1-18
