2020-05-11
2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV
God called David “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22 NKJV). But David struggled with a weakness in his life. What was it? A lustful spirit that surfaced from time to time, and the people closest to him knew about it. When he grew old and couldn’t get warmed, they brought a young girl to lie beside him in bed that he “may get heat” (1 Kings 1:1-2 KJV). They figured if that didn’t get David’s circulation moving he had to be dying! But there’s something sad here. David passed on his weakness to his son Amnon, who ended up raping his sister. And although David was angry about it, he didn’t confront or punish him. After all, what could he say? Like father, like son! Lust isn’t just a whim or a passing fancy, it’s a sin. And when it passes from one generation to the next it becomes a “stronghold.” Today psychologists refer to it as “a genetic predisposition.” Maybe somewhere in your family tree there’s a workaholic father, a mother who was emotionally unavailable, or a brother or sister who drank too much, and now you’re wrestling with the same issues. Don’t be discouraged; Paul says, “The weapons we fight with…have…power to demolish strongholds.” So before you run off to a divorce court or a rehab center, name your stronghold, then pray, believing God to break its stranglehold on your life. Do it before it infects the next generation. Don’t pass it on – pass it back to where it came from.
Soul food: Num 22-24; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 44:17-26; Prov 11:12-13
2020-05-05
Proverbs 3:24 NLT
Insomnia is a miserable thing. At any given time it affects 30 to 50 percent of the population. You dread bedtime, toss and tumble all night, and walk around exhausted the next day. And when it continues for weeks or even months, it can depress you and rob you of your joy. Is that what’s happening to you right now? Then let God help you. His Word says He “gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2 NLT). His promise is “You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.” And if you’re addicted to sleeping pills, the Great Physician can heal you. Make this your prayer today: “Father, shine Your light on the root cause of my sleeplessness. Whatever anxieties are stopping me from entering into a state of restorative slumber, I cast them all on You as instructed, knowing You care for me (See 1 Peter 5:7). Calm my racing thoughts and restless mind. Help me to be still and know You are my God (See Psalm 46:10). I submit to Your command not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything instead. I bring my needs to You, and thank You for all You have already done. Your Word assures me that if I do this I’ll experience Your peace, which is more wonderful than the human mind can understand, and that it will guard my heart and my mind (See Philippians 4:6-7). By faith I will lie down tonight without fear or anxiety and enjoy pleasant dreams. Yes, I will lie down in peace and sleep because You…Lord, will keep me safe (See Psalm 4:8). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
Soul food: Num 8-10; Mark 6:30-44; Ps 37:16-24; Prov 11:4
Proverbs 3:24 NIV
We all know that it’s challenging to try and get through the day when we’ve had no sleep. We can become overly emotional or easily irritated. We can lack motivation for the tasks of the day, and can find it hard to concentrate. When we’re afraid, anxious, overwhelmed, or too busy, our sleep can be impacted. So what can we do about it? God wants us to rest in Him. He wants us to trust Him when we have too many thoughts in our minds. The Bible says: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). We can hand over all our concerns to Him, and rest in the knowledge that He’s in control. The psalmist wrote, ‘Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you’ (Psalm 55:22 NIV). Every night when we’re ready to go to bed, we need to spend time handing over all our worries and burdens to God. He promises that ‘When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.’ So let’s make this our prayer today: ‘Father, whatever anxieties are stopping me from resting peacefully, I cast them all on You, knowing You care for me (have a read of 1 Peter 5:7). Calm my racing thoughts and restless mind. Help me to be still and know You are my God (take a look at Psalm 46:10). I bring my needs to You, and thank You for all You have already done. Help me experience Your perfect peace which will guard my heart and my mind (have a read of Philippians 4:6-7). By faith I will lie down tonight without fear or anxiety. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’
Num 8-10; Mark 6:30-44; Ps 37:16-24; Prov 11:4
2020-04-26
Mark 11:25 NIV
When someone hurts us, our natural response is to either hurt them back or hope they will suffer for what they have done to us. Yet as redeemed children of God, we know this is the wrong response. That is when we discover forgiving someone doesn’t come naturally or easily; it requires supernatural grace on our part. And where do we get that? Through prayer! Jesus said, “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Recalling God’s grace toward you leaves you no choice but to extend that same grace toward someone who hurts you. Someone once said, “Forgiveness is a decision to set a prisoner free, and then discovering that the prisoner is you.” So if you have a desire to forgive someone, get excited; the Holy Spirit has already done half the job. To complete the other half, humble yourself and pray: “Father, I turn from every desire I have to avenge this wrong. You saw the situation before it happened, and in Your infinite wisdom You allowed it to be so. Your Word says that “all things work together for [my] good” (Romans 8:28), so from this moment on, with the help of Your Holy Spirit, I forgive them. I will not dwell on the situation but will declare Your Word instead.” That’s called “a prayer of release.” And you’re not just releasing your offender; you’re releasing and repositioning yourself to walk in God’s blessing. That’s why you must forgive them!
Soul food: Matt 5:8; Ps 24:3-6; 2 Pet 3:3-14; Ps 51:10
2020-04-13
1 Thessalonians 2:18 NKJV
Paul writes, “We wanted to come to you – even I, Paul…time and again – but Satan hindered us.” Note the words “time and again.” When you have an assignment from God, Satan will repeatedly attack you and try to stop you from fulfilling it. Observe three things: (1) His attacks reveal that he believes you’re capable of accomplishing your goal. That’s why when you’re down, he wants to keep you there. He knows if you rise again, you’ll be stronger and more effective than ever. (2) He always attacks the birth of something significant in your life. It may be the birth of your ministry, as with Jesus in the wilderness temptation. It may be the birth of your “child of destiny,” like the birth of Moses, which initiated the killing of newborn males in Egypt in an effort to stop the exodus. (3) He uses those closest to you as a gateway to your heart. Jesus said, “Your enemies will be right in your own household!” (Matthew 10:36 NLT). So what should you do? Pray for them. Your intercession is often the only covering they have, so pray daily for the grace and mercy of God to be downloaded into their hearts. And above all, never forget that your attitude is more important than the adversity you’re experiencing. Attacks pass, but your attitude, if bitter or demoralized, can grow into a root of bitterness that will poison every day of your future (See Hebrews 12:15). Your influence in God’s kingdom determines the level of attack the Enemy launches against you. So don’t get discouraged – keep on keeping on!
Soul food: Lev 11:1-13:37; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 50:1-15; Prov 10:3
