2021-10-31
1 Samuel 17:46 NLT
Goliath’s ancestors were Israel’s long-standing enemies. And when Joshua entered the Promised Land, he annihilated them all – except the inhabitants of Gath where Goliath hailed from. Why is that important to note? Because if you don’t kill the enemy and cut off his head, he’ll rise to fight you again.
Maybe you’re wrestling with issues your parents and grandparents grappled with; things like addiction, marriage problems, anger, worry and depression. David put “five…stones from a stream…into his shepherd’s bag” (v. 40 NLT) because he didn’t know how many he’d need to do the job. And there are certain “stones” you need to take with you to conquer the giants in your life.
(1) Be relentless. It may take more than a day, a month, or even a year to see results. But with God’s help you’ll win if you persevere.
(2) Get God involved. God’s priority is His reputation, and David’s objective was to defend it by declaring, “There is a God in Israel” (v. 46 NLT).
(3) Keep praying and believing God for victory. “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare” (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). Rehearsing your hurts won’t heal them and cataloguing your problems won’t solve them. But prayer will.
(4) Recall your earlier victories. David announced, “God, who delivered me from the…lion and…bear, will deliver me from this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37 MSG). When you’re afraid of the future, call to mind God’s past faithfulness: “Remember the wonders he…performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given” (1 Chronicles 16:12 NLT). With God’s help you can conquer the giants in your life!
Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
1 Samuel 17:46 NLT
Goliath’s ancestors were Israel’s long-standing enemies. And when Joshua entered the Promised Land, he annihilated them all, except the inhabitants of Gath where Goliath hailed from. It’s important to remember that, because it shows that if we don’t completely destroy the issues we’re facing, they’ll rise to fight again. David put ‘five…stones from a stream…into his shepherd’s bag’ (v.40 NLT) because he didn’t know how many he’d need to finish the job. And there are certain ‘stones’ we need to take with us to conquer the giants in our lives.
1) Be relentless. It might take more than a day, a month, or even a year to see results. But with God’s help we’ll win if we persevere.
2) Get God involved. David declared, ‘There is a God in Israel’ (v.46 NLT). He made sure to bring God right into the centre of the situation, and God came through for Him.
3) Keep praying and believing God for victory. ‘Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare’ (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). Replaying and going over our hurts again and again won’t heal them, and ignoring our problems won’t solve them. But prayer will.
4) Remember earlier victories. David announced, ‘GOD, who delivered me from the…lion and…bear, will deliver me from this Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:37 MSG). When we’re afraid of the future, we should try to call to mind God’s past faithfulness to us: ‘Remember the wonders he…performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given’ (1 Chronicles 16:12 NLT). With God’s help, we can conquer any giants that life throws at us.
Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
2021-10-28
Isaiah 30:21 CEV
Someone once said, ‘When Columbus set out, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know where he was. And when he returned home, he didn’t know where he’d been.’ We all need help to know what direction to go; whether or not to apply for a certain job, commit to a relationship, make a large purchase, and so on. The good news is that God will direct us, and when we make a wrong turn, He’ll redirect us.
Here are three ways in which He does it: 1) Through wise counsel. Others have been in a similar situation we find ourselves in; ‘Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith’ (Hebrews 13:7 NRSV). When we have a problem or an important decision to make, we should talk to others who have experience in that area and ask for help. It’s also helpful to find someone we trust to mentor us regularly. Solomon said, ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice’ (Proverbs 12:15 NIV).
2) Through prayer and listening for His voice. Jesus said, ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me’ (John 10:27 NIV). And Isaiah wrote, ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.”‘ That’s the kind of assurance we need. So, ‘Instead of worrying, pray’ (Philippians 4:6 MSG).
3) Through Scripture. Paul said, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom’ (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). One author wrote: ‘The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to a surgeon. He reaches through it to touch deep within you.’ But that means we must read it, personalise it, and act on it.
Ezra 9-10; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Prov 24:26-27
Isaiah 30:21 CEV
Someone quipped, “When Columbus set out, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know where he was. And when he returned home, he didn’t know where he’d been.” We all need help knowing what direction to go; whether or not to relocate, take a certain job, commit to a relationship, etc. Good news! God will direct you, and when you make a wrong turn he will redirect you.
Here are three ways in which He does it: (1) Through wise counsel. Others have sat where you’re sitting: “Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7 NRS). Is your business floundering? Talk to a successful entrepreneur. Are you experiencing a midlife crisis? Before doing something you’ll regret, ask for help. Solomon said, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12:15 NIV).
(2) Through prayer and listening for His voice. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NIV). And Isaiah writes, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, ‘This is the road! Now follow it.'” That’s the kind of assurance you need. So, “Instead of worrying, pray” (Philippians 4:6 MSG).
(3) Through Scripture: Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). One author observes: “The Bible is to God, what a surgical glove is to a surgeon. He reaches through it to touch deep within you.” But that means reading it, personalizing it, and acting on it.
Soul food: Ezra 9-10; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-18; Prov 24:26-27
2021-09-25
Ephesians 3:17 NLT
Did your parents fail to make you feel loved? Did your partner desert you? Were you physically, sexually, mentally or emotionally abused? These are painful experiences. And recognizing their source is crucial, especially when it’s a root of rejection. You can resort to all kinds of tactics from people-pleasing to work-a-holism to make yourself feel better, but without a root system of healthy self-esteem, nothing works. Flawed roots produce flawed fruit: feelings of inferiority, worthlessness, anger, inability to trust, and fear of intimacy.
How do you change those fruits? By addressing the root of the problem. How do you do that? “He will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (vv. 16-17 NLT).
The assurance of God’s love can bring healing to your emotions – and He doesn’t just “replant” you, He “re-parents” you. That means you no longer have to draw your security and self-worth from your family of origin, for: “Now are we the sons of God” (1 John 3:2). But remember, it’s a process.
Strong roots require three things: (1) Time to grow. Becoming confident in your identity as God’s child is like breaking in new shoes. You must walk in them till they become comfortable. (2) Protection from things that can kill. Surround yourself with people who build you up instead of tearing you down; people “who share the same precious faith” (See 2 Peter 1:1). (3) Spiritual nourishment. Learn to pray and feed yourself regularly from God’s Word (See Job 23:12).
Soul food: 1 Sam 4-7; Luke 23:13-25; Ps 52; Prov 21:17
