2018-11-23
Job 23:9 NIV
Sometimes you will not sense God’s presence. Those are difficult times. In the midst of trouble, Job said, “If I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him” (vv. 8-9 NIV). Job felt far from God. Yet in spite of his inability to feel God, he resolved, “He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (v. 10 NIV). Difficult days demand decisions of faith. David said, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Psalm 56:3 NIV). When you can’t understand the ways of God, trust in the unchanging and loving character of God. Go through your Bible and make a list of the character qualities of God, and keep them on hand for tough days. One author writes: “My list reads like this: ‘He is still sovereign. He still knows my name. Angels still respond to His call. The hearts of rulers still yield at His bidding. The death of Jesus still saves souls. The spirit of God still indwells saints. Heaven is still only heartbeats away. The grave is still temporary housing. God is still faithful. He is not caught off guard. He uses everything for His glory and my ultimate good. He uses tragedy to accomplish His will, and His will is right, holy, and perfect. Sorrow may come with the night, but joy comes with the morning.'” In changing times, stand confidently on the unchanging character of God.
Soul food: Gen 4-6; John 12:20-36; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 30:21-23
2018-11-20
Exodus 18:23 NIV
Why do we insist on doing everything ourselves? Three reasons: (1) We’re afraid others won’t do the job as well as we do – but how else are they going to learn? (2) We’re afraid they will outshine us. The Bible says, “In honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). (3) We think God expects us personally to do it all. Moses’ father-in-law told him: “Listen now to me and I will give you some advice…You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him…But select capable men from all the people…and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied” (Exodus 18:19-23 NIV). So evaluate what only you can do, and delegate what others can do. If the job’s too big for you, take it as a sign that God is telling you, “Don’t try it alone!” That doesn’t mean dump the work on just anybody. If you pair the wrong person with a job that makes no sense to them, disaster will ensue. You must: (1) find the right person; (2) give them the right job; (3) trust them to do the right thing. Do those three things and you’ll live long enough to enjoy the fruits of your success.
Soul food: Ecc 5-8; John 11:38-57; Ps 81; Prov 30:11-14
2018-10-15
Psalm 103:13 TM
To see God as a loving Father may not come easily, if you carry the scars of a neglected or abusive childhood. Perhaps you had so many unmet needs growing up: affection, security, trust, comfort, material necessities, etc., and your lack of these things makes it hard to believe God will provide for your needs now. What to do? Recognize that your “father-image” is flawed and in no way resembles your heavenly Father. Even the best earthly father can’t measure up to Him. He wants you to approach Him as a caring, sensitive, generous, dependable, loving Father. That’s why Jesus taught us to call Him “Our Father,” not just “Almighty God and Lord.” Like a good father, God understands your needs and makes full provision for them (See Matthew 6:25-34). And just as a good parent recognizes the unique characteristics of each of his children, He knows your distinctive personality, gifts, thoughts, and feelings. “As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud” (Psalm 103:13-14 TM). God’s care is tailor-made to your specific gifts – and weaknesses. And like a loving father, He accepts and fulfills His responsibility to provide for you. So what’s your role in the relationship? To act like the child of a trustworthy, generous, permanently-loving Father!
Soul food: Exo 22-24; John 3:1-21; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 26:17-19
2018-09-06
Judges 6:16, 23 NIV
The name Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our peace, was discovered by Gideon when God told him to lead Israel against the Midianites – a position he felt was far beyond his capacity. “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest…and I am the least in my family” (v. 15 NIV). Here’s how the Lord responded: “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” A frightened Gideon believed God and before the battle was even fought or the victory won, by faith he saw the peace already secured. So he built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom, “the Lord is peace!” We often assume we’ll only have peace when our situation changes. Then like Gideon we learn that inward peace doesn’t depend on altering our outward circumstances; it depends on believing God is with you and experiencing His inner peace. Jesus promises: “Peace I leave with you; my peace [inner, faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [outward, circumstantial]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV). However inadequate you may feel to face the challenges today, remember Christ’s words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). Notice: Your job is to “take heart,” and trust Jehovah-Shalom to handle the rest!
Soul food: Josh 14-15; Luke 20:1-8; Ps 142; Prov 23:7-9
2018-09-04
2 Chronicles 20:15 KJV
When Israel was threatened by the mighty forces of Amalek at Rephidim, God gave them a supernatural victory. Realizing that God was fighting the battle for them, Moses built an altar to Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord my banner. Hear His words: “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:14 NKJV). “Be not afraid nor dismayed …for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Why then do you discourage yourself into defeat, trying to win the battle in your own strength? You engage in a fruitless cycle of repentance, resolutions, struggles, defeat, and discouragement, which leads to more repenting. The only sort of spiritual conflict that’s ever successfully won, is the one God fights for you. He doesn’t expect you to win the battle, only to surrender to Him and let Him win it for you! “So am I not supposed to fight at all?” you ask. Yes, you’re to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV). Yours isn’t a battle of exhausting effort; it’s the battle of believing. “But am I not to wrestle like Jacob did?” Observe two things: First, Jacob didn’t win by wrestling, he won by being rendered too weak to continue wrestling. Paul said, “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Second, Jacob’s victory lay in his surrender. Are you worn out from the battle – at the end of your rope? You may be just where God wants you! Let go and trust your Jehovah-Nissi to prevail for you, because “the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
Soul food: Josh 8:30-10:43; Luke 19:28-40; Ps 103:13-22; Prov 23:1-3
