2018-04-02
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 CEV
It’s not easy being a Christian parent in a world where peer pressure feels as if it’s crushing down on you at a million pounds per square inch; where values are at an all-time low and immorality at an all-time high. But with God’s help you can do it! To lead your children to Christ, do these five things: (1) Begin when they’re young, and read Bible stories to them each night. Let them hear you pray for them to know Jesus personally, constantly thanking Him for dying for their sins. (2) As you take them to church, explain what the various rituals and seasons (Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Easter, and Christmas) represent, and why they’re observed and celebrated. (3) Be sensitive to every spiritual question they ask, and take the time to answer their questions in a way they can understand. (4) Buy them Christian DVDs and cartoons that will present Bible truths on their level. (5) Trust the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom at the right time to present the gospel to them, and pray for their salvation continuously. On one occasion D. L. Moody reported “two and one-half conversions” at a service he conducted. Someone said, “I suppose you mean two adults and one child.” “No,” Mr. Moody replied. “I mean two children and one adult. The children can give their whole lives to God, but an adult has only half a life left to give.” And remember, the things we learn best are the things we hear most. So: “Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over.”
Soul food: Jer 14-17; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 69:1-18; Prov 8:27-29
2017-12-03
Psalm 119:105 NIV
When you pray, “Lord, what should I do?” He can respond to you in several ways. Let’s look at some over the next few days. He will answer you through His written Word. Instead of turning to “Tom, Dick, and Harry” for guidance, go to God. Make His Word your first option rather than your last resort. The Psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Without a regular daily intake of God’s Word, you’ll be “in the dark” as to what’s best for you and the direction your life should go. “I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled” (Ezekiel 12:25 NIV). If God says it in His Word, you can count on it. There are precepts in Scripture, but mainly God has given us principles to follow. These principles require wisdom and discernment. The Psalmist said, “I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge” (Psalm 119:66 NLT). This doesn’t mean you must have a particular verse for every decision or move you make. That’s not how it works. Most times when you ask God for guidance, He will give you “good judgment and knowledge,” and that’s enough to get you moving in the right direction. Will you sometimes experience fear? Yes, but that’s when you must use your faith! Your greatest clarity as to God’s will often comes from hindsight, not foresight. It’s in looking back on how God has led you that you say, “Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave” (1 Kings 8:56 NIV).
Soul food: 1 Kings 17:1-7; 1 Kings 18:41-46; Mark 4:35-41
2017-10-21
Exodus 18:18 NIV
President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” Bottom line: Unless you learn to delegate, your leadership will deteriorate and your vision will stagnate. In Exodus, Moses was wearing himself out physically, emotionally, and spiritually trying to keep up with the demands of two million Israelites and be “the answer man” for every problem. That’s when his father-in-law told him, “You cannot handle it alone. Listen…to me and I will give you some advice” (vv. 18-19 NIV). It takes wisdom, maturity, and humility to ask for help. And it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. That’s hard to come to terms with, for those of us who take pride in our ability to “do it all.” The truth is, what Moses was doing was neither good for him nor the people depending on him. As a leader, it’s easy to overestimate your own importance and competence. That’s why Paul cautions, “[Don’t] think you are better than you really are. Use good sense” (Romans 12:3 CEV). God has placed people around you who have certain gifts and talents. When you recognize and involve these people, they’re fulfilled and the job gets done right. God created us to be interdependent, not independent. Delegating authority to the right people strengthened Moses for the task of leading as God intended. When you try to be “all things to all people,” you end up frustrated. You’re not called to do it all, but to get it done through others. That’s what leadership is about.
Soul food: Isa 4-7; John 5:1-15; Ps 126; Prov 27:17-19
2017-10-12
Philippians 4:8 NLT
In order to change your life, you must first change your thinking. And that’s not easy when you’ve spent your life thinking a certain way. Minister and columnist Dr. Frank Crane said, “Our best friends and our worst enemies are our thoughts.” King Solomon put it this way: “As [a man] thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7 NAS). To change your thinking, you must do it – one thought at a time. That calls for discipline and determination. But it’s worth it. If you wanted to compete in a marathon you wouldn’t go on an all-candy diet, would you? The fuel you put into something determines its performance. Yet we disregard this basic piece of wisdom: What you feed everything else is nothing compared to what you feed your mind! Here’s a truth that will transform you: Think excellent thoughts! What enters your mind repeatedly, occupies it, shapes it, controls it, and in the end expresses itself in what you do and who you become. Your mind will absorb and reflect whatever it’s exposed to. The events you attend, the relationships you build, the materials you read or don’t read, the music you listen to, the media images you’re exposed to, the conversations you engage in, and the thoughts you entertain all shape your mind, and eventually your character and your destiny. So what should you do? Start each day by praying: “Lord, I want the kind of mind Your Word describes. One that’s filled with excellent, admirable, honorable, praiseworthy thoughts” (See Philippians 4:8). Can you imagine what your life would be like if you constantly prayed that way and programmed your thinking accordingly?
Soul food: Exo 22-24; John 2:12-25; Ps 89:15-37; Prov 26:20-22
2017-09-01
James 1:4 CEV
James writes: “Be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given you…But when you ask…you must have faith…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” (vv. 2-8). Note three things in this Scripture: (1) Your faith grows when it’s tested. You’ll never know the strength of your anchor until you feel the blast of the storm. (2) God will give you wisdom to handle the test. Now, He won’t answer all your “whys.” So instead of questioning Him, you need to pray, “Lord, how do You want to use this trial to develop me spiritually? How can I cooperate with You to reap the maximum benefit? What changes do You desire to bring about in my life?” Those are questions God will answer. (3) You must be willing to obey. It’s possible to ask God for wisdom, then debate, stall, or mess around trying to decide whether or not to obey Him. “If you’re that kind of person…don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.” When God gives you His wisdom, your first response should be: “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 NIV).
Soul food: Josh 8:30-10:43; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 111; Prov 23:4-6
