2023-03-11
Psalm 23:5 NKJV
David said: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” (vv. 4-5 NKJV). Notice, God didn’t promise that you wouldn’t have to deal with death, or fear, or evil, or enemies. He simply said that in spite of them, and sometimes in the midst of them, your cup will still overflow with His blessing. Next time you pour a cup of tea or coffee and it overflows onto the saucer, you have an “overflowing” or a “surplus.” Your God is a God of surplus.
Paul writes, “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). He saturates you with joy and peace “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV). He bestows a surplus of joy – He causes you to “rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8 NKJV). He also provides a surplus of peace – He gives “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 NKJV).
So when you’re struggling to make ends meet, or you fear the future, look in the mirror and say, “God is my source; I have more than enough, my cup overflows.” And don’t just do that in times of need or crisis; make it a habit you practice every day.
Soul food: Exo 36-38; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 27; Prov 7:10-20
2023-03-06
1 Samuel 10:22 NLT
When Samuel went to present Israel’s first king to the people, Saul was discovered “hiding among the baggage.” The Hebrew word for baggage symbolizes the self-imposed limitations that hinder you from tackling the job God appointed you to do.
Things like these: (1) Feelings of inadequacy. Saul’s first response when he learned he had been chosen as king was, “Am I not… from the smallest tribe of Israel,… the least of all?” (1 Samuel 9:21 NIV). When you fail to figure God into the equation, you will always feel “less than.” Instead of focusing on your own weaknesses and inabilities, concentrate on “the incredible greatness of God’s power” (Ephesians 1:19 NLT).
(2) Fear of what others might think. The writer of Proverbs tells us “fearing people is a dangerous trap” (Proverbs 29:25 NLT). And Saul fell into it headfirst! When Samuel confronted him for failing to obliterate the Amalekites, he replied, “I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded” (1 Samuel 15:24 NLT). God’s Word assures us, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So… we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,… I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV). Once you take hold of that truth and act on it, you will find there is nothing to be afraid of.
(3) Being overly pragmatic. The Bible says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8 KJV). And Saul fit the bill to a tee! When he didn’t hear from God, he took matters into his own hands and consulted a psychic. And after promising not to harm David, he repeatedly hunted him down. Adaptability is commendable, but God requires consistency and commitment.
Soul food: Exo 22-24; Luke 13:18-35; Ps 136:1-12; Prov 6:30-31
2022-05-25
Luke 8:48 NKJV
The Bible says: “Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years… touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped… Jesus said, ‘Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.’ Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden… she declared… she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately” (vv. 43-44, 46-47 NKJV).
There are three important lessons for us in this story: (1) Recognize and seize your moment of opportunity. This woman understood that Jesus was visiting her town and might not be back. There are “God moments” in life when you must rearrange your priorities, overcome your fear, and exercise your faith. If you don’t, you will miss God’s best.
(2) Be willing to try a different approach. Since she couldn’t get Christ’s attention because of the crowd, this woman touched the hem of His garment and was healed. Many times, faith calls for stepping into the unknown, doing something you have never done before, and discovering God’s grace at work in ways you never expected.
(3) Establish a precedent for others to follow. Until this time, no one in Scripture had been healed by touching Jesus’ garment, and this woman’s faith opened a door for others to follow her example. “People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed” (Matthew 14:35-36 NIV).
The fact is, God is looking for people who are willing to break with tradition. And when He finds them, He uses them to unlock new dimensions of His power so others can be blessed and made whole.
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Matt 12:15-21; Ps 97; Pro 12:1-3
2022-04-06
2 Timothy 1:7 MSG
The foundation of good leadership is security. Paul told Timothy, “God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.” You must know with certainty that God called you, equipped you, and guaranteed your ultimate success. And you must keep this in mind when people stop liking you, when funding drops, when morale dips, and others reject you. If you feel insecure, fear will eventually cause you to sabotage your own leadership.
Confident leaders see what is, while maintaining their vision of what can be. They’re rarely content with things the way they are. As President Ronald Reagan once quipped, “Status quo… is Latin for ‘the mess we’re in!'” By definition, “to lead” is to be out in front, breaking new ground, vanquishing new worlds, and proceeding away from the status quo.
Dissatisfaction with the status quo doesn’t mean having a bad attitude or complaining; it has to do with a readiness to be different and to take risks. A person who won’t risk change is someone who fails to grow. A leader who loves the status quo is someone who soon turns into a follower. Raymond Smith of Bell Atlantic Corporation once remarked, “Administrators are easy to find and cheap to keep. Leaders – risk takers – are in very short supply. And the ones with vision are pure gold.”
Many people are more comfortable dealing with old troubles than doing what it takes to find new solutions; risk seems dangerous to them. The secret lies in having a winning attitude – one that comes from being secure in who you are and what you have been called to do. Think about it!
Soul food: Lev 8-10; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 50:1-15; Pro 9:10-11
2022-03-10
John 11:26 MSG
At the graveside of His friend Lazarus, Jesus told his grieving sisters Mary and Martha two all-important things: (1) “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23 NAS). (2) “Everyone who lives believing in me does not… die at all. Do you believe this?” (v. 26 MSG).
So, what’s going to take you beyond death and into your heavenly home? Sterling character? Charitable giving? Going to church? No. While those are all commendable, only by placing your trust in Christ can you have the assurance of resurrection and eternal life. You see, Jesus conquered death and the grave for you.
You may be reading these words today fighting tears of sorrow. Perhaps you have lost your mate of many years, or your child to a tragic accident, or a loved one to some dreaded disease. Like no other, Jesus understands your grief. He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities (See Hebrews 4:15). Or perhaps you sense that death is near to you. If you haven’t placed your trust in Christ, you must take care of that right away.
Don’t wait for a more convenient time. Do it today, and you will be saved; that means that when you breathe your last breath, you will pass from death to life – heavenly life. When you trust in Christ, there is no reason to fear what lies beyond the grave. He is already there. And He has prepared a place for you. It’s ready! Inexplicable, unending joy will be yours forever, thanks to Jesus. You can exclaim with Paul, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). Think about it: Immediately following death – glory!
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 112; Pro 7:6-9
