2022-03-02
James 5:17 CEV
Elijah got so “down” that he was ready to end it all. And it happened on the heels of his greatest victory. He had just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, when he went from exhilaration to exhaustion. We forget that even when we’re successful and love what we do, it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. So, if you’re a purpose-driven person with no boundaries, pay attention!
(1) Exhaustion made Elijah lose perspective. He had just defeated 850 false prophets (See 1 Kings 18:19), and now he was running from one woman: Jezebel. General George Patton Jr. said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” When fatigue walks in, faith walks out! It distorts our thinking and makes us overlook God’s power and His promises. Mental fatigue coupled with physical exhaustion is a deadly combination that invites hopelessness and creates the illusion that we have no options.
(2) Fear made Elijah isolate himself. Leaving his servant in Beersheba, he went into the wilderness and told God, “I am the only one left… now they are trying to kill me” (1 Kings 19:10 NIV). At that moment, Elijah was in the worst possible company – his own! When you feel down, that isn’t the time to isolate yourself. That’s when you need to reach for God and the people who love you and can help you get back up. Even Paul needed help. After writing, “[In] Macedonia, we… found trouble all around us… fighting on the outside and fear on the inside,” he added, “But God, who comforts those who are troubled, comforted us when Titus came” (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NCV).
So, who do you need to call? Who do you need to reach for? Don’t keep putting it off – do it!
Soul food: Exo 13-15; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Pro 6:23-25
2021-12-13
Ephesians 4:25 MSG
Many people have no one who loves them enough to tell them the truth. That’s because it’s easier to say nothing when others are messing up. But it’s not the loving thing to do. The Bible says, ‘Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship’ (Proverbs 24:26 CEV). Usually we know what needs to be said, but fear keeps us from saying it. However, if you knew the brakes on a car weren’t functioning properly, would you allow a loved one to drive it? In a similar vein, Paul wrote, ‘If someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again’ (Galatians 6:1 NCV).
More often than not, when an issue arises that might cause tension, it’s glossed over to preserve the peace. We don’t want to ruffle any feathers, so it never gets resolved. Here’s how Paul addresses this: ‘No more pretence. Tell…the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself’ (Ephesians 4:25 MSG).
But let’s be clear – honesty doesn’t give us permission to be rude or hurtful and say whatever we want. Thoughtless words can wound people. ‘Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honour an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters’ (1 Timothy 5:1-2 MSG).
In short, we should be thoughtful and gracious in the way we speak and the words we use. When a difficult issue comes up, caring means getting involved in an honest and loving way.
Neh 11-13; John 19:1-16; Ps 105:8-15; Prov 30:5-9
2021-09-22
1 John 4:18 NKJV
Modern science confirms the truth of the Scripture: “There is no fear in love…perfect love casts out fear.” Love and fear are incompatible; they can’t co-exist. Children have two basic needs: (1) A need to explore. That’s how they learn, grow and develop. (2) A need to feel safe. If they don’t feel secure, they won’t explore. Every human being needs a secure base from which to investigate and grow. Research confirms that, generally speaking, one parent more than the other will push a child to take chances, run risks and learn that a little danger is a good thing, while the other parent tends to be the comforter, the soother, the safety net. But the truth is any parent can give a child both gifts.
When we’re afraid, our body activates its sympathetic nervous system. Our heart races, our breathing becomes faster and shallower and our muscles tense up. So we run to our non-anxious presence: our comforter, protector and parent. And as we are held, reassured and loved, the parasympathetic system takes over. Our heart rate slows, our breathing becomes deep and even, our muscles relax and blood flows back to our brain. In essence, a little voice inside us says, “I can go out and face the world again.”
It’s a fact in the physical realm that “perfect love casts out fear.” And it’s also true in the spiritual realm. With a God who is tender enough to love and comfort us, yet strong enough to be our rock and our fortress, we can face what life throws at us and grow stronger as a result.
Soul food: Song of Sol 1-4; Luke 22:54-62; Ps 3; Prov 21:4-8
2021-09-12
Psalm 112:8 NCV
In order to keep focused and keep reaching towards your God-given goals, there are three obstacles you need to be aware of and overcome: 1) Weariness. Racehorses run at approximately the same speed; there often isn’t a lot of difference between the first and the last runner. Sometimes the difference between them winning and losing a race comes down to their ‘heart’ to win. So, take a look into your heart today and check if you’re truly committed to reaching your goal. ‘Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise’ (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV).
2) Fear. When it comes to commitment, there are basically four kinds of people. a) Those who have no goals and who don’t commit to anything. b) Those who don’t know if they can reach their goals so they’re afraid to commit to them. c) Those who start towards a goal but give up when things begin to get tough. d) Those who set goals, commit to them and are willing to pay the price to reach them. Which of the four do you think you are? Fear and faith will always be present; our success in reaching our goal depends on whether we allow our faith to overcome our fear.
3) Complacency: Don’t settle for yesterday’s success. Don’t settle for ‘good enough’ or ‘that’ll do’. Take regular ties of rest to refresh yourself, renew your mind and strength, and refocus on your goal. Be like Paul: ‘I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).
Jonah 1:10-2:10; Matt 12:38-42
2021-06-28
1 Peter 5:7 NKJV
When it comes to dealing with your fears and worries, you have two choices; cast them on the Lord, or keep them and try to handle them yourself. When the communists overran China, missionary Isobel Kuhn was forced to escape on foot across the snow-covered mountains into Burma. There she was stranded at the world’s end, with no money and no way to get home.
“I cannot tell you the dismay and alarm that filled me,” she wrote. But she made two decisions. “The first thing is to cast out fear,” she said. “The only fear a Christian should entertain is the fear of sin. All other fears are from Satan, sent to confuse and weaken us.” So Isobel prayerfully trusted God, and rejected panic. Second, she sought His guidance as to the next step, and eventually she arrived home safely.
Here’s an important key to victory: Instead of living with your fears and allowing them to take root within you, identify them and confront them the moment you become conscious of them. Next, turn each fear into a prayer and give it to God, refusing to take it back, confident that He will handle it for you. And don’t just do it with some of your fears and worries, do it with all of them. “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (v. 7 AMPC).
You’ll never be entirely free of fear and worry, but by God’s grace you can do a lot better than you’re doing right now.
Soul food: Jer 22-24; Luke 3:1-10; Ps 59:9-17; Prov 14:23-24
