Sunday January 1
“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Lk 5:4 NKJV
“Launch Out”
Someone has said that mediocrity is just the best of the worst and the worst of the best. Is that what you want this year? If not, you must be willing to leave the safety of where you are, and go where God wants to take you. After fishing all night and catching nothing Jesus told His disciples, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” In other words, leave the safety of the shoreline and be willing to face the fury of the storm, knowing that God is with you. Helen Keller, who overcame incredible challenges, said, “Security is a myth. The reason we don’t experience it is because it doesn’t exist. Avoiding danger or failure is no safer in the long run than outright risk. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Launching out means setting goals, establishing a plan to reach them, and becoming accountable. It requires staying in sync with God’s will, confronting your fears and discovering the rewards that lie on the other side of them. It demands looking in the mirror, and either respecting or correcting what you’re becoming. It calls for devoting your life to something greater than yourself, even when others don’t understand. It’s having an “I will fear no evil for Thou art with me” (Ps 23:4) attitude, and attempting great things for God. As you enter this New Year, stop and recall God’s goodness. Check the price tag on His will for your life against what you’re already paying, and compare the rewards of both. Then, “launch out” and don’t look back!
Monday January 2
“You shall go to all to whom I send you.” Jer 1:7 NKJV
You’re Qualified! (1)
Jeremiah told God, “I cannot speak, for I am a youth” (v. 6 NKJV). Sound familiar? Have you been saying, “I don’t have what it takes”? God told Jeremiah, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you” (vv. 7-8 NKJV). When actors audition for a part, the director conducts what are known as “callbacks.” At that point the actor either gets the part or it goes to somebody else. But when an actor is experienced and well-known, sometimes the director offers them the part without them even auditioning for it. Understand this: God doesn’t do auditions and callbacks! That’s because He’s already designed a role for you that nobody else could fill. Even if others were to study you endlessly they still couldn’t be you. When God says, “I know you by name and you have found favor with me” (Ex 33:12 NIV), be careful about responding to any other call except the one that comes from Him. Since God designed you with all the built-in qualifications you need, you don’t have to compromise your convictions, manipulate, drop names or do special favors. The part is yours! And don’t be jealous or intimidated by anybody else no matter how talented they are. In God’s eyes there are no other contenders; you’re it! You’re the only one who can fill the slot because He created it with you in mind. When you feel insecure and unqualified, remind yourself of that.
Tuesday January 3
“If you’re content to…be yourself, your life will count.” Mt 23:12 TM
You’re Qualified! (2)
Do you remember Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to surrender her seat to a white man and move to the back of the bus? There was more at stake that day than just a ride home from work. By simply being herself,
Wednesday January 4
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Ps 127:1
You’re Qualified! (3)
In God’s Kingdom, center stage is not for those who think they’ve got their act together and deserve public recognition. Nor is it limited to those in leadership and public ministry. It’s a call to action, to you, whoever and wherever you are today. When you trust God’s timing He grooms you for bigger and better parts. But there are some things you must, and must not do: (1) Don’t try to make it on your own. Popular wisdom says, “Fake it till you make it,” and you’ll be tempted to debut in your own strength. Don’t do it! If you do, you will get in the way of a much greater production. The Bible says: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Trust God, and when your moment comes He will give you your cue. (2) Leave the shadows. Are you ready to transform “acting” into an authentic performance that reveals the real you? Fear of rejection is powerful. It takes courage to be yourself. But you gain strength from the struggle and power from the pain when you are willing to risk moving from the shadows into the light. (3) Confront your inner critic. We are all subject to the little voice within that says, “You’ll never be smart enough, rich enough, pretty enough or good enough to stand in the spotlight.” But when God raises you up, nobody can put you down. So remind your inner critic of God’s promise: “You shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak” (Jer 1:7 NKJV).
Thursday January 5
“We stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.” 2Co 1:9 NLT
Who Are You Relying On?
Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials” (Jn 16:33 NLT). You solve one problem, and another one comes along to take its place. They’re not all big, but they’re all necessary to your spiritual growth. How do you assess the strength of something? By testing it! The Bible says: “Don’t be…shocked that you are going through testing…It will prepare you” (1Pe 4:12-13 CEV). Some of your most life-enriching experiences will come during your worst moments—when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you’re out of options, when your pain levels go through the roof—and you turn to God. That’s when you learn to pray heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers. When you’re in pain you don’t have the energy for superficial ones. And that’s when you discover, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Ps 34:18 NLT). God could have kept Joseph out of prison, Daniel out of the lions’ den, Jeremiah out of the slimy pit, and Paul from being shipwrecked, but He didn’t. As a result, each one of them was drawn closer to God and impacted the world around them. Your problems force you to look to God and depend on Him instead of yourself. This is especially hard on superachievers like Paul. “We…saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us” (2Co 1:9 TLB). You’ll never know what God can do until God is all you’ve got. So place your needs into His capable, loving hands, and watch what happens.
Friday January 6
“Troublemakers listen to troublemakers.” Pr 17:4 CEV
Gossip
The moment somebody begins to gossip stop them and ask, “Why do I need to know this? Have you talked to the person you’re talking about?” Wise up; people who gossip can’t be trusted! The Bible says that when you listen to gossip you are a troublemaker: “Troublemakers listen to troublemakers.” And Jude adds: “These are the people who divide you, people whose thoughts are only of this world” (Jude v.19 NCV). Those are serious charges. And the Internet has only made the problem worse because now you can spread gossip faster and wider, and remain anonymous while you are doing it. Paul speaks about those who “devour one another…[and your whole fellowship]” (Gal 5:15 AMP). He says they should be avoided and disciplined. When was the last time you saw that happen in church? Solomon said, “A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler” (Pr 20:19 NRS). In other words, “keep clear of them.” The quickest way to end gossip is to confront those who are spreading it. The church is not a “tell all” television show where we expose people and hang out their dirty linen for all the world to see. Quite the opposite: “Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops” (Pr 26:20 TLB). Jesus taught us how to deal with personal difficulties when they arise: (1) “Work it out between the two of you.” (2) “If he (she) won’t listen, take one or two others along.” (3) “If he (she) still won’t listen, tell the church [leadership]” (Mt 18:15-17 TM). That’s Christ’s way, and it must be our way too.
Saturday January 7
“A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.” Mt 12:20 NKJV
Reeds and Wicks
Reeds. Few things are more fragile than a bruised reed. In Christ’s day, children playing beside the river made music pipes out of them. They were hollowed out and holes bored in them. But afterwards they were bruised and discarded. Perhaps you once stood tall and strong, nourished and rooted in the riverbed. But now you are hidden in the rushes, bruised by hurtful words, a mate’s betrayal, your own failure, or harsh religion. Wicks. Nothing is closer to extinction than a smoldering wick. When the oil in primitive lamps was gone and the wick burned low, it was extinguished, thrown away as worthless and replaced. Did you once burn with faith, lighting the path for others until the icy winds of criticism, unforgiveness and judgmentalism left you in darkness? What do all these people have in common: A woman trembling before an angry mob threatening to stone her? A house surrounded by people and a paralyzed man on a stretcher begging his friends not to give up until they get him to Christ? A blind man crying out for his sight and disciples telling him to be quiet? They are all bruised reeds and smoldering wicks that Jesus refused to give up on. The world thinks it knows what to do with you—break you off and snuff you out! But not Jesus: “He does not crush the weak, or quench the smallest hope” (TLB). No matter how far gone you may feel today, you’re not beyond the reach of God’s grace. Come, He will treat you gently. He will make you whole again.
Sunday January 8
“The Lord…will never leave you nor forsake you.” Dt 31:6 NIV
Overcoming the Fear of Loneliness (1)
To overcome the fear of loneliness you must: (1) Understand who you are. Let scientists argue about whether or not there was a “big bang.” If there was, you were not the result of it! Nor did you descend from an amoeba in a pond. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps 139:14-15). Made “in his own image” (Ge 1:27). God didn’t assign your creation to His most powerful angels. You’re a hands-on, made-to-order, one-of-a-kind product. As a redeemed child of God you are His “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Eph 2:10 NIV). Believe that and stand on it—regardless of your feelings or your social status. (2) Understand who God is. He calls Himself your “Heavenly Father,” not just your creator and designer. Your creator and designer refer to what He does; your Father refers to who He is. “He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6 NIV). These aren’t His roles, they’re His proper names. They are capitalized in Scripture because they are what you are to call Him! When Jesus taught us to pray He didn’t begin with “O, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God.” Yes, He’s all of those, but when it comes to us He wants to be recognized and called “Father” (Mt 6:9). That’s how He thinks about us, and wants us to think and to feel about Him. “Father” is meant to convey warmth, security, acceptance, concern, compassion, protection, assurance, provision, etc. He’s your Father—when you grasp the truth of that you will begin to overcome the fear of loneliness.
Monday January 9
“Nothing can ever separate [me] from God’s love.” Ro 8:38 NLT
Overcoming the Fear of Loneliness (2)
Overcoming the fear of loneliness requires understanding God’s commitment to you. His fatherhood isn’t based upon mood, sentiment or emotion; it’s based on His unchanging character and reputation. Everything He is, and claims to be, stands or falls apart, depending on His faithfulness to you. “For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own” (1Sa 12:22 NIV). Notice two things in this Scripture: Concern for His good name, and the pleasure He takes in being your Father, are why He will never turn His back on you. Your problems don’t mean that God is judging or disowning you. Satan would love to convince you of that. He will tell you that you’ve failed God, or that God has failed you in order to make you feel unworthy, hopeless, disowned by God and abandoned. No, generations of believers have sung through their soul’s dark night, “Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my father.” In your circumstances and suffering, “God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!” (Lam 3:22-23 TM). Suffering and adversity don’t cancel His faithfulness, He’s “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8 NKJV). He can’t love you once, and not love you always. “After you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling” (1Pe 5:10 NCV). Today declare, “Nothing can ever separate me from God’s love.”
Tuesday January 10
“Then David got up.” 2Sa 12:20 NIV
Get Up and Go On with Your Life
David committed adultery with another man’s wife, got her pregnant, then arranged to have her husband put to death in an attempt to cover it up. Then he married her and thought everything would be okay. But the child became critically ill. Desperately wanting to save the baby’s life, David “fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food” (vv.16-17 NIV). In spite of all his praying, the child died. Why did God let this happen? Was it because the child deserved better parents? Or because the Bible says that to depart and be with the Lord is “far better” (See Php 1:23)? We don’t have a clear answer. But this much we know: when you have repented of your sin and experienced God’s forgiveness, you must get up and go on with your life. And that’s what David did. “Then David got up from the ground…washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes…went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and…they served him food, and he ate” (2Sa 12:20 NIV). We discover three important things in this story: (1) Until you are willing to make things right with God and those you’ve hurt, you can’t go forward with confidence. (2) Until you process your emotions in a healthy way, whether guilt or grief, you will remain stuck and forfeit the joy of what God has for you next. (3) When you’ve done these two things, get up and get on with your life.
Wednesday January 11
“Follow Me, and I will make you.” Mk 1:17 NKJV
When God Calls You
If you think you’re not qualified to be used by God, start changing the way you think! When Elijah called Elisha he was plowing. When Jesus called Peter he was fishing. To follow God, Elisha had to leave farming and Peter had to leave fishing. Can’t you imagine Peter’s wife saying, “How are we gonna pay the bills?” Following God is like stepping out on tissue paper and discovering solid rock underneath. But you’ll never discover the rock unless you’re willing to step onto the tissue paper. When God asks you to walk away from a security base that’s been part of your life, you take your talents with you. Matthew, an accountant, took his pen and wrote the first book of the New Testament. When David went to Saul’s palace he took his harp, and went on to write psalms we still sing today. That’s why it’s important to know that it’s God who’s calling you, and to have it confirmed by trusted leadership. If you run before the starter fires the gun you’ll be disqualified from the race. When God calls you, keep these four things in mind: (1) There’s a price to be paid. If you’re willing to pay it you can have God’s best. (2) There’s a path to be walked. Each step is a step of faith. (3) There are principles to be observed. You’ve got to do God’s will, God’s way, in order to be blessed. (4) There’s a promise to sustain you. “Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Jos 1:9 NIV).
Thursday January 12
“Then Jesus…said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” Mt 28:18 NIV
Christ—There’s No One Like Him!
Billy Graham says: “The Bible is concerned only incidentally with the history of
Friday January 13
“We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” 2Ch 20:12 NLT
Dealing with Uncertainty (1)
As a leader you’ll be called upon to make decisions regarding relationships, money, time, values, opportunities and disputes. And your decisions will show up on the bottom line. There, in the clear light of day, your leadership will be judged. And there’s something else you need to know; in that realm it takes longer to recognize your brilliance or stupidity, because you’re forced to lead for long periods of time without the benefit of knowing if you made the right call. By the time your crop starts coming in, it’s too late to change your agricultural procedure. You have to wait until the next season of planting. When it comes to leadership, uncertainty is a permanent part of all progress; it never goes away! Furthermore, uncertainty isn’t an indication of poor leadership, it just underscores the need for it; it’s the environment in which good leadership is most often discovered. As a leader you may think you should always know what to do, but in reality there will be few occasions when you are absolutely certain. It’s why King Jehoshaphat prayed, “We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” Since you’ll constantly be called on to make decisions with limited information, your goal should not be to eliminate uncertainty but to develop the ability to trust God and be courageous and clear in spite of it. It’s not your job to remove uncertainty; it’s your job to inspire clarity, faith and progress in the midst of it. When you can do that, you are learning to be a leader.
Saturday January 14
“The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Jos 1:9 NIV
Dealing with Uncertainty (2)
When Moses passed the torch to Joshua, a lot of things had changed. For forty years Joshua had been taught to navigate and survive in a wilderness, but now it was time to enter the Promised Land. And what worked in the wilderness didn’t necessarily work in the Promised Land. Can’t you hear Joshua’s thoughts: “I know a lot about wandering, but not much about warfare.” So God told him, “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Why would God tell Joshua to be strong and courageous? Because he must have felt anxious! Everything about his new situation reeked of uncertainty. The only thing Joshua knew for sure was that God had said, “Go.” So, “Joshua commanded the…people, saying…‘Prepare…yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this
Sunday January 15
“I will instruct you…in the way you should go; I will guide you.” Ps 32:8 NKJV
Dealing with Uncertainty (3)
Dr. John Maxwell points out that in order to thrive in uncertain territory you must be able to do the following things: (1) Understand your certainty quotient. Think back to your last big decision that turned out right. How certain were you? Eighty percent? Fifty percent? If your best decisions are usually made at the 75 percent mark, that’s your “certainty quotient.” When you reach that point, it’s time to stop debating and start moving. (2) Express your uncertainty with confidence. Never look at successful people and assume that single-handedly and with no hesitation, they fearlessly navigated the currents of uncertainty. No, they just understood that with each step, answers would be given. So instead of pretending to know more than you do, begin to encourage a culture of transparency that fosters the free exchange of ideas. When you don’t know, just say, “I don’t know, but I’ll try to find out.” (3) Consult others. King Solomon wrote more about seeking counsel than any other writer in the Bible. Do kings need good input? Yes, absolutely! And only those with the humility to acknowledge it ever prosper. (4) Measure your success by the scoreboard, not the playbook. Every good coach goes into the game with a plan, but he is willing to change it in order to win. Pencil in your plans, but write your vision in ink! Good leaders, like good coaches, are often forced to abandon or amend some of their plans in order to deliver on the vision. The ones who do are the ones who reach their destination.
Monday January 16
“We have seen his glory.” Jn 1:14 NIV
I Met the Master Face to Face
The Bible says: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came…full of grace and truth.” To know the Lord Jesus Christ personally is to love Him, to love Him is to serve Him, and to serve Him is to experience life’s highest joy and fulfillment. An unknown author wrote the following poem about Jesus. If you know Him as your Lord and Savior it will resonate in your heart. If you don’t, it’s our prayer you will want to accept Him today as your Lord and Savior:
“I walked life’s way with an easy tread, had followed where comforts and pleasures led; until one day in a quiet place, I met the Master face to face. With station and rank and wealth for my goal, much thought for my body but none for my soul; I entered to win in life’s mad race, when I met the Master face to face. I met Him, and knew Him, and blushed to see that His eyes full of sorrow were fixed on me. And I faltered and fell at His feet that day, while my castles melted and vanished away. Melted and vanished, and in their place, naught else did I see but the Master’s face; And I cried aloud, ‘O, make me meet, to follow the steps of Thy wounded feet.’ My thought is now for the souls of men; I have lost my life to find it again; e’er since one day in a quiet place, I met the Master face to face.”
Tuesday January 17
“Work…as though you were working for the Lord.”
Learn to Respect Authority
Can you imagine a nation without a leader, a workplace without a boss, or an army without a general? It would be chaotic. Structure creates order; without it no progress can be made. That’s why you don’t park your car in the bedroom or sleep in the garage. Learn to respect those in authority over you. Honor those who have lived longer than you because they possess a wealth of knowledge. Listen to them and grow. Until you learn to take orders you will never be qualified to give them. Jesus understood this. He was the Son of God. He knew more than any other human being, yet He honored the authority of the government in power. When the Pharisees asked Him His opinion on paying taxes He answered, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mk 12:17 NKJV). Are you speaking words of doubt about your own organization? Are you belittling those in authority over you? Stop it now! True, they are not perfect. (Perhaps that’s why they can tolerate you.) If you rebel against every instruction you are given, don’t complain when those around you rebel against your words and opinions. The law of reciprocity states that if you want to be treated with respect, you must respect others. That includes those you don’t agree with, or even like. Jesus did. Pray, “Father, I know that respect for authority is taught in Your Word. So remind me today that my success depends upon my attitude toward those You’ve placed in leadership over me. As I honor them, I believe You will honor me.”
Wednesday January 18
“There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Ro 8:1 NLT
Stop Condemning Yourself!
The word for you today is—stop condemning yourself! God says, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isa 43:25). When God says He forgets your sin and you insist on remembering it, it’s like saying your standards are higher than His. That’s akin to idolatry! The Bible says, “God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). In the Old Testament when someone sinned they brought a lamb to the priest and he would shed its blood on the altar as payment for their sin. Once that was done the record was expunged and the issue was settled. You say, “But I don’t feel forgiven.” Forgiveness comes by faith, not feelings. As long as you live by feelings Satan has a weapon he can use against you at every turn. You say, “But what I did was so wrong.” As long as you have not committed the unpardonable sin, whatever you have done is—pardonable. You say, “But Satan keeps bringing it up.” That’s because he is called the “accuser” (Rev 12:10). But notice how you overcome Satan the accuser: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (v. 11). Next time Satan accuses you, say, “I’m glad you brought that up.” Then tell him what the blood of Jesus has accomplished on your behalf. If you do that he will flee. Learn from your failure, grow stronger through it, use it to bless others, move on with your life and stop condemning yourself!
Thursday January 19
“Building up yourselves on your…faith.” Jude v.20 NKJV
Building Up Your Faith (1)
The apostle Jude writes, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Jude places the responsibility of building yourself up spiritually and strengthening your faith where it belongs—squarely on you. There are two kinds of faith: mechanical faith and intentional faith. Each time you flip on a light switch you’re exercising mechanical faith. But when you face the unknown, the untried and the undone, you need intentional faith—faith that believes God to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that [you] ask or think” (Eph 3:20 NKJV). If you’re proactive, your faith will grow. If you’re passive, it won’t. Like the rush of water against a riverbank, there’s an erosion of faith that comes simply from living every day. If you don’t do anything to secure and strengthen your faith it begins to deteriorate. Christ told the church at
Friday January 20
“Building up yourselves on your…faith.” Jude v.20 NKJV
Building Up Your Faith (2)
This word “building” is an architectural term that means to renovate. It implies tearing down what’s not working for you and building up what will. When you don’t understand that, you are left to believe that whatever life has handed you is just the way it is, and you have to take it. You’d be surprised at the number of people who go to church every week just to get a word to help them survive. They sing about faith and talk about it. But when you ask them, “How are you doing?” they say, “I’m just hangin’ on. I’m just hopin’ I can make it through.” Yes, there are times when that will truly be the case. But that should be the exception, not the rule. The Bible says, “We are more than conquerors” (Ro 8:37 NKJV). To be a conqueror means to fight a battle and win it. But to be more than a conqueror means to win a battle—without even having to fight it. Jesus has already fought and won the battle for you. And today He is saying, “I give…you power…over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Lk 10:19). You say, “How do I get this power?” Jude says we can access this power for living by “praying in the Holy Spirit” (v. 20). And you can do it anywhere: in your car on the way to work, on your treadmill, or even in your bathroom. You just need a place where you can be alone with God, praying and reading His Word, building up your faith.
Saturday January 21
“God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Ge 2:15 NKJV
Caring for God’s Creation
For generations the church was silent on the sin of slavery. That’s because it was popular and economically advantageous; not to mention that some church leaders had slaves of their own. But when the church finally acknowledged its wrong, it helped lead the way to reform. Today we can’t even imagine life any other way! Well, some of us are waking up to the fact that caring for God’s creation is not just something “tree huggers” do. A resolution at the Southern Baptist Convention condemning those responsible for the oil spill in the Gulf illustrates this. Southern Baptist theologian Russell Moore, in an eloquent statement about how the oil spill would devastate his beloved home town of
Sunday January 22
“The smell of fire was not on them.” Da 3:27 NKJV
Total Deliverance
Deliverance is when God brings you out of a fiery trial that was meant to destroy you. Total deliverance is when, like the three Hebrew children, He brings you out without even the smell of smoke on you. You see, it’s possible to be delivered but still be ”damaged.” You can hear it in what a person says. They speak only of the past because they stopped living at a certain point. They survived the trauma, but because they haven’t dealt with it the right way they constantly refer back to it. When they talk, part of them is still “in the fire.” Now we are not talking about some “quick fix,” or a “one size fits all” form of healing. Your temperament, your faith level, and the depth of your pain at the time are all determining factors in how long it takes to recover and become whole. But this much is clear: Whatever was binding the three Hebrew children when they went into the fiery furnace, wasn’t binding them when they came out of it. And that’s what God wants to do for you too. Does that mean you’re not supposed to talk about what you’ve been through? No, but don’t talk like a victim, talk like a victor! David said: “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit (the past)…and set my feet upon a rock (the present)…He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” (the future) (Ps 40:2-3 NKJV). Your experience may be old, but your song will be new.
Monday January 23
“Hezekiah…spread it before the Lord.” 2Ki 19:14 NKJV
How to Handle Bad News (1)
The Bible says: “Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord God of
Tuesday January 24
“Hezekiah…spread it before the Lord.” 2Ki 19:14 NKJV
How to Handle Bad News (2)
When bad news comes don’t allow it to panic you and cause you to act in haste. Stop, think rationally and get the facts before you arrive at a conclusion or make a decision. Prayerfully ask, “Lord, what can I do about this situation?” If you can do it for yourself, God won’t do it for you. The poet said, “His part we cannot do, our part He will not do.” Faced with a well-armed, vastly superior force there was nothing Hezekiah could do to save himself. So he went to the house of God and spread out his need before the Lord. That’s always a wise move. When you respond in faith, a crisis becomes an opportunity for God to demonstrate what He can do on your behalf. The truth is, when you’ve nothing left but God —you’ve got enough! Enough to handle the situation, enough to get through it, and enough to bounce back. Ask yourself, “Is this problem really mine?” Yes, we’re supposed to bear one another’s burdens (See Gal 6:2). But you’re not supposed to let everybody dump their problems on you. Sometimes in our eagerness to rescue others we get in God’s way when He’s dealing with them. And stop listening to round-the-clock news. If you do you’ll begin to “awfulize” and think, “Things are bad everywhere, so I guess I can’t expect any better.” What has God said about you, and your situation? God doesn’t respond to your need, He responds to your faith! So get into the Scriptures and discover what God has to say, then stand on it.
Wednesday January 25
“He…was strengthened in faith.” Ro 4:20 NKJV
Trust God’s Word, Not Your Feelings
Have you read the story of Isaac blessing his two sons when he was old, almost blind, and nearing death (See Ge 27)? When Jacob, the younger son, wanted his older brother Esau’s part of the family inheritance, which was twice as much, his mother Rebekah helped him steal it. Here’s how she did it. Esau was hairy and Jacob had smooth skin. So Rebekah wrapped Jacob’s arms and neck in goat hair and gave him some of Esau’s clothes to wear. When Jacob went in to his aging father pretending to be Esau, his father asked him to come near so that he could feel him. His father told him that he sounded like Jacob but he felt like Esau, so he decided to trust what he felt over what he heard. As a result, he gave the birthright that was destined for his firstborn, Esau, to his second-born son, Jacob. Bottom line: he was deceived by what he felt. Now we know God was at work in all this. But the point here is, you can’t always trust your feelings because they don’t always line up with God’s Word and they can deceive you. You say, “I got my feelings hurt so I haven’t spoken to my family in over a year.” Get over it! Learn to forgive. Refuse to remain offended. Practice love. If you let feelings rule your life they will mess you up. Feelings are like spoiled children: the more you indulge them the more they will control you. You shouldn’t suppress your feelings or deny them, but you must not be led by them.
Thursday January 26
“Forget not all His benefits.” Ps 103:2 NKJV
Keep Your Sense of Gratitude
Author Philip Yancey writes, “On my first visit to
(1) Problems. If you close one eye and hold a penny close enough to your other eye, you can actually block out the light of the sun. Getting the point? (2) Pressures. Sometimes the perks we thought would bring us pleasure end up wearing us down. (3) People. When they disappoint us we turn sour and forget all that God has done for us. What’s the solution? “The [unfailing] love of the Lord never ends…Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lam 3:22-23 NLT). God’s mercies begin each morning, and your gratitude should too. Indeed, your days should be saturated in it. Continual gratitude comes from looking beyond your blessings to their unfailing source, the Lord. His love, His faithfulness and His mercy are already at work when your eyes open each day.
Friday January 27
“Let us not grow weary while doing good.” Gal 6:9 NKJV
The Power of Perseverance (1)
One of the great themes of the Bible is—perseverance. Paul, who refused to quit, wrote: “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings.” Are you merely a starter, or are you also a finisher? When the enthusiasm for a new idea fades, when the odds against you increase and the results diminish, when it looks as if success is impossible, you must keep forging ahead. Admiral Robert Peary attempted to reach the North Pole seven times before he finally succeeded. Oscar Hammerstein produced five shows on Broadway that were flops before staging
Saturday January 28
“We shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Gal 6:9 NKJV
The Power of Perseverance (2)
There’s a legend about a soldier being court-martialed before Alexander the Great. Believing the verdict was unjust, the soldier asked to appeal it. The conqueror informed him that there was no one higher to whom he could plead his case. “In that case,” the soldier replied, “I appeal my case from Alexander the Small, to Alexander the Great.” In each of us there is a lesser self and a greater self struggling for supremacy. Your lesser self says, “Not enough people believe in me. I’ll never make it.” Your greater self says, “My faith in God and in myself is enough; I can make it.” Your lesser self says, “It’s taking too long to realize my dream.” Your greater self says, “Dreams are realized one day at a time.” Your lesser self says, “Enough is enough! I’ve taken too many hits.” Your greater self says, “I’ve come too far to give up now.” Your lesser self says, “I don’t have the strength to hold on to my dream.” Your greater self says, “Hold on a little longer; the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” After speaking about being shipwrecked, stoned, imprisoned, betrayed, hungry, thirsty, sleepless, cold and naked, Paul, who was resolute in his purpose and relentless in the pursuit of it, writes: “Who is weak, and I am not weak” (2Co 11:29 NKJV). Where does that kind of strength and tenacity come from? God! The assignment God gives you will never be greater than the grace He provides. So draw on His strength, keep pressing ahead, pursue your goal and you will prevail.
Sunday January 29
“Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others.” Eph 4:31 CEV
Don’t Give In to Bitterness
When it comes to bitterness, here are two things you need to keep in mind: (1) It is contagious. You are a part of the body of Christ. So what happens to you, and in you, affects those you are connected to both positively and negatively. The Bible says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1Co 12:26 NIV). A snakebite doesn’t just affect the body part that gets bitten; the venom spreads through the entire system. “Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time” (Heb 12:15 TM). Don’t get upset and leave the church God has placed you in. You need them and they need you. By overcoming bitterness you spread God’s blessing to others. (2) It can be overcome. Here’s how: (a) Acknowledge and admit it. (b) Don’t rehearse it in your mind or recite it to others. (c) Repent and renounce any attitude that’s not Christ-like. (d) Ask God to give you self-control, then submit to His leadership. (e) Don’t infect others and don’t let them infect you. (f) Without waiting for admissions or apologies, verbalize to yourself, God and a trusted friend, your decision to forgive all wrongs against you. “Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:32 TM). This will set you free to enjoy your relationship with God, yourself, and others. (g) Look for practical ways to “be kind…[and] tenderhearted” toward those who hurt you (v. 32 NKJV).
Monday January 30
“Your words…were my joy and my heart’s delight.” Jer 15:16 NIV
Acting on God’s Decisions
Together they built and pastored a great church. The husband was a gifted preacher and musician who wrote songs and led worship. His wife was a Bible teacher who knew God and taught His Word skillfully. But when he died, she experienced months of depression before eventually bouncing back. When someone says, “If you really love God and walk according to His Word you will never get depressed,” clearly, they have never read the Scriptures and never been depressed. Elijah called down fire from heaven in a spectacular victory, yet he became so depressed in the aftermath that he wanted to die. “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life” (1Ki 19:4 NKJV). That’s major-league depression! When you try to act super-spiritual and allow people to think you never battle in areas like fear, failure, finances, family, or feelings, you give them a complex and cause them to walk away feeling they’re not spiritual or mature enough to be used by God. Jesus uncovered Himself and washed His disciples’ feet. Then He told them to do the same for one another. You are never more effective than when you are transparent. Knowing that leadership decisions had to be made concerning the future of their church, this pastor’s wife felt overwhelmed and prayed, “Lord, I don’t know how to make all these decisions.” God told her, “I have already made every decision concerning you and the church. My will was established in the counsels of eternity. All you have to do is decide today what I have already decided yesterday, and tomorrow you will walk in My blessings and benefits.”
Tuesday January 31
“He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap.” Mal 3:2 NKJV
Fire and Soap
Soap cleanses the outside, fire cleanses the inside. And the Spirit of God does both! When you sin, repent! In-depth repentance brings in-depth cleansing. Don’t feel bad about feeling bad, feel good about it. Be glad your conscience is still sensitive and responsive to God. What you never want to hear God say is what He said about Ephraim: “Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone” (Hos 4:17 NKJV). The fact that God is convicting you of sin is proof of His love for you. God can forgive your sin but He cannot overlook it. Unconfessed sin disrupts your fellowship with Him. Forgiveness is about more than just escaping the penalty of sin, it’s about restoring your fellowship with God. You say, “Won’t God get tired of me sinning and repenting?” If Jesus told Peter to forgive his brother “seventy times seven” would He do less for you? The Bible says: “’Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’” (Isa 1:18 NKJV). When you sin and try to hide from God you only prolong your misery. So the moment you become aware of your sin, confess it, then leave His presence confident that He has forgiven you. You’re not a loser, you’re a learner. Alexander Pope said: “A man should never be ashamed to own he has been wrong, which is but saying in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.”