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January 25, 2019 · 5:18 AM

Be Encouraged

As I was reading about Moses delivering God’s message of freedom and deliverance to the Israelites, I came across a verse I didn’t remember. In Exodus 6:9 it says, “So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery” (NLT). That last sentence struck a chord with me. How many of us are so discouraged with how life is going right now that we can’t hear what God is trying to tell us? How many of us are so distracted by everything that’s going wrong that we can’t see what God is trying to do?

I’ve been there. It’s a tough place to be. When you’re where you thought God told you to go and nothing is going right. In fact, things only seem to be getting worse. I understand that place because I’ve been there. Today, I want to bring you some of God’s promises that you need to hear and hold onto. Don’t be so discouraged and distracted today on the things that you miss what God is saying to you. Read these verse. Repeat them out loud if you have to. Then stand on them and believe that God is going to make all these things you’re going through work together for your good.

Here are some promises of God in the Bible to encourage you.

1. Praise the Lord, my soul! All my being, praise his holy name! Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy. He fills my life with good things, so that I stay young and strong like an eagle.

Psalm 103:1-5 GNT

2. So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:31-34 NLT

3. The Lord who created you says, “Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.”

Isaiah 43:1-2 GNT

4. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who has no might He increases power. Even youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.

ISAIAH 40:29-31 AMP

5. Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!”

Isaiah 35:3-4 MSG

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January 24, 2019 · 5:00 AM

Keep Working

Positive reinforcement is a great tool to encourage people to continue doing what they’re doing. It rewards them for a job well done. Many companies are like mine where they give bonuses if you meet the goals the company sets for you or if you help the company meet their goals. For me, that last one comes once a year. After several months it’s easy to forget several months that I will be rewarded next year if I help the company achieve its goals long term. Sometimes it feels like a chore having to do the things I have to do because I forget about the reward at the end.

In II Chronicles 15, King Asa must have been feeling the same. He was the first king in a while to remember God. He got rid of most of the idols and shrines. He even removed his grandmother from the role of queen mother because of her love for idols. He also defeated armies with over three times as many men. God was blessing him, but he was starting to lose sight of the positive reinforcement that God was using to bless him for doing what he was supposed to do.

The spirit of God came on Azariah and he went to the king to deliver a message from God. In verse 7, he said, “But you must be strong and not be discouraged. The work that you do will be rewarded” (GNT). I believe God is saying that to you and I today. He wants to encourage us to continue doing the work He called us to. I know that we can feel like God has forgotten us as we focus on completing and doing the work He’s given us, but He hasn’t forgotten us. We will be rewarded.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.” God believes in positive reinforcement. He has given us many promises in His Word to keep doing the work even though it gets tiring and mundane. If we will continue to do what He’s called us to, we will reap a harvest and a reward. Don’t quit doing what you’re supposed to be doing. Don’t give up. God sees what you’re doing even if others don’t. He won’t fail in delivering on His promise to you.

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Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other writing ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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January 23, 2019 · 5:46 AM

Unmet Expectations

One of the things I’ve learned is that unmet or unrealistic expectations hurt and often kill relationships. When we’re in any kind of relationship, we automatically create our expectations from the other party and the relationship. If we never communicate those to them, or clarify what we think are their expectations, we will end up disappointed and confused. It’s a shame that so many relationships go south because of this, and worse that we blame the other party for the problem because they didn’t do what we expected them to do, but never clearly told them. If these misfires happen in inter-human relationships, how much more do they happen between God and us.

There are times where I’ve been so sure I’ve heard from God, but I assumed and expected it would happen a certain way. When it doesn’t happen that way, I get frustrated with God and often do something that is not in His plan. Think of Moses. Even though God told him that Pharaoh wouldn’t let Israel go without being forced to, he thought it would happen differently. When it didn’t happen according to Moses’ plan, and things got bad, he got mad and questioned God in Exodus 5:22-23. He said to God, “My Master, why are you treating this people so badly? And why did you ever send me? From the moment I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, things have only gotten worse for this people. And rescue? Does this look like rescue to you?” (MSG)

If things in your life or ministry aren’t happening the way you thought they should after you clearly heard God, hold on. He is at work in you and in the situation. We know that He works ALL things together for our good. Your frustration is simply your unmet expectation of what you thought God was going to do. Go back to God in prayer, submit to His plan and for Him to do things His way. Ask Him to help you see His plan so you understand what He’s doing, how He’s doing it and why. He may not give you those answers, but as one who speaks from experience, the sooner you submit to His plan and His way of accomplishing it, the better off you’ll be.

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January 22, 2019 · 5:56 AM

Partnering With God

The Story of Moses leading the Children of israel out of Egypt is one we’ve heard since we were children. It’s such a familiar passage that we are often tempted to just skim through it when we read it in the Bible. One of the verses that pops out at me when reading it comes from Exodus 2:25. It says, “He (God) looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act” (NLT). I love this verse because it reminds me that God is not unaware of things going on in my life even though He isn’t doing anything about them. There also comes a time when He decides to step in and do something about it at just the right time.

As you know in the story, Moses was in the wilderness running from Pharaoh because he had killed an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite. While there, he meets Jethro, marries one of his daughters and becomes a shepherd. While watching his flock, God appears to him in a burning bush that isn’t being consumed by the fire. In Exodus 3:10 God says, “Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” I think this verse is important, especially as it relates to the verse above. When God sees a need here on earth and decides go do something about it, He looks to participate with us in that process.

God could have easily sent angels to deliver the Children of Israel out of Egypt, but he chose a person to do it. I believe God is wanting to act on injustices in the world today and He’s looking for people, like us to partner with. If we’ll hear His voice and trust Him to do the impossible, we can be the people He uses. Moses didn’t feel like he was ready or able either, but when he agreed, God did some amazing things through him. What God partners with you on may not be that large. It may be helping a stranger in a time of need or a person you know going through a terrible time. Be sure to say yes to whatever God is wanting to partner with you on today. Pray and ask Him to show you how He wants to use you today.

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January 21, 2019 · 5:43 AM

Passing The Test

Whenever I was in school, I remember one teacher who enjoyed giving tests. He would wear a “test tie” on the days he was giving a test, which was really an uncoordinated, loud tie. Some he would wear a red contact lens. Once he opened a bag of chips and started eating them and crinkling the bag during the test. Whenever he gave tests, I made sure I studied because I knew there would be distractions and the test would be more difficult than the other classes. I used flash cards and met with other students to prepare to make sure we passed.

It’s funny that we spend so much time preparing for school tests, but very little time preparing for life’s test. God had so much faith in Job’s ability to pass any test that Satan could give him that he agreed to allow him to be sent through the wringer. Satan even tried to get in his head to distract him with his wife and friends who constantly accused him of wrongdoing. However, Job was prepped for the test, In Job 23:10-11 he says, “But he (God) knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside.”

Job put something inside of him that was greater than any test he would face: God’s Word and a determination to stay on God’s Paths. When life tests us and we aren’t prepared, we may be like Job’s wife and friends who wanted to curse God and die. But if we will determine in our hearts to stick with God and trust what He’s doing in our life, we will pass any test that comes our way no matter how many distractions there are. God has enough faith in you to allow you to be tested. It’s time you trusted your faith in what you’ve been taught and pass.

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January 18, 2019 · 5:55 AM

Changing Your Desires

We’ve all heard stories, and maybe some of you have experienced it, where a pregnant woman gets an intense craving for a food. No matter what time it is, she or her husband have to go out and get it to satisfy that craving. There are other times when you’re sitting there and think, “It’d be nice if I had ice cream,” but you don’t go out and get it because you simply would like to have some. That’s the difference between desire and want. Desire is this deep inner craving that won’t go away until you do something to satisfy it.

It’s important to understand the two because the Bible has a lot to say about desire. Our flesh certainly desires things that are often contrary to what God wants. Then there’s God’s spirit living in us that desires things opposite of our flesh. There is a constant war within us over which desires we should satisfy. Fasting is a great way to learn to tell the desires of your flesh, “No!” Through discipline, reading God’s Word and prayer, you can make God’s desires your desires and learn to fight back against those desires that still exist, but are contrary to what He wants for you.

Here are some Bible Verses on desire.

1. When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Romans 7:5-6 NLT

2. The desires of good people lead straight to the best, but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.

Proverbs 11:23 MSG

3. Create a new, clean heart within me. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you.

Psalms 51:10 TPT

4. I always do what God commands; I follow his will, not my own desires.

Job 23:12 GNT

5. Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and he will provide for you what you desire the most.

Psalms 37:4 TPT

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January 17, 2019 · 5:27 AM

Hidden Paths

Whenever I think about the plans God has for me and where I am, I don’t see how I can get there from here. I can see how the things I’m doing now are preparing me for that calling, but I can’t find the way to get there. I’m constantly looking for the path that takes me from this road to that one. I know I’m not alone in this. I talk to many people who tell me the plans that God has shown them scares them. Those plans are too big for them or me to accomplish on our own. So how do we get there from here?

As I was reading in Psalms recently, I came across a verse that helped me. David was faced with a similar situation and he couldn’t find the way out. He remembered how the Israelites were trapped at the Red Sea and had no way to get to where God was calling them to. They had Pharaoh bearing down on them, they were at a dead end, and had no where else to go. In that moment, God parted the sea and showed them the path.

Psalm 77:19 says, “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there!” (NLT) The path God has for you to get to your calling maybe hidden in a sea. You may not know where it is, but God does. You can rest assured that when the time comes, God will part the waters and show you the path. Until that time, stay faithful where He has you. What you’re doing now is preparation for what’s to come.

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Throwback Thursday is a new feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other writing ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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January 16, 2019 · 5:44 AM

Changing Your Perspective

I have a friend who gives a cool presentation. He starts with a picture of a house and tells you to imagine that’s your house in your neighborhood. He then zooms out and you see a statewide view. Then he zooms out more and you see half the world. Further out shows earth, then it shows how big earth is next to the other planets. Then he brings in the sun and you can barely see the earth. He then shows the sun compared to other stars until you can’t see the sun because the other stars are so big. Finally he shows a picture from the Hubble telescope of thousands of galaxies and says, “Don’t sweat the small stuff because you are the small stuff.”

Looking at how small we are in comparison to other parts of creation can make us feel insignificant. When you look at the vastness of the universe God created, it’s easy to wonder how God could care anything about us. Even David, who had no clue how small we really are wondered the same thing. Psalm 8:4 says, “Compared to all this cosmic glory, why would you bother with puny, mortal man or be infatuated with Adam’s sons?” (TPT) Like David, we can feel insignificant even in God’s eyes, but that’s not the truth.

Your life matters to God so much that He sent His son to die for you so you could spend eternity with Him. He created you with a purpose only you can fulfill. You are uniquely gifted in such a way that if you don’t do what God created you to do, it won’t get done. He takes great pleasure in you and knows the number of hairs on your head. If you’re feeling insignificant today or that God doesn’t care, take some time to think of the things God has trusted you with. When you begin to thank God today for the small things and large things He’s given you, your perspective changes.

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January 15, 2019 · 5:50 AM

Remaining Faithful

Do circumstances determine your faithfulness to God? My mom died on a Friday morning over twenty years ago. On Sunday, we all went to church. I remember a man coming over to me and said, “Didn’t your mom just pass? Why are y’all at church? I would take this opportunity to stay home.” Honestly i was shocked by the question. We had been praying for her healing for a year, but when God didn’t answer our prayers the way we wanted Him to, it didn’t mean we weren’t going to continue going to worship anymore. I looked at him and said, “This is the only place we want to be.”

After Job passed his first test by worshipping God after losing everything, Satan went back to God for permission to take away his health. Job then got painful boils all over his body. As he sat in some ashes scraping his skin with broken pottery, his wife came up to him. In Job 2:9, she said, “You are still as faithful as ever, aren’t you? Why don’t you curse God and die?” (GNT) She couldn’t understand how he didn’t blame God or continue to worship Him when all was lost. Her faithfulness to God was dependent on circumstances rather than faith.

You and I have to learn to look beyond our circumstances to the character of God. Who has He been forever? Our circumstances don’t change who He is. I love Romans 12:12. It says, “Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.” Every one of us will face hardship in life, and that season will pass. Be patient as you go through that time. Let it draw you closer to God and to deepen your faith in Him. If our faith is only skin deep, so is our relationship with God. He’s calling us to trust Him more and to remain faithful no matter what.

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January 14, 2019 · 5:43 AM

Angry At God?

I read an article on abcnews.com that asked, “Are you angry at God?” They cited a survey of Americans by Case Western Reserve University that showed between 1/3 and 2/3 of the people surveyed said they were angry with God in response to something they’re currently suffering with. It went on to say that anger at God can become a spiritual fork in the road where a person can choose to disengage from their relationship with God and stop believing in Him. I believe it’s something each of face and have to make a decision about ahead of time. Are we going to blame God when bad things happen and get mad at Him because things aren’t going our way?

The easiest solution on earth is to blame someone else. Adam and Eve both did it the moment they were caught sinning. When things don’t go right, we look for a scapegoat. Many times that is God. I’ve been mad at God a few times because of unanswered prayers and circumstances that have happened. Once I told Him, “I’ll never ask you for anything again!” It lasted for a while, but it turns out I can’t live this life without His help. God is big enough for me to be angry at, but as the Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry and sin not.”

Job was a person who had a right to be angry. In one day he lost everything he owned including his children. He could have blamed God for the sudden disasters that hit him, but Job 1:22 says, “Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God” (MSG). You and I can’t see into the spiritual realm. We don’t know everything that’s going on nor can we always see the effects of our decisions. Instead of being angry at God or blaming Him, try doing what Job did and worship a God instead recognizing that everything you have is His.

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For the article I referenced, click here.

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