November 8, 2024 · 5:17 AM

Having Confident Hope

I learned early on the power of hope. You could be exhausted and ready to give up, but the moment you got the tiniest bit of hope, you got a second wind. Hope gives you strength to move forward despite whatever circumstances you’re facing. It is the possibility of a chance even though the odds are stacked against you. While confidence is the belief that something will happen favorably. You trust in the outcome before it happens no matter what. The Bible talks a lot about confident hope. That is where we trust in the promises of God. The outcome doesn’t rely on chance, but rather the character of God. The more we know God, the more we will know His character. The more we know His character, the more confident our hope will be in the outcome.

Here are some Bible verses on having confident hope.

1. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 NLT

2. “There is [confident] hope for your future,” says the Lord; “Your children will come back to their own country.”

Jeremiah 31:17 AMP

3. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Ephesians 1:18 NLT

4. O Lord of hosts, How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation].

Psalms 84:12 AMP

5. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Romans 12:12 NLT

Bonus: Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Romans 4:18 NLT

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

November 7, 2024 · 7:02 AM

Priceless

Have you ever felt like you were valued at work, home or church? It’s a great feeling to know that people see your worth. It gives you a pep in your step and makes you feel ten feet tall. Conversely, when you are undervalued, it can be demoralizing. It’s like you’re invisible and that no one cares. That’s a dangerous place to be. You feel like you could quit, give up or walk away and no one would care or notice. When you’re undervalued, you feel like your contributions don’t matter.

As Christians, we’re commanded to value everyone because every person is made in the image of God. 1 Peter 2:17 says, “Recognize the value of every person and continually show love to every believer” (TPT). That means that every person we come across has value whether we like them or not. If we can’t value them enough to share the Gospel with them, what hope do they have? Romans said that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. That means that even when our lives were an offense to Him, He valued each one of us enough to give all of Himself for our benefit.

You don’t value someone by what they can give you. Valuing someone starts with understanding that Jesus died for them as much as He did for you. When we begin to look at people the way God does, we immediately begin to see their worth. Once we have those eyes, we should be ambassadors of hope going around showing people their worth. There are plenty of people in this world who feel they have no value Because of what people have told them or how they’ve been treated. Look around today and see who needs you to show them value. It could be the person in the mirror, across the room, down the hall or on the street. Whoever it is, recognize their worth and do something or say something to let them know they’re priceless.

Photo by Thibaut Lemmens on Unsplash

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

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 6, 2024 · 5:39 AM

Pushing Past Fear

Have you ever been afraid to do what God asked you to do? I have. When God asks you to speak to someone, speak to a group, give something away or whatever, it can make you feel uneasy. I usually question if I’m hearing Him. I woke up in the middle of the night once and felt the need to reach out to a person I barely knew. The message was a hard one calling them out on sin. I brushed it off and tried to go back to sleep. I wrestled with it all night, but couldn’t shake it. Finally at 6:00 AM, I gave in and sent the message. Immediately they replied asking how I knew. After explaining my night, they had a choice to make: they could stay in sin or repent. They chose the latter which caused them to uproot their family and move. Even though I was afraid to deliver the message, I trusted the voice of God.

In Judges 7, God had told Gideon to build an army to fight the Midianites. His army was just over 30,000 and going up against one over 100,000 strong. He was leading them to the battlefield when God Told him he had too many warriors. He let all who were afraid leave, and 22,000 headed home. Then God told him he still had too many and needed to weed out some more. At the brook, God had him separate the men who cupped their hands and drank and sent the rest home. He now only had 300 men, and a mind full of doubt and fear. God told him if he was afraid to go to the enemy’s camp and listen, which he did. He heard two men share dreams which confirmed the Lord was with him. He trusted the Lord, attacked and won a great victory.

Psalm 56:3 says, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (AMP). Do you trust what you’re hearing from the Lord or what you can see with your eyes? Often what God asks us to do either doesn’t make sense in the moment or moves us from our comfort zone. God understands that to get growth out of us, we must be moved from where we try to stop on our journey. He also is looking for people to give His message to someone or to share His love with them. You and I are often that vehicle and it can be scary to think about. If you’re standing in that moment now, don’t let fear win. Trust in God no matter what you feel. You can also be like Gideon and ask God for confirmation that you’re hearing Him. It’s time to step out in faith. Victory is on the other side of obedience.

Photo by Caleb Frith on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 5, 2024 · 4:48 AM

Hidden Disciplines

After I would finish a presentation or training at my last job, I would have people come up and want to know how to get a job in my position. Some would ask if they could shadow me for a day to see what the job was like. I would offer them a day in the week prior to the training, but they would push back. They wanted to be there for the presentation. I would tell them that what they see is the result of my work. If they really wanted to see my work, they needed to come when I set the room up, sat in each chair, clicked through each slide, checked every link and worked on my delivery. I rarely had anyone want to shadow on those days though. They wanted to be on stage rather than when I did the behind the scenes disciplines.

Jesus had large crowds who followed Him. They would yell out things like, “God bless the woman who birthed you!” They would walk around the Sea of Galilee to meet Him where He docked. They loved hearing the authority in His voice, the confrontations with the religious leaders, the parables, the miracles and being fed fish and bread. However, several times throughout the Gospels that Jesus got up early to go pray or that He went to a desolate place to be alone with God. It never says that anyone went with Him. They knew where He was going and what He was doing, but no one went. When Jesus invited them into the Garden of Gethsemane, they fell asleep rather instead of praying. They were missing the disciplines necessary for everything Jesus was doing until we get to the book of Acts. Then they turned the world upside down.

In Acts 6 the disciples said it wasn’t good for them to neglect teaching the Word of God. Then in verse 4 they said, “But we will [continue to] devote ourselves [steadfastly] to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (AMP). They understood that daily time in prayer and in reading the Word is what gave them the ability to know the Father’s will and to know what He wants said. You can want the stage and the visibility. Your talents may even get you there, but it will be your hidden disciplines of spending time alone with God that keeps you there. When you look up great men and women of faith throughout history, you will find that they were people of prayer who spent time in the Word. If you want to increase your effectiveness as a Christian or minister, increase your time alone with God. Your hidden disciplines will be honored by God.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

November 4, 2024 · 5:29 AM

Your Greatest Need

When someone experiences an emergency situation or loses a family member, people show up. Before they leave, they almost always tell the affected person to call them or let them know what they need. They never get called and things go undone because they honestly don’t know what they truly need. I’ve also seen people ask that question, and when they get the same answer, they look around and start what needs to be done. They clean the house, straighten up, organize food, help them make decisions and anything else they see to do. The affected person needs help, but they don’t know what to ask for or ask for something that isn’t at the top of the list.

In Mark 2, we read the story of four friends who are doing their best to meet the need of their paralyzed friend. They took him to see Jesus to be healed, but when they showed up, they couldn’t get to Him. The house was full of people and it spilled out into the streets. Undaunted by this set back, they carried their friend onto the roof and began to break it open. Once they found Jesus in the house, they lowered their friend down in front of Him. Verse 5 says, “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven’” (NLT). They had brought their friend for healing, yet Jesus forgave his sins instead. Why? Because Jesus knew his greatest need was eternal life rather than the healing of a temporary body.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” We often go to God taking Him our needs, but He doesn’t always start by answering what we think He should. God knows your every need. He also knows what your greatest need is, even if you don’t. After forgiving the man’s sins, He turned around and healed him. God will always meet our deepest needs first. He’s not looking at the situation the same way we are. He has an eternal perspective. Have you thought about your greatest need? If you’re unsure what it is, ask God to meet it from His glorious riches.

Photo by Amadeo Valar on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

November 1, 2024 · 5:29 AM

God Hears You

In Daniel 9-10, the Bible says that Daniel was praying for his people and for understanding of a vision. In chapter 10 verse 12, an angel said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer” (GNT). God heard his prayers and sent an answer that didn’t come right away, but it was on the way from the first moment. I want to encourage you today to keep praying. From the first moment you started praying, God heard you. When answers don’t happen quickly, keep at it. God hears the softest whisper of your heart, the loudest wail and the earnestness of your prayers. Keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking. He hears you.

Here are some Bible verses reminding us that God hears us:

1. But certainly God has heard [me]; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

Psalms 66:19 AMP

2. For he has not despised my cries of deep despair. He’s my first responder to my sufferings, and when I was in pain, he was there all the time and heard the cries of the afflicted.

Psalms 22:24 TPT

3. I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear] My voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs).

Psalms 116:1 AMP

4. In my trouble I called to the Lord; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

Psalm 18:6 GNT

5. When I had nothing, desperate and defeated, I cried out to the Lord and he heard me, bringing his miracle-deliverance when I needed it most.

Psalms 34:6 TPT

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

October 31, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Your Inner Circle

When I was a kid, I began to hear my parents tell me, “You become like those you run with. Choose wisely.” Those were wise words to a child, but they’re also wise words to you as an adult. We like to think that people don’t change us, but the truth of the matter is that each of us are being sharpened and shaped by the people closest to us. They’re the ones whom we let down our facade the most with to show who we really are. Because of that vulnerability, they become the people who shape our decisions, our interests and even direction of our life. Your innermost circle of friends even determine the level of success you’ll have in life. You can’t soar with eagles if you’re scratching around with turkeys all the time.

The Bible has a lot to say about friendships. It gives examples of people like David and Jonathon who were willing to sacrifice everything for each other. There’s also Paul and Timothy whose friendship was one where Paul was a mentor as he shaped this young pastor. However, Job had some friends that gave him bad advice and weren’t able to endure the suffering with their friend. They used their influence in his life to try to misrepresent God and affect his relationship with Him. The people we let in our innermost circle of friends shape even our relationship with God, so it’s eternally important to choose wisely.

In Psalm 101:6 David says, “My innermost circle will only be those whom I know are pure and godly. They will be the only ones I allow to minister to me” (TPT). He understood the importance of that group on his relationship with God and wanted to protect it most. Who are you allowing to minister to you and to shape your relationship with God? Are they pushing you closer to Him or are they misrepresenting God to you? If they’re not making you sharper, challenging you to grow more or improving your relationship with God, they’re holding you back. David was selective about who he let into that group, and we should be too. God is calling us to greater maturity, faith and relationship with Him. Are the people closest to you influencing you in that direction?

Photo by Kingsley Osei-Abrah on Unsplash

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

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 30, 2024 · 5:40 AM

Wilderness Seasons

Some of the toughest seasons in life to get through are wilderness seasons. They’re brought on by different things that happen in our life. Sometimes we enter them shell shocked after our world has been rocked. You can’t really feel Godwin the wilderness, but you know He’s there. I’ve found myself simply going through the motions. I stand during worship, but words won’t come out. I hear the message, but nothing seems to resonate. I smile and shake hands, but feel disconnected. I try to pray, but my words fall flat. There’s no telling how long the season will last, but I’ve found that wilderness seasons are usually followed up by victory seasons.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah had just called fire from heaven and proved God’s existence to the nation when Jezebel threatened his life. Verse 4 says, “Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die” (NLT). He fell asleep there from his depression, but was awakened by an angel who fed him. He laid back down and slept again until the angel did the same thing again. He then traveled forty days and nights deeper into the wilderness where he found a cave on Mount Sinai. God spoke and asked him what he was doing there. He needed to hear from God and know His power. He experienced an earthquake, a fire and a still, small voice. God sent him back into the wilderness with instructions to anoint a new king and to appoint a successor. In that moment, God took care of the future and his present. Some of his greatest miracles are in the chapters that follow.

Deuteronomy 2:7 says, “For the Lord your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the Lord your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.” God never leaves us in wilderness seasons, and He provides for us while we’re there. I’ve learned that these seasons, while tough, have produced deeper roots in my faith. They caused me to dig down deep into God’s Word, to seek His presence and to depend on Him. I couldn’t always see Him in my wanderings in the wilderness, but when I look back, I see He never left my side. If you’re there now, keep being desperate for God to answer. It may not be big and grandiose like you want. It’s often in the still, small voice and in subtle ways. God has a purpose for wilderness seasons. Don’t rush through them. A victorious season is just ahead.

Photo by Monica Valls on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 29, 2024 · 6:53 AM

Playing Your Part

Have you ever stubbed your toe or hurt a finger? Several years ago I had a hatchback on my car. I was getting something out of it when someone honked at me. I turned around to see who it was. Just then, it closed on my hand and my thumb got trapped. I had to get the keys out of my pocket with my other hand, unlock it and lift it up to get it out. For the next couple of weeks, I thought about my thumb a lot. I had never paid much attention to how much I used it until I couldn’t anymore. The same holds true for your toe and really any body part. They all have purpose and functions that you use without thinking about it until you can’t use them.

In Romans 12:4-5, Paul wrote, “In the human body there are many parts and organs, each with a unique function. And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others” (TPT). This verse first became real to me when I worked at a church in Egypt that had over 20 denominations and people from over 50 countries present all operating under one pastor. We functioned the way the Body of Christ was supposed to. We didn’t allow our doctrinal differences to separate us. Instead, we saw the beauty in those differences, recognized how each one is used and worked under the banner of what unites us. We used to say that church was a microcosm of Heaven.

The Body of Christ is more than denominations. It’s made up of people like you and me. When we look at that verse above and think of it on an individual level, it becomes even more real. You have a unique function in the Body of Christ and are vital to its success. There are no insignificant members of His body. The rest of us need you to contribute your part for us to function the way we are supposed to. The part you play may not get you famous or even noticed by your pastor, but don’t let that stop you. The calling you have is between you and God. It’s His voice that you want to hear one day saying, “Well done.” You are vital to the Church and the part you play is important to the overall functionality of the Body.

Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

October 28, 2024 · 5:40 AM

Disconnected From God

Almost every grocery store has a florist in it. They almost always right up front when you walk in so you’ll notice them. My wife and I were admiring some of the bouquets the other day. The vase was a beautiful sculpted glass. The roses were a soft pink and were just beginning to open. The baby’s breath was dotted throughout making it look fuller than it was. We remarked about who would love to receive such a beautiful display. However, I’m not one who likes to purchase flowers because they cost a lot for something that’s about to wilt. They’ve been cut off from their source. They may look good and alive right now, no matter how much water and white powder I put in there, they’re going to start showing signs of deterioration soon.

All throughout the Old Testament, God warns His people to stay connected to Him. He tells them not to intermarry with other cultures who worship other gods because they will begin to be like a flower in a vase getting their water from another source. He tells them that they will deteriorate and that He will cut them off. Because people are so easily enticed away, He tells them to bind His Word to their body and to hide it in their heart. Yet we read the cycle of them serving Him, being led astray, God warning them, the people ignoring Him, enemies conquering them, the leaders repent and the cycle starting over. That’s the story of each of us honestly, once we are disconnected from our start to deteriorate spirituality.

In John 15:4 Jesus said, “Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me” (AMP). It’s impossible for us to produce fruit when we are disconnected from Jesus. This world and its culture are constantly trying to disconnect us from our source. It wants us to get our water from it than from Him. Like in the Old Testament, we are easily drawn away and get disconnected. We can dress it up and fake it for a while to look good, but over time, our disconnectedness from God will show up in our life. We must remain in Him to produce the fruit He wants us to produce. How is your connection to God right now? Have you been allowing yourself to get separated or tempted to drink water from another source? Repentance grafts us back into the vine to remain in Him. We can’t afford to live disconnected from our source.

Photo by marmar sa on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized