July 25, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Moving God’s Boundaries

I read a news article recently about a farmer in Belgium. He was out plowing his field one day when he came across a stone that was where he was trying to work. He stopped plowing, moved the stone about 7 feet and went back to work. A little while later, a person was hiking in the woods near his home and saw the stone had been moved. He called the authorities and alerted them. It turns out that it wasn’t just any stone he moved. It was a stone that marked the border between Belgium and France. He inadvertently made Belgium about 7 feet wider. When he told them what happened, they all laughed, but told him to put it back, which he promptly did.

Saul, who was the first king of Israel, tried to move the boundaries that God had set too. When God told him to kill all the animals in a military campaign, he spared the best ones and the king. When he was confronted by the prophet, he said he only spared them in order to sacrifice them to God. In another instance, the prophet had told him to wait before going to battle until he arrived to make a sacrifice. When the prophet didn’t show up exactly on time, Saul began to panic. He saw his men deserting him before the battle. He offer the sacrifice himself which was against the direct order given to him and the Law of Moses. When Saul moved the boundaries because of his impatience and self reliance, God took the kingdom from him.

Proverbs 22:28 says, “The previous generation has set boundaries in place. Don’t you dare move them just to benefit yourself” (TPT). What boundaries that God has set have you moved because it was convenient for you? We all test boundaries and move them trying to enlarge our own territory. The problem is that when we do, we’re shrinking God’s territory in our lives. Our flesh is constantly at war with our spirit fighting over that boundary. It’s time that we moved the boundaries back to where God established them. If we truly want to thrive and to live the life God created us to live, we need to obey what God has said and to become dependent on Him rather than ourselves. God established our boundaries for a reason. We must respect them and obey them even when we don’t understand.

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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.

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July 24, 2024 · 5:38 AM

Increasing Your Capacity

When I was younger I would go to the YMCA to exercise. However, the weight room always intimidated me. I would see these big, buff guys in there stacking on the weights, bench pressing them and then cheering each other on. The question people would always ask is, “How much can you bench?” I would just shrug and then they would toss out a number. I looked up the World Record in bench pressing. It’s held by Julius Maddox who bench pressed 782 pounds. He trains four times a week strengthening his arms, back and shoulders. Jimmy, you and I have the same body with the same capabilities, but he has increased his capacity through weigh training. Without increasing our capacity, you and I could never handle that kind of weight.

In Luke 15, Jesus told the story of two bothers. The younger brother didn’t want to wait until his father’s death to inherit his portion of the family wealth, so he asked for it early. He went out and spent it all on momentary pleasures. He left nothing for the future. The other brother stayed home and continued to work for the father, learning the family business. Because the younger brother hadn’t increased his capacity to understand money, nor did he work to earn it, he didn’t appreciate it. He went through it all much like most lottery winners today. There’s a difference in a person’s capacity to handle wealth when it’s handed to them and when they’ve worked for it. There are ways to increase your capacity in just about every area of life.

In Matthew 25 we read the Parable of the Talents. Two men were able to increase their master’s money, while one didn’t. To the two who found ways to increase, He said in verse 21, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” Like the Prodigal Son, many of us pray for greater responsibilities or blessings, but we haven’t been faithful in the little things where we are now, nor have we increased our capacity to handle more. Just like we couldn’t bench press as much as Julius Maddox, we can’t handle more of God’s blessings until we’ve learned to handle what we’ve been given today. Rather than seeking God for more, seek growing your capacity for the moment you’re in. When you’ve shown that you can increase what He’s given you, He’ll give you more.

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July 23, 2024 · 5:32 AM

The Pruning Process

One of my favorite summer snacks is grapes. I always look for bags with the biggest, crunchiest grapes in them. It turns out that the size and amount of grapes per cluster has a lot to do with how their caretaker pruned the vine. Pruning the vine Allows the plant to receive more sun light which is necessary for their growth and production. If they don’t prune them, the chutes will grow wild, take up necessary energy and prevent the sunlight from getting to where it’s needed. Unless they cut these back, their growth will be inhibited .It turns out that the secret to getting the most plentiful harvest is pruning. It’s the same with us.

Peter was a follower of Jesus and one of His most prominent disciples. He was the on,y one to volunteer to get out of the boat in the middle of the storm. He was also the one to speak up and declare that Jesus was the Messiah. There was still room for growth though and there were times when he needed to be pruned. He openly rebuked Jesus for saying He was going to die. He denied knowingly Jesus and even went back to his old life of fishing. Each time Jesus patiently pruned him and brought him back into the fold. Jesus even prayed that Peter would return and strengthen his brothers. He understood Peter had to go through the pruning process to build the strength in him to be the head of the early church. He had to cut back the things that were holding Peter back, and He’ll do the same for us.

John 15:1-2 says, “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit” (GNT). It’s important to know that pruning is not punishment. It’s a necessary part of the growing process. It’s a way that God let’s more light into our life so we can produce a greater harvest of the Fruits of the Spirit. It is painful for us to go through, but He know which branches in our lives need to stay and which to cut. Everything He does is for your good and for your benefit. Don’t reject the pruning process. It means He sees great potential in you and is working in your life to propel you forward.

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July 22, 2024 · 5:37 AM

Acts Of Bravery

On May 5, 1945, Desmond Doss acted with courage and bravery atop Hacksaw Ridge. He was a US medic at the Battle of Okinawa. The US military were trying to take the top of Hacksaw Ridge from the Japanese. After some fierce fighting, the Japanese laid in wait until all of the American climbed a high cliff before they ambushed them. Many soldiers were wounded and killed in the onslaught. The US military leaders called retreat, but Desmond couldn’t leave the wounded up there alone. In an act of bravery and heroism, he stayed atop the ridge and rescued men, one by one. He treated them and then lowered them down the cliff all night long while under the threat of being attacked and killed. He saved 75 men that day because through an incredible act of bravery and determination to not leave them in the hands of the enemy.

In 1 Samuel 17, we read that the Philistines had encamped on Israel’s land. Their champion was a giant who came out and defied the armies of Israel, challenging them to fight him. Each man, including the king, was afraid of him. For forty days this giant terrorized the army causing them to panic and run away from the battle. That’s when young David arrived at the battlefield. He saw the same giant and heard the same threats, but instead of being afraid, something rose within him. In an act of bravery, he went out to face the giant alone without a sword or armor. His faith was his courage, his trust in God gave him bravery to stand up to the threats and taunts of the enemy. On that day, the enemy was defeated by a boy who had trusted in God and was brave enough to stand up to the giant of an enemy.

Philippians 1:28 says, “Don’t be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory” (GNT). I don’t know what enemy you’re facing today or where it’s standing in your way, but God has called you to possess the land and advance. There are souls to be won. Just like God told Joshua, He’s telling you to be brave and courageous. God gives us the victory when we stand up to the enemy who roams around like a roaring lion. It’s not an easy thing to do, and often it feels like you’re alone, but God is with you. It’s time to quit being afraid of the enemy’s taunts and lies. It’s time to challenge him the way David did Goliath. Be brave and courageous. Let today be the end of the giant standing on your territory.

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July 19, 2024 · 5:32 AM

Learning To Submit

We’ve relegated the word “submit” to a seldom used word and have lost its true meaning over time. It actually means to yield in surrender to something. We don’t really like to yield or surrender our position. Just watch the next time a lane closes on a road. In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah follows what God told him to do and finds Elisha. He puts his cloak around him asking him to be his student. Elisha then takes the yoke from his oxen, burns it and butchers the oxen to cook on the fire. He then followed Elijah and served him. By burning the yoke and eating the oxen, he was submitting to God’s plan and burning the bridge to his old life. By accepting the cloak, he was submitting to Elijah. Submitting is hard, but a necessary discipline in Christianity. It’s something God requires of each of us as we become disciples.

Here are some Bible verses on submitting.

1. In the same way you younger people must submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 GNT

2. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

3. And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT

4. You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Hebrews 12:7 AMP

5. So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

James 4:7 GNT

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July 18, 2024 · 5:30 AM

We Need To Worship

In Job 1. we read one of the most devastating stories a person could ever go through. In one day, Job lost all his possessions, his servants, his shepherds, his livestock and his children. One bad report came right after the other. In under a minute, he had lost everything. His knees buckled and he fell under the weight of everything. Verse 20 says. “Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship” (NLT). I imagine him face down with his hands raised up in surrender. He didn’t understand why everything was happening, but he did understand that God would care for him. The final verse in the first chapter says he didn’t sin by blaming God.

Every one of us are going to experience hardship that we don’t understand. Every one of us are going to unexpectedly lose things and people that we love with no answer as to why. Jesus said in Matthew 5:45 that God causes the sun to shine on the just and the unjust just like He causes it to rain on both. We are not exempt from pain, disappointment or loss. Instead, we have an anchor to hold on to when all seems lost. We have hope that others do not have. We can still worship in the middle of a storm we don’t understand. We can still trust God’s plan when our plans are torn from us. We can still look ahead when we’re too weak to move.

Hebrews 12:12-13 says, “So be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship. And strengthen your weak knees, for as you keep walking forward on God’s paths all your stumbling ways will be healed!” (TPT) When we are at our lowest, we need to worship. When we are out of options, we need to worship. When all seems lost, we need to worship. When we are too tired and feel like giving up, we need to worship. Worship regains our perspective. Worship renews our strength. Worship gives us hope. Worship keeps us moving forward when we can’t see the path. We don’t have to understand what God is doing, or even why. Like Job, we have to trust that He sees the bigger picture and knows what He’s doing. When nothing makes sense and you can’t do anything else, worship. He inhabits the praises of His people. He will not abandon you in your greatest time of need.

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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.

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July 17, 2024 · 5:34 AM

Becoming A Conqueror

The Roman Empire conquered much of the known world. It was the most extensive and influential empires up to that time. At it’s peak, they had conquered about 20% of the known world. To put that in perspective, that’s more than double the population of North and South America. They say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” James Clear adds, “But they were laying bricks every hour.” Becoming a conqueror doesn’t happen overnight. It takes doing the little things day in and day out. It takes staying focused on the mission of growth. We normally think of battles when we think of conquerors, but once the battle is over, they rule by their culture and discipline.

Daniel was a man who was conquered and held captive, but became a conqueror within the nation that overtook his homeland. When he was carried away, they tried to get him to eat the king’s food. Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile (taint, dishonor) himself with the king’s finest food or with the wine which the king drank” (AMP). He stayed disciplined even in the face of adversity. When he was told he could no longer pray, he continued to and they threw him in a den of lions for it. When the kings magicians and wise men couldn’t tell him what he dreamed, he ordered them to be killed. Daniel asked for time and then told the king his dream. He stayed true to his culture and remained disciplined even though the culture was against him.

Romans 8:37 says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].” God has made you more than a conqueror. He has given you His spirit so you can be an over comer despite your circumstances or the culture around you. Like those who conquered before, you must be disciplined in your daily spiritual habits. Remain in God’s Word and follow what He says. You may be persecuted like Daniel, but God will give you the grace to endure. Remain in close fellowship with Him. There are lots of competing voices out there, but it’s through Him and His strength that you will be more than a conqueror. Live out your faith one brick at a time. Being a mature Christian doesn’t happen in a day. It happens in doing daily disciplines.

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July 16, 2024 · 5:41 AM

Overcoming Objections

In sales trainings, one of the things they practice is overcoming objections. People will always give an objection or excuse as to why they can’t buy your product. Most are fake and are just something they say in order to not have to buy. We would compile a list of them and then practice using a formula to show why that isn’t a valid excuse. However, it’s not just customers who come up with objections and excuses, kids do when you ask them to clean. Adults do when you ask them to go somewhere or do something. We all give excuses when there’s something we don’t really want to do or feel qualified to do. We’re all hoping they can’t overcome our objections.

In Exodus 3, Moses has a meeting with God through the burning bush. God explains that He’s heard the cries of His people in slavery by the Egyptians and it’s time to rescue them. He then gives Moses the mission to rescue them, but Moses gave an objection. He doubted himself and asked, “Who am I?” God overcame it by saying He wouldn’t be alone because God Himself would be with him. Then Moses pushed back asking who was he supposed to say sent him. God responded with I Am That I Am. Moses wasn’t convinced and asked, “What if they don’t believe me?” Then God asked him to use the staff in his hand. Finally Moses made an excuse because of his inability to speak. God then sent Aaron to speak for him. There was no excuse or objection God would accept from Moses, nor us.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance]” (AMP). What excuses or objections have you been giving God? What have you used to disqualify yourself? Like He did with Moses, He will overcome your objections. We must submit to His will and guidance for our lives. The things you’ve gone through, the things you think disqualify you and the limitations you see in yourself are actually the things that God uses to help you connect with others. God was ready for anything Moses threw at Him and He’s ready to overcome your objections. It’s time to quit making excuses so you can commit to what He has called you to. There are people waiting to be set free through your obedience.

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July 15, 2024 · 5:39 AM

The Marshmallow Test

In the early 1970’s psychologist Walter Mischel at Stanford University invented the Marshmallow Test. The test was intended to measure self control in children under 5 years old They constructed this test to see if a child would be able to wait for something they wanted or give in to instant gratification. The child was given the choice of being able to eat one marshmallow now or two later. Some had the ability to wait it out and not eat the marshmallow. He followed all the original kids for five decades. The ones who were able to exercise self control were more successful in life. They were able to manage their selfish impulses and delay gratifying their innate desires.

In 1 Samuel 13, we read where King Saul had trouble waiting for Samuel to come make the sacrifice before they went to war. He men were beginning to be fearful and leave. Samuel had told him to wait seven days and then he would show up to sacrifice to God. When the seventh day came and Samuel wasn’t there, Saul took matters into his own hands. For this act, the kingdom was taken from him and given to David. It would be over a decade later before David sat on the throne though. He had multiple opportunities to kill Saul and become king, yet he waited for God’s timing. Even though his men encouraged him to take Saul out, he waited for God. He submitted to God’s processes and timing.

James 4:7 says, “So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you” (GNT). The people of the Church were quarreling and fighting in those days. They wanted the blessings of God like Saul without submitting to Him. It turns out human nature hasn’t changed much. We want the marshmallow now, but God offers more if we’re willing to submit to Him and His plan. If we can resist the devil and the fleshly urges, they will flee. We will find more unity within our churches and our lives when we submit to God rather than our flesh. Where in your life are you struggling to submit to God? James continues in this chapter by telling us how to overcome in those areas. We are to resist the devil, to be repentant and to humble ourselves before God. When we do, He will lift us up in due season.

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July 12, 2024 · 5:30 AM

God’s Promises

When I graduated high school, someone gifted me a book of God’s promises. That boom helped me to fall in love with the Bible. I began to dig through God’s Word looking for treasure rather than just reading it as a chore. I’ve found that God has given us precious promises to hold onto when we need hope, strength or courage. When everything else fades away, God’s Word will remain. That means His promises to you and me are good for eternity. Take time to read through these today. They are a list of some of my favorite promises that I hold onto. Which promise in God’s Word is your favorite? It doesn’t have to be in this list.

Here are some of God’s promises.

1. But those who wait for the Lord who expect, look for, and hope in Him shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Isaiah 40:31 AMP

2. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. GOD ’s Decree. I’ll turn things around for you… You can count on it.

Jeremiah 29:12-14 MSG

3. Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 GNT

4. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

5. 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.

Philippians 4:19 NLT

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