October 3, 2023 · 5:49 AM

Controlling Your Words

When a toddler is mad at someone and wants to hurt them, they use their mouth to bite them. When they get a little older and they want to hurt someone, they say, “You’re not my best friend!” As they age a little more, they start name calling. Then the preteen and teen years come and the put downs start. It’s not long before they’re married, and when they get into an argument with their spouse, they use their words to attack the vulnerabilities of the person they love most in the world. No one has to teach us to use words to hurt. It starts at a very young age and if we don’t learn to control that urge, we’ll leave a lot of hurting people in our wake.

In Genesis 37, Joseph shared his God given dream with his brothers. Verse 8 says, “His brothers responded, ‘So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?’ And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them” (NLT). Their put downs of Joseph turned into murmuring among themselves about Joseph. Those words became a breeding ground for bitterness and hate until finally they decided to kill him. Instead they sold him into slavery for 14 years until God raised him up to be second in command of Egypt which saved his family. When they realized it was him, they were scared. But in Genesis 50:20, he spoke kindness to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” His words restored the relationship.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” You and I have a choice every day of how to use our words. We can use them to tear people down or to build them up. In this passage, Paul leads up to this verse telling us as believers to not lie or to sin when we get angry. Instead of using our words in anger towards someone, we must learn to edify. The power of life and death is in the words you use. Don’t go shooting it off just because you’re mad, angry or upset. Think about how your words will be interpreted and the ramifications of what you say because once words get past your lips, you can never get them back. Make it a habit to praise the people around you and watch lives change including yours.

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October 2, 2023 · 5:45 AM

Dealing With Doubt

Doubt is one of those things that we don’t really talk about when we go through it. The thoughts come in, we try to dismiss them away, but sometimes they linger. If you grew up in church and come from a family of generational Christians it’s natural for the enemy to try to plant seeds of doubt in your mind, especially after a tragic event or death of a close family member. We don’t talk about it because of the way we were raised, but if those thoughts linger, they will begin to show up in our actions. The good news is that when we go through periods of doubt, research shows that it gives us a chance to strengthen our relationship with Jesus and to let our roots grow deeper into Him. Doubt often produces a stronger faith. The faith we talked about our whole life becomes real when we experience God intervening in our life and revealing Himself to us.

In John 20, Jesus had resurrected from the dead. Peter and John had been to the empty tomb, but only Mary Magdalene saw Him. Doubt filled their minds I’m sure, but Jesus appeared to all of them that night with the exception of Thomas. He wasn’t in the room. When they tried to tell him their experience, he didn’t believe and famously said, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” (verse 25 NLT). We’ve nicknamed him and shamed him by calling him “Doubting Thomas”, but the truth is we all doubt at times and need God to reveal Himself to us in a real way. We all look for those moments we can look back on and say, “I know that was God!”

In Psalm 94:19 David says, “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Even King David, who slayed a giant, experienced doubts but he always went back to God’s Word and found comfort in God. Romans 10:17 reminds us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. When doubts arise, read the Bible, go to the Lord in honest prayer and let another Christian you know and trust pray with you. We all experience periods and moments of doubt. Let them drive you to know God more and to have that moment where you place your finger in His hands and put your hand in His side so to speak. He is willing to let you experience it to grow your faith. Don’t let doubt chase you away. Use it to grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

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September 29, 2023 · 5:42 AM

Embracing Truth

In John 18, Pilate was questioning Jesus and asked if He was a king. “You are right.” Jesus said, “I was born a King, and I have come into this world to prove what truth really is. And everyone who loves the truth will receive my words” (TPT). Then Pilate asked, lWhat is truth?” The Bible didn’t record Jesus’ answer. He had already told us that He is the truth earlier in His ministry. Truth is not something that you and I create, nor can we have our own truth since truth comes from God Himself. The truth is what God says over what your eyes see or your mind thinks. The truth of who you are is who He says you are, not what your circumstances try to dictate. His truth is greater than anything because His truth frees us from lies, overrides the lies of the enemy and sets us right with Him. We must learn to believe in and embrace His truth.

Here are some Bible verses on God’s truth.

1. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

John 16:13 NLT

2. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

John 17:17 NLT

3. Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Philippians 4:8 AMP

4. For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives.

John 8:32 TPT

5. Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart.

Ephesians 6:14 TPT

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September 28, 2023 · 5:30 AM

Keep Failing

Several years ago I decided I was ready for the next step in my career. I wanted to be the General Manager of a retail store. I put on my suit, rehearsed answers of my achievements, thought of people I had helped get promoted and confidently walked into the interview. The District Manager followed the script for a little while then said, “I hate these questions. They don’t really tell me anything. Tell me about a time when you failed.” I sat there with a blank face. My heart was pounding. I thought, “A failure? Why does he want to know about my failures? Is he trying to keep me from the job?” As I searched for a good failure, I asked him to repeat the question. I then gave him a failure when everything turned out good, but he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted one where I crashed and burned because he wanted to see how I responded to it.

Our past failures are something that so many of us try to hide. In fact, we are so afraid of failure that we typically won’t ever put ourselves in a position to fail at doing something. We try to stick with what we know so that we’re always succeeding. What my District Manager wanted to see if I had learned that failure is the greatest teacher. It is also our path to grace. If we never fail, we have no need for grace. If we never try to do something beyond our abilities, we also keep our faith small by never trusting God to do something through us. God rarely calls us to do things that we can do in our own strength and abilities because He knows pride is always knocking on our door waiting to take credit for our successes. However, when we do things beyond our abilities, it forces us to seek and rely on Him.

James 1:5 says, “And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace” (TPT). God doesn’t ridicule your failures. He’s not waiting to strike you down when you fail either. He sees them as opportunities to grow us and to lavish His grace on us. When we’re called to something greater than our abilities, seek His wisdom first, then step out in faith and do it. If you fail, it doesn’t mean you didn’t hear God or that He didn’t come through for you. It quite often means you and God have two different definitions of failure and success. Don’t let what you think is a failure keep you down. Get back up, trust His grace and keep walking in faith because to keep playing things safe is truly a failure.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio.

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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September 27, 2023 · 5:42 AM

Forgiving The Past

Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway church told the story of a time he was on stage about to preach. While he was looking out into the audience, the Holy Spirit pointed out a woman to him. When he stepped up to preach he started talking to her from the pulpit. He said, “The Holy Spirit showed you to me and asked, “Do you know her past?” With that, the woman looked down in shame. He said, “I told Him, ‘No, Lord. I don’t know her past.’” He then asked her to look at him. He then said, “I heard the Spirit say back, ‘Neither do I!’” She began to smile. He then told her, “Ma’am, God knows everything about you and He has chosen not to remember your sins. It’s time for you to choose to not remember them anymore as well.”

In John 8, Jesus was minding His own business when a group of men making a commotion came up to Him forcing a woman to come along. They told him in front of everyone that she had been caught in the act of adultery. They reminded Him how the Law of Moses said that she deserved to be stoned to death. With rocks in their hands, they asked Jesus, “What is your verdict?” After drawing in the sand He said, “Let the one who is without sin throw the first stone.” One by one they dropped their rocks and walked away. Jesus looked at her and asked if there was anyone left to condemn her. She told him no. Then in verse 11 He said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more” (AMP). She walked away from that meeting forgiven and with a new outlook.

Hebrews 10:17 says, “And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].” If you have asked God to forgive your sins and repented, they are forgiven and forgotten. It’s time for you to forgive yourself and let go of your past. Quit allowing the enemy to use it to shame you and hold you back. They’re gone! Let them go too and walk in freedom starting today. The price of your sins were paid for by the blood of Jesus. You don’t have to live in shame or hold yourself back trying to pay for them yourself. If Jesus’ death wasn’t enough, there’s nothing you could do to make up for them. It was for you to walk in freedom that He set you free (Galatians 5:1). It’s time to step out of your self imposed prison. God has forgotten your past. It’s time for you to forget it too.

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September 26, 2023 · 5:39 AM

No Comparison

One of the most exclusive clubs in the world is to be a president of the United States. Each one has a legacy and way that they’ve run the country. New asters and people alike compare them against each other constantly. I imagine that being in that role it would be hard not to compare yourself against the presidents who came before you. Teddy Roosevelt fell into that trap, but soon learned the lesson of comparing yourself to someone else. He wisely said that comparison is the thief of joy. If I’m constantly comparing myself to another person, it’s hard to be happy, yet it’s something we all do. We try to measure ourselves against someone else to gauge how we’re doing. The problem is while we’re all running a race, we’re on different tracks. There’s no way to truly compare.

In John 21 Peter was slipping into that mindset. He had betrayed Jesus three times and decided he wasn’t worthy to continue being a disciple. After all, in his mind, no one else had betrayed Jesus. After not catching fish all night, they heard Jesus tell them to cast their nets on the other side again. They then had breakfast and Jesus pulled Peter aside to ask him if he loved Him and to tell him to feed His sheep. Jesus then told Peter, “Follow me,” again. He then told Peter how he would die one day. John was nearby and Peter asked Jesus about him. Jesus replied, “If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you? You follow Me!” (AMP) Jesus was telling him not to compare himself with John. He wasn’t called to do what john was. He had his own race to run.

Galatians 6:4 says, “But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another.” If you’re going to compare yourself to someone, compare yourself to Jesus. He is our measuring stick and we’re all going to fall short which keeps us humble and shows us our need for Him. Don’t let pride trick you into looking at someone else other than Jesus so you feel better about yourself. Run your own race and follow the path God has for you. That is how you maintain joy in your relationship with Him and will continue to follow Him because you’re keeping your eyes on Him and not someone else.

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September 25, 2023 · 5:21 AM

Heaven’s Ambassador

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and knowing a lady who is an ambassador from another country. She’s not like the ambassadors and diplomats they portray in movies. She doesn’t drive around in a car with her country’s flags flying from the hood. What she does is the work of an ambassador. She works as a liaison between her country and the United States. Her goal, like all ambassadors, is to build relationships, to communicate important information and to promote programs that benefit both countries. She has fascinating stories of the work her office does and honestly inspires people to want to visit her country when she talks about it. Her work is never done it seems. She is always traveling and educating and promoting.

In John 20, we read the story of the women who went to the tomb of Jesus and found the stone had been moved. When they told the disciples, Peter and John raced to it to find it empty as well. That night, as they were talking about it, Jesus appeared to them. He showed them His scars and wounds. They rejoiced because it was really Him. Then in verse 21 He said to them, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives]” (AMP). He then instructed them to do the work of an ambassador. However, His call wasn’t just to them in this moment. It goes out to you and I as well.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.” Wherever you go, you are His representative to promote His Kingdom here on earth. You should be communicating His love for others, giving your testimony, telling stories of what God has done for you and inspiring others to want to go to Heaven. You don’t have to fly the Christian flag from the hood of your car announcing it everywhere you go that you’re an ambassador, but you should be living in such a way that’s different from the customs of this world. As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to be His representative so you can make a difference in the lives of others and build a bridge between them and God.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

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September 22, 2023 · 5:14 AM

Don’t Neglect Your Responsibilities

Did you know that to neglect something is to not give attention to something that is your responsibility? I have a friend who went to buy a house recently. The house had never been lived in and was beautiful. The problem was that it had been built ten years early. The couple who built it went through a divorce during the building process and could never agree on selling it. When they finally did, the years of neglect had taken its toll and made it unlivable. The same thing happens to all things we neglect. The Bible is very specific on many things that God says we should never neglect so that they don’t become unusable. These things the Bible mentions are our responsibility to care for and maintain on a regular basis.

Here are some Bible verses on things we shouldn’t neglect.

1. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 4:14 ESV

2. So be careful to obey and do everything that is written in the book of the Law of Moses. Do not neglect any part of it.

Joshua 23:6 GNT

3. Give respect to your father and mother, for without them you wouldn’t even be here. And don’t neglect them when they grow old.

Proverbs 23:22 TPT

4. Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2 AMP

5. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

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September 21, 2023 · 5:30 AM

Chasing Your Dream

What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail? What dream would you go after? So many times fear of failure or being defeated is what holds us back from chasing after the things God put in our heart. Back in the early 2000’s, I started writing devotionals. There were no blogs really, and social media was yet to come. I figured I would just email them out to friends and whoever wanted them. I asked about five people if they’d be interested. One of them replied, “Please don’t put me on any list. I get enough junk mail as it is.” I let the fear of other rejections hold me back. I didn’t write devotions for 10 years after that. I quit chasing after something God put in me because of something someone else said.

After the Israelites left Egypt, God reminded them that He had promised them land. It was a good, beautiful, fertile land, but they would have to fight to take possession of it. They were guaranteed victory if they were willing to fight for it. Instead 10 of the 12 spies came back confirming what God said about the land, but they were afraid of the giants and walled cities in the land. It took forty years before they had an opportunity again. This time, the spies were told how fearful everyone was of them, and it boosted their confidence. In Joshua 2:24, they reported back, “The Lord has given us the whole land for all the people in the land are terrified of us” (NLT).

The only thing that changed was that they quit listening to fear and started listening to God. That’s exactly what you and I need to do. No, it won’t be easy and there will be some struggles and battles ahead when you chase after what God has put in you. You are guaranteed victory in the long run if you will push past your fear. God is ready to act on your behalf, but you have to be the one to step out in faith to chase after what He called you to. As my friend says, it’s time for you to smash fear in the face! The enemy is afraid of you doing what God told you to do, so he uses fear to hold you back. Know that the Lord has given you those dreams and will make them happen. You just have to step out in faith and chase them.

Photo by Nicholas Mullins 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.

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September 20, 2023 · 5:46 AM

Dressed For Battle

The Landsnechts were German speaking mercenaries hired for battles in the 1400’s – 1700’s. You couldn’t miss them on the battlefield. They wore oversized, flats berets to battle with amulets and ostrich feathers attached to it. Their shirts were baggy with puffy sleeves of vibrant colors. Their pants were also colorful and baggy. They were a sight to be seen on the battlefield. Emperor Maximilian said they should be allowed to wear whatever they wanted to battle because their lives were so short and brutish. Could you imagine seeing someone wearing something so vibrant to a battle? These days wear camouflage and ghillie suits to blend in with the environment. What you wear to a battle should give you a competitive advantage rather than place a target on you.

In 1 Samuel 17 we see young David show up to the battlefield. The army is dressed for battle, but the other side has a formidable giant whose mouth was just as big. He called out to the army for 40 days taunting them and challenging them. No one rose to the occasion. Instead they cowered in fear. When David heard it, he got mad and wanted to fight. The king heard about it and decided to send him out to fight Goliath rather than to continue the stalemate. He placed his own armor on David, but he couldn’t walk with all of it on. Instead he grabbed his shepherd’s staff, five smooth stones and his slingshot to head out to the battle. The giant laughed that they would send someone out without armor and so seemingly I’ll prepared. Goliath walked toward David, but David ran to him, put a stone in the sling, killed the giant and then cut off his head with his own sword.

Ephesians 6:13 says, “So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground” (GNT). You and I are in a spiritual battle every day. What armor are you wearing for it? Do you even have any on? If we’re going to hold our ground we must wear the armor that God made for us. Someone else’s armor won’t do (see the story of the seven sons of Sceva). God gives us a helmet to protect our mind, a breastplate to protect our heart, a belt that reminds us of the truth over the lies, shoes that carry us to help others, a shield to protect us and a sword to advance. Without these, we’re I’ll prepared for the battle we’re in and can be easily defeated. Paul tells us to put on the armor now so don’t wait. He’s given you everything you need to stand through anything and hold your ground.

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