October 12, 2022 · 5:49 AM

The Blessings Of The Righteous

If you ever travel to the Middle East, one of the things you will see lots of are Palm Date trees. It grows very well in desert conditions as well as just about any climate. They refer to it as the tree of life. Without these trees, it would be difficult to sustain life in such harsh conditions. These trees provide shade on a blistering, hot day. The trunk and even the leaves are used as building materials. It’s not uncommon to see the leaves placed in roads where cars drive over them to break them down so they can be used to build with. The fruit stalks are used to make rope and of course, the dates are delicious with many health benefits. Palm trees thrive and help to sustain life wherever they’re planted.

Abraham is one of the great heroes of faith. He trusted what God said and acted on it. When God asked him to leave his family to go to place he’d never been, he packed up and left. When God told him that he would have descendants as many as the stars, he trusted God at His word. When God asked him to sacrifice his only son, the only way to fulfill His promise, he bound his son and took out his knife. Because he believed God, Genesis 15:6 tells us he was counted as righteous. Not only are we counted as righteous when we believe, we are now given a robe of righteousness when we believe in Jesus. That means you and I are entitled to the benefits of the righteous.

Psalm 92:12 says, “The righteous will flourish like the date palm [long-lived, upright and useful]; They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic and stable]” (AMP). Wherever God has you planted right now, you have the ability to flourish, be useful and bring life. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what season of life you’re in or who is around you. God will bless you so that you can withstand the conditions and produce fruit. We can’t look at where God has us and use that as an excuse for not bearing fruit or being useful because He has given you the blessings of the righteous that produce fruit in all seasons. Don’t complain to God about how difficult it is. Instead, ask Him to use you to bring life wherever you go and to use every facet of your life to be a blessing to others.

Photo by Hosni Hannoun:

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October 11, 2022 · 5:54 AM

Preparation For The Promise

I was talking with someone recently who wanted my opinion. I could tell they were a little worried when they told me that they feared God’s calling was no longer on their life because they hadn’t accomplished it yet. As they shared their calling with me and the things they were going through, it was clear to me that they were in a time of preparation. They pushed back a little saying they were getting too old to accomplish it. I reminded them of Caleb who entered the Promised Land as an older person full of wisdom and strength. He fulfilled his calling despite the years of waiting in the wilderness.

I then pointed to David. He was a young shepherd who received his calling to be king. He didn’t get taken to the throne right after he was anointed. Instead, he continued watching sheep, fought a giant and even lived life on the run before he became king. He waited over 15 years before he became king. God didn’t take away his calling even when he sinned. God uses our past to connect with others or to position us for His purpose the way He did with Joseph. His brothers sold him as a slave. He was falsely accused of a crime and placed in jail where he thought he was forgotten and God’s calling was over. Instead, he was being prepared and positioned to lead an entire country and save millions.

Romans 11:29 says, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn” (NLT). There is nothing you can do to revoke God’s calling. You’re not that powerful. There’s no circumstance that can take you away from it, and periods of inactivity are not a way to measure it. God works everything out for your good because you are called to His purposes. Don’t listen to the lie that He’s moved on and chosen someone else. Submit to the preparation, open your heart to understand and your eyes to see. God is still moving on your behalf. Some preparation takes longer than others. God knows what He’s doing. Trust Him and in the calling He gave you. Don’t get caught up looking at the present when He’s promised something in the future. His promises are yes and amen. That means they’re guaranteed through Jesus.

Photo by Zach Vessels on Unsplash

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October 10, 2022 · 5:46 AM

Being A Disciple

My wife was flipping through some Instagram stories and reels when she came across a young couple who had just landed in Rome. They showed their travel and continued by showing themselves getting a rental. They were so excited to show off the car, but while they were recording, they noticed it was a stick shift. She asked him if he knew how to drive one. He said, “No, but I’ll Google it real quick.” That got my attention. The girl said, “Keep following us as our adventure continues while he learns to drive stick shift through Rome.” The next part of their story was just text. It said, “We couldn’t do it. We kept stalling and causing traffic in Rome. We had to return the car and get an automatic.” If you drive a stick shift, you knew that was coming because you can’t learn somethings from Google. You need to be taught by a person.

Early on in Jesus’ ministry, He sat down in the synagogues to teach. They often were amazed at His grasp of Scriptures, but it wouldn’t be long before they got mad at Him. He then called twelve men who were willing to be discipled in God’s Word. Those men then discipled others as well. In Paul’s letters to the churches, we see where he did the same thing to show us a pattern of how to grow and mature in the faith. A good part of it is studying the Scriptures yourself, but the rest is done through submitting to learning from another person. In fact, the Greek word the New Testament uses for disciple means to learn and historically is between a teacher and pupil.

2 Timothy 2:2 says, “The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others” (AMP). You can’t Google or study your way into a deeper relationship with God. You need to be discipled and mentored. It’s important that you find a Paul that you can talk to, ask questions of and learn from so you can better understand and apply God’s Word. You should also find yourself a timothy whom you can teach and lead. Being a disciple is what you and I are called to be and to make. If you want to experience more of what God has for you, follow this pattern of discipleship.

Photo by Meredith Spencer on Unsplash

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October 7, 2022 · 5:36 AM

All Access

I’ve been to events where I’ve had an “All Access” pass, and I’ve been to some where I’ve been denied access. I’ve also been to an event where I wasn’t sure if I was allowed access into certain places. I played it safe and stayed back. I’m afraid that’s how many of us approach God and all His benefits that’s He’s given us. We self impose limits based on our past, our sin or our fear. However, God has given YOU an All Access pass to everything He offers. Don’t hold back in accessing His throne, His presence or His promises. When you feel unworthy or uncertain remember you’re wearing a Robe of Righteousness given to you by Jesus that makes you able to access all God has.

Here are some Bible verses on what you have access to.

1. Your faith and love rise within you as you access all the treasures of your inheritance stored up in the heavenly realm. For the revelation of the true gospel is as real today as the day you first heard of our glorious hope, now that you have believed in the truth of the gospel.

Colossians 1:5 TPT

2. Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!

Romans 5:2 TPT

3. And now, because we are united to Christ, we both have equal and direct access in the realm of the Holy Spirit to come before the Father!

Ephesians 2:18 TPT

4. This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ].

Ephesians 3:11-12 AMP

5. I am always thanking my God for you because he has given you such free and open access to his grace through your union with Jesus, the Messiah.

1 Corinthians 1:4 TPT

Photo by Harrison Haines: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-opened-door-shed-2869565/

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October 6, 2022 · 5:30 AM

A Limitless Life

They say there are four things you can never take back: the stone after it’s thrown, the moment after it’s missed, the time after it’s gone and the word after it’s spoken. There are many things in life you can undo, but words spoken in anger or in the heat of the moment usually hit their intended target and do damage beyond repair. Words can be powerful weapons that destroy or they can bring life to someone. It’s amazing how much they can affect us.

I was training a sales psychology class where we looked at reluctances and self limitations of people. As we went through them one by one, the test showed that a person in my class was afraid to admit he was in sales. He had made a good living at it, but in that moment, a lightbulb went off. He said, “I know why that’s there. A few years ago, my mom asked, ‘When are you going to get a real job?’” Her words echoed in his subconscious and were affecting his ability to make money.

Those words were spoken only once and in a passing moment, but they stuck and limited him. Each of us have words that were spoken to us somewhere along the line that are limiting our ability to love ourself, to make more money, to love certain people, to see our own potential or to have a higher self esteem. Those words float around in the back of our mind, and keep us from so much. We need to set ourselves free from their power and quit letting them hold us back.

Along the same lines, we need to learn to speak the right words to ourself and to others. In Psalm 141:3, there is a prayer we all need to pray. It says, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips” (NLT). Whether it’s words you are telling yourself or to others, give control of what you say to God. Let Him be your filter so you can live a limitless life, and allow others to do the same. You can never get your words back, so choose wisely.

Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash

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October 5, 2022 · 5:53 AM

Expressing God’s Love

One of the best books at helping me understand myself and others is “The Five Love Languages “ by Dr. Gary Chapman. We all need love, but there’s a difference in how each of us give it and receive it. What speaks love to me I may not be the same thing that speaks love to you. Some of us need to hear words of affirmation to know we are loved. Some of us need to get gifts to know someone is thinking about us. Some must have quality time with the other person to have their love tank filled, while others feel loved when someone does acts of service for them. Finally, some people need a physical touch like holding hands or an embrace to feel loved. Knowing these five things helps us in our interactions and in ministering to people.

Since I was in my earliest Sunday School class, I have heard the story of Jesus and the little children. The disciples didn’t want Jesus to be bothered by these little, snot nosed rug rats. Jesus noticed they were being held back and told them to let the children go to Him. I knew He blessed them, and I’ve seen drawings of them all around Him with Him patting them on the head, but there was something I had never noticed in that story until recently. Mark 10:16 says, “Then he embraced each child, and laying his hands on them, he lovingly blessed each one” (TPT). I had never noticed that He embraced each child.

When winning the lost, you and I can’t pick and choose who gets to see Jesus. We aren’t His gatekeepers. We must also embrace them. Each person you meet is broken and in need of love. Some need words of encouragement, some may need a meal or a cup of coffee. Others may need you to sit down and listen to their story while others may need you to mow their yard. Some may need you to simply embrace them because they feel unlovable. We must remember that God is love and people’s greatest need is to know that love. As the hands and feet of Jesus, we must express that love in a way that they will receive it. Outreach is simply reaching out with God’s love in a way that someone will feel it and receive it. Look for ways to express His love today.

Photo by HARSH KUSHWAHA:

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October 4, 2022 · 5:46 AM

Getting God’s Help

There was a time in my life when I was upset with God for not answering a prayer. When He didn’t answer, I had already purposed not to get bitter against Him, but I was still mad at Him. I knew I needed God for my salvation, but I was done with Him beyond that. I told Him, “You didn’t answer me when I needed you most. Why would I ever ask you for anything else again?” I decided that God could exist in my life, but we weren’t going to be friends. We may be on talking terms, but it wasn’t going to be friendly terms. When needs came up, I approached them with an I got it attitude. I needed God’s help, but I wasn’t going to ask for it. I lived that way for a couple of years until another great need came up that I couldn’t do anything about. Only God could. I decided to bring down my wall and reconcile with God so I could seek His help.

David was a man who spent most of his early adulthood on the run. He was pretty self sufficient in the pasture with the sheep, but when Saul started chasing him, he developed a need for God. He learned how to ask Him for help and to depend on Him. I’m not sure what kind of king he would have been had he not learned to develop his ability to ask God for help. His needs drove him to his needs as ours should for us. God uses tough times to develop our prayer life and our relationship with Him. They’re a way for us to see that we can’t always do everything on our own. They also help to humble us so that we reconcile with God and ask for His help. He loves us and is a very present help in our time of need if we’re willing to ask for it.

David prayed in Psalms 86:4, “O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help” (NLT). God is not telling you to figure it out on your own and He’s not trying to make you fail. He’s looking for you to recognize your need for Him. He doesn’t hold any grudges or our past against us. He knows we are human and that we need Him. He’s full of love for you at this very moment and is ready to help when you ask for it. Don’t let your hurt, anger or pride keep you from asking for His help when deep down you know you need it. You’re only hurting yourself when you don’t seek Him and His help. Remember, God is good all the time. You don’t have to do things on your own.

Photo by Garon Piceli:

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October 3, 2022 · 5:59 AM

Becoming God’s Partner

When my wife and I go somewhere with a group, I become a social butterfly and she looks for a place to hide. If we need to keep a low profile, she’ll jokingly say, “Don’t get any Social Security numbers.” I like to know about people. I like hearing their story, and do my best to look for avenues for us to connect. Hen you connect with people, they begin to pull down their invisible wall one brick at a time. Once their wall is down, you can really get to know the person and find out what’s really going on inside them or what they’re going through. It’s then that I can give them solutions that they’ll listen to and implement. If I never connect, I never get that opportunity.

The apostle Paul, who wrote the most books in the New Testament was a learned, well traveled person. He too looked for ways to connect with people. Everywhere he went, people gravitated to him and he had the opportunity to share the message of Christ. He attracted large crowds and was not afraid to get up and speak. He understood the importance of relational equity. People won’t listen to the hard things you have to say unless you’ve built some equity into the relationship. He was able to build it with the early churches. Because of that, he could correct in love and point them to a better way of living. He was also able to use that to share the Gospel with many different nationalities and people groups.

In 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, Paul wrote, “I became “weak” to the weak to win the weak. I have adapted to the culture of every place I’ve gone so that I could more easily win people to Christ. I’ve done all this so that I would become God’s partner for the sake of the gospel” (TPT). Paul became all things to all people so that He could partner with God. I know the thought of meeting and talking to large groups of people terrifies many of you. However, God can partner with you using your personality and skill set if you’ll be open to it. You don’t have to be a social butterfly for God to do great things through you. Wherever you go, whomever you meet, look for opportunities to connect so that God can do something in someone’s life. God does some of His greatest work in people’s lives in one on one situations. In nearly every case, He looks to partner with someone like you.

Photo by Cytonn Photography:

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September 30, 2022 · 5:36 AM

God Cares For You

One of the lies many people fall for is that God is waiting for you to mess up so He can zap you and send you to Hell. Another one is that He isn’t involved in your life, that He’s far away not really paying attention to you. The truth is that God cares deeply about you and your life. He’s cheering you on each day and genuinely wants the best for your life. He cares about your struggles, your illness and whatever you’re going through. All throughout the Bible we read that He is involved in the lives of His people and intervened constantly. They were people like you and me. I want you to know today that He cares for you and about you. Reach out to Him with whatever you need.

Here are some Bible verses showing God cares for you.

1. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity.

Philippians 4:20 MSG

2. Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

1 Peter 5:7 AMP

3. For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us.

Isaiah 33:22 NLT

4. Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalms 55:22 NLT

5. For the Lord takes care of all his forgiven ones while the strength of evil men will surely slip away.

Psalms 37:17 TPT

Photo by Evgeny Ozerov on Unsplash

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September 29, 2022 · 5:30 AM

Debt Forgiveness

“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back.” “You fly, I’ll buy.” “Quid pro quo.” “You buy this time, I’ll buy next time.” Ever used any of these expressions? Of course you have. We all do favors for favors. It’s an offer to help in exchange for help. You’ll give them what they want if they’ll give you what you want. Everybody wins. We all play the game, but what we forget is that Jesus changed the rules on it. He expects us to do for others who have no ability to pay us back.

You see, there’s no reward in doing something for others who can pay you back. It’s not really a blessing if you get a favor in return. Part of our Christian DNA should be to do for others who are unable to pay us back. It should be a part of who we are and be a regular thing we do. When Jesus was describing who got into Heaven, this is what He said in Matthew 25-35-36, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me” (AMPC).

In all of these examples, it was about helping someone out who couldn’t return the favor. He mentioned several times in the Gospels that we were to give without expecting anything in return. When you think about it, Jesus did that for us. He set the example of giving at a high cost for those who couldn’t pay Him back. If you’ve accepted Him as your savior, then He paid your debt for sin in full. There’s no way to repay Him for that. The best thing we can do is to follow His example. Give to those who can’t repay you, and don’t hold it over their head.

Photo by MART PRODUCTION:

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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