Tag Archives: what does the bible say about

September 6, 2024 · 5:26 AM

Being Triumphant

There’s a difference in walking in victory and walking in defeat. When the spies went into Jericho, Rahab told them that they knew the Lord had given them the land, that they were afraid of the Israelites and were living in fear. They went back confident that they were going to be victorious over the city with great walls. The people of Jericho were walking in defeat, while the Israelites walked around the city in victory before it happened. As believers, we are called to walk in triumphant victory. God has already given you the land. He has given you victory before you step onto the battlefield. Just like the Israelites, He has called you to do something in order to gain the victory. Don’t sit behind the Jordan in fear. Step out in faith and be triumphant.

Here are some Bible verses on being triumphant:

1. For His lovingkindness prevails over us [and we triumph and overcome through Him], And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Psalms 117:2 AMP

2. 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

3. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 NLT

4. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

5. No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 AMP

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September 5, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Trust Comes First

When I’m talking with someone who is a newly appointed leader, I don’t want to overwhelm them with a bunch of information. There’s really one thing they need to focus on with their new team, and that is trust. Without trust, nothing else really matters. You can give inspiring speeches, set daring goals and create easy to follow plans, but no one will do much until they trust the leader. Think of a leader in your life that has produced the most growth in you. They had your trust I’m sure. You would follow them anywhere they led because of that trust. People will follow any leader to the extent that they trust them. If there’s little to no trust, there will be little to no progress. The way you build trust is to say what you’re going to do, and then do what you said you’d do.

We often think of people as leaders, but the Bible is full of people who followed God and did amazing things. For each of them, there was a period where they learned to trust Him. Moses learned to trust God at the burning bush. He gave all kinds of excuses as to why he couldn’t do what God was asking because there was little to no trust. God answered them all and showed him many signs to build trust so that he could lead the Israelites out of Egypt. In a similar fashion, God had to build trust with Gideon. He was timid and afraid of his enemies when God called the mighty warrior out of him. He built trust by placing dew on his door mat. So much trust was built that Gideon trimmed down an army of 32,000 to 300 men in order to fight 135,000. It didn’t make sense to him, but because of that trust, he was able to lead them to victory.

How much do you trust God? You may not have had a burning bush experience or dew on your mat, but God has been doing things al, your life to build trust with Him. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make” (TPT). Trusting God completely is what we’re called to do, but like Moses, we tend to make excuses as to why we can’t. Or sometimes we’re like Gideon where we don’t see our own potential the way He does. Either way, you can only follow God’s leading in your life to the extent that you trust Him. If you’re not experiencing the growth or movement that you want, check your trust level. God is ready to lead you into a greater life and relationship with Him, but you must trust Him with all your heart first.

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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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August 30, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Finding God’s Rest

In Genesis 8, Noah let a dove fly away from the Ark. Verse 9 says that the dove didn’t find a place to rest, so it returned to the Ark. You and I are a lot like that dove. We often leave the place God has for us in search of something more or better, but it eludes us. We need to be as wise as this dove and return the the place of refuge God has for us. He alone is where we will find rest for our mind, our body and our soul. All throughout the Bible He let His people know that they can find rest in Him. If you’ve been searching for rest, be still, know that He is God and He gives rest to the weary.

Here are some Bible verses on finding God’s rest:

1. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will find them a place to rest. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.

Ezekiel 34:15 GNT

2. And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Exodus 33:14 ESV

3. Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is; then walk in it, And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’”

Jeremiah 6:16 AMP

4. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:1 NLT

5. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29 ESV

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August 29, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Destructive Forces

One of the things I’ve learned is that destruction is part of creation. A volcano is a very destructive force. We’ve all seen videos of molten, hot lava being spewed out of a volcano. Then we see a river of lava flowing down the side burning everything in its path. Eventually that lava dries and then breaks down creating some of the richest soil on earth. When you think of places that have volcanoes, have you ever noticed how green they are? Hawaii and Fiji come to mind. Without their volcanoes, they wouldn’t be as lush as they are. The very things that appear to destroy everything are what really brings life.

In our own lives, the same principle holds true. There are things in our lives that God destroys so that He can bring new life to us. It hurts us when the lava is flowing and taking away everything that seems to matter to us, but God has a plan and a purpose. What looks like total devastation is truly a remarkable new beginning that will create a more fertile life for you. It’s painful going through the times of destruction, and many times we don’t understand why. A friend told me recently that sometimes God does the Omega in our lives before He is the Alpha. He ends things so that He can begin something new.

Proverbs 16:4 says, “The Lord works everything together to accomplish his purpose” (TPT). There is purpose in everything that happens in our lives. God has a plan to redeem, restore and to recreate. He is a gardener who loves to grow things in our lives. The best things in our lives are produced from the richest soil. The richest soil is produced through destructive forces. If you’re going through a period of destruction, hold on to your faith and trust God’s plan. Greater things are coming that will be beautiful in time. God will accomplish His plan for your life. It’s a good plan that is full of life and fertile soil.

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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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August 28, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Imitating Jesus

We’re pretty good at putting people on a pedestal. We look up to athletes, influencers, famous people, pastors and even historical figures. I remember in the 90’s that Gatorade made a commercial called “Be Like Mike” with a catchy song reminding us to be like Michael Jordan. I also remember wanting to buy posters of all the people I looked up to so I could hang them on my walls. Then Charles Barkley made a Nike commercial telling everyone he wasn’t a role model and it made waves that sparked a national debate on how celebrities should act. Today I’m visiting Mount Rushmore where we pay tribute to great American presidents of the past. It’s good to have people to look up to, but every one of them have flaws because they’re human.

In Matthew 17, we read a story where Jesus took Peter, James and John up Mount Tabor in Israel. There Jesus changed in front of their eyes. His face began to shine brightly, much like Moses’ had at Mount Sinai. His clothes became white as lightning and the disciples saw their historical heroes, Moses and Elijah, show up next to Jesus. Peter began to say they needed to build 3 tabernacles like in the Old Testament for them. As he was speaking and equating them to Jesus, God spoke and said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!” (AMP) God reminded them that Moses and Elijah were just human, but Jesus was God. He wanted them to listen to Him above their heroes of the faith. It was a life changing moment for them because the transfiguration of Jesus also transfigured how they saw Him.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul wrote, “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” He understood the temptation to put him or any pastor, leader or person on a pedestal. He reminds us that we are to follow and emulate people as they emulate Christ. We have no better example of how to live that Him. We can read about Him in the Gospels, and what’s more is that He invites us into a personal relationship with Him. When we enter into a relationship with Him, we should go beyond knowing about Him to knowing Him personally. People will let you down and people will fail, but Jesus never will. Listen to your spiritual leaders, learn from them and imitate them as they imitate Christ. We bear His name as Christians. It’s time our lives reflected His.

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August 23, 2024 · 5:20 AM

Being Strengthened

Each of us have days or even periods of our lives where we don’t feel like we have the strength to face the day. I remember a period in my life where I kept repeating to myself, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” It was a way to remind myself that God provides strength in those moments. When I looked up the Hebrew word for “strengthen,” it does mean to make stronger, but it also means to grow and develop. God uses some of the darkest moments in our lives to grow and develop us as a way to strengthen us for the future. He will use the struggles we face to develop our character and faith in Him. Though these moments feel impossible to stand in, keep trusting in God’s plan. He is strengthening you.

Here are some Bible verses on being strengthened:

1. I will be strength to him, and I will give him my grace to sustain him no matter what comes.

Psalms 89:21 TPT

2. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

3. May He send you help from the sanctuary (His dwelling place) And support and strengthen you from Zion!

Psalms 20:2 AMP

4. I am the Lord your God; I strengthen you and tell you, Do not be afraid; I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13 GNT

5. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLT

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August 22, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Reading The Textbook

When I was in school, I tried to get the best grade with the least amount of effort. I developed a system where I didn’t have to truly study for tests. I took notes in class on what the professor said. The day before the test, I simply read my notes and got a good grade. It worked so well that I quit buying textbooks at college and saved a ton. Then I had one professor who lectured and lectured every class, but when the test came, none of what he lectured was on it. I asked him where the material came from on the test, he simply replied, “From the textbook. Haven’t you been doing the daily readings?” I had a choice to make, I could drop the class and lose that money or I could buy the textbook and read. That was one of the few textbooks I bought.

There’s a lot of people who approach Christianity the way I did college. They show up for a Sunday lecture, but never open the textbook between Sunday’s. I’ve tried that too and it doesn’t work. You can never know if what’s being taught is true or not unless you know what the Bible says. In Acts 17, Paul and Silas were preaching in Berea. Their message was intriguing, but different than they had ever heard. They didn’t just accept it because they were good speakers or spoke with authority. Verse 11 says, “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth” (NLT).

As believers, you and I must learn to search and study the Scriptures ourselves. Then use the tools that are available today to understand the context of them. After that we must meditate on them and learn how to apply them to our lives. Hearing and reading other people’s interpretation of them is good, but nothing replaces your study of the Scripture. Psalm 119:27 says, “Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.” If you struggle to understand the Bible, ask God to reveal it to you in a way you can understand. God doesn’t want you to be in the dark about what He says. Remember it is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105), and you are to hide it in your heart to keep you from sin (Psalm 119:11). God gave us this textbook to help us. Make sure you read it.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 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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August 21, 2024 · 5:33 AM

Being Vulnerable

Have you ever been in a group setting where the opportunity to be vulnerable in front of the group came up and there was a long pause of awkward silence? Inside you wanted to be vulnerable, but the voices quickly rushed in that said they were going to make fun of you, no one else would be vulnerable and that no one would like you if they knew that about you. Your heart started pounding through your chest. Your throat tightened up. You didn’t know what to do. I’ve seen. It go both ways in that group. One where everyone stayed silent and one where someone stepped out and shared. The one where the person was vulnerable opened the door to deeper relationships and stronger community while the other group stayed very surface level and growth was inhibited.

In Matthew 14, Jesus put the disciples in a boat and sent them across the Sea of Galilee while He remained behind to pray. That night, while they were a long way from Jesus, a storm blew in. The waves beat against the ship. The rain poured down and the wind was trying to impede their progress and push them backwards. Just then they saw a crazy sight that scared them. They saw someone walking on the water. Fear gripped their hearts. Was it a ghost? Was it coming to attack them? A voice called out trying to calm them saying it was Jesus. Peter, decided to be vulnerable in that moment of uncertainty and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (ESV). He wasn’t sure if it was Jesus, and he knew he couldn’t walk on water, yet his vulnerability allowed him to get out of the boat in a storm of rain and fear. He was the only one who walked on water that night.

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus gives us the opportunity to be vulnerable with Him. To admit you can’t do it on your own is hard. To say you need help isn’t easy, yet Jesus extends His hand to us the way He did to Peter that night as He began to sink and called out to Jesus. If you could carry the burden and do everything on your own you wouldn’t need faith or God. By going to Him, admitting you can’t do it and casting your burdens on Him, you’re giving Him margin to move in your life. You’re giving Him the opportunity to call you out of the boat onto a storm tossed sea to walk with Him. Will you be vulnerable enough with Him to do that or will you stay in the boat? One truly offers rest and the other a false sense of security. The more vulnerable you are with Christ, the deeper your relationship will be.

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August 19, 2024 · 5:42 AM

Breaking Habituation

Not long after i moved to Egypt, someone gave me the best advice. They told me to take as many pictures of things that surprised me because in a few weeks, I would grow accustomed to them. I didn’t believe them honestly, but I followed their advice. I took pictures of boats sailing on the Nile, bedouins bring their goats into the neighborhood to eat our grass and more. In psychology, habituation is the term used to describe that situation. It’s where we grow accustomed to our surroundings or situations to the point it no longer bothers us. Examples are when you see someone up north walking around in shorts in cold weather, someone tuning out noisy neighbors or even a hoarder getting used to their living conditions. After a while, the brain stops responding to the surroundings that we’re once shocking, creating a new normal.

You can see it in the book of Nehemiah. When Nehemiah asked his brother how things were going for those who returned to Jerusalem, he was told that the city walls remained broken down and that the gates were burned. Nehemiah wept for those living there and was then sent by the king to make repairs. When he arrived, he didn’t tell anyone what was on his heart. He again was moved by their situation. I’m sure he was shocked that it didn’t bother them. They had rebuilt the Temple and then began to get into the habit of living without protection. In those times it was disgraceful to live in a city without walls. I’m sure it bothered them at first, but they lacked the energy to rebuild them after they rebuilt the Temple. They became habituated to their living conditions until Nehemiah showed up and changed their perspective.

Nehemiah 2:17 says, “But now I said to them, ‘See what trouble we are in because Jerusalem is in ruins and its gates are destroyed! Let’s rebuild the city walls and put an end to our disgrace’” (GNT). In that moment their eyes were opened to their condition. They rallied around Nehemiah’s vision and rebuilt the walls. Their condition is no less different than the one many of us are living in. We’ve grown accustomed to sin in our life, the culture around us or the condition of our heart. God wants to open our eyes and reenergize us to repairing the breeches we’ve grown accustomed to. He wants to break the effects of habituation that have stagnated our growth and relationship with Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where your walls are broken down and to reignite your love for the Lord. God is ready to take you into a new season, but you have to be ready to break out of the habituation of the one you’re in.

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August 16, 2024 · 5:26 AM

The Greatest Reward

So many companies are offering rewards for downloading their app or being loyal to them. My grocery store give gas discounts, restaurants offer free food, credit card companies offer points and even the police offer money to help catch someone. We seem to be motivated by rewards. Maybe that’s why God offers us rewards as well for seeking Him and following His way of living. The reward He offers is greater than anything here on earth. He offers us the reward of finding the one thing we are all seeking. There’s a hole in everyone’s life that they spend a lifetime trying to fill. It can only be filled by Him. When we seek Him, we will find Him. When we find Him, we find our purpose. When we find our purpose, our life is fulfilled. What a reward that is! When we seek Him and draw near to Him, He draws near to us and we experience His presence moving and working in our life.

Here are some Bible verses that show God rewards us:

1. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

2. There’s a crown of righteousness waiting in heaven for me, and I know that my Lord will reward me on his day of righteous judgment. And this crown is not only waiting for me, but for all who love and long for his unveiling.

2 Timothy 4:8 TPT

3. Trouble follows sinners everywhere, but righteous people will be rewarded with good things.

Proverbs 13:21 GNT

4. The Lord rewards me because I do what is right; he blesses me because I am innocent.

Psalm 18:20 GNT

5. Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.

Revelation 22:12 NLT

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