When God doesn't do what we want it's not easy, it never has been, and it never will be. Faith is the conviction that God knows more than us, and He will get us through.
Disappointment is caused by unmet expectations and it's cured by revamped expectations. Don't panic, don't give up, be patient, God is in control. It ain't over till it's over. So, when you are disappointed:
(1) Look inward. David asked, 'Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?' (Psalm 42:5 NLT). Admit how you feel. You can't deal with what you don't acknowledge. Ask God to show you the root of the problem. Is it pent-up anger? Envy? Unforgiveness? Pride? Lust? Physical and mental fatigue? Be open to what He reveals.
(2) Look upward. David said, 'I will hope in God! I will praise him.' (v. 5). Instead of focusing on your discouragement, focus on the One who knows the way out.
(3) Remember God's past faithfulness. David said, 'I am discouraged, but I will remember you.' Through every trial Joseph clung to the assurance that God still controlled his destiny. Recalling God's faithfulness builds your confidence that He will continue to provide.
(4) Remember, you don't have to understand. Just because you can't figure out what God's doing right now, doesn't mean it won't make sense later. He 'causes all things to work together for good to those who love [Him].' (Romans 8:28 NAS)
(5) Don't give in to bitterness. When your hopes are dashed, resentment can set in. 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31 NKJV).
Regardless of how deep the pit may seem, God is on your side!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The race is not to the swift. Ecclesiastes 9:11 NKJV
In Ancient Greek marathons a torch was handed to each runner at the starting line. To win, they had to cross the finish line with their torch still burning. What a picture! 'unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required' (Luke 12:48 KJV). In God's kingdom you are called to run your best race and cross the finish line with the fire in your heart still burning. The torch race was a tough one that led through mountains and valleys. Doubtless there were times when others would pass you by, when your strength would fail, when you lost your way and had to get back on track, or stumbled and had to get back up. What counted in this race was not style, but staying power!
The Bible says, 'Run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, lest you become weary and discouraged' (Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV). How did Jesus run His race? As a boy of 12 He told His parents, 'I must be about my Father's business' (Luke 2:49NKJV). Later, when the crowd tried to take Him in a different direction and impose their agenda on Him, He said, 'I must work the works of Him that sent Me' (John 9:4 NKJV). Facing the cross, He announced, 'For this cause I was born' (John 18:37 NKJV). On the cross, He announced, ''It is finished!" (John 19:30NKJV). In Revelation we see one of our last recorded glimpses of Christ, and 'His eyes [are] like a flame of fire' (Revelation 1:14 NKJV). He crossed the finish line with the torch still burning. And He is your example!
The Bible says, 'Run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, lest you become weary and discouraged' (Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV). How did Jesus run His race? As a boy of 12 He told His parents, 'I must be about my Father's business' (Luke 2:49NKJV). Later, when the crowd tried to take Him in a different direction and impose their agenda on Him, He said, 'I must work the works of Him that sent Me' (John 9:4 NKJV). Facing the cross, He announced, 'For this cause I was born' (John 18:37 NKJV). On the cross, He announced, ''It is finished!" (John 19:30NKJV). In Revelation we see one of our last recorded glimpses of Christ, and 'His eyes [are] like a flame of fire' (Revelation 1:14 NKJV). He crossed the finish line with the torch still burning. And He is your example!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I have walked in integrity. Psalm 26:1 NKJV
To protect themselves from the barbaric hordes from the north, the people of China built the Great Wall. It was so high nobody could climb over it and so thick nobody could break through it, so they settled back to enjoy life. During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three different times. Not once did the enemy try to break down the wall or climb over it; they simply bribed the gatekeeper and marched in. While those who built it were relying on their wall of stone, they neglected to teach integrity to their children. As a result they grew up without moral and spiritual principles to guide them.
Have you ever watched a big tree fall while others around it stood tall? How come the same storm that builds strength in one, topples another? You will find the answer in the tree's core and roots. Getting the idea? When it comes to building integrity, here are some questions you should ask yourself regularly:
(1) Am I the same, no matter who I'm with?
(2) Am I willing to make decisions that are best for others, even though another choice would benefit me more?
(3) Can I be counted on to keep the commitments I have made to God, myself and others? Can you say like the Psalmist, 'Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity'? (Psalm 26:1 KJV)
Life is like a vice: at times it will squeeze you. In those moments whatever is inside will come out. Image building and self-interest promise much but produce little, but integrity never disappoints. So, work on your integrity.
Have you ever watched a big tree fall while others around it stood tall? How come the same storm that builds strength in one, topples another? You will find the answer in the tree's core and roots. Getting the idea? When it comes to building integrity, here are some questions you should ask yourself regularly:
(1) Am I the same, no matter who I'm with?
(2) Am I willing to make decisions that are best for others, even though another choice would benefit me more?
(3) Can I be counted on to keep the commitments I have made to God, myself and others? Can you say like the Psalmist, 'Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity'? (Psalm 26:1 KJV)
Life is like a vice: at times it will squeeze you. In those moments whatever is inside will come out. Image building and self-interest promise much but produce little, but integrity never disappoints. So, work on your integrity.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The lips of the godly speak helpful words. Proverbs 10:32 NLT
Your words can bring two things. First, encouragement. Ella Wheeler Wilcox said, 'A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the seat of the pants, but is miles ahead in results.' Solomon said, 'Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim' (Proverbs 15:4 TM).
When life is hard, 'a word spoken at the right moment how good it is!' (Proverbs 15:23 AMP). Hope pierces the despair, and people begin to believe that they really have a chance to make it. Many a wounded soul has got through their deepest valley on the strength of a word of encouragement. 'Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones' (Proverbs 16:24 NIV). People wounded by life are healed by words of encouragement. Just a card, an e-mail, a phone call, the Bible calls them 'apples of gold in settings of silver' (Proverbs 25:11 NKJV).
Second, your words can bring salvation. 'The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men, he gathers and receives them for eternity]' (Proverbs 11:30 AMP).
The highest use of your tongue is telling others about Jesus. He doesn't need to be defended, just introduced. 'The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well' (Proverbs 10:11 TM). You can speak life-giving words to those who are lost, and help change their past, their present and their future. Your words can also help people to mature and grow in their relationship with God. Yes, 'The lips of the righteous feed many' (Proverbs 10:21 NAS).
When life is hard, 'a word spoken at the right moment how good it is!' (Proverbs 15:23 AMP). Hope pierces the despair, and people begin to believe that they really have a chance to make it. Many a wounded soul has got through their deepest valley on the strength of a word of encouragement. 'Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones' (Proverbs 16:24 NIV). People wounded by life are healed by words of encouragement. Just a card, an e-mail, a phone call, the Bible calls them 'apples of gold in settings of silver' (Proverbs 25:11 NKJV).
Second, your words can bring salvation. 'The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men, he gathers and receives them for eternity]' (Proverbs 11:30 AMP).
The highest use of your tongue is telling others about Jesus. He doesn't need to be defended, just introduced. 'The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well' (Proverbs 10:11 TM). You can speak life-giving words to those who are lost, and help change their past, their present and their future. Your words can also help people to mature and grow in their relationship with God. Yes, 'The lips of the righteous feed many' (Proverbs 10:21 NAS).
Monday, May 16, 2011
Out of weakness were made strong. Hebrews 11:34 NKJV
The Bible speaks of 'Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong' (vv. 32-34 NKJV).
Who were these people? Jephthah was a social outcast born to an unwed mother. Samuel was a great prophet but not a great parent. David wrote the Psalms but had an affair. 'Out of weakness were made strong.' Notice, they didn't start out strong, they became strong. And if they can make it, you can too!
For reasons God never explains, He chooses to work through people like us. He places us in difficult situations then unlocks our faith, compassion and creativity. When we don't know which way to go, He connects us with those who can open the right door at the right moment.
Does that mean we won't experience fear? No, progress has always been made by people who faced their fears and rose above them. They knew that opportunity and security were opposites. The truth is, if the challenge you are facing doesn't place a demand on your faith, it neither pleases God nor involves Him.
Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.
Who were these people? Jephthah was a social outcast born to an unwed mother. Samuel was a great prophet but not a great parent. David wrote the Psalms but had an affair. 'Out of weakness were made strong.' Notice, they didn't start out strong, they became strong. And if they can make it, you can too!
For reasons God never explains, He chooses to work through people like us. He places us in difficult situations then unlocks our faith, compassion and creativity. When we don't know which way to go, He connects us with those who can open the right door at the right moment.
Does that mean we won't experience fear? No, progress has always been made by people who faced their fears and rose above them. They knew that opportunity and security were opposites. The truth is, if the challenge you are facing doesn't place a demand on your faith, it neither pleases God nor involves Him.
Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
But if it dies. John 12:24 NKJV
One day a depressed woman jumped off a bridge into a river. Without thinking, a man standing nearby jumped in to save her. But 'our hero' suddenly remembered that he couldn't swim, so he started thrashing around and screaming for help! Hearing his cries, the depressed woman swam to his rescue, hauled him out, administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and saved his life.
What happened? She found a need greater than her own, and in so doing she found a reason to live. Jesus said, 'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies [to self-interest], it produces much grain.' Christ had just finished saying, 'Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing"' (Luke 12:22-23 NKJV).
Career success and material things cannot be your reason for living! You need a larger purpose, and God will give you one if you ask Him. Some of us are born knowing what God has called us to do in life; others discover it along the way. Some of us actually find it in our closing years. Indeed, some of us are awakened to it by tragedy and loss. What matters is that we find God's purpose and pour ourselves into it.
Helen Keller wrote, 'When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which God has opened for us.' So, have you found your reason for living?
What happened? She found a need greater than her own, and in so doing she found a reason to live. Jesus said, 'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies [to self-interest], it produces much grain.' Christ had just finished saying, 'Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing"' (Luke 12:22-23 NKJV).
Career success and material things cannot be your reason for living! You need a larger purpose, and God will give you one if you ask Him. Some of us are born knowing what God has called us to do in life; others discover it along the way. Some of us actually find it in our closing years. Indeed, some of us are awakened to it by tragedy and loss. What matters is that we find God's purpose and pour ourselves into it.
Helen Keller wrote, 'When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which God has opened for us.' So, have you found your reason for living?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)