Are you in a hurry to get to no where? Do you comment on drivers who make your daily commute a stressful experience? If so, perhaps you are trying to rush ahead in life without God’s help.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! – Psalm 46:10
It’s ironic how much difference spending 15 minutes with God can make in a person’s day. Whether its reading a chapter of the Bible, following a devotional or time spent in prayer, this effort spiritually prepares individuals for their day. While things may fall apart around you, the Holy Spirit uses the knowledge you gain from a quiet time to develop perseverance.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:6
Unfortunately, this year I’ve been eager to rush ahead in life, often without God’s help and guidance. Subsequently, 2015 has achieved lackluster results. If I’ve learned one thing, leaving the house without the Lord has left me more irritable, less productive and not the person I want to do. Therefore, the next time you feel like rushing out the door, slow down, make time for God and trust in the Lord for the day at hand.
Whether you’re talking about ISIS, Ferguson or the latest act of terror, people are searching for some type of protection against violence. While reading a chapter in the Bible last night I stumbled upon an outline for a prayer to end violence. If you read Psalm 140 one verse at a time, you can claim each promise as you pray.
Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, Psalm 140:1.
Rescue and protect me O Lord.
Who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day, Psalm 140:2.
Deliver me from evil, temptations and war.
They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips, Psalm 140:3.
Save my family from gossip, rumors and words that can damage their souls.
Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet, Psalm 140:4,
Shelter me from wicked attempts to do harm; provide a hedge of protection against violent threats.
The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path, Psalm 140:5.
Guide my path in life, exposing any traps that arise along the way.
I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy, Psalm 140:6.
Answer my plea for mercy.
Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle, Psalm 140:7.
Shield me from the obstacles that stand in your way.
Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed, Psalm 140:8.
Let the efforts of the wicked fail.
Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them, Psalm 140:9.
Foil mischievous plans to do harm against the innocent.
May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise, Psalm 140:10.
May the accusers be burned by the words that they spew.
May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent, Psalm 140:11.
Cut down those who seek to emulate terrorist acts.
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy, Psalm 140:12.
Secure justice for those who are unable to help themselves.
Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence, Psalm 140:13.
Expect the righteous to prosper; praise the Lord for what God has done and will continue to do!
When the timing is right, may the words of this Psalm inspire a prayer to end violence.
In Christian Education, a three legged stool is used as a visual aid to illustrate core essentials to maintain a healthy and stable life. Each leg symbolizes a key ingredient: a church home, godly family and development of a biblical world view. If any of these three elements are missing, individuals will never be able to fully experience an abundant life in Christ.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full, John 10:10.
Whether you’re married or single, its easy to cut corners, making the best with what you have. Subsequently, one might become a casual attender to church, replace family with friends or dust off your Bible every once in a while to make yourself feel good. This type of mentality is toxic, poisoning your faith, leaving many to lean on a broken stool.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth, Revelation 3:15-16.
As I examine the lack of success in my life the past three years, it can be directly attributed to a weakened foundation of faith. Compromise, neglect and a lukewarm spirit has spawned mediocre results. If you’re fluttering along like me, perhaps you need to re-evaluate the stool you’re sitting on. Find a church to call home, seek reconciliation with those family members you’ve strayed from and set aside time every day to enrich your life with the Bible. When these three legs are secure, you will begin to taste God’s daily bread.
Fright, horror and terror are words synonymous with someone who is afraid. Whether these emotions stem from witnessing a shocking event, embedded from watching a scary movie or implanted by nightmares from the Devil, rarely is fear associated with something positive. Nonetheless, a holy fear can transform this word into favor from God.
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. – 1 Peter 3:14
One of the most overlooked messages of Easter is how a bunch of weak men who went into hiding, afraid for their lives were transformed by the Holy Spirit to become martyrs of the faith. Fear caused Peter to deny knowing Jesus three times in Matthew 26:69-75. Yet, some how a reverent fear turned Peter from a scaredy cat into a bold apostle who was crucified upside down, feeling unworthy to be killed in the same manner of his Savior.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. – Psalm 128:1-2
Despite my years of access to the Bible, opportunities to attend mega-churches in the past and relationships with God fearing believers over the course of my life, I still quake and quiver like a little girl when pressed by the world. Similar to the apostles, we all need a Pentecost moment, Acts 2:1-4, where fear is discarded by a boldness from God’s mighty counselor, Acts 4:29. Then and only then will fear transform into favor from God.
In politics, the experts, life long politicians and successful campaign managers have suggested lying is all part of the game. Little white lies are like wild cards in poker, waiting for just the right moment to be played. While this style may work in the corporate world, sooner or later, what comes around goes around. When this moment arrives, the Lie-Oh-Meter will expose the shady for their untruthful ways.
I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law. – Psalm 119:163
As for parents and teachers, a face to face encounter, staring a suspect in the eye is a good starting point. Based upon the television series on Fox, Lie To Me, which aired for two full seasons beginning in 2009, liars tend to demonstrate facial expressions. Thus, law enforcement officials use this science based upon research done by Paul Ekman, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California in San Francisco. Instead of relying on out dated polygraph tests, body language has become the new Lie-Oh-Meter.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. – Proverbs 12:22
From God’s perspective, a false witness is a punishable offense, Proverbs 19:9. Going one step farther, deceitful ways can result in being excommunicated from part of God’s family, Psalm 101:7. Yet, Christians alike have embraced the practice of embellishment, creating a society of hypocrites. The only way to break free from this addiction is to cherish God’s law. Only when this is achieved will souls begin to love God’s commands like the Psalmists of old. Until this day, rely on the Bible to ascertain truth from fiction, serving as a modern day Lie-Oh-Meter.
Sometimes the Lord saves the best for last. In the longest chapter of the Bible, God unveils a secret about prayer in the final stanza of Psalm 119. According to this passage, whenever human beings experience disappointment without any logical explanation, people tend to stray from God and His commands. Before giving up all hope, many pour out their hearts to God, praying that their cries for answers will reach heaven’s ears.
May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word. – Psalm 119:169
One of the reasons I pray is to seek understanding for the trials I have endured. Although James 1:2-4 warns individuals to expect difficulty in life, the Bible also promises to hear our cries, Psalm 4:1. Thus, whenever anyone spreads out their hands toward heaven and does not receive any tangible signs of improvement, resentment is a typical reply. If these days of darkness persist, the disenfranchised will continue to grow, often going beyond the church doors to find answers to life.
May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. – Psalm 119:170
However, for those who follow in the footsteps of the persistent widow, Luke 18:1-8, one day you will see the hand of God at work. Upon receiving a response from heaven, a sensation of praise will overwhelm your lips. Perhaps this feeling led David to develop a heart of prayer while tending sheep in the fields, 1 Samuel 16:7. Although days of answered prayers may be few and far between, promises to bless, heal and protect keep me going, thirsting for more. May you resolve to keep on praying until your cries reach heaven’s ears, Psalm 119:169-176.
From an early age, piggy banks teach children the importance of saving money. Although a full compartment filled with coins may not add up to much initially, the discipline of being a good steward of your possessions can last a lifetime. Until this quality is acquired or obtained, checking into the invisible bank is a must.
Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. – Psalm 119:153
The Bible is like an international financial center, full of promise notes, waiting to be cashed in by faith. Available 24/7, unless you check in regularly, you don’t know what you’re missing out on. On loan from God, the Word is living and active, rich in nuggets of truth. Previous readers have compared these principles to be greater than silver and gold, Psalm 12:6.
Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. – Psalm 119:154
Despite these beliefs, when the storms of life engulf you, this bank becomes invisible. Skeptics often look in a different direction, trusting in what they can see. This stance causes minds to become closed, turning God’s truths into fiction. Subsequently, a generation may never enter the spiritual door of this invisible place. Therefore, the next time you encounter a bitter soul, you may want to point them in the direction of the invisible bank.
The idea of taking a short cut is enticing, saving time and effort. However, if this risk doesn’t pay off, unfortunate souls are left to swim in a pool of disappointment. When success becomes a distant memory, blame is often shifted to the big Guy upstairs. Nonetheless, you can’t experience the favor of God until you display the but.
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. – Daniel 1:8
For those of you have who been disenfranchised by faith, you need to draw your attention toward a teenager from Israel. Despite living through the fall of Judah to Babylon, Daniel remained faithful to the values instilled in him by his parents. When encouraged to abandon the practices of his youth, Daniel resolved not to defile himself. God did not bless this young man until the but prompted Daniel to take a stand.
Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel – Daniel 1:9.
Years prior to this event, one of the forefathers of faith helped connect the dots to the hand of God. According to Moses, obedience is the first step to obtaining the Lord’s favor, Deuteronomy 28:1. Yet, unless the commands of the Bible are carefully followed, favor will be unattainable. In modern times, developing a Matthew 6:33 mindset is a great starting point, opening the door for one to receive God’s daily bread. May this blog help you see the but comes first before God’s favor.
As television evolves, the more preposterous ads, shows and slogans become. Look no further than a time machine powered by Doritos, cologne that serves as a chick magnet and cars that cause a baby to speak their first words. By the time Sunday evening rolls around, Super Bowl XLIX commercials will likely push the envelope further to a new low.
But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. – Numbers 22:22
The Bible contains its own version of improbable events. A serpent that walks and talks, seas that turn to solid ground then swallows up an entire army and a man who rises from the dead. While post-modernists may tend to believe Hollywood more than the authors of the Bible, one of my favorite passages is when a donkey knows best.
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” – Numbers 22:28
According to a 2013 study, more than 164 million households own a pet. Although cats and dogs get most of the attention, its not uncommon for country folks to own a donkey. Own his way to curse Israel, Baalam travels on a donkey with Moabite officials. However, his donkey encounters an angel of death. Unseen by Baalam, he begins to beat his donkey, a shocking sight to those who support PETA. After the third attack, the Lord enables Baalam’s donkey to speak. Opening the eyes of his master, God allowed Baalam to realize that sometimes donkeys and all animals alike know best.
I guess you can say I’ve always been geographically challenged the first time I drive to a new place. Once I find it, my photographic memory will bring me back time after time. However, sometimes the anticipation of arriving causes me to jump the gun, misreading road signs, causing me to regularly get off on the wrong exit.
For we live by faith, not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7
The night before I met my wife for the very first time, I was on my way to a regional conference in Chicago. Unfamiliar with the area, I wasn’t sure which exit to take. Not afraid to ask for directions, I got off trying to find a convenience store or gas station to point me in the right direction. Instead, I drove into what I thought was a development, actually one of the projects. Before I could roll my window down, I found myself in the middle of a movie, about the get car jacked. Whether it was the Holy Spirit or mere instincts, I gunned my engine, almost took out 2 people and fled as fast as I could back to the main highway.
Your word is a lamp for my feet,a light on my path. – Psalm 119:105
Fortunately for me, I escaped a life altering experience, similar to the events of Robert Allenby’s brush with death last weekend in Hawaii. Every know and then, we all happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Subsequently, death can result like an incident bystander struck by a drunk driver. Thus, trying to make sense of life’s bizarre circumstances is nearly impossible. Nonetheless, when roadblocks send you in an alternate or different direction, open life’s road map, the Bible, to help you get you back on course.
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