Earlier today, I began to feel like Job, pondering when my recent streak of trials will end. While attending a friend’s concert this evening, enjoying the Raymond Lee Band, I sensed an answer coming from the Holy Spirit. If victories out numbered losses, individuals would not learn essential life lessons. Therefore, God allows losses to outweigh victories in life so that humility produces teachable moments.
As I read the book of Psalms, it appears King David does more complaining than celebrating. In the tough times. people are forced into a corner, revealing their true character. Behind the sadness and tears, rough circumstances leads troubled souls to trust in the Lord. Without failure. you don’t truly appreciate the good things in life.
Perhaps, this is the main message of James 1:2-4. After the storms of life fade from the horizon, souls are left to pick up the pieces. Subsequently, wisdom is gained through maturity and perseverance. Winning is nice, but sometimes victory hides flaws and imperfections. Thus, the Lord places losses in life more than victories so that Jesus’ power might be displayed in our weaknesses, 2 Corinthians 12:9.
You don’t have to be in high school to discern whether or not you belong. Based upon your personality and the people you encounter, conversations and friendships can quickly turn into tug of wars, seeking control. My own defense mechanism causes me to begin cautiously, often listening more than talking before opening up. However, once I feel comfortable in a certain setting or group of individuals, my true identity shines through.
However, there are many things which wage war against your soul in this life, making victory elusive, 1 Peter 2:11. Depending upon your motivation or degree or perseverance, many give up, throwing in the towel before they taste success. When you add this factor to the excess baggage people carry from their past, reaching the summit of John 10:10 seems unrealistic. Spirits of doubt, failure and pessimism imprint a loser mentality upon the souls of many. Instead of claiming the promise of Philippians 4:13, a lack of faith prohibits these bystanders from obtaining joy.
So how can someone establish a foundation for victory? What must one do to turn their fortune from failure to celebration? A Calvinist will say you don’t have a prayer; you’re either chosen or not. The Arminian will disagree, claiming everyone has a shot. While God’s grace does play a major role in victory, Ephesians 2:8, there is more as acts of contrition and penitence demonstrate whether or not someone is on the right track, James 2:26. From my own journey, below are essential ingredients which have put me into position to achieve victory.
1) Like Jesus, you need to find a quiet place, seeking solitude daily to get your heart and mind in the right place, Luke 4:42.
2) You need to find and or develop friendships which elevate your self-esteem and spiritual hunger, Acts 2:42-47.
3) Fill your idle time listening to uplifting music whether through Pandora, Radio Stations or You Tubes that will get you through each day, filling your mind with wholesome lyrics and thoughts, 1 Samuel 16:23.
4) Try to read a chapter of the Bible daily which will enhance your faith while transforming your mind, Romans 10:17.
5) Spend time each day in some form of recreation, whether running, working out and investing in a hobby which makes you happy, providing a sense of accomplishment daily, 1 Timothy 4:8.
6) Once a week, write down, preferably in a journal, goals that you want to fulfill before the day, week or month is over. This exercise provides needed vision for the future, Hosea 4:6.
7) Devote time once a month either helping, serving and volunteering within your church or community. It’s better to give than receive.
May these ideas inspire you develop your own daily/weekly disciplines and practices which will lead you toward a foundation for victory. May God honor the commitments you make to better yourself in 2014!
Self gratification has become like a cancer within the human soul, slowing eating away white blood cells of common sense. This obsession fed by commercialism, “you can have your cake and eat it to,” has left individuals blinded by empty promises. In a quest to fulfill this hunger, people have forgotten a simple truth of life: there’s no change without pain.
The apostle Paul speaks to this corruption while writing to the church in Ephesus, Ephesians 4:22. As standards continue to decline, its easy to compromise, “well, everyone else is doing it?” This futile thinking darkens understanding, leading individuals toward the cliff known as addiction. Once formed or established, a continued lust for more can steer the disciplined into unhealthy habits, craving the latest junk food the world throws your way.
Snapping your fingers and poof, your request is granted is a mirage, a lie that the weak want to believe. Real change requires developing a mindset of an Olympic runner, ignoring pain so you can reach your desired destination, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Regardless of what your body longs for, keep your goal in sight, Philippians 3:12-14 to avoid being sidetracked. Like the song from Rocky IV, there’s No Easy Way Out. Therefore, throw off any excess baggage, endure hardship and run with perseverance until change becomes reality, Hebrews 12:1-4.
In life, every day is not consistent, filled with irregularities which overshadow normal conditions. When individuals expect a certain behavior from a co-worker or friend, based upon previous interactions, the ebb and flow of emotions inside the human soul can result in disappointment. Instead, life is filled with unpredictable moments, where hearts and minds are swayed by evil to participate in illogical acts, Galatians 5:16-21. These conflicting actions often create friction, like a wall of separation, Ephesians 4:26-27, leaving a trail of broken relationships, hurt feelings and lost trust in its aftermath.
Meanwhile, periods of love, joy and peace can be turned upside down by breaches in conventional thinking. Right is confused with wrong, absolutes have become gray areas and morals are now equivalent to opinions, with truth no where to be found. As a result, citizens have wandered off the straight and narrow path, Matthew 7:13-14, opting for crooked, twisted and unethical practices. Thus, a generation of amoral people have been formed, misled by the inconsistency’s and irregularities of life. This group are merely victims of society, like the Cretans of the Bible who were never shown a clear distinction between moral and immoral ways, Titus 3:1-11.
The words of James, Jesus’ half brother, serve as spiritual medicine to cure a sick mind. James 1:2-7 speaks to times when the inconsistency’s and irregularities occur in life. Perspective is crucial to staying optimistic during unexpected trials. People with changed attitudes, transformed by a faith rooted in prayer, can stay afloat, regardless of how strong the winds of change blow. Therefore, if you can learn to embrace life’s inconsistency’s and irregularities, God will fill you with perseverance to ride out each storm you encounter. May God provide you with the wisdom you need to endure the whitecaps of life.
Watching sports on high definition televisions can create a front row atmosphere, experiencing the thrill of victory and agony of defeat as if you are in attendance. Amazing upsets like the 1980 U.S. Hockey team stunning the U.S.S.R. in the semi-finals of the Olympics brought you inside the Lake Placid arena. Americans celebrated in the streets as if they were on the winning team, uniting a nation during the Cold War. This is how I felt yesterday, as I watched Phil Mickelson do the unthinkable, shooting a final round 66, 5 under par in extreme conditions, to win his first Open Championship and 5th major overall.
1 day ago
One month after failing to win the United States Open, finishing second to Justin Rose for a record 6th time in this event, Phil reached a career low. According to his wife Amy, Phil didn’t get out of bed for 2 days, crushed by another disappointing loss. Based upon her interview on the Golf Channel and ESPN, Phil suffered from a severe depression similar to that of David in Psalm 32:3-4. While a family vacation to Montana did the trick for Phil, sensing the grace, forgiveness and reconciliation of God fulfills a sinners heart.
According to the dictionary, perseverance means “to be steadfast in doing something despite any difficulties or delays in achieving success”. Whether you are an athlete, businessman, student or writer, failure, rejection and setbacks are par for the course. Reaching your dreams and goals in life is not a walk in the park. Rather, one should expect to face mountains, obstacles and valleys to pass before you experience the summit of success. Therefore, if you have recently endured a heart breaking loss, don’t waste another day pouting. Instead, get up from the ground, say a prayer like Psalm 4:1 and ask God for a spirit of tenacity to achieve the abundant life, John 10:10. In doing this, may you be ful-phil-ed.
Movies with a happy ending often bring a tear to my eyes. However, in life, sometimes people give up hope of living happily ever after. As individuals struggle to keep a good paying job, marriages are suffering, on the verge of fading. The matrimony vows of for better or for worse are usually forgotten, erased from memories when things don’t turn out for the good.
Until yesterday, I was worried about myself, my home and where my family and I would live in the future. With bleak, broken dreams and disappointment on the horizon, my life was on the verge of collapse. Crying out to the Lord day after day, God finally answered my prayers yesterday. Lost, displaced and unsure if I would ever find a new occupational home, I now have a sense I am finally home with Amazon.
Like the peace of Christ mentioned in Philippians 4:6-7, God has released all my burdens, concerns and worries about finances. Psalm 130:3-4 expresses the joy one receives when forgiven, staked to a new homestead and leash on life. Nothing in the Bible illustrates this point more than Luke 15:17-24, the conclusion of the prodigal son. Like this immature child, everyone makes mistakes, poor decisions and acts selfishly. However, there is a God in heaven, waiting on the front porch for your return. Come to your senses now so that you will experience the pleasure of finally being home!
In the 1995 mini-series Langoliers, written by Stephen King, an airplane experiences a bizarre event, something out of Bermuda Triangle documentary. Those who were sleeping when their plane enters a time gap, a place lost in time, survived only to encounter the langoliers. Like an episode of Macgyver, the core cast of survivors return to the air, searching for this hole in the universe, relying on their instincts to escape calamity.
Joseph, the son of Jacob, lives out a similar nightmare beginning in Genesis 37:12, continuing until Genesis 40:23. His brother’s faked his death, he was sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape and forgotten by the king’s cupbearer while in prison. Despite these unfortunate and untimely events, Joseph demonstrates a perseverance mentioned in James 1:2-4. Lost in time, Joseph displays an unswerving faith until God rescues him from the chains of prison, Genesis 41:14.
While I can’t speak for everyone, I feel as if I’ve seen this movie before except this time I am the one lost, forgotten, waiting for someone to remember, Genesis 40:23. Though Joseph’s commentary is not contained in Genesis, if he kept a journal during his ordeals, I am sure he was scratching his head, trying to figure out what God was doing. Fortitude was a key ingredient, giving Joseph the courage to press on regardless of what trial flew his way. Thus, if you are feeling like road kill, left for dead and forgotten, bear down and lift up your situation to the God of the Living so that redemption will occur soon. Keep the faith!
From the beginning of time on earth, there has always been a great mystery between men and women. Dr. John Gray’s teaching series Men are From Mars; Women are from Venus tries to unravel these differences for couples. However, there are certain things that will never been understood by the opposite sex. Thus, woman will continue voicing their concerns, wanting to be heard while men tend to fix and solve problems, usually remaining oblivious to a woman’s true feelings.
Recently, God has been teaching me about a woman’s intuition. Although, hesitant at first, my wife Leanne often has an inkling, instinct and sixth sense that tends to come to fruition. Her perception is similar to that displayed by Pontus Pilate’s wife in Matthew 27:19. Though God designed husband’s to be the head of their home, over his wife according to Ephesians 5:22-24, woman were created with this special feeling deep within their soul. Unfortunately, like a typical man, warnings go unheard as Pilate gave into the cries of the riotous crowd, neglecting his wife’s sixth sense, being warned in a dream, Matthew 27:20.
A Canaanite woman also possessed this quality, a hunch that she followed by faith in Matthew 15:21-28. Despite her status, being a Gentile, born outside of the nation of Israel, God instilled in her a strong motherly instinct. When a child is in danger, helpless or ill, an adrenaline rush often kicks in energizing woman. In the case of her inflicted daughter, this outsider refused to take no for an answer, begging and pleading with Jesus. Rewarded by her perseverance, a woman’s intuition brought her to the right place at the right time to the only One who could answer her prayer. Listen and learn!
The word flush has numerous meanings depending upon its context. For a poker player, a Royal Flush can’t be beat. In the Men in Black movies, flush refers to an emergency escape route. On the other hand, nutrients in water purify internal organs from chemicals, flushing impurities from the human body. Meanwhile, if you aren’t feeling well, you might become flush in the face, reddening your complexion. However, for me, there are certain days, weeks, months or years, I feel like flushing down the toilet!
As I endured another sleepless night, the image of the secondary definition for flush kept spinning through my mind. I guess this is a sign of God wanting me to cleanse, dispose and purge all that is negative from my memory. According to Proverbs 30:12, purity is not reached until filth is removed from your life. In John 3:2-9, Jesus asks Nicodemus to flush everything he has been taught by man and replace it with a new concept. This conversion, new birth and spiritual creation was too foreign for Nicodemus to grasp. Thus, he stopped talking, becoming a listener, trying to absorb this new teaching, like Bounty Towels, the quicker picker upper.
Unfortunately, there might be decisions, experiences and images that you can’t seem to flush completely down the toilet. Plungers may help with some issues, yet others may require a call to Roto Rooter to spiritually clear the plumbing within your temple. The author of Hebrews probably addresses this better than anyone I have ever heard. “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood,”Hebrews 12:4. Therefore, hang in there, Galatians 6:9, keep fighting, 1 Timothy 6:12 and flush sin from your life, Romans 13:13-14.
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