Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
GOD PROVIDES
I can personally attest to the amazing provision of a loving, caring God time and time again during difficult phases of my life. We can take Him at His Word! In a world of double standards, deceit, duplicity and ever shifting moral codes, God's Word stands timeless. It offers a rare and sure foundation upon which to build our lives in order to withstand the enormous stress and pressure assailing us daily.
Boyd Bailey's Wisdom Hunters offers much needed encouragement and reminders about God's faithfulness:
The Lord Provides
“But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17
The Lord provides. He provides because this is His heart’s desire. By His very nature He is a provider. He cannot, not provide. It gives Him great pleasure to provide. Just as an earthly father delights in providing for his children so does your heavenly Father. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13).
When you fear, He provides peace. When you feel lonely, He provides companionship. When you suffer loss, He provides comfort. When you become proud, He provides humility. When you lack the necessities of life, He provides your needs. When you struggle with confidence, He gives you little victories to gain back much needed confidence. Your confidence grows out of your trust in Him. He gives you strength.
“If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11b).
God’s provision may come in a manner that you are not expecting. It may be an unsolicited check in the mail. It could be the compassionate prayer of a complete stranger. It may be a material provision that comes out of left field, because someone at church felt led of the Lord to provide for your need. They are blessed. You are blessed.
God gets the glory, so do not underestimate the creativity of God. Do not lock His provision capability into a conventional box. He may have bigger and better plans. Do not limit God with false humility or lack of faith. He loves being your provider. Do not forget Him. The grace He provided yesterday will not suffice for the grace He provides today.
You can trust that He has just the right life mate for you. Do not settle for someone other than God’s very best. He may very well do much better than your current relationship. He is in the relational business. He knows exactly the husband or wife for you. Be patient. Believe the Lord for someone who will love Him more than he or she loves you.
Many times prayer is His avenue of provision. Prayer facilitates His powerful promises. You prayed for it and now He has provided, but be careful what you pray for—He may answer. Sometimes He answers swiftly and other times His answer is delayed. Do not compromise your convictions or give up. A saint who experienced God’s provision on a regular basis said, “God’s work, done God’s way will not lack God’s provision”.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
POWER OF THE PATH
“I [the angel of the Lord] have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.” Numbers 22:32b
The path you choose is the path you use. It may be a path of pride or a path of humility. The path may stimulate purity or impurity. It could be a path of wisdom or a path of foolishness. The path may be one of cooperation or a path of independence. Your path may be family friendly or hostile to the health of your home.
Be careful how you seek after success, because you can easily veer down the path of lost accountability. The path you choose is the path you use, so be very wise about the choices you make. Make sure that the path you traverse follows through the woods of God’s will. Your path is a picture of overlaid choices. One after another, your daily decisions dig out a well-beaten path.
But, do not be deceived—every path leads somewhere. Your current path is not insignificant. If it is a path of preparation, then prepare well. A well-prepared path paves the way for opportunity. Do not complain about the limitations of your circumstances when you have not been a good steward of your resources, relationships, finances and skills. Choose the path of patient preparation.
The more you prepare, the wider this path becomes. The less you prepare the narrower it becomes. The path of preparation may seem long and onerous at times, but be patient and stay the course. Your faithfulness now will bolster your influence later. The path of preparation requires persevering patience. Travel this path with focused attention. Enjoy the journey, for these may be the simplest days of your life. The path of preparation is the strong foundation of any excellent and eternally significant endeavor.
Another path to walk wisely upon is the path of personal intimacy with God. It is easy to overlook this path because of familiarity or busyness. But, without a worn-out path to God, you will wear out. It is a path that requires discipline, but the fruit of your faith’s exercise will serve you throughout life.
When you walk the path of intimacy with God, He fills you with His peace, security and hope. This is not a path of quick fixes; rather, it is one of trust and endurance. Traveling a path without God is like walking in the country on a moonless night. Or, it is like running through a city during the day—blindfolded.
In either case there is a lot of activity, but the activity is filled with fear, confusion, misdirection and eventual hurt. Indeed, the path of God is not without pain or uncertainty. But, as you travel on His path, you are filled with His presence. The presence of God is peaceful. It is purifying and pleasing to the soul.
Moreover, life in itself is one big path. If you travel alone, it is daunting but, with Christ, it is edifying. The path of Christ is bumpy at times, but His freedom is exhilarating. As you travel with God, be ever mindful of His guardrails of grace, love and law. They are there for your protection. They keep you from straying off His path of kingdom purpose.
The worldly road most traveled is reckless compared to the less traveled path of heaven’s security. Choose daily the wise path of confession and consultation with your creator. The path of obedience to God leads to peace with God. He is a friend to be admired, and a friend to be feared. Allow His opposition to lead you back down His path. His path is what’s best. Travel it with Him and travel it for Him!
With acknowledgement: Boyd Bailey’s “Wisdom Hunters” devotionals
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
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