Struggling With Addiction
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Posted:Dec 1, 2014 6:00 am
Last Updated:Dec 2, 2014 1:40 pm 8336 Views
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Read: Hebrews 4:14-16
God is faithful. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3
Eric was struggling with an addiction, and he knew it. His friends and family members encouraged him to stop. He agreed that it would be best for his health and relationships, but he felt helpless. When others told him how they had quit their bad habits, he replied, I´m happy for you, but I can´t seem to stop! I wish I had never been tempted in the first place. I want God to take the desire away right now.
Immediate deliverance may happen for some, but most face a daily battle. While we don´t always understand why the temptation doesn´t go away, we can turn to God on whatever path we find ourselves. And perhaps that is the most important part of our struggle. We learn to exchange our futile efforts to change for complete dependence on God.
Jesus was tempted also, just as we are, so He understands what we´re feeling (Mark 1:13. He sympathizes with our struggles (Heb. 4:15, and we can come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (v.16). He also uses others, including trained professionals, to lean on along the way.
Whatever battles we may be facing today, we know this God loves us much more than we can imagine, and He is faithful to come to our assistance.
For Further Thought
Read Matthew 4:1-11 about how Jesus handled
temptations. Also read 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
to learn how He can help us when we are tempted.
We are not tempted because we are evil; we are tempted because we are human.
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Amani
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Posted:Nov 28, 2014 6:17 am
Last Updated:Nov 28, 2014 6:22 am 8123 Views
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Read: 1 Samuel 16:14-23
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1.7
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 33-34; 1 Peter 5
Amani, which means peace in Swahili, is the name of a Labrador retriever pup that has some special friends. Amani lives with two young cheetahs at the Dallas Zoo. Zoologists placed the animals together so the cheetahs could learn Amani´s relaxed ways. Since dogs are generally at ease in public settings, the experts predict that Amani will be a calming influence in the cheetahs lives as they grow up together.
David was a soothing influence in King Saul´s life when a distressing spirit troubled him
1 Sam. 16:14. When Saul´s servants learned of his problem, they thought music might ease his affliction. One servant summoned David, who was a skilled harpist. Whenever the king became troubled, David would play the harp. Then Saul would become refreshed and well (v.23).
We crave refreshment and well-being when we are plagued by anger, fear, or sadness. The God of the Bible is a God of peace
(Heb. 13:20-21), One who gives His Holy Spirit to everyone who believes in Him. When we´re agitated or anxious, we can remember that God´s Spirit produces power, love, and self-contro
l 2 Tim. 1.7. God´s influence in our lives can create a calming effect one that leads to comfort and wholeness.
We´re grateful, Father, for the peace that You
offer for our hearts. Nothing has the power
to take that away. Thank You that Your
peace has come to stay.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.Jesus
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A Lesson In Praise
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Posted:Nov 27, 2014 3:17 am
Last Updated:Nov 28, 2014 11:40 am 7829 Views
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Read: Psalm 150
Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:1
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 30-32; 1 Peter 4
Psalm 150 is not only a beautiful expression of praise, its also a lesson in praising the Lord. It tells us where to praise, why we´re to praise, how we´re to praise, and who should offer praise.
Where do we praise? In God´s sanctuary and mighty firmament
(v.1). Wherever we are in the world is a proper place to praise the One who created all things.
Why do we praise? First, because of what God does. He performs mighty acts. Second, because of who God is. The psalmist praised Him for His excellent greatness (v.2). The all-powerful Creator is the Sustainer of the universe.
How should we praise? Loudly. Softly. Soothingly. Enthusiastically. Rhythmically. Boldly. Unexpectedly. Fearlessly. In other words, we can praise God in many ways and on many occasions (vv.3-5).
Who should praise? Everything that has breath (v.6). Young and old. Rich and poor. Weak and strong. Every living creature. God´s will is for everyone to whom He gave the breath of life to use that breath to acknowledge His power and greatness.
Praise is our enthusiastic expression of gratitude to God for reigning in glory forever.
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!
Praise is the overflow of a joyful heart.
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Resting In God
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Posted:Nov 25, 2014 4:46 am
Last Updated:Nov 26, 2014 3:56 am 7369 Views
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Read: Romans 4.16-22
He did not waver . . . through unbelief . . . being fully convinced that what [God] had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:20-21
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 24-26; 1 Peter 2
It was our last holiday together as a family before our eldest went off to college. As we filled the back pew in the little seaside church, my heart filled with love as I glanced along the row of my five reasonably tidy . Please protect them spiritually and keep them close to You, Lord. I prayed silently, thinking of the pressures and challenges each of them faced.
The final hymn had a rousing chorus based on the words of
2 Timothy 1:12. I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him. It brought a sense of peace as I was assured that God would keep their souls.
Years have passed since then. There have been times of wandering for some of my , and outright rebellion for others. Sometimes I've wondered about God's faithfulness. Then I remember Abraham. He stumbled but never failed in his trust in the promise he'd received
Gen. 15:5-6; Rom. 4:20-21. Through years of waiting and mistaken attempts to help things along, Abraham hung on to God'until Isaac was born.
I find this reminder to trust encouraging. We tell God our request. We remember that He cares. We know He is powerful. We thank Him for His faithfulness.
Lord, my patience is often lacking and my timetable
often does not match Yours. Forgive me for my times
of doubt, and help me to trust You more.
Thank You for Your faithfulness.
Some lessons of patience take a long time to learn.
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Hope In Suffering
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Posted:Nov 24, 2014 5:14 am
Last Updated:Nov 25, 2014 5:06 am 7054 Views
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Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9
In this [living hope] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. 1 Peter 1:6
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 22-23; 1 Peter 1
When I opened my Bible to read Jeremiah 1 through 4, the subhead ascribed to the book startled me: Hope in Time of Weeping. I almost cried. The timing was perfect, as I was walking through a season of weeping over the death of my mom.
I felt much the same way after hearing my pastor's sermon the day before. The title was Joy in Suffering, taken from 1 Peter 1:3-9. He gave us an illustration from his own life: the one-year anniversary of his father's death. The sermon was meaningful for many, but for me it was a gift from God. These and other events were indications backed up by His Word that God would not leave me alone in my grief.
Even though the way of sorrow is hard, God sends reminders of His enduring presence. To the Israelites expelled from the Promised Land due to disobedience, God made His presence known by sending prophets like Jeremiah to offer them hope hope for reconciliation through repentance. And to those He leads through times of testing, He shows His presence through a community of believers who love one another fervently with a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22. These indications of God's presence during trials on earth affirm God's promise of the living hope awaiting us at the resurrection.
Does Jesus care when I've goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see? O yes, He cares!
We need never be ashamed of our tears.
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Dealing With Distractions
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Posted:Nov 21, 2014 4:35 am
Last Updated:Nov 22, 2014 3:44 am 7049 Views
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Read: Matthew 13:14-22
The cares of this world . . . choke the word. Matthew 13:22
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 16-17; James 3
A restaurant owner in the village of Abu Ghosh, just outside Jerusalem, offered a 50-percent discount for patrons who turned off their cell phones. Jawdat Ibrahim believes that smartphones have shifted the focus of meals from companionship and conversation to surfing, texting, and business calls. Technology is very good, Ibrahim says. But . . . when you are with your family and your friends, you can just wait for half an hour and enjoy the food and enjoy the company.
How easily we can be distracted by many things, whether in our relationship with others or with the Lord.
Jesus told His followers that spiritual distraction begins with hearts that have grown dull, ears that are hard of hearing, and eyes that are closed (Matt. 13:15). Using the illustration of a farmer scattering seed, Jesus compared the seed that fell among thorns to a person who hears God's Word but whose heart is focused on other things. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful (v.22).
There is great value in having times throughout each day when we turn off the distractions of mind and heart and focus on the Lord.
O Lord, help me to turn off all the
distractions around me and focus on You.
May my heart be good soil for the
seed of Your Word today.
Focusing on Christ puts everything else in perspective.
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Can You Help?
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Posted:Nov 20, 2014 4:00 am
Last Updated:Nov 22, 2014 3:44 am 6933 Views
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Read: James 2:14-20
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 14-15; James 2
The administrators of the high school in Barrow, Alaska, were tired of seeing students get into trouble and drop out at a rate of 50 percent. To keep students interested, they started a football team, which offered them a chance to develop personal skills, teamwork, and learn life lessons. The problem with football in Barrow, which is farther north than Iceland, is that it's hard to plant a grass field. So they competed on a gravel and dirt field.
Four thousand miles away in Florida, a woman named Cathy Parker heard about the football team and their dangerous field. Feeling that God was prompting her to help, and impressed by the positive changes she saw in the students, she went to work. About a year later, they dedicated their new field, complete with a beautiful artificial-turf playing surface. She had raised thousands of dollars to help some she didn't even know.
This is not about football or money. It is about remembering to do good and to share (Heb. 13:16). The apostle James reminds us that we demonstrate our faith by our actions (2.18. The needs in our world are varied and overwhelming but when we love our neighbor as ourselves, as Jesus said (Mark 12:31), we reach people with God's love.
Open our eyes, dear Father, to those in need. Allow
us to find ways monetarily and otherwise to
help meet those needs. Help us to take the focus off
ourselves and place it on those who can use our assistance.
Open your heart to God to learn compassion and open your hand to give help.
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Goodbye
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Posted:Nov 19, 2014 5:04 am
Last Updated:Nov 19, 2014 5:06 am 7778 Views
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Read: Numbers 11:1-10
When the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. Numbers 11:1
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 11-13; James 1
When Max Lucado participated in a half-Ironman triathlon, he experienced the negative power of complaint. He said, After the 1.2-mile swim and the 56-mile bike ride, I didn't have much energy left for the 13.1-mile run. Neither did the fellow jogging next to me. He said, This stinks. This race is the dumbest decision I've ever made. I said, Goodbye. Max knew that if he listened too long, he would start agreeing with him. So he said goodbye and kept running.
Among the Israelites, too many people listened too long to complaints and began to agree with them. This displeased God, and for good reason. God had delivered the Israelites from slavery, and agreed to live in their midst, but they still complained. Beyond the hardship of the desert, they were dissatisfied with God's provision of manna. In their complaint, Israel forgot that the manna was a gift to them from God's loving hand (Num. 11:6). Because complaining poisons the heart with ingratitude and can be a contagion, God had to judge it.
This is a sure way to say goodbye to complaining and ingratitude: Each day, let's rehearse the faithfulness and goodness of God to us.
Lord, You have given us so much. Forgive us for our
short memories and bad attitudes. Help us to
remember and be grateful for all that You have
provided. And help us to tell others of the good things You have done for us.
Proclaiming God's faithfulness silences discontentment.
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Rooted Love
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Posted:Nov 18, 2014 4:53 am
Last Updated:Nov 18, 2014 4:56 am 8377 Views
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Read: Hebrews 13.15-25
Do not forget to do good and to share. Hebrews 13.16
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 8-10; Hebrews 13
When I think of all the wonders of God's magnificent creation, I am especially awed by the giant sequoia tree. These amazing behemoths of the forest can grow to around 300 feet tall with a diameter that exceeds 20 feet. They can live over 3,000 years and are even fire resistant. In fact, forest fires pop the sequoia cones open, distributing their seeds on the forest floor that has been fertilized by the ashes. Perhaps the most amazing fact is that these trees can grow in just 3 feet of soil and withstand high winds. Their strength lies in the fact that their roots intertwine with other sequoias, providing mutual strength and shared resources.
God's plan for us is like that. Our ability to stand tall in spite of the buffeting winds of life is directly related to the love and support we receive from God and one another. And then, as the writer of Hebrews says, we are to do good and to share 13.16. Think of how tough it would be to withstand adversity if someone were not sharing the roots of their strength with us.
There is great power in the entwining gifts of words of encouragement, prayers of intercession, weeping together, holding each other, and sometimes just sitting with one another sharing the presence of our love.
Lord, thank You for entwining Your strength
into my life. Lead me today to someone
who needs the love of shared strength from
resources that You have given to me.
Let the roots of God's love in your life be entwined with others who need your support.
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Defeated Adversary
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Posted:Nov 17, 2014 3:38 am
Last Updated:Nov 18, 2014 4:53 am 8374 Views
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Read: Ephesians 6:10-18
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5.8
Bible in a Year:
Ezekiel 5-7; Hebrews 12
The roaring lion is the legendary king of the jungle. But the only lions many of us see are the lethargic felines that reside in zoos. Their days are filled with lots of rest, and their dinner is served to them without the lions having to lift a single paw.
In their natural habitat, however, lions aren't;at always living a laid-back life. Their hunger tells them to go hunting, and in doing so they seek the young, weak, sick, or injured. Crouching in tall grasses, they slowly creep forward. Then with a sudden pounce, they clamp their jaws to the body of their victim.
Peter used a roaring lion as a metaphor for Satan. He is a confident predator, looking for easy prey to devour (1 Peter 5.8. In dealing with this adversary, God's must be vigilant at putting on the whole armor of God and thus they can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might
Eph. 6.10-11.
The good news is that Satan is a defeated adversary. While he is a powerful foe, those who are protected by salvation, prayer, and the Word of God need not be paralyzed in fear at this roaring lion. We are kept by the power of God (1 Peter 1.5. James 4.7 assures us: Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Lord, we know that our enemy seeks to devour us.
Please protect us from him. We believe Your
Word that He who is in us is greater than he
who is in the world.
No evil can penetrate the armor of God.
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