Pastor's Corner
December 8, 2019
December 7, 2019
December 6, 2019
November 30, 2019
November 29, 2019
November 28, 2019
Taking Responsibility And Risks (2)
‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ Matthew 25:23 NIV
In 1975 a low-level Hewlett Packard engineer called Steve shared a dream with his friend, also named Steve. It was about building and selling an easy-to-use personal computer to the masses around the world. The pair worked round the clock to create their compact PC. But when they offered it to Hewlett Packard, one of the world’s great companies, the powers-that-be at the time failed to see its potential and gave it the thumbs down. So Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs went off on their own and founded a little company called Apple Computers—and revolutionised the computer industry!
There’s no shortage of people who will tell you, ‘It can’t be done’ or ‘It won’t work.’ There’s a name for those people: ‘dream killers’—and if you listen to them you’ll give up before you even begin. Behind every major accomplishment you’ll find ordinary people with dreams, who are willing to take responsibility and risks. They are the people who enjoy the rewards! Jesus wrapped up one of His parables with these words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ In spite of your failures, your struggles, and your limitations, if you’re willing to disregard the naysayers, step out in faith, and use the gifts God has given you, He will see to it that you succeed.
From The Word for Today.
November 27, 2019
November 26, 2019
November 25, 2019
November 24, 2019
November 23, 2019
Seek His Help Today
‘The Spirit also helps our weakness.’ Romans 8:26 NASB
Paul writes: ‘The Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.’ (Romans 8:26–27 NASB) So what is this ‘weakness’ in prayer that we are subject to? It’s that sometimes we don’t know how to express the depth of our desires and feelings, nor do we even realise what we need. Sometimes we’re so exhausted in spirit, mind, and body, that we can hardly muster the energy to open our mouths. There are instances when discouragement has taken such a strong hold of your heart that you can’t imagine a way out of your circumstances. That’s when you need to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help! When you are a believer, the Holy Spirit supplies you with the two things you can’t live without:
(1) The ability to know what God is saying to you. Sometimes you can’t trust your own wisdom or the advice of those closest to you.
(2) How to have an intimate relationship with God. One of the most wonderful things Jesus said was, ‘I have called you friends.’ (John 15:15 KJV) But friendships aren’t built on a hit-and-run basis; they take time and communication. Jesus described His relationship with the Father like this: ‘The Father loves the Son and shows Him everything.’ (John 5:20 NLT)
And not only does the Holy Spirit show you what to do, He empowers you to do it. So seek His help today.
From The Word for Today.
November 22, 2019
November 21, 2019
Know Who’s Guiding You
‘Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.’ Galatians 5:16 NLT
Dr Charles Stanley says: ‘During a photographic trip my group had been travelling up a trail for almost three hours, and I began to have a funny feeling that we were going in the wrong direction. I asked the guide about it and he assured me everything was fine. Not wanting to be presumptuous, I kept walking. After a few minutes, I noticed that my sense of uneasiness persisted; in fact, it was growing stronger. I pulled out my compass and looked at the map. Sure enough, we were headed away from our intended destination. It took us close to an hour and a half to return to where we’d taken the incorrect turn. Sadly, this meant by the time we got to the site, our window for taking photographs was cut short. The event helped me realise two valuable lessons. First, when we sense an internal witness encouraging us to take a certain course of action, we should listen. Second, when you and I choose people to guide us, we must be certain they know the path ahead better than we do. Have you ever felt something alerting you to pay attention or pulling you in a particular direction? Perhaps you were listening to a sermon and you sensed God telling you to follow Him in obedience. Or maybe you walked into a restaurant and were filled with dread, as if you should leave quickly. If you’re a believer, most likely these feelings were the promptings of the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart, warning you about danger, and encouraging you to submit to God’s purposes.’
Today—let the Holy Spirit guide your life.
From The Word for Today.
November 20, 2019
November 19, 2019
Finishing Strong In Ministry (2)
‘I face the daily pressure of my concern for all the churches.’ 2 Corinthians 11:28 NIV
Over 50 per cent of church leaders leave the ministry. Let’s look at another reason why. They love people, but can’t handle the pressure. We like to talk about the power of the New Testament church, but what about its problems? The church is made up of human beings, and human beings have unresolved issues. The New Testament church had:
(1) Moral problems. One man was sleeping with his stepmother, and nobody in the church seemed particularly upset about it (see 1 Corinthians 5:1–2).
(2) Doctrinal problems. Some Jewish converts thought the Gentile converts needed to be circumcised. The dispute became so heated that it almost split the church down the middle (see Acts 15).
(3) Immaturity and ‘personality-itis’ problems. Paul writes: ‘I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it… For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly?…when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?’ (1 Corinthians 3:1–4 NIV) He goes on to say, ‘Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.’ (2 Timothy 4:10 NKJV) Then he adds, ‘Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil.’ (2 Timothy 4:14 KJV)
If you’re a church leader here’s the bottom line: if you can’t feel the pain, you can’t heal the pain! Hidden in your everyday problems and people pressures, you’ll find the wisdom to minister effectively. So don’t get discouraged—keep going!
From The Word for Today.
November 17, 2019
Finishing Strong In Ministry (1)
‘I have finished the race.’ 2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV
Did you know that over half of those who enter the ministry leave before retirement? Why? There are lots of reasons—here is one of them: They discover that great revelation is accompanied by a ‘thorn’. The apostle Paul, who wrote half the New Testament, says: To keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ (2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NIV)
There are 168 hours in your week. The hour you spend in ministry preaching a sermon, teaching Sunday school or leading a small group showcases you in the areas of your gifting and strength. So your challenge will always be to remember that it is God’s Word and God’s power, not yours, that changes lives and gets the job done. Notice what Paul said: ‘To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh.’ Paul’s thorn came in the form of ‘weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties.’ What’s your thorn? You can only stand strong before people if you discipline yourself to spend time before God in prayer and Bible study. That’s how to stay effective and finish strong in ministry!
From The Word for Today.
November 16, 2019
November 15, 2019
November 14, 2019
Giving Is Its Own Reward
‘I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you.’ 2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT
The apostle Paul wrote, ‘I don’t want what you have—I want you… I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.’ (2 Corinthians 12:14–15 NLT) Paul found his greatest fulfilment in giving, not receiving. For him, giving was its own reward. For him, being successful meant making others successful. For him, being joyful meant bringing joy to others. That’s because he didn’t look to people for his reward, but to God: ‘Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do.’ (Ephesians 6:8 NLT)
The hardest thing for most of us to do is to fight our natural tendency to put ourselves first. That’s why it’s important to continually examine your motives and make sure you’re not sliding backwards into selfishness. If you want to check your motives, follow the example set by Benjamin Franklin. Every day he asked himself two questions. When he got up in the morning he would ask, ‘What good am I going to do today?’ And before he went to bed he would ask, ‘What good have I done today?’ If you can answer those questions with selflessness and integrity, you can keep yourself on track. Seeing those in need, and giving to meet that need, keeps your priorities and your perspective right. It increases the quality of life for both the giver and the receiver. The truth is, there is no life as empty as the self-centred life, and there is no life as centred as the self-empty life.
From The Word for Today.
November 13, 2019
Glorious Inheritance
‘Because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God.’ Ephesians 1:11 NLT
Consider these words: ‘I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon if I can. I seek opportunity, not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the company look after me. I want to take the calculated risk, to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfilment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence, nor dignity for a hand out. It is my heritage to think and act for myself, to enjoy the benefits of my creations, to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”’
That sounds like another man who wrote, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness.’ (2 Timothy 4:7–8 NIV)
But I'm disadvantaged,’ you say. Ever see the movie Rain Man? Dustin Hoffman plays a savant: a person who, in a sea of disabilities, has an island of genius. In the movie, he's incredibly gifted with numbers.
Other savants have amazing abilities in art and music. The truth is, all of us arrived equipped and empowered to do something special. You have an island of genius inside you. God's given you a gift. Believe it! Discover it! Develop it! Cherish it! Use it! Gift it! That's what it means to have a glorious inheritance from God.
From The Word for Today.
November 12, 2019
November 11, 2019
November 10, 2019
November 9, 2019
November 8, 2019
November 7, 2019
Anger Management (1)
‘Don’t sin by letting anger control you.’Ephesians 4:26 NLT
The first mention of anger in Scripture is when Cain got so angry with his brother Abel that he murdered him. In Australia in 2018, three people died each week at someone else’s hand.
Anger not only kills others, it can kill you. Dr Redford Williams, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science at Duke University, states: ‘The hostility and anger associated with Type-A behaviour is a major contributor to heart disease. People who struggle with anger are five times more likely to suffer coronary heart disease, and people with heart disease more than double their risk of a heart attack when they get angry.’
Of course, there’s a difference between anger and mere aggravation. A little girl asked her father to explain that difference. So he picked up the phone, dialled a number, allowed his daughter to listen in, and when the other person answered, he said, ‘Hello. Is Melvin there?’
Back came the answer, ‘There’s no one here named Melvin. Why don’t you look up numbers before you dial them?’
The father waited a moment, then re-dialled the number. ‘Hello. Is Melvin there?’
The man yelled, ‘I just told you there’s no Melvin here! Don’t call this number again!’ then slammed down the receiver.
The father looked at his daughter and said, ‘Honey, that was anger. Now let me show you aggravation.’ He dialled the number again.
A voice roared back, ‘Hello!’
And her dad calmly said, ‘Hi. This is Melvin. Have there been any calls for me?’
The word anger is only one letter short of the word danger. So ask God to help you manage your anger. He will!
From The Word for Today.
November 6, 2019
Forgive—And Set Yourself Free!
‘Forgetting those things which are behind.’Philippians 3:13 KJV
The Bible says that the greater the offence, the greater the need to forgive your offender in order to go on with your life. Remember when you were growing up, how your parents would tell you to close the door? That’s because in winter you were letting in the cold and in summer you were letting in the insects.
Forgiveness shuts the door on your past! Paul, who martyred Christians before becoming one, writes, ‘This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching… unto those things which are before.’ Only when you release your grip on the past can you secure your grip on the future. Forgiving is a decision, one you sometimes have to make daily or even hourly. Bottom line: you need to forgive every time the issue that’s hurting you rears its head (see Matthew 18:21–22).
Complete healing can take months or years. When someone hurts you deeply, you must purpose in your heart to keep forgiving them until you’re free from their influence. No matter what they took from you through abuse, abandonment, betrayal, manipulation or deceit, the fact is that bitterness will take more! Like making a rod for your own back, unforgiveness lets the person who hurt you keep on doing it. So until the issue is resolved, you may have to get down on your knees every day and pray, ‘Lord, by an act of my will, I forgive ________ and ask You to bless them. I’m turning them over to You and getting on with my life.’
There’s no shortcut—it’s the only path to freedom!
From The Word for Today.
November 5, 2019
Look For Teaching Moments
‘What do these stones mean?’ Joshua 4:21 NIV
One of the most effective ways to teach is through ‘teaching moments’. Jesus did that. When a fig tree didn’t produce fruit, He cursed it and it immediately withered up. That got the disciples’ attention (see Matthew 21:18–22). Then He explained that unless you stay filled with God’s Spirit, you won’t be fruitful in His service.
He could have taught this same lesson in the synagogue. But then His listeners would’ve had to imagine a fig tree, and the message would have been diluted depending on the ability of the hearer. When three drunken high-school students crashed their car into a tree, the wreck sat in front of their school for several days. Every day the students had to look at it. That’s called a ‘high-impact teaching moment’.
It’s said timing is everything. That’s certainly true when it comes to learning the important lessons in life, so don’t miss them! If you’re a parent, it’s futile to constantly ‘preach’ at your kids. If you’re a leader, it’s a mistake to keep ‘lecturing’ the people who are answerable to you. Let the experience speak! Then ask for their thoughts, and listen without interjecting! People learn more through discovery than dialogue. That’s why God instructed Joshua to build a monument of twelve stones on the other side of Jordan after He miraculously parted its waters so they could cross over (see Joshua 4:1–9). What He was really saying was, ‘When your children ask what this monument is all about, use it as a teaching moment about My love and faithfulness.’
From The Word for Today.
November 4, 2019
Don’t Brag About It
‘We have done what was our duty.’ Luke 17:10 NKJV
If you have a tendency to remind people of all the good things you do and the sacrifices you make, read what Jesus said: ‘When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say…“We have done what was our duty to do.”’ We all deserve recognition for the good we do, and we thrive on appreciation. But lots of times we don’t get it, so we’re left with three choices:
(1) We can succumb to self-pity and go around complaining about how the world doesn’t treat us right or give us a fair deal.
(2) We can give way to resentment, walk around with a chip on our shoulder, and end up wondering why people don’t want to be around us.
(3) We can adopt the attitude Jesus taught and say, ‘I’m only doing what God expects of me. And knowing He is pleased with me is reward enough.’ If you try to run on the fuel of other people’s encouragement and praise, when it doesn’t come you’ll have no joy. And that’s bad because ‘the joy of the Lord [the joy that comes from knowing you walk under the smile of His approval] is your strength.’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV)
Living this way will make you a self-starter and a successful finisher. And when that happens, you’ll find favour at home and on the job, and end up with more friends than you know what to do with. Plus your real reward, the one that matters most, is guaranteed when you stand before the Master one day and hear the words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ (Matthew 25:23 KJV)
From The Word for Today.
November 3, 2019
November 2, 2019
Living The Anointed Life
‘The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you.’ 1 John 2:27 NKJV
The word ‘anoint’ means ‘to pour on and rub in’. In the Old Testament a priest had oil poured over his head, symbolising the Spirit of God resting on him as he carried out his duties each day.
Now fast forward to the age we are living in and read it again: ‘The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you.’ The word ‘abide’ simply means ‘to take up residence and live in’. In other words, you’re a container for God’s Spirit. And when His Spirit lives within you, it affects every area of your life. Try to imagine the advantage this gives you when it comes to your relationships, your career, your health, your decisions, your struggles, your marriage, and your ministry. Imagine what it does when you’re under stress and handling overwhelming problems. And furthermore, the anointing of God’s Spirit that ‘abides’ in you is transferable to others. When you speak Scriptural words of kindness and encouragement to someone, those words are still at work long after you’re gone because they’re infused with the presence of God.
In Psalm 23:5 NIV, David says: ‘You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.’ ‘Overflows’ means it’s spilling out to friends, family, colleagues, strangers.
The psalmist said, ‘I shall be anointed with fresh oil.’ (Psalm 92:10 KJV) Every morning when you wake up, pray, ‘Lord, anoint me afresh today.’ Then go out and touch others with that anointing!
From The Word for Today.
November 1, 2019
October 31, 2019
Delivered from People-Pleasing
‘I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles.’ Acts 26:17 NLT
Paul’s ministry began when he met Jesus on the Damascus Road. In that humbling encounter, the Lord said to him: ‘Get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen Me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light.’ (Acts 26:16–18 NLT)
Before Paul could be successful in his calling and minister effectively, he had to be delivered from the fear of people. That included those who knew him well, and those he had yet to meet who didn’t know him at all. He had to be detoxed from the need for approval. In essence, God was saying to Paul, ‘You’re just the postman. Some days people will like what you deliver, other days they won’t. You have to deliver the post anyway. So I’m setting you free from the fear of their rejection and the need for their acceptance.’
Has God called you to do a particular job? Are you afraid you’ll make mistakes? Count on it—you will! Are you worried you’ll be criticised? It comes with the turf! People will disappoint you in 101 different ways, but if you’re determined to do the will of God, pray, ‘Lord, deliver me from people pleasing, so I can share with them what You’ve given to me.’
Then get on with the job!
From The Word for Today.
October 30, 2019
What’s The Basis Of Your Self-Worth?
‘Be satisfied with what you have.’ Hebrews 13:5 NLT
One morning, a businessman saw a fisherman lounging on his boat drinking coffee. ‘You’re back early,’ he shouted.
The sailor replied, ‘I’ve caught enough. I’m through for the day.’
The businessman said, ‘Why not go out again? If you keep going out you can catch more fish and increase your income, buy a second boat, hire a crew, and become rich like me.’
The man replied, ‘Why should I do that?’
The businessman said, ‘So you’ll be free to do what you want and enjoy life.’
Grinning, the fisherman said, ‘But that’s exactly what I’m doing right now!’
The Bible says, ‘Be satisfied with what you have,’ yet many of us base our self-worth on what we own or achieve. We only feel good about ourselves when we’re involved in certain relationships or live in certain areas or reach certain goals. We tell ourselves, ‘When I earn more money, or become CEO, or get fitter, etc., I’ll be ok.’
So, what’s the basis of your self-worth today? If you’re not sure, ask yourself, ‘What can I not live without?’ Is there somebody you’re afraid will leave you? A job you’re too involved in? Is there something you need to accomplish before you feel complete? It is both Scriptural and wise to have goals for your life, but don’t undermine yourself by believing that you’re ‘less than’ because you’ve achieved or acquired less than someone else. The Scriptures teach that when you make God’s purposes your number one priority, ‘He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern… For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.’ (Luke 12:31–32 TLB)
From The Word for Today.
October 29, 2019
October 28
Meditate On God’s Word
‘In His law he meditates day and night.’ Psalm 1:2 NKJV
When you go beyond simply reading your Bible and take the time to meditate each day on its truths, you begin to think like God. And when that happens your life changes for the better. Peter was so dependent on the words of Jesus that he said, ‘To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ (John 6:68 NKJV) And Job said, ‘I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.’ (Job 23:12 NIV)
Question: How often do you set aside time to meditate on the Scriptures? As you meditate on God’s Word you develop a mindset that enables you to rise above your fears. ‘My word… will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ (Isaiah 55:11 NIV) Did you get that? God’s Word will accomplish God’s purposes in your life! That’s why Satan will battle you over finding time to read your Bible.
The truth is, you don’t find time, you make it! The prophet Isaiah said, ‘Morning by morning He wakens me and opens my understanding to His will.’ (Isaiah 50:4 NLT) In a world that’s often devoid of commitment, God promises: ‘I won’t give up on you. I’ll keep working on you until you’re clear in your perceptions, strong in your faith, and balanced in your spiritual walk. As you meditate on My precepts, you’ll start to move in a new direction. And when that happens, your life will begin to prosper.’
From The Word for Today.
October 27, 2019
He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands
‘The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’ Daniel 4:25 NKJV
As a Bible believer, here are three words that should NOT be in your vocabulary: luck, coincidence, and fate. Replace them instead with the word providence, which means ‘to see in advance and to provide for’. The Westminster Confession of Faith, written in the seventeenth century, states: ‘God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence.’ That means God is in charge, not us!
But what about our human will? Can’t we act independently? Theologian Dr R.C. Sproul wrote, ‘God’s sovereign providence stands over and above our actions. He works out His will through the actions of human wills, without violating the freedom of those human wills.’ Look at Joseph. His brothers tried to destroy him, but instead their efforts put him on the throne of Egypt and fulfilled God’s will. Later he said, ‘You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.’ (Genesis 50:20 NASB)
Judas’ most heinous act of betrayal helped bring about the best thing that ever happened: Christ’s atonement for our sins on the cross. Are you confused because of the things going on around you? One reason is because we only utilise about 10 per cent of our mental potential. Plus, Paul points out that now we only ‘know in part’ (see 1 Corinthians 13:9). When we get to Heaven God may explain it all—or not. Until then, trust Him. And rejoice, He’s got the whole world in His hands—including you!
From The Word for Today.
October 26, 2019
October 25, 2019
October 24, 2019
October 23, 2019
October 22, 2019
October 21, 2019
October 20, 2019
October 19, 2019
October 18, 2019
October 17, 2019
Try To Learn Something Every Day
‘Knowledge will fill you with joy.’ Proverbs 2:10 NLT
One Friday morning an eager young Stanford University student stood before Louis Janin, a well-known mining engineer. He was seeking employment. Janin informed him, ‘All I need right now is a stenographer.’
The young man said eagerly, ‘Fine, I’ll take the job.’ Then he added, ‘But I can’t come back until Tuesday.’
Janin agreed, and the next Tuesday the young man reported for work as scheduled. Janin asked him, ‘Why is it that you couldn’t come back before Tuesday?’
The young man replied, ‘Because I had to rent a typewriter and learn how to use it.’
The young typist was Herbert Hoover, whose can-do attitude eventually led him through the doors of the White House to become one of America’s presidents. By taking shortcuts—you risk short-changing your future. Your unwillingness to learn today will leave you unprepared for tomorrow’s opportunities. No skill you learn will ever be lost. Gleaning knowledge and learning new skills builds confidence and sharpens your mind. Successful people have one thing in common: they never quit learning! Furthermore, God calls prepared people, so prepare yourself.
The Bible says: ‘Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver… Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.’ (Proverbs 2:2–10 NLT)
From The Word for Today.
October 16, 2019
October 15, 2019
October 14, 2019
October 13, 2019
October 12, 2019
October 11, 2019
October 10, 2019
How To Experience God’s Peace
‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.’ Philippians 4:6 NLT
God’s peace is a wonderful thing. And some of the people around you today are in need of it. It comes when you commit your life to Christ and live by the principles laid out in Scripture. When you ‘commit’ something to the Lord, you transfer every part of it from you to Him (see Psalm 37:5). Peter writes, ‘Casting the whole of your…concerns, once and for all, on Him, for He cares for you.’ (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC) What a privilege. Have you been availing yourself of it lately?
‘How do I cast all my cares on Him?’ you ask. Through prayer! As soon as you become aware that you’re starting to worry and lose your sense of peace, take it to God immediately and leave it with Him. Don’t give the devil time to work you over. The longer you wait, the greater his hold over you becomes. ‘But I can’t help thinking about it,’ you say. ‘What can I do?’ These two things:
(1) Give it to God and then start to focus on other things. It’s a learned response, one you’ll have to practise daily. Paul writes, ‘Whatever is true… honourable and worthy of respect… whatever is lovely and brings peace… think continually on these things.’ (Philippians 4:8 AMP) In other words, redirect your thoughts!
(2) Find out what God says in His Word about your situation. Then line your thoughts, words, and actions up with it. When you do this, then you’ll be able to not ‘worry about anything; instead, pray about everything… You will experience God’s peace.’ (Philippians 4:7 NLT)
From The Word for Today.
October 8, 2019
October 7, 2019
October 6, 2019
October 5, 2019
October 4, 2019
October 3, 2019
October 2, 2019
Responding To Gossip (1)
‘It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true.’ Nehemiah 6:6 NIV
The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing. When you attempt anything of value or significance, people are going to talk about you. Nehemiah’s enemies tried to stop him from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem by using gossip and innuendo: ‘It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true… Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: “There is a king in Judah!”’ (Nehemiah 6:6–7 NIV) Notice, no source was given of the accusations against Nehemiah. ‘It is reported.’ Always be prepared when someone comes to you and says something like this: ‘I heard…’ or ‘somebody said…’ or ‘the word on the street is…’
Never receive a criticism from someone who is bringing it on behalf of someone else, someone they won’t even name, someone who won’t say it to your face. Not even slander could keep Nehemiah from the work he was doing. Note how he responded: ‘I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”’ (Nehemiah 6:8 NIV) In other words: ‘I don’t care what you think, or say, or like. I’m going to keep building this wall until the job is done.’ And that must be your attitude too. Most of the time your friends don’t need an explanation, and your enemies wouldn’t believe one if you held them at gunpoint. So stay focused and get the job done.
From The Word for Today.
October 1, 2019
September 30, 2019
September 29, 2019
September 28, 2019
September 27, 2019
September 26, 2019
Pull Down That Stronghold!
‘The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.’ 2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV
The story of Joseph the prisoner becoming Joseph the prime minister teaches us that we can rise above the circumstances, overcome the challenges, and live in the fullness of our God-given potential. His journey was a long one, and yours may be too. But if you don’t take the first step, you’ll remain stuck where you are.
Sometimes your ‘stronghold’ was established early in life. Family pain is the deepest pain, because it’s inflicted so early and involves people who should have been trustworthy. You were too young to process the mistreatment. You didn’t know how to defend yourself. Your dad, mum, uncle, big brother—they towered over you, usually in size, always in rank. When they judged you falsely, you believed them. All this time you were operating on faulty data: ‘You’re stupid… slow… dumb like your father… fat like your mother…’ Decades later those voices of defeat still echo in your subconscious. But they don’t have to!
‘For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.’ Use the ‘reject and repeat’ strategy and you’ll win the victory in your thinking. When negative, fearful, guilt-ridden, inferior, condemning thoughts arise, reject them and begin to repeat what God says about you in His Word. As God’s Word comes to life within you, your old thoughts will begin to die and lose their control over you. Today pull down that stronghold and let your healing begin.
From The Word for Today.
September 25, 2019
Take Time To Rest
‘Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest a while.”’ Mark 6:31 NLT
There’s an ancient legend that says the apostle John had a partridge he enjoyed feeding and tending. One day a hunter visited him and was astonished to see him playing with the bird. ‘I’m surprised to see you engaged in such amusement when there are great matters related to the Gospel with which you could be busy.’
John replied, ‘Do you always keep your bow bent?’
The hunter said, ‘No, that would render it useless. I loosen the string unless I am hunting.’
The apostle nodded and said, ‘Me too; I unbend my mind for the same reason.’
Guess who said, ‘Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.’ Jesus, the most-in-demand person Who ever lived. Why did He say it? The Bible tells us, ‘There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat.’ And Jesus is our example.
One summer a pastor announced he wasn’t going to take a holiday, since the devil never goes on holiday. Some of his congregation laughed; others thought he was very ‘spiritual’. One man went home, however, to see if Jesus had the same attitude. He found that in His three years of active ministry Jesus had ten periods when He got away from the crowds, in addition to His nightly rest and Sabbath day rest. Next Sunday he asked his pastor, ‘Are you following the devil’s example or the Lord’s example?’ Recreation is just that: re-creation, a time to renew your energy and nurture your most valuable relationships. So, take time to rest.
From The Word for Today.
September 24, 2019
September 23, 2019
Sold Out To God
‘Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ.’ Philippians 3:8 CEV
Before you discover your God-given purpose in life, you’ll often experience a series of adversities that cause you to relinquish what’s temporal and to grasp what’s eternal. For Paul it meant the loss of every earthly possession. For others it can mean the heat of battle in a divorce court. When the person you thought was ‘everything’ walks away, suddenly you’re stripped down to what you had before. Look at Job; his home was a shambles, his marriage seemed a joke, and his children were dead. That’s when he discovered you can be stripped of the temporal, but not the eternal; stripped of your wealth, friends, and fame, but not of your character and your faith in God—those things survive the strippings of life.
The Bible says of Job after these disasters happened: ‘Then he fell to the ground in worship.’ (Job 1:20 NIV) True worship is born in the fire of sacrifice. When you can lay upon the altar something you thought you had to have because you realise it was God’s all along—that’s worship. Look at Abraham’s altar. God didn’t want the slain body of Isaac; He wanted to know if there was anything Abraham loved more than Him. That’s it—reaching the place where you can pray: ‘Lord, here are my grudges and unforgiveness, my need to impress, my time, talent and treasure, anything I’m wrapped up in that hinders me from being completely Yours. You’ll never have to take these things from me, for I gladly give You all it takes to be what You want me to be.’
Can you pray that prayer today? It’s not easy, but it’ll change your life.
From The Word for Today.
September 22, 2019
September 21, 2019
September 20, 2019
September 19, 2019
September 18, 2019
September 17, 2019
September 16, 2019
September 15, 2019
Overcoming Stress (5)
‘He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out.’ Mark 3:14 NIV
Don’t try to do it all yourself. One of the reasons we get stressed out is because we think that everything depends on us. Not Jesus. He enlisted, trained, and empowered twelve others so they could share the load. He delegated His work. He got other people involved.
So why don’t we do that? Two reasons:
(1) Perfectionism. We think, ‘If I want a job well done, I’ll do it myself.’ That’s a nice idea, but often it doesn’t work well because there are just too many things to be done. We simply don’t have the time and talent to do everything ourselves. It’s really an egotistical attitude that says, ‘Nobody, but nobody, can do it the way I can!’ Do you think Jesus could’ve done a better job than His disciples? Of course, but even knowing that, He still let them do the work. Why? Because we need to let other people make some of the mistakes in order for them to learn, the same way the disciples learned. Don’t rob others of an education.
(2) Insecurity. ‘What if I turn this responsibility over to someone else and they do a better job than I do?’ That possibility is threatening to many of us. But you won’t feel threatened if you know who you are, who you’re trying to please, what you want to accomplish, and the one thing you need to focus on. In order to be effective you must get other people involved, because you can’t focus on more than one thing at a time and do it well.
From The Word for Today.
September 14, 2019
Overcoming Stress (4)
‘I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ Luke 4:43 NIV
Focus on one thing at a time. Are you being pulled in different directions? People constantly tried to do this to Jesus and distract Him from His goal in life. The Bible says, ‘At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them.’ (Luke 4:42 NIV) Jesus was about to leave and they tried to make Him stay.
Here’s how He responded: ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ He refused to be distracted by less important matters. Indeed, He was a master at this. Everybody tried to interrupt Him. Everyone had a Plan B for His life. But in essence He responded, ‘No, I must keep moving towards My goal.’ And He kept right on doing what He knew God had told Him to do. He was determined. He was persistent. He was focused.
So when you have a dozen different things to do, pick the most important one and stick with it until it’s complete. Then pick the second most important and do the same thing, until you’ve completed the list. When we diffuse our efforts we’re ineffective; when we concentrate our efforts we’re more successful. Diffused light produces a hazy glow, whereas light that’s concentrated produces fire. Jesus didn’t let interruptions prevent Him from concentrating on His goal. He didn’t let others make Him tense or stressed or irritated. And He is your example!
From The Word for Today.
September 13, 2019
September 12, 2019
Overcoming Stress (2)
‘I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me.’ John 5:30 NIV
Know who you are trying to please. Jesus didn’t try to please everybody, so isn’t it foolish for you to try to do something even God doesn’t do? It was a settled issue with Jesus: ‘I’m going to please God, full stop!’
And God replied, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:17 KJV) When you lose sight of who you’re trying to please you’ll always cave in to three things:
(1) Criticism, because you’re overly concerned about what others think of you.
(2) Competition, because you’re afraid somebody will get ahead of you.
(3) Conflict, because you’re threatened by anyone who disagrees with you.
Jesus said, ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) By focusing on God’s will you simplify your life! You’ll always be doing the right thing, the thing that pleases Him, regardless of what anybody else thinks. We love to blame stress on other people and on our obligations: ‘You made me do… I have to… I’ve got to.’
Actually, there are few things in life apart from our jobs that we must do. So what we’re really saying is, ‘I choose to [fill in the blank] because I don’t want to handle the consequences otherwise.’ Rarely does anybody make us do anything, so we can’t blame other people for our stress. When we feel pressured, we’re choosing to let others put us there. The fact is, we’re not victims unless we allow ourselves to be pressured by outside demands.
From The Word for Today.
September 11, 2019
September 10, 2019
Remember The Overlooked And Forgotten
‘Plead the case of the widow.’ Isaiah 1:17 NIV
In New Testament times society had no welfare system. That’s why the apostle James wrote, ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows.’ (James 1:27 NIV) This could be the kind of ministry you’ve been looking for! The only qualification you need is the memory of how it feels to ‘be left out’ and the compassion to ‘do something about it’.
The following poignant letter, The Story of Widowhood, was written by a lady whose husband died. ‘First numbness, then busyness. A million things to settle. Endless death certificates and things to sign. Friends are so considerate; caring support from relatives. You keep busy. But at night you pound the empty side of the bed in grief. Finally you close your eyes, throw his toothbrush into the garbage, and toss out the old work shoes you brought home from the hospital in a plastic bag. You empty the closet and give all his things away. It’s heartache like you wouldn’t believe. Every suit in his closet reminds you of a special place or time you shared together. A year has passed; you’re still in one piece. Then the blow! Your friends celebrate a birthday—all couples. You’re not included because you’d be a “fifth wheel”. Some wives may even consider you a threat. Please remember us. Don’t treat us like excess baggage. We’ve been handed a rotten break, and we need friends. Signed, Forgotten.’
Think of the difference you could make today in somebody’s life by being willing to seek out those that society so often overlooks and forgets.
From The Word for Today.
Enjoy Your Life!
‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven.’ Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
When did you last take time to laugh, to dance, and to love? Can you even remember? In the words of an unknown poet: ‘This is the age of the half-read page; the quick hash and the mad dash. The bright knight with the nerves tight; the plane hop and the brief stop. The lamp-tan in a brief span; the big shot in a good spot. The brain strain and the heart pain; the catnaps until the spring snaps… and the fun’s done!’
Sobering words, right? But does it have to be that way? No, if it’s that way in your life today, chances are it’s because you made it that way. And you’re the only one who can make it different! You say you’re busy? We’re all busy. Who says you can’t enjoy life even when the pace picks up? Certainly not God!
Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘I refuse to force hilarity into the back seat every time responsibility takes the wheel. If the fun’s gone, it’s because we didn’t want it around—not because it didn’t fit… I don’t care if your “to do” list is as long as the horizon, you need to get back in balance and take the time to laugh… to dance… and to love. Why? Because the Bible says so! Furthermore, your family and friends will enjoy you a lot more when you do.’
The psalmist said, ‘You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’ (Psalm 16:11 NKJV) So go ahead and enjoy your life the way God intended—it will be over before you know it.
From The Word for Today.
Stop Putting It Off
‘Teach us to number our days.’ Psalm 90:12 NKJV
In a 1985 newspaper essay, Anne Wells wrote: ‘My brother-in-law opened my sister’s bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. It was an exquisite silk handmade slip; the price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. “Jan bought this the first time we went to New York… eight or nine years ago… She never wore it; she was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.” He put the slip on the bed with the other clothes we were taking—to the mortician. Then he turned to me, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion!”’
Those words changed Anne Wells’ life. She continued: ‘I’m not saving anything anymore. Now we use our good china… for every special occasion—like losing a [kilo], getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. “Someday” and “one of these days” are fighting a losing battle to stay in my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing, hearing, or doing, I want to see, hear, and do it now. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and lustre to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself this is a special occasion.’
Makes you think, doesn’t it? Makes you want to drain the last drop of joy out of every day and break free from the cement of procrastination that whispers, ‘You can do it later.’ Wise up! Forgive that offence, tell that person you love them, take that trip, go back to school. Decide today to do the thing you’ve been putting off.
From The Word for Today.
Have You Discovered Your Life’s Purpose?
‘Called according to His purpose.’ Romans 8:28 NLT
If you want things to work out right for you in life, you need to discover your God-ordained purpose and give yourself fully to it. The Bible says, ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’ (Romans 8:28 NIV) The focal point of your life should be discovering and doing God’s will. What you believe about that will determine the direction you take and what you accomplish.
There’s a big difference between talent and purpose. You’re called according to God’s purpose, not your talent. When you are talented but not called, you can be comfortable anywhere. That’s because talent, like justice, is blind; it sees all opportunities the same. But when you are aware of your God-given purpose and it governs your life, there are things you simply won’t do because you know they’ll derail, dilute, or defeat God’s purpose for you. Being ‘called according to His purpose’ enables you to focus on the development of your talent only as it relates to God’s will for you. So instead of asking God to bless what you’re doing, ask Him to reveal His purpose for your life. Once you discover and fulfil that, you’ll beblessed, because His plan is already blessed!
Let’s read it again: ‘And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.’ (Romans 8:28 NLT) So have you discovered God’s purpose for your life yet? If not, get into His presence and stay there until He reveals it to you. It’s the only way you’ll ever be totally fulfilled.
Do You Really Want God’s Blessing?
‘Jacob wrestled with an angel.’ Hosea 12:4 CEV
Some of your toughest battles in life will be with God. That’s because there’s a ‘Jacob nature’ in each of us that resists the will of God, and wants to wrestle with Him. That nature has to be dealt with. The same God who asked Jacob, ‘What is your name?’ will ask you to identify yourself too. And until you’re willing to do an honest evaluation and answer truthfully, your life can’t change for the better. God had to break Jacob by dislocating his hip, the thing he depended on. Jacob got his blessing at the same time he got his limp. Ask yourself, ‘Do I really want the blessing of God on my life?’ Before you answer, stop and ask yourself these questions:
(1) Am I willing to let go of what I want if it’s not God’s will for me?
(2) Do I long for what others have instead of waiting for God’s provision for me?
(3) Do I keep talking about my rights because I haven’t fully surrendered to the Lord?
(4) Do I truly love others and think of them first?
(5) Am I practising the daily disciplines of prayer and Bible reading?
(6) Am I allowing God to handle my public relations instead of promoting myself?
(7) Am I expressing joy in the midst of adversity and trusting God to reproduce the character of Jesus in me?
(8) Am I taking risks in obedience to Christ instead of giving in to fear and playing it safe? Not only will your answers to these questions determine your discipleship, your direction, and your destiny—they will also determine your level of blessing.
From The Word for Today.
‘Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.’ Deuteronomy 29:9 NIV
Two men were talking and one said, ‘Do you know the secret of success?’ The other replied, ‘No, what is it?’ The first man said, ‘I can’t tell you.’ His friend asked, ‘Why not?’ The first guy said, ‘Because it’s a secret!’
Success, as God defines it, is not a secret. He repeatedly says in His Word that He wants us to be successful in life. But as our faces differ, so does God’s plan of success for each of us differ. Success is simply discovering God’s will for your life and doing it. Consider high definition television (HDTV). This technology makes possible an additional hundred lines of resolution on a screen so that the picture is virtually lifelike. The industry calls it ‘super clarity’. Whether you stand five metres away or half a metre, the picture looks perfectly clear—no fuzzy lines, no distortions, no shadows.
What would a successful life look like in high definition? In order to find that level of clarity, you need to dig into God’s Word and find out what He thinks about success. ‘Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do.’ When God created man, one of the first things He told him to do was ‘be fruitful, and multiply.’ (Genesis 1:22 KJV) In the book of Job we read the words, ‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’ (Job 8:7 NKJV) But God-ordained success comes with a caveat, and it’s non-negotiable: God will bless you—in order to make you a blessing to others.
From The Word for Today.
‘A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.’ Proverbs 16:9 NKJV
Fifth, don’t just see the problem, look for the opportunity. When President John F. Kennedy was asked how he became a war hero, he smiled and quipped, ‘It was easy. Somebody sunk my boat!’ While it’s true that certain individuals have a vision and pursue it, many times adversity paves the way to success.
This was the case for a man whose small business was failing: ‘I was paying a sheriff five dollars a day to postpone a judgement on my small factory. Then came the gas man, and because I couldn’t pay his bill he promptly cut off my gas. I was in the midst of certain very important experiments, and to have the gas people plunge me into darkness made me so mad I at once began to read up on gas technique and economics, and resolved I would try to see if electricity couldn’t be made to replace gas and give those gas people a run for their money.’ That man was Thomas Edison, founder of General Electric.
Problems are wake-up calls for creativity. If you choose to wake up, and get up, problems will prompt you to use your God-given abilities, rally your resources, and move forward. The truth is, without certain problems we would end up in the wrong place, with the wrong people, doing the wrong thing. ‘A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.’ Out of pain comes purpose, and out of devastation comes direction. So talk to God about your problem; let Him show you the potential it holds and what He has in mind for you.
‘These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.’ John 16:33 NKJV
Sixth, you must try to keep your problems in perspective. You’ve probably heard the saying: ‘I grumbled because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.’
In a Peanuts cartoon, Snoopy looks in and sees the family sitting around the table enjoying Thanksgiving dinner while he’s outside eating dog food. ‘How about that?’ he thinks. ‘Everybody’s eating turkey today, but because I’m just a dog I get dog food.’ Then he suddenly regains his perspective. ‘Of course, things could be worse—I could have been born a turkey!’
How big or how difficult our problem appears to be is often a matter of perspective. Most difficulties we face are pretty insignificant in the larger scheme of things. When a friend gets cancer or loses a loved one, we’re reminded of just how petty our issues are. Author James Agee recalled how he once struck up a conversation with an impoverished elderly woman in the heart of Appalachia during the Great Depression. She lived in a tiny shack with dirt floors, no heat, and no indoor plumbing. ‘What would you do,’ he asked, ‘if someone gave you some money to help you out?’ The woman thought for a moment and answered, ‘I guess I’d give it to the poor.’
Realising there are people around you who have much bigger problems than yours brings gratitude and perspective. Jesus told His disciples, ‘These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’
‘His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.’ Ephesians 3:10 NIV
Seventh, try to see the problem from different angles. Paul talks about ‘the manifold wisdom of God.’ To understand the word ‘manifold’, think of a diamond. Each time you turn it, the light exposes a different facet of its beauty. God’s wisdom contained in the Bible is like that; it exposes different aspects and approaches to the problem.
There’s a joke about a woman on trial for killing her third husband. The trial lawyer asked, ‘What happened to your first husband?’ She replied, ‘He died of mushroom poisoning.’ He then asked, ‘How about your second husband?’ The woman replied, ‘He died of mushroom poisoning too.’ Finally the lawyer inquired about her third husband. She replied, ‘He died of a brain concussion.’ The lawyer asked, ‘How come?’ She replied, ‘Because he wouldn’t eat the mushrooms!’
Seriously, most problems have many solutions, and no problem can long withstand the assault of sustained thinking. So fire up your God-given creativity, apply sustained thinking, and pull together your resources. Included in those resources are people. Who else has solved this problem? How did they do it? Often the problems that surround you aren’t nearly as crucial as the people around you. When Joseph came up with a plan that saved Egypt from famine, Pharaoh said, ‘Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.’ (Genesis 41:39–40 NLT)
Bottom line: with God’s help, you can generally devise more than one way to solve the problem.
From The Word for Today.
The Word for Today
How To Solve Problems (1)
‘The people became very discouraged on the way.’ Numbers 21:4 NKJV
To reach the Promised Land the Israelites had to ‘go around the land of Edom.’ (Numbers 21:4 NKJV) This made their journey much longer, and ‘the people became very discouraged on the way.’ There’s a lesson here.
The best way to escape a problem is to solve it. Between you and your ‘promised land’ you’ll face issues that have to be resolved. Recognising obstacles for what they are—temporary tests of your resolve, ability, and faith in God—won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to handle them. So let’s discuss problem solving.
First, recognise that you’ll always have problems. A university student sent this email to his mum at the end of term: ‘Dropped out of uni, coming home tomorrow. Prepare Dad.’ The email he got back said, ‘Dad prepared. Prepare yourself!’
Al Davis, who owned the Oakland Raiders American football team, said: ‘A great leader doesn’t treat problems as special. He treats them as normal. If you’re working, expect problems. If you’re dealing with family, expect problems. If you’re just minding your own business and trying to relax, expect problems. If everything goes according to plan, then be pleasantly surprised. If it doesn’t, and you’ve planned accordingly, you won’t get so frustrated. A problem not anticipated is a problem. A problem anticipated is an opportunity.’
Paul said, ‘To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory… forever.’ (Ephesians 3:20–21 NKJV) The problem you’re facing today is just an opportunity for God to do for you or through you what you can’t do by yourself.
From The Word for Today.
The Word for Today
How To Solve Problems (2)
‘The Lord is my strength and my shield.’ Psalm 28:7 NKJV
Second, you must identify the real problem. Sometimes doctors can cure you, other times they prescribe medication enabling you to live more comfortably with your problem. But first they have to diagnose what’s wrong.
Philosopher Abraham Kaplan makes this distinction between problems and predicaments: ‘A problem is something you can do something about. If you can’t do something about it, then it’s not a problem, it’s a predicament. That means it’s something that must be coped with; something that must be endured. When you treat a predicament as a problem you can become frustrated, angry, and depressed. You waste energy and make bad decisions. Then when all your attempts fail, you give up and see yourself as a victim.’
Here’s an example: if you’re married, perhaps you are a ‘morning person’ and your spouse is a ‘night person’, or vice versa. That’s a predicament. You can’t change it. You can’t change the way people are wired internally. And if you try, you and your spouse will experience lots of conflict and there’ll be no resolution. However, your difficulty in finding ways to spend time together because of your different bents is a problem, and that can be solved.
And here’s another thought: sometimes God will deliver you from a bad situation and other times He will use it to develop your character and make you more like Christ. Yes, He can turn your sigh into a song! David said, ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.’ (Psalm 28:7 NKJV)
From The Word for Today.
The Word for Today
How To Solve Problems (3)
‘Should someone like me have to run and hide in the temple to save my life? I won’t go!’ Nehemiah 6:11 CEV
Third, you must face the problem. When Nehemiah was threatened by his enemies, some of his friends told him to hide in the temple. But he replied, ‘Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!’ (Nehemiah 6:11 NIV) As a result Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in under two months—an amazing feat.
Years ago a popular American television commercial about addiction and abuse showed a typical family at home. The children were playing, the mother was vacuuming, and the father was reading the newspaper. They could have been a conventional family anywhere, except for one problem: there was a huge elephant in the room with them. Even though they could see it was making life difficult and they had to work around it, they seemed to be ignoring it and pretending it didn’t exist. That ad gave rise to the slogan: ‘The elephant in the room.’ It applies to problems we don’t want to address, so we pretend that everything is fine.
We typically react to a problem in four ways:
(1) Flee it: we try to escape, but the problem always follows us.
(2) Forget it: we hope it will go away if we don’t think about it. But left alone, problems tend to get worse.
(3) Fight it: what we resist persists. And problems are no exception.
(4) Face it: we look at the issue realistically and deal with it. If we’re wise we reach for God’s assistance and ‘boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.”’ (Hebrews 13:6 NKJV)
From The Word for Today.
The Word for Today
How To Solve Problems (4)
‘The prudent give thought to their steps.’ Proverbs 14:15 NIV
Fourth, evaluate the problem carefully and prayerfully. Here’s what King Solomon said about reacting impulsively instead of taking time to get all the facts. ‘The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.’ (Proverbs 14:15 NIV) .‘To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.’ (Proverbs 18:13 NIV)
When patients are in pain they want quick relief. But the doctor knows that the pain must be diagnosed correctly in order to prescribe the right medication and make the patient whole. For you that means asking yourself, ‘Who or what caused this problem? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Has it the potential to do real damage, or will I have forgotten about it this time next week?’ If you don’t diagnose the problem correctly you’ll have to go back and start over again, at which point the solution will probably be more painful and costly.
Mike Leavitt, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, said, ‘There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see, yet small enough to solve.’ The key is to find the right time and be patient when implementing the solution. Inexperienced people expect problems to be settled instantly. But experienced people are like the master sculptor who keeps striking the marble block with steady blows of the hammer. Unlike the rookie who expects to split the stone with one blow, he knows if he just keeps working at it he will eventually succeed.
From The Word for Today.