Real Strength

(David Wrote:) When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need. Psalm 138:3 (NLT)

Leaders attribute their strength to any number of sources - upbringing and family life, a network of supporters who keep them going, a loving wife or husband, an outstanding mentor and role model.

But there are other sources of strength that are far more powerful and have a far more powerful and have a far more lasting effect - namely God and His Word.  When you draw strength from His Spirit and the Bible, you tap into a source of energy that will last through eternity.  Couple that with your own inner resolve, and you have what it takes to keep you going and going.

Maintaining the strength you need to continue to be effective as a leader requires a fair amount of exercise, not the kind you do at a fitness center but the kind you can do wherever you are.  Keeping spiritually fit is the key; and that involves an intimate relationship with God, one that you nurture and protect at all costs.  That relationship needs to be the top priority in your life, because your fitness in every other area of your life, your work, your relationships, your community of faith depends on the quality of your fellowship and relationship with God.

Drawing on God's strength requires trusting Him completely, which is something of a paradox.  But the Bible says that God's way of doing things is often very different from the way people think things should be done.  Instead of trying to muster the strength you need all on your own, you can turn to Him in prayer and ask Him to replace your weakness with His strength.  Admitting your weakness and relying on Him actually makes you stronger.  Ask God to give you the strength you need.  Learn to see your weaknesses not as a liability but as a reminder that God wants you to turn to Him in complete obedience.

Can you see truth if it's in your face?

One of the most fascinating people to see operate is an illusionist. Illusionist have a unique ability to cause people to miss something lying directly in their face. I watched a movie and the illusionist told the audience "watch very close, keep your eyes directly on me" and while everyone was focused on him, right in front of their eyes, he made a quick and subtle shift with his hand and the card disappeared.  Everyone was amazed and cheered.

Later someone came and exposed the illusionist for what he was doing, so everyone could know it wasn't real. After seeing the exposure video, people were still coming out to see the illusionist, despite knowing the act was staged, the people continued to come out simply to be entertained.

II Corinthians 4:1-4 declares "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them."

As believers in Christ, we have the truth in our possession and the minds of those who don't believe are blinded, however, the only thing keeping our minds from being blinded is our commitment to renounce the hidden things of shame.  Similar to those to who were lured in to the deception of the illusionist, many of us refuse to accept the truth because we are entertained by those hidden things, and if we were to renounce those things, it would mean we would have to give up something that entertains us.

If we are to have our eyes open to truth, it requires us to renounce illusions.  What areas in your life have you failed to renounce? 

Keep It Real

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street concerns and in the synagogues where everyone can see them.  I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.  But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.  Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  Matthew 6:5-6 (NLT)

Rarely do we intentionally drift from God, but if we are not diligent in guarding our hearts and minds – this will happen.  A noticeable sign is if we find ourselves in church, Bible study or a ministry meeting feeling disconnected.  When we are simply going through the motions.  When we notice that our bodies are present but our minds are somewhere else.  This is what Jesus is telling us not to do.  We are not to allow our actions to become disconnected from our intentions or our hearts and minds.

To be fair, I can image the hypocrites starting off not as hypocrites, but like us – enthusiastic and full of joy.   Then, something happened or something didn’t happen that they expected from God.  Instead of confessing their hurt, pain or disappointment – instead of keeping their faith and relationship with God real – they disconnected and distanced themselves from God.  So much so that prayer turned into a faithless routine and they themselves turned into hypocrites.

In order for us to avoid their fate, we must keep it real; we must take the time needed to cultivate and maintain a true relationship with God.  Prayer is our intimate time with God.  We should be in constant prayer, constantly listening for God’s voice, confessing the truth, accepting God’s grace and reading scripture.

Today let us make sure we are keeping it real, that our faith and relationship with God remain real, and that we are not simply going through the motions.  Let us rekindle our desire and commitment to God.

Overcoming Temptation

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape - 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

In a society where people are propelled onward by the concept of more, more, and still more, excess rules. The temptation to eat one more cookie, buy one more CD; watch one more movie is strong.  The temptation to flirt anonymously over the internet, to take an extra half-hour for lunch, to sleep in when you promised to help someone.  Giving in to temptation often wins out over more prudent (and many times, healthier) choices.

Temptations are all around us.  Sometimes they're easy to ignore, but usually they attract like magnets.  Paul made a bold statement, quoted above, about temptation in his first letter to the Corinthian church.  He said that God always gives a way out of temptation.  Notice that he didn't say God would erase all temptation from our life.  The first step in overcoming temptation is to recognize it.  Do you feel compelled to do something you're not sure is a good idea?  That's the tug of temptation.  Temptation often comes disguised as a shortcut.  It promises an easier path to a desired result, but conveniently forgets to mention that the path is figuratively littered with broken glass, potholes, and land mines. 

The second step is to listen to your conscience.  When you feel that you are being tempted, the hesitation you sense is a warning.  It's an opportunity to uncover the lie that informs temptation.  It's an opportunity to evade being taken in.  The third step is to weigh the consequences of your decision.  Being tempted to eat a second cookie might not have terrible repercussions if you usually don't overeat, but cheating on your taxes or spouse undoubtedly would.  As much as possible, avoid situations where you know you could be tempted.  Sometimes, just following your intuition and staying away is God's promised way out.

Ask God for strength to face the temptation and take the way of escape .  Ask God for wisdom.  God promised not that temptation would not come but when it did He would give you what you needed to  handle it.  God will give you the strength you need to handle temptation.

Why do you want it? What will you Sacrifice?

Kids are some of the most inquisitive people that walk this earth, and rightfully so, they are sponges gathering information and learning every single day.  One of the most over used words they use in their investigation is “why.”  Although the “why” questions can be very irritating, they will often pose some of the greatest challenges to the logic of our daily operations.  Too often we desire things from God without weighting the value of our why. Why do you want that nice house; why do you want that nice car; why do you want that relationship; that job?  Whatever your “that” is, why do you want it? Understanding the magnitude of your why will give depth to your sacrifice. 

If we really desire something, we will have no problem proving it in our sacrifice. The bible declares in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have ever lasting life.”  What was God’s why to His sacrifice?  He loved us so much and as a byproduct of His love, He sacrificed His only Son. 

The weight of His love brought about a sacrifice that proved how much He really loved you and I.  Even when we were sinners.  Today is a simple challenge, examine your why and really determine does the weight of my why, give depth to my sacrifice or does the depth of my sacrifice give weight to my why? God Bless you…

Exposed and Still Accepted

When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once.  I must stay in your home today.”  So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.  Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”  Luke 19:5-7 (CEB)

Nothing we could ever say or do could ever change our past.  We've said what we've said.  We've done what we've done.  The only thing that truly matters is what we do from our present, moving forward.  Zacchaeus is a good example of this very thing.  Like us all, Zacchaeus was a sinner.  Unlike us all, everyone knew his sins.  He was exposed.  So much so, that everyone in Jericho didn’t bother to call him by name but instead called him sinner – everyone except Jesus.

In today’s scripture, Jesus just entered Jericho.  Zacchaeus wanted to see him, but because he was too short, he couldn’t see.  So he climbed up a tree.  When Jesus arrived at the very spot underneath where Zacchaeus was perched, he looked up and called him by name - Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus mean pure and righteous one.  So when everyone else was calling him sinner, Jesus was calling him pure and righteous.

Today know that you are exposed and you are accepted!  You may not be exposed to man, but we all are exposed to God.  David said in Psalm 139:1, “You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me.” (CEV)  Can you fathom someone knowing every single detail about you – even those things you don’t want anyone to know – and still love you, still accept you?  That person is God.

Stop Complaining and Start Thanking

Do all things without complaining and disputing. Philippians 2:14 NKJV

Imagine what it would be like to have a full-time complainer follow you around for a day.  You would soon discover that you would soon start to complain yourself.  Complainers come to suck the life out of just about any circumstance.  At work, a complainer can make a fun job into a chore.  At home, a complainer can turn a place of rest into a place of stress.  You get the idea, the list can go on and on.

Paul had a clear message for all who complain or have a negative attitude.  Don't!  In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul encouraged the Christians there to do all things without complaining.  It's likely that Paul's words sounded a lot easier to obey than they actually were.  But there are ways to avoid being a complainer.  Always look on the bright side of life, in other words look at the "God side of life", which is His word.  There is real power in looking at what's working right in any given situation.  If you search for something that's wrong or negative in your circumstance, you can almost always find something to complain about.  At the end of the day, a collection of positive experiences or thoughts is going to go a long way toward making your life fun, fulfilling, and enjoyable.

Realize that most complaints do little to improve a situation.  Instead of complaining look for positive, practical solutions to the problem.  A complaint about a work procedure may seem like a step in the right direction, but it goes nowhere fast if you don't follow through with helping to find a solution.  Rather than count on complaining to change things, offer suggestions.  Complaints are like roadblocks they will remain until someone comes and move them.  That someone is you and the word of God.

Is Christianity really worth it?

Early on in ministry I found myself lost and wavering back and forth in frustration and confusion posed with the question many of us may have asked ourselves once or twice.  “Is it really worth it being a Christian?”  I asked myself this question several times.  “Am I really reaping the benefits, am I really better off following Christ?” While thinking and battling against myself and the negative thoughts God stepped in.  He never ceases to amaze me.  Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to become weary in doing well, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

Before I saw Galatians 6:9, God reminded me of Psalms 1:1-10 and how it paints the picture of two different people on two different courses because of one simple decision.  Walk with God or not. We often focus on the can not’s of our faith, but there are ample amount of cans that we have to see. Psalms 1:2-3 shares with us that if we delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on His word, we shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, who’s leaf shall not wither; and whatever we do shall prosper.  Today is an encouragement, if you are wavering, is it worth it, should I continue on, am I on the right track, when will I receive what’s mine; stay in the race.  God rewards those who diligently seek Him.    

Thank you, God!

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. Job 23:10 (HCSB)

No one undergoing a trail should say, “I am being tempted by God.”  For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.  James 1:13 (HCSB)

One of my professors used to give us the exam essay questions a week before he gave us the actual exam.  When exam day came, he didn’t switch out questions.  He didn’t add anything extra to the exam either.  The exam was exactly as he had promised.  You might think this was an easy “A” class, but it wasn’t.  Each question required thought, and each answer that of quality.  So amazingly enough, some people actually failed.  Even though we all had the questions beforehand didn’t ensure that we would all study or that we would all pass.  What it did ensure was that we would all be properly equipped with the knowledge needed to maximize our chances of passing.

This is the fundamental difference between testing and tempting.  God tests.  He doesn’t tempt.  When God tests, he ensures that we are properly equipped with what is needed to maximize our chances of enduring and passing our tests.  The flipside of testing is tempting.  When we are tempted, the intent is not to see us prevail, but to see us fall and to succumb while we undergo our trails.  However, even if we are tempted, God is still faithful to us and gives us a way to endure and overcome.  1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, When you are tempted, he [God] will show you a way out so that you can endure. (NLT)

Today let us simply say, “Thank you, God!” knowing quite well that whatever we are going through will not last.  God has already equipped us to endure, overcome and emerge as “pure gold”.

Experience the Amazing

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Lamentations 3:22-24

Have you ever been whitewater rafting?  I have.  The best ride is when the river flows, the raft free-sails, and every moment is pure excitement.  It's amazing!  However, the worst is when the river's water-level is low, the raft doesn't  free-sail, and every moment becomes laborious.  It's awful.  I remember experiencing the latter once.  Some friends and I got stuck on seemingly every single rock in the river and never enjoyed the ride itself.  The difference between an amazing and an awful rifting experience was due to the river's flow. 

God's mercies are like a river - a river that never runs low and never ceases to flow.  If we ever find ourselves stuck on life's rocks, it is not because God's mercies are running low or have stopped flowing.  Instead, it is because we have chosen to live in another flow other than God's mercies.  Outside of God's mercies, we become consumed with life's struggles; we become stuck and unable to move forward.  However, when we accept and receive God's mercies, we are never consumed with grief or despair but convinced that today will inevitably be better than yesterday.  God's mercies give us hope and keep us moving forward. 

Today let us not be consumed with life's hardships.  Let us instead allow the mercies of God to flow freely in our lives, and experience what life in Christ should always be like, which is amazing!