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Week of March 1st : WEATHERING THE STORMS OF LIFE
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet. So He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving kindness and for His wonders to the sons of men! (Psalm 107:28-31).
It’s no secret…the weather in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio can change at a moment’s notice. And it’s that time of year when too often just going to work and/or school in the morning requires advance planning. Did it snow the night before? How are the roads? Is my child’s school closed? The crawling notices across our TV screens alert us when the local National Weather Service has issued a winter storm advisory, watch, or warning to help us prepare for what is coming our way. In the life of the believer, our ever present alert system is the Holy Spirit, Who knows and understands the ‘big picture’ and prepares us for every storm if we really take the time to get quiet and hear His voice.
Let’s take a look at these weather terms more closely:
-An Advisory is issued when special weather conditions are less serious than a warning. They are for events that may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
-A Warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring, and conditions pose a threat to life or property.
-A Watch is issued when the risk of a hazardous weather event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so.
All of us are familiar with natural weather storms. Storms can be unpredictable and dangerous. Violent weather can bring indiscriminate death and destruction. We can imagine nature’s storms to be symbolic of the more intense storms that blow in the hearts of men and women, believer and unbeliever alike. Even if we are not in the midst of some physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, business, familial or marriatal storm at this moment, we all know of someone who is facing a storm advisory, warning or watch.
It is no secret, the storms of life will always rage. Have you considered that Jesus allows storms to come up in our lives so that we will trust Him and place our faith in Him in the midst of it, and not in ourselves? In the song entitled, My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord, Douglas Miller sings,
Though the storms keep on raging in my life
And sometimes it’s hard to tell the night from day
Still that hope that lies within is reassured as I keep my eyes upon the distant shore
I know He’ll lead me safely to that blessed place He has prepared
But if the storm don’t cease and if the winds keep on blowing in my life
My soul has been anchored in the Lord.
When the storms of life come upon us we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God…anchoring our souls in the Lord. The storms do not have to overcome or overwhelm us. Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. Likewise, we can allow the Spirit of God and His power to lift us above every storm. He enables us to ride the winds of the storms that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We know we can soar above the storm because the Bible says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles” Isaiah 40:31.
So the next time the dark skies start rolling in, blocking out the beams of sunshine, and you see that storm coming over the horizon, don’t allow the howling winds to block out HIS voice telling you that you can rise above this storm. Just begin to lift your hands in thanksgiving, and praise His name which causes fear to flee so that faith can flood your soul. What better time to praise God than when it appears that there is no way out of the storm? Every storm must end, and after the storm, things, circumstances, situations, relationships, etc., appear much clearer. Remember, God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for spiritual ears to hear Your still small voice in the midst of every storm. Although there are times when the spiritual and mental storms of life are brutal, I will not lose hope or faith in You to see me safely through and cause me to rise above my circumstances. You are my refuge and I know You will deliver me because I have placed my trust in You. Remind me that You are with me, and grant me Your discernible presence. Thank You that as I keep my trust firmly placed in You, I shall remain peaceful, tranquil, and unshakable! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Week of March 8th : TEST OF TENACITY
I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time ( Ecclesiastes 9:1).
Once upon a time there was a hare who, boasting how he could run faster than anyone else, was forever teasing tortoise for his slowness. Then one day, the irate tortoise answered back: “Who do you think you are? There’s no denying you’re swift, but even you can be beaten.” You know how the The Tortoise and the Hare fable goes, the tortoise challenges the hare to a race and the tortoise wins the race because the over-confident hare stops to take a nap and is overtaken.
How is it that the much slower tortoise managed to outwit, outlast and outplay his opponent? It appears that the tortoise exhibited the following qualities/attributes: (1) he had a clear picture of his desired outcome/goal; (2) he worked hard; (3) he was determined; (4) he was patient; (5) he was confident; (6) he had support.
Let’s take a closer look at our spiritual walk in light of this fable. Often times we start off our race like the hare, full of ourselves and indeed we may even run for a while full speed ahead.
Then, over-confident that we will reach our destination, or perhaps just tired, we stop to take a nap. Sometimes our spiritual walks are similar to the tortoise’s predicament. Getting in a race and facing formidable competition just doesn’t seem to be our ‘cup of tea’ but when pushed out of our ‘comfort zone’ we find the courage to rise to the occasion. So where are you right now in the spiritual race you’re running? Perhaps looking at the morals of this story can help in our spiritual walk with God:
1. Develop attributes of the tortoise, including a tough shell and the courage to stick your neck out, as you tackle any new goal.
2. Check your beliefs (do a spiritual check-up). Perceived liabilities aren’t necessarily so, e.g., short legs, heavy shell.
3. Focus on your strengths. If you don’t know what they are, ask a God-fearing friend.
4. Do not compare yourself to others. There is no good to come of it.
5. Do not underestimate the value of taking one small step at a time, because slow and steady wins the race.
In this life, there are many factors to consider when taking on any challenge. Reflect on this historical fact: For many years it was widely believed to be physically impossible for a human to run a mile in under four minutes without causing significant damage to the runners’ health. However, during an athletic meeting on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds. The breaking of the four minute mile was so significant, that it was named by Forbes as one of the greatest athletic achievements and Bannister will always be remembered as the man who ran the “miracle mile.” What made this event even more significant is that once the four minute barrier was broken, within three years, by the end of 1957, 16 other runners also cracked the four minute mile.
So what happened to the physical barrier that prevented humans from running the four minute mile? Was there a sudden leap in human evolution? No. It was the change in thinking that made the difference; Bannister had shown that breaking a four minute mile was possible. Often the barriers we perceived are only barriers in our own minds. Previous runners had been held back by their beliefs and mindsets. When the barrier was broken other runners saw that it was possible and then 16 runners went on to do the same. Excerpt from Breaking Your “Four Minute Mile” by George Ambler
Just like the tortoise and runners of time past, many of the barriers that hold us back today exist only in our minds. The question that begs asking is, “What are the four minute miles that are holding you back in your personal, professional, and spiritual life?” What is keeping you from being everything that God has called you to be? What is stopping you from being the first one in your family to break through the poverty barrier? What limitations have you placed on yourself or have allowed others to place on you? Who told you that you praise too hard and shout too loud? Why can’t you stay a virgin until you get married? Is it possible you are looking only at the finish line to measure your success, and not the journey? The fact is, the Lord already knows our end from the beginning and He says we already have the VICTORY!
When we cross our final finish line someday, we will all be judged by the One who set the course. No matter how far the finish line may seem, no matter how slow progress may seem, if we keep on course – on the path of the Lord, in His Will, in the Way that He guides us, then we WILL finish the race! “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” ( I Corinthians 15:58).
Heavenly Father, I know sometimes finishing a race can be challenging but very rewarding once I cross the finish line. Lord, give me the strength and energy to persevere to the very end. Even when distractions come my way, help me not lose focus on what You have called me to do. Help me push through every barrier and complete my ‘miracle mile’ one step at a time for nothing is impossible with You. I thank you that Jesus has already won the victory for us and I have eternal life in Him. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Week of March 15th : YOU ARE BEING WATCHED
Beloved I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men (I Peter 2:11-15).
People want to see what being a Christian means. And the way they want to see it is in you. Why? Because we are the ones who claim to have the way, the truth, and the life. We are the ones who claim to have been born again. We are the ones who claim that Jesus changes our lives. To the lost world culture, all these claims are pompous religious mottos. To them, it is all just a lot of ‘talk’, especially when they can’t see the ‘walk’. People hear false claims every single day. What your co-workers, family members, and neighbors want to see is the substance.
They think: Since you say that you have the way, the truth, and the life, then show me what that means in the way you lead your life according to what you call truth. Since you say you have been born again, then let me see the new you that you boldly claim that you are. Since you say that you have been changed by a man that you claim died but still lives, then show me the living change. If I don’t see any change, then you are a liar and a pretender. Saints of God, this is just the way it works with the lost who are watching you.
God wants us to look like we are visiting from His heavenly kingdom. God has appointed every blood-bought, born again Believer to be His special ambassadors touring this world and proclaiming His excellencies. Grandma would say, “I’m just a visitor down here, passing through on my way to glory.”
Our unsaved family should see that there is something different about us even if it doesn’t completely make sense to them. They may say things like, “Oh, so you’re a Jesus freak now,” or “Now that you found religion, you think you are better than us?” Some will treat you as if you have been brainwashed, and in a sense, you have been (Romans 12:2). Our hearts have been washed. This is how they know that something is different. At least they are supposed to know that there is difference, a spiritual difference. Your difference is either going to repel people or your peculiarity is going to attract those whom God is drawing to Himself, through you, by His Holy Spirit.
So what happens when we, strangers and aliens, operate in the same sinful way as the world?
We bring disgrace and reproach upon ALL believers. Your war against your fleshly desires is NOT just a personal war. It is a war that extends to our witness as Christians. The lost look at us and judge us based upon what they discover about us by our actions, and the actions of those in our ‘family’. They don’t care about your washed heart. What do they care about? The damaging stain of sin and compromise. What matters is that when we succumb to the lusts of the flesh, we become a casualty in respect to our witness of the life changing miracle of Christ. Our job is to abstain from that which brings us into the likeness of the lost world, so that we can show the world that we are not as much like them and their citizenship as they want to think we are. “Abstain from every form of evil” (I Thessalonians 5:22).
Everyone has desires, including Christians, and not all desires are wrong. Desires of Christians, when governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the revelation of Scriptures, are good. This is the key. This is what we want the lost to see, by the Spirit’s opening of their heart, that there is life in us that is real, desirable, and attainable. Whenever you manifest goodness, you are manifesting the work that Christ has done, and is doing in the life of a believer. Then this manifestation will be used by God to bring unsaved people to glorify Himself and silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Christianity is already completely misunderstood by the natural mind anyway. Our job is to keep from adding fuel to the fires of misunderstanding through our actions. Remember, you are being watched even when you don’t realize it. Someone is looking for a glimmer of light in the midst of their darkness and you might be the only real representation of Jesus that they will ever see. Will your actions draw them to Jesus or cause them to lose all hope?
Heavenly Father, I live in a very cynical world, a world that is looking to find fault and flaws in my relationships, my appearance, and my conduct. Guard me from having a carefree or careless attitude toward sin and abstain from all fleshly lusts which wage war against my soul. I will not make any accommodation for sin but rather condemn sin as I stand upon Your precepts. Lord, I desire to be a beacon of light to those around me that are lost and in despair. Let them see Jesus in me, the Hope of glory. Thank You that as I strive to set a Christ-like example in everything, You will use me to encourage those around me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Week of March 22nd: MISPLACED LOYALTY
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud and like the dew which goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:4-6).
In many respects the Prophet Hosea lived in a time similar to our own. Both Israel and Judah, the chosen people of God and descendants of Abraham, were experiencing prosperity and a general weakening of their moral and spiritual fabric. Those faithful to God became a smaller and smaller minority, often ridiculed for their faith and narrow-mindedness. Saints, if you are going to be loyal to God in a generation that has little use for God, you can expect that your loyalty to God will be tested.
In this passage of scripture, we find a rather interesting parallel to describe the loyalty of Israel to God. Like a farmer who is in the middle of a drought and then sees a “morning cloud” and his expectation for an abundance of rain rises. Then the sun breaks through and the cloud disappears. The hopeful prospect of nourishment for his crops vanishes away. The loyalty of Israel was like that cloud. It seems our nation’s loyalty to God and His principles are seemingly no less fleeting. When we look at many people today, including Christians, we may also notice that loyalty to God is shallow, priorities are misplaced, compromise is common, and zeal is absent. Jesus said of the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew 15:8, “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: “This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.”
Jesus demands absolute loyalty to Him first and foremost. We must always choose Jesus above anything else in this life and world if we desire to be His disciple. Loyalty to Jesus requires integrity, and integrity is on the list of endangered species in our culture. Integrity is the integration of what you believe with how you live. What you do proves who you are and what you are, no matter what you say.
Some points to consider to know if you are loyal to God:
1.) You seek HIM always. Psalm 14:2
2.) You never quit. James 1:12
3.) You are passionate in doing things for God. Colossians 3:23
4.) You pursue Gods plan, not yours. Proverbs 3:7
5.) You do His commands. 2 Chronicles 16:9
6.) You Trust Him. Proverbs 3:5
7.) You Love Him. Deuteronomy 6:5
At times, it seems that our loyalties lie more with our preferences, traditions, and positions than they do with Scripture. All of us need to make sure we have not departed from our true loyalty to the Word that reveals Christ and leads us to God! That takes FAITH! So at the end of the day the way forward is the way back ….an unashamed, dependant loyalty to God’s Word!
There is a concerted effort and full court press on the part of the U.S. Census Bureau to get Americans to mail in the 2010 census. The slogan/motto says, “We can’t move forward until you mail it back.” That tag-line is being used to promote national participation. The Census is actually required by the Constitution to take place ever 10 years. Participation isn’t just important—it is mandatory, as its results will be used to determine how $400 billion in federal tax money is spent in states and communities.
So what is the tag-line, motto, or slogan that characterizes your life as it relates to your loyalty to God? Do you endorse/promote Jesus in your everyday walk? What does your loyalty to Jesus look like? Only you can answer that. Is it half-hearted? Is it only outward? Is it only when you are with other Christians? Is it only on occasions? Is it only when you need him? Or can you say to Jesus, Lord, I want to be your disciple, you have my complete loyalty, regardless of the cost, because in reality, You have paid the cost on the cross of Calvary and no thing, no position, or no person can compare with that. If Jesus had to participate in a census today He would respond, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:48, 50). Jesus calls for complete loyalty, but really, complete loyalty is the only way to be loyal at all. We cannot ever be ‘kind-of’ loyal or loyal some of the time – we either are or we aren’t.
Heavenly Father, I desire to please You above pleasing anybody else, and I choose to be loyal to You above all others. Help me deal with all of the other conflicting demands in my life as I seek You. I choose to pursue You and pursue holiness which is far more important than the pursuit of happiness. Lord, I will not place anyone or anything above You because You chose me first from the foundation of the world. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Week of March 29th : UNDISTRACTED DEVOTION
“This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord” (I Corinthians 7:35).
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:36-38 NLT).
President Obama has banned federal employees from text messaging when they are behind the wheel of government vehicles and from texting in their own cars if they use government-issued phones or are on official business. The ban, in the form of an executive order was announced Thursday, Oct 1, 2009 at the culmination of a two-day meeting on the issue of distracted driving.
The danger caused by texting while behind the wheel is no joke. Previous research by the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis found that cell phone use contributed to 6 percent of all crashes, or 636,000 a year, resulting in 342,000 injuries and 2,600 deaths. (Source: Washington Post, Oct. 1, 2009). In Ohio, Cleveland has also banned texting while driving. It does stand to reason that trying to type while keeping hold of the wheel and two eyes on the road is both distracting and potentially deadly.
So what is distracting and potentially deadly in your spiritual walk with Christ? How can anyone expect to be totally devoted to God while allowing the distractions of this world to creep in and get you off course? Very few people are able to keep their mind so perfectly focused on God that no random thoughts creep in. Sometimes, it seems that the more you try to rein in these distractions, the more active they become. We can note here that not every distraction is a satanic attack. Many are just the natural wanderings of an active mind that is trying to solve the problems and issues we face on a daily basis. How difficult is it to stop this process altogether? How can you squash the distractions during prayer to concentrate on God?
A life of prayer demands that you constantly bring every distracting thought into captivity and guard your heart. It is essential that we engage the Holy Spirit during such times, activating His power and ability to control every thought, inclination, and affection throughout the day. We need His help as we practice letting go of those that are useless, vain, or sinful. If you do not at least begin to discipline every interior attention and affection throughout the day, there is little hope of turning off the chaos during the time you have set apart for prayer. You must remain focused, knowing that the focus, the mission, the ministry, the duty and present responsibilities of this life will all be tested.
Is your devotion to God easily side-tracked by cares or problems or events that steal the focus of the real purpose of your Christian life? What is that real purpose? Is it to reach people for Jesus – to touch lives with His love and power – and to make a difference in the lives of others?
Sometimes it is not a problem or situation that causes people to become distracted. Sometimes it is the lure of carnal things, those materialistic things that we allow to distract us and that become too important and take up too much of our time and resources. No man with any moral fiber wants to share his wife or her affections with another man, and neither does God. Both expect exclusive devotion all the time.
Devotion is defined as the ardent, often selfless, affection and dedication to a person or principle; commitment to some purpose; religious zeal; the willingness to serve God. It is possible to believe that doing acts of devotion are in and of themselves the devotional life. Many have gotten caught up in thinking that reading their Bibles or devotionals and praying at a certain time in the day makes them devoted Christians. Just the opposite, it is because we are devoted to Christ that we attend church, love our neighbors as ourselves, tithe, read our Bibles and pray. What does it mean to have a devotional life? In Matthew 22:37 Jesus recounts the greatest commandment: ”Love the Lord your God with all your heart (emotions, affections), with all your soul (my being, my life, breath, physical being), and with all your mind (intellect).”
Heavenly Father, it is my heart’s desire to be completely devoted to You. I am more determined than ever to lay aside every distraction that keeps me side-tracked and and takes my focus off of You for even one second. I thank You for Your unconditional love for me and for never giving up on me even when I take my eyes off of You. Create in me a burning desire to devote myself to prayer and help me fulfill Your commandment to love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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