Sharing Knowledge October 31, 2018

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 New International Version (NIV)

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

In our battle against evil, we use the spiritual weapons of God that enable us to know the truth and the freedom that the truth brings. The devil's greatest tools are deception and death. God's grace allow us to see through the deception and demolish its falsifying grip on the minds of men and women. God's power has broken through the barrier of death and given us victory in Jesus Christ. Our task in this victory march? To obey our Lord and help others to do the same, finding his grace and power sufficient to help us overcome all that we face that could defeat us.

Thought for today: Do I share my faith and the goodness of God when I have overcome struggles?

Victory October 30, 2018

Psalm 32:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Out of the attacks of evil come the victories of God and the victory chants of God's people. Let's find our strength and protection in our holy God! Let's make God our hiding place, our source of security, and our hope in times of trouble.

Thought for today: Do I seek God when dealing difficulty?

Self-Destruction October 29, 2018

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version (NIV)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The battle we face is not a physical one. Instead, it is a spiritual battle with powers that we do not easily see and which are very powerful. We shouldn't dismiss this as an imaginary battle or as an irrelevant struggle. Just as clearly as Satan was crouching at Cain's door, desiring to have him, so he crouches at our door (Genesis 4:7). He will use his forces of evil to do all he can to defeat, destroy, or corrupt us. We must take this war seriously and recognize the spiritual power of our foe.

Thought for today: Do I recognize when my spiritual integrity is being compromised?

Suit Up October 28, 2018

Ephesians 6:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

So often we are focused only on the things we like, we are good at doing, or we are interested in accomplishing. God wants us to use every piece of his spiritual armor. He wants us to be disciplined and grow in the areas of our spiritual weakness and the areas we don't necessarily find exciting or interesting. Our evil opponent is crafty and will try to attack us in the areas of our weakness and vulnerability. So let's not just commit to be diligent in the areas of our interest and strength, but especially in those areas where we are not.

Thought for today: Do I work on strengthening my weaknesses and how?

Superheroes October 27, 2018

Ephesians 6:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Some of our strength to fight evil comes from our experiences in the past, from the encouragement of others, and from our knowledge of the truth in the Scriptures. Ultimately, however, our power comes from God's mighty power. Paul uses his letter to the Ephesians to remind Christians that this power is what raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). Through that power in us, God can do much more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21). Most important of all, as we put on our spiritual armor and dedicate ourselves to spiritual discipline, God blesses us with his power and might. We can be strong in God's mighty power.

Thought for today:  How do I utilize my power?

Time Is Precious October 26, 2018

Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Even though we are God's holy children, we also need to be aware of what time it is in our world. The evil one still exercises his control over the hearts of many people. God wants us to "redeem the time," making the most of every opportunity we have to touch the lives of others with his grace and to resist the temptation and overcome the opposition of the evil one.

Thought for today: Am I careful how I spend my time?

Adoption October 25, 2018

Ephesians 1:4-5 New International Version (NIV)

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

God wants us as his holy children. That was his plan for us even before the world began. God paid the huge price of our adoption into his family — the sacrifice of his Son Jesus. God's motive in doing this? His desire and delight in loving us.

Thought for today: Do I value God’s love for me?

Moving In Power October 24, 2018

Acts 1:8 New International Version (NIV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

God has a plan to reach the world with his grace. We start where we are and reach out to those around us. We then share the story of Jesus with those in our region. Then we reach out and take the gospel all over the world. As we offer ourselves to be used, we also trust that the Holy Spirit's power and presence will go with us.

Thought for today: Do I recognize the power of the Holy Spirit in me?

What God Gives October 23, 2018

2 Timothy 1:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

When we became Christians, Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:3-7). The Spirit lives in us, making our bodies a Temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20) and blessing us in many ways (Romans 8). We can be courageous people even in the face of attack, criticism, and ridicule because of the Spirit's presence. The fruit that the Spirit produces (Gal. 5:22-23) and the love that the Spirit pours into our heart (Rom. 5:5) do not make us weak. Instead, the Spirit's presence is a powerful force to help us overcome sin (Rom. 8:13) and live self-disciplined lives.

Thought for today: Do I demonstrate self-discipline?

Love At All Times October 22, 2018

1 Thessalonians 3:12 New International Version (NIV)

12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

"I'm not sure I can love them any more! My supply of love is gone, my capacity to love is exhausted." Yes, there are times when it seems others will exhaust our ability to love, either because of their need being so great or because of their unwillingness to love in return. How do we go on? We need a community of love; other believers who will support and love us. We need brothers and sisters in Christ who will pray for God to increase our capacity to love. We need to trust that in response to all of our prayers, God will pour more love into our hearts through his ever-flowing stream of grace, the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 5:5). When love is low, don't withdraw or give up. Draw near to God and draw near to his people asking for his grace to help in your time of need (Heb. 4:16).

Thought for today: Do I stretch myself to love beyond my limitations?

Comfort October 21, 2018

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

We are comforted because we are heartbroken. We are comforted because we need a blessing. We are comforted because God loves us. We are comforted to comfort others. While each of the above statements is true, the last is the most crucial one. There is something about comfort that cannot be fully realized until it is shared with someone else. It is that final step in the healing process of grief, disappointment, hurt, and loss. Until we share the comfort we have received, until we pass it on to another, our comfort is weak and shallow and limited. Comfort — pass it on!

Thought for today: Do I assist in comforting others?

Refuge October 20, 2018

Psalm 34:22 New International Version (NIV)

22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

God not only buys out our bondage and debt to sin, but he also assures us that he will provide refuge for those who trust in him. Our future is tied to him and not to our ability to provide and protect what we need.

Thought for today: Is God my refuge?

Closing Time October 19, 2018

Psalm 34:21 New International Version (NIV)

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

God has promised a closing time, a reckoning where human power and influence cannot buy out the truth and where each person will have to face up to what he or she has done. Evil will overtake those who have been partners with evil. Those that hate good people, righteous people, will be condemned in their own hate. God's righteousness, truth, and justice will not be short-circuited!

Thought for today: Can I recognize God’s goodness in others?

Healthy Bones October 18, 2018

Psalm 34:19-20 New International Version (NIV)

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.

We know that the righteous can have troubles, but how do we understand that God delivers us from them all? How do we understand that he protects all our bones, especially in light of recent tragedies and the persecution of believers in many places in the world? Paul demonstrates the answer: whatever happens to him will turn out for his deliverance — whether it is through his death to be with God or whether it is through his release from prison to continue ministry (Phil. 1:19-23). Our deliverance is secure. We are conquerors in Christ. Nothing Satan can do to us can steal us away from God's love, not even death (Romans 8:32-39).

Thought for today: Do I step boldly into dealing with problems or do I cower in fear?

Healing The Brokenhearted October 17, 2018

Psalm 34:18 New International Version (NIV)

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The LORD is... ...near! ...present! ...close! How do I know? He came close in the manger. He walked among us in ministry. He suffered with us and for us at Calvary. We know that in tragedy, trial, heartbreak, and brokenness he is near to us to save us. So, will our hearts be open to him and will we be seeking him to come near? Don't let troubles or heartache lead you to pull away from God or doubt his nearness. Let him draw close to you.

Thought for today: Do I allow God to soothe me or do I seek distractions?

Deliverance October 16, 2018

Psalm 34:17 New International Version (NIV)

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles.

Deliverance! A great theme of the Bible is that God is a God of deliverance who keeps his promises and faithfully shares his grace, mercy, and justice. Let this promise stir you to righteous living and then to cry out to God in all your troubles. One way to do this is to read through the Psalms regularly, letting these inspired words from so long ago offer a rich topography of prayer from which you can call to God. Whether you use the Psalms or not, however, cry out to God with the praises, questions, and wounds that life brings. Let his presence be real to you and your heart open to him.

Thought for today: Do I have the patience to wait on God?

Absolutely No Violence October 15, 2018

Psalm 34:16 New International Version (NIV)

16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to blot out their name from the earth.

God hates violence and demands that we not admire those who are violent or share in their violent lifestyle. (Prov. 3:31) God abhors those who do evil. God not only opposes them when they are alive, he also mitigates their influence after they are gone. He helps them be seen for what they really are. Far from being viewed as heroes, their legacy of hate and wickedness is spurned, shunned, scandalized, and forgotten.

Thought for today: Do I have a mean and violent spirit?

God Is God October 14, 2018

Psalm 34:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

We are righteous because of God's grace. We are remembered because of God's faithfulness. We are heard because of God's faithfulness. We are blessed because God is God.

Thought for today: Do I stop to consider how God blesses me?

Pursuit Of Happiness October 13, 2018

Psalm 34:14 New International Version (NIV)

14 Turn from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

It is not enough to turn from evil. We can clean the putrid things out of our life, but if we do not actively pursue what is good then a worse evil will rush into the void. (Matthew 12:43-45) Let's be a people eager to do good and with a passion to "wage peace."

Thought for today: What am I willing to do to keep the peace?

Watch Your Mouth October 12, 2018

Psalm 34:12-13 New International Version (NIV)

12 Whoever of you loves life
    and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from telling lies.

God reminds us that our words and the way we use our speech greatly impact the quality of life we enjoy. Nothing cuts short a vibrant life like evil speech and lies we tell. They set loose a force of deception and damage that we cannot control. This unleashed power not only damages those about whom and to whom we speak, but they eventually boomerang and come back and bring their deadly payload back into our own lives. Let's be people who speak what is right, good, wholesome, holy, true, and a blessing. (cf. Ephesians 4:20-5:12)

Thought for today: do I think before I speak?

Amazing Parenting October 11, 2018

Psalm 34:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 Come, my children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Is there any greater definition of what a parent's role is than this? Let's make sure that in the swirling demands and involvements of our lives we do not forget the MAIN thing that God has given us as parents, teachers, and friends to do in the lives of children.

Thought for today: Am I a grateful child? Am I God-centered parent?

Hunger Is Not Always A Bad Thing October 10, 2018

Psalm 34:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

While even the most fierce hunters cannot ensure their security and nourishment, those whose hunger is for God will find themselves nourished, blessed, and sustained.

Thought for today: Do I eat life bringing food?

Healthy Fear October 9, 2018

Psalm 34:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
    for those who fear him lack nothing.

"Fear of the LORD" is one of the great themes of the Old Testament. The phrase is particularly hard to translate, especially in light of the repeated message of the Bible to "fear not" and John's reminder that "perfect love casts out all fear." It means more than "hold God in reverence." Generally, "fear of the LORD" means that we remember our place in the order of things. We know we are deeply loved by our Holy Father in heaven. We recognize that we are weak and sinful in comparison and are saved by God's mercy and grace. We acknowledge that his majesty and holiness are far beyond us and that we pale in significance before God. We come to God acknowledging our need for him and our unworthiness to demand anything from him. The incredible reality is that when we approach God with this sense of awe and profound respect, he in turn welcomes us with open arms and brings us close. (See Isaiah 57:15)

Thought for today: Am I 24/7/365 respectful of God in my life?

Taste It!!!!!! October 8, 2018

Psalm 34:8 New International Version (NIV)

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Some aspects of faith are indescribable: they can only be experienced and known by doing them. Taste the Lord. Sample his goodness. Lean on his grace. Take refuge in his care. We are blessed to find him near and take our refuge from life's greatest dangers and death's greatest fears.

Thought for today: Can I truly trust in the unknown?

Blessed Assurance (Insurance) October 7, 2018

Psalm 34:7 New International Version (NIV)

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
    and he delivers them.

I don't see him, but I know he's there! The same angel of the Lord who destroyed Israel's enemies is now fighting to win the spiritual battle that rages around you and me.

Thought for today: Can I praise when I can’t see?

Crying Out Loud October 6, 2018

Psalm 34:6 New International Version (NIV)

6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
    he saved him out of all his troubles.

So few hear the cry of the poor or respond to the plight of the disadvantaged. If we are going to be true children of our Father, his values must become our own, his lost sheep must become our quest. Let's help others around us who are in need find that when they call to God, they are not forgotten. Let's be his delivery system of grace.

Thought for today: Do I ignore the cries of the poor because they make me covetous of my blessings?

Reflections Of October 5, 2018

Psalm 34:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.

We are like the moon; the glory we show is the reflection of the greater life in our lives that does not originate in us but is a blessing to others through us. Look to God for your hope, your strength, your values, your foundation, your security, and your light.

Thought for today: Am I like the moon, do I shine brighter in my darkest times?

Who’s Afraid?!!!! October 4, 2018

Psalm 34:4 New International Version (NIV)

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.

Have you sought the LORD lately? Many of us made a commitment to turn all of our lives over to him last week; how have you done at that commitment? God promises wisdom to those who ask and don't doubt. Have you asked for wisdom recently? Let's join our hearts together, and with the Spirit's help, let's seek our Father so that we can honor and glorify him, finding our blessing in his presence.

Thought for today: Do I magnify my fears or do I magnify my God?

Get Excited October 3, 2018

Psalm 34:3 New International Version (NIV)

3 Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.

Isn't it good that we can sing alone and know God loves our song! Isn't it even better that we can join others in songs of praise and lose ourselves in wonder, love, and praise! Let's spend today finding other believers and praising God together. All around the world, hundreds of thousands strong, let's reach out to other believers and ask them to join us in glorifying the Lord!

Thought for today: Is my praise contagious?

Bragging Righteous October 2, 2018

Psalm 34:2 New International Version (NIV)

2 I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

We have no basis to boast in our own might. We can't preserve our life. We can't topple kingdoms. We can't see the edge of the heavens. We can't determine the future or change the past. So what do we have in which we can boast? God! We are living proof of his grace and mercy — he saved us when we didn't deserve it, he rescued us from sin and death when we had no power to preserve our life. Those in sorrow, brokenness, and night can look at us and rejoice, because we are living proof God saves the sinner, raises up the disheartened, and mends the broken. Praise the LORD for his glory. Praise the LORD for his grace.

Thought for today: Do I extol God in all I do?

Praise Is What We Do October 1, 2018

Psalm 34:1 New International Version (NIV)

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.

One way to keep our life on track and our hearts surrendered to the will and work of God is to praise our glorious LORD continually. Let's put our praise for God on our lips with song and memorized Scripture. Let's tell his wonderful and great deeds to our children, grandchildren, and friends. Let's give him thanks for all that he has done for us. Just as surely as he is with us always (see Ps. 139), let's praise him always.

Thought for today: Do I praise in equal proportion to my prayer?