Run The Race

TODAY’S VERSE
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Paul uses the analogy of running a race to describe the Christian life. He paints a picture of a poor runner who has come to the starting blocks with a large heavy weight tied to him and chains wrapped around his legs. There is no way this runner is going to finish the race, let alone win. Instead Paul suggests that we first throw off everything that hinders us. Now that could be a lot of things. In addictions they call these “trigger points.” Things that “trigger” in us the desire to self medicate. In our Christian experience it would be things, events, habits, environments, attitudes that “trigger” in us the desire to do things that Christ would not want us do, or prevent us from doing what we should. We need to throw off these “triggers” that lead us toward Spiritual apathy or complacency. Second, Paul says that we need to throw off the “sin” that entangles us. In their book, “True Faced” the authors point out that in reality there are two kinds of sins. These are sins that we commit resulting in guilt and sins that are committed against us resulting in hurt. Both of these “sins” can trip us up. If we allow guilt to grow it will spread like a cancer in our Spirit. If we allow hurt to go unchecked it can fester into sadness, anger, fear, malice, bitterness and many other negative attitudes. We need to deal with the sin in our life. Both those that we commit and those committed against us, then we can run the race. Today let us check ourself. Are we running the race that God has called us to? If not what is weighing us down? What is entangling us? Pray today that God would help you throw it off.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know that I need to run in this race of life. I confess that I have let burdens weigh me down. I have let sins, both that I have committed and those committed against me, to trip me us. Help me Lord throw off these things. Help me run today, free from all these things that hinder me. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Seek Him With All Your Heart

TODAY’S VERSE
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever lost something of great importance to you? This is different than looking for something that you don’t care much about. When it is important to us, it is amazing to see how focused we can get. This is how it is with God. He spoke to His people through the Prophet Jeremiah, admonishing them that the only way they would really find God was when they involved their heart. Notice, Jeremiah did not say, “when you seek him with your whole intellect.” It is not  knowing “about” God; it is about “knowing God” in a deep and intimate way. God is saying that if you would get passionate about Him, then you will begin to find Him. How intent are you on knowing God? Begin today by seeking Him with your whole heart.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to You today. I really do want to know You. I want to have a deep intimate relationship with You. Help me discipline myself to take the time to know You. Take the time to hear You. Take the time to tell You my thoughts, hopes and dreams. To share with You my fears, apprehensions and doubts. As I seek You this way, that is with all my heart, I pray that You would reveal more and more of Yourself to me.
AMEN

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Real Wisdom

TODAY’S VERSE
“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.- But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”
James 3:13, 17 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We usually think of wisdom in terms of knowledge or the ability to solve a mystery. However James describes something much more comprehensive. It is “relational” knowledge. The wisdom that God desires includes morality, prudence, humility, gentleness, love, mercy and good deeds. It seems that God is more interested in how we apply what we know in the way we relate to others. You can be right, yet wrong in the way you use your knowledge. To be right, yet arrogant, unloving and proud is not real wisdom. Which is more wise, to know how to solve someone’s problem or to help them solve their problem? Solomon, was King David’s son. God asked Solomon what would he want if he could have anything? Solomon told God that he would want wisdom. God gave it to him. It was Solomon, certainly the wisest man in his day, who challenges us in Proverbs three different times, that when we get wisdom to make sure we also get understanding. Might God grant us real relational wisdom today as we live for Him.
AMEN

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You, that when I ask for wisdom, You give me so much more. With wisdom you also give me understanding. Help me use your wisdom to help others. With the knowledge You give me, help me to be gentle, humble, loving and merciful.
AMEN

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Don’t Judge

TODAY’S VERSE
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is so easy to judge someone else isn’t it? If I am not careful, I will become judge and jury over someone else’s behavior and not even notice that I have committed the greater sin. Jesus had a lot to say about this behavior. He says to get rid of the log in our own eye first, then go after someone else’s speck! David Powlison has written, “We judge others–criticize, nit-pick, nag, attack, condemn–because we literally play God. This is heinous. The Bible says, ‘There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor?’ Who are you when you judge? None other than a God wannabe. In this we become like the Devil himself. We act exactly like the adversary who seeks to usurp God’s throne and who acts as the accuser of the brethren.” How often have we become a “God wannabe”? Instead, today let us judge ourselves. Let us look at our own heart and behavior. Let’s repent of any judging we may be doing. When things irritate us or when we are tempted to judge someone else, let’s pray for them. Let’s ask God for discernment so we will know what we can do instead of judging. Let’s love the person. We need to see the person through the eyes of Jesus. After all, isn’t that what we would want people to do for us?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, I am so guilty of judging others. I, who have been forgiven so much by You, confess that I so quickly forget Your mercy and show no grace to someone else. I judge with my thoughts. I judge with my mouth. I judge with my actions. Please forgive me. Help me today, not to judge, but to choose the better way, the way of love and forgiveness.
AMEN

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Take Courage

TODAY’S VERSE
“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’”
Matthew 14:27 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever been afraid? I mean afraid for your life? Is so, you know how Jesus’ disciples felt. Jesus sent them on ahead in the boat while He went to the mountain to pray. Now even though many of the disciples were experienced fishermen, they had a healthy respect for the “Abyss”. There were many legends about the Abyss or “the deep” as it was referred to. It was where sea creatures lived, where ships were crushed by waves, where ghosts terrorized those foolish enough to be caught in a storm. Many went into the deep part of the sea never to return. This was different than fishing along the shore. So the disciples were in the middle of the sea when the storm came. Matthew writes, “the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” Finally, at three in the morning, as they were rowing and not getting anywhere, Jesus came walking to them on the water. At first this only added to their fear. They thought it was a ghost. But then Jesus said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter wanted to test whether it was Jesus or not so he jumped out of the boat. At first, Peter stayed on top of the water with Jesus, but then he started to look at the waves around him and began to sink. Jesus ended up saving him and as they both got into the boat, the wind and waves immediately calmed down. What an incredible lesson. Today, if the storms of this life start to rock your boat, if terror attacks your heart, if all seems lost, hear Christ’s words, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You that when the storms of this life are terrorizing me and I begin to fear, You come and seek me. You are the one who comes to me and says, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” How marvelous Your grace is toward me. How wonderful is Your love.
AMEN

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Dead To Sin’s Power

TODAY’S VERSE
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.  For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”
Romans 6:6-7 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is hard to believe you are winning a war if you are in the trenches getting fired upon. You army could be winning on all the other beach heads, but your own particular battle stands in the way of believing that you are a winner. How many times has it happened? Out in the remote posts where the word had not reached the soldiers that the war was over, battles still went on. How many lost their lives after the war had already been won? It is this way in living out our faith. Paul comes along and writes that our sinful selves have been put to death with Christ. Why? So sin might lose its power in our lives. Yet, we act as if that applies to everyone else but us. The battle is over but the news hasn’t reached us yet. When we became a Christian, we were emancipated from being a slave to sin. We were set free from the power of sin. Do we sin? Yes. But do we have to be under its control? No. We have been set free. Can you imagine a prisoner of war on that Island we talked about earlier? They were no longer a prisoner of war, but they did not know it. When they finally found out, do you think they went back to their cells to live? No, they marched out of the camp a free person. Do you think they went back to the field to break rocks all day? No, they were now free to go their own way. So what is stopping you from living free from the sin that is holding you down? What is keeping you from living your freedom in Christ? Hear the good news, “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me to really understand the freedom You have given me in Christ. Help me understand what it really means to be free from the power of sin. Help me today live in this new awareness, that my old sinful self is Crucified with Christ.
AMEN

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Be Still Before Him

TODAY’S VERSE
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.”
Psalms 37:7 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
No matter how we read this verse it is still hard to do. We can interpret it to mean, “Wait during difficult times, be patient, wait on God to act on your behalf.” Each of us know how hard that can be. We are so use to instant gratification. We want everything right now. We don’t want to “wait on the Lord”. We don’t know how to be still during a time of difficulty. We must be busy trying to “fix” things. Even our prayers become a “tool” to use, rather than a relationship. Instead, God desires that we come to Him like a loving and wise Father. Our relationship with Him matters more than our circumstances. That is why, even in prison, Paul could write, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. “ Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) But even more difficult than waiting on God during difficult times in life is the second way we can consider, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” We could interpret this verse as an instruction to meditate in His presence. To stop everything and spend quiet time before Him. This is more difficult than it seems. It does not matter if you have read the Bible for four weeks or four decades, you may know all about God and still not experience Him. Your knowledge may be in your head and never made it into your heart. You will never truly know what it means to love God without spending meditative time in His presence. That is like saying you love your spouse and have never spent any time together. God is interested in us knowing Him through Scriptures, but He also desires a relationship that only comes through quiet “waiting” in His presence. Today, determine to know Him better. Choose some time where you can spend twenty minutes of solitude with Him. Don’t let another day, week, month or year go by and not treasure God in your heart through time spent still before Him.
 
TODAY’S PRAYER

Father, I know that one of the purposes You have for me in this life is to know You. Help me carve out the time it takes to be “still” before You. Help me learn to embrace Your presence and enjoy union with You in quiet times together. I ask this in Jesus’ Name.
AMEN

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Don’t Be An Imposter

TODAY’S VERSE
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”
Luke 10:328-42 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is so easy to be busy about “God’s work” that we forget who we are working for. Question, what do you think God is more interested in, us or the work we do for Him? We have to be so careful. It is not wrong to be busy when you need to be. There are seasons of hard work. But why are you doing it? To earn God’s love? To keep up appearances? Because of what others might think if we don’t work at the church all the time? There is a phrase going around churches. It is, “There are no perfect people here.” And even though I was one of the ones who championed that at the church I attend, I still look for my “mask” before I turn off the car and go into the church. It is so hard. Our imposter is alive and well. Brennan Manning writes about our imposter in “Abba’s Child”. “Imposters are preoccupied with acceptance and approval. Because of their suffocating need to please others, they cannot say no with the same confidence with which they say yes. And so they overextend themselves in people, projects, and causes, motivated not by personal commitment but by the fear of not living up to other’s expectations.  – Living out of the false self creates a compulsive desire to present a perfect image to the public so that everybody will admire us and nobody will know us. The impostor’s life becomes a perpetual roller-coaster ride of elation and depression.” Mary chose to worship Christ. And though Martha’s hard work and devotion is commendable, this particular time she was filled with worries and cares. This time, Jesus had to remind Martha that what Mary had chosen, that is to focus on the love that Christ has for us, is really the only thing Martha had to really do. If she did that, everything else would fall in place. Might we focus today on the love Christ has for us. Today, might we have a heart of worship and adoration for our Father as we go about our many activities.  

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me serve You. But please, help me serve You with a sincere heart. Forgive me for the many times I have been an imposter, just acting a part so I could win approval. Help me understand Your love for me in such a way that I would be a Martha with Mary’s insight. Help me serve with a heart of worship.
AMEN

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Denial

TODAY’S VERSE
“Peter declared, ‘Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ – “Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ And he went away, weeping bitterly.”
Matthew 26:33-34, 75 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How hard it must have been for Peter to face the fact that he had denied Christ. It was obvious that he did not want to. He was sincere when he assured Jesus that he would not desert Him in His time of need. He loved Christ, but like so many of us, good intentions were not good enough. He did deny Christ. But I must be honest, I too have denied. I have denied Christ in my selfishness. I have denied Him in my lack of faith. I have denied Him in my lack of witness. I have denied Him in my lack of giving. Perhaps this is why Paul encourages us to grow in Christ. To participate in a process of growth so we learn from the past. This is what Christ allowed Peter to do. He did not chide Peter. He did not excommunicate him or shun him. Rather, He made it a goal to see Peter after His resurrection and specifically re-engage him into ministry. He cooked a breakfast and took Peter aside. He did not ask Peter three times if he denied him. He did not say, “Why not tell us all, Peter, how you claimed you would never deny me and then three times in one night you told people you did not even know me.” Instead, Jesus asked Peter three times, perhaps once for each time he denied, “Peter do you love me?” When Peter was convinced, Jesus sent him out to “feed my sheep.” Today, don’t let the guilt of past denials stop you from re-engaging with Jesus. Confess your sin and accept His forgiveness. He loves you and is waiting for you to serve Him again.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess that I often deny You. I deny You in my talk, in my behavior, in my thought life. I ask Your forgiveness. Cleanse me and help me to live for You in a way that is pleasing to You.
AMEN

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Go And Do The Same

TODAY’S VERSE
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. – Now go and do the same.”
Luke 10:33-34, 37 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Sometimes we make Christianity way too complicated. Jesus illustrated the essence of following Him through this simple story. He told of a Jewish man who was robbed, beaten and left by the side of the road. Now Jesus was not impressed with the Jewish leadership of the day. He did not care for their portrayal of Holiness. Neither did He like their lack of love for those around them. He used this story to challenge their mentality. In the story Jesus  the first person to come upon the wounded person was a priest. I am sure to everyone’s shock, Jesus said that the priest walked by the wounded man, leaving him there to die. Perhaps filled with spiritual pride, the Priest felt the man was “unclean” and therefore unworthy of help. Next, Jesus said that a Levite walked by the hurting man. Perhaps a reason he walked by the dying man was to stay ceremonial “clean.” He could not defile himself with the bleeding man so he too passed him by. Finally, an enemy of the Jews, a Samaritan, stopped and showed compassion on the hurting and wounded Jew. The point Jesus was trying to illustrate was, “How did following God get so far from what God intended? How did we lose the very heart of God?” If we are to follow Jesus, then we must love those in need that we come in contact with. James writes it this way in James 1:27, “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must take care for orphans and widows in their trouble.” Today, as you walk on your own path to wherever you are going, what will you do for those in need? Let us think of the “good Samaritan” and hear Jesus say, “Go and do the same!”.
 
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me remember the story of the good Samaritan so when I see someone in need today, I will go and do whatever I can to help.
AMEN

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