Author: admin

God is jealous. He does not share what belongs to Him alone. He alone deserves glory. He is the Creator and His creation is intended to reflect glory to Him. As the Creator and Sustainer of life, everything owes its existence and continued being to Him. Without Him, nothing could exist even for a moment. Apart from Him, the universe would plunge to its cataclysmic end. He holds reality in His hands.

We creatures forget that truth too readily. We experience some petty accomplishment in our life and pride immediately swells within us. We believe the same lie as Adam and Eve and assume we are very much like God. We entertain such ludicrous thoughts to our ruin.

It is our highest calling, not to make a name for ourselves, but to exalt the name of God. When we magnify God’s name, we fulfill our highest calling as His creatures. The driving goal of our life ought to be to make much of our God. Whether it is by our words, music, life, writing, or achievements, our life’s calling is to glorify God.

How has your life been glorifying God? Do people come away from an encounter with you and think more highly of your God? Do your words direct people’s attention heavenward or to you? Have you given God the glory that is due Him?

God is awesome! In every account in Scripture and in history where people encountered God, they were utterly overwhelmed by the experience. Nothing in their life prepared them for a face-to-face meeting with their creator. It mattered not if they were a pious prophet like Isaiah or am ambitious murderer like Saul, a meeting with God always had the same effect: humiliation, fear, and a profound sense of unworthiness.

God exceeds our wildest imagination. His power is unlike anything we have known. His holiness penetrates the deepest recesses of our soul. His love is beyond our comprehension. His wisdom surpasses our comprehension.

The truth is that God is great, regardless of what our current circumstances may be. God exceeds anything our feeble human minds can comprehend. Those who have been privileged to glimpse at who God truly is have been overwhelmed at the sight.

Incredibly, in the busyness of our lives and the pressure of our troubles, we can lose sight of God’s greatness. Because we feel overwhelmed by our problems, we can begin to act as if God is equally dumbfounded by our situation. Our lack of strength can lead us to assume that God’s power may also be inadequate for the challenges that we face.

Don’t be deceived. God is great! He has lost none of His power. He is perfectly capable of overcoming the greatest challenge in your life. You can trust Him.

If we truly love God, we will pursue what is on His heart. He desires to be glorified in every nation on earth. He seeks to have His kingdom rule over the hearts of people from every tribe, nation, and village. He will not be satisfied until in every place, in every language, in every situation, people serve Him as their King. God has the world on His heart.

We cannot truly have the mind of Christ and yet be unconcerned about the well being of the nations. We cannot ignore what God is doing internationally and yet be praying for God’s will. We cannot remain unmoved while thousands of people are martyred because they follow Christ and yet claim we care about God’s will. To love God is to love what God cares about. God has a world on His heart.

How regularly do you pray for the world’s nations? How often do you grieve over the suffering of people on the other side of the world? How much do you invest of your time, money, and prayers into the advancement of God’s kingdom worldwide?

Perhaps it’s time to go on an international mission trip. Maybe we need to reach out to immigrants who live in our city. Perhaps we should utilize a prayer guide for the nations that desperately need a Christian witness. Every believer has been called upon to declare God’s glory to the nations.

When was the last time you sang a new song to God?

The psalmist found that one of the richest ways for him to express his love and gratitude to God was through song. So he sang often, and from the heart. But there came a time when simply singing the same old songs seemed to no longer be adequate, God had done so much in his life since the last song had been written! There were so many new mercies and acts of kindness God had performed that a new song was required. He needed a song that encapsulated the freshness and newness of the psalmist’s walk with God.

We can easily fall into a rut of predictable, lethargic, unimaginative worship. We go to church each week and we drone on singing the same songs we always sing. But our worship and our spiritual life have grown dull and boring.

There are times when we need to sing a new song to our Savior. We need fresh ways to let Him know how grateful we are to Him for what He has done. We must develop new vocabulary, fresh worship, and creative new approaches to prayer that allow us to adequately respond to the amazing new things God has done.

This could mean anything from learning a new song, to having our quiet time in a different location, to using a different translation of the Bible, to going on a retreat to a special place to commune with God. If you love God enough, you will strive to find fresh ways to commune with your Creator! When was the last time you sang a new song to Him?

We can reach a point with God where He declares that He has had enough. God is infinitely patient and longsuffering. However, we can shun and profane His name until He finally chooses to honor Himself by disciplining us.

The Israelites had been given much. No people on earth had enjoyed God’s favor as they had. No nation had been as blessed, protected, and lovingly guided as they had been. Yet they still refused to believe. They continually demanded that they do things their way. As a result, God finally said “Enough!”

As magnificently as God led the Israelites, He has granted Christians even more. He has provided His own Son to die for us on the cross. He has dispatched His Holy Spirit to dwell within every believer. He has provided His divine word in 66 books of the Bible. He has given us so much!

How have you responded to what God has given you? Have you warmly embraced His gifts and steadfastly obeyed His will? Or have you tried His patience? It is easy to determine this. Simply ask the question: “Has God allowed me to enter His rest?”

As believers in Christ we know perfectly well that we have nothing to fear and nothing for which we should worry. But we do.

Life is filled with problems and concerns. There is always another issue that needs to be resolved. If we are not careful our life and our thoughts can become consumed with anxiety. Rather than experiencing the joy of the Lord, we can sink into the abyss of worry and dread.

It is a tragic thing for a child of the King to be filled with worry. To be a fellow heir with Christ and to serve the King of Kings ought to infuse us with supreme confidence.

God is not content to leave us in the miry pit of anxiety. He will send His Spirit to minister to us in the deepest parts of our soul. He will comfort us and remove the burden from our heart. He will speak truth into our mind that sets us free. God knows how to bring relief to even the most troubled soul. God can transform a dreary day into one of joy and gratitude. Does He need to do that for you?

There are certain truths that believers can take to the bank. We know them to be factual regardless of our current circumstances. One is that God will never forsake us. He will never abandon us, even if our most trusted friends and colleagues do.

It has been said, incorrectly, that it’s “lonely” at the top. It’s true that fair weather friends and supporters can abandon us in a heartbeat if times grow difficult. It’s also true that there are certain decisions and work that only the leader can do. Yet a Christian leader knows with certainty that when everyone else is gone and the boardroom is vacant, God remains.

God has been preparing for your life and its purpose since the beginning of time. He gave His only Son so there would be nothing that could hold you back from His perfect will. He has marshaled the heavenly hosts to come to your aid instantly. God simply has invested too much into your life to abandon you now! And He wont.

Take time to meditate for a moment today on the awesome truth that God will never, ever under any circumstance, forsake you.

The term “rest” can seem somewhat bland and innocuous until we are weary and exhausted. Few people set out each day enthusiastically pursuing rest. Yet it is one of those qualities that, once we lack it, it becomes all consuming for us to obtain.

Modern society robs people of rest. It constantly bombards us with images, notifications, noises, and activities that keep our mind and body racing. Our work is never done. Offers of pleasure continually assault us. People with their noises and needs surround us. Our emotions, our body, and our soul can grow weary from daily living.

For many leaders, “running on empty” is the norm. We push through our exhaustion to do just one more thing. We intend to rest once our work is done. Even when we take a vacation, we are in constant communication with the office and the ubiquitous electronic media.

Part of the role of leaders is to deal with adversity. Leaders solve problems. Yet at a certain point, we need a break! We need a respite from the constant bombardment of needs and problems. Fortunately God has the ability to give us rest from our labor and trials. He can surround us as a shield and protect us from harm. Do you need God to give you rest from your trials? Draw near to Him.

Never underestimate God’s ability to teach you. We may assume that our learning must come from books, mentors, and seminars. But God is your primary Teacher. His Holy Spirit can open your understanding in an instant so you learn more truth than you gained while studying books for years.

God may well lead you to a discipler or mentor or counselor who can assist you in your quest for understanding, but recognize that it is God who is orchestrating the process. Let God speak through your advisor or friend. Listen God’s voice gently whispering to your soul even as your friend or consultant is talking. Recognize that the greatest insights you will ever glean will not come from flesh and blood but from the Spirit who dwells within you.

God delights in taking His word and opening your understanding of it. Regularly immerse yourself in it. As you read Scripture, allow the Spirit to impress its truths into your life. Be prepared for God to convict you where your life departs from His guidance. Be encouraged where God’s promises are brought to bear in your life. Grant the Holy Spirit total freedom to guide your life into truth and abundance.

People are always thinking! We often like to imagine what we will do in the future. We dream about the future and we make all manner of plans. Of course, it is not wrong to plan. But if our forecasting and goal setting is not grounded in God, then it is ultimately futile.

Only God knows the future. Only He knows what world events will be occurring tomorrow. Only He knows what the condition of the national economy will be and what health concerns we will be facing. To make plans or to think about a problem apart from God’s counsel and guidance is futile.

Sadly, ever since Adam and Eve, people have desired to gain knowledge apart from a relationship with God. Just as Satan convinced the first couple that their knowledge could make them like God, so we act as if our own thinking and problem solving can make us independent from our Maker.

Surrender your thoughts to God. Submit your plans to Him and invite Him to reorder them to the reality only He knows is coming. When you begin to think God’s thoughts, your thinking will no longer be futile! They will be certain!