Author: admin

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!

Many people can experience some “good days.” It would seem most people have the opportunity to experience a certain level of success at least occasionally. But God delights in enabling His faithful children to flourish continuously, even into old age.

To “flourish” in old age does not necessarily mean you fore-go retiring or slowing down. What it means is that, in whatever season of life you may be in, God continues to bless your efforts. Even in your older age, God may use you to mentor young people. You may be asked to serve on influential committees in your church. You may write books or be sought after for advice. Your family may flourish and you may enjoy seeing your grandchildren growing up to love and serve your God.

God does not intend to withdraw His hand of blessing from your life when you reach retirement age! But, to continue to flourish, you must allow God to build into your life the qualities and attitudes that promote abundant living. A person who continually flourishes is someone whose character has been fashioned by God. People who experience God’s abundance year in and year out are people who have cultivated healthy habits in their lives and who continue to grow personally even when their career no longer requires them to. Flourishing does not merely happen to the “lucky.” It describes those who have completely surrendered their life into God’s hands.

If we are not careful, we can settle for “getting by” rather than flourishing. To “flourish” means you are thriving. It means your life is bearing much fruit. It connotes prosperity and joy. To flourish means living life in abundance, just as Jesus intended (Jn. 10:10).

Too often we use the wrong scale to measure our life. “Making it through the day” or “getting by” becomes our measuring stick. “How are you doing?” asks the friend. “Not bad” replies the Christian. Not bad? Christ didn’t die on the cross and open the vaults of heaven on your behalf so you could survive on earth just getting by!

Often the difference between surviving and thriving is a matter of a few adjustments in our attitude and approach. A few tweaks here and there. A step of faith or obedience to God’s directives and suddenly we enter a glorious world of thriving rather than surviving. Take a good look at your life, work, family, health, personal satisfaction and joy. Are you truly flourishing?

God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways. That much we know for sure!

Too often we overestimate the worth and complexity of our thinking. Those around us tell us how smart we are. We solve various problems and read sophisticated books. Eventually we begin to assume we can grasp the mysteries of the universe.

Yet the truth is that God’s thoughts are as distant from ours as the earth is removed from the farthest star. When we read God’s word, some truths lying near the surface can seem easily grasped. But upon further examination we realize that there is far more to even one verse in the Bible than we could possibly have imagined. The farther we plumb its depths, the more rich truth we uncover. Before long we realize that even a well known verse such as John 3:16 has multiple layers of application and insight into the nature and work of God than we at first thought.

What is amazing is that infinite God even attempts to share His thinking with His frail creatures. Yet He does. The next time you seek to understand a truth from God, understand that the depth of even one thought from God is profoundly deep. Don’t be satisfied with merely a surface understanding.

There is much profit in labor. Those who work hard can feel content in a good day’s work. Nevertheless, our efforts do not always bring us joy. Sometimes it is just hard work!

Nevertheless, God’s work ought to always lift our spirits. That’s because when we see Him at work, we are reminded that our God is still active in advancing His causes upon the earth. We may have become distracted by what people were doing, whether for good or ill. But then we spot God at work around us and our heart is instantly encouraged.

At times we can miss God’s activity around us. It might appear as if He is not accomplishing anything in our vicinity. Our family appears to be doing the same. Our workplace seems unchanged. Problems persist. Then suddenly our spiritual eyes are opened and we discover that God has been at work all the time. We recognize that God has been at work in the life of our wayward child, or our unbelieving colleague, or our cynical neighbor. In an instant we grasp that God is actively at work all around us. At that moment our heart is greatly encouraged. How can we not have hope when almighty God is working all around us?