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Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? Mark 8:18

It’s the inner quality of life that matters most. Too often we become discouraged and distracted by the external circumstances of life and forget the important things. One day when Jesus and the disciples were on a journey it was discovered that they’d failed to bring enough bread for the trip. This shouldn’t have mattered to the disciples. In the past couple weeks they’d seen Jesus miraculously multiply bread and fish to feed 4,000 and 5,000 people respectfully.

Jesus tried to use this opportunity to remind the disciples of the danger of yeast in their lives. In the Bible yeast is used as a symbol of sin. Yeast isn’t seen but it takes very little to change the entire loaf of bread. It wasn’t the lack of bread Jesus was concerned about. It was the hidden doubts and worries that had overtaken the disciples that day. Doubt and worry keeps us from being all God intends for us to be.

I imagine it was with some amazement that Jesus asks the disciples. Don’t you remember what I’ve done in the past? Why are you focusing on issues I can take care of? Guard yourselves from the little things in life that can pull you away from me. Look back at what I’ve done for you. Haven’t I provided more than what you’ve needed in the past? It isn’t the things that you see that will cause you to stumble. It’s those little things, the hidden things in life that can sneak in and steal away your joy, your victory, your success.

Keep your eyes and heart focused on what you’ve seen Jesus do in the past. If He did that for you then, imagine the great things He has in store for your future! Measure tomorrow’s problems by the measuring stick of God’s provision in the past. He has never failed to fulfill his promises. Throughout history he has done just what he said he would do. God has promised us, as His children, that he will never leave you and never forsake you. He will always provide just what you need.

Prayer: Heavenly Father. Thank you that you have given me permission to call you Daddy. Thank you for the promises that you have given to me in the past. As I face the challenges before me help me to remember that you have given me everything I need to succeed in living for you. Help me to set aside my own strength so that I can rely on yours and trust your provision. Amen


Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

 “The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.”  Sven Goran Eriksson

 No one likes to fail. There isn’t one of us that begins our daily adventure planning to make a mess of our lives or the lives of others. Still, no matter how much we try to ‘get life right’ obstacles get in the way. It could be physical illness, or relational distress in the family or on the job, or any number of things that keep us from reaching our goals or becoming the person we want to be.

 King Dave wrote, “BE STRONG! BE COURAGEOUS! Your hope doesn’t rest in your ability to succeed. It comes from the hope we have in the Lord.” Success doesn’t come from your strength but from Jesus working in us and through us.

David knew what he was talking about. He likely wrote this Psalm shortly after he was exposed for having an affair and arranging for the murder of his lovers husband! Not something anyone would want to boast of, to be sure. Yet David experienced God’s forgiveness and went on to bring his nation to a position of power and be the mightiest King Israel had ever known. Not bad for a shepherd boy from up in the hills! He didn’t let his failure keep him from being all that he could be.

Don’t let fear of failure pull you down! Don’t let the failures of your past keep you from being the person you want to be or doing the things you want to do. Your hope doesn’t lie in your ability to succeed but in your willingness to let Christ work in you.

Prayer: Dear Jesus. Thank you for loving me even though I’ve made a mess of my life. Forgive me for my bad choices and for being afraid to press on. Help me to be courageous in the fight to be all you made me to be. Keep me from discouragement. In your name I pray, Amen.


 “Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when the came to Haran, the settled there.” Genesis 11:31

Sometimes we get tired of the journey. Sometimes the promises of God seem out of reach, or meant for others ‘who get the whole God-thing’. Sometimes our own failures or poor choices in the past keep us tied up and unable to move.

Early in his life, Abraham (or Abram as he was named at birth) was called by God to leave his homeland and go to Canaan. He packed up his father and the rest of his family and headed north, along the mighty Euphrates River. This path wasn’t the most direct, but it was the easiest. The river valley provided food, water and shelter for the livestock, women and children.

Once the group reached Haran the journey would change. Rather than lush valleys, mountains and some wilderness lay ahead. It would be a difficult journey. At his father’s suggestion, the family changed plans and settled in Haran. But that wasn’t God’s choice, it was mans.

Soon Tehran died and God came to Abraham once more and called him to continue the journey. This time, Abraham obeyed and was blessed beyond measure with cattle, land and children. God’s promise of a better life came true but only when Abraham was willing to obey God’s call to enter the wilderness.

Tehran took the easy road, settling for something less that God had intended. Abraham received God’s blessing because he chose to forsake all else and follow God.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, there are so many times when I’d rather choose the easy way. Please give me wisdom to know your way and courage to follow you. Don’t let me choose second best but help me to pursue the blessings you have for me. Amen

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