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You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. Job 10:12 (NIV)
There are few stories in the Bible that are more intriguing than the story of Job. The drama played behind the scenes between Satan and God helps us understand, somewhat, the huge part the ‘spirit world’ plays in our everyday lives. Don’t think for a moment that Satan doesn’t still approach the throne and make some pretty hefty accusations against God’s own. If he had the tenacity to go after the very Son of God, nothing will stop him from going after frail mortals.
Even more amazing is Job’s reaction to the devastation that he was forced to endure with no warning, no explanation and no support from his friends or family. Even in the midst of all this he maintained a faith that most of us could only hope for. While there are many lessons we can learn from the life of Job, there are three that stand out.
First of all, Job never lost sight of who God was and never doubted His character. He questioned God’s actions. He begged (demanded?) some sort of explanation. He expressed deep mourning and pain (who wouldn’t in situations far less horrendous!). But Job never questioned God’s sovereignty and character. Job 10:12 speaks of God’s kindness and providence. Providence is defined as a ‘divine power that guides our very lives and destiny’. Job knew who was in control.
Secondly, Job never lost sight of who he was. Everyone near and dear to Job was either dead or intent on telling him that he should give up and admit that he was guilty and deserving of everything God had handed him. In the midst of physical pain, emotional despair and spiritual confusion, Job stayed true to himself. Being true to yourself in the midst of adversity is a character trait that, more than anything else, will see us through the tough times.
Lastly, Job never seemed to let go of the ability to see God in the world around him. ‘God activity’ was a natural occurrence in his life. The events that brought Job’s world crashing down were not a result of fate, bad luck or coincidence. God was at the center of everything that happened in Job’s life. He didn’t always understand. He didn’t always agree. But He knew who held the keys to life and his faith would not be shaken.
During the darkest times of our lives our Heavenly Father is not shaken, surprised or caught unaware when things go ‘horribly wrong’. He brings things into our lives to draw us to Himself and make us aware of His presence. Use the events of your life as opportunities to see God’s handiwork in action.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I have to confess to you today that when adversity comes I’d far rather react that to rest in You. There are so many times in my life when I’ve doubted You and questioned why. I’ve lost faith in myself, lost faith in You and quit looking for things in my daily existence that show your work. Help me today to actively acknowledge your fingerprints on everything I do and every event that takes place in my life. Amen.
“Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities.” Isaiah 54:2-3
When Moses led the people of Israel into the wilderness they were unsure of what was to come. They were beaten up, abused and ready for a change. The past glory of these people had long gone. Memories of Joseph and the favor God’s people experienced were just stories handed down from grandparents. There was little hope within the boundaries of Egypt, but God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Joseph seemed forgotten as well.
When the people of God were finally delivered from their physical bondage they entered the wilderness and once again pursued God’s promise. After forty years of wandering the wilderness, living in tents and learning to follow God’s commands, they entered into the Promised Land. The nation grew physically and powerfully and, under King David, became a dominant force in the Mediterranean world.
Hundreds of years later, Isaiah uses the analogy of the tent to encourage the people of Israel. Sin had entered the camp and the glory of Israel once again disappeared. Isaiah reminded the people of the time when they lived in tents. During those times of wilderness wanderings, as families grew, tents would have to be expanded to accommodate new members. All this was done in hopes of a new era of God’s working in their lives. Now, Isaiah was telling them that a new, exciting adventure was about to happen.
Isaiah was referring to the church and the coming of Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus new power and blessing would follow those that grow deeper in Christ. As Christ followers we are empowered to move out of the slavery of our sin and into a life of power and excellence. As we grow deeper in Christ and leave our lives of sin and bad habits He will help us move into areas of our lives we may never have thought possible.
Because of Jesus, we can be blessed as we draw closer to Him and move into uncharted territory. Don’t allow the slavery of your past to keep you from growing deeper in Christ’s love. Through Him alone you can experience joy and peace like you never thought possible. Don’t let negative thoughts about yourself keep you from experiencing Christ’s joy!
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, the mistakes of my past and the pain of my sin is ever before me. Empower me through your Holy Spirit to leave the crippling power of my past and trust you for the new challenges of the day before me. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. Help me grow in you so that I may live a life of joy and excellence. Amen.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Michael Jordan, Albert Einstein, Reggie Jackson had one thing in common. Failure. Michael didn’t make his eighth grade basketball team, yet became the NBA’s greatest player. Albert Einstein failed middle school math and became the greatest mathematician in history. Reggie Jackson was one of the greatest hitters in baseball, yet holds the record for the most strikeouts.
These men had another thing in common, a refusal to give up. They refused to believe that the setbacks they encountered in life determined their outcome. They believed enough in themselves that they eventually realized their dreams.
One day Jesus was talking to His disciples about the Kingdom of God. He told them what it would take for a person to enter the Kingdom of God and one of the disciples remarked “then who can be saved?” What he was really saying is, “then it’s humanly impossible for any of us to enter the Kingdom. The requirements are too great. We’ll never make it.” Jesus responded by saying, “You are right. Man alone can not accomplish this. Only with God is man able to enter the Kingdom.”
Every day we are met with challenges and obstacles that seem insurmountable. The task seems too great. People tell us we’ll never be able to succeed. The enemy, Satan, reminds us of past failures and mistakes. You may be struggling from an addiction or bruised from a broken relationship. Even family members may step in and tell us we just won’t ever make it. If we listen to those voices we will never be all God wants us to be.
Often times the difference between failure and success is just six inches. That’s the approximate distance between your ears! If you believe in yourself, you will have a much better chance of success. If you rely on God to help you with the task He will lead you, guide you and show you the way. Realistically set goals for yourself. Goals that are small steps to success. Want to write? Do a sentence a day. Want to lose weight? Start with that one walk, skipping that first snack.
Then, above all, grow closer in your walk with Christ. Let Him show you what He wants to accomplish in your life. Believe in yourself and believe that God truly wants you to succeed. With man many things are impossible. With God ALL things are possible because of His great love for us and His overwhelming power.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. I have no trouble believing in the ‘big things of my faith’. I know You are the creator God. I know Your Son Jesus came to die and be raised from the dead so I can have eternal life. My struggle believes you for the day by day successes in my life. Help me to believe in you so that I can succeed at all you have for me. Amen.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4
Every day we encounter situations which can affect our entire outlook on life. One negative comment can send us scrambling for shelter like a frightened armadillo or startled turtle. It can be something as simple as a cross word spoken or a misunderstanding of the meaning behind something we hear.
When we fight the world’s battles with the worlds weapons defeat is inevitable. How we react to daily situations in our lives can have a lasting effect on how we feel about ourselves and what we can accomplish in life. A parent’s disappointment in us can affect us well into adulthood and even affect how our children feel about themselves. It isn’t the obstacles in life that determine our success or failure. How we view of ourselves is more often the determining factor between success and failure.
The Apostle Paul tells us that the weapons we have to fight life’s battles aren’t the same weapons the world uses. The weapons of the world are destructive. The obvious weapons of physical warfare are easy to see and while they can cause death and destruction, the unseen weapons of the world are in some ways more destructive because they don’t leave bruises or blood, only inner pain.
Because of Jesus we can overcome these weapons or strongholds of criticism, judgmental attitudes, vindictive rumors and the like. When we listen to the attacks of the enemy and allow them to determine how we see ourselves, depression, poor self-esteem and discouragement are bound to follow and have detrimental effects on our relationships.
The divine weapons we have been given offer life not destruction, healing not wounding, building up, not tearing down. They are based on God’s view of us and not the view we or others have of us. When I see myself as God sees me it doesn’t matter how others view me! Other people see my failures, my mistakes, and my faults. God sees me as His beloved Child. He looks at me through His Son, Jesus.
Don’t allow the weapons of the world to thwart Gods power to attain the life you want to have. The abusive words and actions of those in your past can be set aside as you pursue all that God has for you in Christ Jesus. With the weapons we have we can overcome the strongholds the world would like to place on us.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to see myself as you see me and not be affected by the negative and destructive actions of those in the world. Empower me through your Spirit to lift the fallen, encourage the weary and patiently bear with those intent on my demise. Amen.
She was thinking to herself, “If I can just put a finger on his robe, I’ll get well.” Jesus turned – caught her at it. Then he reassured her: “Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you’re well.” The woman was well from then on. Matthew 9:21-22
It had been twelve long agonizing years. Nothing the doctors could do to help. In her day medicine was far less effective than it is today. Not only was there physical fatigue from the constant blood loss, there was the religious and social stigma as well. She may as well have been a leper! According to the Law she was unclean.
We only know her as the woman ‘with the issue of the blood’! A few short verses and she’s gone. Just a blip on the screen of Scripture. But there is something that I admire about her and that is her tenacity. I’m not sure many of us can really comprehend the social, emotional, spiritual and of course physical struggle this woman must have endured throughout those 12 years.
It would have been easy to give up. No one would have blamed her if she had turned into an angry, bitter woman, yet we see none of that. It would have been completely understandable if she’d turned her back on God in anger for the ‘injustice’ that fell upon her.
Something drove her to that street that day. Something deep down inside her never let her give up hope that someday, somehow God would heal her. That’s courage. That is quiet strength. The refusal to let anything keep us from pursuing God’s best for us, even when all the odds seem stacked against us.
Don’t give up. John Eldredge talks about ‘the great wound’ as being that event or events in our past that have hurt us deeply and can keep us from trusting God completely. Just as He did with this woman, Jesus has come to heal the wound that each of us bears. By His touch the wound can be healed.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. I thank you that you know the pain that I’ve been bearing for so long. I thank you that even during those times when I feel all alone you are there, waiting for me to come into your arms. I reach out to you today. I touch the fringes of your robe and ask you to heal me. I love you. Thank you for loving me. Amen
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 