February 26
Finding Perfect Peace
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 (NIV)
For the Lord grants wisdom … He shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision….
Proverbs 2:6,9 (TLB)
For the past couple of months I’ve been dealing with some real head scratchers. Problems, issues, conflicts—the kinds of things I naturally worry over and wonder, what should I do? … until I bring them to God. Prayer is our Father’s perfect gift to His weak and needy children, and I happen to be one of the weakest and neediest, or so it seems! He has used prayer to focus my attention on Him, and to depend on His power to resolve the most difficult situations, unbelievable obstacles, and to lead me in ways I never imagined.
He is an amazing God who wants to do amazing things in our lives … if we will trust Him. It’s that first step of faith that opens pathways to miracles, because His promise is true: “Ask and you shall receive.”
Lord, thank you for Your precious gifts of truth and wisdom. See me through these difficult days. Show me Your way that I might find Your perfect peace. Amen.

February 25
The Greatest Test
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… giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue, … and to brotherly kindness, love.
2 Peter 1:5,7 (NKJV)
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… love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them and don’t be concerned that they might not repay. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Luke 6:27,28,35,36 (NLT)
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Have you had to deal with someone who rubs you the wrong way—all the time? That person who has it out for you no matter what you do? Maybe you don’t like them and the feeling is mutual. Could it be that your downfall, your embarrassment, your financial ruin or demise seems to be their ultimate goal in life? How do you deal with such a thing? Well, Jesus gave us the answer—in His words and actions.
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The ultimate test of my discipleship is to love these people—just like Jesus did. That’s right. God commanded me to love others as He loved me. That means sacrifice, endurance, and going the extra mile with the people who would crucify me.

You see, the people who abuse me need Him, but how will they see Him if I keep getting in the way. If I seek revenge, if I treat them as they treat me, I block a pathway to the Good News. These people are not stupid. They observe and they take careful note. The question is: whom do they see … me or Christ in me?

Lord, it is hard, and yet, there is a special joy in returning good for evil, in pursuing peace over revenge, and in living completely for You rather than for myself. Fill me, shine through me, and somehow open their eyes to Your goodness. In Jesus’ name ... I pray for them. Amen.

February 24
That Far Away Mentality
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV)
When I served in the military, I had the good fortune to travel overseas on temporary duty (TDY) assignments. While deployed, I once heard someone say with a wink, “What happens TDY stays TDY.” They felt being in a remote location, far from home, meant they could get away with something—what I am not quite sure.
This mindset reminded me of others I had met earlier in my career while undergoing training in West Texas. The year was 1977, the movie Star Wars was just out and the United States Air Force not only trained its own, it instructed foreign pilots as well. In fact, our base had an abundance of Iranians Uncle Sam trained for the Shah of Iran. Some of these students were absolutely WILD and many of our instructors just shook their heads. When the weekend rolled around many of these foreigners would pile into their sports cars and speed to San Antonio in search of forbidden pleasure. You see, they were away from home … far away. Here, they could do almost anything without embarrassing their families. Here, nothing restrained them. Here, they were far from Mecca, and they thought, far from the eye of God. In one sense, they behaved like total aliens, but in another….
I hate to admit it, but I don’t think we’re that different. Maybe it’s only a matter of degrees. How many of us have acted one way in public and another in private? One way in church, another way somewhere else? And what of our hidden fantasyland of thoughts, inner motivations, and secret desires? Do we try to live for God in one corner of our life then live another way in our favorite “far away” spot?
When will we accept the fact God is God, that He is omnipresent, that He knows it all? When will those thoughts finally penetrate our barriers? I don’t know, but when it happens, there is every possibility God not only will fill heaven and earth … He will fill all our heart as well.
Lord, forgive me for trying to keep secret places in my life. Look me over, Lord. Examine my heart. Know my thoughts and heal my soul. Amen.

February 23
Together!
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.
James 5:16 (Message)
I have a problem and I think I am not alone. I am quiet to a fault. It's hard for me to open up. So when I read this scripture it’s like instant conviction. I have to say though, I have recognized my problem and I am starting to deal with it.
What I need is intimacy—a spiritual, emotional, mental intimacy with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I have found this intimacy in one place—in small groups.
It is in the warm and caring environment of this smaller community where I feel safe and find myself willing to open up, to get transparent, and to be real. It’s here where we heal and find wholeness. It’s here where disciples are nurtured and matured. It worked for Jesus’ small group. It’s working in our group. Is it working in yours?
Lord, help us find godly intimacy with Your family. Help us to be encouraged and to encourage, to be helped and to help, to grow and to share in others’ growth. Help us together, O Lord, to glorify You. Amen

February 22
What It’s All About
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others…. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:24, 32 (NIV)
Paul stressed the importance of doing good. In fact, it is a common theme of his. In Ephesians 2, he says God created us in Christ Jesus for just this purpose—to do good works.
If this is true, and I believe with all my heart it is, why don’t I do more? I mean, shouldn’t I be focused on this in a big way? Doesn’t it make sense if the God of the universe has specifically designed me—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually—to do good things, shouldn’t I be doing them?
Why should I be selective—one helpful act here and now, maybe a thoughtful deed for someone else next week? Why should I settle for less than encouraging and blessing others every minute of every day?
Paul caught onto this. He understood his design. He realized he was special. He maximized his time and reached as many as he possibly could. I think we have forgotten this: You and I are special too. We are in unique situations. We may be the only ones able to reach certain people with an encouraging word, a thoughtful act, or a kind deed.
Take a lesson from Paul. Don’t miss the opportunities God brings your way to do good, to influence others, to save many. And remember, you’ll be in the best of company ... it’s what Jesus did.
Lord, show me the opportunities all around me. Give me the strength, the courage, and the will to do what is right for others. Amen.

February 21
Finding Divine Power
Obey God … don’t slip back into your old ways … be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy.
1 Peter 1:14, 15 (NLT)
As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.
1 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
If one wants to be a qualified professional in this life, one goes to school, learns from the experts, or studies under a master. If we want to grow as Christians, we come to, and learn from, Christ.
To the Christian, Jesus Christ is EVERYTHING. Savior, Lord, Teacher: He saves us and then walks beside us.
In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus asks us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him. He then tells us His yoke is easy and the load we share is light. But do we believe Him? Too many times, we do not. We slip back into our old ways and depend on whom we know best—ourselves. What do I want? What do I think? What will I do? Over time, we may come to realize the frustration of our focus on self. Then when we start depending on Him, when we begin to obey and do what He lovingly asks us to do, it is then when His power arrives. Suddenly, the load becomes light, because … it’s His load.
So, instead of trying to control everything in life, learn to follow. Follow Jesus … and stick close. He’ll show the way.
Lord, show me Your way. Help me to know You better. Empower me to live for You. Amen.

February 20
The Preacher’s Favorite Story
Let the Lord’s people show him reverence, for those who honor him will have all they need.
Psalm 34:9 (NLT)
Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
Matthew 6:32-33 (NLT)
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
My good friend Pat Jordan loves to tell the story of his grandfather—a circuit riding preacher who ministered in Kansas and Colorado. Pat recounts how money was scarce and his grandfather would accept gifts of clothing, shelter and food on his circuit rounds in lieu of pay.
Well, there came a time when his family had an urgent need for five dollars—not much by today’s standards, but significant enough then for the preacher to drop to his knees and pray. He prayed hard, earnestly asking God for the small sum to help his family. God's answer became a favorite story for the preacher’s sermons, because it seemed nothing short of a miracle.
For the next day, as he planted flowers around the church building, the wind blew an envelope right to him. Curious, he looked inside, and there, Pat’s grandfather found the five-dollar bill for which he had prayed.
The heavenly Father answered his servant’s prayer, and guess what? He will answer yours and mine as well. So why are we so amazed? God is faithful to His promises. Yes, my friend, God … is faithful!
Lord, thank you for testimonies that reveal Your love and faithfulness. Praise Your name! Amen.