March 12

Think!

“Come now and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though thay are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat of the good of the land….”

Isaiah 1:18-19 (NKJV)

… he came to his senses …

Luke 15:17 (NAS)

Hard times help us think. Certainly, it was true of the Prodigal Son. He had had his fill of selfish living, he paid the consequences … and he thought. He came to his senses. While his mistakes were grievous, he did see a way out. As Isaiah and the Prodigal both shows us, Scripture not only shows us our ugly imperfections, it lights the path of reconciliation.

The righteous living God designed us for ... comes only with His help. “Come now and let us reason together,” God says. Today, if we will stop and listen, we will hear His words. Words of comfort and reconciliation.

Have you had enough of yourself? Is there an area of your life you need to think about? Something for which you need forgiveness? Are you ready to stop slopping the hogs and head for home? Now that’s a great thought!

Father, thank you for Your grace and mercy, and for this picture of the Prodigal Son and his father. The Prodigal's father had an extravagant love, but Your love, is greater still. Thank You for forgiving us and for showing us the way home. Amen.

March 11

Cleaning House

And you won’t spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

1 Peter 4:2 (NLT)

Company is coming to our home soon, and I am in the mood to clean house. It’s not just that someone will see our clutter, I am tired of the dirty windows, the smudges on the doors and railings and all those stacks and messes that, quite frankly, have sat too long.

There is a great relief, is there not, when we set our house in order? I am learning there is nothing quite as satisfying as loading up the car and dropping off the mother lode at Goodwill or The Salvation Army.

I feel the same way when I unload my inner man of all my self-interest and ungodly desires. When I bare my soul and remove this clutter of idols and distractions, I have space. I breathe deep spiritual air and I am invigorated! My focus is clear and I have but one desire—to do the will of God. The house is clean and life is good again.

So, how is your inner-house these days? Spic and span or in need of a good spring cleaning?

Lord, it is so easy to let things go, to fall into the world’s mode of operation. Help me set aside time for you. Fill my mind, Lord, and show me Your will. Amen.

March 10

Planting Seeds

So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT)

Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow—perhaps they all will.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NLT)

Paul said, “Make the most of every opportunity.” Solomon said, “Be sure to stay busy.” David said, “Teach me, O Lord, to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom.” These great men knew the truth and they shared it freely.

The truth is, time is short and there is a harvest all around us—just waiting to be picked. We call these opportunities, and we would be wise to take advantage of them. Perhaps we should think about our contacts, our coworkers, our neighbors in a different way. We should ask ourselves, what are there spiritual needs? What can I do for them? Can I offer an encouraging word? How can I show Christ’s love?

If I am to live for Christ, I need to take advantage of these opportunities … while they are here. What can I say? What can I do? I want to make the most of every opportunity. How about you?

Lord, help me become wise in using time. Help me to love and encourage others. Help me to share my faith in non-threatening ways, and shine through me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

March 09

Lifted Up In His Time

But David went back and forth between working for Saul and helping his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.

I Samuel 17:15 (NLT)

So humble yourselves before God. … When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.

James 4:7a,10 (NLT)

Is there a greater rags to riches story than David’s? Maybe not. Before the lowly shepherd boy became the great king of Israel, he went through a rather long and rocky transition period. That time included time in and out of the palace. His first experiences with royalty are noteworthy. Even though he ministered directly to the King of Israel as one of his armor bearers, and at times as a skilled musician, he was mindful to fulfill his responsibility to his family. It’s interesting that David left the comfort and ease of Saul’s palace to tend his father’s smelly sheep. David’s humility allowed him to pursue his responsibilities and not get caught focusing on rank and prestige.

As David humbled himself before God and made choices that were right for his God, his king, and others, God slowly, but surely, promoted him to the highest position of all. David, it seems, handled the transition well.

David offers a lesson to us when we enter times of transition. While we may not become kings, God has a great plan for us nonetheless. Are you in between jobs, changing careers or locations? Maybe you’ve recently lost a mate, or experienced some other major life change. Maybe you finally got the big promotion. Do what David did when the spotlight swung his way. Take seriously the responsibilities God has brought your way, trust Him, and humbly, consistently do the right thing—regardless of the world’s wooing. In due time, He will see you through the transition and lift you up to something good—something you probably never saw coming. Something He’s had in mind for you for a long, long time.

Lord, help me to be a humble servant like David, able to work wholeheartedly, to wait patiently, and bow to You so willingly. Allow this transition to bring me closer to You. Amen.

March 08

Recognizing the Hand of God

“God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”

Genesis 45:5b (NLT)

Joseph was an amazing man. One of those rare characters in Scripture shown in an entirely positive light—like Daniel, or the greatest of all, Jesus.

The noteworthy thing about Joseph was his faith in the midst of trials. I mean, it went on and on. He was wrongfully enslaved, unjustly imprisoned and spent years being punished for something he didn’t do, and yet, here in this passage, he acknowledges it was all God’s doing.

There is a lesson in this for all of us. Joseph couldn’t see the end, but his faith in God allowed him to trust the Almighty, live righteously, and exercise patience. This kind of faith is ours to claim today. Certainly, we have problems and issues—perhaps we have even been persecuted or misunderstood. Is God not aware of our lives, our situations? You bet He is. So ... what's your situation?

How will you live in light of His plans for you? What steps will you take today to walk by faith? Will you be able to say as Joseph did, “God did it”?

Father, thank You for putting us where we are, and thank you for being with us. Encourage us to live faithfully for you. Amen.

March 07

His Awesome Gift of Prayer

… in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6b (NAS)

Have you ever been in a meeting you just wanted to end? You know the kind. They go on and on, but you need to be doing something else? I was in one of those meetings recently. And just when I thought it was time to wrap things up, the leader smoothly transitioned into an extended time of prayer. “What are your prayer requests?” was followed by twenty minutes of sharing personal and ministry needs.

As we began to pray, I groaned inside and thought of what I was giving up. I wasn’t happy! Then the Spirit seemed to give me a sharp elbow. “Hey, these people are praying for YOU. How many times can you get seven or eight serious minded Christians together to plead with God to heal your son, or help with your business, or make your life and ministry more effective? Wake up and smell the roses, buddy!”

After His strong nudge, my whole attitude changed. In my mind, I confessed my sin of selfish-impatience and then entered into a beautiful conversation with our loving Heavenly Father. It was great!

So, let me ask you, when was the last time you looked at prayer as a privilege … and prayed that way? If it’s been awhile, why not start today? Why not now?

Father, thank You for this awesome gift. Teach us to pray, give us hearts that want to talk with You, and hear our words today. Amen.

March 06

The Best Thoughts

Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sin and heals all my diseases. He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:2-5 (NLT)

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about these things.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

David understood the power of positive thinking. He rested well in the knowledge God loved him in spite of his many problems and shortcomings. David was real … and so am I.

By living a life of praise to God, by depending on Him no matter what, by thanking Him regardless of my life situation, I can begin to see life as David saw it. And as I do, I will see all those good things God has provided and I too will be renewed. It’s this kind of positive thinking that helps us to soar above choppy waters and it all starts with praise.

For what are you thankful? When was the last time you praised God? Would now be a good time?

Father, as Almighty God You deserve my deepest respect and my very best thoughts. Thank You for reminding me to praise Your name. Let Your praise be continually on my lips. Amen.