Archive for the ‘Attitude’ Category

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February 22, 2009 Quit Complaining!

Today’s Bible Reading: Numbers 10–11; Psalm 27; Mark 1

Scripture Focus:

Numbers 11: 1 Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.

Observation:

Wow. You want to make God mad? Complain. He doesn’t like it. This time God punishes the complainers—in fact, some of them die. Later in this chapter the people complain about the lack of variety in their diet and ask for meat. This time God gives them so much of what they want that it becomes nauseating to them.

Application:

God invites me over and over in the Bible to ask for what I need, but he never gives me permission to complain, grumble, and whine. Philippians 2:14–15 says “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

People who don’t complain really stand out.

Prayer:

Abba Father, help me to bite my tongue when a complaining thought wants to express itself. Instead, may I have a spirit of thankfulness.

Posted by admin on February 23rd, 2009.
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February 15, 2009 The Humble Student Gets The Best Teacher

Today’s Bible Reading: Leviticus 25; Psalm 25–26; Acts 22

Scripture Focus:

Psalm 25: 9 The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.

Observation:

Humility is a recurring theme in the Bible, and it’s considered one of the attributes of great men and women. When you read stories of people in the Bible, you see time after time that God humbled those who were proud and delighted in those who were humble.

Here’s the thing: you can’t learn anything unless you’re humble enough to realize you don’t know it all, can’t do it all, aren’t strong enough on your own. Everything we have, even our abilities, are given to us by God, so what’s to be proud about? As though we did it ourselves!

Application:

Linda, if you will humble yourself before Almighty God and seek his will and direction, He will teach you His way. Do you want to stumble around, trying to figure life out, or do you want to do it right the first time? God will guide you in justice (what is right) and direction (what to do) if you come to him with a humble heart.

Prayer:

Abba Father, when I truly stand in your presence all pride and self-sufficiency flee. Please teach me your ways today and give me the power to walk in them.

Posted by admin on February 16th, 2009.
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February 13, 2009 Living And Giving

Today’s Bible Reading: Leviticus 20–22; Acts 20

Scripture Focus:

Acts 20: 33–35 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Observation:

This is a succinct description of a generous lifestyle free of greed. Paul didn’t covet “stuff.” He worked to provide for his own needs with enough left over to help others. He followed Jesus’ rule: It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Wow. What a life to emulate!

Application:

It’s not a bad idea to take inventory of my own attitudes toward money and things every once in awhile. Or maybe daily. :-) Are things more important to me than people? Than God’s kingdom? Do I provide for my needs and give out of my abundance to help others?

Prayer:

Abba Father, free me from the bondage of “stuff” and provide for my needs so I can be a blessing to others.

Posted by admin on February 13th, 2009.
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January 28, 2009 What Is My Witness?

Today’s Bible Reading: Exodus 23–24; Psalm 14; Acts 5

Scripture Focus:

Exodus 24: 9–11 Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity . . . So they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

Observation:

A witness is someone who sees and then reports on what he sees.

In Exodus Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders see God and eat and drink in his presence, yet I already know what happens a few chapters down the road. Aaron makes a golden calf and says “Here is your god that brought you out of Egypt.”

In contrast you have the disciples in Acts saying to the rulers of Israel, who have the power of life and death over them, “We are His witnesses to these things (the resurrection of Jesus)” and they choose to obey God in the face of persecution.

Application:

It’s possible to experience the presence of God and then act in a way that is totally at odds with that. On the other hand, it’s possible to be an effective and true witness. A past experience doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll choose to trust in God today.

Prayer:

Abba Father, may I be one who is a faithful witness to the truth in all circumstances, even when facing persecution or when I find myself in circumstances that would tempt me otherwise.

Posted by admin on January 29th, 2009.
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January 25, 2009 Remembering

Today’s Bible Reading: Exodus 12–13; Psalm 21; Acts 1

Scripture Focus:

Exodus 13:14 So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Observation:

God was the one who started the whole idea of holidays. God used them to help his people remember times when he did something special for them. The mighty acts and faithfulness of God are meant to be passed from one generation to the next.

Application:

Forgetting what God has done for me in the past is a sure way to lose my faith in him for the present. That’s why special days like Christmas, Easter and Communion are important in my spiritual life. It might even be a good idea to have some personal days of remembrance that I place on the calendar and remember each year with thankfulness.

Prayer:

Abba Father, thank you for your faithfulness! May I take time each holiday to remember what you have done for me!

Posted by admin on January 25th, 2009.
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January 22, 2009 A Willing Heart

Today’s Bible Reading: Exodus 3–5; Luke 22

Scripture Focus:

Exodus 4:12–13 “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” But he (Moses) said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

Luke 22:41–42 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Observation:

I see such a contrast between Moses and Jesus. Though Moses eventually came around, and we remember him as a mighty man of God, he was a most unwilling messenger at first. When God told Moses to return to Egypt to lead the people of Israel out of bondage, he tried hard to weasel his way out of the job, knowing full well it would not be a pleasant task.

Jesus, on the other hand, understood even better than Moses what he was about to encounter at the hands of the religious leaders, and he even asked God to remove the hardship—but only if it was God’s will. In the end he resolutely marched forward, knowing that fulfilling the will of his Father was more important than his personal comfort.

Application:

I have a hard time putting up with any inconvenience, much less a sacrificial act such as Moses and Jesus endured. The irony of it is this: Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24 Instead of kicking and fighting against God’s will (he’s going to win anyway) why don’t I simply say yes the first time?

Prayer:

Abba Father, your kingdom come, your will be done in me today.

Posted by admin on January 22nd, 2009.
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January 20, 2009 Turning Bad Into Good

Today’s Bible Reading: Genesis 49–50; Psalm 8; Luke 20

Scripture Focus:

Genesis 50: 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Observation:
Joseph had something really bad happen to him. He was sold into slavery and was as good as dead to his family, with little hope of ever seeing them again. Then something else bad happened. He was falsely accused of a sexual crime and landed in prison for years.

I believe Joseph had to wrestle with his feelings about the bad things that happened. Even though he remained faithful to God and was a trustworthy and faithful person in all these circumstances, we see in the latter part of Genesis that Joseph did not immediately reveal himself to his brothers when they showed up in Egypt looking for relief from a famine.

He may have forgiven his brothers beforehand, but when they appeared in his life again, he was plunged back into the unfairness of it all, and he had to deal with it. Thankfully, by the time he finally revealed his identity to his brothers, he had come to terms with the injustice and had drawn the right conclusion, which we see in this verse: his brothers meant it for evil, but God used it for his good and the good of many others.

We see the same truth in the New Testament: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Application:
I recently found myself in a similar situation where I met up with a person who had caused our family much pain years before. I had forgiven this person more than once over the years, whenever I remembered what had happened, but actually seeing that person again stirred up the old thoughts of injustice.

I struggled with God in prayer over it once again. I wanted that person to confess wrong doing. But God gently reminded me of the injustice Jesus suffered on the cross. After the resurrection Jesus didn’t go back to the leaders who had crucified him to make them admit they were wrong. He had better things to do—encourage his disciples, make way for the coming of the Holy Spirit, give his last speech of encouragement and empowerment before ascending to heaven again.

My injustice pales next to what Jesus endured. Yes, sin will come. Injustice happens, but God will turn bad into good in our lives, if we’ll leave bitterness behind and learn to forgive.

And when we forgive, we’re free to move on to the great plans God has in store for us.

Prayer:
Abba Father, you said you will forgive me in the same manner that I forgive others. (Matthew 6:12) May I always choose to be on the forgiving side.

Posted by admin on January 20th, 2009.
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January 13, 3009 Life Perspective

Genesis 30–33; Luke 13

Scripture Focus:

Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
vs 34 How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

Observation:

Over and over again Jesus speaks of hell as a real place. He says that compared to the number who choose the pathway to hell, the number who choose to enter the Kingdom of God is small. Yet God’s desire is that ALL should be saved. In 2 Peter 3:9 –10 we read:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. . . . Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Yes, God’s desire is that we turn to him for salvation and turn away from sin, but he will not override our own personal choice.

Application:

If I live my life as though this is all there is, I am most deceived. Even as a Christian I can start thinking short term. What a change in perspective I get when I suddenly get a glimpse into eternity and realize that the choices I make today matter big time, for myself and others.

Prayer:

Abba Father, give me a heavenly perspective today. If there’s someone I can direct toward your Kingdom, let me be your spokesperson.

Posted by admin on January 13th, 2009.
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