February 10 – OVERWHELMED

 Haven’t I told you? Be strong and have courage; don’t be afraid or get discouraged, because I – the Lord God – will be with you in every place you go. (Joshua 1:9)

                Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the responsibility placed upon you? Joshua certainly had reason to feel that way. He had the experience of spying on the giants of the land he was preparing to invade. So, he knew he faced a hard road ahead. He knew this was the big game.

For hundreds of years, fathers and mothers in Egypt promised sons and daughters of God’s assurance to Abraham. The whole burden; the whole future of God’s people and his promise rested firmly on Joshua’s shoulders. And, he felt alone. Everyone from his generation had died, and now his mentor, Moses, was gone too. No wonder that God told him three times, “be strong and have courage.” Now, He explains why. Joshua could be strong. He could have courage, because God promised to be with him as they entered the promised land.

                When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that God makes the same promise to be with you, so be strong and have great courage.

February 9 – IS GOD HONORED?

 Lord, God – It’s not about us. We don’t seek glory and honor. Show your glory. Bring honor to your name. In the victory, let everyone see that you are truth. You are faithful, loving, and gracious! (Psalm 115:1)

                When it all comes down, what matters? What is your first thought when the victory is won? How about when it looks like defeat? From the Christian’s perspective, isn’t every result part of an overall victory story? If that’s true, the bottom-line should always be the same.

What matters, in every case, is that God be honored; that He be known and seen to be gracious and truthful, and faithful. God should be glorified. The Bible is full of stories where it was hard to see a win, but still, God was glorified. Very often, where you see a defeat, God is simply setting up the scene for a story that will reveal His power.

In a world where the bottom line is mostly about money and influence and fame, don’t worry about how you look, nor the results you see when you obey God. Let your measure be whether people can see the Lord in a way that He is honored.

February 8 – TONGUE TRAINING

 The Lord God Himself has given to me the tongue of His well-trained student so that I will know how to encourage and embolden those who are weary with my words. (Isaiah 50:4)

               Do your words give courage to those who depend upon you? Are they filled with hope and optimism? Do you inspire a confidence that helps them to overcome?

                God’s word through Isaiah points clearly to Jesus the Messiah. He lived this passage. Each person who came to Jesus found understanding and empathy. Jesus spoke plainly, and He brought hope with words that were true and alive. As God calls you to lead His people, He will also provide the well-trained tongue you need to encourage and strengthen the weary people who follow with you. You must will to give your life to the work of building relationships. This investment of time and energy allows you to know, understand, and empathize with your people. You are also called to spend your time, and invest your other resources to be sure that this word reaches the far corners of your community.

It takes courage and boldness to allow God to speak through you, so you must spend time with Him to become a well-trained student.

February 7 – SPEAK, CAREFULLY

 And Balaam answered him saying, “Is it not my responsibility to listen to and then speak carefully what the Lord God tells me to say?”  (Numbers 23:12)

                Have you found your voice? Have you listened intently for the Lord to give you the words to speak to your people? Have you been careful to say exactly and only what God tells you to say?

                Balaam was not perfect. He probably was fearful of the consequences of his words. But, God told Balaam to speak for Him, and he knew he needed to get it right. If your people are to understand who you are, what is important to you, and why, you too must speak. The way you live and conduct business speaks. But, without your voice; the words that clearly communicate your vision and intentions, that message can be distorted and misunderstood. When you remember that everything you do and everything you say, “speaks” to others, you will also be more intentional in your actions.

 Be careful to listen for God’s words to you, so He can provide your voice.

February 6 – IMMEDIATELY

 Jesus called to them, “Come, follow me. I’ll make you become fishers of people,” and immediately they left their nets and followed Him. (Mark 1:17-18)

                How do you react when you hear God’s voice? Do you try to dismiss it? Do you ask for counsel from other people? Do you hesitate or try to run away?

                Simon and Andrew modeled the only appropriate response to God’s call – immediately they followed Him. Surely, they had questions, doubts, and even fears – if not at first, certainly as they continued to follow Jesus. But, they addressed their questions to Him. They pressed in around Him at times when they didn’t understand or felt afraid. This simple call from Jesus has not changed. As He shows you the people He created you to serve and to love, the invitation is still, “Come, follow me. I will give you the work to do.”

                He is Lord. He has a plan for your life that is designed uniquely to fit you. Answer His call immediately.

February 5 – KINGS AND LIONS

 My God sent His angel and closed the mouths of the lions. They couldn’t hurt me because He found me innocent. O King, I’ve done nothing wrong. (Daniel 6:22)

                Accidents and audits, grievances and false claims, strikes, slowdowns, and litigation. The business world is filled with kings and lions who may oppose you. Will you be afraid? Or, will you trust that it is the Lord God who holds and determines your future?

                Daniel’s offense was that he prayed, staying faithful to His God, even when that act had been made illegal. He trusted the Lord, and he risked death to do what he knew was the right thing to do. Will you face the lions unafraid? You are assured by Jesus that you will be opposed; even persecuted (Matthew 5:10). But, Daniel rightly observed that no terrible punishment men may impose can harm a person who will live eternally with the living God.

When your opposition comes, view it as Daniel did; as a child of the King who has promised that His love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34).

February 4 – REAL LIFE

 The Spirit arrives when He wants, and you see what He does, but you don’t see Him. You don’t know how nor when He acts, nor His intentions for the future. Just like the wind that blows, so is the Spirit’s work in every person to whom God gives life in His Son. (John 3:8)

                Are you willing to live your life depending on the Spirit, as Jesus describes Him? Can you risk your life on this Spirit you can’t control? Go to places He will show you? Do work you may not even understand?

Jesus explains to Nicodemus that when you are first born, physically, your spirit doesn’t live. It is only when the Holy Spirit breathes into you, making you one with Jesus, that you share in His life. This is the second birth; the birth of the Spirit. Imagine the person who enjoys hang gliding, jumping from a sheer cliff, and trusting the wind is present and moving below to keep them from plummeting to certain death. If you want the freedom of life in Christ, you must make a similar choice. Nicodemus shook his head saying, “How can this be (verse 9)?” Simon Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God! (Matthew 16:16)”

What do you say? Are you ready to live the real life?