Focusing on the Negative Brings No Return

"Finally, brothers and sisters, 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 such things."-Phillipians 4:8 & 9

Jesus asks us in Matthew 6:27, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  We know the answer is "no", but so often we get caught up in the drama or the negative in life and forget this one thing: in the grand scheme of things, love is all that will remain.

When people or things bother us, such as workmates, politics, family, friends, institutions, policies, and schools, what should we do?  Certainly if it's in our power to change something for the better, we should. But if it isn't, what should we do? 

Some things we just need to let go of. Some issues require that we deal with them, lovingly. (Matthew 18) But when Paul said he had peace that surpassed all understanding, he meant it. (Phil 4:7) He was able to have peace - when arguing for the sake of Christ, when in prison, when facing trials - all because of the grace of God in his life. 

"I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum."  -Frances Willard  

We have such a limited time on this earth. Isn’t it most important to focus on the positive instead of the negative - to provide solutions instead of making the problem our focus?  It's true that what we focus on, we get. But, each and every day, we can invest what little time we have into making someone else's life just a little bit better. 

I hope this is our goal. Focusing on the positive and providing solutions to problems brings a much greater return.  Don't get stuck on the negative, and it won't get stuck on you!

As It Is In Heaven

"And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." -Matthew 16:19
 
You know, God gave us quite an incredible gift when He sent His son Jesus to die for us.  In addition to this free gift of eternal salvation, He also gave us many keys that, when activated, can move mountains on our behalf.  All He said we needed to have was a mustard seed of faith, and to keep asking (Matt 17:20, 7:7).

Recently a friend was going through a really difficult situation.  Something had happened with her place of residence, and she was facing undue eviction!  Understandably, she was very upset.  I said, "You know what?  God doesn't want you to be evicted.  He wants you to have a place to live that is safe and secure.  So since that is His will for you, we should pray that His will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven." (paraphrase)  So that is exactly what we prayed!

It took several days for a decision to be reached about her eviction, but thankfully, the landlords decided to let her stay!  After she discovered that the motion was halted against her, she told me and we prayed and thanked God for His moving on her behalf.

Is there anything in your life that needs to be, "on earth, as it is in heaven?"  Pray with firm belief that the things you are hoping for will be manifest on the earth.  God can do incredible things through us, if we will believe.

Crazy for God

"Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." -1 Corinthians 1:27

Have you ever felt God tell you to do something unusual? Have you ever heard God speak on something that would happen, but what was spoken has not yet materialized? This somewhat uncomfortable situation happened to many leaders in the Bible; such as Joseph, Abraham, Noah, Joshua, Gideon, and Jesus.

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son- but were very old. Sarah was so old, she even laughed at the idea! (Genesis 18:12) Joseph was thrown into a pit after his dream, long before his dream would ever come to fruition. Joshua walked around Jerico 7 times...I'm sure the sixth time his men wondered what in the world was wrong with him, and Jesus couldn't do miracles in His hometown because there wasn't any faith. (Mark 6:1-6) Gideon had an identity crisis. "How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest, and I am the least!" (Judges 6:15) And when Noah was instructed to build an ark because "a storm was coming that would wipe out the entire earth" (Gen 6:13) we can only imagine what his neighbors must've thought.

Often times there is a big chasm between our reality and the things we are believing God for, but it doesn't mean we should waiver in our belief that it can and will happen. The reality is, if we cling to God, the dreams and the purpose He's given us will materialize, just as they did for Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, Noah, Gideon and Jesus.

Is there a big chasm between your reality and what you're believing God for? Keep believing for His promises to come true. God can work when we work out of obedience and believe.

Fearless

"But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." -Acts 9:27

What does it mean to be fearless? Does it mean we won't have fear when trying something? Does it mean that we aren't afraid of consequences? The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) When we have a healthy fear of God, it is wise.

However, there are fears that can cripple us, rob our potential, or steal our joy. These are unhealthy fears. They are unproductive. They don't produce anything good in us. They keep us from producing fruit in our lives. And God wants nothing more than for His kids to be fruitful! (Genesis 9:7)

Becoming fearless is not the absence of fear, but it happens when we can say with surety that God is bigger than our circumstances, He is bigger than our giants, He is bigger than our fear. We choose to believe what God says, that He is greater. Nothing can get in our way with God by our side (nothing will be impossible for you)! We fear, respect & love Him more than our fear. And we decide we will step out in faith to make things happen.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." -John 15:13

Are you able to lay down your fear today?

Understanding Covenant

David asked the men standing near him, “…Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” -1 Samuel 17:26

David was the youngest of 8 sons.  His 3 oldest brothers were off to war in King Saul’s camp.  During this time, the Philistine army had been camped at Sokoh in Judah.  The Israelites were camped in the valley of Elah, with just a valley between them and the Philistine army.

David was young, probably around 17.  From time to time he went back and forth to the Israelite army to bring food to his brothers and see how they were doing. This particular time, when David went to bring food to his brothers, he heard the giant Goliath from the Philistine camp shouting at the Israelites and challenging them.  He had been doing this for 40 days.  The Israelites were all afraid of him because he was so big.  No one had yet had the courage to challenge him, and when the Israelites saw him, “They all fled in great fear.”  (v.24)

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” (1 Sam 17:8-9)  It’s interesting to note that Goliath wanted to make the Israelites think they were just serving their leader, Saul.  But David had a different perspective. As people overheard him asking questions about what would be done for the man who killed Goliath, word was sent to king Saul who sent for him.  “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him,” David said. He explained to Saul that he had good training killing lions and bears tending sheep, and this would be no different.  Probably because he had run out of options by this time, Saul let David try. 

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel  (v.45-46).  And so, David used a stone in a slingshot, and killed him. 

Often the story of David and Goliath is taught with reference to having courage in God.  But, it was because David understood God’s covenant with the Israelites that he knew he could defeat him and had courage. Like marriage, a covenant is a promise broken only by death, whereas in a contract, the obligations of that contract must be met by both parties for the contract to remain in effect.  In David's day, covenants were very serious matters.  No one broke a covenant, even if the other party didn't fulfill their end of the bargain.

When we serve God, we have God’s protection. We should therefore place our trust in God’s faithfulness and promises, as His word is true and can never return void.  Have you recognized the power in God’s covenant with his sons and daughters?  May it be a reminder and an encouragement that we can overcome anything that comes in our path, because we are sons and daughters of the living God.