'...for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world...' John 18:37 NIV
Jesus knew exactly why He lived: 'For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.' That's what He thought about, prayed about, planned for, worked towards, sacrificed for, died and rose again for, and finally accomplished. By fulfilling His destiny He changed the world for ever. So, do you know your destiny? What are you doing to achieve it? 'We are...created...to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.' (Ephesians 2:10 NIV) Does that sound like a life of aimless wandering with no known destination? The Bible says, 'A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.' (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV) Plan well, but always stay open to God's direction. '...All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.' (Psalm 139:16 NIV) God's plan for your life was set before you were a twinkle in your parents' eyes! If you fail to follow His path you'll miss His best for your life. The Bible is full of examples of people who crashed and burned at some point. King Saul is a great example. Recalling it, David his successor prayed first, 'I desire to do Your will...' (Psalm 40:8 NIV) Your desires are the driving force in life, so make sure they're in harmony with God. Secondly he prayed, 'Teach me to do Your will...' (Psalm 143:10 NIV) When it comes to doing God's will, the Psalmist acknowledged he needed God's help. You do too.
'Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with [God]...' Genesis 35:14 NKJV
When you recall God's faithfulness to you it causes hope to rise in your soul. It enables you to face the future with confidence and say, '...He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who...keep His commands.' (Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV) Looking back and remembering is a Scriptural principle that works. 'Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with [God]'; 'Joshua set up twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan...' (Joshua 4:9 NIV); 'Samuel took a stone...set it up...and called [it]...Ebenezer, saying, '..."Thus far the Lord has helped us."' (1 Samuel 7:12 NKJV) The Bible says, 'No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God...will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but...will also provide the way out...' (1 Corinthians 10:13 NRS) Going back through Scripture and remembering the ups and downs of God's people and how He consistently came through for them, lends fresh perspective to your own situation and enables you to see a bigger picture. In Psalm 22:2 NCV David starts out saying, 'God...I call to you...but you do not answer.' But as soon as he starts remembering God's faithfulness he does a 180-degree turn around and says, 'Our ancestors trusted you...and you saved them. They called to you for help and...were not disappointed.' (Psalm 22:4-5 NCV) When you're in a spiritual free fall, stop dwelling on yourself and your disappointment and begin to focus on God. '...Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave...' (1 Kings 8:56 NIV) He's still the same; He hasn't changed.
'As soon as they began singing...' 2 Chronicles 20:22 CEV
Here's a simple but effective formula for handling a spiritual slump. Praise your way out! David starts Psalm 22 by asking, 'God, why have You forsaken me?' and goes on, '...You...dwell...[where]...praises...[are offered].' (Psalm 22:3 AMP) You won't always feel like praising God-that's why it's called '...the sacrifice of praise...' (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV) But when you're in a slump you need the discipline of praise more than ever. It brings a sense of God's power and presence like nothing else does. That's why the Psalmist wrote, 'I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.' (Psalm 34:1 NKJV) By praising God in advance for the victory, you open a channel for Him to intervene in your circumstances, hope rises in your soul, and it's impossible to stay down and defeated. And praise fits every personality, so you've no excuse! You can clap and shout (Psalm 47:1), use music and dance (Psalm 150:4), sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19), make a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4), lift your hands (Psalm 134:2), be still and silent before God (Psalm 4:4), you can kneel (Psalm 95:6) and you can even be loud! (Psalm 33:3) Your praises thwart the enemy's best-laid plan! When the Israelites were outnumbered, they prayed and God told them the battle was His and that He would do the fighting. Judah (which means 'praise') went out ahead of the army, and 'As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy...and...they turned against each other'. The minute you start praising God He releases His power to start working on your behalf.
'...to will and to act according to His good purpose.' Philippians 2:13 NIV
God is committed to His plan for your life, not yours! You can't say, 'Lord, here's my plan; bless it.' He may, but He may not. '...He...created us...so we can do the good things He planned for us...' (Ephesians 2:10 NLT) You can't say, 'In this category I'm doing things my way, but in that category I'm being led by God.' No, every step you take must be synchronized by the beat of the Holy Spirit. Nothing should be more important to you than keeping pace with Him. Paul writes, 'For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His...purpose.' (Philippians 2:13 NIV) God works through you as you open your spirit, engage your mind, and use your talents to do what He's already put into your heart. The moment you say yes, He gives you the power to perform His will. Notice, He doesn't reveal His will, then call you. No, He calls you, and as you step out and obey Him He reveals His will to you step by step. Each day God is molding you into a greater likeness of His Son. That's His objective. You're not out for a stroll, you're going somewhere! Over and over again you'll be put into situations that mature you to the point where you have the same attitude, the same perspective, the same responses, and the same discernment as Jesus. Once you understand that, walking with God will take on a whole new meaning. You'll realize that His custom plan for your life is the only plan that will ever satisfy you.
'...restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness...' Galatians 6:1 NAS
What is the 'spirit' in which we are to restore someone? The spirit of gentleness. 'If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.' More than likely, the person is already hurting and as fragile as glass; condemnation will only worsen their plight. Understanding and acceptance-not agreement-are what's needed here. The spirit of humility. 'Each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.' We're all cut from the same bolt of cloth; we're all capable of blowing it. Remember, Peter said to the Lord that others may deny Him but he never would. (Matthew 26:33) And he meant it; he didn't believe it could happen to him! We must be careful about our own lives, examining ourselves, knowing that we too are vulnerable to all types of temptation and sin. Finally, the spirit of love and empathy. Paul writes, 'Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.' (Galatians 6:2 NAS) In this passage the word 'burden' means 'a heavy load'. It means being willing to walk with them, weep with them and work with them until they've been restored. If the hurting cannot find grace, love and healing in the family of God, where can they go to find it? Dr Charles Stanley writes, 'It should be clear from the Scriptures that we have a responsibility to restore a fallen brother or sister. It should also be clear that this sensitive, delicate issue must be handled with great care, lest we greatly damage our witness to an unbelieving world.'
'...if anyone is caught in any trespass...' Galatians 6:1 NAS
Paul writes, 'If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.' Note the word 'caught'. Most of us who stumble thought at one time, 'That will never happen to me.' But it did. In a moment of weakness we yielded to evil. When this happens to someone in God's family we have a responsibility to restore them, regardless of the nature of the sin. In this Scripture this word 'restore' has medical overtones. It pictures a doctor resetting a broken limb. To restore someone scripturally, we must help them in several ways. First, we must help them to acknowledge their failure. After his affair with Bathsheba, David prayed, '...[I have] sinned and done what is evil in Your sight...' (Psalm 51:4 NIV) Secondly, we should help them to accept responsibility for their sin. Even though someone else may have been a contributing factor, we are still accountable to God. Thirdly, we must help them to repent. Repentance involves deep remorse, turning away from our sin, and moving in a new direction. Then, we must help them to make restitution. For example, someone who has done wrong needs to make amends when possible. We can help them to grow stronger through it. Through failure, God teaches us lessons that keep us from wandering into similar situations in the future. We can help them to respond to God's correction with gratitude. Granted, this is not easy, but when a person comprehends God's purpose in such discipline-that we might '...share in His holiness' (Hebrews 12:10 NIV)-they begin to thank their heavenly Father for His loving correction. Indeed, it protects them from any root of bitterness springing up in the aftermath of sin.
'...the mother of Jesus said..."They have no wine."' John 2:3 NKJV
In Biblical times offering wine to your guests at a wedding was an expected courtesy. It was also a sign of respect, so running out of it would have been considered a social disaster. But observe how Mary handled it. Instead of looking for someone to blame, or making excuses, she took her problem to Jesus. That's always your best move. 'O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.' Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water and give some to the headwaiter. When he tasted it, the Bible says, '...the water had become wine...' (John 2:9 NCV) But notice, it happened after they had obeyed Jesus, not before. At a particularly contentious church board meeting when one member suggested they pray about the problem, another responded, 'Has it come to that?' There are basically two reasons we make prayer our last resort instead of our first: we like to think we're able to solve our own problems or we feel insignificant and think, 'It's okay for Mary to ask Jesus; she's His mother, but He's got bigger problems to solve than mine.' No, your problems are important to God-all of them! He delights in you (Psalm 18:19). He rejoices over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5). You're never too big or too small to ask your heavenly Father for help. Just take your cue from Mary: identify the problem, bring it to Jesus, do what He tells you, and watch Him work it out.
'...Hallowed be Thy name.' Matthew 6:9 KJV
At the dedication service for their baby boy a young wife told the pastor, 'My husband wants to name him after his dad, but I want to name him after mine.' The pastor said, 'What's your dad's name?' 'Joseph,' she replied. 'What's your husband's father's name?' he asked. 'Joseph,' she replied again. 'Then what's the problem?' The husband replied, 'Well, her dad's a criminal and mine's a Christian. How will people know which one he's named after?' The pastor said, 'That's easy. Call him Joseph and see which one he turns out to be like. That way everybody will know whose name he carries.' Jesus taught us to pray, 'Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.' (vv9-10) How do we honor God's name? By doing His will on earth. Francis of Assisi once took a young companion with him to preach in town. But when they arrived they just chatted with vendors and talked to people on the street. Returning home, he was asked why they hadn't preached. He replied, 'People listened; they observed our attitude and behavior. That was our message.' Paul writes, '...Take care of...business...do your...work...then people who are not believers will respect you...' (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NCV) That means ensuring that your walk matches your talk, that you truly care about others, that you're not cheating on your spouse or your income taxes, that you're paying your bills on time, that you're not short-changing your employer. Peter writes, '...serve one another...' (1 Peter 5:5 GNT) It's one thing to call yourself a Christian, it's entirely another when those who know you best, agree!
'I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love...' Psalm 31:7 NLT
There's an old Chinese proverb that says, 'A diamond cannot be polished without friction, and a person can't be perfected without trials'. We all want to live stress free without having to work at it, but it can't be done. So, look at these 15 suggestions.
(1) Take time each day to pray and read God's Word; it'll transform your outlook. (2) If in real life you look like your passport photo, take a holiday; you need one! (3) What goes up must come down, so cut back on caffeine and sugar! (4) Eat right-a balanced diet isn't having a cookie in each hand! (5) Exercise three to five times a week for 30 minutes; it's nature's remedy for stress. (6) Develop better time management habits: 'use it or lose it'. (7) Make room in your life for fun and relaxation. (8) Get eight hours of sleep when possible. (9) Maintain your sense of humor: 'A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.' (Proverbs 17:22 NLT) (10) Start counting your blessings. The Psalmist said, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.' (Psalm 103:2 NKJV) (11) When you talk to yourself, say the right things. Your words affect you more than others. (12) Simplify your life by eliminating clutter. If you haven't used it for two years, you probably don't need it. (13) Develop a sense of purpose by seeking God and setting personal goals. (14) Forgive; grudges are too heavy to carry: 'If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive [you].' (Matthew 6:15 NLT) (15) Read the last chapter of the Bible-we win!
'...I have learned to be content...' Philippians 4:11 NIV
Since you can't escape change or the stress that goes with it, here are some steps you can take to help you handle it. First, choose your battles wisely. Answer these questions: do you instinctively give in to fear and oppose change, even when it might benefit you? Do you keep throwing yourself across the tracks, hoping to stop the freight train of reality? Do you think that no issue is too small to be ignored? Waging war on too many fronts always results in fatigue and defeat, so choose battles big enough to matter. Secondly, try to become more adaptable. What's your most common response to change? Dragging your feet? Assuming a 'have to' attitude? Doing only what's necessary? Once you stop caring, life loses its sparkle and ironically you become even more stressed. So learn to become resilient. Paul said, 'I have learned (it's a process that takes time!) in whatever state I am, to be content.' Thirdly, welcome new experiences. If you're moving forward in life your surroundings will be constantly changing. If they're not, you're going in circles. Clinging to the familiar just buys you comfort today at tomorrow's expense. Draw on God's grace, plunge in and seize the day! Fourthly, learn to live with uncertainty. Always struggling to 'stabilise' in a constantly changing world is like trying to push water uphill-you soon get tired and stop and it runs back down over you. Learn to live with loose ends; 'wing it' a little more, instead of struggling to make sure that life always happens on your terms.
'We get up again and keep going.' 2 Corinthians 4:9 TLB
Max Gunther quipped, 'When you're [in] a tug-of-war with a tiger, give him the rope before he gets to your arm. You can always buy a new rope!' Resistance to change just creates ulcers, sleeplessness and stress. So here are some attitudes you may need to adjust. Stop thinking like a victim, stop expecting others to rescue you, stop feeling sorry for yourself and reduce your stress levels. Get behind the wheel of your own life! You're not helpless, and the situation is not hopeless. God's Word promises you 'can do everything...with the help of Christ.' (Philippians 4:13 TLB) Then, stop deciding not to change. Instead of banging your head against the wall of reality, invest your efforts into changing what you can-such as your attitude and your approach! It takes more energy to hang on to old habits and beliefs than to embrace new ones. Stop playing the new game by the old rules. When a car that's stuck in second gear keeps trying to do 100 m/hr, guess what happens? Meltdown! If you don't want to burn out, learn to change gears. When your life's seasons, assignments or relationships change, begin to adjust. Learn to play by the new rules, otherwise you'll keep losing. Stop trying to control the uncontrollable. When the music changes, it's time to learn some new dance steps, otherwise you'll finish up sitting on the sidelines. You may not like the changes, but you can learn to flow with them. 'We are perplexed...but we don't give up and quit... We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.' (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 TLB)
'...the testing of your faith produces patience...' James 1:3 NKJV
The one thing we can count on in life is change. We try to resist it but it says, 'Ready or not, here I come.' In order to grow stronger through change we must give up, wise up and toughen up. First, don't be an escape artist, trying to avoid the stress that accompanies change. There is no escape; change is inevitable. Stop regarding it as an enemy and make it your friend. Only when you decide to ride the horse in the direction it's going, will you get to where you need to be. Secondly, when we're hit with sudden change, our 'fight or flight' instincts aren't very good at handling it. But there's a solution. By entrusting our lives fully into God's care and asking for His wisdom, '...God's kindness...is trying to lead...to Him and change...' (Romans 2:4 ) God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. Finally, someone quipped, 'If it wasn't for stress, I'd have no energy at all.' Stop and take inventory. Are you making it harder on yourself than it needs to be? Are you speaking faith or fear? Are you convincing yourself you can't handle the changes? Are you ready to give up without even trying, or trusting God? If you're struggling to make sense of the situation you're in, read these words: '...when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it...for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything...' (James 1:3-4 NLT)
'Joseph...saw that they were sad.' Genesis 40:6 NKJV
Sometimes you can tell by the look on someone's face what they are going through. 'Joseph...looked at them, and saw that they were sad.' Even though he himself was unjustly imprisoned, he found fulfillment in helping two other prisoners. Would it have been easier just to focus on his own problems? Yes, but it's self-defeating. Henry Drummond wrote, 'As you look back on your life, the moments that stand out are always the ones when you did things for others.' Joseph realized he wasn't the only one hurting, so he did what Jesus always did-treated those around him with compassion. How about you? Do you take time to try to understand what people are going through? Are you self-absorbed, or concerned about others who are hurting, especially when you've nothing to gain by it? Encouragement is like a shot of adrenaline: it can lift a person and put them back on their feet again. Writer Ren Bazin says, 'A remedy for the evils of our time...is the gift of yourself to those who've fallen so low that even hope fails them.' Will those you give to, always give back? No, but God will. When the royal butler was released from prison he forgot the promise he made to speak to Pharaoh on Joseph's behalf. But God didn't forget! Joseph's best days were ahead. Think of his rise in Egypt, his service to a nation, his impact as a leader, and the joy of reconciling with his family. He underlines it: '...God turned into good what [others] meant for evil...' (Genesis 50:20 TLB) So, start 'seeing' the needs of those around you.
'...A man must be content to receive the gift...given him from Heaven...' John 3:27 AMP
We love to quote the promise, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) But that promise doesn't mean you can do whatever you want, or what somebody else does. No, Paul is saying you can do anything God calls you to do, for with each of His assignments comes His assistance. This verse actually teaches you to stay within the boundaries of what God's called you to do, and not try to undertake things that are not part of His will for you. That's not negativism, it's wisdom. God wants you looking to Him for your answers, not others. That doesn't mean you can't learn from others, it just means the plan that will lead you to success must come from God. What is God's will for your life? Find it, do it, otherwise you'll live in frustration, competing and comparing yourself with others. John the Baptist said, 'A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from Heaven.' Read the previous verses and you'll discover that some of John's disciples were getting upset because Jesus was baptizing too, and the crowds were leaving John and flocking to Him. If John hadn't been secure in his God-given identity and calling, he might have become fearful and jealous. But he displayed a different attitude-one you need to take to heart. He said about himself, 'A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been granted to him from Heaven. [A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from Heaven...]' (John 3:27-29 AMP) And the same goes for you!
'...He will work for you today...' Exodus 14:13 AMP
If you're battling fear today, listen to these words from the God who loves you, protects you and promises to be with you. When there seems to be no way out, He says, 'Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the [deliverance] of the Lord which He will work for you today.' Notice the words, 'He will work for you today'. Start looking for evidence of His hand at work in your situation; that's how your faith grows. When the problem looks too big, He says, 'Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.' (Deuteronomy 31:6 AMP) Stop and remind yourself whose company you're in. The One 'Who goes with you' has never lost a battle, and He will win this one. When you feel like you can't cope any more, He says, '...do not look around you...and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties...' (Isaiah 41:10 AMP) Notice the words 'harden you to difficulties'. God usually doesn't lift us out of the problem, He takes us through it and toughens us up. When you lose your peace of mind, He says, 'Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance...continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace...which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds...' (Philippians 4:6-7 AMP) Don't listen to the voice of fear. God is with you today!
