Decide To Change

'Examine yourselves...' 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV

If you are serious about changing:

(1) The first person you must know is yourself. Human nature seems to endow us with the ability to size up everybody except ourselves. If you're not comfortable with yourself, you won't be comfortable with others. And if you don't believe in yourself, your lack of self-worth will undermine you in life. One marriage counselor says, 'The most important relationship you will ever have is with yourself. You've got to be your own best friend first.' But how can you be best friends with someone you don't know, like, or respect? That's why it's important to discover what God's called you to be, then work at becoming that person. And you won't get there overnight; it's a process one that requires a mindset of honesty, frequent repentance and constant self-correction. But if you commit yourself to it God will help you.

(2) The first person you must work on is yourself. Dr. Samuel Johnson said, 'He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition, will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the grief which he purposes to remove.' The Bible says, 'Examine yourselves.' Only as we examine ourselves before God do we discover where our true battles lie. Then we've a choice. We can be like the man who visited his doctor and found out he'd serious health issues. When the doctor showed him his x-rays and suggested surgery, the man asked, 'Ok, but how much would you charge just to touch up the x-rays?' Or, you can decide to change!

Handling Family Problems

Blessings in Christ Everyone! What a positive Spirit filled day yesterday. Worship rocked the house and God did several healings in our midst! The Word was powerful and led many to the altar for prayer and reflection. Keep your eyes of faith open this week, do your journaling, and spend sometime in prayer and watch what God can do.

"...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' Genesis 12:3 NKJV

In order to bless all the families of the earth, Abraham had to start with his own family. Before a man could qualify for leadership in the New Testament church, they examined his home life (1 Timothy 3:5). Their thinking was, 'If he doesn't succeed there, don't enlarge his territory.' But if you're going to enjoy God's blessing as a family you must learn to cope with difficulties.

So:

(1) Try to remember that you're all on the same team. Don't take your frustrations out on your loved ones. Too often, home is where we go when we're tired of being 'nice'.

(2) Before you speak, get the facts. Nothing's more damaging than jumping to conclusions. 'Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.' (Proverbs 13:3 NLT)

(3) Handle it with wisdom. List all your options and you'll be more objective. That's how you'd handle a problem at work; why not do the same with your family?

(4) Find something good in the situation. 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God...' (Romans 8:28 NKJV) No matter how bad things seem, every situation holds something positive, look for it.

(5) Make sure they know you love them. It's okay to express how you feel so long as you do it graciously. Make sure your family knows you love them. When people feel loved they can weather almost any crisis. Think: when do you need God's love most? When you deserve it least? Try to follow suit and see what God does.

Don't Play the Fool

'...I have played the fool...' 1 Samuel 26:21 NKJV

Your obituary says a lot about you. Towards the end of his life, King Saul said, '...I have played the fool...' (1 Samuel 26:21 NKJV) Israel's first king was destined for greatness till he decided to do things his own way instead of God's way. When the Philistines attacked Israel he tried to rally his troops, who were immobilised by fear. He knew he should wait for the prophet Samuel to come and offer a burnt sacrifice as required by the law. But he said, 'I'll just do it myself. Under the circumstances, God won't mind.' That one act of disobedience ended his career. He died by committing suicide on the battlefield; a life filled with promise, ended in disgrace. You play the fool by:

(1) Disregarding God in little things. Saul's fall didn't happen overnight. Little sins morph into big ones. Thinking, 'It's no big deal,' Saul took matters into his own hands. He said, '...I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself...' (1 Samuel 13:12 NLT) Note the words, 'I felt.' It can feel so right, yet be so wrong. Only trust your feelings when they line up with God's Word.

(2) Trying to justify your behaviour. Saul rationalised, '...I saw my men scattering...you didn't arrive when you said...the Philistines are...ready for battle.' (1 Samuel 13:11 NLT) Stop rationalising, repent, and obey God!

(3) Letting resentment control you. Though he had the makings of a great leader, when David started to gain popularity, Saul's resentment ended up destroying him. Most people learn from their own mistakes; wise people learn from other people's! Learn from Saul; don't play the fool.

Thoughts on Elisha

'...that your fruit should remain...' John 15:16 NKJV

Elisha served others until he died. We read: 'Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him [for advice].' (2 Kings 13:14 NKJV) On his deathbed, Elisha gave the king a strategy for defeating his enemies. So, you can lift others even when you yourself are down. You can feel like a hypocrite because things aren't so great in your own life, yet still minister to them. The truth is, when you reach out in love to someone else it takes the focus off you, your discouragement lifts, and it works for your good. Elisha's impact continued after he died. One day '...Elijah said to Elisha, "...what can I do for you...?" [He replied] "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit"...' (2 Kings 2:9 NIV) Elijah, his mentor, performed seven major miracles recorded in Scripture. When he died, Elisha had performed only thirteen. Did God fail to grant his request? No. 'Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land...So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.' (2 Kings 13:20-21 NKJV) Miracle fourteen; Elisha got his double portion! Jesus said, '...I chose...you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain...' (John 15:16 NKJV) So pray, 'Lord, give me a legacy of righteousness. Make my impact greater than my lifespan. Give me fruit that remains.'

Run the Race

'...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...' Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

In Greece there's a place tourists seldom visit. The writer of Hebrews may have had it in mind when he wrote, '...lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and...run with endurance...' (Hebrews 12:1 NJKV) It's where the Isthmian Games, a forerunner to the modern Olympics, were held: a place where athletes were hailed as heroes. To develop muscle they trained with weights strapped to their legs, but on the day of the race they stripped off anything that wasn't essential. There's a lesson here. We think what we're clinging to is important. If we didn't, letting go wouldn't be a struggle; we'd simply set it down.

The Christian life is a race that starts the day you accept Christ and ends when you meet Him face-to-face. In order to cross the finish line as a winner you must eliminate: (1) Anything that slows you down. In other words, anything that hinders your spiritual progress. In and of itself, it may not be wrong, but it becomes a 'weight' when it stops you from living for God to the fullest. (2) Anything that causes you to stumble short of the finish line. You must constantly monitor the level of your commitment to Christ, the growth of your faith, your home life, your relationships, your integrity, your work ethic, your thought life and your habits. Make up your mind to stay focused on the prize. Greek athletes who won received a garland that eventually withered, but '...you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade...' (1 Peter 5:4 NIV) Isn't that worth running the race for?

Use Your Gifts

'A spiritual gift is given to each of us...' 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

One of the great benefits of finding and fulfilling your life's calling is that it settles the question of what constitutes true success. Many of us have a faulty definition. We've bought into the idea that success is measured by how well we do compared to how well others do. That's a recipe for frustration! No matter what you do, someone else will always do it better. But when you define success in terms of God's purpose for your life, the standard changes completely. True success is not what you've done compared to what others have done, but what you've done compared to what God assigned you to do: 'A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.' (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT) Jesus said He was successful because He accomplished the work His Father had sent Him to do (John 17:4). Paul could say at the end of his life, '...I have finished my course...' (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV) By this standard, success may mean leaving a lucrative job to follow God's call. It may mean using your talents for His glory, instead of chasing fame and fortune. Whatever it is, once you know you're in your calling you can stop comparing yourself to others or wishing you were someone else. The Bible says we are each given gifts '...for the common good.' (1 Corinthians 12:7 NAS) Only when you're using your gifts to bless others will you experience true satisfaction. Pay checks and promotions are good, but they can't take the place of divine purpose. Only in your calling will you experience lasting joy.

Pray!

'Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.' 1 Chronicles 16:11 NIV

To help you remember the four parts of prayer, think of the acrostic P-R-A-Y:

P - Praise the Lord! Not sure how? Think you'll run out of words? Not if you use the Scriptures. David gives us a beautiful example in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13. It's one you can use: 'Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour...Yours, O Lord, is the Kingdom...In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious name.'

R - Repent of your sins! Just as heat forces impurities to the surface so the metal refiner can remove them, your prayer time will reveal attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, and barriers to blessing that must be removed. It's not enough to tell God about your sins. He already knows them. You must ask Him to help you turn away from them. This is true repentance.

A - Ask for yourself and others! Your prayers invite God into the situation, and your faith activates His power to change it. There's no distance in prayer, no culture or language barrier it can't overcome. It's like throwing on a power switchthings begin to move when we pray. Jesus said, 'I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven...whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in Heaven.' (Matt 16:19 TLB)

Y - Yield yourself to God's will! Declaring the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life is like signing your name to your autobiography, and inviting Him to write your life's story.