ONE THING NECESSARY

LUKE 10:42 (WEYMOUTH) 42 and yet only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it."

This is the word of Jesus. Someone who knows more than we do -- and loves us more than we love ourselves. So, we need to listen and take heed. (After all, we should realize that Jesus did not say things for His own benefit, but to help us.)

It is easy to get busy in life and let ourselves be distracted from what we know is important. That was the case with Martha, the sister of Mary, in the scripture quoted from above. Martha knew she needed to hear what Jesus had to say -- but she also knew that she was responsible for preparing something to eat. What could she do?

We all face such problems -- which are actually choices.

WE choose what our priorities are. WE decide what we will spend our time and energy on. And we should choose wisely.

(Here's a tip: if it won't be important one hundred years from now, it's not that important now, either.)

In this situation, Jesus brought a calming -- not a condemning -- word to Martha. (Jesus is still not interested in condemning people, but in helping them.) In effect, Jesus said to not worry, but to put hearing what God has to say first, and then somehow things will work out with God's help.

Jesus is saying the same message to you, today.

The most important and productive way we can spend time is in getting God's wisdom, guidance, and help. Hearing and heeding His Word will pay rich dividends in this time, as well as for eternity.

Never forget that God can do more for you in one minute, than you could accomplish in a lifetime by yourself.

Don't make the wrong choices.

SAY THIS: I will listen to God's Word. Then, with God's help, I will make it.

God bless you!

IF GOD BE FOR US!

“Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?”

This was Joshua’s cry to God in Joshua 7:7 (NLT).

The Israelites had just fought Ai and suffered a humiliating defeat. But why?

God had made a covenant with Israel. So, in theory, they should have won. But that’s not what happened. Israel had sinned. One of them had not followed God’s instruction at the previous battle of Jericho. Achan had taken from the battle what had been dedicated to the Lord. This broke the covenant. God was now out of the equation. On top of that, no one asked God what to do concerning the battle at Ai. Spies were sent in and a plan was made, but God was not consulted. Therefore, in the end, Israel was defeated.

Joshua 7 tells us how God exposed the sin and commanded consequences for Achan and his family. Thus restoring the covenant between God and the Israelites. Then, in Joshua 8, Israel goes on to defeat Ai in a second battle.

We also have a covenant with God, and it is a new covenant!

Mark 14:24 says:

And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”

Jesus came to create this new covenant with us and take on Himself the consequences of our sin.

Hebrews 9:14-15 says:

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

The consequences for our sin (death) were paid once and for all by Jesus' perfect sacrifice for our sins. When we do fall short and sin, and we will, we must confess and repent [turn away] and God forgives. What a tremendous new covenant.

1 John 1:9 says:

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

What a good God we have! He says to us in Romans 8:31 b:

If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

I’ve seen God win so many battles in my life. I encourage you to trust Him so He can win them in yours!

God bless you!

LIVE, DWELL, REMAIN, ABIDE
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” —Psalm 91:1
Psalm 91 is one of the most uplifting passages in all of Scripture, filled with promises like the one found in its first verse. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT). 
But it’s worth noting that the blessings promised in Psalm 91 aren’t for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers, and not just to believers in general. These benefits are targeted toward believers who specifically meet the requirements found within the psalm. Psalm 91 is full of what we call conditional promises. In other words, God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required. 
Let’s look at the words of verse 1 again: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT).
The word live, which also may be translated as dwell, means “quiet and resting, enduring and remaining with consistency.” It is very similar to the words remain and abide, which we see often in the New Testament. Jesus said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT). That word remain means “to stay in a given place, to maintain unbroken fellowship and communion with another.” 
Here’s what God is saying: “If you want to experience the promises of Psalm 91—My protection, My provision, and My blessing—you must dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You must remain in constant fellowship with Me. You must not allow the things of this world to put distance between us.” 
Believers have a relationship with God because we’ve put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant fellowship with God? Many believers aren’t. And they’re missing out on countless blessings as a consequence. 
Psalm 91 also includes these promises: “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (verse 4 NLT). “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation” (verses 14–16 NLT).
And that’s still only scratching the surface. God is interested in a relationship with you—not just on Sundays but throughout the week. He wants you to dwell in the shelter of the Most High.
He wants you to experience the blessings that come from an intimate relationship with Him. 
God bless you!

GOD'S MERCY TO NINEVEH
JONAH 1:2 NKJ2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me." Remembering what happened with Nineveh will give you a clearer picture of God's mercy. God told Jonah that Nineveh would be destroyed. But when the people of Nineveh changed and repented before God, things changed
.JONAH 3:3-10 NKJ 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
The people of Nineveh were very wicked, but when they heard God's Word of judgment they humbled themselves and turned toward God. Because of their response, God changed His judgment and their lives were spared. When people repent and turn toward God -- no matter how evil they have been -- God shows mercy.
God is still the same. He delights in mercy.
MICAH 7:18 NKJ18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
SAY THIS: My God delights in mercy! 
God bless you!

C`MON YOU`VE GOT THIS

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 8-9 NIV, emphasis mine)

The time for the Israelites to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the Promised Land had come. Joshua, following the death of Moses, was now the leader of Israel. As the Lord had been with Moses, He promised to be with Joshua. He exhorts Joshua multiple times to “be strong and courageous,” and to meditate consistently on the Book of the Law.

Joshua takes the message to heart and commands his officers to prepare the Israelites to cross into Canaan. He also reminds the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh of the promise they made. These tribes had requested for their allotments of land to be on this side of the Jordan; yet they made a covenant to cross with the Israelites and conquer their enemies before returning to their families who would stay behind.

Once reminded, their reply to Joshua was one I don’t think I ever took note of before. They promised to support Joshua the same way they had supported Moses, saying:

"Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1:18, emphasis mine)

Did you catch it? They spoke over Joshua the same thing that Yahweh had spoken over him, to “be strong and courageous.” In other words, “C’mon, you’ve got this!” God’s desire was that Joshua be filled with confidence to lead Israel to conquer the land He had promised them.

It is interesting that God made sure their response was recorded – He could have simply included what He said to Joshua, and that would have been more than enough. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Yet God saw it as important that their encouragement to Joshua be included in the Scriptures.

Why? He delights in using others to be the voice of encouragement that we need to hear! We are all part of His body, and together we are stronger—we can go farther. While recognizing God’s voice through the Word and time in prayer is essential, many times He is also speaking through those around us. May our hearts be sensitive to His Spirit today to recognize when He is communicating to us this way!

God bless you!

GROWING A CHOKE-PROOF FAITH

“The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.” —Luke 8:14

I’ve always been amazed by weeds. You can take a little flower, plant it in the perfect location, water it, and make sure that there are no pests to threaten it. You can do everything possible for that flower, and it will slowly grow. But then, in the same amount of time, a weed can spring up and choke out the flower.

The weed doesn’t suddenly burst out of the ground, grab the flower, and start shaking it. The process is gradual. First, the weed appears in the vicinity of the flower. The next day, the weed grows a little closer. And on it goes until the weed starts to wrap itself around the flower and choke out its growth.

That is what Jesus was describing in the parable of the sower when He said, “The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity” (Luke 8:14 NLT). The “cares and riches and pleasures of this life” are the weeds that choke our spiritual growth. As with the weeds in nature, the process doesn’t happen overnight; it happens over time.

Also, as with weeds in nature, the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” aren’t always immediately identifiable as weeds. In fact, the things that prevent the seed of God’s Word from maturing and producing fruit in our lives aren’t necessarily bad things in and of themselves. Some are good things that become the most important things and choke out the spiritual things. They also create distance between us and God.

The picture that Jesus paints in His parable is not one of someone who says they don’t want to pray, read the Bible, or go to church. Rather, it’s someone who thinks those are good things to do. But over time, they start losing interest, and the things of this world become more important to them than the things of the next world. That’s what chokes them out spiritually and causes them to feel distant from God.

It’s essential, then, that we examine our priorities frequently. Not our idealized priorities, the things we say are important to us, but our actual priorities, the things that get the lion’s share of our time, energy, and interest.

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34 NLT). God wants you to treasure the things that are truly important. The things that will last for eternity. The things that bring genuine joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. God wants your heart. If you give Him that, He will give more than you can possibly imagine in return.

God bless you!

THE PROBLEM WITH SHEEP

“Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” —1 Peter 2:25

On more than one occasion, the Bible compares Christians to sheep. I don’t know if I’m really happy about that because sheep aren’t the most intelligent animals on earth. It would have been nice if God had compared us to dolphins. Now, there’s an intelligent animal. I once had the opportunity to talk to a man who trained dolphins. I asked him, “Are dolphins really as intelligent as they seem?”

He said, “In some ways, yes, and in some ways, no. They are very intelligent in many ways because a dolphin can read a symbol and understand what it means.” That is amazing to me.

But Jesus didn’t compare us to dolphins. He compared us to sheep. And sheep are some of the stupidest animals around. They are vulnerable, easily spooked, can’t run very fast, and lack any means of defending themselves. What’s more, they are in constant need of care and attention. Sheep are known to follow each other even to their own death. It has been documented that if one sheep walks off a cliff, others will follow.

The Bible says, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own” (Isaiah 53:6 NLT). And, you have to admit, that description hits pretty close to home. Think about how many people have bought into the same lies, generation after generation. They fall into the same junk, the same addictions, and the same traps again and again. If we’re honest with ourselves, we must admit that we are strayers. We put distance between ourselves and God.

Of course, our Shepherd will not stand idly by while we get lost following our own path. Jesus makes that clear in His parable of the lost sheep. “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep’” (Luke 15:4–6 NLT).

Psalm 23, one of the best-known passages in all of Scripture, reminds us that there are advantages to being sheep. “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name” (verses 1–3 NLT).

We are like sheep. There’s no getting around that. The question is, are you going to be a smart sheep or a dumb one? Smart sheep stay close to the Shepherd. And that’s where we all need to be.

God bless you!

THE FOUNDATION IN THE WORD

“Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” —Matthew 24:35

One reason believers may start to feel shaky in their relationship with God is that they haven’t built a solid foundation for their lives. So, when circumstances threaten their well-being, they don’t always know where to turn. And that leaves them feeling distant from the Lord.

Where will you turn in a time of crisis? When tragedy hits? When disaster strikes? Will it be your favorite website? The morning newspaper? The evening news? You’ll need something to give you strength and direction in your time of despair. Here’s a tip: You won’t find a better resource than the Word of God.

As one pastor said, “One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.” Just a single gem from the ocean of God’s Word can make all the difference when tragedy or hardship strikes. How many people in their affliction have found comfort from Scripture?

Trusting in what God has said in His Word can sustain us and give us direction, hope, and comfort when we need them most. Inspirational platitudes or clever sayings won’t help—at least, not for very long—but the Word of God always will. It’s been said that those who reject the Bible have nothing to live by. Neither do they have anything to die by.

Ideas and philosophies go in and out of style with the passing of years, but the Word of God never goes out of style. It never goes out of date, unlike this morning’s news. The Word of God will always be relevant.

That’s why C. S. Lewis said, “All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.” And it’s why Jesus Himself said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear” (Matthew 24:35 NLT).

Jesus emphasized the importance of having a solid foundation grounded in God’s truth in His parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24–27. The wise man built his house on the rock. When the rains came, when the storms of life threatened his well-being, it did not fall. The structure may have been shaken to its core, but it withstood everything that was thrown at it. Because it had a strong foundation.

The foolish man, on the other hand, built his house on sand. He didn’t prioritize a strong foundation. When the rains came, his house collapsed with a great crash.

I urge you to get a good foundation in God’s Word because it’s only a matter of time until the storms of life rain down on you and hardship strikes. It happens in every life, without exception. But if you have a good foundation in the Word of God, then you’ll be ready for difficulty when it comes. Don’t wait until then to try to catch up.

Get that foundation now.

God bless you!

LIVING IN TRUTH
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body
Ephesians 4:25
The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus about the fundamental importance of truth and trust. He uses the imagery of changing clothes to explain how we should live. Just as we are called to clothe ourselves with Christ, we are also told to put off our old garments of falsehood. This does not only refer to major lies. It includes exaggeration, white lies, and wearing a mask to appear a certain way to others. When we pretend to be someone we are not for the sake of reputation or status, we are wearing a garment of falsehood.

Speaking truthfully to our neighbor is the standard that God sets for us. This is not an invitation to be rude or mean. Truth should always be spoken in a way that represents God and His love. It is not about being right or winning an argument. Instead, it is about getting closer to Jesus and pointing others toward Him. We are reminded that we are all members of one body with Jesus as our head. Just as the parts of a physical body do not work against each other, we are called to work together in unity.

When we give our lives to Jesus, we serve Him and we serve others for His sake. We do this regardless of whether people deserve it or have earned it. Operating as one body means laying down our own pain, insecurity, and the need to be right. We choose to forgive and surrender our opinions because of what Jesus has done for us. As we behold His beauty and glory, it becomes much easier to act as a unified body under His leadership.

Jesus gave His life for us and paid the ultimate price to make us His own. Our response is to surrender our rights and our desire for validation to Him. By living in truth, we reflect the character of our Savior to the community around us. We honor the head of the body by walking in the honesty and love that He modeled for us.

Are we seeking pleasures that fade or are we seeking His face?
God bless you!

LOSING WEIGHT

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” —Hebrews 12:1

Feeling distant from God is not a unique experience. At some point in their lives, all believers—including the heroes of the faith in the Bible—experience it. Jesus Himself cried, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46 NLT).

In this week’s devotions, we’re going to look at ways to close the distance between us and God. We’re going to start by looking at the personal baggage that keeps us from reaching our God-given potential and experiencing the kind of relationship with God that He desires.

When we’re running the race of life, we need to travel light. Sometimes we tend to drag along a lot of excess weight. The author of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).

Sin is sin, and it will always trip us up and cause us to fall. But there might also be other weights in our lives—weights that aren’t necessarily sins, but nevertheless trouble us, slow us down, and impede our spiritual progress. These weights might include such things as certain habits, misplaced priorities, or seemingly harmless distractions. Often, they weigh us down without us realizing it.

That’s why I periodically take stock of my life as a Christian and look at the things I’m doing with my time. I ask myself questions such as, “Is it a wing or a weight? Is it speeding me on my way spiritually, or is it slowing me down? Is it increasing my spiritual appetite, or is it dulling it?”

Often, we allow ourselves to become busy doing a lot of things that aren’t really all that important. They just seem important at the time. We must ask ourselves if we need to do those things. Are they slowing us down? Are they keeping us from running the race God has given us?

Lay aside the weight and the sin that hinder your progress, and see how the Christian life changes for you.

God bless you!

LOVE GIVES
JOHN 3:16 NKJ16 "For God so loved the world that He gave . . . .GALATIANS 2:20 NKJ20 ". . . I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
EPHESIANS 5:25 NLT25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her Love is only expressed through giving. If there is no giving, there is no evidence that love exists.
The only proof of love is giving. Giving is the action that demonstrates love. So, the measure of your giving is the measure of your love. The more you give -- of yourself, your time, your attention, your affection, your patience, your treasure -- the more you love.
This is what Jesus meant in John 15:13.JOHN 15:13 NKJ13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. Why did Jesus say there was no greater love than to give your life? Because you can't give any more. That's total commitment!
So, whenever you see "love" in a sentence, you may substitute "giving" and express essentially the same meaning.
JOHN 13:35 NKJ35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
By understanding that love results in giving, we see that Jesus indicated His disciples would be known for their giving. We are to be famous for our giving! This is the way Jesus indicated people would know His true followers: by their giving. (Not our fighting, our preaching, or even our correct doctrine.)
We see in the early days of the church, this is exactly what happened.
ACTS 4:34-35 NKJ 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
Don't think that your gifts should only go to churches and preachers. Jesus made it clear that giving to any believer was the same as giving to Him.
MATTHEW 25:40 NKJ 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' But God has not called us to give to others just so we could end up poor, also. NO! God has promised to multiply what we give, so we will have more to give in the future.
LUKE 6:38 NKJ38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8 NLT 6 Remember this -- a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
So, based on God's promises, we can give to others in faith, with confidence that God will continue to supply all we need.
EPHESIANS 4:28 NKJ 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.(This verse gives us an idea of how giving was paramount in the thinking of early Christians.)
JOHN 15:12 NKJ 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
If you desire to follow Jesus, love (giving) is not optional.
SAY THIS: As a disciple of Jesus, I will be a giver. 
God bless you! 

STOP CONDEMNING OTHER CHRISTIANS

ROMANS 14:10 NLT 10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Many Christians seem to have the idea that their job is to evaluate others and point out errors and shortcomings. But our job is not to condemn other Christians!

ROMANS 14:4 ESV 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

We can share truth with an attitude of humility, respect, and concern for other's well-being, pointing out areas where we think they may not yet have a correct understanding of Scripture. But name-calling, fighting, and public ridicule should never happen among Christians!

Privately correcting someone in humility is quite different from arrogantly condemning another brother or sister publicly.

We can teach truth without mocking, ridiculing, and condemning others. Those who resort to such tactics often do so because they cannot convince based on the facts.

Whatever we do should be done in the spirit of Christ, to help people, not condemn them.

Jesus said the world would know we are His followers by our love. So our enemy tries to stir up strife between believers.

JOHN 13:35 ESV 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

We are all in the same family. Instead of attacking our brothers and sisters, love should protect them and defend them.

ROMANS 14:1-3,13 NLT 1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 13 So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

There are many differences among Christians. We are all growing and learning. Not one of us knows everything. Even Paul, who wrote down much of the New Testament, said he only knew in part (1 Corinthians 13:9).

We all have much to learn. So we should be slow in telling others how wrong they are. The Lord may have taught them something He has not yet taught us.

Many are too quick to label all those who do not agree with them on every point of doctrine as a cult or some other name to put them down.

Usually, those who are in the habit of putting down others do so in an attempt to elevate themselves. But God has already elevated us in Christ, so we don't need to fall into this trap.

ROMANS 14:19 NLT 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

SAY THIS: My job is not to condemn people and call them bad names, but to bless them, help them, and pray for them.

God bless you!

IS IT WORTH IT?
I’m frugal. I’m the bargain-shopper that my mother raised me to be. It’s not like I don’t like spending money. I just really like saving money.

Before any big purchase, I spend days (sometimes weeks!) comparing different brands and options to see if I can get a similar value for a lower cost. Before making the final purchase I always ask myself, “Is this worth it?”

While I am often very proud of my bargain shopping, one place where I don’t want to count costs or look for a better deal is in my walk with Christ. Walking with Christ often requires different kinds of sacrifice. Whether it be our finances, free time, personal plans, or social status, there are many things we may need to fully surrender to Christ. When I know I need to surrender something to the Lord, I might ask myself, is it worth it?

Mark 14:3-9 is the account of Jesus’ anointing at Bethany. An unnamed woman pours a flask of pure nard over Jesus’ head. In other words, this woman used an entire year’s worth of wages in very expensive oil to glorify Christ as her King and Savior. Some sitting around the table are furious about what they’ve just seen:

Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why waste such expensive perfume?" they asked. "It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly (Mark 14:4-5 NLT).
But Jesus doesn’t scold her.

But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? … Wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed” (Mark 14:6,9).
This was a beautiful, sacrificial act of worship, exalting Jesus as the Messiah, that we still talk about today! But it came at a very high cost. She didn’t use just some of the oil. She didn’t try to do just enough to get by. She spared no expense when it came to Jesus.

Are we willing to do the same with our lives? Maybe we’re afraid to give our lives fully to Christ because we’re afraid of looking foolish. When we make sacrifices to honor Christ, others may not understand. Just like those at the table in Bethany, they might think of it as a waste of time, money, or energy. But Christ says:

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).
When we love God and live for Him, we get to spend eternity with Him. We can spend days, weeks, and even years trying to replace a relationship with Christ with the things of this world, but in this case, there is nothing of similar value for a lower cost. No better deal exists!

God bless you!

A CROWD OF WITNESSES

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” —Hebrews 12:1–2

Over the past few weeks, we looked at several Old Testament characters. In Hebrews 12:1–2, the significance of their lives, their experiences, their struggles, their victories, and their testimonies is brought home to us. One chapter earlier, the author of Hebrews recapped many of their stories in what’s often called the “Faith Hall of Fame.”

The placement of the exhortation in Hebrews 12:1–2 seems to suggest that these “hall of famers,” these heroes of the faith—Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Daniel, and others—take a rooting interest in our spiritual race. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (NLT).

These people of faith who went before us gave us models to follow so that we might live and exercise our faith as they did. Reading about the lives of these men and women who walked with God and trusted Christ and stood strong in the face of trials and persecutions can add steel to our souls.

But they didn’t just give us templates to follow. They are also observing us and taking note of our progress in the faith. This “crowd of witnesses” is watching us and cheering us on, if you will.

That’s just one interpretation of the passage, of course. We don’t know for certain that there are heavenly grandstands where people monitor the progress of loved ones living out their lives on earth. But it wouldn’t surprise me if that were true. I do, however, know this much: We are in the race of our lives on earth, and none of us knows how long it will last. So, we must make the most of it. We must live our lives to please not the bystanders but the Lord Himself. We must make decisions and interact with others in ways that honor and pique curiosity about Him.

We must leave a legacy that inspires other believers—the ones we will cheer on when we join the crowd of witnesses.

God bless you!

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

GALATIANS 6:7 NKJ 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

The Bible says it, so you can count on it.

EPHESIANS 6:8 NKJ 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

LUKE 6:38 NKJ 38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

The world has a saying for this, "Whatever goes around, comes around."

If you are unkind, you can expect unkindness to come toward you.

If you are merciful, you can expect others to be merciful to you.

If you are generous, others will be generous with you.

You cannot expect to plant carrot seeds and harvest tomatoes. It does not work in the physical realm, neither does it work in the spiritual realm. You will reap what you plant, and only what you plant.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 NKJ 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

PROVERBS 11:24-25 NKJ 24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Whatever you need, or whatever you desire in your life -- give that to someone else.

If you desire friendship, be friendly to others. If you desire forgiveness, forgive others. If you desire to be loved, show love to others. If you desire money, give some money away.

MATTHEW 7:12 NKJ 12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

SAY THIS: I will reap what I sow.

God bless you!

DAYS OF DOUBT

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” —Psalm 42:11

It’s not unusual for even the most spiritual people to have days of doubt. Moses, on one occasion at least, was overwhelmed by his circumstances. After he had listened to the constant complaining of the children of Israel, he said to the Lord, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:14–15 NLT).

Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was overwhelmed by his circumstances, discouraged, uncertain, and filled with doubt. First Kings 19:3–4 says, “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died’” (NLT).

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah struggled occasionally, too. He was ridiculed and harassed for sharing the Word of God—so much so that he wanted to stop. He prayed, “O LORD, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me. When I speak, the words burst out. ‘Violence and destruction!’ I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke. But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” (Jeremiah 20:7–9 NLT).

Even the great Apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT).

So, if you struggle with doubt, uncertainty, anxiety, or depression, you’re in good company. And, like the heroes of the faith, you need to be reminded that we can’t always see the big picture of God’s plan. But we can echo the words of the psalmist who said, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT).

Remember: We can always trust God’s heart, even when we can’t trace His path.

God bless you!

THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING UP
“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’” —Romans 4:1–3

The Bible doesn’t teach that if you’re a Christian, you’ll never stumble or periodically fall short. But it does teach that if you’re a true believer, when you’ve had a lapse or a stumble, you will always get up and move forward. That’s the way to determine whether a person is really a believer or not.

When God came to Abraham in Ur and told him to break away from his family, Abraham basically refused and didn’t go for years. Even after he left, he only partially obeyed God by dragging his nephew Lot along. This only resulted in more friction down the road, when he and Lot eventually parted company.

Abraham told his beautiful wife, Sarah, to say that she was his sister because he was afraid someone would kill him if they realized he was indeed her husband. He did that on two occasions.

After God promised him a son—an heir to continue his lineage—Abraham tried to force the Lord’s hand by fathering a child with Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar. That decision resulted in immeasurable heartache and strife.

These were just a few of the lapses of faith and acts of disobedience that marked Abraham’s life. It’s important to note, however, that although Abraham deviated from God’s path on occasion, he always came back. He never drifted too far from the One who made a covenant with him. That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Romans 4:3 NLT).

No stumble is too great, no fall is too steep to recover from. First John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT). Acts 3:19 says, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away” (NLT). When you turn to God and away from the sin that caused you to stumble, you regain your forward momentum on the right path, just as Abraham did time and time again.

If a person says he or she is a believer and falls away and never comes back, then that person is not a believer. The Apostle John put it this way: “When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us” (1 John 2:19 NLT). But if a person is a true believer, then he or she will be miserable in sin and eventually will beat a quick path back to the cross of Calvary.

God bless you!

WHAT IS THE DEVIL`S AUTHORITY?
The devil obviously had access to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Scripture does not tell us why God allowed this. One theory that makes sense involves mankind being allowed to judge the devil, possibly after the devil complained that God was not just or fair in condemning him. First Corinthians 6:3 does say that Christians will judge angels — and the devil is a fallen angel.
If this theory is correct, God would have to allow the devil access to influence mankind, or be seen as unfair by all.
The devil gained a certain amount of control over mankind by Adam's disobedience, which plunged Adam and all his descendants into spiritual death. At the time of the temptation of Christ, recorded in Luke 4,the devil obviously had a great amount of authority in the world system.
LUKE 4:4-7 NKJ 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.7 "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the devil and stripped him of his authority (Colossians 2:15, Hebrews2:14-15). Because Jesus announced that He had all authority after His resurrection (Matthew 28:18), the devil evidently retained no authority. However, in the Epistles, the devil is still called the god of this world, or age (2 Corinthians 4:4). This does not mean that the devil is the god of the earth, but of the ungodly world system.
He has this control through the yielding of ungodly people to speak his words and do his deeds.
The devil gains a measure of authority through any human being who will yield to his ideas and speak them, or act on them.
Even Christians can, like Peter in Matthew 16:23, fall into this trap.
A perverted use of this authority is exercised when people "curse" or "damn" things or people. We should use our authority to bless — not curse.
All authority the devil may be using now is illegitimate. Only through deception and ignorance is he able to carry out his evil plans in the earth. If the Church of Jesus Christ fails to exercise its God-given authority against the devil, he will operate virtually unhindered. This is because unsaved people are already under his dominion, and find it hard to resist him (John 8:44, 1 John5:19).
As members of the body of Christ, we have been delegated the use of His authority on earth to see that God's will is carried out (Matthew 16:19, Luke 10:19, Philippians 2:10).
We must exercise that authority.
SAY THIS: My Lord Jesus defeated the devil, stripped him of his authority, and gave authority to me over all the power of the enemy as a member of the Body of Christ on earth. 
God bless you!

DROPPED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

“One day David asked, ‘Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’” —2 Samuel 9:1

Mephibosheth was only five years old when his father, Jonathan, and his grandfather, Saul, were killed on the battlefield. Imagine, if you will, life as he had known it up to that point. The privilege and potential of his pampered life as a prince could not have prepared him for the hard life he would face in the future. Mephibosheth enjoyed life in the palace as a young prince, with people waiting on him hand and foot. He enjoyed the further blessing of being raised by his godly father, Jonathan. Life was good for this young boy.

But there were dark clouds gathering in his world. In one moment, through no fault of his own, his entire life would change forever. His father, Jonathan, anticipated that things were going to change. That’s why he persuaded David to make an agreement to look out for his descendants after he was gone. He made David promise to show kindness to his family forever. David willingly made that promise, and he kept it.

When news hit the palace that Saul and Jonathan had been killed on the battlefield, the nurse who was caring for Mephibosheth, in her frenzied state, dropped the little boy on the ground. As a result, he was crippled for life.

Perhaps you’ve gone through hardships in your childhood. Maybe something traumatic has happened to you. Maybe you’ve been dropped in life, so to speak. Maybe you wonder if anything good can come out of your life. The answer is a resounding yes—thanks to God’s love, compassion, and mercy.

Mephibosheth was dropped in life, but God intervened. In fact, God specializes in taking people who have been dropped and picking them up again. God prompted David to ask, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1 NLT).

And when David learned of Mephibosheth’s plight, he showed extraordinary kindness to the man who had suffered so much. Not only did David make sure that Mephibosheth was cared for and provided for, but he also made sure that his life had purpose and meaning. He gave Mephibosheth the land and servants of his grandfather. He invited Mephibosheth to dine at his table. Through David, God picked up the one who had been dropped. And if you’ve been dropped, God will do the same for you.

This story from 2 Samuel 9 offers comfort to those in need. But it also presents a challenge and opportunity to God’s people. Though we aren’t bound by a promise as David was, we have a responsibility to reach out to people in need. We have the opportunity to be instruments of God’s love and compassion to lift those who have been dropped.

God bless you

LIFE AFTER DEATH

“Can the dead live again? If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle, and I would eagerly await the release of death.” —Job 14:14

The book of Job tells the story of a righteous, faithful man who suffers terribly because Satan wants to prove that his righteousness and faithfulness will last only as long as God’s obvious blessings in his life. With God’s permission, Satan takes away Job’s beloved children, his wealth and possessions, and his good health.

Job remains righteous and faithful through his suffering, even when his wife and friends turn on him. Yet he has no idea why any of these tragedies are befalling him. So, he begins a frank dialogue with God. And from the depths of his misery, he says, “Can the dead live again? If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle, and I would eagerly await the release of death” (Job 14:14 NLT).

Can the dead live again?

Few questions are more important—or more consequential. In fact, everyone should ask it (or some variation of it). “What’s going to happen to me when I die? What is there beyond this place called earth?”

Before I became a Christian, I thought about death on a semi-regular basis. It isn’t that I was obsessed with the subject or that I wanted to die. My belief at the time was that once people stopped living, they simply ceased to exist. I wasn’t certain that there was a place called Heaven. And I hoped that there wasn’t a place called Hell. My conclusion was that when you’re gone, you’re gone. It’s all over with.

Needless to say, I’ve never been so glad to be wrong about something in my life.

We all know that death is coming, but that is far from the end of the story. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life” (John 5:24 NLT).

Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, and because He rose from the dead three days later, we as Christians have the hope that when we die, we will go immediately into the presence of God and into a wonderful place called Heaven.

That’s why the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is one of the most important biblical truths there is. The resurrection of Christ from the dead, next to the crucifixion itself, is the most significant event in church history. It isn’t a peripheral issue; it’s foundational. It’s bedrock. It’s the bottom line.

If you’ve placed your faith in Christ, you can rejoice and look forward to what awaits you beyond this life. But you also have a responsibility to share the Good News with others. Everyone who calls on Jesus will receive eternal life. But, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “How can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14 NLT).

God bless you!

SET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER
“About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: ‘This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’” —2 Kings 20:1

I can tell you that when life comes to an end, there are three things that really matter: faith, family, and friends.

Of number one importance is your faith, your relationship with God. I’ve heard countless people say with deep regret, “I wish I’d spent more time walking closely with God. I wish I’d made more time for spiritual things.” They recognize that they will have to stand before God Almighty and answer for the choices they made and the things they prioritized. How sad it is when people realize that they have squandered their lives.

The second-most important priority is your family. It’s a hard thing to get to the end of your life and say, “I wish I’d been a better father” or “I wish I’d been a better mother.” You won’t be concerned about how much money you made or how many possessions you ended up with. You won’t care whether you spent enough time at the office or whether you got enough promotions. Neither your financial portfolio nor your résumé will transfer to Heaven. What matters is the people you leave behind—your spouse, kids, siblings. What matters is whether you fulfilled your God-given responsibilities to them. Whether you gave them the choicest morsels of your time and attention. Whether you live in a way that will inspire, encourage, and guide them when you’re gone.

The third-most important priority is friends. Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (NLT). The Lord surrounds us with people not just so they can keep us company. Every relationship gives us an opportunity to lift someone up, to be a source of motivation and encouragement, to help that person reach their God-given potential. Realizing at the end of life that we squandered such a precious opportunity is a bitter pill to swallow.

When King Hezekiah was close to death, the Prophet Isaiah told him, “Set your affairs in order” (2 Kings 20:1 NLT). In other words, prioritize the things that are truly important. His words should resonate with all of God’s people. The reality is that none of us knows for sure how much longer we have to live. But we know what our priorities must be. And as long as we draw breath, we have the opportunity to live those priorities, to pour ourselves into our faith, family, and friends. To make a genuine difference in those areas so that we have no regrets when we find ourselves in King Hezekiah’s position.

Are your affairs in order today?

God bless you!

THE MASTER OF THE UNLIKELY

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish. He said, ‘I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and LORD, you heard me. . . . But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.’ Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.” —Jonah 2:1–2, 9–10

The turning point that led to the greatest spiritual revival in human history occurred in the intestines of a giant fish. If that’s not unusual enough for you, consider that the person the Lord called to lead the revival in Nineveh was a rabid anti-Ninevite.

Before the people of Nineveh could change their hearts, Jonah had to change his. And that’s just what he did after he was thrown from a ship in the middle of a storm and swallowed by an enormous sea creature.

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, ‘I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me. . . . But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.’ Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach” (Jonah 2:1–2, 9–10 NLT).

One of the most remarkable aspects of the story of Nineveh’s revival is that there’s nothing predictable about it. God engineered the redemption of the entire city in the most unlikely way and using the most unlikely person imaginable.

Yet we could also say that God works through unlikely people and circumstances so often in Scripture that it’s almost laughable to call anyone or anything unlikely. Jonah prayed from the belly of a fish. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prayed from inside a fiery furnace. Daniel prayed from a lion’s den. And God answered all of them.

Revival can start anywhere, with anyone. Keep that in mind if you’re in deep waters right now. No matter where you are, no matter what’s going on in your life, no matter how distant you may feel from God, you can pray. And God will hear.

He will ignite the embers of your heart. He will show you the path He has prepared for you. He will revitalize your relationship with Him. No matter how unlikely it may seem, He will use you to accomplish something bigger than you can imagine.

Jonah was repentant and regurgitated. Believing and barfed. Righteous and ralphed. Bleached and beached. Victorious and vomited.

Who’s to say your story won’t be just as unlikely—and just as compelling?

God bless you!

CIRCUMSTANTIALLY SPEAKING

“Then Gideon said to God, ‘If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.’” —Judges 6:36–37

God is multilingual. He can speak to us in any number of ways. He speaks to us through His Word, certainly. He speaks to us through prayer. He speaks to us through our conscience. The Bible records several instances in which God spoke to people through dreams and visions.

But God also speaks through circumstances. Although I’m not one to base major life decisions on circumstances alone, there have been times when I’ve sensed that something was the will of God and then had my sense confirmed when things fell into place circumstantially. At other times, circumstances have made it obvious that God was saying no to a particular path or request.

A classic example of God’s speaking through circumstances can be found in His calling of Gideon to rescue the people of Israel. Gideon was an extremely humble man, almost to a fault. He didn’t see himself as a rescuer, and he had a hard time wrapping his head around the notion that God saw him in such a light.

So, he humbly put God to the test. “Then Gideon said to God, ‘If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised’” (Judges 6:36–37 NLT).

God graciously did as Gideon asked. He intervened ever so slightly in the process of condensation to confirm Gideon’s calling. He spoke through circumstances.

In the story of Jonah, God spoke to His prophet through circumstances that involved, among other things, a storm at sea (see Jonah 1:4), a giant fish (see 1:17), a leafy plant (see 4:6), and a hungry worm (see 4:7).

God still speaks to us through circumstances today. Often, those circumstances involve other people. There have been times when I was listening to someone preach or talking with a friend and suddenly realized that what the person was saying addressed a situation that I was going through—even though the person was completely unaware of my circumstances. It made me realize that God Himself was speaking to me through those individuals.

Maybe God has spoken to you through a pastor or a Christian friend. Or perhaps He has been speaking to you through other circumstances. Listen carefully and remember that God will never contradict His Word.

God bless you!

JOB`S BLESSINGS
JOB 42:12-17 NIV12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch.15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.17 And so he died, old and full of years.
Many people talk about Job's trials, but few tell the end of his story. This is the same view many have of their own life.
They are looking only at their present circumstances, and not looking forward to what the Lord has planned for their future. JAMES 5:11 NIV11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. The devil tried to steal Job's faith and destroy him (Job 2:7). But God protected Job and brought about blessing in his life.
After the devil's attack, Job not only regained all he previously lost, but gained twice as much as before. Because of God's blessing,
Job lived a long and healthy life with great wealth.
Job had the most beautiful daughters in the land, and you can't have beautiful daughters without a beautiful wife.
Job also had the privilege of knowing God better than He did before. This is what the Lord has in mind for you, too. Blessings!
It is not God's plan for you to remain oppressed in any situation of pain or lack. Never forget that God is working, and things will change. Keep your focus on God! Trust in Him! Rejoice in hope, expecting a better future.
HEBREWS 6:12 NIV12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. We have to continue in faith. We can't be moved by the present (temporary) circumstances, no matter how difficult they may seem.
SAY THIS: Job was greatly blessed of God. That's God's plan for me, too! 
God bless you!

DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED

“Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.’ (This was another name for En-gedi.) Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help.” —2 Chronicles 20:2–4

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, faced a desperate dilemma. His enemies greatly outnumbered him. To make matters worse, his enemies had joined forces with other enemies of Israel and were coming to destroy him. This was a worst-case scenario—a seemingly hopeless situation. There was no earthly way that Jehoshaphat could challenge this approaching army with the forces he had. He was far too outnumbered.

So, what did Jehoshaphat do? The Bible says that he “begged the LORD for guidance” (2 Chronicles 20:3 NLT). He prayed, “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (verse 12 NLT).

The Lord told Jehoshaphat, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . . Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” (verses 15, 17 NLT).

Jehoshaphat and his army went out to meet their enemies, but they put their worship team out front. The Bible says that when they began to sing and praise the Lord, the enemy started fighting among themselves and destroyed each other.

There are more than a few takeaways from this story.

One is that God stands ready to help His people survive and ultimately thrive in even the worst circumstances.

Maybe you’re facing what seems like an impossible situation right now. You may not be able to see a way out. But God can. Call on Him. Then stand still and see what He will do.

A second takeaway is that Jehoshaphat enjoyed an advantage that we don’t always have. He knew what was coming his way. And even though it appeared to be an absolute worst-case scenario, he knew how to pray.

We don’t always know what the future holds. We don’t know if something potentially devastating is heading our way. But God does. And He knows how to prepare us for it. That’s why it’s essential that we stay in constant contact with Him. That we yield ourselves to His will. That we follow His leading.

Psalm 145:18 says, “The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth” (NLT). Call on Him.

God bless you!