.....message

Loving the truth of God is our protection against the deceptive attacks of the enemy. By knowing the truth, we can recognize the lies of "worldly wisdom," and continue along God's path without painful detours into the weeds. But we must be willing to faithfully apply the truth in all areas of our life and share the truth with others at every opportunity.

Prior to the final invasion of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, God spoke through Jeremiah to warn the people of their coming destruction and their need to repent. Needless to say, this was not a popular message and Jeremiah was not a welcomed prophet. But there were other self-proclaimed prophets who provided a much more comfortable message. These prophets made people feel good by telling them what they wanted to hear - telling them they could continue down their same path without fear. But God warned about falling into their seductive trap of false security.

"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The Lord says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.'"Jeremiah 23:16-17

The ministry of encouragement is a vital part of our Christian walk. We all face valleys and need encouragers to provide a lift. And since we know there are many others who are walking through valleys today, we should encourage in every way possible; "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today!" Hebrews 3:13.

However, in our zeal to encourage and build up, we must never compromise by presenting a message which falls short of the absolute truth. We must never present an "all is well" message if all is not well. When God's children wander from His path and plant themselves amongst the weeds, there must be someone willing to "gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance" 2 Timothy 2:25.

Our task as an encourager is not always to make others comfortable or to deliver a pleasing message; we are not called to tell people "what their itching ears want to hear" 2 Timothy 4:3. Rather, our task is to "speak the truth in love" Ephesians 4:15. We never help when we make someone comfortable with sin.

The absolute best encouragement we can give is to help someone have a right relationship with their Heavenly Father through a surrendered faith in Jesus Christ. God's truth can and will set us free John 8:32! 

Let's encourage in every way possible, but let's make certain we always encourage with a message of truth!

- steve troxel

.....death

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." John 12:24-26.

God is all about your "death" so that His success can be realized through you! This is why the Church is having such little impact — there are too many believers who have not yet "died to their old nature" so that Christ can live fully through them. When believers come to the end of themselves, they will "lose their lives" to Him and live through the power of the Holy Spirit and begin to see the reality of a living gospel that impacts lives, workplaces, cities and nations. 

Oswald Chambers wrote, "Much of modern Christian enterprise is ‘Ishmael.’ Born not of God, but of an inordinate desire to do God’s will in our own way – the one thing our Lord never did." 

The psalmist describes what it means to live in our own strength: "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves" Ps 127:1-2

How does one die so that Christ can be our all and all? It usually takes a crisis of significant proportions for most people to relinquish the control of their lives. It means we come to the end of ourselves and our striving to control the events in our lives and we finally come to the place where we can say, "Lord, I surrender. Please take full control of my life." 

Have you come to this place with God in your life?  Let go and let God make you a success His way!!

- os hillman 

.....protection

 "the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight" 1 Corinthians 3:19, the enemy uses the world's wisdom as a very effective weapon. This false wisdom has permeated our society to the point where it is difficult, if not impossible, to avoid being attacked. Yet the attacks can be so subtle we often do not even realize we are hit until we have wandered far from God's path.

Since this is such a powerful and deceptive weapon, we need the ability to recognize the attack and protect against harm. Fortunately, God has provided a sure way for both.

"Do not withhold Your mercy from me, O Lord; may Your love and Your truth always protect me." Psalm 40:11

In the financial world, there is always concern about counterfeit. Ever since the first currency, there have been those who make and distribute unauthorized money. The absolute best way to recognize these counterfeits is to know the fine details of the real thing. When the truth is fully known, the counterfeit is easily revealed.

God has given an unchanging standard against which all others must be judged. His standard is His Word - and His Word is TRUTH! Jesus taught a message of truth for His entire earthly ministry. Nearly one hundred times in the gospels Jesus began His message with, "I tell you the truth."

Jesus even referred to Himself as the complete manifestation of truth; "I am the way, the truth, and the life" John 14:6. And if properly applied, the truth will never be a burden: "If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" John 8:31-32.

Paul said in the last days people will be deceived and perish, "because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" 2 Thessalonians 2:10. Our protection is not simply learning about the truth; rather, it requires a love of the truth - a passionate desire to know and apply the truth of His Word. We must allow His truth to become entwined in ALL we do, say, and think.

Let's pray that God would reveal His truth more and more every day. Let's commit to learning His truths and applying them as the absolute standard in our life. The enemy will continue to attack with his weapons of deception, but as we remain in Christ and firmly hold to His Word we can be assured we have the protection of truth.

- steve troxel

......layers

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

Love comes in layers. The intimate love of a married couple is very exclusive. The love we have for our children is intense. We have friends we love on a different level, and there’s a special bond of love that unites followers of Christ. And yet, even with all those love layers extending from us, there is still enough love within us - thanks to the Holy Spirit! - to love the whole world.

That’s why the Bible tells us:

to entertain strangers Hebrews 13:2, 

to have pity on the poor Proverbs 19:17, 

to bear one another’s burdens Galatians 6:2, 

to visit orphans and widows in their distress James 1:27, 

to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us Luke 6:27, 

to support the weak Acts 20:35, 

to “be kindly affectionate to one another” Romans 12:10.

Love is demonstrated not just through words, but through actions. Be intentional in loving others, and God will reward you for your faithful obedience to His command.

"True love is an act of the will — a conscious decision to do what is best for the other person instead of ourselves." Billy Graham 

......unshakeable

 1. God has a purpose for your life

It is no accident that you are alive today. You are here by God's choosing. You were born at this time in History to fulfill His purpose for this generation. He has given you all the light you need to know His will, and He has given you all the grace you need to do His will. If you are committed to His will, there is nothing that can keep you from it.

2. God is in charge

God has not retreated somewhere in the universe and gone into hiding. He is today where He has always been - on His throne. There is no king or ruler that has more authority than God; there is no political figure that has more influence than God; there is no nation that has more control than God. No one can out-think Him or out-smart Him. He is God Almighty. If you have placed your life in His hands, He is in charge of your life and all you do.

3. God is sovereign

Nothing can stop His plan or frustrate His purposes. God is not worried about what will happen or what He will be able to do. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He sees the future and He is already there. He knows where He is leading your life and He knows how to get you there. If you follow Him, you will find that He makes no mistakes.

4. God's Word is dependable

All Scripture is God's written Word. It is 100% reliable because God is 100% infallible. The Scriptures have endured the test of time.  Men have tried to destroy them but they still remain.  Men have tried to dispute them but they have had the final say in every argument.  Men have tried to refute them but they stand over each man's grave as a living testimony to all that is true, righteous, and eternal. If you obey His Word, you will never have regrets.

5. You belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken

Throughout history kings have been overthrown, leaders have fallen from power, kingdoms have been conquered, armies have been defeated, riches have been depleted, and fortresses have toppled over. It is only in the Kingdom of God that anyone can find true rest and security. No rebellion can break down its gates, no weapon can penetrate its borders, and no warrior can come against its King.

6. You are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ

When Jesus came, He came and shed His blood to save you, cleanse you, forgive you, and deliver you from the power of the devil. His blood has bought you, and the enemy has no claim upon your life. You are His and His alone. He is your Redeemer, and He has taken full responsibility for your life since the day you gave your heart to Him. Because of His blood, your future is secure, your inheritance is guaranteed, and your destiny is certain.

7. God has given you all that you need to serve Him

The grace of God covers you, the presence of God is in you, the angels of God are with you, the arms of God are around you, the gifts of God are for you, and the power of God is upon you. He has not abandoned you or left you in this world as an orphan, alone and forsaken. God is for you, the Holy Spirit is in you, Jesus is with you, and all the heavenly hosts are on your side.

8. Jesus Christ is coming back

The outcome of all things has already been determined. Jesus is the winner. He is without rival in the universe. No evil, no outlaw, no terrorist or anarchist will be standing in the end. Every enemy of God will be defeated, every false prophet will be exposed, every evil spirit will be chained, and every accusing tongue will be silenced. The final chapter in the Book of Life has already been written, and there will be no need for rewrites or revisions. All that remains is for its writings to be fulfilled. One day soon, you will forever be with the Lord.

9. God loves you and will not fail you

You are God's child and He is your Father. He loves and cares for you more than you will ever know. All that He is, He is for you. The depth of His love for you cannot be measured, and its height cannot be scaled. He wants you to trust Him completely because He will not fail you. When you go through trials, He will keep you from defeat, and when you face temptations He will keep you from shame. When the enemy comes in like a flood, He will raise up a standard against Him.

10. Jesus Christ will never let you go

He is with you always. No one can pluck you out of His hand, so you need not fear any evil. He is daily praying for you, and His prayers are being answered. He is preparing a place for you in His Father's house, and He will come for you. If you ever question His love for you, just look at His hands. Jesus will never ask you to do something without His grace. In the dark times He will be your light. In troubled times He will be your security. In uncertain times He will be your guidance. In fearful times He will be your peace. You will never face a day without Him; you will never take a step without His presence walking beside you; you will never face a need without His supply; you will never face a circumstance that He can't bring you through.

- roy lessin

......wisdom

There are many influences which compete for our attention, many different inputs which seek to shape our view of the world and, in turn, direct how we make decisions about our life. There is also an enemy who greatly desires to win this competition. The enemy is battling for the hearts of men, women, and children, and he knows if he can win the battle of the mind, the heart will remain his.

Many of the battle lines are easy to recognize. For example, the direct assault from various forms of sexual temptation and drugs claim numerous victims every day. But there are many other plans of the enemy which place hidden mine fields along the path and destroy those who are not careful where they step. Perhaps the best disguised and most effective weapon of the enemy is that of worldly wisdom.

Since the Garden of Eden, the enemy has propagated a set of values which sound wise and appealing, but which consistently lead down a path of destruction. His "wisdom" attempts to define happiness and success - tells us we must achieve, push, and obtain in order to succeed and be fulfilled. But if we will come into the presence of God, we will see the world's wisdom for what it truly is...foolishness.

"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."1 Corinthians 3:18-19

The values of the world are continually promoted in every type of media and from every possible class of people - even sometimes from those who profess faith in Jesus. But these values are lies! They are weapons of the enemy used to pull us away from God...they are foolishness!! And when we choose to live as a captive to world values, we have chosen to live outside of God's perfect plan; "Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" James 4:4.

God's plan will always require faith - always require us to be "sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1. This often means we must have the faith and courage to stand alone. Though the world may label us a "fool," we must continue (and continue some more) to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5.

We are being called to become a fool to the world, but this is not an easy task. We have been well educated in the world system, and now must reshape the way we think; "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Romans 12:2. This renewal process will take determined, consistent, and intentional prayer and the study of His Word, but God will provide sufficient strength for the process. Let's refuse to live in a cloud of deception. Let's make an uncompromising commitment to God and break free from the wisdom of the world.

- steve troxel

.....grace

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Almost every reward or compensation in this life is reckoned on the basis of works -  final scores in sports, annual sales numbers, academic grades, and promotions in the business world. Occasionally, we encounter grace in the secular world, but not nearly as often as being rewarded for works.

Grace was not unknown in the Old Testament.  It is mentioned 18 times — but it became a major theme in the New Testament (119 mentions). Thus, it was a surprising idea to both Jews and Gentiles alike when Paul, the apostle of grace, taught that we are not saved by our works, but by grace alone... “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” Romans 3:28. 

What a relief! "For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. If our salvation were based on our works, who could be saved?

If you fall, fail, or forget today, thank God for His grace. Confess your failing and continue to walk in His unmerited favor 1 John 1:9.

- david jeremiah 

......His

Ahithophel was a highly regarded advisor to King David; "Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God" 2 Samuel 16:23. But when David's son, Absalom, rebelled and sought to become the new king, Ahithophel joined with Absalom. Ahithophel had reason to be angry with David; he was the grandfather of Bathsheba and had watched as David violated his granddaughter and then had her husband killed 2 Samuel 11.

In his anger, Ahithophel advised Absalom how to defeat David, but God had other plans; "The Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom" 2 Samuel 17:14. When Absalom refused to follow his advice, Ahithophel took the rejection very personally.

"When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself."2 Samuel 17:23

Ahithophel had once been close to God and was used for many years to give Godly direction. But at some point, Ahithophel began to take too much ownership of his ministry. He determined his self-worth based on the results of his ministry and began to use his gifts for his own selfish purpose. When his message was no longer trusted, and his ministry was not going in the direction he desired, his self-worth fell and he found he had no reason to continue.

God has called each of us to be His messengers and has given us a ministry of sharing the Gospel; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" 2 Corinthians 5:20. Some are called to preach a message of hope to a large congregation. Others have been called to instruct a small group, or to encourage just one...but we have all been called!

We are never responsible for the outcome of a ministry, only for the obedience of faithfully delivering His message. God remains in complete control of any and all results: "My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" Isaiah 55:11. As we walk in obedience, His purpose (not ours!) will be accomplished.

We must never lose sight of the One who called us to serve. Our worth is in being a Child of God, not in the praises we receive or in what we can accomplish. We must continue to be obedient messengers who proclaim the Good News, teach the truth, and encourage at every opportunity. And when we become discouraged, we must check our focus and always remember...this is His message and His ministry. 

- steve troxel

.....reaping

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Galatians 6:7

If you plant forgiveness, You will reap reconciliation. 

If you plant honesty, You will reap trust. 

If you plant encouragement, You will reap godliness.

If you plant humility, You will reap greatness. 

If you plant self-control, You will perseverance.

If you plant perseverance, You will reap victory. 

If you plant patience, You will reap faith.  

If you plant faith, You will reap miracles. 

But... 

If you plant dishonesty, You will reap distrust. 

If you plant selfishness, You will reap loneliness. 

If you plant pride, You will reap destruction. 

If you plant envy, You will reap trouble. 

If you plant laziness, You will reap stagnation. 

If you plant bitterness, You will reap isolation. 

If you plant sin, You will reap guilt. 

So be careful what you plant now, It will determine what you will reap tomorrow.

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." 2 Peter 1:5-7 

......failure

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.... 1 Samuel 22:2

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive? I am the next king of Israel." Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him.

Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army - and what an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" 1 Chron. 11:10.

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom -- if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

.....holiness

During the week before He was crucified, Jesus was asked many questions by the religious leaders. However, their questions were never asked for the purpose of education or to satisfy their true curiosity, they were asked with the intent of finding fault; "The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Him in His words" Matthew 22:15. Jesus answered each of their questions, but then He warned the crowds about the hypocrisy of those who were trying to trap Him.

"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues."Matthew 23:5-6

The phylactery was a small box containing scripture, worn on the forehead or arm to fulfill the command of God as given through Moses; "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads" Deuteronomy 11:18.

The Pharisees strictly followed God's commands, but they also followed many self-created rules and "enhanced" God's commands to make themselves feel more righteous. Jesus never rebuked them for following rules, but He greatly questioned the motivation of their heart. The Pharisees had forgotten that the purpose of everything they did was to worship God and glorify His name. Instead, they began to focus on their outward appearance as they sought to look holy and obtain the approval of others; "You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence" Matthew 23:25.

This problem was definitely not new. Over 700 years earlier, God's children had lost their heart for worship: "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men" Isaiah 29:13.

Unfortunately, this problem is still with us today. We've created a list of rules and religious activities which somehow define our relationship with God. We define our "Godliness" by our church attendance, our acts of service, or even our time spent reading His Word. But all these good and worthwhile actions do not define our relationship - they do not define our love. Our love is, and always has been, defined by the condition of our heart; "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7. 

All our actions simply flow as an outward expression of the condition of our heart.

EVERYTHING we do must be motivated by a desire to praise and honor our Heavenly Father. Our religious acts mean absolutely nothing if not accompanied by a heart full of love and thanksgiving. Let's become true worshipers who express our love for God in all we do and say! Let's never allow our lives to be driven by the look of holiness.

- steve troxel

......serve

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers Galations 6:10

Growing up, we all had our turn at jobs like cutting grass with that old mower that didn't cut very well, or cleaning the woodwork in the kitchen, or worse, cleaning the commode and the tub and the lavatory. 

Those little, tough jobs that we hated as kids change as we grow up. Eventually they turn into larger, tougher jobs that we still don't enjoy doing! 

But those who follow Jesus know that even the simplest, most disagreeable job can be meaningful when we do it for the Lord. As we do things out of love for Him, serving becomes a blessing whether anyone else thanks us or not.  Yes, even those little, tough jobs that nobody likes can become a blessing! 

Paul reminds us that the Lord calls us to be free — free from law and free from sin and free to serve each other in love Galatians 5:1-6. We are to lovingly serve all people, especially those with whom we share Jesus Galatians 6:10.

- paul faulkner

.....barabbas

Our daily actions reflect our priorities and values, and become, in a very real sense, the sacrifices we place on the altar. Every day we make many decisions which either draw us closer to God or lead us further away - few decisions are truly neutral.

The Jewish leaders had passed judgment on Jesus; "He is worthy of death!" Matthew 26:66. But Roman law required a sentence of death to be approved by the Roman Court. Therefore, Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, the governor of the region around Jerusalem.

Pilate was in a tough situation. He had talked with Jesus and could find nothing deserving death; "I have examined Him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against Him" Luke 23:14. But Pilate was also under great pressure to keep peace in the region, so he allowed the people of Jerusalem to make the final decision.

"Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"Matthew 27:17 Barabbas was a convicted murderer; Jesus was the Son of God. The people loved Jesus when He was feeding them or healing their sick, but when required to make a decision, the people chose Barabbas: "'What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?' Pilate asked. They all answered, 'Crucify Him!'" Matthew 27:21-22.

We take the first crucial step in our Christian walk when we believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. But as important and significant as this first step is, the purpose of this step is to then begin a lifetime journey of abiding in His presence and living a life which is "holy and pleasing to God" Romans 12:1. 

The presence of God is never found through specific prayers or religious activity; rather, the peace of His presence is found only through our moment-by-moment choice to allow Jesus to be Lord of our life and to follow wherever He leads. We must learn to choose each daily step based on what is pleasing to a loving and holy God.

Are we part of the crowd who is easily swayed, or are we willing to stand firm in our faith? Has God become a God of convenience, used only in emergencies, or is He truly LORD of our life? We all face the same decision as the people in front of Pilate: Jesus or Barabbas; the ways of God or the ways of the world; life or death? If we desire a life of closeness with God - a life given as a living sacrifice to bring Him glory and honor - then we must begin to choose wisely. 

We must boldly face the multitude of daily decisions and be determined to never choose Barabbas.

- steve troxel

.....red

One of the many delightful friendships God gave me in Atlanta was a partnership in ministry with a church member named John White. John is IT sales and is very good at what he does. But his greatest heart is for worship. 

When God called our church to begin contemporary worship, he called John to be the worship coordinator. All the years we worked together I tried to get John to accept a stipend from the church for his work, but he refused. He volunteered fifteen to twenty hours every week, coordinating every aspect of the contemporary service. And God blessed his ministry beyond words. 

Lost people came to the service off the street, and came to faith in Christ. Marriages on the road to divorce were redeemed. Drug addicts were healed. God moved in mighty power. Worship was led by the Holy Spirit. And all of us were transformed by his love and grace. 

Each week, John led the worship team in prayer before the service began. And nearly every week he included in his prayer the phrase, "Lord, please paint the dragon red." I'd never heard it before, but I have used it many times since. It means, "Lord, please show us where the enemy is at work. Show us what he is up to. And give us your wisdom and power to stand against him in your name." God honored that prayer. He still does. 

The New Testament's description of demons is another way God answers this prayer. Here is evidence, each verse describing the effects of a demon: 

"It has often thrown him into the fire or water to kill him" Mark 9:22; 

"It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him" Luke 9:39; 

"Day and night among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones" Mark 5:5; 

"The man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding" Acts 19:16; 

"My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession" Matthew 15:22; 

"The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, 'He's dead'" Mk 9:26;

Know this fact: the dragon is indeed red. Blood stained. Malicious and malignant. 

Here's the good news: the help you need is as near as a prayer!!! The "dragon-slayer" is ready to answer your prayers!!!  He will "paint the dragon red"; He will show what he's doing, what he's planning and exactly how he works - and He will slay the dragon!!!  

- james c. denison

...excuse

Charles Spurgeon once said that as Christians we should become addicted to prayer.

We know how important it is to pray. We also are excellent at finding excuses why we don't have the time. Primarily, our lives are structured around the things we consider important. When God is important enough to us, the end result will be prayer. The decision to pray is the battle. Once that decision has been made, most of the battle is over.

Common excuses to put off prayer:

1. I'm too tired. 

Being tired is really common. You can still spend time in prayer despite your weariness. If you allow weariness to keep you from prayer, you will always be kept from prayer because fatigue is part of this fast-paced life.  If you've ever fallen asleep in prayer - simply pray when you wake up.

Give God the best time of the day. Choose the time of day when you can be the most effective. 

  - David would often pray at night Ps. 63:6; 

  - Abraham got up early to pray Gen. 19:27; 

  - Religious Jews liked to pray at the ninth hour - which was 3:00 p.m. Acts 3:1; 

  - Daniel prayed at three different times each day: morning, noon, and night Dan. 6:10.

2. I can't stay focused when I pray

Pray audibly. Praying out loud helps you stay focused.  

Pace. If you get drowsy while praying, get up and move around. Pacing is deliberate walking to help you concentrate on God.

3. I'm too busy. 

You need to develop an attitude about time that is similar to the one you have about money. The more time you give God, the more time you have from God. Following the principle of sowing and reaping, God will give back what you give to Him, then He increases it. Most people are busy, but not too busy to pray.

4. I'm too dry. 

You might not feel like praying. If you waited until you felt like praying you would pray very little. Jesus told his disciples that they should always pray and not give up Luke 18:1. Should is an act of the will. Simply make yourself do it. It's a spiritual discipline. Certainly you should pray every time you feel led to pray, but for the most part, you lead yourself to prayer.

5. I'm too lazy. 

This is not something you'd like to admit. Prayer itself is not difficult. You will never run out of things to pray for. The biggest obstacle is making the decision to pray. Once you are in the place of prayer, it's not that difficult to pray. The struggle is getting yourself in that position. Getting up out of the easy chair or out of that warm bed in the morning, turning off the TV/radio/social media platform, and putting yourself in a position to pray is where most of the battle lies.

- ron auch

....attention

Solomon's divided heart - his lack of full devotion to God - eventually led to the division of the kingdom of Israel. We are then encouraged to continually draw closer to our Heavenly Father and prevent the kingdom of God within us from becoming divided in the sense of rebellion and lack of pure worship.

When we consider our closeness to God, we tend to look at our priorities and schedules. Closeness to our Heavenly Father requires a certain amount of dedicated time. We cannot expect to hear His direction if we do not spend time learning to recognize His voice and then make the effort to turn off the competing inputs so we can truly listen. And once we have set aside those times to hear God through the reading of His Word, hearing and in answer to prayer and working with Him, we are encouraged in the very strongest of terms to pay close attention to what we hear.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away Hebrews 2:1 It will do no good to make adjustments to our schedule - to give God more priority - if we do not become disciplined students of His Word. 

We can fill our time with Him in His word, good preaching and quality books, but if we do not do as the Bereans, who "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" Acts 17:11, we will be easily swayed and subject to spiritual drift. As disciplined students we must maintain an excitement for the things God has done, as well as for the promises He has made for our future through His Word.

God has given us a wonderful gift, a gift without which we could never know Him. Through the lives of many different writers, God has presented us with a love letter which calls us into fellowship through Jesus Christ...we call His letter the Bible. 

In His authoritative and essential letter, God has revealed the fullness of His character and established a set of unchanging truths. A deep belief and understanding of these truths will push aside fears, erase lingering doubts, and instill a new sense of hope.

We need not allow our kingdom to be divided; we need not drift away. The Spirit has made our hearts receptive and hungry for God's Word. We must now submit to His leading and become as the workman who "correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2:15. 

Let's give Him the total devotion of our heart as we read His word, listen, pray, and witness to others of a precious friend we have found in Him. And as we hear, let's maintain a great excitement and always pay more careful attention.

- with steve troxel's inputs

.....overlooking

 A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

I have a friend who tells a story of a lesson the Lord taught him through his wife. It seems that every time he and his wife would get in the car to travel somewhere, his wife had a strong need to direct his driving. She would tell him where to turn and when to turn, even in their own subdivision. It was such a horrible habit that it drove my friend crazy and became the source of many an argument. Finally, one day my friend concluded that the Lord was trying to teach him something through this experience. He decided he would let go of his need to be free from this correction. He began to affirm his wife and even thank her for her input. It was excruciatingly painful to do this from where he sat.

A few months passed. He let go of the entire situation and actually got to a place where it just didn't matter to him anymore. An interesting thing happened a few months later. One day his wife looked at him and said, "John, I just realized that I have been directing your driving all these years and now realize why I do that. It goes back to my childhood when I had to direct my younger brothers and sisters. I am so sorry I have been doing that."

My friend nearly fell out of his seat!

Whenever we work close to another person, whether in an office or home, small offenses can become the source of great conflict. Resentment and irritability soon follow. God brings these "offenses" into our lives to develop character qualities in us. He uses individuals in our lives to accomplish his goal of making us more Christ-like.

So the next time you complain or resist a habit or action from someone close to you, ask God if it has been placed there to develop some quality in you. Pride is the root source of the need to change another person. A man's wisdom gives him patience-to let go of little offenses. This is where spiritual maturity is seen in the day-to-day activity of life. Is there someone close to you who has some habit you really want to change? Give up that desire to the Lord. Who knows, He may even change it after you let go of the need to change it.

- david langerfeld

.....divided

Solomon was the third king of Israel, the son of David and Bathsheba. And although not the eldest son, he was chosen by David to be his successor. As David was about to die, he gave Solomon some final counsel for ruling the kingdom.

"Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go." 1 Kings 2:2-3

David knew that Solomon would influence an entire nation - influence it either toward the good...or the bad. This was an awesome responsibility which would require a deep commitment to God. Solomon initially established a God-centered kingdom; "Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David" 1 Kings 3:3. He ruled with great wisdom and spent seven years building a magnificent temple in which God would be worshipped. Yet Solomon failed to demonstrate total commitment to the One True God.

Solomon married many women from the surrounding nations and allowed these wives to turn his heart toward other gods; "His heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God" 1 Kings 11:4. God was greatly angered at Solomon's lack of commitment and rose up enemies who would eventually divide the kingdom and create civil war.

In a sense, every believer in Jesus has been given a kingdom. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you" Luke 17:21. This kingdom is established when we believe, in faith, that Jesus died for our sins; it is therefore a kingdom of "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" Romans 14:17

The kingdom we have been given is more precious than ANY other. But, as with Solomon, it is also a kingdom which must be ruled with an absolute, undivided love for the Lord, with a commitment to walking in the ways He establishes for our life and worshiping Him with the pure focus of our heart.

If we desire God's kingdom to remain firmly established and at peace in our life, then we must keep our heart fully devoted to Him and guard against the influences which seek to pull us away. Let's not become distracted by the other "gods" of this world. Let's make the necessary adjustments to our priorities and schedules which will allow us the time to continually draw closer to the one true God and prevent a divided kingdom.

- steve troxel

.....clean

God commands us to recognize our sin and tear our heart in sorrowful repentance as we cry out for His gracious and abundant forgiveness. The instant we first place our complete trust in Jesus we are born of the Spirit and released from the bondage of our sinful nature. Sin may still war within us and sometimes cause us to stumble, but it no longer has dominion and control over our lives - we have been set free!

Jesus often taught of this radical transformation in terms of our need for a clean heart.

"What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"Mark 7:20-23

Our heart pumps life into all the other parts of our body. If our heart is made clean through the forgiveness of Jesus, the rest of our life will also become clean as His life flows through us; "First clean the inside...and then the outside also will be clean" Matthew 23:26. But if our heart remains soiled by an unrepentant sinful nature, no amount of outside scrubbing and polishing will ever make us clean.

In the above passage, Jesus presented a list of "evils" for our self evaluation, as an outward test of inward cleanliness. Our lives may be free from the obvious stealing, murder, and adultery, but the rest of the list requires us to look a little deeper. Folly is the lack of good sense. Arrogance is an overbearing confidence. Slander is making false statements against someone. Envy is discontent due to another's good fortune. Lewdness is indecent language or action. Deceit means to conceal the truth. Malice means to cruelly tease, and greed is excessive desire.

A transformed believer in Jesus Christ, one who is "circumcised of the heart" Romans 2:29, should never be characterize by this type of behavior. As the Spirit of Jesus makes us into a "new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17 and begins to flow through our life, these old sins ought to slow to a trickle and eventually pass away. Though sin will never completely disappear, it no longer should define who we are. Read through the list again and reflect on how you are defined.

Is the cleansing power of Jesus flowing into all areas of our life? Or are there still areas we claim as our own? If we desire to offer our lives as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" Romans 12:1, then we must allow our sacrifice to be completely cleansed; we must place our heart more fully in His hands. Let's come before our Heavenly Father and allow the transforming and absolute forgiveness of Jesus to make us clean from within.

- steve troxel

.....goodbye

I long for the day when I don’t have to say goodbye. 

I try to live and stay in the present, but the moments always end. I love my friends and family so much that it hurts when I am away from them, and I do my best to enjoy every moment I have with them. But time with them is never enough. 

When I read Revelation 21:4, I try to imagine what it will be like when “He will wipe every tear from their (our) eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 

I try to imagine it, but I can only long for a day when I won’t have to say goodbye to my children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. I can only long for the day when I don’t hear that another friend has died, attend another funeral, or hug someone, not knowing when or if I’ll ever see them again. 

I long for the day when there will be no more goodbyes. I don’t know what that will be like because goodbyes always come. Time with the people I love always comes to an end. Time together with family is never long enough. 

Father, forgive me for being discontent with the times you allowed me to be with my family and friends. I know You have them in Your loving arms and that You are with them when I am not. Thank you for putting them in my life, for the time I have had with them, and for the times I will have with them in this life and the next. I am grateful, but I still long for the day when I don’t have to say goodbye. 

- tom norvell

......ignore

When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said Exodus 8:15

In the mid-1980s, an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in the mountains of Spain. Investigators reviewing the incident made a startling discovery. Recordings from the black box revealed that several minutes prior to impact, a computer-synthesized voice from the plane's automatic warning system told the flight crew on repeated occasions to "Pull up!" "Pull up!" 

The pilot, evidently thinking that the system was not functioning properly, switched the system off. Minutes later they plowed into the mountain, killing passengers as well as the crew.

In the ancient world, it was said that "all roads lead to Rome".  While this may have been true at that time, it is not true that all religions lead to God and Heaven. When we decide to not listen to what God says about life or deem that His Word is incorrect and make our own rules or decide for ourselves as to what qualifies one for entering God's heaven, we place ourselves above God and become a god unto ourselves.  When we do, we are on a direct course for a lost eternity, separated from God in the place that God's Word, the Bible, calls Hell.

Jesus made it very clear when he said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6   And God's Word makes it very clear that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Just as imperative as it is that pilots listen to their plane's warning system, so is it that we listen to God's "warning system" as found in His Word. 

- mike benson

.....rending

Every prophet in the Bible proclaimed a message which called the people to repentance. From Moses to John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostles, the message was consistent; "Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" Acts 3:19. 

Repentance is essential to a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father. Repentance is a condition of our heart whereby we recognize our sin and, in desperation and sorrow, turn and cry out in faith to God for help...the help of forgiveness which only comes through Jesus Christ.

"'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.'"Joel 2:12-13

In the Old Testament times it was common for someone to tear (or rend) their clothes when they were expressing great sorrow. For example, when Jacob thought that Joseph had been killed by wild animals, he "tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days" Genesis 37:34. When the Israelites were beaten when attacking the city of Ai, Joshua "tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord" Joshua 7:6.

Tearing your clothes was an outward expression of sorrow. But all through Scripture, God makes it abundantly clear that He looks deep into our heart; "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men" Isaiah 29:13. Jesus referenced this exact passage when He confronted the hypocritical worship of the Pharisees Matthew 15:7-9.

We must never even hint that repentance is determined by "right" outward behavior. Repentance is always a condition of the heart, and doing right in the eyes of God is only accomplished by allowing His Spirit to transform us into a "new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17. It is only through His power that we can ever be set on a right path of being "conformed to the likeness of His Son" Romans 8:29.

God has more grace to forgive than we can possibly imagine; but our loving Father expects - even demands - our heart. He is fully aware of the many ways we sin and fall short of His glory, but until we understand how far we have fallen and genuinely desire to change, we will never appreciate His grace in making us clean - never experience His "times of refreshing." Let's seek His forgiveness and walk in closer harmony with our Heavenly Father. Let's confess our sins and, with repentant sorrow, stand before Him today, and rend our heart.

- steve troxel

......poverty

God has blessed each of us with gifts, talents, and abilities. We are now to be good stewards by faithfully giving our blessings back to God with a pure heart. But what determines a pure heart?

When Jesus saw the widow offer her two small coins, He said she had given "out of her poverty" Mark 12:44. It required great humility to offer those coins, a true lack of self-importance. She knew her coins had no real value, but with a deep devotion for God and a strong desire to obediently serve she gave what she had. The widow offered her gift with a pure heart!

We are all called to this type of pure giving - a giving motivated by love, and "valued" by obedience. Our gifts to God may appear big or small in our eyes and in the eyes of the world, but when lovingly given in response to His leading, every gift is received as a sweet and fragrant offering.

As we give back to the Lord by ministering to the needs of others, we often perceive the results to fall far below expectations. To keep from being discouraged, we must always remember that our true offering is in our obedience and love. Our offering must never be judged by the outward appearance of how it is being used.

This truth is even more crucial when the results of ministry begin to exceed our expectations. The great danger of "success" in any ministry effort is the tendency to shift our focus to what WE have accomplished and given with OUR abilities. But again, our offering must never be judged by the outward appearance of results!

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"1 Corinthians 4:7

God deserves the glory for ALL the results. He gave us our ability as well as the opportunity to minister and give. We fall into sinful pride anytime we forget the One who has provided all; "Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?" 1 Corinthians 5:6. We must always maintain a sense of poverty as we give back and minister to the Lord. We can give nothing of real value; indeed, we are all very poor! Yet, we can continue to give our all and love Him with all our heart.

Let's give praise and glory to the Potter who continues to shape and mold us into a vessel of great beauty. Let's guard against every attempt to place a value, large or small, on what we offer our Heavenly Father. And, with a spirit of humility, let's continue to abundantly give out of our poverty.

- steve troxel

.....pure

As Jesus watched people place their offering into the temple treasury, He noticed a poor widow who put in two coins valued at less than a penny.

"Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.'"Mark 12:43-44

This passage gives us a wonderful example of faith and how God must be the Lord of our finances, but the real message actually goes much deeper. We have all been blessed in so many ways, and we are called to be good stewards, or managers, of all our blessings. As a good steward, we must present all we possess back to our Heavenly Father as an offering of love. Yes, this relates to our financial resources, but it also means we are to offer our gifts, abilities, talents, and time back to God through service and ministry to others. 

God created us (the complete package of who we are) for a purpose. And though we may need to spend good quality time with God to fully understand our purpose, we can be absolutely sure that God has NOT blessed us so we can advance our own selfish agenda!

Every one of our blessings, no matter how small, are given so we can bless God in return. We often hold back from ministry opportunities because we feel our "offering" is insignificant. We feel inadequate to serve or unworthy to make a true contribution to the work of God's Kingdom, but God is never concerned with the magnitude of a gift. He is, and always has been, concerned and blessed by the condition of our heart: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" 1 Samuel 15:22. How we give is much more important than what we give.

God does not need our money, time, ability, or anything we accomplish or produce. But He loves us dearly and desires to receive the complete love and devotion which is given with our offering. Jesus was blessed by a widow who gave from her heart, even though the actual gift carried very little earthly value.

If we want our service or ministry to have significance in the eyes of God, we must focus on the One to whom we are giving rather than on the value of the gift in the eyes of man. With our eyes focused, we must then give with all the love in our heart. If our heart is pure in the giving, God will receive our offering as a true blessing. There are no worthless or insignificant gifts when the gift is given from a pure heart. 

- steve troxel

......before

You’re never more effective than when you’re on your knees!

Before you act on a risky decision . . . PRAY!

Before you make a life-altering move . . . PRAY!

Before you have that tense conversation . . . PRAY!

You won’t regret it. I never have. I never do. 

I regret only when I didn’t spend more time in prayer.

When faced with a daunting situation, it’s tempting to ignore it or to manipulate it for the outcome we want. But that isn’t God’s way! That’s why I’ve always loved the model we have in Nehemiah. For decades, his story has consistently encouraged me toward godward faithfulness and godly character.

You’ll recall Nehemiah was the Persian king’s cupbearer in Susa when Hanani told him Jerusalem’s walls were ruined and its gates were burned. Nehemiah 1:4 follows, “When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.” Time and again, that was Nehemiah’s response. When he faced a snarling difficulty, he didn’t immediately flee or fight.

No . . . he kneeled.

Prayer made him wait for God’s timing, quieted his heart for God’s direction, cleared his vision for God’s purpose, and activated his faith for decisive action.

Prayer will do the same for you.

- charles swindoll

......loved

God loved us long before we ever knew Him, and loved us far more than we deserved; "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. Our Heavenly Father sent His Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins "that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. And He sent His Spirit to comfort, guide, and strengthen us all the rest of our days.

God's love has created a debt we can never fully repay, but it's a debt of love we now honor by loving others; "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another" Romans 13:8. As we reach out to those around us, we are actually reaching up and loving our Heavenly Father; "He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people" Hebrews 6:10. We know we should love one another, but what is the proper expression of our love?

Jesus had gathered with His disciples for what would be their last meal together. While they were eating in the upper room, Jesus "showed them the full extent of His love" John 13:1.

"He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him."John 13:4-5

In this, His clear demonstration of love, the Creator of the Universe lowered Himself to the position of a common house servant and washed the feet of His disciples. His example of love was completely void of pride or selfish motives. There was no agenda in His actions other than to pour out pure love. Only moments later Jesus told His disciples; "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34.

Jesus was able to love with true humility and self-sacrifice because He was absolutely secure in His Heavenly relationship; "Jesus knew He had come from God and was returning to God" John 13:3. Jesus knew who He was and where He was going; His self-esteem was independent of feedback from the world, independent of any appreciation He may have received in return. Jesus was sent to love, so He loved!

We are now sent to love with this same servant's heart - a heart that simply considers the needs of others and then reaches out to "take care of My sheep" John 21:16. Let's secure our Heavenly relationship through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and then live each day with a humble heart that only His security allows. Let's love our Heavenly Father as we reach out to the world and love as Jesus loved.

- steve troxel