.....battles

During the time of King Jehoshaphat [approximately 860 B.C]., several armies began to invade the land of Judah. Being greatly outnumbered, Jehoshaphat called for a nation-wide time of fasting and prayer to seek guidance from God: "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" 2 Chronicles 20:12.

The king needed to formulate a plan. He was the appointed leader and responsible for the safety of his people. King Jehoshaphat's "plan" was to place the fate of the entire nation into the hands of God. Many see such action as weakness, but it took great strength to recognize he was powerless, even greater strength to know where to turn and Whom to trust!

God answered King Jehoshaphat's cry for help through a Levite named Jahaziel.

"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel...'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."'" 2 Chronicles 20:14-15

Knowing that our battles belong to God is great comfort when we face trials which appear much bigger than anything we can handle. But there is more to the story! God didn't tell Jehoshaphat to just sit in his tent while the battle was won. Rather, He gave specific instructions to confidently stand before the enemy.

"Tomorrow march down against them...But you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:16-17

It's inevitable that our life will contain such battles - many are facing overwhelming battles right now. And as with everything we encounter on our Christian walk, there is purpose in battles. Many times the purpose of our battle is to understand a fundamental truth: "Apart from Me you can do nothing" John 15:5. Reaching the end of our own strength is the real battle; turning to God and trusting Him for every step of our walk, and actually walking with Him every step of the way, is the real victory!

As we trust Him with all our heart and seek counsel in His presence, He will tell us where to march and where to stand. Let's boldly follow our Lord each and every day and refuse to become discouraged. He is in absolute control...for these ARE God's battles!

- steve troxel

.....hope

We are encouraged to continue in prayer and minister to the needs of others, to stand in the gap for those who need protection against enemy attacks, and to stand as long as necessary. This requires perseverance and complete trust in God. It can be difficult when we continue to "stand" but God appears slow to respond. We can also become extremely discouraged when we think we understand HOW He should respond.

Lazarus had become sick to the point of death, and his sisters were standing in the gap by ministering to his needs. They even sent word to Jesus in hopes He would help.

"When He heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.' Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days."John 11:4-6

Jesus did not immediately respond; and during this delay, Lazarus died. Yet this tragedy was for God's glory. When Jesus finally arrived, He raised Lazarus from the dead and taught an important message: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies" John 11:25.

Lazarus and his sisters would have preferred a healing during the early stage of the sickness, but that was not God's plan. His plan included much more than the temporary suffering of one family. His plan was to teach many people, through many generations, to this very day and beyond, that He was the sure way to eternal life. His plan was perfect, with perfect timing.

We are all given opportunities to serve by meeting the needs of others. But as we serve, we must NEVER take our eyes off our Heavenly Father. Our "job" is to stand in the gap and minister however His Spirit directs. 

It is never our responsibility to "fix" the people or circumstances we have been called to serve. When we faithfully serve, we will find that God actually uses our ministry effort to work on issues in our own life, issues like trust; "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge" Psalm 62:8. Our lack of trust is revealed when we give up, when we despair and lose hope.

When our area of service seems out of control - when the need seems to outpace our ability to serve and God seems slow to respond - we must continue to trust Him with all our heart. These times of testing will draw us closer to God as we abandon ALL into His sovereign care. He alone knows His plan, and His plan remains perfect. Let's continue to trust Him and serve as He directs. Let's continue with our eyes fixed on God, and never lose hope!

- steve troxel

.....gap

In the final years of the southern kingdom of Israel, God warned that He was going to use the king of Babylon to discipline the people unless they returned to Him with a heart of worship. But the people failed to repent, and the invasion of Jerusalem began.

Ezekiel was a prophet to those taken captive during the Babylonian attacks. Through Ezekiel, God explained why He was allowing Jerusalem to be destroyed. He said the people had rebelled and drifted far, but His anger seemed mostly directed at the leaders who failed to point the way: 

"They do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean" Ezekiel 22:26, God said the prophets were covering up the sins of the priests; "They whitewash their deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations" Ezekiel 22:28.

God searched but found no one who was willing to lead the people into a life of pure and holy worship - a life which recognized God as Lord of ALL and prayed without ceasing for His guidance and protection.

I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger Ezekiel 22:30-31

As in the days of Ezekiel, spiritual walls are crumbling all around us. We have whitewashed sin in the name of tolerance, and we have lost our passion for holiness and worship in the busyness of materialism and worldly advancement. And tragically, many of our churches are filled with compromise and fail to point the way to truth. The result is many lives filled with spiritual gaps - areas vulnerable to grave attack by the enemy.

We must repair our own walls through  daily drawing nearer to the presence of God, by studying His word, prayers and supplications also working with Him, while also look for "gaps" in the walls of those around us and commit to standing firm with prayer, encouragement, and time, until strength returns and walls are repaired. We must be ones who live without compromise and faithfully point the way to true worship and a life which glorifies God in all we do.

Let's continue to stand in the gap for as long as it takes the relationship of a friend to be restored, the strength of a pastor to be renewed, the heart of a loved one to be transformed, or the life of a prodigal child to return home. God's words through Ezekiel are harsh, but God didn't give up on the people until the people gave up on each other. It's not too late if we continue to point the way; there is still hope if we will stand firm in the gap.

- adapted

.....practice

Paul's letter to the Philippians is one hundred and four verses filled with encouragement and joy. Paul didn't write this letter to explain deep theology or to deal with any particular sin. Rather, his purpose was to express love for his friends and to encourage them and us to live a joy-filled Christian life. In chapter one, Paul encourages us that God's work in us WILL continue; "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" 1:6. In chapter two, we are encouraged to "do everything without complaining or arguing" 2:14.

In chapter three, Paul inspires us to be forward-looking in our walk with Christ; "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal" 3:13-14. Finally, in chapter four, Paul writes some of my personal favorites; "Rejoice in the Lord always!" 4:4; "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" 4:12; and, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" 4:13.

But buried within these wonderful words of encouragement is probably the most valuable and applicable message for our daily journey with Christ.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you Philippians 4:9

Paul had the gospel message living in him and shining through him every moment of every day. But he never would have learned "the secret" of rejoicing and being content in all situations if he had just learned "about" the gospel. Although it's wise, and very useful, to study and even memorize God's Word, His peace and contentment - His joy - will never be real until we actually apply His Word to our life on a daily basis: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" James 1:22.

We must NEVER be just hearers of the Word who become puffed up with Bible knowledge. We must never preach Biblical truths yet fail to apply these truths in our own life and draw ever closer to our Heavenly Father. Jesus accused many Jews of making this same mistake: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life" John 5:39-40.

Let's never stop with just loving His Word or His "activities." Let's love HIM with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And let's express our love by obediently following the leading of His Spirit, as we take what we daily receive and put it into practice.

- adapted

.....all

You will search for the Lord your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with "ALL" your heart and "ALL" your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

The Bible nowhere allows partial devotion to the Lord. Instead it says:  Love the Lord your God with "all" your heart, with "all" your soul, and with "all" your strength....  What does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in "all" His ways...  and to worship the Lord your God with "all" your heart and "all" your soul.

Return to the Lord your God and obey Him with "all" your heart...   Remain faithful to Him, and serve Him with "all" your heart and "all" your soul...   You know with "all" your heart and "all" your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed.

If you are returning to the LORD with "all" your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to the Lord, and worship only Him. Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with "all" your heart, considering the great things He has done for you.

     Trust in the Lord with "all" your heart... 

     Think about Him in "all" your ways... 

     Believe with "all" your heart.

     Not "some" of your heart

     Not "a part" of your heart

     Not "a majority" of your heart 

     But with "ALL" of your heart

.....sermon

Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him 1 Kings 18:21

My grandfather would tuck his Bible under his arm and walk through the small town where he lived to Sunday School and church services. For the last five years of his life, he could not hear, and he never heard a word of any sermon.  Yet, he continued to go.

One day I asked him,"Grampa, why do you keep on going to Sabbath School and church when you can't hear a word that the preacher says?"

"I keep on going." he replied, "even if I don't hear, because I want people to know whose side I'm on."

Do people know whose side you're on?  Do you want them to know?  It's time for Christians to take a stand for Christ.  We must be different from the world if we are to help it. Until we make it clear who it is we serve, no one will ever pay attention to us.  Make sure the world knows whose side you're on.

"...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:15

.....understanding

 It was the late 1940s. Eastern Airline's chairman, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, had a problem.  Customers were complaining because the airline was mishandling luggage far too often. When nothing else seemed to work, he decided to take drastic action.

Rickenbacker called a special meeting of the management personnel in Miami.  Eastern's management flew to Miami and was told their baggage would be delivered to their hotel rooms. Instead, Rickenbacker had the luggage stored overnight.

It was summer, the weather was hot and humid and the hotel had no air-conditioning. The various managers showed up to the meeting the next morning unshaven, teeth unbrushed and wearing dirty clothes.

There was no sign of the baggage all that day. But that night Rickenbacker had it delivered, at 3:00 a.m., with a great pounding on all the doors.

He opened the next morning's session by saying, "Now you know how the customer feels when you mishandle his luggage." He knew his team would be ineffective until his people empathized with their customers!

The same is true with us. Until we understand another's problem, we will never be effective in business, in relationships or most importantly, in ministry to others. The deepest understanding occurs when we actually sense what the other person is feeling. When husbands and wives, parents and children, friends, colleagues, and associates will take time to feel what the other is feeling, something wonderful will happen.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

"Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort which we ourselves received from God." 2 Cor. 1:4

.....blessing

 "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Psalm 103:1

A young man came up to me at the end of a sermon and shook my hand, "I can understand 'God bless me', but how can I 'Bless God'?"  What does it mean when we sing, 'Bless the Lord, O My Soul?'"

I asked him, "Do you have any children?" 

"Yes," he replied, "I have a boy who is six and a girl who is five." 

I asked, "At Christmas time, do they ever give you a present?" 

"Sure," he replied. 

"Where do they get the money," I asked. 

"Well, I give it to them," he chuckled.

"That's exactly it," I said, "You pay for the Christmas presents your children give you.  You're so glad when they're talking about it with their mother.  They're whispering secrets. They're excited that they are going to surprise daddy.  Then on Christmas morning. they come and say, 'Daddy, here is a blessing for you.'  It ultimately came from you, but it was a blessing because it came back with their love." 

When we sing, "Bless the Lord, O My Soul", we are praising Him with the blessings He puts in our lives. 

- donald grey barnhouse  

.....listening

 “When you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, sacrifice it in such as way that it will be accepted on your behalf,” Leviticus 22:29

One day, while paying my electric bill, I decided to thank the company for the service they were providing me. “Thanks for my electricity,” I said, “It’s really quite a bargain for all the benefits I receive.” “What!” said the lady behind the counter, in amazement, “That’s the first time anyone has ever thanked us. All I ever hear around here are complaints.” 

It’s a challenge to grow up with a thankful heart. From an early age we are exposed to a culture of complainers, gripers, grumblers, and critics. We complain about the weather, traffic, food, work, neighbors, bills, the government, church, and life in general. Worst of all, we are ungrateful toward God. It would be hard to count the number of complaints and criticisms that are daily spoken before Him and against Him. How can we, who have received so much, be thankful for so little? 

One of the great indicators of true spirituality is not measured by how many times we go to church, how big our Bibles are, or how long we pray, but it is measured by the level of gratitude that is in our hearts. When we are ungrateful, the heart of God is saddened, the Holy Spirit is grieved, and the joy of the Lord is quenched within us. 

Being thankful sweetens you,

       Grumbling sours you;

Being thankful brings sunshine to your countenance,

       Being ungrateful casts a shadow;

Being thankful brings a melody to your words,

       Criticism makes you sound like a clanging cymbal;

Being thankful keeps your feet on the pathway of celebration,

       Complaint takes you down the road of despair. 

When our hearts are filled with gratefulness we may feel like our thanksgiving is inadequate, but we can be certain that our thanksgiving is always appropriate. It will gladden the heart of God to hear your heartfelt thanks being freely offered to Him today. 

- roy lessin

.....seasons

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly, so, he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. 

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. 

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. 

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no, it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. 

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. 

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to follow. 

"And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9

.....others

 "Far be it from me that I should sin... by failing to pray for you." 1 Samuel 12:23

“I don’t know where I’d be today if my mom hadn’t prayed for me. I don’t think I’d even be alive,” my friend Rahim related. He was a former addict who’d spent time in prison for drug distribution. Over coffee one day, he shared the difference his mother’s prayers had made in his life. “Even when I disappointed her so badly, she kept loving me with her prayers. I was in a lot of trouble, but if she hadn’t prayed for me, I know it would have been worse.”

The Old Testament account of Samuel tells another story of someone who showed faithfulness to God and others through prayer. On the day Saul was coronated as king at Gilgal, the prophet Samuel was also disappointed. The people had placed their faith and hope for their future in a monarchy instead of in God.

As the people gathered, God displayed His displeasure through an unseasonable storm that terrified them and made them regret their decision 1 Samuel 12:16-18. When they pleaded with Samuel to intercede for them, he replied, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” v. 23.

Samuel’s response reminds us that praying for others is a way of keeping God first in our hearts and lives. When we love others by praying for them, we open the door to witness what only He can do. And we never want to miss that.

- james banks

.....whole

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9

Not too long ago, I knelt beside my son’s bed to pray with him. He seemed unusually pensive, especially for a Little League baseball player and an active young athlete. When I finished our prayer, he began to weep softly. He turned his head toward the wall. As most parents know, when you ask, “What’s wrong?” you often get an answer that sounds like a muffled, “Nothing.”

I probed a little deeper, and finally he said, “Well, Dad, do you remember a few weeks ago when those boys got in trouble at the church for marking all over the walls in the Royal Ambassador room?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Well, Dad, it wasn’t just them,” he sobbed. “It was me, too!”

Suddenly, I felt as if I were experiencing a holy moment. My mind swirled with thoughts of all the times I, too, had come face to face with my own wrong. As an earthly father, I had an opportunity to take my son in my arms and say: “You are forgiven. I forgive you, and I love you.”

And with tears coursing down my own cheeks, I lifted my head to my Heavenly Father and said: “Father, do you know all those things that get others in trouble? Well, it’s not just them, Lord. It’s me, too. Forgive me, Father.”

- dean register

.....ground

Do not come any closer, God said. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground Exodus 3:5

I was reading about Moses the other day and his adventures between leaving Egypt and going back to confront Pharaoh to free the Israelites.  Seemingly out of nowhere, God appears in a burning bush and talks to Moses.

"There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight - why the bush does not burn up.'  When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!' And Moses said, 'Here I am.'  'Do not come any closer,' God said. 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:2-5

Most of us are pretty unlikely to encounter God in a burning bush during the course of our lives. So what does this story have to do with everyday life?  To begin with, there doesn’t appear to be anything special about this bush, other than God was in it. It could have been any one of a thousand bushes that God had available. It need not have been a bush, He could have moved a mountain or made an animal talk.

The thing that made the bush special was God’s presence. When God entered the bush it became holy. When we allow God into our lives, He lives in us. He lives in all believers. That's what makes believers holy. Not holy because we’re special or perfect, holy only because of His presence in us.

The next time a believer does something to irritate you, stop and think twice before getting angry and pointing accusing fingers. Before you gossip about a fellow Christian or attack them, stop and think. The object of your attack and anger is on holy ground!!! 

Rejoice in the fact that the "ordinary", including you and me, can be made holy!!!

 

.....interruptions

Paul became so annoyed that he said, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' Acts 16:18

Manuel was late for church and stuck at a red light. As he waited impatiently, his daughter noticed a stranded driver trying to fix a tire. “Daddy, you’re good at changing tires,” she said. “You should help her.” Manuel was now going to be very late, but he knew this was a divine appointment. He stopped to help, even inviting the other driver to church.

Paul and Silas faced an interruption in Acts 16. They’d encountered a slave girl with an evil spirit who kept shouting v. 17. For several days, Paul ignored her. Finally he became too annoyed and said to the demon, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her” v. 18.

Paul had made a conscious choice to serve others even when it was inconvenient. When he freed the girl, it only became more complicated. Her owners lost the means to make money from her, so “they seized Paul and Silas dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities” v. 19. Then they were beaten and thrown into prison without a trial vv. 22-24.

Serving Christ comes at a cost. Jesus told His disciples they were to take up their cross and follow Him Matthew 10:38. This is the way of Jesus: We’ll be interrupted and sometimes suffer, like our Savior. He invites us to accept those unexpected interruptions. How will you respond when they come?

- matthew lucas

.....avoiding

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things Colossians 3:2

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the very first man in recorded history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. But within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed his record by 1.4 seconds. So, on August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race.

As they moved into the final lap, Landy held the lead and it looked as if he would win. But as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, “Where is Bannister?” As he turned to look, Bannister, just behind him, took the lead and won the race. Landy later told a reporter, “If I hadn’t looked back, I would have won!”

As Christians, one of the most important things we can do is to focus on what really matters - God. But the problem is that very often, we become so consumed with the minutia of daily life that we allow it to take our eyes off of the ultimate prize. This causes us to become distracted, often losing ground in our walk with Christ.

But if we keep our eyes on Jesus and don’t allow sin and distractions of the world to pull us aside Hebrews 12:1, we’ll maintain our heaven-focused perspective on the challenges when they arise. So don’t let the small stuff take your attention away from what really matters. Keep your head forward and your eyes on the cross, and you’re guaranteed victory at the finish line!

- kim quiggle

.....word

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord Colossians 3:16

One day, the late actor Walter Matthau read a book entitled "The Secret in the Daisy". It had a profound impact on him, turning him “from a miserable, unhappy wretch to a joy-full, glad-to-be-alive human.” He searched out the author, Carol Grace, fell in love with her, and married her!  

There’s a better book, and it can change anyone’s life when they fall in love with its Author, the God of Grace. When we take God’s Word seriously and let it become part of every stage in life, we become complete and mature as God’s people. We’ll not be perfect until heaven, but we can grow proficient and productive in our walk with Him. As we read His Word, we fall in love with Him who gave it to us, and as our personal relationship grows, we grow.

Allow God’s Word to be your guide so your walk with Him will be complete. Fall in love with the Bible and its divine Author, and you’ll live in abundant daily grace this year.

- david jeremiah

.....heard

"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many sources about this man, and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.... But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  Acts 9:13,15

How easy it is to judge another person on the basis of what we have "heard" about him - perhaps second or third hand.  We form an opinion.  Our minds are closed toward him, and he does not have a chance. 

Perhaps it has been a misjudgment of our own.  How would we feel toward this person if we took the time to get to know them? 

What if he or she is one of God's chosen instruments?  What if Ananias had not gone to Paul because of what he had heard?

“Consider carefully what you hear,” Jesus continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more." Mark 4:24 

.....fat

I sought for a man among them who would build up a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one Ezekiel 22:30

Whenever God has a job to do and a gap to be filled, he always starts by choosing and calling an individual. While men use methods, God's methods are men and women.

To start a nation to use as his special witness on earth, God chose and called Abraham to be the father of ancient Israel. When God wanted to lead this young nation out of slavery in Egypt, he chose and called Moses. And so it was with Joseph, Samuel, Esther, David, John the Baptist, Mary, Peter, Paul and scores of other lesser known individuals.

Today, God is still urgently looking for people who are willing to stand in the gap to help save lost souls from a lost and hopeless eternity and to do his work here on earth. The kind of people God is looking for, and chooses, and calls are F-A-T people. 

That is: Faithful... Available... Teachable...

F - Faithful

You don't have to be a Peter, Paul or a John the Baptist for God to use you. Think of the twelve disciples. What a motley crew - rugged fishermen, a despised tax collector, etc.  God still uses ordinary people like them - people who daily trust their life and way to God, and with his help, seek to serve and obey him faithfully in all the circumstances of life.

A - Available

Years ago I told God that I was too afraid to be a witness for him.  "However, God," I prayed, "if you want to use me to share the gospel with others, I'm available... but you will have to do it through me because I'm too scared."  The result?  Today, God is using our small organizations to reach thousands around the world with the gospel and Christian message every day. This is because I made - and make myself available every day - for God to use. He will do the same for you if you daily make yourself available to Him to use.

T - Teachable

Another reason God used the disciples was, not only because they were faithful and available, but also because they were teachable. They spent three years with the Master Teacher because they had a lot to learn about the Christian way, especially because it was brand new to them and everyone else in their day.

We also need to be teachable and learn God's ways more clearly by studying and knowing what his Word teaches and by applying the principles we find in our everyday living. So, if you want God to use you to be a part of what he is doing in your world today, I urge you to pray and tell God you are available - and renew that prayer and commitment every day

- david langerfed

.....knock

When Jesus died on the cross, "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" Matthew 27:51. The curtain had, up to that point, formed a barrier for the Most Holy Place in the temple where God resided. The tearing of the curtain was a clear demonstration that anyone who believes in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin can now enter the presence of God; "We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus" Hebrews 10:19.

Not since Adam has man had such access to the presence of God. We no longer need a priest with a specific sacrifice, and we need not pray a specific prayer...but there IS a condition. The Most Holy Place of the presence of God can only be entered by those who come by faith in Jesus Christ. If we desire the presence of God, we must first open the door of our heart.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 Here is contained the great mystery of God's plan for man. He desires a people who recognize their need, hear His voice, and open the door to invite Him in. He then promises to enter and "set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" 2 Corinthians 1:22. This is His sovereign, majestic, and glorious plan.

God's Word never indicates that Jesus will crash through the door of our heart; He is never pictured as huffing and puffing to blow the door down. And He certainly NEVER sneaks in through a side window! He simply and patiently stands at the door and knocks - He says, "I am here. Won't you invite Me in?"

Opening the door involves an understanding of who Jesus is, as related to our need for forgiveness, and an act of submission which releases control of our life. We may hear His voice through something someone says or something we read - we may "hear" Him knocking as we sit in silence - but when we hear, we must be willing to open the door; "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" Hebrews 3:15.

Many people will hear the knock of Jesus, but few will open the door. Most will spend a lifetime evaluating the knock and analyzing the One who is knocking; some will even push a little food onto the front porch; but few will actually recognize their need and open the door. Let's invite Him in today and commune with Him EVERY day for all eternity. Today, let's answer His gentle knock.

- steve troxel

.....place

One of the amazingly consistent themes through all of God's Word is His desire to fellowship with His children. When God created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, Adam was allowed to enjoy God's presence. God brought Adam the animals to name Genesis 2:19 and actually walked with Adam during the day. However, this fellowship was broken and man was cast out of God's presence when Adam sinned by eating the forbidden fruit.

Many years later, God formed the nation of Israel to be a people fully devoted to Him. When God led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, He told Moses to construct a holy place for His presence to reside. God called this the Most Holy Place and instructed that it be separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a curtain.

"The Lord said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.'" Leviticus 16:2

The presence of God resided in the Most Holy Place, behind a curtain, and could only be entered by the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. The High Priest would enter the Most Holy Place with the blood of a goat as a sacrifice for the sins of the people Leviticus 16:15.

God loved us so much, and so greatly desired a lasting and intimate fellowship, that He gave His Son to be the final sacrifice for our sins: "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" Hebrews 9:12.

When Jesus died on the cross, "the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" Matthew 27:51. His sacrifice provided a way for us to enter the Most Holy Place, into the presence of God, at any moment; "We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus" Hebrews 10:19.

God is calling us to reach out and draw near to His presence through faith in the sacrifice of His Son. The Creator of the Universe is knocking at the door; "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me" Revelation 3:20. Our Heavenly Father is calling us to an eternity of fellowship. Let's open the door and enter His presence today. Let's step forward with confidence, and boldly enter the Most Holy Place. 

- steve troxel

.....know

There is a true story about a pilot who was flying a fighter jet in bad weather and was about to make his instrument approach to an airport. The air traffic controller called and asked how much fuel he had. -- “Plenty,” he said.

“Well,” the controller said, "We’ve got a little problem.  There’s a young pilot who is not instrument rated.  He’s lost in the clouds, and we were wondering if you could intercept him and lead him back to the airport."

“Sure,” the pilot responded.  He found the lost plane and pulled up beside it.  He called on the radio and told the pilot to look out to his left. When the pilot of this small plane saw the powerful jet, he burst into tears of relief.  As far as he was concerned, his life was about over. He would soon run out of fuel and crash.

“Don’t worry,” the test pilot said. “Everything’s going to be OK. I’m going to pull in front of you several hundred yards.  Do everything I do.  When I turn, I’ll turn gently.  All you have to do is do exactly what I do.”

So carefully the leader and the follower turned toward the airport and slowly descended.  When they finally broke through the clouds at 500 feet, the frightened pilot saw the most beautiful sight.  There in front of him was the runway, and he was perfectly set up to land.  What a blessing that the young pilot had someone nearby that he could look to!

There's a story in the Bible where an ancient king of Judah must have felt that same sense of relief.  Jehoshaphat's kingdom was being threatened by the armies of Ammon, Moab, "and others" 2 Chronicles 20:1.  In fact, those armies were so large and so strong, Judah didn't stand a chance of surviving an assault.  

There seemed to be nothing Jehoshaphat could do about it, so he turned to God.  Eventually, God rescued the people of Judah by causing the armies of the enemy to turn on one another.  But it is the prayer of Jehoshaphat that I think is so valuable.  In fact, I think this may become my favorite verse in the Bible:..

"For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." 2 Chronicles 20:12

Is there a problem you're facing in your life that just seems overwhelming? Pray along with Jehoshaphat -- "God, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you!"  Do you have a difficult decision to make and you don't know which course to take?  "God, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you!"  Are you suffering the attacks of enemies, those who would seek to do you harm?  "God, I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you!"  Pray it today and pray it often.

- alan smith

.....cheer

Marie Curling shares the following lesson. "Whenever I'm disappointed with my lot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in his school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. 

On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he shouted, and then said those words that remain a lesson to me: 'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.'"

Whatever God has called you to do today - even if it's just to "clap and cheer" - do it with all your heart, to the glory of God.  "Whatever you are called to do, do it with all your heart." Colossians 3:23 

- david langerfed

.....ways

Think about Him in all your ways and He will guide you on the right paths. Proverbs 3:6

One time Robert spoke to the students of Bryan College in Tennessee about God's guidance over matters large and small in our lives. Afterward, he was bombarded with questions. Another speaker had suggested that God establishes certain parameters for our lives, but He doesn't involve Himself in specifics, that He doesn't specifically know or ordain our steps. 

But God's guidance is detailed, daily, personal, unfailing, and preplanned, as Psalm 139:16 says: "All my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began."  If He has planned all my day, I should acknowledge Him in all my ways. That means developing the habit of deliberately pausing to ask God's will before making a purchase, giving an answer, writing a letter, making a decision, or taking an action. Acknowledge Him as Lord of that matter.

This was Nehemiah's habit, as we see in chapter 2 of his book: "Then the king asked me, 'What is your request?' So I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king." In the royal palace in Susa that day, no one noticed the slight pause in the conversation. But during that strategic second of silence, Nehemiah shot an arrow of prayer heavenward and consulted God, quietly asking: "Lord, give me wisdom and grant me favor!" 

Strategic pauses like that throughout the day would save us from many mistakes.

.....all

Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you 1 Samuel 12:24 HCSB

"Above All - With All"   

What a slogan for life!  This verse comes at the close of one of the greatest speeches in recorded history, the farewell message of Samuel, who was bowing out after a lifetime as Israel's leader. His farewell address is the whole of 1 Samuel 12, and at one point he even called down thunder and rain from heaven - talk about visuals! - warning the people that everything depended on their serving God with "all their hearts".

Someone once said that "partial obedience is total disobedience". Too many of us have an unspoken idea that the stresses of life justify a little fudging of the rules. Life is hard, so we deserve a break - a little sinning here and there provides relief from the pressures we bear.

But little sins can cause big problems. After all, germs are little things, yet deadly. A spark is a little thing, but it can consume a forest. The Bible warns about the little foxes that spoil the vines, and Paul wrote that a little yeast leavens the whole lump

.

On the other hand, obedience in little things is a big thing!!! 

Is there a little sin in your heart that needs to be confessed and corrected? Some seemingly small area of obedience that should be embraced? "Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you."

.....back

You have cast all my sins behind Your back Isaiah 38:17

Daudi has a friend who sleeps fitfully, tormented by memories of what he did during the Vietnam War. Another friend of his, struggles with forgiving himself for betraying his marriage, ruining his home, and destroying his career.

How do we forgive ourselves for moments in the past we can't change?

We must grasp vividly in our thoughts how the Lord throws all of our sins behind His back. I've found it helpful to use biblical imagery as "movie clips for the mind". For example, visualize approaching Christ with a foul-smelling sack containing all your rotten and decayed sins. He glances at the bag, takes it, and heaves it behind His back, saying, "There now, it's gone."

If the devil later tempts you toward guilt and shame, just replay that scene, quoting Isaiah 38:17: "You have thrown all of my sins behind Your back."  If you need to strengthen the image, add Micah 7:19, where the Lord tosses our sins into the depths of the sea.

If you need even greater imagery, picture the sea as filled with Christ's blood and quote 1 John 1 :7: "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." Never run back to recover the sack and start rummaging through all the filth again. If it's behind His back, it should be behind yours too.

.....asking

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer Psalm 6:9

When Patricia's husband, Dan, was diagnosed with cancer, she couldn't find the "right" way to ask God to heal him. In her limited view, other people in the world had such serious problems - war, famine, poverty, natural disasters. Then one day, during their morning prayer time, she heard her husband humbly ask, "Dear Lord, please heal my disease."

It was such a simple, but heartfelt plea that it reminded her to stop complicating every prayer request, because God perfectly hears our righteous cries for help. As David simply asked, "Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love" Psalm 5:4.

That's what David declared during a time of spiritual confusion and despair. His exact situation isn't explained in this psalm. His honest pleas, however, show a deep desire for godly help and restoration. "I am worn out from my groaning," he wrote v. 6.

David didn't let his own limits, including sin, stop him from going to God with his need. Thus, even before God answered, David was able to rejoice, "the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer" vv. 8-9.

Despite our own confusion and uncertainty, God hears and accepts the honest pleas of His children. He's ready to hear us, especially when we need Him most. 

.....battle

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always 1 Chronicles 16:11

Not long ago I met up with a group of friends. As I listened to the conversation, it seemed like everyone in the room was facing some significant battle. Two of us had parents fighting cancer, one had a child with an eating disorder, another friend was experiencing chronic pain and another was facing major surgery. It seemed a lot for a bunch of people in their thirties and forties.

First Chronicles 16 recounts a key moment in Israel's history when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the City of David (Jerusalem). Samuel tells us it happened in a moment of peace between battles 2 Samuel 7:1. 

When the ark was in place, symbolizing God's presence, David led the people in a song 1 Chronicles 16:8-36. Together the nation sang of God's wonder-working power, His promise-keeping ways, and His past protection vv. 12-22. "Look to the LORD and his strength," they cried out; "seek his face always" v. 11. They'd need to, because more battles were coming.

"Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face." 

That's not bad advice to follow when illness, family concerns, and other battles confront us, because we haven't been left to fight in our own waning energies. God is present; God is strong; God has looked after us in the past and He will do so again!

Our God will get us through. 

- david langerfed

.....save

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief 1 Timothy 1:15

The Christian Herald once ran a story about London's Crystal Palace where, on October 7, 1857, Charles Spurgeon preached to 23,654 people. According to the paper, Spurgeon visited the hall the day before, fearing his voice wouldn't carry to all corners. Standing on stage, he quoted 1 Timothy 1:15.

Satisfied with the acoustics, Spurgeon left the building, unaware that a poor workman, battling depression, had been huddling behind one of the statues trying to pray. Suddenly, a voice boomed into his ears: "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

From that moment, the man was converted to Christ.

At the beginning of church history, God deliberately transformed the angriest anti-Christian zealot on earth, Saul of Tarsus, as an example of His power to save anyone and everyone. "For that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe" v. 16

If you've given up on yourself or your loved one, don't! Jesus came to save the chief of sinners - the worst of the worst - and that's a statement deserving all acceptance.

- david langerfed

.....grief

No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping Ezra 3:13

After only a few art lessons, ten-year-old Joel decided to try his hand at painting a flower. By looking at a color photograph of a Rose of Sharon, Joel was able to paint a beautiful mixture of blue, purple, red, green and white. This made the flower, which had been photographed on the day Joel's aunt died, seem to come to life. 

To the family, his painting symbolized a bittersweet mixture of feelings. While it provided a lasting reminder of the loss they had suffered, it also carried a celebration of Joel's newly discovered artistic gift. The painting gave joy in the midst of grief.

When the people ofJudah returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon, they too had a bittersweet experience. As they began rebuilding Solomon's temple, many in the crowd sang songs of praise. At the same time, some older people, who had seen the beauty of the original temple that had been destroyed by war, wept aloud. We are told that "The people could not distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping" Ezra 3:13.

Grieving can be like that. While there is sadness in looking back, it also includes a promise of joy in trusting God for the future. Even in a devastating loss, we have this hope: The Lord provides joy in the midst of grief.

- david langerfed 

.....marathon

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Nehemiah 8:8

When the sun came up on the first day of the seventh month in 444 8C, Ezra started reading the law of Moses (the first five books of the Bible). Standing on a platform in front of the people in Jerusalem, he read it straight through for the next six hours. 

Men, women, and children had gathered at the entrance to the city known as the Water Gate to observe the Festival of Trumpets - one of the feasts prescribed for them by God. As they listened, four reactions stand out...

   1. They stood up in reverence for the Book of the Law Nehemiah 8:5 

   2. They praised God by lifting their hands and saying "Amen." v. 6

   3. They bowed down in humble worship v. 6. 

   4. They listened carefully as the Scriptures were both read and explained v. 8. 

What an amazing day as the book that "the Lord had commanded for Israel" v. 1 was read aloud inside Jerusalem's newly rebuilt walls!

Ezra's marathon reading session can remind us that God's words to us are still meant to be a source of praise, worship, and learning. When we open the Bible and learn more about Christ, let's praise God, worship Him, and seek to discover what He is saying to us now. 

- dave branon

.....peace

We are all striving toward the "successful" life, though our definitions of success may often differ. Many of us place our effort in obtaining more and better things, reaching a higher status, or building greater security. Others involve themselves in more "spiritual" endeavors with ministry activities and service projects. But the root motivation for all our effort is the same - we all are seeking a life full of peace.

Unfortunately, the world trains us to simply set and then exceed our goals without ever taking the time to examine what our heart really longs for...we long for peace! I'm certainly not opposed to goals; but we must understand that meeting every single goal, by itself, will NEVER result in peace.

The lack of peace is, first and foremost, the result of our sinful condition. When man first chose to place his desire ahead of God's perfect plan, sin entered the world and true peace became illusive; "when you eat of it you will surely die" Genesis 2:17. We will never obtain true peace through different governments, nor can we purchase or create peace by changing our surroundings. Peace begins with the forgiveness of sin through faith in Jesus and grows as we live in submission to the Holy Spirit; "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" Romans 8:6.

In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he said those who have placed their faith in Jesus now have a basic formula for a life of peace.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:4-7

Our formula for peace is: 

• Rejoice, 
• Rejoice some more, 
• Be gentle, 
• Know God is near, 
• Remove all anxiety, 
• Pray about everything with a thankful heart. 

Jesus promised that those who trust in Him will receive a peace beyond anything this world can understand: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" John 14:27.

If our lives are lacking peace, the ONLY solution is to draw nearer to God, trust Him more, and rejoice as we are guided by His Spirit. Only then will we find the "success" for which we have been striving; only then will we obtain that for which our heart longs...the true peace of God!

- steve troxel

.....overcome

God's Word contains many passages which encourage us in our struggles. Paul tells us to "press on toward the goal" Philippians 3:14, "run a good race" Galatians 5:7, and "fight the good fight" 2 Timothy 4:7. Each of these acknowledge the struggle and exhort us to keep moving forward. But there are times we become weary and even the thought of pressing, running, or fighting becomes difficult. Yet, we know we must endure - we must overcome!

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."Revelation 2:7

In the second and third chapters of Revelation, John is simply dictating the words spoken by Jesus. In these two chapters, Jesus speaks seven times about "him who overcomes." Each time there is a gift or reward for the one who is "successful" and overcomes. This is certainly good motivation for us to endure, but the question still remains: How can we overcome as our strength begins to fade?

John knew what it took to overcome. Several years earlier, he had written a letter to encourage believers to stay committed and to give the assurance of eternal life. He also specified exactly who would overcome: "Everyone born of God overcomes the world... Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" 1 John 5:4-5. Read this carefully and rejoice! Those who believe are those who will overcome!!

We must endure and overcome the world, but our faith in Jesus and NOT our strength is what allows us to endure. There are times we must run and times we must fight, times we will be called to be a mighty warrior for the Lord. But there are also times when we are terribly weak, times of great tribulation, times we must grab on to Jesus and allow HIS strength to carry us through the storm. These are times we will need to simply hold on!

When the battle seems unbearable, "Hold on to what you have - I am coming soon" Revelation 3:11. When we feel surrounded by evil and the darkness is closing in, "Hold on to the good" 1 Thessalonians 5:21. And when we become overwhelmed with doubt and fear, "Hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast" Hebrews 3:6.

When we are weary in the storm, let's take comfort in the peaceful waters ahead. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus and hold on...He will never let us go. He has given His Children a wonderful promise: as we continue to believe and trust Him with all our heart, we WILL overcome!

- steve troxel

.....examined

One of the benefits of our trials is that they allow us the opportunity to examine our life, and as it is said: the unexamined life is not worth living. If we flow through life without evaluating who we are and what we believe, we have not really lived; we have certainly not lived according to a consistent set of beliefs. This evaluation requires a boldness to explore beneath the surface of our beliefs, into our very soul! Without this boldness we may give the appearance of living, and may even fool ourselves for a number of years, but there will always be an emptiness until we look deep within and deal with what we find.

God knows every detail of our heart; "Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" Hebrews 4:13. But our Heavenly Father desires for us to know our own heart as we are being transformed; "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves" 2 Corinthians 13:5.

As we seek to understand who we are - with all our hidden motives, pride, and selfishness - we find we are somewhat difficult to understand. Without the spiritual help which God freely gives, there will be parts of our life which remain covered and dark. There may also be portions of our heart we would rather not face.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

It is foolish to think we can hide anything from God! It is equally foolish to intentionally close areas of our heart from examination when we know those areas are keeping us separated from God. What do we really believe? And are we living consistent with that belief?

We have been given God's Word as a guide, "a lamp to my feet" Psalm 119:105. And as we dig deeper into His Word, we find the same lamp which guides our steps also reveals our heart: "The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being" Proverbs 20:27. Using God's Word to truly examine our heart can be painful. It seems we strip back one layer only to expose additional layers of sin we didn't even know we had, but this process must continue without fear!

If we desire to live in His presence and bring Him glory and honor in all we do, we must determine today to know ourselves. We must know what we believe, with all our strengths and weaknesses, and know our level of resolve to follow where He leads. Let's open our heart and allow His Spirit to search and wash us with His Word. Let's follow according to a consistent belief and commit to living the examined life.

- steve troxel

.....walls

 Nehemiah lived in the days following the Israelite captivity in Babylon. The first captives had been allowed to return to Jerusalem and reconstruct the temple. However, those who returned had left the walls of the city in great disrepair. When Nehemiah heard this discouraging report, he asked permission of the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the once mighty walls.

Nehemiah's request was granted. He traveled to Jerusalem in the year 445 BC and motivated the people to rebuild the walls in record time. But Nehemiah discovered there was more broken in Jerusalem than just physical walls. It had been many years since the people truly worshipped God; spiritual walls were now in desperate need of mending.

Nehemiah knew the only way toward spiritual repair was through the Word of God. He gathered the people and they wept as Ezra read God's Word "from daybreak till noon" Nehemiah 8:3. For seven days, Ezra continued to read. On the eighth day, walls began to mend as the people "spent another quarter {of the day} in confession and worshipping the Lord" Nehemiah 9:3. True repair occurred as they recommitted their lives to following the commands of God.

"All these now bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses...and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord." Nehemiah 10:29

Our world continues to change. Nations continue to build physical walls and attack one another while showing little concern for the spiritual walls which protect from the real enemy. Years of neglect, and large scale drifting from God's path, have left our spiritual walls cracked and vulnerable. Our families are seldom led by God and our courts make laws without seeking His counsel. Attacks come from every direction and our defenses are weak!

The repair of our spiritual walls will not occur at the national level. Governments have become too large and diverse to even recognize this need. But we have the opportunity all around the world to rebuild, one individual, one family, one church, and one community at a time. We have the ability to repair the portion of wall within our circle of influence. Together, we CAN rebuild and strengthen!!

As in the time of Nehemiah, we must return to a passion for the Word of God. His Word reveals His eternal plan through faith in His Son, and provides guidance and strength for our daily walk through His Spirit. Let's become people dedicated to study and prayer, and allow each day of our lives to be led by God's Spirit. Let's make a lasting commitment to focus on the eternal and rebuild our spiritual walls.

.....provided

As a young teenage boy, David showed a deep understanding of God's strength as he prepared to fight Goliath; "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" 1 Samuel 17:37. The understanding that God was fighting the battle allowed David to confidently approach Goliath with nothing more than a sling and a few stones; "This day the Lord will hand you over to me" 1 Samuel 17:46.

After many years of being pursued by king Saul, David continued to demonstrate his belief that every victory he enjoyed came as a direct result of God's hand. The Amalekites had raided the village where David and his men were living. Under God's promise of victory, David set off with six hundred men to battle the enemy and take back their stolen possessions; but two hundred of the men were too tired to join the fight. After the victorious battle, the four hundred who fought wanted to exclude the two hundred who stayed behind; "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered" 1 Samuel 30:22. But David reminded them Who really won the battle.

"No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us."1 Samuel 30:23

David understood it would not have mattered whether four hundred or forty, or even four, had gone into battle - it would not have mattered whether the men were skilled or unskilled - the battle would have been won. The battle was won because of God's promise and His provision, not because of the men's ability.

As we see the battle approaching, we must draw even closer to our Heavenly Father. He has given us abilities which we must use, but then we must place all our trust in Him for the results. If the battle appears to be a failure, we must trust that God is in control and working toward His good and perfect plan. When God is in control, there are no failures as viewed through His eyes. And if the battle appears to be victorious, we must not allow our pride to take credit for the work God has done - for this always results in failure, regardless of our perception of victory.

God owns ALL and provides ALL. He owns our possessions, our relationships, and our ministries. He owns our abilities as well as our lack, our successes as well as our failures. As we come through our next battle (and we will!) - in fact, even in the midst of the battle - let's return the ownership and give Him all the glory. Let's never attempt to control or hold tight to what the Lord has provided.

- steve troxel