Daily Devotional

POSITIVE BELIEVING

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

If you believe you can, you can.

If you think you are beaten - you are.

If you think you dare not - you don't.

If you want to win but think you can't,

It is almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose - you've lost.

For out in the world we find that success begins with a fellow's will.

It's all in the state of mind.

Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man,

FENCES AROUND THE LAWS

You are not under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14)

In His ministry, Jesus often violated the traditional instructions surrounding the observance of the Sabbath because they were a clear distortion of God's commandment. A common practice, born out of a desire to protect a known law or principle, is to establish additional rules to keep us from breaking the laws or violating the principles. We establish fences around the laws, but within a short time the fences become laws.

FOCUS ON THE SIGNIFICANT

If any man's work remains, he shall receive a reward (1 Corinthians 3:14)

Significance is a time issue. What is forgotten in time is of little significance. What is remembered for eternity is of great significance. Paul wrote to Timothy: "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:7,8). If you want to increase your significance, focus your energies on significant activities. Those that will remain for eternity.

WHAT WE TREASURE

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19,20)

There are material goods that Jesus identifies as "treasures upon earth." And there are immaterial goods which Jesus calls "treasures in heaven." Treasures upon earth have two characteristics.

DO IT ANYWAY

While we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10)

After I had driven home the point that nobody or nothing can keep us from being what God wants us to be, one of my students gave me this nugget of truth from an unknown author.

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

WAKE UP!

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritualist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

THE LURE OF SATAN'S COUNTERFEITS

When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations (Deuteronomy 18:9)

CHOOSING TRUTH

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14)

Persons in bondage are not liberated by what I do as the pastor/counsellor, but what they do with my help. It's not what I believe that breaks the bonds; it's what they believe, confess, renounce and forgive. Notice the progressive logic of Scripture:

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

I am the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY

Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:14)

TRUSTING YOUR CHILD

I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you (2 Corinthians 7:16)

When I was 14 years old my family moved off the farm in Minnesota where I was born. But I never adjusted to our new home in Arizona. When I was only 15 my parents let me take a bus back to Minnesota to work on the farm for the summer. The following summer I drove an old car back to Minnesota by myself. The family I stayed with asked if I would like to live with them and finish high school in Minnesota. To my great joy my parents said it was okay.