“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).
After the Israelites left Egypt, God promised them that they would establish their borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines and from the desert to the River. God said he would drive away their enemies. God had just demonstrated His power by sending plagues upon the Egyptians. He provided food for them that fell from the sky.
But when Moses sent some spies into the land God promised them, it seems that all the wonders God performed was forgotten. God had promised them victory, but all the spies saw were giant men that would surely kill them. There were only two of the ten spies, Caleb and Joshua, who believed that God would help them conquer these giants.
The people let fear overcome their faith in God, and because of that God said they could not enter the Promise land. Instead they wandered around in the desert until that generation died. Joshua and Caleb would be the ones that entered 40 years later.
In our lives, giants can squelch our faith. These giants can take the form of health issues, financial woes, family problems, personal problems, and fear. Instead of concentrating on our great God, we have a tendency to focus on the worst. Moses told the people when they said that they did not want to go face the giants these words, “Do not be terrified, do not be afraid of them. The Lord you God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt…………There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place” (Deut. 1:29,30 NIV). The Lord is waiting to carry you so that you can meet your giant head on with faith knowing that He will help you. Our God made the universe and threw the stars in place. He can easily pick you up and give you the strength to face your giant with courage and reassurance that with Him all things work out for good. Trust Him to be with you and don’t doubt.
Dear Lord,
All of us have some kind of giant we are facing. Please help us to trust you to carry us when we feel we can’t make it on our own. Give us faith to believe that you can stop our giants from squelching our faith in you. Thank you for your strength.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sword of the Spirit, by Ann Elaine Broughton
“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome….” (Nehemiah 4:14 NIV).
Nehemiah was a great leader. The Jews had been held captive in Babylonia. Some of the Jews had made their way back to Judah and were discouraged that the walls around Jerusalem were in shambles. Without walls the city was open to their enemies. Nehemiah had a great task in front of him. He had to unite everyone to help rebuild the walls and gates. It would take a lot of hard work and cooperation. They worked with all their heart. While they were building, their enemies started to insult them and threaten them. Nehemiah had to encourage everyone. He told them that God was on their side and that they had to continue to rebuild the walls. Half of the men held spears and the other half built the wall. They carried a weapon at all times. The wall was built in record time, 52 days, due to the fact that they worked together and trusted God.
We can take a lesson from Nehemiah. Our enemy is slightly different.
“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith . . .” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). The devil is out to destroy you and uses any means possible to do it. The key words in this verse are “standing firm in the faith”. Just as the men who had to hold spears to hold back their enemies, we to have a sword. It is the sword of the Spirit, the Bible. The devil would love for you not to read it. He makes you busy, so busy that you don’t have time to read it or ask God to help you see what valuable lesson you need to learn from it. Don’t listen to Satan. Take time every day to read the Bible so that you can hold your sword firmly against Satan. The words of the Bible will penetrate your soul and give you strength when you need it. It is your best defense against that roaring lion.
Dear Lord,
Help us to be faithful in reading your word. It is God-breathed and holds in it everything we need to live a life that is pleasing to you. Help us to cherish your words in our hearts so that when the devil tempts us we can pull our sword out and conquer him.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Nehemiah was a great leader. The Jews had been held captive in Babylonia. Some of the Jews had made their way back to Judah and were discouraged that the walls around Jerusalem were in shambles. Without walls the city was open to their enemies. Nehemiah had a great task in front of him. He had to unite everyone to help rebuild the walls and gates. It would take a lot of hard work and cooperation. They worked with all their heart. While they were building, their enemies started to insult them and threaten them. Nehemiah had to encourage everyone. He told them that God was on their side and that they had to continue to rebuild the walls. Half of the men held spears and the other half built the wall. They carried a weapon at all times. The wall was built in record time, 52 days, due to the fact that they worked together and trusted God.
We can take a lesson from Nehemiah. Our enemy is slightly different.
“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith . . .” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). The devil is out to destroy you and uses any means possible to do it. The key words in this verse are “standing firm in the faith”. Just as the men who had to hold spears to hold back their enemies, we to have a sword. It is the sword of the Spirit, the Bible. The devil would love for you not to read it. He makes you busy, so busy that you don’t have time to read it or ask God to help you see what valuable lesson you need to learn from it. Don’t listen to Satan. Take time every day to read the Bible so that you can hold your sword firmly against Satan. The words of the Bible will penetrate your soul and give you strength when you need it. It is your best defense against that roaring lion.
Dear Lord,
Help us to be faithful in reading your word. It is God-breathed and holds in it everything we need to live a life that is pleasing to you. Help us to cherish your words in our hearts so that when the devil tempts us we can pull our sword out and conquer him.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Ruth, A Woman of Excellence by Ann Elaine Broughton
“And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11 NIV).
This is what Boaz told Ruth after she had gleaned in his fields in order to find food. You see Ruth was a woman of excellence. Let us look at her attributes so that we can learn from this remarkable woman. She was a Moabite who had married a Jew who had come to her country due to a famine. Her husband and father-in-law had died and her mother-in-law decided to go back to Judah. She told Ruth that she could stay in her own country, but Ruth insisted that she go with her mother-in-law. She said, “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16 NIV). You see Ruth was very loyal. Are you loyal to your friends? When they ask you to pray for them, do you? Do your friends know that you will be there for them no matter what? If you say you will do something for them, do you do it?
Ruth was a hard worker and didn’t complain. She worked in the fields of Boaz, gleaning for barley that was dropped on the ground. Boaz’ servant told him, “She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter” (Ruth 2:7 NIV). She gave what she gleaned to her mother-in-law. Her hard work did not go unnoticed. Boaz told her to sit with his servant girls and then glean with them. Plus, he had told the men not to touch her, so she was protected. He also told her to get a drink whenever she liked. Boaz fell in love with her because she was a woman who worked hard and had a reputation of being a woman of noble character. He later married her. Her name is in the genealogy of Jesus.
So can others see that you are a hard worker in whatever you do? Do you do it without complaining? Are you generous to others who are in need? There is a reason why the book of Ruth is in the Bible. There are only two books in the Bible named for women: Ruth and Esther. God saw in Ruth something that was very special. Can He see those attributes in you? This week take a look at yourself and ask yourself if you are loyal and a hard worker who is generous? Take time to pray for those who are dear to you, loved ones, and friends alike.
Dear Lord,
Help us as we strive to have noble characters. Help us to work hard without complaining so that we can inspire others to do the same. Help us to be loyal to all the people we love and to give unselfishly when a need arises. Help us to be more like you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
This is what Boaz told Ruth after she had gleaned in his fields in order to find food. You see Ruth was a woman of excellence. Let us look at her attributes so that we can learn from this remarkable woman. She was a Moabite who had married a Jew who had come to her country due to a famine. Her husband and father-in-law had died and her mother-in-law decided to go back to Judah. She told Ruth that she could stay in her own country, but Ruth insisted that she go with her mother-in-law. She said, “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16 NIV). You see Ruth was very loyal. Are you loyal to your friends? When they ask you to pray for them, do you? Do your friends know that you will be there for them no matter what? If you say you will do something for them, do you do it?
Ruth was a hard worker and didn’t complain. She worked in the fields of Boaz, gleaning for barley that was dropped on the ground. Boaz’ servant told him, “She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter” (Ruth 2:7 NIV). She gave what she gleaned to her mother-in-law. Her hard work did not go unnoticed. Boaz told her to sit with his servant girls and then glean with them. Plus, he had told the men not to touch her, so she was protected. He also told her to get a drink whenever she liked. Boaz fell in love with her because she was a woman who worked hard and had a reputation of being a woman of noble character. He later married her. Her name is in the genealogy of Jesus.
So can others see that you are a hard worker in whatever you do? Do you do it without complaining? Are you generous to others who are in need? There is a reason why the book of Ruth is in the Bible. There are only two books in the Bible named for women: Ruth and Esther. God saw in Ruth something that was very special. Can He see those attributes in you? This week take a look at yourself and ask yourself if you are loyal and a hard worker who is generous? Take time to pray for those who are dear to you, loved ones, and friends alike.
Dear Lord,
Help us as we strive to have noble characters. Help us to work hard without complaining so that we can inspire others to do the same. Help us to be loyal to all the people we love and to give unselfishly when a need arises. Help us to be more like you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
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