local Daily Devotions

[04ctd]

Hungering for God



God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Psalms 53:2 - Acts 21:11-12



"I really don't understand why I should come to this. How can I really benefit?" was his response. At that moment, I realized that I was wasting my time with this man on whom I had invested much throughout his Christian walk. He was often like a roller coaster-up one minute, down the next.

"You simply aren't hungry enough," I commented to my friend.

Whenever someone must always rationalize and examine whether the things of God are beneficial to them, you know that they are not hungry enough for God. I recall one time when I was in a difficult place. I received an audiotape from a man who gave me some insights into my problem. I was hungry enough to book a flight to a city 500 miles away just to meet him and find out more. My finances were at a very low point, so it took some real faith to do this. That meeting turned out to be a divine appointment and became a turning point in my life.

God is looking for men and women who hunger to know Him. When we believe that we know all we need to know, we are in a dangerous place. God has placed men and women in the Body of Christ who have had different experiences and gifts that can be helpful in our own spiritual pilgrimages.

It requires humility of heart to realize that we can learn from others. We can easily rationalize our business pressures and time commitments to discount such opportunities.

[04ctd]

High Positions





"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position" (James 1:9).



Whenever God takes a saint to a very lowly state it is designed to accomplish something only that process can do. Job learned that "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22). Job's trials allowed him to learn things about God, himself and his friends that we all needed to know as well. He assumed things about God that he had to recant: "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know" (Job 42:3).



God reveals things in the dark places of circumstances that will be used to reveal something He wants you and others to know. He has sent you ahead to learn these things so that you and others will benefit from your unique experience. God views this place where you receive these truths as a high position. The world views it as a place to be despised.



"He called down a famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles; his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true" (Psalms 105:16-19). Joseph was also led to this high position. It was here he was prepared to be the most powerful man in the world as a thirty-year old. He learned many things about God during his captivity that was used later as a ruler over a nation.



So, if you find yourself in a lowly state, realize your lowly state is considered a high position by God that is preparation soil for revealing deep things from the dark places that God desires you to learn.

[04ctd]

HIS GRACE IN TIME OF NEED



The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

I am so sorry for your wait or what you are going through. It is hard. I'm not going to pretend it isn't. I'm not going to tell you that everything will be better tomorrow. The only thing I know for sure is that Christ loves you. He really does sympathize with you. You can read God's words to you in Hebrews: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16 ).

I know you've probably seen this verse many times, but I think God has a lot to say to you in these verses. He is reminding you that He isn't far-off. He has entered into the ugly and hard places that you see your heart going as you struggle with worry or anxiety or fear or anger. He knows it. He knows your temptation. Jesus reminds you that He walked this earth perfectly for you. And in your weakness He invites you to draw near to Him. He wants to comfort you and uphold you with His righteous right hand. Come to Him, weary friend, and receive grace and peace and rest. This is your time of need, and He does not turn away from you during your time of need; He wants you to find grace to help.

Friend, I pray that you would receive His good grace today. As you look to this day know that He has you in mind and intercedes even now on your behalf. "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18 ).

[04ctd]

All Things through Christ





"I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13.



This is a very interesting passage of Scripture. When we consider this passage in conjunction with John 15.5: "without me you can do nothing", we have a significant insight into how the Kingdom of God works. In John 15.5 Jesus tells us that we must have Him involved in the activity to make any difference for His Kingdom. This is the Holy Spirit representing Christ in our lives (John 14:26). Then we see from Philippians 4:13 that there are no limits to what can be accomplished with the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. In a real sense that is to be expected, because of whom the Holy Spirit is and because full authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Christ. This is a remarkable insight provided by Scripture into how the Kingdom works.

This has significant implications for us and how it affects what we do on a daily basis. This passage tells us to make sure the Holy Spirit, representing Christ, is doing the work through us on a daily basis. This passage tells us that this is the key to running our lives effectively. We are all faced with impossible situations, overwhelming obstacles, and circumstances that seem totally beyond our ability to deal with. But this passage says that the situations are in fact not impossible, the obstacles are not overwhelming, and that all the resources necessary to deal with the circumstances have been provided to us. Our part is to ask him through prayer how He wants to deal with them. Our part is to pray and ask Jesus to deal with these issues. Our part is to believe that these passages are true (that's called faith), and to act as if we believe them. That is, to make decisions as if we believe these passages to be true, and trust Jesus to do what He said He would do.



Note the use of the words "all things". There is nothing that is beyond the reach of Jesus to fix or deal with. We just have to believe that is true and act accordingly.

[04ctd]

Intimacy with the Upright



"For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright" (Proverbs 3:32 NASU).



It is human nature to want to be included into the inner circle. It means that you are qualified to hear things, experience things and be privy to information the masses are not allowed to see.



Jesus had an inner circle of friends made up of Peter, James and John. John had a very special relationship with Jesus. He was considered to be Jesus' best friend. It was John who recognized Jesus after the crucifixion when He came to them on the seashore. "Then the disciple whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!'"(John 21:7).



The Bible tells us that John's friendship was such that he could even lay his head upon his shoulder at the last supper when he inquired about the betrayer: "So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, 'Lord, who is it?'" (John 13:25-26 RSV). Almost forty years after the last supper John wrote the final Gospel in A.D. 90, He was chosen by God to receive "the vision" and record it in the Book of Revelation.



When it came time for Jesus to leave the earth for good, it was Peter, James and John who had the privilege to see the transfiguration. "After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus" (Mark 9:2).



Do you long to have an intimate relationship with your creator? The Lord desires to have the same with you. He does not want you to have a mere form of religion, but a relationship whereby you experience His presence and power. Where you can see God perform His acts of power and love among others.


One of the keys to intimacy is uprightness. Uprightness means we are living a life of obedience and submission to His will in our lives. When we live at this place we enter His inner circle.



Pray for God to make your life upright and intimate with Jesus.

[04ctd]

You Need Power

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).


D.L. Moody was a shoe salesman until God moved him into a full-time preaching ministry, often in the streets of Chicago. There came a point in his journey with God that he realized he needed more in his life than what he was experiencing. "At the close of the Sabbath evening services I remember two holy women they would say to me, 'We have been praying for you.' I said, 'Why don't you pray for the people?' They answered, 'You need power.'


'I need power?' I said to myself. Why, I thought I had power. I had a large Sabbath school and the largest congregation in Chicago. I was in a sense satisfied. But then came these two godly women who prayed for me and their earnest talk about "the anointing for special service" set me thinking. I asked them to come and talk with me, and we got down on our knees. They poured out their hearts, that I might receive the anointing of the Holy Ghost. And there came a great hunger into my soul. I knew not what it was. I began to cry as I never did before. The hunger increased. I really felt that I did not want to live any longer if I could not have this power for service. I kept on crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit.

Well, one day, in the city of New York - Oh, what a day! I cannot describe it; I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to me. Paul had an experience that he never spoke for fourteen years. I can only say, God revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand.

I went to preaching again. The sermons were no different; I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted. I would not be placed back where I was before that blessed experience if you would give me all Glasgow.*

*Elmer Towns, Understanding the Deeper Life, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1984, pp. 224, 225

[04ctd]

this guy writes a lot about our conduct at work..and i have NEVER really thought about it.

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Equipped for the Workplace



May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20 - Proverbs 13:12



Over 70 percent of our time is spent in the workplace, yet our training and teaching focuses on areas where we spend much less time. The workplace is the greatest mission field of our day, yet we do not train workplace believers how to effectively integrate their faith into their workplace. The wall between Sunday and Monday still exists. Most workplace believers do not understand that all of life is spiritual, not just life on Sunday.



A recent study found that 50 percent of Christians have never heard a sermon on work; 70 percent have never been taught a theology of work; and 70 percent have never heard a sermon on vocation. Why do we focus on the fringes rather than the center where most people spend most of their time - the workplace?



God is removing the wall of separation by speaking to pastors and workplace believers all over the world. A pastor recently shared how his church ordains their workplace believers for their calling to the workplace. Another pastor described their church's commitment to integrating training for their workplace believers on the theology of work. Another told how they began a workplace ministry within their church for their workplace believers, and even integrated Sunday school programs specifically geared to help workplace believers understand their calling in the workplace.



We are entering a new era in the Church when workplace believers are seen as a remnant of the Body of Christ who needs to be mobilized and trained for the work of the ministry to their own mission field-the workplace. Are you one of the men and women God is raising up for this task? Pray that God will help pastors understand and affirm this calling, and that they will respond by training the people of their churches for their own ministry to the workplace. When we reclaim the 70 percent, the remainder will be reclaimed automatically.

[04ctd]

it shames me to think of how poorly i serve God.

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A Conversation in Heaven

"I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always" (1 Samuel 2:35-36).


I once imagined a meeting in heaven between the angel Gabriel and Jesus. It went something like this: "Gabriel, I chose 12 men from the workplace to build my Church. They were an unlikely group. But I wanted a people to express my life where they spend most of their time and experienced most of their challenges. However, today we have a problem. My Church is not being represented in the workplace. So, I've decided to call several people to serve me in this arena. We must awaken the Church in the workplace.

There is a man in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, He reminds me of my servant Jacob. What a manipulator and controller Jacob was before I did my work in him, now Jacob has became one of the patriarchs!

This businessman in Atlanta has the same potential. He is our man to awaken my servants. However, in order to awaken him to my plan and my destiny for him, I must remove some things he relies upon. This will draw him to me. It will be painful at first, but necessary. It will take 7 years. But I plan to restore all I take from him.

The result will be quite amazing. He will engage many others. He'll usher in whole new focus in my Church that has been lost since those early days. I plan to do this with many others as well. My plan is designed to rise up an army in these last days before I return. It is time for you to go now. You know what you must do. Be gentle, but firm with my servant."


What kind of conversation might Jesus have about your life? What catalyst is needed to bring you in alignment with the purposes and plans of God?

[04ctd]

Praying Intentionally


"For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy." (Colossians. 1.9-11)



Do you have some key people you pray for everyday, such as family, employees, church family? Paul models for us, in this verse, praying for people on a regular basis, perhaps daily or at least weekly is a way to pray "without ceasing".



Notice the focus of Paul's prayer. He did not pray for blessing, or provision, or many other things expected to be the focus of such a prayer. Instead, he prayed for key things that have to do with effectiveness in the kingdom. be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding " He is interceding before the Lord asking the Father to fill the Colossians with the knowledge of His will. That is a highly appropriate thing to pray for anybody.

Our effectiveness is directly a function of how well we know and follow God's will in a matter. Paul gives the reason why: ÔÇ£that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him], bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God." Being filled with the knowledge of God's will leads to bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being fully pleasing to God, and walking worthy of the Lord. That is an amazing statement. We think that all those things are accomplished by hard work. But this passage is telling us that it is the knowledge of God's will that leads to this amazing list of accomplishments. This indeed is a worthy thing to pray for.



But he did not just ask that they be filled with the knowledge of God's will, but he asked that the filling would be accomplished "in all wisdom and spiritual understanding". Paul is asking that they will understand that will in the spiritual realm and have the wisdom to apply it. This is a very complete request, an in-depth request, a request that is laying the groundwork for future action. I would like to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, wouldnÔÇÖt you? WouldnÔÇÖt your family and friends and leadership team?



In the next sentence Paul asks that the Colossians be strengthened in all power, not just some power, but all power. And this power is "according to His glorious might". How great do you think that power is? Do you think there would be any lack in that power? If you and I were filled with power like that, do you think there would be any limitation to what God might accomplish through us?



And note the reason for this filling with power: "for all endurance and patience, with joy." It is this power that enables us to endure the trials that are sure to come, with patience and with joy.



So let me encourage you to pray for loved ones and friends:
1) without stopping, perhaps daily,
2) pray for them to be filled with the knowledge of God's will, and
3) pray for them to be strengthened in all power, according to God's glorious might. Then ask them to do the same for you. And watch to see what God might do through you and in you in response to those prayers.

[04ctd]

When Planting Yields No Fruit



"You have planted much, but have harvested little...." - Haggai 1:6



Have you ever worked and worked only to yield very little from your efforts? Such was the case for the workplace believers during the time of the prophet Haggai. Finally, God spoke through the prophet Haggai to inform the people why their efforts were not yielding any fruit. There was a specific reason this was happening.



"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of My house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house? Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands" (Haggai 1:9-11).



God had finally had enough. His priorities were not His people's priorities. So, He withheld in order to get their attention. Zerubbabel was governor of Judah at the time. He was a godly man who sought to do God's will. He listened as the prophet gave these words; then he responded.



Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord (Haggai 1:12).



Sometimes God has to stir up the spirit of one man to initiate needed change. Zerubbabel was that man. Scriptures say, "The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel" (Haggai 1:14). God is stirring up the spirit of a remnant of workplace believers throughout the world today. They are seeing what breaks God's heart, and they're responding. Has God placed the spirit of Zerubbabel in you? Are you one who will make a difference for the Kingdom, or are you concerned about building bigger and better barns? The Lord is calling forth His people in these last days to make a difference. Ask Him what He wants to do through you.

[04ctd]

Exceeding Expectations

"She said to the king, 'The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard'" (1 Kings 10:6-8).

When people meet you, or experience your work life skills, would they say that you far exceeded their expectations? Do you undersell and over produce, or oversell and under produce? Solomon's wisdom far exceeded any man's wisdom and it was evident to others. When people come in contact with you do they come away with a sense of greater appreciation of you after meeting you?


"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men" (Proverb 22:29). Whenever we exceed the expectations of man, we bring glory to our Heavenly Father and He often elevates us among men.

Bezalel was a man who designed the Ark of the Covenant for Moses because God handpicked him to design it because of his exceptional skill. Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others" (Exodus 35:30-35).

If there were a Kingdom project to be done would God recommend you for the job? God calls you and me to live our lives and do our work with excellence.

[04ctd]

The Proper Foundation

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. - Psalm 127:1a

Imagine spending years building an expensive home with the finest materials and craftsmanship. It is a work of art, and the project is almost complete. As the day arrives to move in, a building inspector arrives and hands you a notice that condemns your beautiful home because it doesn't meet code.

Many Christian workplace believers who invest years in their businesses will one day stand before the Lord and realize they were building the house, not the Lord. God is very picky about motives behind the actions. Before we act, we must ask why? Why are we doing what we are doing? Has God called us to this task, or is the real motive purely financial, or control, or prestige.

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).

David learned this principle by the end of his life. Throughout his life he had learned that God always tested him to find out what was in his heart, and what his motive was in his actions.

David instructed his son to "...acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts" (1 Chronicle 28:9a).

[04ctd]

Receiving Only What God Can Give


"A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27).

John the Baptist was in the business of bringing sinners to the place of repentance by baptizing them and teaching them about the coming Messiah. Over time, he had developed quite a customer base of disciples. Yet when the promised Messiah showed up-the fulfillment of John's business plan true to form, his coworkers (or disciples) went to John to complain that the one he had testified about was stealing all of his customers. "Rabbi," they said, "that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan . . . well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him" (John 3:26). John's response showed clearly he understood his purpose and role in life in the above verse.

John understood that we receive by understanding our purpose and what God desires us to receive in light of our purpose. We need not worry about what others receive, only if we are receiving what God wants us to receive. Many of us try to receive things God never intended us to receive or be someone God never intended us to be.

A story is told about F. B. Meyer, the great Bible teacher and pastor who lived a century ago. He was pastoring a church when he began to notice that attendance was dropping. This continued until he finally asked some members of his congregation one Sunday morning why they thought this was happening. A member suggested, "It is because of the new church down the road. The young preacher has everyone talking and many are going to hear him speak." The young preacher's name was Charles Spurgeon.

Meyer, rather than seeking to discourage this development, exhorted his entire congregation to join him and go participate in seeing this "move of God," as he described it to them. "If this be happening, then God must be at work." Meyer, like John the Baptist, understood the principle of receiving from God and was not threatened by the new competition in town. Instead, he joined it.


Do you model a Kingdom mindset? Do you rejoice when others succeed? Are you receiving only what God desires you to receive?

[04ctd]

i think this one is awesome, what about you guys?


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ANSWERING THE CALLBUT NOT UNDERCOVER

Written by Doug Hunter


Im fascinated by the new television program called Undercover Boss. Admittedly, I dont rush home to watch every episode, but Ive seen enough to, well  be fascinated.
If you are not familiar with the program, it centers around a different CEO and his/her company each week. The first 45 minutes show and tell of the experiences that CEO has when he/she goes ÔÇ£undercoverÔÇØ to work as a new employee in a variety of functional areas across the scope of the organization.

For example, the CEO of Roto-Rooter helped clean out clogged sewer lines, the CEO of 7-11 learns to make coffee, several experience their customer service call centers  and all the while, the people they are working with have no idea who this new person really is  and that can be hilarious. Of course, it can also be other things  several CEOs have been told they have no potential for the job they are trying to learn, Ive seen one actually get fired! The most common result is that the CEO finds that his company has some amazing people who love the company, who have great ideas, who may be living in incredibly difficult circumstances, who dont really understand the big picture, or who are hungry for input and encouragement.

In the final 15 minutes of each show, the CEO reveals his/her true identity to the people they have been working with, and gives them personal feedback ÔÇô which is usually wonderfully affirming and often quite emotional. It all makes for pretty good television.

Part of the fascination for me, however, is how clearly biblical truth pops up in the most unique places! No  verses dont scroll across the bottom of the screen, nor does anything else happen to highlight the moment, but if you have been reading Proverbs lately, they can be hard to miss.

Examples: You donÔÇÖt have to be in customer service call center environment very long before you see the truth of Proverbs 15:1, ÔÇ£A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.ÔÇØ

Or watch the tension and anger melt away from a rumor-believing employee when he hears from the CEO that his company has no plans to close the plant he and his friends depend on to support their families ÔÇô and resource their small community ÔÇô and you know the truth of Proverbs 25:25, ÔÇ£Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.ÔÇØ

How about the anger felt by the CEO who had to watch a salesman overcharge a customer because ÔÇ£he can afford itÔÇØ ÔÇô anger reflecting Proverbs 20:23, ÔÇ£Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord, and a false scale is not good.ÔÇØ


Perhaps the most frequent truths that I see reflected in the experiences of this program are those found in verses like Proverbs 22:1, ÔÇ£A good name is more to be desired than great wealth,ÔÇØ 27:2 ÔÇ£Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips.ÔÇØ 25:11 ÔÇ£Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstancesÔÇØ. And in those final scenes, as the excellent employees stand before their boss, and then as the CEO stands in from of his/her entire organization, Proverbs 22:29 says to me ÔÇ£Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.ÔÇØ

Have you ever walked around your company and looked for Proverbs  for truth? Its a great exercise, and you may be surprised at both the encouragement and the challenge it can be. Of course, Steve Marr would also remind you  and me  that the best way to see Proverbs come alive in your company is to immerse yourself in them on a regular basis. Then they become a lens through which you can daily see the truth of how you and your company reflect the character of your real Boss ... and thats a reflection that you never want to be undercover!

[04ctd]

..."Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today." - 2 Samuel 16:11-12

As David's enemies were increasing and he was fleeing the city from his son Absolom who was seeking to take his throne, a man named Shimei began heaving rocks and cursing him as he passed by. Cursing the king was against the law, so David had every right to cut off the man's head -- as his generals were encouraging him to do.

Here we see the difference between Saul and David in their response to those who would seek to do them harm. This is the defining difference between a leader who seeks to lead through a vertical dimension with God versus a horizontal fix-it mode. God knew David as a man after His own heart. Yet, David was a murderer, adulterer, and had failed in many areas of his life. But one thing separated this leader from all the rest: He had a heart that sought to please God and be in His will. When David blew it, he repented.


What is the purpose God desires to accomplish with the estranged relationship you may have with someone? Has He brought this affront to find out what is in your heart today? Will you seek revenge and solve the problem yourself? Or will you find the grace to allow God to carry out vengeance in His time if it is needed? When I learned this lesson to stay vertical with God and avoid the trap of fixing things in my own energies, it was a day of freedom. No longer was it my problem. We must examine our own heart in these matters. But if we are clean, then this affront is for character building. It is the only way God builds the deepest level of character in His saints.

A.W. Tozer tells us, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God actually rises up storms of conflict in relationships at times in order to accomplish that deeper work in our character. We cannot love our enemies in our own strength. This is graduate-level grace. Are you willing to enter this school? Are you willing to take the test? If you pass, you can expect to be elevated to a new level in the Kingdom. For He brings us through these tests as preparation for greater use in the Kingdom. You must pass the test first

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Concealing a Matter

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (Proverbs 28:13)


None of us are immune from making poor choices in our lives. David made a number of seemingly minor choices that snowballed into an avalanche of suffering, shame and tragedy. It started when he chose to stay at home in Jerusalem instead of going out to lead his troops into battle, as was his duty. David had too much time on his hands, which ultimately led to him committing adultery with Bathsheba and trying to cover up that sin with murder.



So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell King David a story: "There were two men in a town, one rich, one poor. The rich man had many sheep and cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he raised like one of the family. The ewe lamb shared the man's food, drank from his cup, and slept in his arms. One day, when the rich man had a guest to entertain, he didn't want to slaughter any of his own sheep or cattle, so he took the poor man's lamb, killed it, and prepared it as a feast for his guest."



David responded: "The rich man deserves death!" he said. "He must pay the man four times the value of the lamb, because he did an unjust thing and had no compassion!"



Then Nathan turned to King David and said, "You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in His eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own!'" To his credit, David confessed and repented of his sins, and God forgave him.


God's forgiveness restores the broken relationship between Himself and sinner, but forgiveness can't make everything exactly as it was. Sin has consequences that forgiveness cannot change. David had consequences he had to live with for the rest of his life.

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Proverbs 3: 6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

To acknowledge someone is to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of. When a person comes to a place in their life that they know that the Lord is real, He is our Savior, and that God does exist, the Lord will direct our paths. King David said that God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Are you walking today on a directed path of God or are you being led by the devils GPS?

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"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" 1 Peter 1:8 (KJV)



Every Child of God, because of the filling of the Holy Ghost, has inside of their hearts a joy that is SO Great that it is unspeakable! In other words, there is no way to explain it by worldly means or words. Now I agree that there are people, who proclaim to be a Born Again believer, but yet their faces show gloom and their actions show doom! I believe some people instead of being saved, they have got religion instead, and it is for that reason they do not know the Joy of the Lord!



Now, if one has truly been saved, let the world know it by the glow on your face and the words of encouragement from your mouth. Let the redeemed say SO!

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i think this keeps some guys away from being Christian...they see a guy they think "is a good Christian" getting beat down in some way, and they think "why would I want to have that happen to me" and they never follow Christ.

but they dont realize that most strong, true, faithful Christian men will come thru adversity stronger and tougher, and softer and more loving, and THEN they can help other people thru the same situation.


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God's Chosen Few

But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction. - Job 36:15

Bradley was born with cerebral palsy in South Africa. He barely survived his birth. He did not walk until he was four years old. One leg was longer than the other and he could not speak well. For most of his life, his hands shook and he had little control over them. Feelings of rejection and bitterness at his plight were common occurrences during his growing-up years. During his school years, he was chastised by kids and generally rejected by society.

At age 17, his father felt led to take his son to a healing service. That night, the young boy's leg divinely grew two inches. He no longer walked with a limp. Bradley met the Savior and began to grow in his intimacy with Him. God began to speak to him and show him things. Prayer became his source of comfort and strength. God gave him insights about people and situations, bringing blessing to all who encountered him. Today, this young man travels around the world as an internationally known intercessor and founder of a school of intercessory prayer. Literally hundreds of hours of knowledge about the way God speaks to His children have been birthed in and through this young man.


God's ways are not our ways. His preparation of His warriors seems cruel and hurtful at times. His ways are much higher than ours. Trust the God of the universe that He can orchestrate the events of your life when they seem the darkest.

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He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience. - Judges 3:2

God brought the nation of Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan through Joshua. After Joshua, there came an entire generation who had very little experience in fighting battles like the ones fought by Joshua. Training and testing God's people is one of God's important strategies that enable His children to succeed in spiritual warfare. This is why we do not live a life free of trials. These trials are sent specifically to see if our faith is real or simply empty words.

"They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord's commands, which He had given their forefathers through Moses" (Judg. 3:4). God allows circumstances to develop around your life to give your faith opportunity to be proven. It is only when we are tested in battle that we become skilled warriors. You can be confident God will allow trials to come your way through situations like an unreasonable boss, a client who refuses to pay, a false assault on your character, or a difficult relationship that requires unconditional love. These battles are sent your way to test what you know in the mind in order that they might become part of your heart.

You will discover if you have passed the tests or if you need more battles that will give you the opportunity to learn the art of spiritual warfare. Do not fear these battles that are before you. God has already given you the victory if you choose complete dependence and obedience to Him. Then you will become one of God's greatest warriors, skilled in spiritual warfare.