Victory247

“Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” James 1:2-3 (NIV)

I coach high school level AAU basketball in the spring off-season. My team traveled to another city that uses their own referees to officiate the games.

Needless to say, we got the short end of the calls. One team we played even took advantage of the situation and played very rough and dirty. Our players were encouraged to play through it. They did. We outplayed the opponent, but we lost the game (by score only).

My post game talk was like today’s verse. I let the players know that even though we are upset that we lost, each of them got more out of this experience then the “home team” that we played. They got tougher, played together and worked harder than ever. “Getting better and growing as a person and a player is why we play in the off-season”.

In life, we come across hard times. Don’t walk away telling yourself that it was a waste of time. Realize that trials develop us as a “player” in the game of real life.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to see “unfortunate” experiences as times of personal growth. Teach me to lean on You. Thank You for the blessings that will follow. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“…and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”   2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

All of us have what I call a “self talk” going on in our heads. Some refer to it as our “thought life”.

Many times we just let it happen, but we need to realize we can interrupt that stream of thinking, or stop our wandering mind, and even make an effort to “self talk” correctly.

I can catch myself complaining in my head about everything that bothers me about my wife, friends, boss, parents, co-workers, kids, or even dog. Sometimes I keep it “in”, and sometimes I snap at those around me. My insides boil and I have no inner peace.

Stopping that process and sound track can change our whole outlook.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, remind me to stop those thoughts that erode my relationships. I need to give those thoughts over to You to ajust. Also, help me to put the skids on any angry, impure, and lustful thinking. I want Your blessed inner peace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

The shepherd had a really tough job back in those days. He had to lead his sheep, and protect his sheep. This was all day, out in the hot sun. Also interesting to note is that sheep are very dumb animals who truly can’t make it on their own. He’s not calling us dumb, but compared to Him, we are.

I can imagine the conversation with the rebellious, self sufficient sheep; “Listen Mr. Shepherd, I can take care of myself from those lighting fast wolves with sharp teeth. And if I get stuck in a tough situation, I will use my slow, uncoordinated, awkward body to escape.”…”Well Mr. Sheep, I will take care of you and help you meet all your needs.” “Okay Mr. Shepherd, that’s not a baaaad idea.”

The main tool the shepherd had was the staff. It had a hook on one end, and a sharp point on the other. The hook was useful to pull the dumb sheep out of holes, bushes, or other messes they would get themselves into. The pointed end was to protect and fend off attacks from predators like wolves.

God uses His staff in our lives. His hook is there to pull us out of messes we get ourselves into, or situations that seem impossible to overcome. Also, we can call on Him to protect us, with the sharp end of the staff, from a world of people who want to take advantage of us.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, like the sheep to the shepherd, help me to be dependent on You to guide, protect, and watch over me. Lead me to green pastures (Psalm 23:2). In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’ Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Jesus was giving an illustration that is actually very useful in our emotional stability.

For instance, a newly married women is cooking for her husband. She places the meal in front of him and looks for his response.

Let’s say that he says nothing (a common male flaw). If her self-worth is pending on his approval, she isn’t only in trouble after the meal, be she is going to have a rough married life. But if she is doing it for God, the husband just happens to be in the way of her efforts to serve Jesus. That way the husband’s response is insignificant when it comes to her self-worth.

Obviously, we would like the approval and appreciation from people that we do things for, but is that a NEED or just a WANT? The lady wanted a rave review, but she served it for God. So she didn’t need it from the husband. God loves our efforts every time.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, when I help or serve others, remind me that I am doing it for You, not for the response of others. Thank You that Your response, appreciation and blessing is what I need. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

A storm came up, and the waves broke over the boat…Jesus was sleeping… The scared disciples woke Him…He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.   Mark 4:37-39 (NIV)

I’m sure that the worried disciples were wondering how Jesus could sleep through all the peril of a ferocious squall. Especially when they trusted Him to protect them.

He just wanted to be asked for help. He wanted to be leaned on. He wanted them to wake Him up and request His comfort.

I know that many times I find myself in the middle of a storm; Busy at work, money issues, stress of deadlines, family pressures, relationship malfunctions, sickness, plans shattered, expectations unexpectedly unmet, emotional hurts…

Instead of fighting to survive and cope on our own, we need to go to Jesus so that He can say to our storm, “Quiet! Be still!”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, give me the strength and wisdom to cope with the pressures of life. Give me that inner calm in the midst storms. Give me relief when I can’t take it anymore. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” Matthew 23:12 (NASB)

There was a young man that came to visit my teenage daughter. He spent most of the time talking about his accomplishments and athletic highlights. Needless to say, this made the young man a very unattractive guy. I noticed that he was never invited back.

What is attractive is someone who asks good questions and finds out about the accomplishments of others. And if you think about it, hearing good things from other sources is much more impressive than self-promoting.

My personal rule is to only talk about myself when asked, especially my special abilities and accomplishments.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, remind me not to brag and self-promote, so that You can promote me when You see fit. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Give, and it will be given to you” Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Ever say to yourself, “I could really use a break”. There are many times we feel like getting a little help, relief, encouragement, hope, love…

When I look at today’s verse I see a twist that goes counter to our natural thinking. If our focus becomes “what can I give and who can I give it to”, then God will meet our many physical, emotional and social needs.

But dwelling only on our own wants and desires, and constantly figuring out ways to satisfy ourselves will lead to extreme frustration and stress.

We can replace our natural thinking with supernatural thinking. “To get we need to give” is upside down thinking, but it is God’s thinking!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise to richly take care of me when I adjust my thinking to meeting the needs of others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food” Job 34:2-3 (NIV)

On Mother’s Day my kids and I had to make a tough decision. We were in Dairy Queen with the mission of buying an ice cream cake. It was narrowed down to a large generic cake, or a smaller one that had lots of crumbs, icings and fillings. Both were the same (inflated) price. We went with the smaller one; taste won out, over bulk.

Today’s verse is a great piece of advice. Listening is much more than hearing sounds and voices. True listening entails thinking about “what”, “who”, “how”, and “why” something is being said.

We need to taste the words of others, which also entails caring about them.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, give me the compassion and patience to truly listen. Thank You that I will be wiser for it, a ‘man of learning‘. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“He forgave us ALL our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross”  Colossians2:13-14 (NIV)

Ever want to just start over? Ever go through a day filled with poor choices, bad thinking or missed opportunities?

Have you ever said some things that you regret? Like comedian Brian Regan talking about saying something he regrets, even as he is saying it, is like releasing a flock of doves that there is no way to corral and bring back. “Oh no, what did I just say?!”

We need to admit it to God, then realize that those wrongful words, thoughts and actions have been NAILED to the cross.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I know You understand that I make mistakes and poor choices at times. Thank You that You allow me to keep starting over! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you”  Psalm 32:8 (NIV)

GPS devices were made with me in mind. I get lost just pulling out of my own driveway. There was a time I was entering onto a freeway from a two lane road. Next thing I know, I’m in a parking lot.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a GPS to navigate us through daily life. Just plug in the question and it tells us what to do and think…

“What job should I pursue?”, “What did my wife really mean when she told me she didn’t need my help on a project?”, “who should I invite?”, “What is my boss thinking?”, “What was I thinking?!”, “Why are they mad at me?”, “What do I need to change about dealing with people?”, “What can I do to rid that bad habit?”, “How can I help others and not be so selfish?”…

God wants to be our instructor, teacher, counselor, and overseer. We need to continually ask! Then continually look for wisdom and answers through our thinking, the bible, inner peace, wise advisers and circumstances.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, remind me to keep asking and to keep seeking. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.