Do Not Lose Heart

 February 1, 2024

Thursday

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NASB 2020) 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

There came an age when I noticed that I was getting older. I think I was in denial for a long time. I kept thinking I could do everything I could always do. This is when I realized I couldn’t.

Yet, I have realized something else, as well. I am being renewed day by day in my spirit. I know the Lord better than I ever did before. I grieve over my sins more than I did before. I pray fervently more. There is more joy in seeing people come to know the Lord. There is more joy in seeing a wayward person recommit himself or herself to the Lord. People mean more to me.

That’s the way it is when you have more years behind you than you have in front of you. The things that are important become important to you.

If I remain faithful, the rewards that I will receive will be mine in eternity. (I say if because I know that I can turn from my walk with the Lord as I turned from my sinful life to walk with the Lord.) I don’t want to lose those rewards by acting like this life is eternity. What has been given is no true sacrifice because it becomes a reward in eternity. What has been suffered for faithfulness to the Lord will be a reward. This life is truly for a moment.

I see too many people who think this life is all there is. They think money will buy them everything they want. The think others should know who they are and honor them. They think their own Christian lives should be soothing rather than serving. They see only what their humanity allows them to see. I wonder if they realize that it will all be gone some day. I wonder if they know that they are not building rewards for themselves in heaven.

There is a glory in eternity for the Christian who serves the Lord that has no comparison on this earth. Sure, we serve the Lord because we love Him, but we also have rewards that await us if we are faithful. It’s worth continuing to serve Him here and forever.

When the Lord Is Your Song

 January 31, 2024

Wednesday

Psalm 118:14 (NASB 2020) 14 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.

The Lord is my strength. This is an oft repeated statement in the Bible. I need to hear it because I start living as if I have the strength. From the earliest age I can remember, I have been claiming to do things all by myself. I can do insignificant things without the Lord’s strength. Others can do some amazing things without the Lord’s strength. No one can do the most godly things without the Lord’s strength.

John 15:5 (NASB 2020) 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Jesus said I could do nothing apart from Him. I believe Him. Trying to do things apart from Him wears me out. It is like lifting a car without a jack. It may be possible but you can do nothing to the car while you are holding it. Why would I do so? Why would I try? I need the jack to be my strength to hold up the car. I need the Lord to be my strength.

The Psalmist says that the Lord is my song. Songs evoke emotions. Some songs are just fun. Some songs make us laugh. I remember praying about giving to the Lord’s cause for a special offering. My wife and I both came up with the same number. Since we give more than a tithe anyway, this was simply a gift for the Lord’s purpose. The amount my wife and I came up with was $500. We didn’t really know how we could replace that money but we felt that obedience was a part of knowing that God will provide. Maybe two weeks later we received $5000 that we weren’t expecting. I laughed and laughed. It was like a song had been sung I was so happy in singing it. I believe this closely resembles what the Psalmist was saying when he said the Lord is my song.

Of course, the Lord is my salvation. He came for me years ago and I gave my life to Him. He became my salvation that day. He is my salvation today. He will be my salvation tomorrow. I can depend upon this throughout eternity.

Now, I am ready to follow the Lord today. He is my strength and song. He is my salvation.

God's Mercy Never Ends

 January 30, 2024

Tuesday

Lamentations 3:22–23 (NASB 2020) 22 The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations is not a book I often read. To tell you the truth, it is depressing. So much of the book is exactly what the name implies-lamenting. However, I get it. Sometimes it is good to lament why you are in your present circumstances. Many times we need to say, “I have no one to blame but myself.”

But coupled with our lament I need to remember God’s mercy and compassion. Even in my deepest pit I have God’s presence when I reach out for Him. I have His love when I remember my salvation. I have His provision when I breath. 

There is no end to His mercy. If I were stand before Him as He judged me, I would be found guilty. My sins would ever prove that I earned eternal death. Yet, because of the blood of Jesus, I have eternal life. I will be guilty but will not know His wrath because Jesus paid that price for me. I will be declared forgiven then as I am declared forgiven now. I know that daily.

God’s compassion toward me never fail. His love never ends. His work on me never ends. His taking me through whatever I am going through never ends. Yet, I have done nothing that He couldn’t have done Himself. I have not earned this compassion any more than I earned my salvation.

God’s mercy and compassion are new every morning. I don’t have yesterday’s left over mercy and compassion. I don’t get tomorrow’s mercy and compassion because I don’t need it yet. I get mercy and compassion for today. It is present with me right now.

Knowing that God has given me new mercy and compassion today reminds me that He has not forgotten me. He is working to bring me closer to Himself with each moments. I may not see Him doing so. I may not feel that He is with me. Neither of these make a difference. He is doing this. I know because His mercy and compassion are new everyday. Truly He is faithful.

What I Can Do

 January 29, 2024

Monday

Philippians 4:13 (NASB 2020) 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

This is a very abused scripture. Many have applied it to anything they want. This scripture does not give me permission to do whatever I want. It only assures me that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

I must remember that it is His strength I am depending upon. I can’t say I can do all things. I can’t without His strength. Paul has just recited how he can endure hunger and plenty. These were the reasons he knew that Christ was strengthening him. It wasn’t his strength that mattered. He is saying that he would not have been to weather the two extremes without Christ.

I have been reading a book by someone who walked with the Lord over a hundred years ago. He said that he feared the plenty more than the poverty. Hard times drive us toward God for comfort and strength. Abundance has a tendency to think we can do all things without God. Many people are no longer in church, having quiet times, giving, and serving because they have so much. Maybe we should pray even more when we have plenty so that we don’t wander away from His strength.

I must remember that He must be with me on whatever I need strength for. In other words, I can’t expect His strength if I am walking away from Him and not with Him. I heard a guy speak about writing a song that was published and sung all over the world. He knew that God was working with him when he wrote the song. Then, he wrote a set of songs and asked God to bless them. These songs went nowhere. He did the latter songs in his own strength. We can’t expect to ask for his blessing on the things we do in our own strength.

Challenges require I depend upon His strength. Challenges cause me to walk a closer walk with the Lord. So, knowing I need His strength, I walk with Him in things I couldn’t do without Him. I will be successful as I do His will because I do it in His strength.

Do You Still Have the Love of God?

 January 28, 2024

Sunday

Romans 8:38–39 (NASB 2020) 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I read this scripture more often after my failures than my successes. After I am down, even know that the failure was my fault, I need to head that God still loves me. It truly makes sense that God loves me all the time. Think about it: If God demonstrated His love toward me, that while I was still a sinner that Christ died for me and greater love has no man than the one who lays down his life for another, then in my opposition to God I received the greatest love that can be given. God’s love toward me is never greater or less.

Maybe this is why Paul went to such lengths to tell us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. His list wasn’t intended to be complete. Paul just wanted us to know that God’s love is complete.

There is someone I am thinking of right now who has heard the gospel numerous times. God loves him so much that Jesus died for him. This guy does not know God’s love. This world has such a tight grip on him that he believes that the world will ultimately satisfy him. He doesn’t know God’s love nor can he without stepping over the line to repent of his sins and commit himself to Jesus. He sees this as suicide. Yet, God still loves him.

I have been to prisons and jails to visit people. One of them was unrepentant. He pretended to be so while in prison but immediately went back to his old ways once he got out. God loves that man.

I have seen drug users and dealers. Some of them are both. They prey on others. The users steal and con every one they can to get another hit. The dealers sell their poison to take the lives of others. Yet, God loves them.

Some of the people who come to our food pantry abuse the system. They are driving nice cars. They go from one food pantry to another- sometimes on the same day.  They are taking what could be going to others who truly need help. God loves these people.

But before I stand in condemnation of those I have mentioned, I remember what a sinner I was and what a sinner I continue to be. In each time of repentance God has taken me back. Why? Because God loves me.

What Will You Receive at the Judgement Seat of Christ?

 January 27, 2024

Saturday

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB 2020) 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

Many people think that trusting in Jesus for salvation is all there is to it. If you want to be faithful and keep His commands, that’s fine but it will make no difference in heaven. This is wrong! There are rewards that we could have if we are faithful that will go with us into eternity.

Now, I know it seems so self-serving to think that I am working for the rewards I have in heaven. I am not working for salvation but something awarded to me when I get there. I suppose if that was all I was doing, I would be looking at the apparent success or failure I am having on earth. I could congratulate myself with each person baptized. I could hold my head above others for greater and greater attendance. The problem is that I would not be serving the Lord but myself. Serving myself receives all the rewards on earth.

Faithfulness is a very private matter. It is between yourself and the Lord. It may not receive any accolades from those on earth. It might not be noticed by anyone on earth. Faithfulness may be found in witnessing to a person who will never give his life to the Lord. It may be found in preaching messages that cause no one to change their lives. It may be found in giving so that no one knows who gave.

Yet, just as the Lord noticed the widow who gave two cents, the Lord notices the faithfulness of those who do what He says. He notices forgiving those who have been vicious in their attacks on you. He notices the prayers that shed tears for others. He notices love given to those who are opposed to being loved. He notices the kindness given to the poor person who could never repay.

All believers will stand before Christ’s judgement seat. Some will get to heaven with the smell of smoke on them. Some will have a glorious entrance. Faithfulness on earth will be remembered in heaven. 

So, we listen and do without fanfare to see our rewards in heaven. 

New Strength for Those Who Wait

 January 26, 2024

Friday

Isaiah 40:31 (NASB 2020) 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

It is hard to wait for the Lord when you believe you have waited beyond a reasonable time. You become like Saul who would offer the sacrifice before Samuel arrived because Samuel didn’t come when Saul thought he should. We pray for God to act and He assures us that He will. Then we wait what seems to be an intolerable amount of time. If we are not committed to waiting we will act on our own. This will wear us out because we will be acting in our own strength. If something is so important that we have prayed about it, our own strength will never suffice.

Waiting has an assurance. Like eagles we Will be stronger even as we age. We will receive new feathers by which we will fly even higher. We will be better than the youths who grow weary for we will run and not get tired. We will walk when walking is necessary and not get weary.

Many years ago, I was on the staff of a church when the pastor left. The rest of the staff was asked to preach in his absence with the exception of Sunday mornings. I was asked and did so because it was my duty. Up until that point I didn’t want to be a senior pastor. I didn’t want to preach every Sunday. In fact, I didn’t necessarily want to preach. I was content with teaching.

Something happened when I spoke to the congregation on a Wednesday night. I felt God nudge me to preach but I wanted to make sure. I prayed for God to tell me if that was what He wanted me to do. Maybe two weeks later, the Associate Pastor led the staff in a devotion. While he spoke I knew God was telling me to become a preacher. I committed myself to praying that some church would call me as pastor.

Eight years and three months later, a church did just that. I had prayed almost every day that God would act in the hearts of a pastor search committee to listen to Him and call me. There were many days that I didn’t believe it would happen. It was also humbling to see others on staffs called to be senior pastors while I continued being a staff member. However, I knew I should not try to get ahead of the Lord. Waiting was the best action I could take.

Waiting for the Lord may be the hardest thing we ever do. Waiting puts our complete dependence upon Him. It gives us strength that will suddenly leave us if we stop waiting and take action on our own.

I can attest that when I waited that I flew at first, then ran and finally walked. The euphoria of flying came as I heard God say that He was calling me to be as pastor. The continued praying after some time kept me running toward His calling. The determination came in the walking. It was when I walked that I got closest to Him. I believe it was because I was walking with Him.

So, I encourage everyone who must wait upon the Lord. (That is actually all of us, all of the time.) Wait for acting without Him leave you on your own. It will wear you out.

Turn to the Lord in Times of Trouble

 January 25, 2024

Thursday

Psalm 46:1–3 (NASB 2020) 1 God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah

It seems that the news gives us a new existential threat. And where are we supposed to turn? Ourselves! Somehow we change everything we can’t truly explain upon ourselves. We choose something we will call evil and attack it. We believe we can defeat this determined evil. And the best way we are told to do that it to instill fear in the hearts of the people.

The Psalmist turns the Lord in times of trouble. He recognizes that He is the strength needed to defeat any force that comes against him.

Some will say, “Are you saying we should do nothing?” That isn’t the point. We do act. God is our help. He is our strength. He is where we go to recognize that He who loves us will bring us through this. Going to God quells our fear.

The earth shakes and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea but we do not fear. The waters foam and the mountains quake but we do not fear. We take action but we do not fear. We respond to each threat but we do not fear. We defeat the evil but we do not fear.

Fear reveals that we think we are on our own. Fear is a poor motivator. It wont’ last as long as a protracted threat. It causes us to react rather than rationally act. Fear isn’t the answer to great problems.

Knowing God as our refuge means that we can be assured that He has this. We can go to Him without our fears and act without being extremists. We can know what we are doing is right because He leads us to that which is right.

So, we turn to Him when there is trouble. Whether the trouble is global or individual God is the best place to go. Only those who refuse to believe this will refute what I am saying. Why? Because they won’t go there.

What Does the Lord Want for You?

 January 24, 2024

Wednesday

Ephesians 3:20 (NASB 2020) 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

I want this scripture to mean more than it does. That may sound funny because it says God can do more than we ask or think. It is essentially saying that He can do more than we think He can.

This scripture is at the end of a prayer for spiritual growth for the Ephesians.  He asks God to strengthen them in the inner man. He asks for a faith based on Christ being in their hearts. He implores God that they be rooted in love and that they could comprehend with all the saints the breadth and length and height and width of the love of Christ. This is a very tall order.

Then comes this verse that says that no matter what we think God can do according to these things, He can do more.

I want this verse to say that God can give me success or riches beyond what I can ask or imagine. In its context, it declares so much more. These things are temporary. They will be gone when I leave this world. God has bigger things in mind.

God works in us to reveal who He is. He knows us. We need to know Him. He is infinite so that we will never know all of who God is. We will not know all of His strength, wisdom or love. Yet, God has plans for us to know Him beyond what we think.

The things we go through, both the good and bad, are meant to grow us into a new faith. It is not a different faith but one that has grown from what it is. Our faith should grow like my granddaughters. They grow and while they are the same they are different each time I see them. God does more within us when we encounter challenges and successes than we could ever hope.

It seems that this world has more of my concern than the next. God has a concern for me in this world but He will not exchange what happens in this world for the next. He sees the day when we are fully present with Him in heaven. He prepares us for that day. That’s more than I can ask or think.

Run to the Lord

 January 23, 2024

Tuesday

Psalm 31:1–2 (NASB 2020)  1 In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame; In Your righteousness rescue me. 2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be a rock of strength for me, A stronghold to save me.

This Psalm was written while David was being pursued by Saul. His life is in danger. Saul will surely have David killed as soon as he sees him. He runs to the Lord.

I have known many people who have run to the Lord when circumstances were dire. They will be found reading their Bibles. They won’t miss church. They won’t miss anything at the church. For many, this is only hiding. They aren’t taking refuge. They are trying to get God to defend them as He observes their righteous behavior. They are gone soon after the crisis has passed.

David’s crisis was brought on by his faithfulness. He did as Saul asked. He went out to defeat Saul’s enemies. He came back to the praises of the Hebrew people. Saul became fearful of losing the hearts of the people. He sought to eliminate David and end the threat of being deposed.

David runs to the Lord because he knows Him. He knows the Lord is righteous. He asks the Lord to rescue him because He is righteous. David clearly saw that the actions of Saul were not righteous. David doesn’t want Saul eliminated. He wants Saul’s favor again. The threat will end with that.

David isn’t impatient as one might assume because he asks to be rescued quickly. He sees his demise an immanent. Saul’s army is right at his doorstep. He either is rescued now or he never will be .

He asks the Lord to hear him. He asks the Lord to be a rock of strength. He asks Him to be a stronghold. He does not ask for Saul’s defeat. He asks for strength and protection for himself.

When we face what appears to be immanent failure we should go to the Lord and ask for the strength and the protection of the Lord. Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” That courage is acting rightly when failure is all you can see. That courage is taking responsibility for your actions. That courage is going to Lord because you know Him. That courage is putting yourself in His hands.

So, let’s go out and be courageous today.

Where Does My Help Come From?

 January 22, 2024

Monday

Psalm 121:2 (NASB 2020)  2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Many times I ask the Lord for rescue and He sends help. The two are not the same.

Rescue is pulling me out of the water that I am sinking in like He did with Peter who cried out to Him while trying to walk in water. Rescue is splitting the Red Sea so that Moses and the Hebrew people could walk through. 

Help, on the other hand, leaves me where I am. Help doesn’t make the problem go away. Help gives me strength to act. Help gives me wisdom for the best course. Help gives me encouragement when I am tired of trying. Most of the time, I need help rather than rescue.

Sometimes I pray, “Lord, change my circumstances,” when I should be praying, “Lord, change me to be one who will overcome my circumstances.” The first prayer needs nothing from me. The second requires that I admit that I am not up to solving the problem. The second requires that I am changed. The second prayer is humbling. The first leaves me in my pride.

Surely, the maker of heaven and earth knows exactly what I need. All of my circumstances are in His hands. He certainly allowed me to get in the trouble I am in. He just as certainly has a way out.

For years, years I have prayed for revival in the Church. I have wanted God to change people without much work on my part. In light of this scripture, I will pray differently. I will pray, “Lord, let me be the revival.” I have prayed as if everyone else but me needed revival. Now I am praying that I will have that revival I have prayed for. I cannot do this without His help. I cannot cause even my own revival. 

He indeed is my help. He is the great Creator who has made it all. 

Bearing Fruit for the Lord

 January 21, 2024

Sunday

John 15:4 (NASB 2020)4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

The concept of a man in Christ is foreign to many. They cannot understand what it means. Yet, we find these words or those like it many times in the Apostle Paul’s writings. It was that important even if Paul didn’t define it. The reality is that it isn’t definable. It must be experienced.

Being in Christ is a lot like being in love. Love changes people. People in love do not need another reason to act if love is their reason. When the person is also loved, the love becomes more than reasonable. The love becomes a force that will not stop even if danger presents itself. The father or mother of a child will enter a burning building to retrieve their child. Two people in live will willingly sacrifice themselves for each other.

The person is Christ is profoundly affected by Christ’s presence with him/her. The demeanor changes. The faith of the person changes. The boldness of Christ becomes the boldness of the person in Christ. The necessity of sacrifice is realized without regret. The presence of Christ cannot be denied by those who observe and also are in Christ. There is a deeper fellowship. There is a much deeper commitment to see others come to know Christ as His followers.

The impotence of Christians can be seen in those who are not in Christ. They lack the production of personal fruit. They lack the production of other believers. They are like farmers who try to grow their crops in the Sahara Desert. The sand is not good for the crop. There is no water. Yet, they keep planting without the manifest presence of Christ in their lives.

It doesn’t need to be that way. It doesn’t mean that today anyone who knows the Lord can’t become one in Christ. Today, those who truly seek Him with their whole hearts and do not hold back on anything He has told them to do will find themselves as those in Christ.

Only then will there be fruit. Only then will there be true strength. Only then.

Come to Jesus If You Are Weary

 January 20, 2024

Saturday

Matthew 11:28 (NASB 2020) ²⁸ “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Less than 20% of the church does about 95% of the work of the church. That is a reality that reveals how important the work of the Lord is to us. Those who are working are also getting the benefit of walking with the Lord. Those that refuse may think that working for the Lord just takes up their time and wears them out. 

Sure working for the Lord will wear you out when you do the work in your own strength. The key is coming to Jesus first. That isn't just for salvation but for the strength and joy to do the work. People in love often work long hours and don't even notice how hard they have worked. The same work is drudgery to those who only see the work without having the love necessary to do the work.

The problem with many church members is that they have lost their love for the Lord. They still go to church but they won't sing the songs they don't like. It is bothersome to them. They expect the church to provide services. They expect to be known by the pastor. They expect special recognition for everything they do. And they are worn out.

The church has that smaller 20% who act with joy. They come and serve. They are the greeters, the ones who step in to clean after fellowships, the cooks, the teachers, the ones who rock the preschoolers and the ones who work in the food pantry (among other things).  They seem to have boundless energy. They are reluctant to give up these responsibilities when they get to an age when they can't do them anymore. Their rewards will be great in heaven.

The key is coming to the Lord. Come to restore that first love over and over. Realize when you are weary in your soul that your love may have waned. Fall in love with Jesus again. And again. And again. And again.

We Need the Strength of the Lord

 January 19, 2024

Friday

Ephesians 6:10 (NASB 2020) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

We often operate on our own power. We don’t call on the Lord to drive to work, buy our groceries or do the crossword puzzle. Generally, we assume that the Lord really doesn’t care when we do those things as long as they aren’t keeping us from doing what He has commanded us to do. We assume we don’t need His strength to do these things.

This is where we are wrong. While the Lord may not give us the word needed for forty-five across on that crossword, we still need to be connected to Him. It is in this connection that we have His strength. We need His strength even if we aren’t applying it to something difficult.

The muscled man who can pick up a car still has that strength when he is relaxing in a hot tub. He can still lift a car from the victim of a wreck if so needed. 

The Christian should not think of God’s strength as something that is absent when it is not being used. That strength helps the Christian make wise decisions. That strength warns the Christian from dangerous situations. That strength helps the Christian give and receive wise counsel. The Lord’s strength helps the Christian flee temptation. The Lord’s strength helps the Christian confront the devil.

The context of this scripture is spiritual warfare. The devil and his demons are seeking someone to devour. We need God’s strength when we don’t see any need because we don’t know when we will be attacked.

So, we accept the Lord’s strength everyday. We need it.

Seek the Lord When Afraid

 January 18, 2024

Thursday

Psalm 34:4 (NASB 2020) 4 I sought the Lord and He answered me, And rescued me from all my fears.

I read this scripture and want to run to the result rather than the process. I always want to be rescued before I seek the Lord. But that’s not how it goes. I seek the Lord first.

Isn’t that what we hear in the New Testament. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” The first act is to seek the Lord.

Wouldn’t it be great if this was like a phone call that was answered instantly? The fact that the Lord doesn’t always respond quickly (by our standards) causes us to quit seeking Him. We live in the fast lane today. We have packages that at one time took weeks to arrive delivered in one day. We get upset if the restaurant takes longer than fifteen minutes to serve our food. Why should God take longer? 

The truth is that I sometimes need to wait. Faith is found in waiting. It is strengthened in the silent moments when there is no word from God. You would think that I would learn after some time. I don’t need the fears while I wait for His rescue. He has never failed me. Why should I think He is failing me now?

So, I seek the Lord. I pray. I read His word. I am around spiritual people to whom I am sure God speaks. I listen with my spirit to hear His Spirit. We make the connection and my fears subside.

The rescue may not come when I demand it. It may not be the rescue I have chosen but it is a definite rescue that eliminates my fears of loss. Sometimes it takes me a little while to recognize that His rescue was better than the one I had chosen. Since I know that it always is from past experience, I do not fret the rescue that God sends.

Sometimes a scripture comes to us when we don’t need it at that moment (or at least, we don’t think we need it). Sometimes God draws us to a scripture to prepare us for something that is coming. Maybe something is about to happen which would normally shake us to our bones. But knowing this, we will seek Him now before the moment comes. 

Greater Is He Who Is in You

 January 17, 2024

Wednesday

1 John 4:4 (NASB 2020) 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Believers often take scripture out of context. This scripture is talking about the spirits in the world. It speaks of false prophets who have gone out into the world. The believer cannot be overcome by these spirits.

You have overcome those spirits who deny who Jesus is. The word for overcome is a perfect tense verb. That means that the work has been accomplished and has continuing results. The defeated spirits are still defeated.

There are still false prophets in the world. There are still those who will draw you to themselves rather than glorify Jesus. They will use the Bible. They will say things that are familiar. They depend upon people who do not have a close walk with the Lord. They are looking for those whom they can capture.

There are other spirits that will tempt you. They will question the word of God. They will bring doubt to mind. They will use human reason to woo you into doing things that you shouldn’t. They are all defeated.

You do not need to fight this alone for the Holy Spirit is within you if you are a believer. There is no one stronger. There is no one more wise. There is no one who is closer to you than the Holy Spirit.

Years ago, in Texas, there was a great controversy of having prayer before football games. The argument from many believers is that if we allowed prayers from Christians, we would also need to allow prayers from other religions. I thought of Elijah and his challenge to the prophets of Baal. He let them pray because he knew his God would prevail. I said, “Let them pray so that all will see that our God is the only God.”

The Holy Spirit in you is stronger than any other spirit that will come against you. You can depend on it. Put those other spirits in their place. You are greater than them.

Cast Your Anxiety on Him

 January 16, 2024

Tuesday

1 Peter 5:6–7 (NASB 2020) 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.

When I read this scripture, I see the relationship between pride and anxiety. Pride comes from thinking I am big enough for any problem. I can handle it. I can do it. That will be challenged by things that I can’t control.

I can study but I can’t control what questions I will face on the test. I can work out and eat right but that is no guarantee I won’t get cancer. When those things happen that seem to promise my demise, I get anxious. Otherwise, I would have to admit I wasn’t in control and recognize that God is.

God has a time that He will exalt me if I give Him the reason to exalt me. God is opposed to proud, but gives grace to humble. Since God is always the same, He cannot exalt me in my pride. Thus, I humble myself to give God the opportunity to exalt me.

Humbling myself means that I have cast my anxieties upon Him. Casting an anxiety upon God means that I still take responsibility to act but that action is how He leads me. The solution is not up to me. The compliance with His will is.

I can do this because I know He loves me. The actions God causes me to take may not seem to be in my best interest but His love proves that they are. This is something I should have learned a long time ago. 

God led me to the church I serve right now even though they didn’t pay as well as the last church. It didn’t matter. God has overwhelmingly showed His love to me by the way this church loves me. He has shown that He loves me by providing for every need. He has shown that He loves me by His presence.

There is a negative side to being full of yourself. Twice I went to churches that paid me more than I was making. This isn’t a negative on those churches for they treated me well, but I have only known God’s intimate presence in obedience rather that what I wanted to do. I have had anxiety when I did what I wanted.

So, I thank God that He loves me. I thank God that He has control. I thank God that I am His servant. I thank God for His peace.

The Table Set before Us

 January 15, 2024

Monday

Psalm 23:5–6 (NASB 2020) 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.

Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of the table that the Lord has prepared for us. Many times that’s because we have focused on our enemies rather than the blessings already prepared for us. If we know the Lord and trust in Him for our salvation, we are saved but that salvation will pale in comparison to the salvation that awaits us in His presence. The enemies aren’t permanent. This salvation is.

Believers exist in two realms: This world in which we struggle and the one that is beyond this world. The struggles are real but so is the table that is prepared before us in the presence of our enemies.

What are these enemies? It isn’t the same for everyone but they must include old age and death. Surely, cancer and heart disease. Maybe discouragement and betrayals. Even our own bad decisions may haunt us at times. These will be gone one day when we see the table prepared for us.

Now, we have the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness. That doesn’t assure us that our enemies will be silent. It assures us that He is with us. This is true all the days of our lives. Especially today. We can’t say He is with us all the days if He isn’t with us today. When tomorrow becomes today, He will always be with us.

It is nice to know where this table is. It is in the house of the Lord. No, that’s not church. It is a place called heaven where no one can disobey the Lord. It is a place of great peace. It is a place of great joy. It is an absolutely secure place. It is a place where our enemies are not allowed.

We face today because we have a table being prepared for us right now.

A Reward Is Waiting for the Faithful

 January 14, 2024

Sunday

Galatians 6:9 (NASB 2020) 9 Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.

I have read of pastors who began new churches with twenty or so people and had twenty thousand in just a few years. That is not my story. I have seen slow growth when I saw any growth at all. I have seen those whom I thought I could always depend upon, leave and go to other churches. I have seen business meetings become no different than a secular city council meeting. I have had people tell me how bad I am at preaching, leading and even being a human being. Believe me, I know what discouragement looks like.

There was a time that I considered quitting. I was never treated like this in a secular job. I always got  promotions, raises and praise from my bosses. It was a much easier life. I even made plans. But God would have none of it.

The truth is that I need God more than God needs me. I cannot have the intimate relationship I desire with God by doing what I want. I must be obedient even if I am crushed under the weight of failure. 

There is a due time that each of us, no matter how much discouragement we face, will reap a reward. When I was first in the ministry I thought I would see that due time within years. Now, I have been doing this for over forty years and I realize that my due time will be in eternity.

But isn’t that the best time? What would it be like if my due time was on earth and not in eternity? We assume that those who had big impacts on earth will have big rewards in eternity. Maybe it isn’t figured that way. Maybe those who are faithful through back-breaking discouragement will receive the greater rewards in heaven.

The word translated “weary” here may be better translated “faint.” We all get weary but we should not quit. We all get to a point that we think we can’t take another step. Then, we take the Lord’s strength. We get up after being knocked down one more time. We go on.

The discouragement is only for a little while. The reward lasts forever.

The Faith We Walk By

 January 13, 2024

Saturday

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB 2020) 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—

Many people look at these words and think that people of faith act as if their wishes are true simply because they want them to be true. They believe that Christians believe myths told to comfort them like the fairy tales that put us to sleep when we were little.

“Faith is believing something you know ain't true.”- Mark Twain. This quote is that of what the person who has no faith believes of people of faith. Unfortunately, even people of faith believe it is believing something because it feels like you should believe it.

Faith is based on evidence. We have a historical evidence that proves our faith. In every doubt, history has shown that our faith is true. Unbelieving scholars will claim that there is no proof until the proof is discovered. Archeology is one of those means. It was said that there was no evidence of Pontus Pilate until a stone engraved with his name was discovered in Caesarea. Discoveries that prove the age of the New Testament debunks the theories of it being written a hundred years after the events. 

Believers have spiritual encounters with the Holy Spirit who speaks to them in ways that cannot be explained except that He exists. They often say, “The Lord spoke to me,” with confidence because what they “heard” was beyond their ability to know.

I was at a hospital to support the grandparents of a little boy who had an inoperable brain tumor. This little boy was only there for a biopsy. There were a lot of people in the waiting room that I didn’t know. The Lord said to me, “Get these people together to pray right now!” I was so scared that I stood in the corner of the room. I didn’t know these people. I was sure that I was about to make a fool of myself. Less than a minute later, the grandmother of the little boy came directly into the waiting room. She looked around the room and upon seeing me made a beeline straight for me. She got right in my face and said, “I was in the chapel praying and God told me to tell you to get the people together right now and pray.” Now, I was more scared of the grandmother than I was of making a fool of myself and I gathered the people together and we prayed. Maybe an hour and half later the dad came into the room and said, “The doctor said he got it all.” I asked what that meant. The inoperable tumor had been removed. That was over thirty years ago and that little boy (who is no longer a little boy) is still alive today.

Do I live by faith? Absolutely. I do so because I have incredible evidence that God is working.

What Spirit Has God Given You?

 January 12, 2024

Friday

2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB 2020) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

The Christian life does not protect us from our own trepidations. All of us fear something. Some people fear speaking in front of a crowd. Some people fear heights. Some people fear crowds in general. It is natural to fear some things. 

The word translated “timidity” has the connotation of cowardice. This is a fear that keeps us from doing what we need to do. It keeps us from obeying God. It is the fear that lacks trust in God so that we don’t tithe. It is the fear that expects the negative result that keeps us from speaking the gospel to others. It is the fear that taking a stand for the Lord in moral issues may cause us to lose a promotion, an election or a raise.

Power, love and disciple overcome this cowardice. There may still be some fear but we act against that fear so that we prove ourselves to be brave because we acted even though we were afraid.

The power that God gives us is His power. Receiving that power is an act of faith. We are weak and He perfects His power in this. We admit that we can’t do what He has told us to do but we are determined that it will be done. Thus, He empowers us to do His will.

The love we have from God results in a love that we return to Him. It results in a love for others. It becomes the motivating factor that causes us to make a volitional decision to do what God has commanded.

The self-control or discipline that God gives us comes from a mind set on Him. A mind set on the Spirit results in decisions agreeable with the Spirit. They are right decisions and they defy worldly wisdom. They are decisions that may demand sacrifice but the sacrifice is seen as a reasonable price to accomplish the Lord’s commands.

Yes, even today, you may be faced with something that you do not want to do. But God did not give you a spirit of cowardice that backs away from things because they are hard or risky or fearful. You act because of what He has gifted you with. He has given you power, and love and self-control.

Be Strong for the Lord Is with You

 January 11, 2024

Thursday

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB 2020) 6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the Lord your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.”

Moses is giving advice to Joshua who will resume command of Israel when Moses is gone. He tells Joshua that he can be strong and courageous without any fear of his enemies because the Lord is with him and will stay with him. In other words, the favor of the Lord who is present is all that you need.

We may not face the same enemies or the same difficulties as Joshua but we will certainly face them all the same. Some of these may appear to be more than we can handle. They will certainly cause the end of something we love or seek. But those of us who have trusted in our Savior know that we have His favor and He will never leave us. He will not abandon us in our moments of defeat.

Some of you may have lost a spouse to death. You can say, “I have the Lord’s favor; He is present and will not leave me.”

Some of you may have gone through a divorce and struggle to raise your kids without that present support. You can say, “I have the Lord’s favor; He is present and will not leave me.”

Some of you may have lost your job. You can’t see a way to make the mortgage payment and car payment. You can say, “I have the Lord’s favor; He is present and will not leave me.”

Some of you may have everything going wrong. Your friends have abandoned and betrayed you. Your boss is cruel. There is no advancement possible in your job. Your house is in need of repairs that you can’t afford. Your car has broken down and needs new tires. You can say, “I have the Lord’s favor; He is present and will not leave me.”

What does that do for you? This gives you a reason to pray. As you pray you remember, “I have the Lord’s favor; He is present and will not leave me.” This should give you an assured hope.

You may have defeats but you will not be defeated. So say it out loud: “I have the Lord’s favor; He is present and will not leave me.”

Free from the Love of Money

 January 10, 2024

Wednesday

Hebrews 13:5 (NASB 2020) 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,”

Money is almost absolutely necessary to live in our society. (I say “almost” because I will otherwise hear stories of people who live without any money. I assure you, they are the anomaly, not the norm.) Thus, having money, making money and trying to better your conditions by saving and spending money are not evil. The problem comes when we love money.

Love is an act of sacrifice. It has varying degrees. The greatest love we can have is giving our lives for someone. The least love has the least sacrifice. The character filled with the love of money sacrifices the things of God for money. The love of money becomes the driving force that justifies giving up what God has for us. God has all we need but we want more than God has for us when we have a character controlled by the love of money.

I worked for a man many years ago who made a lot of money. His wife told me that he had gone forward twice in church services to declare that God called him to preach when he was younger. He never preached because he wouldn’t give up the tremendous amount of money he was making in his business. He couldn’t accept what God had for him. He missed the joy and the rewards God had for him in eternity because of the temporal desire for money.

Those who are characterized by the love of money do not realize that God will never desert them nor abandon them. They believe their own abilities will sustain themselves better than God can. They can never truly rest.

God will never desert you. He is with your right now. The love of money can lead you to believe that He will desert you. It will lead you to believe that having money is more important than the things of God.

How about this? Start thanking God for what you have right now. You may have little or you may have a lot. I’ll bet that before you finish the list of things you are thanking Him for you’ll realize that you have enough.

Don't Be Afraid

 January 9, 2024

Tuesday

Luke 12:32 (NASB 2020) 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.

Doesn’t it seem that the Lord has to say “Do not be afraid,” a lot of times to His followers? That’s because we are afraid.

What is there to fear? If you listen to mainstream media, just about everything. There is the economy, the climate, the crime, the drug crisis, texting drivers, new illnesses and whatever else can be construed to cause us fear. Evidently, we gravitate toward this fear or the media would stop. Fear sells because we buy it.

Yet, the Lord is still our shepherd. He still loves us with an everlasting love. He still holds onto us through all our fears. He still sits on the throne. He is still more powerful than anything we can fear.

We are not going to receive safety in our circumstances. We can have peace and be ultimately safe in the Lord’s hands. We can walk through the valley of the shadow of death because He is with us. Even if we die, He carries us to Himself. Even if we receive word that our disease is terminal, His kingdom awaits us.

Sure, there are things that we will not like. I had a lady tell me that the cancer she had gone through with its many surgeries and subsequent pain was horrendous. She told me that it made her cling to the Lord. She said to me, “I don’t ever want to go through that again, but I, also, wouldn’t give up that experience for anything in the world.” Her walk with the Lord was so sweet, she didn’t want to lose it. She attributed the crisis as the impetus that drew her so close to her Lord.

So, it appears that we might have some bad days. We might have some things that will try to scare us. We need to look beyond them to see that the Lord has promised to give us the kingdom. It is an exchange beyond imagination.

You Can Have Peace in Jesus

 January 8, 2024

Monday

John 16:33 (NASB 2020) 33 These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Problem free people don’t need to hear this verse. Many times their peace is found in their circumstances. They have peace as long as there is money in the bank, everyone is healthy, and they are able do as they please. It is when they can’t do as they please because there is no money, no health and their future is severely limited do to their jobs, their marriages or some other stress that they don't have peace. To often people think that peace comes when circumstances are good.

Jesus came to us to give us peace. This is not the peace that the world gives to us. The world gives us the peace of circumstances. Jesus gives us peace beyond our circumstances. Jesus gives us peace with a promise that there will be tribulation. We will go through tough times.

Maybe you aren’t in one of those stressful situations. You have a relative peace because your circumstances are good. Things will not stay that way forever. The world is fallen from its original state. It will give us hardship. Now is the time to embrace the peace of Jesus before the hardship hits us.

Maybe you are in one of those stressful situations. You can have peace in this: Jesus told you to take courage because He has overcome the world. He is stronger than anything that can come against you. It may hurt now but it will not last.

Recently, I got a shot in my shoulder. It was placed in the area between the bones on top. It hurt when the shot went in. It really hurt when the injection was administered. I knew that while I hurt at that time, it would soon be over because the doctor was not going to leave the needle in my shoulder and he could not keep injecting cortisone beyond what he had in the syringe. I had peace, even though I didn’t like the pain because I trusted the doctor.

If you are going through a bad time, this time will not last forever. Take courage because Jesus has overcome your bad time.

See You in Church!

 January 7, 2024

Sunday

Hebrews 10:24 (NASB 2020) 24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

None of us go to perfect churches. To say that we don’t go to any church because we haven’t found one to our suiting sets us up over the Church. We make ourselves the judge over the church and therefore the judge over God’s people. These people are the church and they aren’t perfect.

Church should be a people who meet at certain places and at certain times whom we know, become friends with and can encourage each other to love and good deeds. You simply can’t do this effectively without meeting together.

Church should be a people who encourage us, as well. They must know us to know we need encouragement. We must meet with them so they will know us.

The tendency to stop attending church is present in all of us. We may feel bad about this if we only miss one week but it is hardly on our minds when we miss a year. We must guard ourselves in our church attendance. We don’t want to become Easter and Christmas Christians. 

I don’t know of a better place to be than in church on Sundays. These are my friends. They will correct me sometimes when I am out of line. They will encourage me when I am down. They will share with me their own testimonies of how God sustained them when they were down. They urge me to take responsibilities for my actions. They give me a place of service. They teach me the word of God. They help me in my walk with Him. I become a mature believer because of the interaction with these believers at my church.

So, this is Sunday. See you in church!

God Gives Good Gifts

 January 6, 2024

Saturday

James 1:17 (NASB 2020)17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

When we pray, we think we are praying for good things. However, we have no means of evaluating whether something is truly good. Sometimes what we believe is good may be bad for us. God only gives us the good as He assesses it as good.

Paul would pray that his “thorn in the flesh” would be removed. That wouldn’t have been good for him because God told him that he was strong when he was weak. Depending on God is good and relying on yourself is not as good. Most of us would have prayed that our “thorn in the flesh” was removed too. Naturally, we won’t see how it could be good on our own. We would have been left with only our own strength if our prayers were answered the way we expressed them.

God doesn’t change concerning this. He gives us what we need. He gives us what is good. That is reassuring. We would not be able to have confidence in a God who changed how He felt about things. We wouldn’t know what to expect when we prayed. We might even have some trepidation in our prayers because we might think that we are telling God what to do. In other words, we might be afraid that He will give us exactly what we have asked for even if it isn’t good for us.

I know someone will tell me that God has allowed a prayer to be answered that wasn’t good for them. Again, I don’t think we have enough information to evaluate this. We often need to learn a lesson so that we won’t do something more harmful to ourselves. Praying that we receive an award may result in realizing that awards aren’t necessary when we know we have done our best. The wanting of things is sometimes more desirable than actually having those things.

Praying for a new car may result in buying one that has payments that last for years. The agony of those payments may cause you to never go into debt like that again.

So, know that what you receive from the Lord will be good. He never changes in this. You can count on receiving good from the Lord.

God Will Not Let You Hit the Ground

 January 5, 2024

Friday

Psalm 37:23 (NASB 2020)

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, 

And He delights in his way.

24 When he falls, he will not be hurled down, 

Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

I have heard from some that think that people use their faith as a crutch. In other words, they think that they are strong enough to take on all of life’s challenges without the Lord. Of course, they say this when they have no challenges.

The scripture above says that the steps of a strong man are established by the Lord. The word for man indicates that he is a strong man. Strong men realize they need their steps established by the Lord. No one is immune to crises. Everyone has something that happens that tests their strength.

The Lord delights in the way of those who allow their steps to be established by Him. The picture is of a Father who watches intently as His child learns to walk and navigate life in this world.

Each of us falls at some time. We trip. This speaks of those hard times when we don’t think we can take another step. Yet, the Lord holds onto our hands to keep us from hitting the ground.

When my children were small and were not adept at walking, I held their hands when we crossed the street. I did so for two reasons. I didn’t want them to dart out in front of an oncoming vehicle and I didn’t want them to skin their knees if they tripped.

We all have those crises that make us trip. We also know that as we walk with the Lord, He will not let us fall all the way.

You may be facing something very tough right now. Make sure you are holding onto the Lord’s hand. Make sure you are walking in His ways. He won’t let you hit the ground.

God Knows What We Need

 January 4, 2024

Thursday

Matthew 6: 7-8 (NASB 2020) 7 “And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

We all pray but some think their praying will be enhanced by the words they use. I have heard many people pray using King James English. That is fine if that is how they learned to pray but it isn’t fine if they think this will cause God to give them what they want.

Because I have fasted for extended periods, people have acted as if God was obligated to give me what I asked. There is nothing I can do to make God give me what He doesn’t want for me. I fast because I humble myself before Him readily accepting what He has for me.

Honestly, do we believe that we know more than God does when it comes to our needs? Do we believe we are informing God of our needs? No, we are seeking to agree with God in our needs when we bring our needs to Him. 

We sometimes forget that God loves us. He loved us so much that His own Son was not too high a price to redeem us.

We sometimes forget that God knows exactly what is going on in our lives. He knows what we need before we know what we need. He keeps His attention on us out of His love.

We sometimes forget that God has the knowledge to know more than we know. Our cries to Him bring us closer. He wants us to walk with Him. He wants us to understand how much He loves us.

We sometimes forget that God has the power to give us exactly what we need. What we receive from Him is what we need.

Yes, we cry out to Him. Yes, we continue to petition Him. But we never should think that we can make Him give us less than what He has for us. This is how we should pray: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

There Is Hope for You, Yet

 January 3, 2024

Wednesday

Philippians 1:6 (NASB 2020) 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.

My wife and I flew back from Texas. She said she would get the bags if I would get the car in long-term parking and bring it just outside of baggage claim. Amazingly, I found the car and brought it around. The airport police were making sure that no one was parking and going in so I went around a couple times until my wife would come out with the bags. The third time she was waiting for me with one bad and I pulled over. 

While my wife went back in to retrieve the other bag the airport policewoman said that I needed to go around. I told her that my wife just went in to get the other bag. 

She proceed to act as if she was about to write a parking ticket. I exploded. I understood why they needed to keep the traffic flowing, but this seemed ridiculous! I got back in my car and started to go around the airport again as I yelled at the policewoman. 

My wife came out and wondered where I had gone. I was still mad and said some more things to the policewoman when I got back around. 

After I calmed down, I was so ashamed of my actions. Sure, I can justify what I said by being tired, hungry and the unreasonableness of what was going on, but that won’t truly justify my actions before the Lord. No, I didn’t act like I knew Jesus. I also wasn’t following His example of being ill treated but not returning ill treatment.

It is both accurate and easy for me to say that I have a long ways to go. I can even admit that I have preached this self-unlearned message before. I wasn’t anything like I had exhorted others to be.

I have one comfort that still doesn’t excuse my actions. Jesus is still working on me. I am an uncompleted project. This won’t excuse the next time I act this way but it does reveal there is hope for me yet.

Your Labor Is Not in Vain

 January 2, 2024

Tuesday

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB 2020) 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

No one makes a public decision in another worship service. The preacher may think that all of his hard work in putting the sermon together is in vain, but he would be wrong.

Not all spiritual decisions are public. Not all spiritual decisions need to be public. Working for the Lord means that you aim for the heart. The feet, hands, legs and mouth will follow later.

Not all spiritual decisions are immediate. Many times the Holy Spirit continues to work on the individual long after the preacher has stopped preaching. That is also true of anyone who shares the gospel with others. Some people volunteer readily when they are convicted of what they need to do. Others must surrender because they continue to fight what they need to do.

The work of the gospel takes time in many people. They hear the truth but it takes hearing it again and again for some. People working for the Lord need to see their work as adding a brick to the building rather than trying to build a building in a single day.

The person laboring for the Lord has been changed by the labor. This should always be true. The Holy Spirit worked in the laborer by drawing him or her close and convicting that the message shared is true. This is what makes the Christian firm and immovable.

So, be encouraged! That person you think has dismissed all that you have said to them may not have done so at all. The work you are doing to raise your children may seem to go nowhere but the Lord is the One who makes your work fruitful. The co-worker you struggle to show who Jesus is will be worked on by the Holy Spirit too. You are being changed by your work for the Lord.

None of our work for Him is in vain.