Daily Hope E-mails

Trials Test Your Faith

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold." (1 Peter 1:7a NLT)

God has promised to "meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 NIV). But with every promise there is a condition. God wants you to learn to trust him more so that he can meet your needs and bless your life.

You learn to trust God more by having your faith stretched by trials. The more your faith is stretched, the more God is able to bless your life.�

You might find yourself experiencing one of the first two trials - the tests of pressure and people. Yesterday, I mentioned two common trials that God uses to develop your faith so you can trust him more. Here are two more:

The Persistence Test

The persistence test answers the question: "Will I keep my commitments?" Life is about making commitments. The problem we have today is that most people are half committed to two dozen things instead of being totally committed to the one or two things in life that really matter for now and eternity. That's a waste!

Weak people give excuses. Wise people find the time and way to do what they say they will do. Do you want to be a weak person or a wise person? This is a test of the kind of character you're going to develop.�

The Priorities Test

This is the most important test, and it asks, "Who will be first in your life?"

How do you know if God is really first priority in your life? Ask yourself three questions: What do you think about the most? Where does your money go first? How do you spend your time? Your answers will reveal the priorities in your life.�

God has eternal rewards in store for you if you pass these tests: "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12 NLT). A crown of life is a symbol of all that God wants to do in your life - all the blessings he wants to bestow on you, all the needs he wants to meet, all the rewards he wants to give you in Heaven. What a deal!

Talk It Over

How would you rate yourself at following through on commitments? In what areas do you need to simplify so that you can give 100 percent to your commitments?
How would you answer the three questions that reveal your priorities? How do you need to change your priorities?

Your Faith Is Being Tested

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold." (1 Peter 1:7a NLT)

The Bible repeatedly says that God has promised to meet your needs: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

But the Bible also tells us that with every promise there is a condition. One of the conditions for this promise is that you have to trust him. The more you trust God, the more God is able to meet needs in your life.

So, how can you learn to trust God more so he can meet all of your needs? How can you learn to have greater faith?�

You don't get faith by sitting in a Bible study group or just talking about it. Faith is like a muscle; it develops by being used. The more you use your faith, the more it gets stretched. And the more it gets stretched, the more God is able to bless your life.�

We call the circumstances that God creates to stretch our faith "trials": "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold" (1 Peter 1:7a NLT).

There are four common trials that God uses to test our faith, and, chances are, you're in one of these tests right now. When you go through them, you can know that it is an opportunity for you to develop your faith so you can trust God more. I'll talk about the first two today and the next two tomorrow.

The Pressure Test
The pressure test asks the question, "How will you handle stress?" Will you depend on yourself, or will you depend on God? Psalm 50:15 says, "Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me" (NIV). Do you turn to God when you're in trouble and not to other things?
�
The People Test
God often uses people in your life to test and stretch and develop your faith. This test asks the question, "How will you handle disappointment?" Life is often disappointing. Careers, marriages, and even plans don't turn out the way we planned them. But the most disappointing thing in life is people. Why? We get disappointed by people because we expect them to meet a need that only God himself can meet. This is a test!

Your problem is not the people in your life. Your problem is your response to the people in your life. People are not the problem, and they're not the answer to the problem, either. The answer is God. When you expect other people to be your savior, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.�

Jeremiah 17:7 says, "Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence" (NLT). What happens if you trust in the Lord? Look at God's promise in Isaiah 49:23: "Those who hope in me will not be disappointed" (NIV).

Talk It Over

Which of these tests is God using in your life right now to stretch your faith?
How will you choose to respond to the stress and people in your life that are testing your faith?

Surrender to God's Loving Control

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." (Romans 5:1 NLT)

If you want to have deep, personal, satisfying peace of mind in heart and soul, you've got to surrender control of your life totally to God. How do you know if you've done that?

Evidence of a surrendered life is always obedience. When God says, "Do it!" I do it. I don't care if I don't understand it, if anybody else is doing it, if it's possible or not, if it's hard or easy. I just do it.

When you listen to God's Word and follow his direction, the result is always the same: peace.

Today, you may be in an uncontrollable circumstance. You may be married to an unchangeable person. You may be experiencing an unexplainable problem. The good news is you can have the peace of God in your life. But first, you have to make peace with God. You can't have the peace of God until you first make peace with God. How do you do that? By surrendering your entire life in faith to Jesus Christ. "Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Romans 5:1 NLT).

Aren't you tired of being at war with God? Don't you realize that is the single greatest source of stress in your life? What is the result of being in control of your life? Worry, guilt, bitterness, resentment, anxiety, fear, fatigue, depression, and despair. What is the result of putting Jesus Christ first in your life and being fully surrendered to whatever he wants? Peace, power, strength, wisdom, purpose, meaning, eternal life, significance, and joy.

Would you pray this prayer in your heart?�

"Dear Father, you know how I have resented the problems in my life, and you know how I have resisted the things that have caused me pain that I can't change. You know that I've asked you many times for an explanation that has never come.

Today, I want to stop fighting you over things I don't understand. Forgive me. I want to begin the path of personal peace. So I ask you for help. Help me to change the things that I can, and help me to accept the things that cannot be changed. Help me, Jesus, to trust in your loving care when things don't make sense. Help me to trust that you are a good God and that you have my best interest at heart.

Today, I make an unconditional surrender of all my life to your loving care and control. Please give me your strength and wisdom and peace and purpose. I want to make peace with God by faith so that I can have the peace of God through you, Jesus Christ. Amen."

Trust in God's Loving Care

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand." (Philippians 4:6-7 LB)

There is no such thing as a problem-free life. You just have to learn to have peace in the middle of your problems, or you're never going to have peace - period. As soon as one pops up and you deal with it, another one is going to take its place.

So, why is your life just one problem after another?

There are three reasons:

First, Adam choked. He blew it. He and Eve gave into temptation and allowed sin to come into the world, and we're all paying the consequences. We live in a fallen world.

Second, you have an enemy, and his name is Satan. He wants to mess with your mind, your family, your health, your finances - particularly if you are a follower of Christ and you're trying to do the right thing.

On top of all that, you make your own mistakes. Most of the problems and pain in your life comes from your own poor decisions. When we make dumb decisions, we pay the penalties.

But sometimes the pain in your life is no one's fault. Sometimes there's a problem in your life so that the work of God may be displayed in your life. Regardless of why you have the problem that's unsolvable, unchangeable, unexplainable, or uncontrollable, whether it came from the world, the devil, or yourself, you still need the same response every time - trust in the loving care of God.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand" (NLT). That's the path to peace. Trust God's loving care in the situation.

Talk It Over

What evidence is there in your life of God using your struggles to point others to him?
How do other people respond when they witness your peace in the midst of difficult circumstances?

Accept What Cannot Be Changed

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13 NLT)

Worrying about what cannot be changed won't give you peace. Becoming resentful or bitter about what cannot be changed will not give you peace. Feeling guilty about things that cannot be changed will not give you peace.

There is only one thing that will bring peace in your life, and that is acceptance of what cannot be changed.

When Paul wrote the book of Philippians, he was in prison in Rome, awaiting execution. In Philippians 4:11-13, he wrote these words: "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" (NLT).

Paul probably wanted to change his circumstances, and he could have lashed out at God and questioned what was happening to him. Instead, he trusted God for the things that he could not change and chose to give God the glory.

I can tell you one thing that keeps us tense and nervous and stressed out about the things in our lives: our demand for an explanation. When something goes wrong in life, we say, "Why is this happening, God? Why did you allow this?"

Here are three things you need to understand: First, God doesn't owe you an explanation for anything. God is a good, just, and fair God, and he understands things that you don't. You need to just say "OK."

Second, even if he did explain why things happen the way they do, you probably wouldn't understand it. You cannot comprehend the ways of God.

Third, explanations never bring peace, anyway. Explanations never satisfy.

What comforts us is the presence of God in our life - not God's explanations but his care and concern and comfort. Stop looking for something that you really don't need, and stop trying to change things that are out of your control. Then, you will have peace.

Talk It Over

What are the circumstances in your life that you have tried to change but instead need to give to God?
Instead of "why," what requests do you need to make of God to help bring you peace?

Peace Is Not Problem-free Living

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27 NLT)

Everybody thinks they have the key to peace of mind - or at least they want you to think so, so you'll buy their product. I saw an ad for a perfume the other day called "Peace" perfume. The ad promised, "Wear it to feel serenity." Now, folks, if it were that easy, it would be great - just put on a little perfume, and you'll have peace of mind.

Peace of mind is such an important concept in life that people will do almost anything to find it. They will travel to exotic places at great expense. They will sniff a brain-destroying drug up their nose. They will experiment with New Age rituals. They will try all kinds of things.

But the truth is, very few people in this world are at peace with themselves. Most people carry a high degree of stress, anxiety, or tension in their lives. As a pastor, I have noticed that there are three things that tend to rob our peace:

�When circumstances are uncontrollable, we often lose our peace. Much of life is beyond your control. You sit in gridlock traffic for hours and miss an important event. A couple keeps trying desperately for a baby, and it just isn't happening. When these things - big or small - happen, we get frustrated and lose our peace of mind.
�
When people are unchangeable, we tend to lose our peace. People naturally resist change. And they resent it when we try to change them. The quickest way to lose our peace of mind is to try to change somebody else, because most people are just not going to change.
�
When problems are unexplainable, it's easy to lose our peace. We know that life is not fair. Not everybody has a happy ending. Things don't always turn out right. What makes it more difficult is that we are not always going to know why. And when we don't know why, we tend to get anxious, nervous, and stressed, and we lose our peace.

God has promised peace of mind, because it's a fundamental need of your life. One of the Hebrew names of God is Jehovah Shalom. "Shalom" means peace. "Jehovah Shalom" means "I am the God of peace." Jesus says in John 14:27, "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid" (NLT).

If God says, "I'm offering you a gift of peace," he means it. It's not something you work for. It's not something you deserve. It's not something you try for. You don't beg for peace. You don't plead for peace.

Peace has nothing to do with problem-free living. It is simply a gift that you must accept, and it's available to you today.

Talk It Over

What are the uncontrollable circumstances that have robbed your peace lately?
Why do you think God allows us to have problems?
What are the results of living in peace?

Joy Is a Choice

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

In the book of Philippians, Paul uses the word "joy" 16 times in just four chapters. As a prisoner in a Roman jail, awaiting execution, it's pretty amazing to think that he was able to write the most positive book of the Bible during one of the darkest times of his life.

You, too, can have that same kind of joy. In Philippians, Paul gives us six joy-builders to help us live joyful lives, no matter what our circumstances are. To make them easy to remember, I've made them into an acrostic - JOYFUL. Today, we'll look at the last three joy-builders.

F: Focus on what's good.

Life is filled with ups and downs, but you have a choice: Which are you going to focus on - the good or the bad? Paul says in Philippians 4:8, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (NLT). Where do you get a list of things like that? Talk radio? Not likely! Television? No. The newspaper or magazines? No.

But there is one place you can count on: God's Word. The more you fill your mind with this book, the more positive and joyful you're going to be. God's Word is true, it is right, and it is admirable. It is worthy of value. Spend some time reading God's Word every day.

U: Use your life to help others.

Paul was joyful because he was unselfish. He invested his life in others. If you want to have continuous joy in your life, here is the secret: Give your life away. Stop focusing on your puny problems and aches and pains, and start focusing on helping others. The more you give your life away, Jesus said, the more you find it. The more unselfish you become, the more joyful a person you're going to be.

"I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work" (Philippians 4:1b). Paul's joy came from serving the people in whom he had invested his life - the people he had led to Christ and discipled.

L: Learn to be content.

This is the bottom line: Joy is a decision. You are as joyful as you choose to be.

We get caught up in "when and then" thinking ("When 'this' happens in my life, then I'll be happy"). You are as joyful as you choose to be, because joy is a choice. Philippians 4:11 says, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (NIV). You can always be joyful - no matter what happens - because God is in control.

You may think that joy is some kind of characteristic for a naturally upbeat and cheerful person, and you're "just not the joyful type." You're wrong.

You have a chance to determine your destiny. Change right now the priorities in your life. Change right now what you're going to live the rest of your life for. If you will begin to yield yourself to God's purpose, get to know God's Son, and use your life to help other people, then you will have more joy than you could ever imagine.

Talk It Over

What are the honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable truths that you discover in your Bible reading? How can you remind yourself to focus on these things today?
What are the circumstances that are keeping you from being content and joyful?
How will serving others help save you from focusing on your circumstances?

In All Things, Be Joyful

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

You have a fundamental need for joy in your life. Life without joy is overwhelming, overburdened, and oppressive. Studies have actually shown that the more joy we have in our lives, the more productive we are. I read an article in "US News and World Report" that said that corporations hire "joy consultants" to build up the joy in peoples' lives so that employees can be more productive. It is true that you have more energy, more creativity, and more productivity when you have joy in your life.

In the short book of Philippians - only four chapters long - Paul uses the word "joy" 16 times. The amazing thing is, Paul didn't write this book when he was on vacation in the Caribbean. He was in prison in Rome, waiting to be executed. In the darkest days of his life, he wrote the most positive book in the Bible.

In Philippians, Paul gives us six joy-builders that will help diffuse our discouragement and lift our depression. To make them easy to remember, I've made them into an acrostic - JOYFUL. Today, we'll look at the first three.

J: Jettison all regrets about your past.

"Jettison" means "to abandon as worthless, to discard, to eliminate, to get rid of." Paul says if you want to enjoy life, there are some things you've got to get rid of because they are wearing you down and overburdening your life. The Bible says to forget your regrets, because that's what God does - he chooses to forgive your mistakes once they're confessed. The starting point of joy is letting go of the past. Philippians 3:13 says, "One thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead" (GN).

O: Omit all worries about your future.

If you're going to enjoy the present, you must omit all worries about your future. Worry, hands-down, is the greatest killjoy of them all. You cannot be joyful and worried at the same time. Paul's antidotes are these verses: "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" (Philippians 4:6 NLT). You can either worry or you can pray.

Y: Yield yourself to God's purpose.

If you're just drifting, if you don't know where you came from or where you're going or why you're here, of course you're not going to have any joy in your life. We all need a cause greater than ourselves for which we live. That is what brings us joy. Living for yourself does not bring joy.

Even when Paul had literally lost everything, there was one thing that could not be taken away from him - his purpose in life. Paul says in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (NIV).

If you want to have a joy-filled life, you need to get in line with God's purpose for your life. When you begin to live the purpose for which you are made, life makes sense, and joy is a lot more easily found.

Talk It Over

What are the things - people, circumstances, situations, or feelings - that are wearing you down and keeping you from living a joyful life?
What is the difference in happiness and joy?
What are you worried about? What do you need to do to release your worry?

Avoiding the Rearview Mirror

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"Put your heart right, Job. Reach out to God .... Then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more." (Job 11:13, 15-16 GNT)

You can learn a lot by looking at your past. You've heard the saying, "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it." That's true - but it's only part of the story. You can't heal the most pervasive, costly wounds in your life by focusing only on your past. To defeat those giants, you'll have to look ahead.

Too often we try to find healing by looking in our rearview mirrors. When we do that, we're more likely to crash than heal.

In Job 11, God tells us clearly how to get rid of painful memories and move on with our lives. He says, "Put your heart right, Job. Reach out to God .... Then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more" (Job 11:13, 15-16 GNT).

First, put your heart right. You do what's right - no matter what the other person does. It's always right to forgive those who've hurt you.

Second, reach out to God. Invite Jesus into every room in the house of your heart. Often, we've invited him into the front room (accepted Jesus as our Savior) - but not the bedroom, kitchen, or garage.

Third, face the world again. Don't hide in a shell or withdraw so you don't get hurt again. Move forward. Learn to live again.

Your past is not your future. It doesn't matter what you've done, who you've done it with, or how long you've done it. Throughout Scripture, God forgives murderers, adulterers, and slackers, and he uses them to do his work in the world.

You, too, have a great future ahead of you. Put your heart right, reach out to God, and face the world again.

And then let God do something incredible through you.

Talk It Over

Why is it so easy to look at our past when trying to overcome pain?
Who do you need to forgive in order to "put your heart right"?
As you reach out to God for healing, into what rooms do you still need to invite Jesus?
In what ways do you "hide in a shell" as you deal with hurt in your life?

Shift to a New Soundtrack

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." (Romans 12:2a NLT)

People really don't forget anything. Stored somewhere in your mind, you'll find the date of your anniversary, the score of the Super Bowl when you were 10, and the day your child lost his first tooth.

You may not recall those events, but the memories are there.

The good news is, your brain stores everything. The bad news is, your brain stores everything. Your brain can't distinguish between what's imaginary and what's real, truth or lies.

You have stored all kind of garbage in your brain. And, often it's that garbage that you're basing your decisions upon.

When you were a child, adults said things to you that you believed without question because they were adults and authority figures. For example:

You're not very coordinated.
You'll never be good at math.
You'll always struggle with your weight.
Nobody really likes you.
You're shy.
You don't really have much to offer.
You'll never be as good as your brother.
I'm embarrassed by you.

They were lies then, and they're lies now. But you believe them!

You need to change the tape that's playing in your mind. Instead of playing tapes full of lies, you need to play the truth of God's Word. You need to hide the truth of God's Word in your heart.

Romans 12:2 says, "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (NLT). How do you change how you think? You play a tape of truth.

Ask God to heal your memories. Tell God, "I need you to heal these memories of rejection, sin, resentment, guilt, and abuse. They hurt. Please heal me."
Fill your mind with God's Word. The more truth you put in your mind, the more lies you push out. It's a replacement strategy. Instead of spending all your time watching television and listening to music, fill your mind with God's Word.

For years psychologists have told us that our self-esteem comes from what you think the most important person in your life thinks about you.

Make Jesus the most important person in your life, and it'll change everything. God's Word says you're lovable (John 3:16), capable (2 Peter 1:3), valuable (Luke 12:6), forgivable (Psalm 103:12), and usable (Ephesians 4:12).

Let that tape become the soundtrack of your life, and you will never be the same.

Talk It Over

What "tapes" from your past do you tend to replay over and over in your mind?
What does God's Word say about the lies you keep replaying?

You Can Get Well or Get Even

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." (1 Peter 2:23b LB)

If you've been hurt by someone else, whether it's physical or emotional, you've got a decision to make. You can use your energy to get well or get even.

But you can't do both.

Jesus, too, understood pain and abuse. When he was crucified, he was wounded in every way possible - by his feet, his hands, and his head. They crushed a crown of thorns onto his skull. They nailed him to a cross. Roman soldiers gave him 40 lashes with a cat of nine tails.

Of course, Jesus' deepest wounds weren't physical but emotional. He was betrayed, rejected, and humiliated.

Yet 1 Peter 2:23 says, "When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (LB). Jesus could have sent a billon angels to annihilate everyone while he was on the cross, but he didn't.

He leaves the issue to his Father in Heaven. He says, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing." He refuses to let pain make him bitter.

To get through the pain and abuse of this life, you must release those who've abused you. You can't get well as long as you have resentment in your heart. For your own sake, you need to let go of your right to get even.

Getting even won't make you feel better. Even if you were able to get even, it wouldn't take your pain away.

Does the person who hurt you deserve your forgiveness? No. But neither do you deserve God's forgiveness. You offer forgiveness for your sake, not the other person's.

You can also be assured that God saw everything. The Bible says in Romans 12:19, "Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the Scripture says, 'I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.'"

God saw what happened when you were hurt. And he wept, just as he was doing when his Son was crucified. It's God's responsibility to get even - not yours.

The person who hurt you won't get away with it.

But you will. You'll stop paying for someone else's mistakes.

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:15, "A bitter spirit is not only bad in itself but can also poison the lives of many others" (Phillips).

Resentment is a poison pill you don't need to swallow. You are only as happy as you choose to be.

So what's your choice?

Talk It Over

-�How does resentment hurt you as much or more as the person you won't forgive?

- Why is it difficult to forgive someone who has hurt you?

- Who do you need to forgive?

Tell God About It

Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (James 5:16a NIV)

We all respond to hidden wounds in different ways. Some people act out. Other people get angry all the time. Others self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Still others try to escape the pain by moving from relationship to relationship.

Yet the worst possible response to hidden wounds in your life is to just clam up. It's like taking a soda bottle and shaking it up. One day, you'll just pop!

You'll never get over your hidden wounds until you face your feelings straight on by talking to God about them.

Bottling up your hidden wounds will wear you out. The Bible says this in Psalm 32:3: "When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long" (NCV).� If you use up all of your emotional energy on the past, you'll have little left for today. You then spend so much of your time on your regret and resentment - thinking about how you'll get even with the person who has hurt you - that you're out of energy for what matters in the here and now.

God has an answer for your pain. It starts with confession. You've got to admit your pain. Everything else is, in one way or another, a fruitless attempt to forget what ails you. You need to admit your pain to:

- - God

- - Yourself

- - One other person you trust.

Many people want to move past their pain by admitting it to God and themselves and skipping the third part of the equation. Good luck! It'll never work. Admitting your pain to others is absolutely essential. You won't get well on your own. James 5:16 says, "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16a NIV).

You don't need to confess to a pastor, a priest, or a therapist to obey James 5:16 (though you can). You need a friend.

Open up about your hidden pain to someone. Tell him or her what hurts. As you do that and confess to God and yourselves, you just might find that long-lost energy you've been dreaming about.

Because revealing is the beginning of healing.

Talk It Over

- -�What secret from your past are you having trouble letting go?

- - Why is it so scary to be open with God about a painful memory? Why is it so difficult to be open with ourselves about a painful memory? Why is it so hard to be open with others about a painful memory?

- - Who can you open up with about pain in your past?

The Other Side of the Tapestry

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Life often brings you matters that are difficult to swallow, like a sickness, a job loss, or the death of a friend or family member. Those pills are bitter going down, and we often choke on them.

Rest assured, God is up to something good in your life even if you can't see it. He is actively working to bring good out of whatever happens in your life. To hold on to hope in the midst of tough times, you'll need to grab a hold of this truth.

The Bible says it this way, "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28 NLT).

The Bible isn't saying that every event in your life will be good. You and I both know that's just not true. But it does say that when you put your whole life together, every piece of it works together for good. It's like making a cake. You may not like the taste of each ingredient, but when it's all put together, you can't keep your hands off of it. God wants to bake an amazingly tasty cake with your life, and he wants to use even the distasteful and bitter elements to do it.

God also doesn't say that everything works together "like we want it to" or that every story will have a happy ending. The reality is not every business decision will make you a million dollars. Not every couple who gets married live happily ever after. Not every child will become captain of the football team.

Instead, the verse reminds us that we can have absolute confidence that the Master Designer of the universe causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God. (By the way, if you don't know God, you're not given this promise. It's for "those who love God.")

Hope isn't the same as optimism. It isn't the belief that something bad will turn out well. It's the absolute confidence that every part of your life ultimately makes sense regardless of how it turns out this side of eternity.

From our vantage point, our life looks like a mess at times. But God's view from Heaven isn't the same as ours.

You can't even imagine the good that God has in store for your future. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future" (NCV).

Your future is in his hands - and there's no better place for it to be.

Talk It Over

- How does it make you feel that God has worked even the bad experiences of your life out for your good?

- In which experience from your life do you have the most difficult time seeing the good that God will bring from the situation?

- How is Jesus' death on the cross an example of God working out good in a bad situation?

There Is Always Hope

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13 GWT)

At the end of World War II, an American sub came back to Newport News, Va., to dock. As it came into port, something terrible happened, and the sub began to sink. The Coast Guard was immediately dispatched to go out and save the crew. Divers swam down to the hull of the submarine to discover the problem. As the divers got close to the sub, they heard one inventive sailor using a hammer to tap on the hull and ask in Morse Code, "Is there hope?"

That's a fundamental question of life - "Is life worth living?"

It's asked every day by thousands of people in thousands of different ways:

As you sit in the doctor's office awaiting test results
When a couple who've put months and months into counseling gets nowhere
When dealing with a tax accountant in a bankruptcy court
When a family hears their child is missing

You can go 40 days without food and three days without water. You can go eight minutes without air. But you can't go a single second without hope. It's an essential part of life. When hope is gone, life is over.

Because hope is in such short supply in our society today, people will fall for all kinds of scams. They trust in false hopes, like psychic hotlines, palm readings, astrology, fake healers, and quack cures. Inevitably, those false hopes disappoint. Nothing disappoints worse than false hope.

So where do I turn to find real hope? The Bible says to turn to God.

Romans 15:13 says, "May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (GWT).

God is the only source of hope that'll never disappoint. When we place our faith in him, he provides joy, peace, and hope that overflows.

You need that kind of hope.

At the end of the book of Ezekiel, God says, "I am Jehovah Shammah." In Hebrew that means, "I am the God who is always there." God is always there. He's in your past, in your present, and in your future. He's in the good places. He's in the evil places.

He is everywhere. And you are never, ever alone.

And where God is, hope is.

Talk It Over

Within what experience from your past did you have the most difficulty seeing God's presence?
How does the realization of God's presence give you hope in the midst of despair?
Who is in the midst of despair in your life that you can encourage by reminding them of God's presence?

God's Shield of Faith Provides Protection

Mon, 06 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One." (Ephesians 6:16 GNT)

As a follower of Jesus, you have fiery darts coming at you all the time. So what kind of fiery darts are coming your way? Satan implants the following thoughts into your mind:

Doubt. You start asking yourself, "Did God really say? Can I really trust God? Isn't that just your interpretation?"
Discouragement. Satan tells you, "You're never going to get any better. Your life won't change. Don't even try.
Delay. You ask yourself, "Why is this taking so long?" Something you want to happen hasn't happened by now.
Difficulty. You ask yourself, "Why is this so hard? Why is it so hard to make my marriage work? Why is it so hard to get a job?"
Depression. You tell yourself, "It's not worth it." You don't even feel like making an effort.

All these darts come your way on a regular basis. They create uncertainty in your life. In times of great uncertainty - like when you're out of work or going through a major family transition - these fiery darts will fly at you even faster. You better be ready for them.

Paul gives us the only proper antidote to these fiery darts: the Shield of Faith. The Bible says, "At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One" (Ephesians 6:16 GNT).

How do you handle these darts? Put on the Shield of Faith. It's the only protection you have against doubt, discouragement, delay, difficulty, and depression. Trust God, no matter what you see, hear, or feel about the world around you. You need the certainty of God when you face the uncertainty of Satan's fiery darts.

In short, you'll need to doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs. Most people do just the opposite. They doubt their beliefs and believe their doubts. That's just dumb. Believe what God tells you in his Word.

I saw a bumper sticker many years ago that said, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." It may be a nice sentiment, but it's bad theology. The truth is, "God said it, and that settles it - whether I believe it or not." God's truth isn't based on whether you believe it or not. It's still true even if you don't believe it, because God can't lie.

You need that kind of certainty in difficult days. With the Shield of Faith, you have certainty that God's promises are true even when they don't appear to be true in your life.

Whenever you start believing your doubts and doubting your beliefs, Satan cracks a door open in your life, and he'll use that door to attack you on many levels.

You can't ever take off the Shield of Faith, either. Paul tells us to wear it "at all times." Satan will never stop throwing his fiery darts at you. Stay on your guard. Trust God and his Word, no matter what's going on in your life.

Talk It Over

- Which fiery dart is causing you the most uncertainty - doubt, discouragement, delay, difficulty, or depression?

- What do you know from God's Word that should provide certainty as Satan attacks with that fiery dart?

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God's Peace Beats Out Worry

Sun, 05 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong." (Ephesians 6:15 NCV)

Conflict makes you an easy target for Satan's attacks. It doesn't matter if your conflict is with God, other people, or even yourself; it will open the door for Satan to tear you apart.

You'll become a pushover for his plans. It'll open up every area of your life to Satan's attacks.

You don't want that. It's why the doomsday scenario for many countries is facing wars on multiple fronts. If you're fighting yourself, others, or God, you can't fight against what Satan is doing in the world. You can't fight a multi-front war effectively. You were never meant to do so.

All levels of conflict leave your flailing for support and searching for a firm footing, as if you're being sucked into quicksand.

That's why Paul urges believers, "On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong" (Ephesians 6:15 NCV).

Roman soldiers had hobnails on the bottom of their shoes. These little nails helped them get a better grip with their shoes, like cleats for football players. Without them, soldiers would slip and slide in battle. They wouldn't be able to hold their ground.

Without putting on the "peace that comes from the Good News," you too will slip and slide your way through life. Paul is writing about three different aspects of peace: with yourself, with others, and with God. It's called reconciliation, and you need it in all areas of your life. If you wake up each morning at peace with yourself, God, and others, you'll find yourself on strong footing. You'll be able to stand strong against the attacks of Satan.

Satan tries to attack your peace through worry. We can worry about anything. We can worry about our future. We can worry about finances. We can worry about relationships. Often, we worry about what others think of us. When we worry, it means some area of relational peace is out of whack. In fact, most of the time it means we're out of whack in each of those areas.�

And it means you're shoeless - and not letting the peace of God's Word take control.

The Bible says, "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165 NLT). In other words, the more I love and obey the Bible, the less I'm offended by what others say. The more I love God's Word, the less I'm offended by what happens to me. The more I love God's Word, the less my walk with God will be disturbed.

Choose to believe what God's Word says about you, about others, and, most importantly, about God.

Choose to believe because obeying God's Word brings you peace. Choose to believe because Jesus did. Choose to believe because what God's Word says about you and the world around you is true.

Talk It Over

- What's your biggest worry right now?

- What does God's Word say about what you're worrying about?

- How can you trust God to help you with what you're worried about?

- What relationships in your life need to be healed?

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Satan Fears the Pursuit of Purity

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest." (Ephesians 6:14 HCSB)

We don't have to do anything wrong for Satan to attack us. It's what he does. It's who he is. The Bible calls him "the accuser of our brothers and sisters" (Revelation 12:10 NLT). And he wants nothing more than to attack those who love Jesus.

Yet often, our own impure lifestyles open up the door of our hearts for his attacks. He knows that if he can slip his foot into the door of our hearts through impurity, we're goners. He'll trip us up with all sorts of temptations, from pornography to movies to books to songs - whatever it takes to make us ineffective as a Kingdom influencer.

That's why Paul's breastplate of righteousness is so important as we battle against whatever Satan throws at us. In Ephesians 6:14, Paul urges believers to "Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest" (HCSB).

A Roman soldier going to war would always put on a breastplate to protect his heart. No soldier would dare go to battle without protecting his heart.

Neither should we. Paul tells us that righteousness, or purity of motives, is our breastplate. When we ask God to give us a pure heart and pure motives, we're putting on that breastplate of righteousness.

Satan fears the person with a pure heart - not the perfect person, but the person who wants to do the right thing and keeps his or her motives pure. People who pursue purity don't have to be afraid of him; he is afraid of them.

Purity doesn't mean perfection, though. None of us fit that description. God expects purity of motives, not perfection of action. It means when you do something wrong, you want to make it right. You can't have God's blessing on your family, your business, or any other area of your life unless you seriously pursue that kind of purity.

For example, open up your heart to greed, and you'll follow a well-worn path to destruction. If Satan can get you to want more, he'll get you to cheat on your taxes. He'll get you to make a shady business deal. Leave the door to your heart ajar through pride, and you'll chase the applause and praise of others rather than the approval of God.

That leads nowhere. Without a pure heart, you're a pushover for Satan. You don't have to be strong to stand against Satan's attacks, but you do need to protect yourself with God's armor of righteousness.

Talk It Over

- Are there areas of your life where you may have become vulnerable to impurity? Why do you think that? What can you do about it?

- Who can you invite into your life to keep you accountable to make pure decisions that honor Jesus?

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Stand Ready With Truth

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist." (Ephesians 6:14a GNT)

Integrity matters. The Bible says we're in a war "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world." And we can't battle those spiritual forces that threaten to derail our lives if we're not living with integrity.

Essentially, we're committed to taking the truth of God's Word and applying it to all areas of our lives, such as our moral, financial, relational, and sexual lives.

It's why Paul tells us we need to put on the Belt of Truth before we go into the spiritual battles that are all around us. He says, "So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist" (Ephesians 6:14a GNT).

The Belt of Truth holds up everything. Without truth, your life will fall apart, and spiritual darkness will take over.

We put on our Belt of Truth by living with integrity. Integrity comes from the word "integer," which means "unit of one." Your life of integrity isn't the pieces of the pie; it's being the whole pie.

To live a life of integrity, don't just know the truth; live it out. Like your belt, integrity gives you stability. It holds you together in the middle through tough times. It gives you much-needed strength.

Of course, living with integrity doesn't mean perfection. It doesn't mean always doing what's right. If perfection were the standard for integrity, no one would have it. We all stumble at times.

To live with integrity, let people see on the outside what's going on inside. It means what you see is what you get.

Hypocrisy is the great enemy of integrity. We practice hypocrisy when we know the truth and don't do it. It's when what we say isn't the same as what we do.

And it's dangerous - very dangerous. A lack of integrity in any area of your life will leave you vulnerable to Satan's arrows. In fact, the moment you start segmenting your life into different pieces - your church life, family life, sex life, etc. - you've lost your integrity. You're not living the same in all areas of your life.

Does life seem overwhelming? Do you feel like darkness is winning the battle in your life? It always will if you're living a double life. Check your integrity. Do what God's Word teaches in all areas of your life, not just where and when it is most convenient. You have no hope without that kind of integrity.

Talk It Over

- In what areas of your life is it easier or more difficult to live by God's Word?

- How do you need to work on your relationship with Christ so that what you display on the outside is a reflection of a strong spiritual walk?

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Satan Is Real

Thu, 02 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

You have an enemy - and it's not who you think it is. It isn't the person you're competing against at work. It isn't the difficult neighbor. It isn't your ex-spouse. It isn't the group in your community who are taking unbiblical positions against you.

Your enemy isn't flesh and blood at all.

Your battle is with Satan.

One of the reasons we so often walk around in discouragement and defeat is because we don't really understand who we're battling. We don't understand who our real enemy is. We blame the economy, a political party, a segment of people, or the person we can't stand down the street.

We blame everyone but the one whom the Bible calls a thief and a liar who is out to destroy anyone who loves and follows Jesus.

To find victory in your life over what's dragging you down, you've got to start by attacking the right enemy.

When you do, keep these truths in mind as you battle against your true enemy, Satan.

You're no match for Satan. It's like trying to shoot a rubber band at a battleship. Outside of Jesus, you have no hope of defeating Satan's influence over your life.

Everyone gets used by Satan. Satan will put thoughts in the minds of Christians and non-Christians alike. At times we can all be a pawn of Satan. Protect yourself with the armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-17).

Not everything that is spiritual is good. There's spiritual light and spiritual darkness. Don't fall for the lie that all roads to God are equal. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 NIV).

Satan doesn't fight fair. Satan can't slug you, so instead he puts discouraging and depressing ideas into your mind. You've got to catch him in the act, let him know you know where the idea comes from, and ask Jesus for help.

Satan is real. He's the enemy who has been disrupting your life. But there's good news: He doesn't have a chance against Jesus.

Talk It Over

- Who have you considered your enemy? What are the thoughts that have been in your head lately that you know are from Satan?

- What are you going to do to counterattack those thoughts and to guard your mind?

The Battle You Were Born to Win

Wed, 01 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

"The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4b NIV)

You were born into a battle. You didn't ask for it. But before you were born and long after you die, a cosmic battle is taking place all throughout the universe. You can't escape the battle between God and Satan, good and evil - even if you don't know it exists.

Yet it's important to know God and Satan are not equal enemies. God is far superior in all ways. One day God will completely wipe Satan out. But until then, he allows us to have a choice of whose side we're on.

People are often pawns in this cosmic battle. Satan can't hurt God. What do you do when you can't hurt someone? You hurt his children. So Satan goes after you.

The bad news is, you were born for a battle. But there's good news. You were born to win the battle. The Bible says, "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4b NIV).

Satan isn't afraid of you. He is afraid of who is in you - God.

With the Holy Spirit in you, you don't have to be afraid of Satan. You're on the winning side of this war. Now live like it.

Talk It Over

- How will knowing the truth that you're in a spiritual battle change the way you live?

- How will knowing the truth that you're destined to win spiritual battles change the way you face your fears?

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