Daily Devotions
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Defusing Conflict - June 18, 2013
Defusing Conflict
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
Have you heard about the fightin’ Irishman who landed in America and announced, ‘If there’s a government here, I’m agin’ it’? We smile, but ‘harsh words stir up anger.’ If you want to avoid conflict, don’t create it. The key to getting along with people who are upset or who don’t share your viewpoint is to relax and try to empathize. That doesn’t mean agreeing to their every whim. But when you are clear about your position, you can let them be who they are. When you are okay with who you are, you don’t need to make others wrong in order to feel right. Not only is it naïve to expect everybody to see things your way, you must recognize that they have their own thoughts, opinions and feelings. Jesus said, ‘Settle matters quickly with your adversary…while you are… with him’ (Matthew 5:25). One family counselor says, ‘Instead of meeting verbal attack with verbal counter-attack, seeing the situation from the other person’s viewpoint is disarming, leaving the attacker with no target.’ Do you have to agree with everybody? No, but ‘Do all…you can to live in peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:18). Are there times when you must defend your position? Yes, but don’t go around with a chip on your shoulder looking for arguments. Sometimes Christians are the worst offenders; we think because our cause is just, it doesn’t matter who gets caught in the crossfire. ‘Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs’ (Proverbs 19:11). Make up your mind to extend to others the same grace God has extended to you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me be an agent of peace and not one who stirs up conflict. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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To Win In Life - June 17, 2013
To Win In Life
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24
William Arthur Ward wrote: ‘Believe while others are doubting. Plan while others are playing. Decide while others are delaying. Prepare while others are daydreaming. Begin while others are procrastinating. Work while others are wishing. Save while others are wasting. Listen while others are talking. Smile while others are frowning. Persist while others are quitting.’ To win in life requires three things: 1) You must start. That may seem obvious, but many of us are stuck in the starting blocks waiting for something to get us going. What has God called and equipped you to do? Step out and do it, and He will empower you! 2) You must give it your all. Divers in the Olympics don’t save all their effort for their final dive. They concentrate on nailing every single one, increasing their chances for a gold medal. Don’t settle for mediocrity at any stage of life (Philippians 3:14). 3) You must never quit. In the 1992 Olympics, Derek Redmond of Britain was competing in the 400 meter race when he suffered a torn hamstring and fell. As the other runners breezed past him, he began to struggle to his feet. His father, whose face was covered with tears, suddenly ran down from the stands to help him up. Slowly, agonizingly, they made their way around the rest of the track and crossed the finish line as the stadium in Barcelona burst into thunderous applause. Redmond didn’t win a medal, but he won something more important—the respect of the world. The Bible says, ‘Run in such a way as to get the prize.’
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to never give up and to run the race in a way that You will say “Well done good and faithful servant”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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Lifting Up Those Who Fall - June 16, 2013
Lifting Up Those Who Fall
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1
It’s okay to confront somebody you believe is in the wrong, but not with a self-righteous attitude. When church leaders insisted a woman ‘...caught in the act of adultery’ be stoned (John 8:4), Jesus replied, ‘...let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone’ (v. 7). Ouch! One Christian author writes: ‘Are we aware of other people’s mistakes because they confided in us, or have we appointed ourselves the “moral police” to justify examining the blemishes in everyone else’s behavior? Is your goal to restore prodigals, or do you have a hidden agenda to elevate yourself by condemning those around you? A lady confessed to me that she’d been confronted twice by other Christians; the first was a red-faced stranger who was furious with me for wearing knee-high leather boots with a short skirt to her church. She called me a “Jezebel.” The second was a good friend who tenderly pointed out my pride in a specific situation. The name-calling left a bruise on my soul; the compassionate rebuke turned me toward the forgiving arms of our heavenly Father.’ God alone has the perfect combination of holiness and mercy to stand in judgment of the human heart. The Bible says, ‘If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.’ The only One who was worthy to condemn us, chose instead to pardon us, and in light of our own sinner-saved-by-grace [status]—when the Holy Spirit impresses you to confront someone who’s messed up, do it with honesty, compassion and humility.’
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me be one who lifts and builds up others instead of tearing them down. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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Are You Willing To Change - June 15, 2013
Are You Willing To Change?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Philippians 4:8
If you’re not moving closer to your dream, you may not be insistent enough in your pursuit of it. And the key to greater insistence is not necessarily working harder at the same things, but being willing to change. Change what? 1) Your thinking. Are you convinced you can’t succeed? Do you describe yourself and what you’re doing in negative terms? Are you afraid to get started because conditions aren’t favorable? Do you stop trying to move forward when you don’t have the resources you need? If so, you need to change your mindset, to break the cycle of negative thinking. 2) Your perspective. Do you have a short-term mindset? Are you expecting success in days, weeks, or months? The greater your assignment, the longer it’s likely to take. So recalibrate your expectations and create a more reasonable timetable for yourself; otherwise, you’ll live in frustration and defeat. That’s not God’s will for you. Paul’s desire was ‘...that I may finish my race with joy...’ (Acts 20:24). God wants you to experience joy in the pursuit of your goal. 3) Your ways. How are things going in your personal life and in your home life? Are you ready to deal with the habits and hang-ups that stand between you and success? What can you do today that will bring you closer to your dream—no matter how small the progress? Author and publisher Robert Collier says, ‘Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.'
Prayer
Heavenly Father, give me the patience and the persistence to follow what You have for me – and help me change my thinking to Yours on the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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Listen To Him - June 14, 2013
Listen To Him!
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. Revelation 2:21
Paul told the church at Ephesus, ‘…I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you…’ (Acts 20:20). A surgeon saves your life by cutting out what threatens you, and God’s Word does that with us. One of Christ’s warnings to the church at Thyatira was: ‘I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds’ (Revelation 2:21-22). When you are heading over a cliff’s edge, someone who truly loves you will try to stop you. And nobody loves you like the Lord! But you cannot keep ignoring His warnings. The Prodigal Son’s father welcomed him back home, but he still lost his family inheritance. Every day you live, you put another building block in place. What are you building? One day you will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul describes it: ‘...the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames’ (1Corinthians 3:13-15). Your friends may think your disobedience is no big deal. But God, who knows the extent of your ultimate loss, will ‘get in your face’ and tell you to repent while you still have time. Today, if He is speaking to you about a certain issue, listen to Him! Obey Him!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to listen and to heed Your voice in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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